Birthday Season

What would my life be without you two?  It would be restful,  I would be better dressed and my hair would be styled, my make-up, flawless, and there would be a lot less diapers involved.  However,  I wouldn't be able to wake up the morning to Milo yelling, "Mama, can I come in your room" or be able to kiss Liesel's cheeks, the most "kissable" checks that ever existed.  There wouldn't be as much snuggling, laughing, playing, story telling.  I wouldn't play legos everyday or remember how much fun it is to play dress up.  I wouldn't get to listen to the best belly laugh that ever existed,  Milo you truly have the best laugh I have ever heard.  I wouldn't be able to snuggle with Liesel in the mornings and be awed by her tenacity every day.  I wouldn't know the pride of a mother when her baby walks, her toddler learns to count or ride his bike.  I wouldn't be excited every day to show off my kiddos to the world. Or know the simple joy of a quiet house while everyone she loves is resting.  I would never have learned how to be patient, a lesson a mother is constantly learning.   I would never know how unbelievable the love for my husband is when watching him with our kids.   I wouldn't know the true love of a mother. And the bottom line is I wouldn't trade my life for anything. 

Liesel, 

At one you are the happiest, toughest and most social little girl. You love to flirt and wave to anyone you come across.  Your hugs and kisses melt anyone who is lucky enough to receive one.  When you want to do something the world better know that it will happen.  You love animals, baby dolls, blocks, food (any food), baths, kisses and hugs, playing hockey, your brother, clapping and being naked.  You dislike…well not much….all I can think of is being left out.  You are our sweet baby girl and we are so lucky that we get to see what you have in store for the world.

Milo,

You are 3!  You are strong willed, funny, imaginative, handsome, stubborn, athletic, smart and a little shy.  You love to play hockey, work at the farm, build blocks, read books, watch movies, tell stories, color, eat ice cream and ride your bike.  You really don't like to say good night, hear the word "no" or get your diaper changed.  You make us laugh every day and your dimpled smile melts my heart.  We are so proud of the little boy you have become.  

I hope you both know that your dad and I will do anything in the world for you (as long as it doesn't allow you to do nothing) and love you both with all our hearts.  Happy Birthday Milo and Liesel!

Look at those Birthday Kiddos!

OOOOO!  Weezie's new favorite face.  Scott loves it!

Hanging with the Cousins

Milo with Grandpa and Daddy at our favorite restaurant. 

Milo and Liesel celebrated their birthday with a visit to the Fire Station.  Here is our little fire man looking very serious.

Liesel the Dalmatian

Sloaney and Milo

Liesel up the fire truck

Milo's turn

Liesel with Grandma Laurie

Mommy with Liesel and Iliadh

The fire dog

Bo and Liesel

In the fireman's lounge chair

The two together.

Happy Birthday to you

Cake, get in my belly.

What did you get Weezie?  

With Papa.

Playing with the fire extenguishers with Uncle Matthew and Connor.

Here is Milo waiting to see his new bike.

Let's go.

Balloons.

Liesle loves Grammy and Grandpa's dog, Mork

The two birthday kiddos on Liesel's birthday.

Liesel, looking like a big girl

Our third…We love you too Bosco!

Pink Football Pants

Let's talk about temper tantrums….Our biggest one in awhile was related to Liesel's Pants.  He woke up and was carrying the pants I had picked for Liesel.  When I tried to put them on Liesel he lost it.  Full melt down.  Finally after about a half hour I said, "If you can get them on you can wear them."  He then cam down the stairs and said "Hey Mama,  look at my pink football pants!"  He was a total joy for the rest of the morning. 

Mom and Dad....no...Jane and Scott go to England.

Two weeks ago Scott called me and asked if I wanted to meet him in England....uh....YEAH!  The next week we found ourselves together across the pond as Jane and Scott, not Mom and Dad.  It turned out to be one of our top vacations.  I didn't have England at the top of my "places-to-go" list, but it should have been.  We were only there for four days.  They were four wonderful days.  We were in northern England.  The first night we spent in Edgeworth, a small town in the country north of Manchester.  We stayed with one of Scott's clients, Rory and his wife Tammie, their 5 year old Scarlet and their wonderful dog Bernie.  The house was beautiful and the hospitality was out of this world.  We then headed to a town called Chester.  If you haven't been, go!!!!  It was unbelievable.  Charming, good shopping,  quaint coffee shops, beautiful old  buildings/churches, it was just perfect.  Our last stop was in Manchester where we were able to watch Manchester City play Everton.  What an experience!  My favorite part....spending time with Scott and re-connecting as a couple.  

