I'm gonna sleep in a basket

So when your son say he's gonna sleep in the basket he isn't joking...... he's really gonna do it. This is how Andrea and I found Gavin last Sunday night. We were both cracking up laughing so hard that we were both surprised him and Ashton didn't wake up. I can't imagine it was comfortable but I guess when your five anything is.

Tradition

My mom has gotten both the girls an ornament every year for Christmas. It's something that they both have started to look forward to. And she gives it to them at our family Thanksgiving. It's actually something that she has been doing with the whole family these past years. Some of the ornaments that she has gave are home made ones which makes them even better. 

There's two ornaments that are hard to add to the tree but also we look forward to seeing them. And there the ones that Ali made for the girls. They are just so perfect and look so beautiful on the tree. I find myself just staring at them. 

Chatching up

A lot has happened since my last post. 

 Alyssa lost another tooth 

Chastity lost another tooth 

So that's a totally of three for both of them. 

Yeah and Chastity is only 4 and a half. 

Photo Shoots

Had two flat tires in one week.

Random trip to Chicago with some great friends.

Nephew home for Good from the Marine Core.

Dealing with the fact that my Grandma only had 2 weeks left with us on earth. 

Thanksgiving 

Losing My Grandma 

Black Friday

Thanksgiving with the Morgan side

Viewing and Funeral for my Grandma 

Christmas tree up 

Alyssa thinks garland is a french word. 

Spending time with friends

These are just a few things that has been going on. The hardest to deal with is the lost of my grandma. She lived a wonderful life for 90 years. But it never makes it easier to lose someone. And also when your still dealing with the lost of your sister... it seems that it gets a little easier and then I lose someone close to me and all those feelings of Alison come back. This is the third person that has past since we lost Alison. With the death there's good days and bad days. And I know that it will always be that way. 

 

Preschool Sunday

This past Sunday was Chastity's program for Preschool. This will be my last Preschool Sunday for awhile or maybe forever. Which we have attend for this last three years. It's a little sad to say that but also exciting. It means that my little girl is becoming a little lady.It was a wonderful program and all the kids did a great job.

Halloween 2010

We went trick or treating twice this year. First we went to Nappanee on Thursday. And then we went up to all the business on Friday. The girls had a great time both days. It was a lot warmer on Friday though. And we have more candy then we need. But it was all worth it no matter the weather. Thanks again Andrea and Kayla for spending the evening and day with us.

Field trips

Chastity had a field trip on Monday with her class to Fashion Farms. And it was a BLAST!!! I hadn't been there in years and I was glad that I got to go along. It was still how I remember it as a child. This year marks there 31 year anniversary. Which is crazy, glad that there are people out there that are so dedicated to make our little ones so happy and excited about things.

Then Alyssa had one to Health Works in South Bend.  Which is the first time that we had been there. And they had a blast. They learned a lot about germs and eating and being healthy.  She is so against pop now cause she got to see how much sugar is in it. Which she never really had pop anyways but now there's no way she gonna want it. this is a place I'd go back to this winter because there is a lot to do there. It was nice to ride a bus again... it had been so long.

Date Night

My girl friend Andrea and I had hot dates with our kids on Friday night. So we ate at Hacienda and then we went to Paige's Crossing in Columbia City. Were they had a Blast!!! We rode go carts, roller coaster, train, and a spider spine ride. There is a lot of things to do there but not until the kids are a little older. The kids didn't want to leave so then we stop and got ice cream, which made it all better.  

Happy 6th Birthday Alyssa

 

I can't even believe it but Alyssa is 6 today!!! It doesn't even seem possible to me. To see this little baby trun into a little lady. And now that she is in school she has even changed more.
We had a small birthday party for her yesterday at Hacienda. Which is the fav place for the girls to eat at. So we did the cake and sunbro which was the little extra on the cake for her. She also got a new bike!!!
When it's your birthday at our house we let that person be in charge for the day. So she got to make all the choices yesterday and today.
Today we took homemade cupcakes into school for her to share. They even said happy birthday to her on the announcements. Which she thought was also Great!!!!

Brian and Kim's Wedding

My brother Brian and Kim finally got married after dating for 10 years.
It was so nice to get to see all the family. And Christopher even got to come home.
So of course there were tons of pictures taken.

The middle picture is of all the grand kids together. The ages rage from 25 to 6 months.
I'm so bless to have such a wonderful, close family. No matter what I have someone that I can always count on.

Prayers Please

My Grandma hasn't been doing to well this past week. She has been very weak and staying in bed. Last night she was rushed to the hospital. Were her lungs were full of fluid. And if she gets to come home she will have to have in home care.

This is all the updates I have at this time. But will keep you up to date.

My Girls

The one thing that is still unbelievable to me is how my Girls are alike and not alike in so many ways. How their personalize are so DIFFERENT. And that is what makes them be who they are.

They both can be Gilly
Then be Tom Boy.
Easy Going
Bull Headed
Stubborn.
And also all of this at the same time.


But no matter what, I love being a Mommy, Momma, Mom, and even sometimes I get called Rene.

