A NEW FOUR WHEELER

This is Asher on his old four wheeler. This lucky kid is getting a new one for his birthday this next Saturday. We got a good deal on it because it was an '06 and they needed room for their '08s. It is a little 90 cc instead of a 50 cc. Hallie can now have Asher's old one all to herself!

I was taking Asher to karate in Rigby. On the way there, we passed Ucon. Asher's brain is a little sponge and he remembers everything. Anyway, he told me all about Clifford and Share and how they used to live in Ucon, but not anymore because they live in Boise which "is like FIVE hours away!". I told him they were moving back after Christmas. Then he tells me that when they move back they are going to have another baby. According to Asher, it will be a girl because they don't have a girl yet. Not only will it be a girl, but it will be a Baby Share. They have a Baby Clifford, it only makes sense to have a Baby Share! When they have a girl and it is not a Baby Share, I think Asher might be disappointed.

I also have to brag about my nieces for a minute. Mckenzie and Kelsie are the best babysitters ever! My kids always have so much fun with them. The other day Kelsie babysat and made snowflakes with my kids and put them on our Christmas tree. Asher and Hallie were so proud of them. It's the small things that make a big difference. THANK YOU MCKENZIE AND KELSIE FOR BEING SO GREAT!

CHECK UP WITH DR. JUDD

Wednesday the 12th Asher had an appointment with his cardiologist. Things look really good. His chest x-ray looked great, which means his heart is not enlarged. His EKG was perfect, pulses in his feet were good and strong, and his blood pressure was fantastic. Dr. Judd could not hear a heart murmur anymore which means that his bicuspid valve in his heart (which is supposed to be tricuspid) is working fine. However, he still has that scar tissue which is blocking his aorta artery. Instead of talking about doing another surgery when he is big enough (about 80 lbs) it sounds like we can wait into his teen years. And I was worried he wouldn't be able to ride amusement park rides, but he can. That restriction is only for people with heart muscle problems. Asher's heart only has "plumbing" issues, so he's fine. That means we can still take our kids to Lagoon and Disney Land! Yay! That was the best cardio check up yet!

Asher will be turning 5 in a week. Time flies by so fast! In pictures from a year ago he looks like a little toddler, and Hallie looks like a little baby! Now they look like little kids. Crazy.

THANKSGIVING

Halloween is over and Christmas is the next holiday on every one's mind. However, I enjoy Thanksgiving because it reminds us of things we are thankful for. I am so thankful for all that I do have. We finally have a house of our own, our kids are the best kids ever (it must be the red hair!), and I'm happy that Asher can do karate and Hallie can dance. I'm thankful to be able to give them that opportunity to build their self-esteem, to let them know they can do anything they put their mind to. And by encouraging them, they know Mark and I are there for them in all things. What a great blessing that is for our children. Thanksgiving also reminds me that it is nice to slow down around this holiday season and enjoy each moment. I also love Asher and Hallie showing me the fun indian and pilgrim crafts they created at preschool! That is so much fun to hear them sing the silly songs that go along with the crafts. It's a great time to gather with your family and enjoy each other's company because you know by the end of the holiday season, you won't want to see them again for a long time! Okay, just kidding. Families are great.

This is absolutely hilarious! I was at Leo's the other day with Shan and her kids and Hallie really needed to use the restroom. There was a lady in the large stall with her little boy. I was waiting outside the stall for Hallie to finish when I heard the little boy yell " MOM!!! Your butt looks FAT when you sit down!!!" She responded by yelling at him in a very hushed voice "Don't look at my butt! Turn around. That's not nice at all!" I couldn't help myself. I busted out laughing, hoping Hallie would at least unlock the stall door so I would have a place to hide until I could pull it together. Unfortunately I ended up outside still waiting for Hallie, hiding my face as the lady and her son exited their stall. I felt bad for laughing, but I could not hold it back! WOW! Kids are fun, aren't they?

THE BEGINNING

Well, here I am joining the world of bloggers. It always starts out by reading someone else's blog and deciding to write your own. I just have so much on my mind, and I have given up writing it on paper because my children think that it is also a paper for them to color and scribble on. I have taught Asher and Hallie about sharing, now they think I have to share EVERYTHING with them as well. As a mother, it feels like nothing truly belongs to just me. It's fine, but this blog is nice because it is all mine! No scribbles, no wrinkled or torn pages and no worries of finding this in the most bizarre places, ie the dogs bed, the garbage can, in a random dresser drawer, toy box, the fridge, you get the point!

Halloween is this next week and Asher has decided to be a pirate. For the next few months I know I will hear him chasing Hallie around the house yelling "ARRRGH MATEY". Hallie will be a skeleton. Last year she was a witch and for the past year when people ask her name or tells her she's cute, she replies by saying her name is Witch, and she's NOT cute, but a mean, mean scary witch. I'm curious to see what she will have to say about being a skeleton. We even bought costumes for our two toy poodles. How rediculous is that? I have turned into what I made fun of. I even have a bag to carry my little Meg in! Our dog Bo will also be dressed as a pirate and Meg has the cutest Tinkerbell costume. Asher has been curious as to what I am going to dress up as. In his mind, even the dogs have costumes, so I must as well. I keep telling him I am dressing up as a mom, but that doesn't seem to satisfy him. I'll come up with something. If I dress up or not, I know he won't mind when he sees all the candy being passed out! Happy Hauntings!