The Big "13"!

We officially have a teenager in the house!  It is hard to believe that Ashton Kim has gone from this cute baby girl to this beautiful teenager in just the blink of an eye!  There is something so special about your first born...the child who made me a mother...the child that you "experiment" with and never quite feel like you know what you are doing.  I love her so much for her patience with me and kind heart.

She was so excited for her 13th birthday, as she is every year!  We started bright and early with some doughnuts and chocolate milk from Dad.

Then it was off to get a haircut and go shopping.

It was so much fun to just be alone with my Ashton.  We almost never get this opportunity, and so we really lived it up.  Instead of getting Ashton a bunch of gifts this year, she wanted to just shop together.  I was relieved because it meant we could actually get things she wanted.  It was so fun to pick out clothing together and just celebrate this great gal.

Next up, we met her friends at Olive Garden for a late lunch.  Tod and the kids also came (minus baby Luke).  We let Ashton and her friends sit at one end of the table, while the family congregated on the other end.  There was a lot of talking, laughing and eating.  It was a good thing we were almost alone in the restaurant, because we were loud!!  After our meal, the girls decided they wanted to walk back to the house.  I was happy to oblige since it gave me a bit more time to get everything ready.

Then it was time for presents and cupcakes.

Luckily, it was a beautiful day, so the girls just hung around outside jumping on the tramp, playing soccer and just having fun.  They are a really energetic bunch...and they certainly kept us all entertained.  This teenage age world is new to me...and it is a strange, yet wonderful place!!

Our wonderful neighbors walked over to celebrate and Boggy (Grandma) was in town which made it extra special.  She jumped right in to help out since Tod had to take Jordan to her last softball league game.

What I love about Ashton's friends is how unique they all are...they are definitely all their own people and they have really quirky, fun personalities.  It is really refreshing and fun to be around them, and I am so thankful that Ashton has them in her life.  It was a really great evening spent together.

Things about Ashton at age 13:

-  Ashton has such a kind and generous heart.  She really loves deeply and feels deeply for others.
-  She still loves soccer.  This year, she finally found a great team (the Blitz) and has really enjoyed learning more about the game.  She also really enjoyed her Dads Club soccer season with her school team.
-Ashton has a special gift for playing with children.  Her siblings love her because she comes up with the best imaginative, entertaining things to play.  I do not know what they would do without her on Sundays.  I love how she can still come up with elaborate play scenarios for them.  She is going to be a great mom.
-She still loves animals.
-Ashton has always been a great writer, but this year she found real joy in her writing.  I am amazed and blown away at her ability to write poetry, stories, articles, etc.  She has started saying that she hopes this can become a career for her.
-She has continued to really excel on her violin.  She founds great fulfillment in her music and practices very hard.  She also loved choir this year.
- Ashton loves all things Minions.  Her friends gave her lots of Minion things, and we gave her Minion sheets for her bed.
-Ashton is really, really smart, and she does so well in school.  She takes responsibility and works really hard.  She had lots of really big projects this year, and she did so well.
-She has done really well at middle school and has made us so proud.  It is hard to attend a school where very few people share the same values and goals as you, and yet she has held her head high and remained committed to who she is and her beliefs.  I marvel at her strength.
- I have seen her spiritual side really grow this year.  She and I have had lots of deep conversations about personal beliefs and the blessings of the Gospel.  She reads her scriptures diligently and honestly strives to learn the teachings of the Gospel.

I love this girl so much.  When I look at her, I see goodness and light.  She and I have had our ups and downs this year...we are both stubborn and do not like to bend.   And we have gone head to head on a few things.  But at the end of day, I know that she loves me, and I love her.  She is always quick to express her gratitude and love.

Happy 13th Birthday Ashton Lu!  We love you!

Birthday Boy

A couple of weeks ago, our boy turned 6 years old!!!  How can it be?  This guy has brought us so much joy and fun!  He has such a zest for living and is so full of energy.  Cole was super low key about his whole birthday celebration, but we managed to convince him to let us spoil him a little bit!
Of course, he was up early (sooooo early with our new school start time) to enjoy some balloons and new clothes.

