I need a "Bruise Journal"

I think I have to be one of the most clumsy people on the planet. Not a week goes by without me cutting, scraping, burning, slicing, or slamming something on my body!!!!! Out of all the band-aids and pain there are two specific times that stand out.....The first was when I was a couple of months pregnant with Nickolas. I had slammed my thumb in the car door....AND IT WAS FREAKING LOCKED! My sweet sweet dad had to come pick me up from the house and take me to the ER. He drives a standard truck (that you can get some nasty whiplash if you are not careful!!) and tends to take the longest route to the hospital (Thank god I wasn't in labor!)!!!
The second has to do with just plain stupidity on my part... I know... you are shocked! I had been boiling some pasta on the stove and went to dump the water lost control of the pot and splashed boiling water up on my stomach! However... I do have a B-E-A-UTIFUL scar on my belly now.

.........So moral to the story I could fill pages and pages with just plain stupidity.

Pictures of the monsters were taken in June on vacation! Nicko was KING of the pool... and Charli... well.... she has already figured out that girls go to the pool to hang out in their little swim suits to watch the boys horse around!

Carpe Diem XOXO

Dear tiny baby Jesus....

.... "I prefer the christmas jesus".... one of our favorite movies in the family! My sister can recite the WHOLE conversation and she is actually pretty dog-gon funny when she does it! I have had about all of this freaking heat I can take. I might have to start running errands in my 'skivvies' if you know what I mean ::wink wink::!!


Here are a few pictures from easter.... or as my dad would correct you "Resurrection Sunday"....! I just wanted one freaking good picture.... this is what most of them looked like!

And..... so I stepped in... I am pretty sure Nick-o was being bribed.... and Charli... well WHO KNOWS! ! Princess does what she wants when she wants and how she wants... reminds me of someone I know...... hmmm.....AH! And there is the Goliath costume... THANK YOU AUNT NANNIE! This has brought hours of entertainment in out house.... Although- J won't let him wear it out of the house! I fail to see the problem with it.... ;)

That is all you are going to get out of me tonight.... trying to get better about updating the blog....

CARPE DIEM xoxo

Peanut Butter Cups... OH BABY!!!

Ok Ok OK.... after posting a picture on FB I got a few requests for the recipe!!! I WISH I was a gourmet cook... I wish this recipe was so complex that you all would say "OH ASHLEY..... YOU ARE AMAZING".... BUT Its not! It is sooo stinkin' easy! Takes all of 20 minutes to whip and up and stash in the fridge or freezer! I found this recipe in a desperate attempt to find somthing that Nick-o would eat... little did I know that I wouldn't be allowed to attend a family event on my husbands side without these little pretties in my hand! I use to make them in a 13X9 pan... but got a little creative a few batches ago and put them in a muffin tin (got the idea from a Ms. Brandi Arnold!!!) and everyone seems to like it even more! So...bust out your treadmills laides.... pre-pare yourself for extra hugs from the kids..... cause here we go.......

Ingredients:

-1 cup butter or margarine, melted

-2 cups graham cracker crumbs

-2 cups confectioners sugar

-1 cup peanut butter (cruchy or smooth...the hubs happens to be a PB snob and will ONLY eat smooth)

-1.5 cups semi sweet chocolate chips

-4 tablespoons peanut butter

Directions:

Mix together the butter, crumbs, sugar, and PB and smoosh into your dish of choice!!

Melt the chocolate chips and stir in the the peanut butter and pour over the top!!! Then put is into the fridge or freezer to harden and WHA-LA! You are the hero of your family!

Note: I buy actual graham crackers and beat the crap outta them and leave several chunks b/c that makes my brother in law a happy happy guy!

Night Night!!

This is Nickolas. His favorite thing to do is roll around in his 'jammies' , lay in bed ,and watch Movies!!

While Jeffrey and I have strict rules about them not sleeping with us... they are drawn to our bed!! I couldn't help but think it has to do with the fact we have night stands!!!

This is what he had been using for his 'night' stand... we have to use the nebulizer more often then not... so we ususally just leave it out!

It was a chair from this table and chairs 'set'... notice the other chair is missing?! It is currently in the kicthen being used to reach things he isn't supposto reach!

We had this little beauty in the garage! I decided to clean it up and stick it next to his bed! When we re-do his room in January it will get a fresh coat of paint!

I put it next to his bed with a lamp, alarm clock, and of course no night stand is complete without a picture of the ones you love.... aka:mom and dad!

Here is the finished product!!! Not to bad for about 15 minutes all together!

Couldn't keep him out of his bed ALL day!!! I would say it is a HIT! Although, I do feel a little sorry for the lamp... it has gotten more action in the last 24 hours then in its whole life span so far! Who would have known that one itty bitty old night stand would make a little boy sooo happy!!!

