A vacation to be mom

I took 10 days off work.  It stated with a beautiful long girls weekend in Scottsdale, AZ where my cup was filled with good times, great friends, and tremendous belly laughs.  When I got home It took time to just be mom.  I was able to focus on all of the activities that go along with the last week of the school; Preschool graduation, field days, school performances, and play dates.  My job can be demanding and the kids can be demanding, house chores can be demanding, and life, in general, can be demanding.  It was nice to have a week to take one thing off the to-do list.  Don't get me wrong I love my job, but this week was a great way to hit the reset button.  It was a week of recharging, spending time with those that mean the most to me my friends and family.  It was a great vacation.

Nana and Liesel

We got a new grocery store.  The boys and I went to the grand opening during rain storm and there were no lines for face painting or balloon animals.  Win for the Aschermanns! 

Date night - we clean up pretty well!

Miss Jan (or Jany as Maddox calls her) and her little buddy

Milo and Mom at Field Day

Liesel and Maddox played with the animals and water and Liesel....well Liesel was Liesel.

Fun birthday party.  I love the pure joy on my kids face.

Horsey rides at the grocery store

park fun with this cool kid

Another Liesel original

Our Preschool graduate.  We now have a kidergartner

Liesel's preschool class.  Liesel with her stuffed cat on her head.

Miss Jan and the graduate

Field day for Liesel

Popsicle time

ready for summer break

Outfit number 8 of the day. 

Schools out for Summer

This little guy is getting bigger

Kind of the typical 7 year old look

Hammock fun with Ian

When Dad is in charge things are much more fun.  Note Maddox up high in the harness.

 

Girls' weekend included time with this gal.  I am so lucky to have her in my life.

Some of the most beautiful ladies I know.  How'd I get so lucky

We enjoyed lots sun, lots of adult beverages, and lots and lots of laughter!!

Cute Kid Stories of today

Liesel Story: 

• So we had to take three pictures to school;  one at birth, one at 1-year, and one at present.  Liesel's 1 year picture was from Halloween when she was dressed like a Dalmatian.  She says "Mom,  I just love that picture of me as a foundation dog".

Milo Story:

• So Milo now has a business, Milo's Eggs.  He is learning the art spreadsheets, invoices, marketing, money management.  For a long time Nana and Papa would get free eggs now that Milo has taken over the egg management he has started charging them, along with Miss Jan and Grammy and Grandpa.  No one gets free eggs.  He does sell them to family at the screaming deal of $4.00 per dozen instead of the $6 to regular customers.

Maddox Story :

• As I have written in the past,  I LOVE listening to Maddox talk.  The lispy nature of a three year old is music to my ears.  The other morning he says to me, "Mommy I talk funny, but it is sooo cute".  True story, buddy.

On to some pictures:

 

Easter with this cute crew

Some Easter Egg Hunting

 

On the Hunt 

Looking handsome in blue

Our fourth baby

Milo went shopping with me and posed by all the art work or furniture I wanted.  We ended up getting this one.  The painting, that is.  We also kept the cute little boy too.

Some Grammy time

Dress up

Naptime

The boys did not get in the mud, but this little girl sure did.

Strong boy after a hair cut.  He looks so big here.  Please can I push the "pause" button?

Dentist Time

Watching the concrete truck pour concrete

Dinner time with our pals

We often have a dance party before bed to burn off some steam.  Her is Maddox cutting a rug on the table during one of our epic Aschermann Dance Parties.

Park fun with Miss Taylor

More park fun.