Party, Party, Party!

Since school let out it's been party, party, party in the Gjerde household.  We went to Utah for a vacation.  Many people asked...why Utah?    Ashton loves to watch you tube videos and many of the videos he enjoys take place in either Colorado or Utah.  So after seeing many videos of Utah, we decided to look into it.  There are so many National Parks in Utah.  We were able to visit 5 of them!  Called the mighty five!  We visited Zion, Bryce, Capital Reef, Canyon Lands, and Arches.  We also drove through Grand Escalante and visited Goblin Valley State Park and downtown Moab.  Ashton adored climbing rocks and hiking!

In Zion, he enjoyed bike riding through the canyon and hiking upstream in the Virgin River.  And of course, swimming in the pool!

biking in Zion NP

Entrance to  Zion NP

In Bryce, he earned his first Junior Park Ranger badge.  He was so proud!


In Grand Escalante, he was a trooper and hiked 6 roundtrip miles in the hot desert sun to a cool waterfall!

Hiking in

A waterfall in the middle of the desert!

In Capitol Reef, we saw some petroglyphs. I loved how he described the images.  "It's a coat hanger with arms!"

Petroglyphs at Capitol Reef National Park

We made a special side trip to Goblin Valley for Ashton.  He loved climbing on the hoodoos!  He even climbed to the highest hoodoo.  No fear!

Making mama's heart race!

Ashton enjoyed climbing the hoodoos

By the time we got to Moab, the kids were done seeing red rocks, but we still dragged them to Canyon Lands and Arches.  But we kept the hikes short!  Of course, Ashton enjoyed climbing on the rocks!

Lily and Ashton at Arches

Family photo under Double Arch at Arches

Family photo at Mesa Arch at Canyon Lands, NP

We ended our time in Moab by going four wheeling on the famous "Hell's Revenge".  I was worried that Ashton would be afraid and crying, but he enjoyed it!

Four wheeling on "Hell's Revenge"

We returned home for one day before I dragged the kids off to Ocean City for an impromptu beach gathering with our friends who are moving-Aaron Michael is moving to Texas and Ariana to Tennesse.  After one day of hanging out at the beach with our friends, we headed to Tia Lisa's house where we hung out for a few days!

Posing at Sunset

Ashton and Ariana walking down Ocean City Boardwalk

Eating Icecream with cousins and friends in Rehobeth Beach

Ashton tried surfing!  I didn't think he would try it but he did.  The water was really rough that day, so I don't think he liked it.  I think he got out there, got scared, and wanted to go in.  But I have got to say I am super proud of him for trying!

Wetsuit Ready

Surfing Lesson

Surfing Lesson

Headed out to the waves

Now we are home for a few days before we head out to the beach again with Abuelita and her grandson Carter.  I hope the boys enjoy each other's company.

Another great year in the books!

Ashton rocked another great year at Lisbon Elementary.  I am so proud of him!  He ended the year with an award for being a Creative Whiz.  Always creating and designing cool things! 

Last day of 2nd grade

May Fun!

This May we have had the opportunity to take two camping trips.  One with our bible study and one with our Guate tribe.  Both were fabulous!  Ashton and Eirik even made 11-
year old girlfriends!  The girls were too cute...they came looking for Ashton and Eirik to say goodbye, give hugs and take a selfie.

Bible Study Crew

Ashton and his buddy Charlotte

Camping Kids

April Celebrations!

April has been fast and furious in the Gjerde household!  Ashton celebrated his 8th birthday with friends from school and church at Libertytown Park!  I think everyone had a great time.  We had a nice visit from Yolanda, and Ashton was totally enamored with her!  She was such a good sport.  Sleeping in his room with him, talking walks with him to see his favorite beagle puppies, and jumping on the trampoline.  We also had visits from Eirik and cousins Hannah and Collin from North Carolina.  Plus Grandpa Bob and Grandma Ginger.  We had a fun Easter and Passover celebrations with all ofriends and family!

Ashton and the beagle puppies

Celebrating April Birthdays

Ashton's birthday party crew

Easter Fun with Friends and Family

Hiking with Yolanda at Cascade Falls, Patapsco State Park

If we were all that confident!

Ashton has been doing great!  I am so happy that he seems so much happier and less combative!  He loves creating little you tube videos and has been soaring with confidence.  For the past few months he has wanted to change his name to from Ashton Taylor Gjerde to Ashton Amazing Gjerde.  I told him when he was older he could change his name!  The other day going through his school papers I noticed he wrote his name Ashton Amazing Gjerde!  Love that confidence!

My little spiderman

Watch me swing mom!

Monkey up in tree!

Ashton is totally half monkey/half spiderman.  He absolutely adores hanging on the money bars, doing tricks, climbing trees, climbing walls, basically anything he can scale he will try.  Sometimes I have to laugh at some of the things that come out of my mouth.  "Ashton no jumping out of your bedroom window".   "Ashton please stop jumping off your dresser "  "Ashton please stop leaping off the furniture."  He loves going to the playground and spends hours hanging, swinging, climbing etc.  He is super strong!

My little fit boy!

I love this kid!  He's so creative, smart, and active just to name a few!  Not content to spend hours on a gaming system or in front of a tv, he is always coming up with creative ways to fill his time.  This weeks creations were printing out lamborghini pictures to color, building a sledding ramp out of ply wood so he and his friends could "sled" down on various scooter down the hill, working on hs 6-pack abs (lol) with a 30 day exercise program, and took off his mattresses on his bunk bed so he could jump off his bed without getting hurt.

He also recently rearranged his entire room and put up his tent in his room.  He has been sleeping in his tent and has turned the rest of his space into a "playroom".