While we were gone Milo and Liesel stayed with Nana and Papa.  The kids did great and I know we missed them more than they missed us.  Milo continues to be all boy.  He is a bit aggressive and his sister takes the bulk of it.  She is going to be one tough chick.  The big challenge in the Aschermann household right now is going to bed.  Milo is having a rough time saying good night.  He does much better if Daddy is home and can put him down, but if mom does it is a long process.  Four books, water, snuggles, blue stars must be turned on and then "lay with me a little bit".  After all that there are generally tears (usually from Milo) and about an hour later he falls a sleep.  He is working me!!!  I know that, like all phases, this too will pass. Hopefully soon! Liesel has become a very good walker.  She loves carrying things around.  I believe that being able to go get her toy, shirt or blanket on her own and bring it back to us makes her feel like a big girl.  She is going up and down stairs and is working on standing up in the middle of a room.  She now has four teeth and puts them to good use.  She continues to have an appetite that rivals her brothers.   A friend once asked how did I get my kids to eat so well.  I think it comes down to the fact that eating is an event in our house.  Almost all activities are based around food.  And lets be honest, both Scott and I eat like horses!!!

Running with Bernie in the England Country Side.

Exploring Edgeworth. 

Civil Engineer Alert!  Check out that incredible spillway!!!!  Maybe I can incorporate it into my next project.

View from our window.  Englishman moving his cattle across the street.

Chester.

Our hotel in Chester

Let's Go Man City!!

Liesel went to the farm and it is very hard to keep a new walker clean in a dirt field.

Gotta love the numerous bumps and bruises little kids getting while honing their walk skills. 

Brushing those new choppers.

She also enjoys a good hockey game. 

Sports confusion.  So far it has been a good year for Denver Sports...First the Broncos and now the Avalanche are killing it too.

Practicing for the snow.

It is getting hard to get this little boy to stop long enough to get a  picture of him.  Get him while he's down.

The rest of the pictures are from Liesel and Milo's visit with Nana and Papa 

tackle snuggles...she loves it!

Yum!

Looking like a big boy

"Youwant some?"

The Epic Rainstorm of September 2013

The good news is that we are no longer dealing with 90 degree days.  The bad news is that Colorado is wet, wet, wet!!!  After a week of incredible rain things are finally starting to dry out.  I am sure that in the future while I look back at this I will remember the rain storm in September 2013.  Luckily, we weathered the storm fairly well.  The farm is pretty soggy and I am sure we lost quite a few crops, but no major damage was done.  We are waiting for it to dry out a bit before we can assess the damage.  Temperatures are starting to rise back into the eighties and I am sure it will be muggy for a while.  Hopefully we will get into our typical Colorado Fall weather soon.  I am ready for sweaters, pants, boots, fires, crock pot meals, pumpkin spice everything and warm snuggles.

Scott was just in Qatar so the kids and I were flying solo, but not really thanks to family and friends.  The morning before Scott left he and Milo spent some time on the farm.  When he dropped him off at daycare he said his goodbyes to both of the kiddos. Liesel made a very pathetic pouty face and cried like she would never see him again.  I don’t ever remember Milo doing this.  Not only is Liesel learning how to wrap Daddy around her little finger, but she is starting to flirt with standing on her own.  She transfers from the couch to the table and back.  Every once in a while she ends up free-standing, but very quickly lowers herself down to the floor.  I think we will have a walker by the time she turns one.  She now has her two bottom teeth and is working on the tops.  She continues to be a great sleeper and is at such a fun age.  Her personality is coming out and we have discovered that she is more outgoing than her currently very shy brother.  She is constantly flirting with anyone who is looking her direction, whether it is Papa, Grammy, Daddy, the man sitting next to us at dinner or the lady standing behind us in line.  She has learned to blow kisses and wave and she practices this skill all day long.  The two kiddos are even starting to play together a bit. 

Nana had a couple days off during the end of August and she was hopeful that it would be the weekend Milo retired his diapers.  Unfortunately this was not the case.   He just isn’t ready.  He is a pleaser and would have loved to earn as much candy and kudos as possible, but his brain and “functions” just aren’t communicating yet.  We will try again in a couple of months.  He is going through a bit of a “mommy” phase right now.  Drop offs at day care and saying good night have been challenging.  He would prefer I hang out for at least an hour before I leave him.  One of his favorite things to do right now is to share stories.  I tell a short story and then he shares a story.  “Mommy, one time…..”  We like to play this game on our way home from day care.  It has become one of my favorite times of the day.

Watching the parade at the Arvada Harvest Festival. 

Liesel had a run-in with the concrete and lost.  This owie just healed up and then she fell again and got a very similar rug burn in the same spot.  We are in the stage of constant accidents.  

Milo in his new Payton Manning jersey.  "Go Broncos"

Playing naked in the sprinklers in Nana and Papa's yard after the parade. 

Milo got new Hockey gear.  It is a bit big, but he still loves it!

Sweet girl.

  We drove up to Breckenridge for Labor Day weekend.  Traffic was aweful, but the kids did great. 

Liesel is starting to get big enough to enjoy the playground. 

The play set at the farm all put together.  

Watching the neighborhood kids play football.

Milo's face says it all.  He is a bit too cautious to enjoy riding the motorcycle.