January 31

It just really hit me the other day that McClain will be turning 5 this July... {welp} where in the world has the time gone? How is it possible that my baby is such a big boy already? I feel like the past 4 + years is just a blurr now. I guess it really just hit me that he was turning 5 this year and that soon he will be going off to school just last week when he had a doctors appointment when the dermatologist (who he has not seen in over a year) asked what our plans where for his schooling. Would we be sending him to school, was he already going to pre-school, would we home school or maybe put him in a special needs class. All these questions all of a sudden had my head spinning. What were we going to do? We have always talked about enrolling him into a private school, believing that would be the best environment for him. But really, its time to really talk about it, not just talk about it but start our research, start the process of applications. Then another slap to the head moment, can he go to school, does he really need to be in a special needs class to try and keep the exposure of germs down. Lets face it I can't even wrap my head around trying to home school, we all know he is already smarter than me (or is it I (LOL)). And really I wouldn't want to home school for the simple fact that I want him to have the socialization and make friends and not just be stuck with him mom all the time (yes, its a front, I will cry when its time to take him to school, just thinking about it makes me want to cry). So I asked Dr. Cheng what he thought about the whole going to school, home school, special needs class ... And his answer was, send him to school. A sigh of relief! So in preparation, in celebration we have started to 'play' school, during Ashton's nap time we grab our work book and each day we learn 1 or 2 letters of the alphabet. So far we are doing really good. McClain is recognizing letters A-F, uppercase and lowercase and working on tracing the letters and doing on his own. He is actually really having fun with it. There is a little fun exercise to do with each letter, maybe a picture to color or a connect the dot picture or a maze to get through. So everyday when I ask if he wants to play school he says yes and gets his book and crayon. The first day after we did A and B, I had him stop and he wanted to go on and asked why we had to be done with school for the day, but I don't want to overdo it for him either, I want him to keep enjoying school. He has a lot of years of it to come. Lets see how long it takes us to get to letter Z... Then its on to numbers.

January 30

You can find McClain here in this spot at random times through out the day, this is his 'break' spot. Its on the floor, in front of mom and dad's tv, laying on his rug, feet kicked up on the tv hutch drawer. He always has his snacks and drink. He has some favorite shows, but really he just goes back to 'break' spot when ever he needs a little time off of playing. We could be hanging out or playing and he will just say I need a 'break' and off he goes 'til he is ready to get back to play time.

January 29

Are these just not the cutest little dirty piggies? Its really hard to see in this picture but those were some dusty little piggies, we let Ashton come out into the garage in his little get around while we unloaded groceries, he was all over the place in that little get around of his, he even tried to make a go down the drive way (me in front of him of course) And it is so funny now because he loves to be outside, and he knows he loves to be outside, so anytime we go from being outside back into the house, he cries. You can't even walk to the door and open in it while holding him, because he will want to go right out that door. I can see he will be just like his brother, out that door at any chance!

January 28

So the other night I posted about how McClain had started to ride around on the back of Ashton's little get around... Well now he is taking his 'lasso' (see cowboy Woody) and is tying it around Ashton's get around and then trying to tie (open the box, put the end of the 'lasso' in and close the box) him to wooden storage box at the front door or stick the end of the lasso into the train toy box. As if this was really going to keep Ashton put... LOL! Didn't even slow Ashton down, didn't really make him happy though. Note to self...Hide the 'lasso'!

January 27

Well Santa Clause really got it right with the new swing set, it is played on daily, several times a day. When McClain gets up in the morning, he looks out side, and says I want to go swing, then after lunch, I want to go swing, then before Dad gets home, I want to go swing. I am so glad that he loves it, and is enjoying it. And Ashton is loving it too, he has his own little swing with a sun shade, and he will just smile and giggle and make these funny little faces when the wind hits him. The little bottom story club house is also a big hit for both boys, we lay a little blanket down in there, take snacks and pretend its the ice cream shop. We also have a secret password to get in (knock 4 times and say popcorn) Then I will give McClain a 'mission' like to climb the rock wall, go down the slide do the super man swing then back to the club house. Its so funny because Ashton jumps around in the club house trying to see McClain and what he is doing then yells in excitement when he gets back to the club house and gives the password. So here is a picture of the boys in the club house as I stand outside the door knock 4 times and say popcorn to get back in. Guess we have to change the password now...

