One Year Ago Today...

One year ago, was the day that we met Ashlyn for the first time. Our day started way early (3 AM) with a five hour drive to her home town. (On the way, we met many cows in many small towns. Quite interesting. You normally don't see things like that in the US.)

We met with Ashlyn (remember the name Veeka) and her caregiver only one time that day trying to learn as much information as we could learn about her. It was such an emotional day. She was so tremendously shy, and had no idea what was going on. In looking back through pictures that I took that day, September 12, 2007, I noticed in one of them that she had a few tears. We are so blessed to have her a part of our family. I am so thankful for that day and can hardly believe that it was a whole year ago.

September 12, 2007

September 12, 2008

Isn't it amazing how much changes in a year?

Little Leo

A few weeks ago we kept my parents dog, Leo, while they were on vacation. Leo is a 6 pound dog that Caleb and Ashlyn love playing with. After two weeks of playing, Leo was really exhausted. Caleb and Ashlyn would put him in blankets and carry him around like a little baby. They loved it (I am not convinced that he loved it as much as they did).

I thought this was pretty funny. I walked in one afternoon while Caleb was still at school and Ashlyn was taking a nap, and this is what I found Leo doing. You can't tell from this picture, but Leo is sitting in our recliner.

First Days of School

The last few weeks have been busy with the first weeks of school. It is amazing what all goes into these first weeks. There are school supplies, early to bed (and early to rise), new teachers, and new friends. We have tried to make these weeks as smooth as possible.


Last Monday, like so many other students, Caleb started school again. He is now in the big Second Grade!!! It is so amazing. He loves his teacher and loves his new class.








One of the traditions at our house is each first day of school, we get to have a "First Day of School Cake." Everyone is always so excited to get that special little cake. (Last year, one of my very first blog entries, was about Caleb and the "Leaking Cake." It was an ice cream cake.)


Ashlyn also celebrated her first day of preschool. Her first, and only, day of school so far was this past Thursday. She absolutely loves it. She thinks she really is ready for 2nd grade with Caleb. I personally think she would love going everyday. Last spring, she went for a few days, but it was very sporadic and not as big of a deal. This year for her birthday she got a new backpack and lunchbox just special for preschool. She is so big.

My Waterskiing Babies...

Last week, we got the opportunity to go to the lake with Grammy and Big Charlie for a few days of summer fun. Monty grew up with skiing as a big part of his summers, so we try to make time every summer to spend some time on the lake, which seems to get harder and harder every year. This year was really special because Caleb doesn't have tubes in his ears like the last few summers have been. (Time on the lake is really hard with tubes.) No tubes meant...learn how to ski!! We didn't know how it would really go, but were willing to give it a try.

Caleb, with help from Big Charlie, getting ready to try skiing.

After several tries, Caleb makes it up skiing. Yea, yea, yea!!!

Caleb showing us how to do it...

Ashlyn saw what Caleb was doing, and she was not about to let Caleb show her up, so she gave it a try. Like Caleb, after several tries, Ashlyn gets up skiing. Yea, yea, yea times 2!!

A little video demonstrating Ashlyn new skills...

Grammy and Ashlyn riding in the boat.

Monty showing his expertise.

Myself and the kiddos riding the sea doo.

Vacation for Caleb and Ashlyn

While Monty and I were on a Mission Trip this summer, Caleb and Ashlyn got to enjoy time at Nana and Potts' house (my parents) as well as Grammy and Big Charlie's house (Monty's parents). Usually there is one trip that we go one with our youth group friends that isn't really "little kid friendly," and this was that trip. Caleb and Ashlyn absolutely love spending time with their grandparents. Here are a few pictures of their time with Nana and Potts. (I don't have pictures of their time with Grammy and Big Charlie, yet, but will post them when I get them.)

While they visited Nana and Potts, they got to go see the Alamo (Caleb calls it the "Amalo") ...

... they rode the river boats at the River Walk ...

... baked, iced, and decorated cupcakes, just to name a few things of what they got to do.

Thanks Nana and Potts for making it a special time for Caleb and Ashlyn.

Olympic Spirit

I absolutely love watching the Olympics. Like other people, I get sucked in and watch most everything (and things I don’t like to watch, I usually fast-forward through them with the help of our trusty little DVR – I just love our DVR.) Because of the different countries that are represented at our house, the Olympics have been really fun and enjoyable at our house this year. Caleb and Ashlyn can get sucked in just as much as I do. (Caleb thinks he knows every Russian that competes.) They both play all sorts of “sports” around the house with whatever toy they happen to be playing with at the time. Out from Caleb’s room I heard him yell “He has just won the gold medal!” He happened to referring to the race his cars just participated in. Currently they are having a “Kung Fu fight” with all of the Chinese sounds that might come from one’s mouth while fighting. They like “talking China.” It has been really fun to watch them play Olympics.

Ashlyn had to sport her team spirit with the Ukrainian flag during the Opening Ceremonies while the Ukrainians were walking in. I thought it was too sweet.

Summer Update #3

This summer has held a lot of firsts for our family, especially Ashlyn. She started July off with getting an expander put in her mouth. If you know much about Ashlyn, you would know that she has had several “issues” with her sweet little mouth. This is one more “issue” that we have had to overcome. The sad thing is, she cannot eat or chew all of the things she loves like gum, suckers, and fruit snacks. She really cried with it at first, but now she is great with it. We are hoping to get the expander removed after Christmas.

Excuse the scary mouth picture of the expander.

Ashlyn also experienced her very first Fourth of July. We celebrated the Fourth with some of friends, the Tippens and Vernons (all three families have children born in other countries...7 kids...4 countries, non of which is the US). The following Saturday we went to Ashley and Josh’s house (my sister and her husband) for their annual Fourth party. Caleb and Ashlyn took advantage of the heat by playing in the pool. Way Fun.

Fourth Pics.

Another first for our family this summer was that we now into the video game world. Caleb was given, by my brother Cash, a Ni*tendo 64, plus all the accessories.

Cash taught him how to do put it together and play all of the different games. Caleb thought it was the most amazing thing in the entire world. He absolutely loves it. Thanks Cash!

While Caleb was learning about the "new" gaming system...Ashlyn enjoyed having all of Lauren's attention, Cash's girlfriend. Both kids loved have Cash and Lauren come and spend the night with us.