Mommy and Me

This past weekend, James went out of town with some friends, so Cullen and I had the weekend to ourselves. Cullen asked if he could sleep in our bed, and I agreed to it, because I knew it might actually keep him in a bed instead of playing in the middle of the night.

Obviously, he had no problems getting comfortable. He's a cute little sleeper. 

We had very little television time mixed with a whole lot of play time. Cullen was really great about keeping himself occupied while I took care of things around the house. He loves having me play with him, but he also loves his alone time. While putting away laundry, I paused to ask him what he was doing. "The dinosaurs are getting the police car." Modern day Jurassic Park. 

We also had dinosaur riding. Who doesn't want to ride a house cat sized T-Rex? 

As Easter approaches, I'm doing my best to make sure that we don't end up with more stuff we don't need in the house. Between sales and coupons, I ended up with a $10 game of Hungry Hungry Hippos for Cullen's basket. I was pretty pumped about the good deal, so I called James to share the news. He told me that he was expecting my exciting news to be that I "bought an Icee or something." Yep. I did that, too.

I'm also working on teaching the true meaning of Easter to Cullen. Despite my best intentions and our lengthy story times, Cullen has decided that Jesus is his friend who will also hunt Easter eggs. I guess it's a start.

This Saturday, I'll be out at Morton Ranch High School selling cake balls and cupcakes. If you're in need of a cupcake or twelve, stop on by!

xoxo ashley

Big Kid and Bear

Did anyone else know that I have a big kid these days? Now that he's in a new preschool class, he has homework! James and I are probably enjoying it more than Cullen right now. I am loving having a structured evening activity to do that encourages communication and no TV time. 

I usually have Cullen use crayons to complete his homework. Let's be honest. I would always write in crayon, but it isn't appropriate at my age? Cullen came up with the idea to stick it behind his ear all on his own. Reminds me of my dad when he's building something.

I wanted rice pudding the other night. So I made some. James was impressed with the swirls of milk and vanilla. He brought Cullen in to look at the "butter-fly." 

After a whole lot of work and not enough down time, I met a friend for happy hour last week. Time with Amy is always fantastic. She is comforting to be around, and we always wind up having these thought-provoking discussions. She brings out the best in me. She inspires me. I'm lucky to call her my friend.

When I got home that night, these were waiting on the counter. My boys went to Costco and bought me flowers. Just the way I love them. Simple, beautiful, inexpensive, and in a vase that's been around since before we got married. It's absolutely the little things. 

On Saturday, we got to visit Peg and Andy. It has been way too long since we last got to see them, and it was a welcome respite. I've been awful sick lately, and it's always nice to have Peg take care of you. While I was resting, James helped Andy move some pieces of furniture and "decor" around the house to prep it for putting it on the market.

By "decor," I mean that the bear is on the move. As it turns out, some people feel like a breakfast table should be in the breakfast nook. The realtor said the bear was bad for house selling, so the bear had to go to storage. Ironically, James also got to help move the bear into the house. Cullen has to be the only three year old I know that has absolutely no fear of a bear in a house. Other than Steph's kids, of course.

James got a good opportunity for a bear hug after we got it off the stand.

 And off goes the bear...

This moment has to be in the top ten list for best moments of James' life. Riding in the back of a truck with a bear. He was disappointed that no one pulled up behind them while they were driving.

As usual, I let Cullen's hair get too unruly before taking him in for a trim. I've started taking him to see the girl who cuts my hair, and I'm pretty sure it's the best cut he's had since his first haircut she did almost three years ago. Where does the time go? 

This weekend, James is in New Orleans with friends, and Cullen and I plan on enjoying lots of quiet time interspersed with me finishing our taxes. The same taxes I started and never finished almost two months ago. It isn't like me to put off this project for so long. Wish us luck!

xoxo ashley

Family Fun at Froberg's

We love Froberg's. Oh my word. I love their strawberries so much, and I love shopping in their little farmer's market. I love that we go every year, and I hope it's a tradition we keep forever. 

Our first year out to Froberg's was in 2011. Back when I got every other Friday off, Amy and I took Cullen and Hadley. They toddled around, Cullen pulled Hadley in the wagon, we got lost trying to find a park for a picnic, and Cullen had the now-infamous black eye. Where does the time go?

 Last year, we made it a family affair. James, Cullen and I picked five pounds of strawberries, and I made myself sick eating them all. I can't find those pictures to save my life.

This year, we decided to meet the Ernst family for a day out in the field. The boys were adorable and hilarious. Of course, there are no pictures of all three of them. There is this great one of Cullen. He tripped and fell down, so I asked him to stay down so I could get a picture. He yelled "cheese" loud enough for everyone to hear and made this face. Still perfect.