January 26

These boys, are just too much... It is part of the morning routine, that after Ashton has his morning bottle, gets his diaper changed and plays around for a few minutes he gets into his little get around so I can vacuum the whole kitchen, dinning room and living room so he can get down on the ground and crawl around without picking up every crumb from the day before. Anyhow (that's so not the point of my story, I know I go on and on and on) Well he actually loves the vacuum, every time I get it out he makes a b-line towards it and starts yelling and laughing. (I don't get it) He actually chases me around in his little get around, always crashing into me and running over my feet. Well this afternoon (because we had to go to LA this am) McClain decided to hop on the back for a little ride, Ashton just thought that this added to the fun of the vacuuming game and peddled those little legs around the house taking his brother for a ride on the get around. Funny boys...

January 25

Off and walking... So one of my New Years Resolutions was to finish a 1/2 marathon (walking of course), but at this rate it won't happen. Any how we have been out and walking each day this week. I really think that my marathon begins with getting the boys out the door to go walking in the morning. Its a real drill to get all of us ready. I have been getting up at 5:45 am (yes really) every morning, getting myself ready, start a load of laundry, empty the dishwasher, make beds, start McClain's breakfast then pack our little walking back pack for the stroller; and only after that is all done do I allow myself to get my coffee.(or lets face it I would just sit down and enjoy my coffee for to long) Then while McClain is eating breakfast I go ahead do my blog and drink my coffee until Ashton wakes up. When Ashton is up I give him his bottle and maybe play on the floor for a few minutes, get him dresses, get McClain his meds and get him dressed. We are then out the door, boys bundled up because it has been cold out there in the am's. We plug in our ipod into the stoller and hit the sidewalk. (for the most part, this is Hemet) Our route for the day depends on what McClain wants to see; horses, cows, chickens, or Auntie Dawn's school. We never know where we may end up, I just try to remember where ever it is, I still have to get back and Ashton will need his morning oatmeal and fruit. Somehow even though I never know which way we will go until we get going, I usually make it home in just about exactly and hour, which is really perfect timing because its time for Ashton to eat breakfast and I am tuckered out and the boys are ready to get out of the stroller too. So far we have made it up to 4.4 miles( I think, don't count on me to have added that right). Don't think I'll do much better than that in just an hour, but hey its healthy and fun, we will keep it up I think.

January 24

McClain has found his soccer ball and football out in the garage, and keeps telling me he has to 'practice' for school. He also keeps getting out all his baseball gear; ball, bat, glove and mitt. I can only figure that he gets the 'practice' for school idea from Ivy, because she has been playing softball and going to practice for as long as McClain can remember. So I guess he figures its his time to start 'practicing' for school. Its supper funny that he wants me to help him, because we all know that I have no idea how to play any sport. But so far we are all good because all I can/have to do is kick the soccer ball with him, toss a soft football and aim the baseball at a bat. But he knows that he needs his Dad to 'practice' so he is ready for school. How funny is this kid, and boy-o-boy does he have a surprise for him when he finds out school is not about playing soccer, football and baseball, but more about the ABC's and 123's. So here in this picture Clint had just got home from work, Mimi was here and we were all sitting in the living room when McClain came in with his soft football. Clint was playing toss with him (yes in the living room) and McClain actually caught the ball, we all did a big W-H-O-A-H, because we didn't expect that at all. It was not like he held his arms out and Clint just tossed the ball right into them, he actually put his arms out there and caught it. They continued to play toss for a little while more and he caught in a few times and droped it a few times and totally missed a few times. But each time he did catch the ball we all did a collective cheer and clapped. The last toss he caught we all forgot to cheer and clap, he stood there holding the ball and said "hey you didn't clap". O-man guess we better bring a big cheer squad to any game that he plays...

