School and A Birthday

Back to school shopping and lunch at our favorite place.

Waffles, whip cream and blueberries!

Cupcakes and ice cream. Everyone is focused on dessert.

Oh man it has been a busy end of summer. I can not believe how fast summer vacation flew by. Blah. I hate that. The last few weeks of summer were spent swimming, hanging with cousin Xander, and Lovey and Grandpa Darryl. It was a great finale for a fun summer.

Monday Ethan started 7th grade, at a new school. He changes class every period, and has a locker! Big stuff. He already really likes it. Hayden started 3rd grade. He really likes his teacher, but I think he misses having his brother at school. And Libby started preschool. My babies are all growing up. (Sob, sob!)

Tuesday was Hayden's 8th Birthday! He brought treats to school to share with his friends, and we had Grandma, Poppa, and Noah over for his special dinner. Hayden was very excited about getting a new bike, a football and even some cash. We are having a "Glow in the Dark" birthday party next week with his friends. And he will get baptized in September. Eight is a big year! I love you Hayden. Happy Birthday!

A Crafty Week

We made a trip to the Lego store.

Card games.

Potty Training.

Quilting and a new party.

These are all pictures from instagram. So in love with instagram lately! If you want to follow me on instagram, my name is ashleyelizabethhancock. Do you instagram? 

This week I was feeling a little inspired to craft. I bought coordinating fabric for my office, forever ago, to make a quilt. But that was maybe two years ago, and it has been on my to do list for that long! Yes, I know. I can be the queen of procrastination sometimes! This was the week I was determined to check it off my list. I choose to do a very simple strip quilt, which honestly, can we really even call it quilting? Probably not. But it is done, so who cares! My other craft inspiration is a new party for my shop. I have a few parties I am working on. The first is a butterfly party. Then I am going to get started on a Halloween party, as well as a black cat party. They will all coordinate, which makes it easier/cheaper for me to make. I am excited, I think this butterfly party is going to be really fun. I love the black and white chevron, with the gold and bright colors!! More pictures to come!

We also decided to start potty training. Libby has really sensitive skin and gets really bad diaper rashes, therefore spends a lot of time, when we are home, diaper-less, (Au natural). So we decided to make it official and she has been doing awesome. The easiest of the three. Hayden was really easy too, but Libby is a champ.

This week has been stormy! Gray clouds, windy, rainy. Love it. Ethan has taken advantage of it being slightly cooler (like 97) and went to the skate park with cousin Noah. This stormy weather makes me want to curl up read....but I have kids, that want to be entertained (so inconvenient!) so we've spent a lot of time playing cards. I taught the boys how to play speed, one of my favorite card games. And Ethan taught us how to play crazy eights. Its been so fun. When the kids get bored they start to rough house so I've been trying to come up with new things to do to redirect their competitive and aggressive behaviors. Some days are really long! Not going to lie! But we are having fun together coming up with new things to do.

What are your favorite things to do at home??

Lemons, Hide and Seek and Life Vests

Yesterday Hayden, Ethan and Libby played hide and seek. It was so sweet the way they were including Libby. Libby was in heaven, she loved it. She even came up with a few hiding places too, but mostly she liked looking for them. After playing for awhile she put the boys hamper on her head, and said "where is Libby?" It was so funny. She couldn't see anyone, so of course no one could see her, right?!

Libby finally held still long enough for me to do a quick little braid. It was sloppy, but I was elated. She has so much hair I've been wanting to play with it and do some cute hair dos, but she apparently doesn't share my enthusiasm for hair styling. I have also recently started using regular shampoo on her hair, I know your thinking who cares, but it feels like a huge milestone to me, because that means she does not have baby hair anymore, she has little girl hair!! And its so EXCITING!! (oh I love having a girl!)

 We haven't been able to talk hayden into trying the wakeboard yet, he will do the knee board sometimes, but mostly he likes to play in the water and throw the football around with Dad. In this picture hayden is holding onto the handle and shawn is pulling him to the swim step.

Another milestone: Since Ethan is 12 he leagally doesn't have to wear a life vest on the boat, and he can "legally" hold the flag! He is so happy, and a little smug when all the other littles are putting on their life vests....Sometimes its the little things folks!

Saturday Ethan's flag football team played in the play offs. It was so hot. They had to play five short games. They didnt win, but they made a touchdown on the best team in our Anthem league, which kicked the other team out of the play offs. Oppse! Ethan has had a BLAST playing this season. And we already have him signed up for the fall season. This is huge for Ethan becasue we usally have to talk him into playing sports. Yay Ethan!

We are anxiusly waiting for lemons to ripen and check on the tree regularly. Its so exciting. We love all things lemon. Fruit trees are illegal in Anthem, so I can niether confirm nor deny that this tree is actually in our yard. We wouldnt do something like that!

The kids have only been out of school for a week and a half but I am already certain this is going to be the best summer ever. It might have something to do with the fact that I am not working this summer, yup that definelty has something to do with it. My goal for the summer is to relax (aka be lazy), but use our time effectively. I have come up with a schedule that gives the kids downtime to do what they want, but they also have responsibilites each day, some of which they can on their own time, some they have to do a certain time. Every summer I set goals for each child that we need to work on. One goal that I have this summer for the boys is to work on their typing skills. Ethan is really good but sometimes he uses the peck method because he thinks its faster. So during their computer time they will work on improving their typing skills for 20 minutes. Another goal that I have is I want to teach my boys some life skills, such as how to cook easy meals (and maybe desserts, becasue thats way more fun) and clean. They are great at helping around the house, but I have yet to relenquish some of my deep cleaning jobs because I want it done right! But I know they are capable, I just need to give them the opportuinity to learn. So we'll see how it goes, I'll keep you posted on our summer endevors!