Because I have recently become ridiculously obsessed with particular food groups, I decided to pick some extra strawberries this year. With just under 12 pounds, we have enough for snacking, making preserves, making pies, and I have no idea what else. I spent a couple hours last night cleaning and hulling them. Tonight, I make pies and preserves. Anybody want pies and preserves? 

We haven't finished even a tenth of them yet, and I can't wait to go back. I think I see strawberries with pound cake in my future. Yum.

xoxo ashley

Spring Weather Calls for Outdoor Fun

This past Saturday, we didn't really have any specific plans, so we decided to head out to the rodeo to enjoy the nice weather and show Cullen the animals. On the way there, Cullen said he wanted to see lions, so we re-routed to the zoo. 

I only planned for a little bit of outside time, so none of us actually dressed too appropriately for the weather. It was cold and ridiculously windy. As long as we kept moving, it wasn't too bad. 

I love that every trip to the zoo involves something new and exciting for us. Each time, we see something we didn't notice before, or Cullen presents an interest that he didn't in the past. This time, he wanted to check out the "village" in the African Forest. The picture is ridiculously over-exposed, but Cullen had a great time ducking in and out and running around the little "huts." 

Of course, we made the requisite stop at the drums. Cullen loves the taller drum, even though he can't see over the top of it.  

The little things are the most fun.  

I'm not sure how we ended up doing this one, but it turns out that it is much cheaper to feed the giraffes than it used to be. I have never been so close to a giraffe, and it was amazing. We got to meet Miles up close and personal. Cullen kept calling him Melman. The zookeeper did not get it. 

The pictures are a bit shadowy, but I was too in awe to step back to get better pictures.  

Hungry little fella. 

No trip to the zoo is complete without a carousel ride, and off we went. Cullen made a first-time decision to sit on a bench instead of riding an animal. I think he was just worn out at that point. 

After a little second wind gained by a carousel ride and some pigeon chasing, we took a breezy train ride through Hermann Park.  

Post zoo trip, we headed to Academy for some new sneakers for Cullen, and then we were off to the Baylor baseball game at Minute Maid. 

Cullen got another new-to-him baseball (his first college ball) and got to show off his baseball with Mickey.  

He also loved the baseballs around the stadium. He couldn't climb them, but he sure tried! 

About five minutes down the road, Cullen was out for a nap. 

We got to enjoy a dinner out with friends, and we headed home for a good night's rest. Let's be honest. I needed it just as much as Cullen did.

xoxo ashley

Boy Time

Cullen decided that he wants to be a big boy again, so we are back to his regular using-the-potty bathroom habits. After a whole lot of tears and frustration from all parties involved, I think it has been an absolute sigh of relief that things are looking up. 

On Friday night, we headed out to Katy Mills to do a little bit of shopping. I have a love-hate relationship with Katy Mills. Some of their stores are great, but the parking is generally ridiculous, the food court is miserable, they have those awful pay-per-use stroller carts, and they have one of those really great (sarcasm intended) train rides. 

Up until this Friday night, Cullen never got to participate in the strollers or the train. I can almost guarantee a tough time next time we go to Katy Mills. When I pulled into my parking spot, someone had left one of the strollers out. We decided to let Cullen climb in for a stroll through the mall. We may never be able to skip that step again without tears. 

After some light shopping, we decided to just grab dinner in the food court. Cullen wanted pizza, and there's a pizza place. It's like a match made in heaven. While we waited for them to finish cooking the cheese pizza (which they ended up forgetting about and burning), Cullen asked if he could go on the train ride. Why not, right? 

Cullen was so excited about riding the train, and he was even more pumped about riding the train with Daddy.

This kid was loving life. 

Then the guy at the pizza place burned the pizza, and Cullen was forced to eat chicken for dinner. Tragedy.

On Sunday, we started out the day at church. After the initial battle with Cullen and getting there late, I took a second to love these boys as we left. They are too cute together. 

Right next to our church's parking lot is a baseball field, so James took Cullen out to look at the bases and "play" a little bit. I'm hoping to get Cullen signed up for soccer or tee ball in the fall. I'm not sure which member of our household will be most excited! 

This weekend, we'll be finishing up a few more projects around the house and going to pick strawberries with some precious friends of ours. I love family time, and I'm really looking forward to some quiet moments with my boys.

xoxo ashley

Catching Up In My Own Time

Things have been ridiculously busy lately. And when I say they've been busy, it basically means that I need a nap. Busy for our little family is busier than usual, and our usual is busier than most people live with. We do a lot, we take on even more, but we live with the reminder that we are blessed to be able to do as much. so blessed. 

What would a post be without a picture of Cullen asleep in the car? Since giving up naps, Cullen sleeps and/or pretends to sleep in the car on an almost daily basis. 

Just before Valentine's Day, I got an order for these precious cupcakes from a friend of my mom. Karen feels like a second mom of mine, and I was so excited that she trusted me with a fun dessert for her event.  