January 23

McClain loves to play domino's, not the game but the whole 'domino effect' thing. Clint and McClain will set up all the dominos up on thier ends, sometimes in a straight line, sometimes in a squigely line, sometimes in a swirl and even sometimes in a straight line that goes into two lines back into one. Well pretty much Clint does all the standing up on ends and McClain gets to the end and shouts at every one to "watch, watch" as he taps the end domino to see them all 'domino effect 'down the line. McClain and Clint both play this game with the domino's and with the jenga blocks. Ashton really wants to get in on the fun too, when he sees those blocks going up on ends, he drops whatever he is playing with and speeds over there in his army crawl (which is really fast) to get a hold of one of those blocks to get into his mouth. This really upsets McClain, he jumps up and yells "cease him mommy", and is blocking him from getting to the blocks. I totally understand McClains frustration with his brother getting in to his whole 'domino effect' game, but Ashton really just wants one to suck on, bang on the floor and play with, is that to much to ask... Well ask McClain and he will tell you yes. Anyways its a fun little game, build them up to knock them down if Ashton doesn't get to them first...

January 22

Good Morning Sunshine... Is this not the cutest face to greet you in the morning. I didn't catch his smile because its hiding behind those crib bumpers, but Ashton is the happiest little man each and every morning. He just wakes up smiling and talking. When you walk up to the crib to pick him up he just looks up at you gives a huge smile and a yell of excitement and kicks his legs and its just to funny. Then when you do pick him up, he is still smiling and yelling and kicking in excitement and he buries his face is your shoulder and then looks up at you squeals then buries his face in your shoulder again, then he just gives you a big squeeze as if he knows he is giving you a hug. He is just so smushy!

January 21

O-how we love our Bru-Bru! Bryndle is nice enough to come help us out every Friday (her only day off school) and clean for me. We look forward to Fridays here at the Blackmon house not only because Bryndle is doing me a huge favor by cleaning but we love to see her and catch up with whats going on in her life and well McClain loves to pester her. Here is a little photo of McClain doing just that, Bryndle was dusting the celling fan with one of those celling fan duster things, and well McClain wanted to get in on what I guess to look like fun to him. And of course Bryndle hoisted him up on her shoulders and helped him help her do the dusting on the celling fan. Who knew cleaning could be so much fun... Not me...

January 20

McClain always has and I fear will always be an early riser; up with Dad every morning between 5 and 530 am. And well that's a time of day I prefer to be snug in my bed snoozing. Well that was until this past week, I have been getting up with these early birds and I must say, there is something to it. My day lasts forever, I get way more done on the to do list and have time to play with the boys. I have decided early mornings mean less stress at the Blackmon house (well at least for me) These past few days we have been able to fit in a long walk (preparing for 1/2 marathon, don't know if I'm gonna make it) get home have a snack, play outside on the swing, have some lunch some nap times, all while working on laundry and dishes and other odds and ends. And guess what its only 3:45 in the afternoon both boys are napping, dinner is done (because its leftovers, my favorite!) and I am doing my blog and having a little mom time out... Nice... Any how this picture is really all about McClain and getting up and getting going in the morning, having his breakfast, cheerios and coffee waiting for his sausage to get done and showing Dad all about his new Dora the Explorer game on the leapster. Go figure McClain has really shown me the early morning light and I am loving it!

