"Mom, can I go to their house?"

Ashlin's grandparents came over to visit for a little bit today, and when they were getting ready to take off she asks me, "Mom, can I go to their house?" I told her to go ask them thinking she would be too shy to ask them or that they would like to know she wanted to go their house, but wasn't really thinking anything would happen.
Well, she did ask them, and they said they would LOVE to have her, and before anyone could do anything else she runs to pack her blanket, pillow, toothbrush, changes her closes, and packs her backpack. I was still in a little shock at her excitement/determination to go, so I pulled her aside and asked her if she wanted to wait until Mommy, Daddy, and Rachel could go with her to which she replied, "No, I don't want you guys to come with me, I want to go all by myself."
So, we packed her stuff (it all happened so fast, I have no idea if she has everything she needs) and car seat into their car, and she got in her seat and waited for Grandpa, Grandma, and Collin to get in and go.
I'm not sure when we will get her back... that part hasn't been figured out.

Tagged Brett

A LONG time ago, Brett answered a tag for me and I did most of this soon after, but forgot to publish it. I am cleaning out my drafts and found it so I thought I would post it anyway. I do have to update #4 because Brett has since got an iphone. I love you Brett!!

I did decide to take the idea and "tag" Brett. Here are 10 little known facts about Brett:

1. I am anti-Texas. Even though I know that it would have made my wife (and her family) happy to move there, I won't even consider it because I am so prejudiced against the place. Instead, I subject my family to the freezing climates, where snow and seasonal-affective disorder abound.

2. I have a phobia of laundry baskets. I can't get myself to put my clothes in them. The laundry basket is normally in a corner in the bathroom, so naturally, I make a pile of dirty clothes in my bedroom. Unless my wife decides to stratigically place the basket where my pile usually accumulates- then I decide to either move my pile to another location in the room or to where the laundry basket usually is in the bathroom.

3. I am very brave... not many people can call their father-in-law a loser and not get punched in the face.

4. I love Technology, but not as much as Jenae you see, but I still love Technology always and forever. I also do great impressions of Kip. I am obsessed with Apple computers and products, and attempted unsucessfully to get an iphone out of my wife. Instead, I got a projector. Also, I stupidly left my ishuffle in my pants one time. Then I washed them - all my fault - so sorry Jenae.

5. My tears can cure cancer. Unfortunately, I never cry. Really, maybe once every 10 years.

6. I am also genetically dominant. Seriously, look at my children.

7. Two sets of stitched in my life - once on my chin, and once on my toush.

8. I am amazing with a paint brush or roller, unfortunately I don't really like to paint my own house.

9. Every morning I have to have a glass of orange juice and a bowl of Honey Bunches of Oats w/Almonds.

10. I NEVER misplace anything. Especially things like my contacts, contact cases, or contact solution. I seriously think it might be cheaper for me to get LASIK.

Rachel update

I feel as though I may have been neglecting to post very much about my sweet, now very independent Rachel. Here is a brief synopsis of her:

She is currently 17 months old. She is a determined little girl, and what I mean by that is, when she wants to go somewhere, do something, or play with something she is focused on that and only that. When I intervene because lets just say she wants to play in the toilet... she keeps trying and doesn't give up for hours!!

Favorite things to do:

Drink her milk FIRST thing in the morning. She is at my bed first thing pulling me to the kitchen.
Run around in circles giggling.
Run out into the middle of the street, turn around and watch me run get her.
Buckle things (especially carseats)


Words she says:

Ma (milk)
Mama
Daddy
Ashy
dant you (thank you)
ya, ya (yes)
no

For as few words as she says, she communicates amazing well.



Special Skills:

jumps
puts her own shoes on
puts herself to bed (even when we switched her to the bottom bunk)
eats a hot dog in less than 1 min. (I actually timed her once)
drinks from a cup (no lid)
able to style her hair during her nap

Rachel is up to 5 teeth.



We love having this girl in our family. She sure has spiced things up for us, and keeps me on my toes. We so grateful to have two such sweet girls!!