Happy SUmmer!

Spring Flag Football

This season has been a blast so far. The best season ever up to this point, I think. Both of the boys are playing hard, and they have great teams. It is fun to watch them get into the game and do their best. Hayden gets to be one of the quarterbacks for his team and he loves it. He is taking his position very seriously and is outside throwing the ball around every chance he gets! Although I am not sure how good of practice it is throwing the ball around with silly old Mom, but hey it is fun! Ethan is fast and has pulled lots of flags. And every time he does he does a little dance and he swings the flag over his head. Yes, we are working on being modest, but admittedly it is pretty funny to watch and inwardly I am doing a little dance with him! Shhhhh don't tell!

On a different note Shawn is getting ready to do a job for clowns. No seriously two real clowns! He came home with a bag full of balloon swords, poodles, ladybugs and hats. It has entertained all three of them all day long!! Who knew a balloon sword could be so entertaining?

Libby's Fort

 Look who I caught snuggling up with Libby! Sneaky kitty isn't even supposed to be inside!

Libby's 2nd birthday is on Monday. I can not believe my baby is two already! Shawn's Mom brought her present over a little early the other day, and I am so excited about it! Libby loves to play outside but she won't go out there by herself, so I am really hoping this will encourage her to go out and play. Even Hayden was caught having fun playing on the fort with her yesterday!

Thanks Grandmaand Papa, we love Libby's present!

Painting

Libby found the boys paint! This entertained her for maybe 30 minutes. Almost worth the mess! Do you do that? Do a cost analysis for the length of entertainment verses the mess they are creating. For example allowing her to unroll a roll of toilet paper could potentially entertain her for 15 minutes, which will give me enough time to do the dishes that are piled up in the sink, or perhaps (and more likely!) read the last few pages in my book! Anyway back to painting....She was so happy. How can I deny her this simple joy! I loved her paintings. Quite the budding artist.

our valentines day

 My valentines that I gave to my Sunday school class. And Libby wore her Queen of Hearts Valentines Day skirt to church...so festive. To much? Maybe, but I love Vday.

We had a great heart filled valentines day. The boys brought their special treats to school for their parties, and were excited (more embarrassed) to see who their valentine would be. Hayden had several (wink! wink!). Just kidding, they are way to cool for girls still, but they won't hesitate to tell you that they both have admirers. For our special dinner we had Grandma and Max, her dog, over and we ate our usual heart shaped meatloaf and pink smashed potatoes, yummy. I decorated the table in red and candles, and added red foam lips to the straws (thanks to pinterest for the idea!). There was lots of love'n around here and I hope your house was too!

Glitter and a Banner

Is it to early to be talking Easter?!

I've recently opened an etsy shop (yikes!) for all of my crafty endeavors, namely banners and all things party. But it is next to impossible to get anything done with a toddler. Good thing I think she is so cute because it is so frustrating! She is just like her Mommy and wants to play with all the fun crafty supplies. Libby loves to color. She colors most of the day. Her favorite is to color with markers, I don't know how she always manages to find the permanent markers because I hide them. And she is quite the artist, and does not like to limit herself to coloring on paper, oh no. She likes to color on the wall, and the couch, but mainly on herself. Ummmm not so cute. She also loves my glitter, and has dumped out a few of my little vials. I now hate glitter. It is next to impossible to clean. Thank you Libby for making the whole house so sparkly. So sweet.

So if you'd like to check out my shop, you can find it here: A Lovely Party, on etsy. I currently just have this one bunny banner available, but I am working on other Easter and Spring designs, so there is more to come soon. Or if you'd like to see a certain design let me know, I love suggestions!

First Haircut

Libby Lou just got her first real hair cut. Aunt Carly took some clippers to her hair during the summer, but that wasn't an official hair cut. She sat perfectly still, well not really, but still enough! Her hair was starting to get long and unruly in some spots, but she still has a bald spot that is coming in. So it was time to clean it up. I was really nervous. But I am so happy I did it. I like it a ton more now. And her hair is even long enough on top to put a little clippie in. She hates headbands and pulls them off immediately, it drives me bananas. Any one have any hints to get little ones to wear them??

beautiful girl

This is one of my most favorite times of the day. Libby loves bath time.

Is she the most beautiful baby you have ever seen? I think she might be!

Toes anyone?

Elizabeth has the most perfect feet for kissing...yes even sucking. She does it all day long.

Libby's admirers and Birthday's

Ethan's 10th Birthday wishes!

Hayden jumping all over Grandpa Darryl. He's such a good sport!

oh a little Rockband

followed by a whole lotta jumping!

I am finally getting around to downloading all of my pics from the past several weeks and there is so much to share. I feel so blessed, we have had lots of friends and family come to see and love on Libby.
My Mom, step Dad, Amberly and Radley came out to see Libby be born, and stayed the weekend to help out with my boys. My Mom had to go home after a few days, but my sis Amb stayed the week to help me out. We had so much fun, I loved having her and Radley here. We watched movies, ate way to many treats, had a lesson in crescent roll making, Amb cleaned my house from top to bottom....thanks Amb, you spoil me rotten! It was such a treat to have her all to myself, that rarely happens!
Then on the weekend Shawns parents came out, and Amberly's husband and son came out also. We celebrated Ethan's 10th Birthday with cake and a little rockband! The boys lived on the trampoline pretty much the whole weekend! Uncle Jim came over and made us shrimp and salmon! All in all it was a great time!