ps I was up at 5:45am

January 19

All those new toys, all spread around the living room, and what does Ashton want to play with... My telephone. I think the telephone was the very first thing Ashton was ever interested in, both the house phone and my cell phone. Wait I take that back maybe it was the remote control. Anyhow he would rather pick up and play with the telephones or the remote controls rather than the pile of toys around him. And if its not the telephone or remote control its his brother's toys (which McClain just loves(not really)) And let me tell you boy-o-boy does he get mad when you take one of those things away from him! And when he gets into his brothers room, look out! Its hilarious he is just a baby but when he crosses through that door he gets so excited its all jumping around and giggles and screaming in delight, he just knows that all the good stuff is hidden in there. But when he is left to just his toys to play with I would have to say that the zoom-zoom is his favorite. Its the funniest little race track that spins the little cars around until it spits them off the course and down the ramp. Of course it lights up and sings too. He will just sit there and watch the cars go around, then put his little hands in there and tries to stop the spinning. And of course other toys make it into the spinning race track among other things like sippy cups. He gets himself up into the rounded out race track to, its pretty funny. Not only does Ashton like McClain's toys but McClain likes Aston's toys(whats not to like, they all look like fun to me too), and well they already fight like brothers. Stealing toys out of each others hands, Aston's yelling at McClain, because lets face it McClain always gets in out of Ashton's hands. So here is to wishing for brothers playing nice with each other, because I know there will be a lot of fights...

January 18

So I have said it before and I will say it again, I am not above bribing McClain to eat well... It is always such a fight with him to eat his meals, and try new foods. And I just felt like if I could get him to start trying some new foods and eating better, that maybe it would stick. So one day I had a bright idea that I would buy a bunch of $2.oo toys 'r' us gift cards (yes the girl at the check out looked at me like I was crazy) and McClain could earn them for his good eating habits among other behavior that deserves a reward. Any how I came home with my $30.oo worth of $2.oo gift cards and gave McClain the plan... Rule #1 Good eating and #2 no whining! (I think I will be adding Rule #3 share your brothers toys with your brother!) And we call the gift cards toys 'r' us bucks. So McClain doesn't get bucks every day, because he doesn't earn one each day, but that is life, so on the days when he really does a great job and earns a buck, I make a big deal of it. He has a special bag that he picks them out of and a special box he keeps them in. Well today was the day we made our trip to toys 'r' us, the big boy toys 'r' us, not the one just for babies according to McClain. LOL. So we went in and after getting the needed items, we headed over to the toy section and I let him look and browse the isles for as long as he wanted, trying to find the perfect toy. He had something in mind and I knew exactly what it was, but I was hoping he would find something else that he wanted. He was looking for this 'fire house', he had one before, and sadly, it's a piece of J-U-N-K. Broke in a matter of hours. So he was so funny walking up and down the isles looking at toys, pointing things out then saying, nope that's not it. So we came across the prized toy he was looking for, and it was actually up higher than he could see, so even though I didn't want him to pick that, I brought it down for him. Because that is how I am, I want him to have what he wants, and well he earned it, it was his bucks to spend. But I did ask if he wanted to look at anything else, nope that was it, that was just what he was looking for. As soon as he had that 'fire house' in his hands it was straight to the check out, he wanted to get home to play. So after we paid, we hit the ride on plane on the way out and off we went. Just a side note on the way home I missed our exit, got off at the next one where there was construction and a 4 mile line to get off, and well kind of 'tapped' the car in front of us by not paying close enough attention to my moving forward. Back to the real story, we got home and ate some lunch and started to assemble the 'fire house', not with a whole lot of luck I may add. But McClain played that with his well earned prize for the rest of the day. O-ya he also added a root beer and white cheese popcorn at the check out...LOL guess he showed me buying junk food with his bucks he earned for eating his fruits and veggies...

January 17

Bath time has always been one of my favorite times of day. I mean whats not to love, the boys are having a good-ol time playing in the water, I get to sit there and watch them splash and play. Then when they are all done, they get out all warm and smelling yummy, then finally into snugly jam-jams for a few more minutes of before bedtime play.(so once again I am making a short story into a long one) So of course Ashton's favorite thing to play with in the tub is the bucket used to rinse him off, but his second best toy would be the little floating star that lights up and squirts up water. He bounces all around when he sees the little star to start dancing around the water with its little shower. I love to watch him try to reach down and grab it, then when he gets a hold of it he gets mad because the water stops, so he drops it back into the tub, and when the water starts up again he tries to grab at the shower of water. He kicks his feet and splashes in excitement, so cute! Then at the end of his bath when the water is all gone and I open up the front of his little tubby chair he pulls it back up like he is not ready to be done, then when he finally decides to stop playing that game he lifts his little arms to be picked up and snuggled into his warm blanket. So like I said, bath time is one of my favorite times of day, whats not to love...

