Ka-Pow! Ka-Chow! Ashton is 4!

Wow, what a birthday it was!



*Note: In case you didn't know, Ashton LOVES the movie "Cars" and it's star - Lighting McQueen. Leading up to his birthday, when asked what he wanted, he told everyone, (my mom, Paul's mom, our mailman, his teachers, the Wal-Mart greeter) his exact wish. He would saying the following phrase in it's entirety (like the kid from "A Christmas Story" and his red rider BB-gun) "I want a Lighting McQueen car that blinks with the eyes that move and says Ka-Pow and Ka-Chow". I mean, it couldn't be a Lighting McQueen car or a McQueen toy, it had to be "The Lighting McQueen car that blinks with the eyes that move and says Ka-Pow and Ka-Chow". http://http//www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3102986




This toy, you'd think it was my holy grail. After searching several stores to find it, located the last one at Toys R Us, 10pm, the Sunday before his birthday and almost cried with relief. He has previously owned it and he has mistakenly thrown it in the bath tub thinking it could float.




Ashton turned 4 years old in a very quiet and easy going way. The night before his birthday, while he was sound asleep, we snuck into his bedroom and covered his floor with red and blue balloons. We also hung a "Cars" banner that read Happy Birthday right where he would see it upon awaking. He actually woke up around 5-ish and, surprisingly, missed the balloons to come downstairs and let us know Kate was sleeping in his bed and could we please move her out. Paul then escorted him back to bed and (in a full sized bed) my 2 year old, newly turned 4 year old and 6'9" husband all went back to sleep for another hour or so.

We then couldn't wait and decided to give him his presents after singing him Happy Birthday. He loved the 1st one, a box full of Lighting McQueen everything. Well, everything that is except the toy he so desperately wanted. I thought he'd throw the non-toy items to the side, grumbling "I don't want these. I want McQueen." But, in big boy fashion, he was happy with what he got and thanked us both. So, of course, we bring out THE TOY and how happy he was!

Thank you to everyone who called and sang to him throughout the day. He loved each and every call.

Hurricanes Haunt Me (Partial Party Cancelation)

Hurricanes are famous for ruining my special days. This year is no different. For those of you who don't know, Hurricane Wilma wrecked my honeymoon and left Paul and I stranded for many days in Mexico. (See photo to the left of downtown Cancun).

As the song "One way or another, I'm gonna find ya, I'm gonna get you, get you get you" springs to mind, Hurricane Ike is (brace yourself for a bad pun) going to rain on my parade tomorrow. No, we are NO WHERE NEAR the path of this monster storm, heck, it's supposed to be 90*F and sunny! But as the Texas gulf gets pounded and oil refineries have shut down, the price of gas in our area has shot up so high (over $1 per gallon in the past 24 hours) we must cancel the driving part of Kate's party tomorrow. Of course, only because I wanted to visit the drive through ranch does this happen. Oh well, the new change of plans involves having Angelique and rest of the NC mountains branch of the family (Mom, Freddy, Auntie Karen and Dominique) come down earlier than the 4pm party to hang out in our neighborhood pool. It's predicted to be stiflingly hot tomorrow and the pool is open weekends so the party will go on, but man oh man. What did I ever do to anger the hurricane gods?

SIDE NOTE: For those of you who have never lived through a hurricane, pray for those unfortunate souls who are in TX and SW LA. Their property will be water and wind damaged, followed by the mold and mildew that erupts from the heat and moisture. They will be without power or food for who knows how long, but the one thing that really stands out in my mind about the aftermath of Wilma is waiting for the water to recede. You may not realize it, but not only is the saltwater/flood water everywhere and destroying most things it touches, it's full of sewage, oil, gas, trash, dead bodies of animals and whatever disgusting things there are about. And to get anywhere - you have to wade through it, sometimes through waist high levels. The stench is something I will never forget and chances are it may be a while before there is clean water for them to wash it off. Those poor, poor people. I hope FEMA has it together this time around and they can get back to normal as quickly as possible.

Always Judging, Always Judging

I found this great and reasonably priced carpet cleaning company through my neighbor. When I say reasonably priced, he will clean my entire house for $65. (Stanley Steamer wants $200+)That's including stairs, hallways, walk-in closets...I even catch him cleaning areas I don't pay him for when I want less than the whole house done. He's great!