Carpe Diem!

xo-Ash

Cookie Day!!!!

Q: What's better than cookie day at Gigi's?!

A:NOTHING!!!!!!

Here is Charli ready for allof the fun

(Nicko was checking out the peanut butter cookies)

All the cookies were baked!!

The table was set... we had every kind of sprinkel, icing, and even CANDY!!!

....and they're off!!!!!

I had all of these great dreams of flying sprinkles... sugar highs... possibly a side smile towards me for letting them all make such a huge mess......

Well.... non of the above happend!! This held their attention for about 15 mintes.... each decorated about 1-2 cookies....

However they did eat tons of sprinkles!!!

Even us moms had to get in on the action!!!!

Hey! Someone had to decorate all those cookies I 'oh-so' carefully baked!!!

No one tell Uncle Matt... JADE had a blast!!! She had chocolate icing! Girl after my own heart!

If this isn't the most onry face ever... I don't know what is! He LOVE my homemade ginger bread cookies!

This was the first ever cookie day at my house.... We plan to keep the tradition going! Next year we will be adding 3 more to the table...Josh, Charli, and Brinley!! Making memories and traditions is one of the best parts about being a Mom and an aunt! Thank you little fellas for making us laugh and giving us an excuse to play with icing and sprinkles!

Tons of sprinkles: can't remember!

12 Pac of 'da-pepper': $4

4 tubs of icing: $6

Disposable table cloth: $3
The sight of 3 little boys having a blast with each other and the laughter that filled my home that morning: PRICELESS!!

Until next time... CARPE DIEM

XO-Ash

Taylors Christmas Program...

Whats the best part about being a Gigi??? Why... it is getting to sit on the side lines cheering on your newphew as he is the shining star up on stage ringing his bells and singing his little heart out!!! well.... ookkkk... you got me! It wasn't the side lines and he wasn't the only kid up there... and well yes he might not have sung at the top of his lungs!!! BUT-- he is one heck of a bell ringer!!

(The big star before his performace)

I was blessed enough to be invited to his annual Indiana Ave PDO christmas program this morning!!!! Each class gets up and they sing along to christmas music!!! They either shake shakers or ringing their little bells!!

(in his class room before hand... finally stood still enough for a picture!!)



Here is the proud mama of 1 and a 1/2!! HAHAH Amanda and Brinley!!

Here is TB up on stage... I couldn't be any more proud! Last year I think he stood there in total shock!! Apparently he was in total Christmas gear this morning... but after a brief incident with toohpaste and mouth wash he had to change his shirt!! HAHAH Takes after his geeg!!

... and here he is after his big singing debute!!! Very humble!

He and his 'Pada'!! Our kids have some of the best grandparents.. NEVER miss a thing!

... AND GRANNA JOE!!! DON'T THEY LOOK PROUD!

Of course he had to 'refule' after such a daunting performance! I went and stole him out of class to get a cookie... Hey! What else is a Gigi for?!

.. and the best aunt EVER!!! Too bad I had to hold his face to take this picture...

He is back in class... safe and sound!!!

AH! I love the holidays and all the random little thigns that come with it! Once christmas event down... only a million more to go....

until next time... CARPE DIEM!

XO-Ash

**Note: No children, munchkins, adults ,and/or christmas trees were hurt in the making of this program and blog!**

To be or not to be....

Productive that is.... see after my last blog entry(yes I know I only had 2!!) the nasty string of stomach bug that was lurking around Lubbock hit our house hold... and it all went down hill from there!!! Alot has happend since my last posting!! We had Halloween (pics in this blog), Finding out we are going to have a new NEICE in the family Ms. Brinley!!!, and Cookie day at gigi's(blog to follow on that...)!!! This is the big 1 year old JADE!!! She had a costume party...

...hence this picture!! No we don't normally dress this goofy... well at least the kids and I don't!!

Ah! Cousin Connor!!! He and Nicko visted my mother in law at her work for a 'carnival'!! They had their futures read by some cheesy lady with a fish bowl turned up side down to look like a 'glass ball'!!

...and there is TB!!! Sweet TB... NEVER a dull moment with him!!! He was Ironman and Nicko was Woody! In this picture they are currently waiting patiently (and when I say patiently.. I mean extremely impatiently) in line for the jumper at the church trunk or treat parking lot carnival!!

AWWW... my little papillion! She didn't much care for the whole costume thing! Maybe next year I can talk her into Cindy Lauper!!

Here is just a few pics of the kiddos in the last few months!! Nicko was helping me clean the windows!! In his words "I good helpers mama"!!




Charlis' Baptism morning!! Don't they look excited?!

...and here they are 'helping' me get ready in the bathroom!!

Until next time... Hopefully tomorrow... but no promises...

CARPE DIEM!!

xo-A