A few quick pictures before school starts at 7:30 AM!!!!

As it turned out, Tod wasn't feeling great, so I got to take Cole-man on a lunch date all by himself. Such a rare treat.  I love this boy so much.  His choice....of course, Hyvee for Chinese Chicken.  We had a great lunch discussing construction workers, constructions sites and the intricacies of kindergarten.

After school, it was time for more fun...at Chuck E. Cheese.  We had the place mostly to ourselves...and we had a blast!

At this point, Cole was still waiting for the whole family to be home at the same time for presents....so he got to play outside with his very best buddy for awhile.

And then finally Ashton got home from swim practice, and it was time for presents.  Cole wanted a treasure hunt (like Jordan) and Jordan was a good sport to hide all the presents, make the clues and help him find the gifts.

Some legos from Ashton

A bucket of balls from Jordan

More legos from Regan

And lots of "help" from Baby Luke

Finally a gift from Mom and Dad

His long awaited remote control car....Cole has always loved remote control cars, and he has been through quite a few.  This year we wanted to get him a really nice one that might actually last.  He loved it, and so did Dad.  We will see how long this one lasts.

Then it was time for some birthday dinner at Outback....so yummy and the kids were so good...and the waiter was nice even though we asked for at least 7 loaves of bread!

We finished the night with a Whitey's cake (mint chocolate chip)...the birthday boy's favorite and one of the only desserts he will actually eat.  With a big family, we have decided that birthdays are all about the birthday person.  It is the one day of the whole year when it is all about YOU!!!!  March 11 was all about Cole.

Oh this boy!  I love him more than words can say.  My first little son has a place in my heart that is all his own.  I remember when I only had girls, I could not imagine having a boy...and now, I cannot imagine not having that special relationship and love.

Some things to remember about Cole at age 6:

- He is still all boy!  He loves cars, trucks, planes, trains, construction vehicles, etc.  He loves to cruise around the neighborhood on his motorcycle.

- The only books he likes to read are non fiction about the above mentioned things and Berenstain Bear books.

-This boy can eat.  He especially likes lasagna, rice, steak, chicken nuggets, and fruit.  He really doesn't like sweets much (only one in the family!).

-He loves Legos and is getting very good at building on his own.

- He has a hard time controlling his mouth...sometimes he speaks like he is 16...and not in a good way.  We are working on it.

-Even though he can be a real pill, he has the softest most sensitive side.  He can be so kind to his sisters and his little brother.  

- He is quick to give compliments and often thanks me for dinner or for doing household things.

-He has enjoyed kindergarten and yet it has been a real challenge for him academically.  It has been very special for me to spend so much time subbing in his grade and seeing him so often at school in the classroom setting.  He loves his teacher and his friends and lives for recess and lunch!

-He loves to play with his neighbor Aiden and eat dinner at his house.

-Cole loves his primary teachers (the Larsens) and was so thrilled when they gave him his own scriptures.

-This boy likes to watch TV...he loves to come home from school and crawl into his bed with the kindle for a couple of "shows."

-Cole is most happy when he is outside running around.  Recently we went to the park, and I was watching him just come alive in the sunshine and fresh air.  Winters are so tough on him.  He just hates not being able to get out.

-This boy can work.  He likes to be right with Tod doing projects and getting things done.  This winter he helped shovel and snow blow.  Last week he was chipping concrete out of the downstairs shower.  He is a hard worker.

-He is obsessed with driving and cars.  He is always pointing out the speed limit and makes sure that whomever is driving is well aware of their speed as well as the status of the gas tank.

-Cole is a man of questions.  He asks so many questions about how things work and why things are the way they are.  He has taught me to look at things from a different perspective.

Cole didn't really want a big party this year, but he did agree to have a few friends over for breakfast the Saturday after his birthday.  It was perfect.  We are so thankful for good people in his life.

Happy 6th Birthday Cole Man!!!