Kids + Sugar + Daddy Babysitting =

This is what happens when my husband is the babysitter.  You will recall he plays roller coaster with them in the laundry basket down the stairs as well as treats them like they are pets.  The latest thing I was educated in is chasing each other with our pants down.  I was chasing Sadie a couple of days ago when all of a sudden she yelled, "Mom, you have to chase me with your pants down and my pants down!" Now don't go all freaky! They had "pants" Todd and so he chased them and as he pretended to catch them, he "pants" them and they thought it was hilarious to run around the house, being chased, while your pants are around your ankles.  I know, we are parenting role models for the 21st century.

Whatever, people, whatever!!

We sometimes get a little stir crazy in the winter and all sugared up from the holiday... what can I say, our judgement is a bit off at times.

This next video is Luke showing his Justin Bieber moves (or Justin Beaver, as Sadie refers to him).  You will notice the toothbrush in his hand.  It is Sadie's Justin Bieber toothbrush she received at Christmas and it is HEAVEN!  She actually brushes for the entire song! So cute!

We love us some Sarah Palin

You better be on the right side of the Ashby Boys, that is all I gotta say.

Luke is in pure weaponry boy heaven. We have created a monster....

Make that two monsters....

Again, may I please ask that you refrain from calling CPS.  It is only a mere .22 caliber rifle.  He will have to wait until he is 7 or 8 to shoot the shotgun or the semi-automatic rifle thingy.  


P.S. I was not accompanying the boys on this fun adventure.  Do you think this would have happened if I would have been present?  NOOOOOO!!!!

Christmas 2011

A few things I want to remember.

Christmas Eve-

• spending the day with the kids (Todd was saving lives and taking names again)- watching Christmas movies...
• baking..
• cooking..
• cleaning our special "once a year" plates and goblets..
• wrapping presents..
• singing along to our Christmas playlist..
• Todd getting home about 4 hours early (a Christmas miracle!), in time for the traditional opening of the Christmas pajamas.
• Our most special girl Maddie, deciding that Todd and I deserve presents on Christmas Eve too. She bought and wrapped both of us some pajamas. Todd's were the cute Santa boxers and my present was a fabulous new robe-sooo soft and fluffy! She is so thoughtful!
• Maddie reading the Nativity to the kids.
• My favorite pie for dessert-Razzleberry pie and vanilla ice cream with a little whipped cream for good measure!
• Getting into bed by 10:45 p.m.! Whewww!

Christmas Day-

• Getting up at 5:15 a.m. to make homemade cinnamon rolls (my kids are worth it!)
• Getting a text at 7:15 a.m from Maddie "Are you ready yet?  Sadie is going crazy!"
• Seeing the looks of excitement on ALL of their faces when they came up the stairs.
• Seeing the look of excitement on my sweet husband's face! He is such a kid at heart and loves Christmas as much as anyone I know!
• All of the favorite gifts were gifts given by Maddie.  She spoiled everyone this year.
• Loved surprising Tanner with a new X-Box.  Something we told him we would never replace, so he was VERY surprised and excited! I was VERY surprised and excited that we could program a time limit on the game and it would shut off after the limit was reached! YIPPEE!
• Loved surprising all the kids with a family vacation to Phoenix, Arizona over Easter weekend.  They don't care where we are going, just think it is cool that they get to stay in a hotel and fly in a plane.
• Our visit at Todd's parents was fun as always.  They are so sweet and fun and we always have a good time with them.
• Drove to Mom's house.  Couldn't get there fast enough for Sadie so she could be reunited with Oreo, her kitty that lives at Grandma's.  You would not believe the relationship that those 2 have.  That crazy cat will sit in her lap for hours, giving her hugs and being as content as if she were suckling at her mother's bosom.  I swear, it is almost spooky how much they love each other.
• Loved playing me some Spongebob Yahtzee with Matt & Sara.  However, I really don't like that he beat me.  But, Sara was the real loser....
• The best was all of the hugs and kisses I received from the little Rasmussen hooligans.  Man, I love those little beasts!

Drove back home on Monday afternoon after a wonderful visit with my family.  I am so blessed to be a part of your lives!  You are all such good people and I love you all very much!!

