Ashland 2013

Oh boy am I behind on blogging!  It's been a while and I have so much to catch up on!   Let's start with our Ashland, OR trip back in November.  The girls, Kristine Kristina, and I all headed down for two weeks of fun (and work for me).  We got a great place right in town - I scored a great deal since it was slow season.  It was nice to be able to walk everywhere and of course to Dylan's favorite place in Ashland - Lithia Park.

Mom trying to pack, and repack, and repack, and repack - wonder why I had to repack so many times?

Dylan at Lithia Park our first night in town.

"Mom, this park has so many beautiful memories for me."  Dylan's quote as we walked through the park.

Asa soooo happy to get out of the car and check out our new place.

Asa kicking back in her tray-less high chair.  She made herself right at home.

Playing in a big pile of leaves the gardener had just racked up at our place.  Oops!  Guess it was worth the big smile on one little girls face. 

Black mushroom girl.

Ha!  Dylan's front teeth.  Apparently at the Science Museum they were suppose to be looking at bees but D decided it would be fun to check out her teeth. 

Back on top of the climbing castle.  "Mom, it feels so good to be back here on top."

"Look at me and my cute little teeth."

Dylan's new sticker book she worked so hard to get.  She was so fabulous all week so she earned her prize!  Nice job D!

Sweet little baby bean loving the swing.

and still loving the swing.

Dylan got to come to work with me one morning.  One of the Stylists had made oreo turkeys - which made for an extra special day at the office with mom.

Dylan's deck at work - how quickly she caught on.  She came to be my assistant and ended up leaving as an $9000/day Art Director (which she figured out meant she would be my boss).  When I got home that night Dylan had an envelope waiting for me which had a check for a $100 she made to me for being such a hard worker - mind you she worked a deal for herself to be paid $9000/day.  What a great boss!

A hike with dad

One day Dylan had a really really really did I say really hard day.  At the end of the day when she calmed down and just before bed we were talking about the day.  Dylan says to me "Mom, I think the reason I had such a hard day was that I forgot to put a smiley face on my calender."  So the next day we started the smiley face calender - it's been working great (and not it's not just for kids - a few co-workers have been using it as well).

Funny story!  So meet Mr. Carrot (the bunny by the tip cup).  Mr. Carrot was a present from a dear co-worker whom I love and loves Dylan.  When D came to help me work at 'the candy factory' one day she left with Mr. Carrot and yes, of course some candy - Cindy can't help herself around Dylan.  Oh Mr. Carrot.  He's become almost like a family member to us.  One day Dylan decided she wanted to do a dance performance so she set up a little stage outside our little house.  She then asked her dad (who came down to Ashland to join our fun) to bring some people down the drive way to watch her.  He had a better idea.  So they packed up and walked a block down the street to the Co-op where Dylan fit right in with the other performers.  She staked her spot set up Mr. Carrot, her tip cup, had Casper Babypants singing from dad's phone, and got busy with her performance.  Sadly she did not make any tips (what people?  come on!) but she did get some people to dance with her (okay not so bad).  Video to come of performance.

We had a great time and the two weeks passed by quickly. We even had a facetime birthday party for dad which included chocolate cake which I let Dylan take a big bite out of.  Asa loved her new favorite food - chocolate cake!

  birthday bash from Dylan Ray Clark on Vimeo.

 Kristine had to leave so Matt came down at the end to help us drive back home and to come hang out for a little fun time with the girls.  We made it back home in good time (over 8 hour drive) - thank goodness we have a couple of great little travelers!  Home just in time to unpack and repack to head to Montana for Thanksgiving.  Hope to get those shots up soon. 

Sweet Sisterly Love

Need I say more - this is true love right here.

Sweet Penguins

Cutest sweater ever!  Found it thrift - best $1.50 I ever spent.

Halloween

Halloween started a few weeks early with a big bash at Little Gym. Dylan or should I say 'Jasmine' was so much on the move it was hard to get a good photo but here's one of her carrying Asa (who was dressed up as super baby).

Next we were on to the West Seattle Harvest Festival - Asa was dressed as a baby Babushka.

And Princess Jasmine was buying flowers with her Auntie Beans.

For Halloween treats Dylan made caramel apple treats and we delivered them to all her good friends.  Apparently they were a hit.