I've been getting a little bit less detail-oriented for some of my personal activities lately. Like this one. I decided to make Cullen's homemade Valentine's for school. And then I forgot to buy bigger bags to hold lots of Teddy Grahams. We have three boxes, if anyone needs some snacks. Cullen is not even mildly entertained by the tiny bears. 

On Valentine's Day, I got some sweet carnations from the building I work in. I'm not usually a carnation fan, but it was so nice that each woman got two as she walked into work. I trimmed them and put them in a Styrofoam cup at my desk. Just keeping it classy. 

The next morning, I got on a plane bright and early headed for Nashville. For posterity purposes, we have a photo of the plane. Cullen requested proof. 

Katie and I pretty much hit the ground running once I was in town. It was so much fun to see and do so much around Nashville, but it was the best time to spend with Katie. We were college roommates, and I can say, with a significant amount of confidence, that we will be friends for the rest of our lives. I'm beyond blessed to have a girl like her in my life. If you don't have a Katie, go get one. Drop what you're doing. Katies are too important to not have. **To be fair, I have some other really awesome friends. This post is about my Katie time, so I had to brag on Katie today.**

After dropping off all my luggage at home, we went out to lunch at Loveless, followed by the Parthenon, downtown Nashville, Katie's place of work, Vanderbilt, and various attractions. I'm still wanting to go back to Loveless for the biscuits. So much trouble.

In lieu of dinner, we ate popcorn at the movie theater while watching Safe Haven. The last time I saw a chick flick in theaters? I was probably with Katie. And we were probably still Baylor students.

The next morning, we headed out to way too much breakfast and the Country Music Hall of Fame.  

I particularly enjoyed the Taylor Swift display. Shocking, I know.

Katie and I ate a lot, laughed a lot, and spent a lot of quiet moments together. It was such a great weekend. I missed my boys so much, but it was nice to have a weekend away.

During my Saturday night dinner, just hours before I was set to head home, James let me know that the oven caught fire while he was making corn dogs. I actually said before I left, "Don't burn the house down while I'm gone." Joke's on me. Once James confirmed that everyone was fine, the fire did not spread, and the gas was not leaking, I decided not to worry about it until I got home. 

After some of the best hugs I've ever gotten from my boys, we took apart the oven, used a whole lot of Fast Orange, and re-assembled the oven. Then we went out to dinner. While James was at work on Monday, I braved using the oven for the first time post-fire. Luckily, everything went fine, and I managed a dozen breakfast muffins and a few dozen brownies for an order. Not without my own version of courage close at hand. 

Today, I got to buy Cullen a bunch of new underwear. Because he is our child, he is stubborn. He recently decided that he would poop his pants just for fun. I got tired of cleaning them and threw them out like disposable diapers. The new threat in our house is that we're throwing away a toy for each non-accident he has. Let's be honest. They aren't accidents. Anybody want a three year old for an afternoon so I can take a nap? Anybody? 

This weekend is the Rodeo Cookoff, so I'm hoping to take Cullen to the parade Saturday morning. Other than that, it will be re-organizing the closet in our guest room and catching up on DVR. If I'm really lucky, maybe I can get that nap.

xoxo ashley

When A Heart Breaks

I've been holding off on making this post for almost a week now. We've had things happen in our home, happy and sad over the last two weeks, but I've really had my mind on some very good friends of ours lately. The weekend before last, their four month old daughter went to be with Jesus. No matter how hard I've tried, I really can't wrap my head around that. 

I think what makes it worse for me is seeing how very much Meredith seemed so together at sweet Emma's funeral last week. Meredith was calm and collected and grounded in her faith. I'm not questioning God's existence, but it sure is tough to wonder what He was thinking. Why don't good moms get to keep their sweet babies? We want a baby. We hope and pray for a healthy baby. We just want to raise that sweet baby. Why don't those of us that want to do so just get to do it?

More than once in the last couple of weeks, I've been reminded of the movie Steel Magnolias. I think about M'Lynn crying over losing her daughter. Crying about the things she can do that her daughter can't. Realizing how blessed she was to be there to welcome her sweet daughter into the world and to be there as she drifted away. I'm reminded of something we should always keep in mind when a loss occurs. "We should handle it the best way we know how and get on with it. That's what my mind says. I just wish somebody would explain it to my heart."

And so, we try to get on with things. I try to remind myself that no amount of my own heartache will bring that sweet little girl back. All we can do is pray and love on her precious family. And so, we will. Because I love and adore Meredith. Because our husbands are friends and brothers. Because my sweet little boy is crazy in love with their adorable little Maddie. 

As you take time to pray in the coming days, weeks, and months, please pray for the Coe family. Pray without ceasing. There is such a healing power in prayer.

xoxo ashley