Hiatus

Ok, so I'm taking a "break" from blogging. And, before you groan and roll your eyes let me explain. Before I had Camden I was in a funk and would waste countless hours on the computer. In that time I developed friendships that I truly treasure now and would be lost without. But, I also developed a bad habit of not managing my time and ignoring more important things. It wasn't unusual for me to check my email 20 times a day or refresh my blog to see if someone commented over and over... and then it was Facebook. Oh my goodness, Facebook! I love it! I love the rekindled friendships and the new connections. I won't mention blog surfing and online shopping and etc etc... But now, I simply cannot keep up. With my kids, my chores, cooking, homework, you name it. I have been trying to keep up my "online life" but it's causing me to suffer in ways I never imagined- like when I got a moment I would read blogs or Facebook instead of showering and when I was ready to bathe, Camden would have a screaming gassy fit and guess what? No shower that day! Or, I would stay up late and browse online and not go to bed with my hubby and before you knew it, it was 2am and my kids needed to be up at 6. I still try and read every one's blogs and I do get on Facebook but it's usually a quick check on my iPhone, so I don't keep my butt glued to the office chair (which is getting flat in the seat area, hmmm). I love my blog and I love that y'all read and love it. But, I HAVE to start prioritizing. I am just waaaay too busy to waste time on the computer. This is in no way an insult to those of you who love to blog and still have time for it, keep it up. It makes the rare 10 minutes a day I do get online (usually to add lunch money to the kid's school accounts or check the weather) all the more enjoyable. I will TRY and blog here and there, but it's no longer #1 or even #8 on my priority list. Keep me on a reader, check here and there. I still have a list of things to write about and pics to post, someday.... I LOVE YOU GUYS! And, I hope that y'all still want updates on me and the kiddos, so at the very least I will try and keep y'all updated on the family.

Not so fast....

Yeah, so note to self: no more pep talks! I think I jinxed myself something AWFUL after my last post... Yesterday was terrible, and that's a major understatement! I'm having that "I have to be Superwoman" thing going on. I get frustrated and overwhelmed way too easy. And while I did feel like a Rockstar when I wrote my last post, I am now back down on Earth. I have got to learn to RELAX! Any tips? I know there are good days and bad days, and I know it will get better and eventually I will have an empty nest. However, what the hell am I supposed to do in the meantime?

Just Because

Ya know, I really wish I was always positive, but I'm not. I really wish I didn't compare myself to others, but I do. I really wish I didn't think the grass was greener on the other side, but I sometimes do. I get irritated at myself for being that way. It's so dumb! Call me an idiot, call me a brat, call me blind- whatever you want. I admit that I am dense, among other things. Anyway- the reason for this post is to pump me up really. I have a wonderful family and am so blessed but have found myself overwhelmed and frumpy and cranky among other things. But today I sat on the computer and looked at a bunch of old posts (sorry for the lack of new content) and it hit me like a ton of bricks. I am funny! I am smart! I am sorta cute and sometimes I look pretty! My house isn't as bad as I think it is. My family is cool, and nutty, and unique and MINE! I always think we don't do enough fun or memorable stuff, that we don't have a cool family like EVERY one else...I certainly don't document enough memories of the things we manage to do. And, I finally realized how silly I am! Shame on me... I have been re-reading my old posts and I am a swell person and a good wife, mom, daughter, sister, friend, etc. and we DO have a cool family and I have a pretty amazing life. No, I don't get to travel to neat places, I can't take good pics to save my life, I am chunky, my family is wacky and I could go on and name my "flaws" forever and a day but I'm not gonna. I'm just gonna sit here and enjoy my family today and every day. Now, you go back and read some of my old old posts and I am gonna go spank myself.

First Food!

Cam had his first taste of cereal on Monday. And, he hated it! He gagged far worse than any of the other kids ever did. I thinned it to almost pure formula (what? I am all out of pumped breastmilk...) with a tiny bit of cereal and it was still too thick for him. He did look cute in his french fry bib and high chair though! I am thinking he'll survive until we try again, especially since at his doctor appointment yesterday he weighed in at 15.4 pounds and 26.5 inches long! All of the many many hours spent nursing are paying off. She was very pleased with his growth given the fact that he spits up so much. He is so sweet and I am so in love with him. He is super close to rolling over (finally) from back to front and giggles all the time. His favorite thing to do now is try and sit up when I am changing his diaper or he is in his tub or swing. I can't believe he is already 4 months old, time sure does fly! Anyway- here are some pics of the momentous occasion. Enjoy!

blessing the food


watching mommy mix his cereal


3...2...1


GAG, so blurry but sooo funny!


yuck, ick, blech!


hey! This isn't what I'm used to eating...


no more mommy!!


hating being wiped up almost as bad as eating cereal

Football Party!

Friday night was Chan's last ever football banquet. It's a big deal for Senior moms because you get to decorate your own table, or half a table in our case. You can have a full table if you pay $25 per chair. Multiply that by 10 people plus money for decorations and it gets expensive! Little did we know the folks we were sharing a table with were no shows... Anyway, I have been looking forward to this for years. Little did I know when the time came that I would have a clingy 4 month old who could have cared less about my need to craft! However after working off and on for two days I managed to do a decent table display. Plus, I got to go on a date with Jon, Chan, and Hunter. Thanks so much to Erin and Vince for watching the other three kiddos while we "partied". Anyway- here are some pics of the table and a very few of us.

World Class Teenage Drama Queen

This:



Has turned in to this:



and I am SCARED! Hold me....

Behind the Scenes

I have to THANK my friend Erica for taking such great great pictures of our family for our Christmas cards. At first, she sent me only the best ones but Jon wanted to get all of them, so I begged her for the not so great ones, mainly for laughs. And, boy they didn't disappoint. Erica is just learning photography and wanted some practice with a bigger group and I am broke so I paid her in cookies. The kids did as well as could be expected but were still giant turds much of the time. And, I have proof! Take a look at these bad boys. My kids are boogers but man they are funny and I wouldn't trade any of them and their drama/antics/monkey business/crap for the world!

I is sorry...

I is sorry for not being a better blogger and most importantly a better blog reader and commenter. I will try to do gooder on this, forgive me.
Sincerely,
Ashley

Hello?

Is there anybody out there? Does anyone still read this??

Handbook for 2010

My sweet sister in law Sarah sent this to Jon who then forwarded it to me. Sounds like a good plan to me!

Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants...
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2009.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minute walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake.
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. God heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come.
38. When you awake alive in the morning, be thankful for it.
39. Your inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Last but not the least:
40. Please share this with everyone you care about, I just did.