January 16

Ashton is discovering new foods all the time, and even though they are all still baby foods, no table foods yet, its still funny to watch him and see what he likes and dislikes. Of course he likes all his fruits and his juice. He does good with mos of his veggies, peas are his least favorite, but its kind of funny to see him shutter every once in a while with a bite of peas. Anyway I have been giving him biter biskets every day, I break of itty-bitty-tiny pieces and leave them on the try and he will get some up with his fingers and I put some in his mouth. And he loooveeees them! He opens his mouth and lunges forward for more 'cookie' (as we call them) and well I walk away with it, he gets so mad and yells at me. So today he had finished his breakfast and I got the box of 'cookies' out and he was just bouncing with excitement. So I started breaking it up for him and McClain and Clint were also at the table and Clint looks at me and says "give him the whole cookie, he can do it". So once again I reluctantly gave him the 'cookie' worried he would choke on it. O-my-goodness was he happy to get a hold of that thing, he got that in his mouth, took a big -ol-bite and just mushed it around in his mouth, there was no prying that little goodie out of his hand.

January 15

It was another beautiful day here in Hemet, and well it's January 15 so I guess it was time for the Christmas lights and decorations to come down (I know, we have been busy though). McClain was already outside, in his dads hip pocket as always, so Ashton and I decided to grab a big blanket and head out to lay on the grass and breath in some beautiful fresh air, all while Clint worked on getting lights down and McClain ran around. Well Ashton can really get around now, so its a bit of a challange keeping him on the blanket. Here is a little glimpse at his first touch of grass. It was so fun to sit there and watch him pat it with his hand, then pull on it, then look at it and make his funny little noises, and kind of yell at it. You totally forget how much of the world is new to a baby until you see a them experience it for the first time.

January 14

Shrimp! OK, I admit I am and always have been totally afraid of my kids having an allergic reaction to anything, mostly foods, because they are always trying new foods and well you just don't know until you try right. Anyway Clint and I were having shrimp and rice for dinner, I had made McClain chicken to go with his rice. No big deal I know McClain and he loves his chicken and would totally frown on shrimp; in fact I just knew he would be admit about how much he 'don't like it' even though he had never had it. So Clint puts a shrimp on his plate, I just about fell over, what in the world was he thinking, McClain has never had any sea food let alone shell fish. So I walk over to McClain at the dinner table and remove the shrimp and wipe the plate (yes I did) where it was. McClain was totally fine with that. We were all eating and talking and out of the blue he decided he wanted a shrimp and would not let it go, of course Clint jumped up and cut one up for him, knowing I took the first one away. Well McClain ate it all up in about 2 seconds flat. I just stared at him trying to remember to breath. He asked for more... Clint jumped up at cut up 3 more for him. O - my gosh, is he trying to give me a panic attack? Well guess what all was fine, no reaction ( I know, I am totally crazy) and he loves shrimp. Who knew, guess you don't know til you try.

January 13

McClain in one of his favorite shirts, he really doesn't much care what he is wearing for the most part, usually any complaint I get is about the shoes; and that is completely from a function point of view. He knows exactly which shoes work best for climbing the slide or which are best for walking or playing in the snow... Anyway I love this shirt and bought it because well it just makes me laugh. But we call it the 'party' shirt and the way he says my 'party' shirt, well its just about as funny as the shirt itself. Anyway this really has nothing to do with the shirt. McClain also loves to run around in just his shirt and boxer briefs, also totally funny, well he wanted to go outside and play on the swing and slide so I told him he had to go put his pants on and we could go out. So the question is do you notice anything funny about the pants? LOL! He put them on backwards, not because he doesn't know better, but because he likes to argue that the tag goes in the front, and that is true McClain "fashion"...(the arguing part I mean)