Training Room Christmas Party

No one will appreciate these pictures except for those who work with these NUT JOBS!  We seriously have WAY too much fun together.  It is really scary to think about what these get-togethers would be like if we drank alcohol.  We are very silly and ...WE think... very funny.

The little smurfette (Kim) and her prince (Kit) in their castle.

Wendell (the cat lady) and Jenny

Beth and her tongue

Erin and Santa

Smurfette and a gigantic melon

The happy Christmas couple

The cat lady with some cat socks

The cat lady being licked on the face by Sophie

Precious Nolan

Our little petite elf, Sophie

David opening his IPad that he left at work

 OUR TRAINING ROOM CHRISTMAS CARD

Cat lady and Smurfette reading a bedtime kitty story

A couple of morons playing with a cat toy 

"I'm too sexy for my Christmas sweater.."

Yes, my very own McDreamy, or is it McSteamy?

Click here for my husband's supreme embarrassment

This is also a huge electronic billboard over the hospital.  All of his friends at the hospital are making fun of him.  And now, I too, will join in the fun!!

Once you are on the site, you can click under "Our Company" for another sexy McDreamy shot.

Just for me

From Sadie who has a little cold:

"Mommy, I did fwee 'bwess you's' all in a row!"  
Translation: Mommy I did three bless you's all in a row!"  
Translation #2 Mom, I sneezed three times in a row.


From Luke at dinner time when he sees me making breakfast burritos..

"Mommy!  I want a quesadilla not an eggdilla! I don't like eggdillas!"


From Madison, my 17 year old daughter who is very smart.

"Umm... Mom, what happens if I took all of my antiobiotics at once.  I know I am supposed to take them 3 times a day, but I just accidently swallowed all 3 of them at once."


How I love being a mom and dealing with sweetness like this everyday!

And now, some pictures of Maddie's latest dance, the Christmas Formal:

I had to take their pictures and we did them outside at an ice skating rink.  It was very, very cold and very dark (which happens at night).  I really didn't know what I was doing, so the pics could have been better if a professional would have done them.  However, I still like them better than the dumb ones done at the dances.  She had a really fun time with her group--no drama! Imagine that!

Christmas Choir Performance

Some very talented moms in my new neighborhood have started a neighborhood children's choir.  They have been working with these little ones for just a few months.  My kids love it and I am so happy that they have this opportunity to get to know some of the other kids in the neighborhood.  Sadie was asked to play Mary during the choir's rendition of "Silent Night".  She was so excited, despite the lame Mary costume of an old sheet and a pillowcase.  The only doll we could find to portray baby Jesus was a nightmarish doll that says the Lord's prayer if you push it's tummy.  I had to coach Sadie very strictly to not hug baby Jesus too tightly to her or push on his tummy otherwise "Silent Night" would have had to compete with the Lord's prayer said by a doll.

My kids faces say it all.  They love being in front of an audience.  Especially when it includes Grandma, Grandpa, Great Grandpa and also Mom, Dad, Maddie and Tanner.  I love all those who came to support Sadie and Luke in their grand performance.  It was fun!!

Those days

Do you ever have those days?

You know... one of those days?

Recently I have been having one of those lives.

I don't know what is wrong with me.

Maybe it is SAD- you know, seasonal affective disorder-

a depression that settles on oneself with the coming of cold and darkness and snow.

I don't know.

I just know that these 2 little monkeys keep me going.

What a blessing to be able to care for them-

Love them and kiss them and hug them.

It does lift my heart to look at them playing and happy.

Even in the 20 degree temperature, I feel warm when I look at them.

I love the naughty look on Luke's face as he rams his really expensive toy into

his sister's really expensive toy.

I adore Sadie's choice of pink and black striped socks with her polka dotted dress.

I smile as I watch them play.

Sadie thinks she is so cool.

Luke knows he is awesome.

I am blessed to be a mother of these crazy kids.

I am thankful that I don't have the luxury of laying in my bed all day, depressed.

I am grateful for the joy that these little bundles bring me.

Addendum:

This wonderful Ashby moment came to a close just after I put away my camera.

It ended with Sadie under the front passenger tire of Luke's sweet ride.

I am not kidding.

Joy and bliss and Happy Hanukkah to me.

Back to bed I go.

Don't call me or the authorities- we will all live!