Santa can come in pretty handy...

Ashlee is very much 2 these days. She thinks she runs the house and wears the pants in the family and I am constantly battling with her to prove otherwise. Lately, Mr. Kris Kringle has really been helping me out when it comes to discipline. When she won't listen I tell her "Santa is watching you" or when she back-talks me I remind her "Santa only brings present to good girls and boys who LISTEN to their mommy and daddy". Trust me, this is out of complete helplessness that I do this.

Well the other night Ashlee stubbed her toe and would not stop crying (mind you, it had been a long day of back-talking, crying and no-s, so I was at my witts end). She was totally doing the "fake cry" so I knew she wasn't really hurt. In a moment of true desperation I pulled out the Santa-card. I grabbed my phone and said "Ashlee, mommy is going to call Santa and tell him you are not being a good girl today". This didn't seem to bother her so I called Dale and quitely said "I need you to be S-A-N-T-A for minute" (what am I going to do when she can spell???). So I handed Ashlee the phone and told her Santa wanted to talk to her for a minute. Her eyes got big as saucers as she took the phone and said "Hi Santa!" I don't know what Dale said to her, but it worked, and she was an angle the rest of the night.

Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

Halloween

I'm a little late, I know! Unfortunately, because of my back I wasn't able to take Ashlee trick or treating this year. However, we did make it down to my friend Sarah's church for their trick or treat street. It was totally PACKED! We only stayed about 45 minutes, but Ashlee, Austin and Carson still had a blast getting candy (the lollipops were a BIG hit)!

On Halloween night Ashlee and I passed out candy to the neighborhood kids. It has been YEARS since I have been home on Halloween so I didn't know how many kids to expect. Our neighborhood is older, primarily high school kids, so I didn't expect alot of trick or treaters. Let's just say I didn't prepare very well! I was out of candy by 7:45! So I had to turn off most of the lights and bring the pumpkins inside so it looked like we weren't home. :(

Ashlee and Austin. Cutest little princess and cowboy ever!

Ashlee would not let Sarah take her picture, but Sarah got one anyway. HA!

Austin was pretty excited about his goodies!

Ashlee and Lexi. Lexi is wearing Ashlee's old butterfly costume. So cute!

Silly time...

notice the shoes...lol!
Ashlee cracks me up. She loves dressing herself and her idea of a "matching" outfit is hilarious! She'll get 2 different shoes, a hat, sometimes even mittens (2 different ones), and her shirt usually goes on backwards. But somehow she still looks adorable in it! She is getting really good at putting all her clothes on herself, she even buttoned her entire shirt herself the other day.

Our last trip to the zoo

I finally got my camera back (YEAH!) and was able to download the pictures from our last trip to the zoo. This was way back in August when the weather was nice and warm. I miss summer and hanging with our friends. Who knows, maybe I'll win the lotto soon and then I can be a stay at home mom again! LOL. Hey, a girl can dream, right?

My beautiful girl. I just love that smile.

Tyler looking cool in his shades.

Ash and Ty, best little buddies!

The FOUR amigos! Tyler, Ash, Austin and Carson

The whole gang! Leah, Tyler, Ash, Lex, Austin and Carson. I just love all these kiddos, they are such individuals and have so much personality.

Birthdays and fall fun!

Ash and cousin MacKenzie
The whole gang

No, they aren't really 621, but those were the only numbers I had! :)

My lil' peanut, what a smile!

The kids had so much fun running and jumping in the HUGE piles of leaves that Dj

thought he'd get in on the action!

That swing is the best $5 I've ever spent on a toy. It gets so much use from kids of ALL ages!

Ashlee and her cousins Kaylei and Jacob

Getting a push from grandpa on the swing

************************************************

Dj's birthday was Friday (35, where does time go?) and his mom's was last week, so we thought we'd have the family over for a little joint celebration! I made their favorite, spice cake with cream cheese frosting and ice cream! Yum! I'm happy to say there is cake leftover for me to devore tomorrow.

Before we celebrated, we went outside (what a gorgeous day) to pile up all the leaves and let the kids run around and jump in them! It was so fun and we got some great pictures! Afterwards, Dj and Justin raked up all the leaves, thank you SO much!

Happy birthday Dj and Judy!

Just like daddy...

On Friday night Ashlee and I were driving in the car on our way to my friend Jeannie's house. I stopped at Taco Bell and bought us each a burrito to eat on the way. As we were driving the following conversation occured:

Ashlee: mama, look!
Me: (turning my head): oh, wow, you have bean burrito on your chin!
Ashlee: no, i have a goatee like daddy!

Priceless.