January 12

McClain has got to be the funniest kid and best big brother ever! Today was a beautiful day, the first time we have seen real sunshine in all week, and we have all been couped up in this house with colds, trying to stay warm and get healthy. Anyhow... We had just finished up lunch and I asked the boys if they would like to go out side and play on the swing and slide.(like Ashton would answer) So I told them that I would go round up their sweat shirts and boots and we would go out. So then McClain pulls back the window curtains and starts telling Ashton the 'plan'. Telling him that we were going to go out and play and get some air, and that "McClain, Ashton, and Mom had to put on sweatshirts and boots to stay warm and not get more sick". So funny! He does this with Ashton all the time, always talking to him and telling him whats going on, and Ashton just looks at him and listens and laughs and follows him around. I just love it, to sit there and listen to McClain talk to him like he is such a grown up, I have to do it with out getting caught though, because McClain then gets embarrassed and says "what, I just talking to Ashton". LOL!!! It's great!!

January 11

I have to admit I love my boys in matching pj's! I know they are 4 years apart, but I just love to see them at night all clean and smelling yummy in their comfy and playing in their matching feet pj's. I totally makes me smile! You can see that they are such little boys, so totally brothers! And then again in the morning all bright and chipper and refreshed from their sleep. Eating their breakfast and talking about what is going on for the day. I wonder how long I can get them to keep wearing matching feet pj's?

January 10

So Ashton is your typical baby boy, you bring out a box of toys and well the toys get tossed out and the boxed gets played with. These little boxes I use around the house to pick things up and transport them to their homes at the end of the day, and well every time he can get his had on one he ends up with the box upside down on top of his head. The laundry basket too, of course there is always a laundry basket out having to kiddos who go through a lot of clothes and towels, lots of blankets, etc... I always take him for a ride from the dryer into the house in the laundry basket when its full of clean clothes. He kinda just looks at me like I'm crazy, its when we get back into the house and get sat on the floor to fold when he gets excited. He now likes to reach his hand in the basket and pull something out, shake it around, then go for something else. But its best when the basket is all empty and he can flip it over and get under it. Remind me again why we buy them toys? Seems to me like we have everything he possible wants here already, phone, remote, laundry basket, empty water bottle... And yet I feel like when I walk by a toy I think he may like, he just can't be with out it. But I do love to buy him toys too, I just picture his little face and what he will do when he sees a new toy, and then I just can't wait to give it to him. But really I guess they need a little or a lot actually of both, they are little guys the need to learn the ways of this crazy world they are in and a little or a lot (in my kids case) or spoiling too. Like my Grams tells me all your kids smell that way, and as they should.

January 9

Well McClain is usually grabbing everything away from Ashton, whether it may one of Ashton's toys, McClain's toys, my phone, the remote control...any thing and everything that Ashton picks up, McClain takes away, he even takes his bink out of his mouth, just because. So here we actually have a photo of McClain giving something to Ashton. Mind you it is Ashton's sippy of juice, but McClain was kind enough to give it to him. I guess its just a normal thing between brothers, but McClain is going to have to learn to share a little, because he thinks that everything is his, and he thinks that it is fine to play with Ashton's toys ("because its fun to play with Ashton's toys), yet it is not ok for Ashton to play with his.(not that there is much of McClain's that Ashton can play with) Ashton is learning to fight back already though, if McClain comes over to his brother to grab something away from him, Ashton pulls right back, and yells too, It's super funny! So here is to many more fights, over many more toys and brotherly love.

January 8

Well I have a feeling that Ashton is going to get himself into a lot of trouble in his new get around; well what I should really say is that his is going to cause me a lot of trouble in his new little get around... Not only is he quick, quick to get around now, but he can now reach and grab things that he would not have gotten into before. Tonight he was working really hard to get his hands on his big brothers fruit punch. (he did get a hold of one a while ago after McClain walked by and actually set it on Ashton's excersaucer, Ashton actually got a taste of it and ever since that day he has be trying to get a hold of another) You can almost see the determination in his face, really stretching to get that fruit punch. Guess McClain won't be having snacks on the train table anymore. And I better get a better view of what he can grab a hold of now in his little set of wheels.