Then we were on to Trick or Treating in the Admiral district.  After wearing her costume and wig all day at school already we disposed of the wig and just went as a Ginie (although according to Dylan she was still Jasmine just with out the wig). 

After several days of festivals, sweet treats, school dress up, it came the actual night of Halloween (that goodness, cause this momma was getting exhausted).  This year was a hoot with all our new neighbors moving in - all with kids.  A neighbor up the street had a pre-trick party.  The kids had a blast and then all headed out on the streets to do some Treating.

Here's Asa as Ninja Baby or perhaps a Cat Thief - don't let those sweet cheeks fool you the girls is fast as lightening.  Nothing is safe around her.

First Chopsticks

Beautiful Girl

"Mom take my picture and post it on Instagram."

Penguin Hunter

In search of penguin at the zoo.

D's Unicorn

Dylan scored this awesome flying unicorn costume from a friend. She was dying to put it on the other day but I wouldn't let her wear it to school ("Awe Mom!").   Right when she got home she put on the costume did a hilarious unicorn dance and then said "Oh man this thing is seriously hot.  Now will you stick me in a box and deliver me to Dad?"  Which I did.

Yes, that is in fact Dylan under that unicorn head.

D's Art Opening At Casa Clark

Now showing on our back door through the end of the month.

Kissy Kissy

"Oh I'm so cute I could just kiss myself!"

Asa - 9 month Check Up

Still smiling - especially playing with all her sister's toys!  She's moved from the big bin of Legos to Fisher Price Little People and Dylan's doll house.  Yes, it's official Asa is now crawling - faster and faster each day.  Dylan and I have been buttoning down the hatches over here at Camp Clark - clearing paths, closing doors, grabbing small object and hiding them, and unburying Asa from everything she pulls down onto herself.  Dylan has been a huge help, I've been really impressed - she's even helped reminded her Dad by getting out the toilet paper roll (if it fits through the roll then we put it away!)

Well it's been 9 months already - wow!  Asa did great at her check up - still rolling in at the top of the growth charts - weight 20lbs 15 oz (85.95%), height 28.94" (88.10%), and head (okay don't laugh) 46.2cm (94.39%) (I said don't laugh!)

Her words are blah, blah, baa baa, and ma ma.  It's cute she'll wake up from her nap, stand herself up at the end of her crib towards the door and call out 'ma ma.'  She knows the sign for milk, has 2 teeth, will look at you when you call her name, waves, and smiles the biggest grin when seeing her sister and her dad!  Its very sweet. 

Oh how you are growing so quickly little bean - slow down!

Asa's First Beach Trip - A Taste Of Sand

We were suppose to go camping this past weekend to shake off our Maggie blues but Miss Asa woke up with a really bad ear infection so no go for us.  So glad we opted to stay home as it wasn't fun for any of us!  Saturday we took the girls to a fun beach to get a little fresh air.  Dylan was off swimming (crazy girl that she is), Matt chasing after her, and Asa and I played in the sand.  It was hilarious to watch her discover what sand was.....

"Oh I'm feeling a little better, nice to be outside, look at me I'm sitting on a blanket like a big girl.  Oh a blue shovel, how fun."

"Oh wow, what's this stuff, interesting texture.  Maybe I'll use my shovel."

"Uh, who needs a shovel, my hands are faster.  This stuff sure feels funny and kind of good."

"I do like how it feels, very interesting."

 "Hey, wait a minute where did it go?  It was just in my hand a second ago!"

"Oh I'll just get some more.  Man look at my socks, and now my pants, this stuff is getting everywhere."

"I wonder how it tastes?  My Mom keeps telling me not to eat it so it must be really good.  I'll sneak a taste when she's not looking."

"Hmmmm, kind of crunchy, gritty...  Oh brother, now it's really all over my pants."

"Okay I'll try a little more when she's not looking.  'Hey Mom, look it's Dylan over there in the back ground.'"

"What? What you looking at?  Moi?  Come on I didn't do anything, just here playing with my blue shovel."

"Honest Mom, just me and my blue shovel here, nothing else to look at."

"Oh this black stuff streaming out of my mouth, oh that nothing (spit spit spit)."

"'Oh come on Mom, can't a girl have some fun.' Oh boy this stuff tastes horrible (more spit) don't tell my Mom!'

And you can only imagine what her diaper looked like later on!  But the girl was having fun and believe me we all needed a little fun!