Pre-K

Today was Chastity first day of Pre-K. It was a breezy, and a blast. She was so happy to be around all her friends. And even made a new one.
There going to be learning about outer space so they got a space ship today.
A little bit of me is sad cause this is our last year with preschool.
Which means my baby isn't a baby anymore.

Kindergarten

Alyssa did great here first week of Kindergarten.
There was only one day that she didn't want me to leave her.
And it wasn't even on the first day of school.
She already knows when the little hand it on the nine and the big hand is on the six that it's recess time!!
She know how to do all the drills. Fire/ Tornado/ Lock Down.
She knows what the level are for her  voice 0 to 4. Which 4 is a level not to use.
She has never got a Yellow or Red Card. Its has stayed Green. 
Has got 4 stickers already. Which means she's been good.

I'm so Proud that she has already learned these few things in a short amount of time. I can't wait to see what's in store for the whole year.

Alyssa first day of school.

Colts Game

Chad and I went to the Clots Game on Sunday. Even though it was just a pre-game it was still a blast!! And the tickets were so cheap, which is another plus.
If you haven't seen the new stadium it's something to see at least once. We ended up walking around towards then end of the 3rd quarter so we could see everything. There's a lot to take in.
It's also crazy cause if you don't know where your going just follow all the other blue and white jerseys and you'll find the stadium.
The dome wasn't open, I'm guessing cause it was so hot out so I hope next time we go it will be.

I'm doing it!!!!

That's right I started my photography business. Something that I have wanted to do ever since I was a freshmen in high school.
Please check out my blog. It's a work in the making but it's getting there.


http://reneeashphotography.blogspot.com/2010/08/b-wedding-part-one.html

Glasses

Alyssa got her glasses Friday July 30th. She is doing great with them. She puts them on first thing in the morning and takes them off right after she's ready for bed. We made sure that the case is always in the same spot and is always left there. I'm so glad that she has done so well with them. And now that she has had them for awhile so does really like them. better then she did the first couple of days she had them on.

Darin Hostetler

We lost a great friend
A uncle
A wonderful father
A great son
A brother
A cousin
A great uncle
A uncle to my girls
A best friend to my brother Mike
He will be miss by more then we even know
I will miss his big smile, that always made us smile
Hearing his truck go by the house
You were right by Mike's side when we Lost Alison and for that I was and am so Grateful.
I know that Alison had her arms opened wide when she saw you.
I still don't understand why God takes our love ones when he does.
I'm still not for sure why we lost Ali when we did?
But I know your not supposed to question why.
Please keep his family and friends in your thought.
And give Erin his daughter the strength to get through this hard time.
WE LOVE YOU DARIN


Darin Hostetler obituary

When ever I hear this song I will Always think of Darin and all the times we all hung out summer 2008.

PRAYERS PLEASE

A really good friend of the family was in a motorcycle accident at 230am this morning. Actually his more like a brother to me. My brother Mike and Darin have been friends forever. Alyssa and Chastity call him Uncle Darin.
Please say a prayer, things aren't looking good.
Darin has a daughter who is only 16.
I'm not going to go into a lot of detail right now because I don't feel it's right.
Once i feel it's okay then I will.

Eye Doctor = GLASSES

I had to take both the girls yesterday to the eye doctor. For eye exams. This was a first for Alyssa but she did very well. Chastity makes it look so easy, she's became a pro at it.
Chastity's eyes have gotten better and will need to have her lenses change it 6 months.
Alyssa will be getting Glasses.... yup that's right both girls will now be wearing glasses. Will go back in about a week and they will be ready. She isn't too happy about having glasses but I think once she wears them for awhile she'll see that they help. She also is farsighted and has a lot of astigmatism. Which is something new for us. Chastity is just very very farsighted. If Alyssa didn't have so much astigmatism then she wouldn't even need glasses.
I love going to Dr. Boiling they are so patient with the girls and always take their time with them. We've been going there ever since Chastity was 9 months. And everyone gets such a kick out of the girls.
They both had to get their eyes delighted also, so they were way excited about the fun glasses they got before we left. And there were no tears when it came to getting the drops put in either.

Lost a Tooth

Alyssa lost her first TOOTH. She was and still is so excited about it. You can already see her Big GIRL tooth coming through. The tooth fairy left her a quarter and she says she's never gonna spend it. This girl is already a little pack rat so I'm pretty for sure she wont ever spend it, she saves everything.
She also has another tooth that is louse, it's also on the bottom right next too the one she just lost. I'm guessing it will be gone before school starts.
Which is crazy cause it's just less then a month away. Which is crazy, Chastity doesn't start until after Labor day.
These next few weeks we have a lot going on so I know that it's going to go fast, faster then we all want it too. But I do Love Fall.

Ohio Trip Part 2

On July 7th we went to the Columbus Zoo and it was a blast!!!! There was so much to see and to do there. They also have a very large water park. Which you can go to both or either or but we decided the girls were a little young for that. Plus the pool at the hotel was perfect for them. A place that we will go once there older though.

There were a lot of baby animals at the zoo.

Baby Gorilla
Baby Otters
Baby Lions
Baby Elephant
And Twin Sister Polar Bears

Which was really neat. They have an underground tunnel so you can see them swimming around.

I added a few of the fave pics, but I also added a slide show so you can check out some other ones from the zoo and through this summer so far.