January 7

'Wheelen' around the house...These boys are too funny, they were both all over the kitchen and living room tonight. McClain riding a tricycle and Ashton right on his tail in the walker. I can't believe how fast Ashton gets around in his new little walker. I'm not sure if we are going to have a race or crash, what ever the case they leave the place looking like they have been through a demolition derby...

January 6

So here is McClain with his new Thomas the Train logging set that he got for Christmas...Let me tell you I have put together many train sets and set up all the track, but this set, o-my-goodness... it really took me a whole hour to figure out how to put this thing together. The first 15 minutes I was trying to figure out how to figure out which track piece went where...Nothing in the directions told me there were numbers on the bottom of the track(well I don't think they did, I may not have read the directions, just looked at the picture) Well any way it was way worth the time it took to put together, McClain has played with it for hours. And I can't lie, I have been playing too (its really a fun set). But tonight Ashton ran the whole thing over with his new little get around, so guess its a good thing I saved those directions (I don't usually).

January 5

"Squishy"... Ashton's newest face, the squishy face. I have no idea what this face is all about, but it is so funny! He does it when he is happy and laughing, when I get the camera in front f his face, when he starts to get mad. Totally makes me laugh every time. Maybe its the feel of the new teeth, maybe its just fun, I don't know. Today he did start sticking his tongue out a little, I'm sure that has to do with his itty bitty teeth, now to try to capture that one on camera...

January 4

Today was the first beautiful day we have had since the 'playground' has been set up, and today was a perfect day to go out for some fun. It was our first chance to all go out together and enjoy the sun, fresh air ans fun. Ashton was in his swing, he took a ride down the slide (not on his own of course). McClian took a ride on each swing, and now wants to go faster, faster, faster. He also took a raft for the swimming pool and put it at the end of the slide to land on (crazy boy) and we all hung out in the downstairs club house, and pretended to have ice cream. I think tomorrow we will take some real ice cream out for our after lunch treats (guess Ashton may have to work on a baby cookie). As you can see, we were all smiles.

January 3

This cute little rugrat, is just getting around everywhere these days. He is still doing the army crawl, but he is quick! Every once in a while he will get up on his knees and rock back and forth, but I don't think it feels so good on the hard wood floor. Ashton is just the sweetest little guy, he is always smiling always wakes up talking his babbling baby talk, I love it! Now he is making the funniest little faces, squishing up his nose, sucking on his lips trying to feel those new little teeth. His first tooth came in just before Christmas and he is waiting on that second one, it looks like its just days away. Soon I will be able to get one of those big toothy baby smiles on camera. O-ya and Ashton is just like his big brother, he loves the camera, such a ham! As soon and I get that camera in front of his face he is smiling, its the funniest thing! Stay posted for the big cheese photo!

January 2

Construction is complete!!!(well with the exception of the monkey bars, the bars were missing from the box) And just it time, because we were swinging and sliding in the rain. But it was fun!!! I just knew McClain would love it...Even though it was not given much attention on Christmas day, because it was just a stack of boxes. Now that its all put together I have a feeling that we will be spending alot of time out in the back yard. And because there is a club house and rock wall and a slide there is lots of fun waiting to be had. Poor Ashton has not been able to take a swing yet because he was napping when it was finally finished, and then it was raining; so he will have to wait because Clint didn't put his baby swing up for some reason. So a good job to dad, he finished the playground in just 1 weekend, despite the weather and what the directions had to say.

January 1

Today was an exciting day, the boys present from Santa this year was a 'playground'. The whole kit and caboodle, swings, slide, monkey bars, and 2 story fort. Anyway the boxes Santa left were opened this morning and construction began. After two hours of separating and labeling pieces Clint started building and continued to build until 6 pm tonight. And well there is still plenty to do. The directions did warn that it would take about 10 hours of work with two people, guess that means about 20 hours for Clint. Poor guy, it was freezing today too, in the 40's. But McClain was right there with him, searching for the next needed piece labeled by letter and number. He can actually see it start to take some shape now. I just can't wait for it to be all done, the boys are going to love it!!! Here is to hoping that there will be some playing on the playground tomorrow!