The only thing is, well, he judges me. I mean REALLY judges me. He always talks about how dirty our carpet is. I've always been so embarrassed and he gets more and more dramatic each time! (We use him about every 3 months or so.) After he left the last time I said to myself "Self, you don't have to listen to him. Be prepared next time he comes, you don't need his crap."

When Daniel came into the house today, he took one look at our carpet, put his head in his hands, started shaking it back and forth and emitted a low "Oh no". But this time I was ready. "Well Daniel! OF COURSE IT'S DIRTY! If it wasn't I wouldn't need you, now would I?" He nodded quickly, saying "Yes, yes. Si." and I think, ladies and gentlemen, that will be the end of that.

WOW! THE HOUSE LOOKS GOOD THOUGH and is all ready for Sat's party! If you are interested, give him a call at - Diaz Carpet Cleaning - 704.965.0311.

Birthday Party Fast Approaching

I don't know who's more excited about her birthday party this weekend...me or Kate?!?!





The theme is "Jungle/Zoo Animals" and I've worked it in to everything I can. In the morning we are going to the Lazy 5 drive through exotic theme ranch. Then we are heading home to a house decorated with monkeys, lions, zebras and tigers and pink, fusicia and green! The guests get pink camouflage gift bags filled with jungle themed things and the cake will have jungle themed animals on it.





I do hope to play at least 1 game - musical chairs and then let the kids play and the adults eat. If you are coming, great! And If you can't make it, pictures will be posted soon!

At school, for her actual birthday, since she is such a fruit lover, I'm going to core apples and fill them with strawberry cream cheese and sprinkle with raisins and sprinkles in lieu of cupcakes. (Last year I brought sweet potato cakes). YES..I KNOW... I am that weird mom. ;)

Also, on a side note, my mom is sharing the party with Kate and I hope she feels well enough to enjoy herself.

Little Miss & Mr. Liberty

Today our neighborhood hosted an early 4th of July celebration, complete with parade and festival! Getting up early, Kate and I took careful pride in decorating the ol' Radio Flyer with anything and everything RED, WHITE, and BLUE we owned. Feeling very satisfied with our results, we then dressed in our most Patriotic of outfits and drove down to the pool area where we thought the parade was to begin. After practicing our march around the pool area, where Kate pulled Ashton in our float for everyone to see, we were informed the parade actually ENDED at the pool and we'd better hurry down to the other side of the neighborhood where it was starting! So, after hastily scooping up a toddler in each arm, we drove to where the parade was in progress, pulled over to the side of the road, unloaded each little one and ended up bringing up the rear of the parade. Ashton was so excited to be in the "Horrary-de" as he called it, and marched with knees high right in front of the police car that had lights flashing. While the 90*+ weather began to wear first Ashton down, then Kate, they both ended up riding in the wagon with the previous only passenger - Baby Doll. I sweated it out pulling everyone up the gia-normous hill and coasted to the pool house. We each chose a hot dog from the vendor and Ashton helped himself to a red iced cupcake and made sure to bring Kate a blue one. With both children a mess from the icing, we hurried over to the bathrooms to wash up. Just as we were coming out of the bathrooms we were just in time to hear "Ashton & Kate Reid, winners of the parade float contest!" I was so proud of them as everyone told us how great we looked and how cute the float was. And to think, I almost didn't go since Paul was working and I rarely take the two into public alone! I am so excited that Ashton's therapy is helping with this and, while the dj was playing the music loud and it made Ashton a bit overexcited, all-in-all it was a great time!

Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí. {Gaelic}

"Praise the young and they shall blossom."

An Irish Blessing For A Baptism Day

May God grant you always

A sunbeam to warm you

A moonbeam to charm you

A sheltering angel so nothing can harm you

Laughter to cheer you

Faithful friends near you

And whenever you pray

Heaven to hear you.

Gavin Marc Rossmeisl was baptised at St. John Neuman Catholic Church and behaved like a perfect angel. The ceremony was beautiful and the party following was filled with wonderful food and good times.

In the spirit of the 95*F heat outside, everyone came warmly together to show their love and faith for Gavin as his sins were washed clean and he could begin his lifelong spiritual journey surrounded by those who love him.

Click Here for a more photos: http://the704reids.shutterfly.com/action/pictures?a=67b0de21b3477d0684b7