Called to Serve

 

 2 brothers.  2 missions.  2 years.  2 weeks apart.

Brother #1 (Brendan) is one of the funniest people I know.  He has one of those contagious laughs that will have you rolling before he says a single word.  He's a master surfer, a political philosopher, a future pilot, a spiritual genius, and a fun and delightful person.

Brother #2 (Braden) is the nicest, sweetest, most caring and darling kid ever.  He has a hilarious sense of humor and he's the kids' favorite jungle gym.  He also has perfect teeth (which is completely unfair because my parents started being able to afford braces about half way through their children.  I was not the lucky half.). If there is anyone who I would trust with everything that I have, it's him.  

 

Naturally, we threw an enormous party for the openings.  Cameron came down with an awful fever and barely moved a muscle.  The rest of us shoved our faces full of food, made our call predictions, and cheered our heads off when they opened their calls.

 Brendan got called to Boise, Idaho

&

 Braden got called to Bahia Blanca, Argentina

They both are going to be  a m a z i n g.

The Teriffic Two's

Ladies and gentlemen.  Let's all just pause for one short second and take a quiet moment to realize the alarming fact that my newborn son is now 2. 

Guys.

This is not my first rodeo.  I have other children that I have reared and raised to the best of my rearing and raising abilities and let me tell you something.

2 is when it all goes bad.

Like......BAAAAAAADDDDD.

2 was the age that Brooklyn and Aubrey discovered fascinating new facts.  Like.... teeth are a handy little defense tool, super-market hide-and-go-seek is a thrilling sport, and screeching like a howler monkey = mom will give in.

But.  We're breaking the mold.  3rd time's a charm, right?  (RIGHT?!?!!?)

And now in celebration of Cameron's Second Birthday, here's 

CAMERON'S TOP TWO @ TWO

*Cameron's Top Two Phrases:

1.) "I non't like it!"  

Used in situations like driving to church, being kissed, being smothered, being cuddled, being touched of any kind, talking about/thinking about/joking about nursery.

2.) "WATCH DIS MOMMY!!!!" 

 Exclaimed on Volume 10.  Every time.  And usually followed by some variety of jumping off furniture, swinging sporting equipment, throwing breakable objects down the stairs, or an incredibly intricate gymnastics skill immediately followed by crying.

*Cameron's Top Two Movies:

1.) Rango.

2.) Rango.

4 times a day, people.  Obsessed doesn't even begin.

*Cameron's Top Two Pet Peeves:

 1.) Not being on my phone.

He knows how to use it better than I do.  Not kidding.

2.) Not wearing a diaper.

He cries when we take his diaper off.  Potty training is going to be  d e l i g h t f u l.

*Cameron's Future Careers:

1.) A trash man

I actually plan my days around the trash man's schedule sometimes because Cameron LIVES for the trash truck.  Seriously, I'm about to "friend" our trash man on Facebook.  Some weeks I see more of him than Luke.

2.) A motorcycle repair man

 Again.  Obsessed.

*Cameron's Top Two Foods:

1.) Spaghetti

2.) Fettuccine Alfredo

(He should really be fatter than he is.)

*Cameron's Top Two Toys:

1.) His remote-control Mater from Grandma Kari

2.) His ride-on motorcycle from Grandma Lori

(Obviously I struggle in the gift-giving department.)

*Cameron's Top Two Fears:

1.) Old Women

He doesn't mind the men.  Just the women.  (In Sacrament Meeting we always try to sit on a row that has an old woman on each end of the bench.  That way Cameron won't run away.  True story.)

2.) Being Left Out

*Cameron's Top Two Hidden Talents:

1.) Handstands

He is shockingly buff for a toddler and he'll have a solid handstand within a year.  Guarantee it.

2.) Finding Bugs

He's constantly dragging me around the house to see his latest find.  Not my favorite thing.

*Cameron's Top Two Undeniable Facts:

1.) He is the sweetest, spunkiest, sassiest, most splendid little boy on the planet.

2.) And we love him to pieces.

Yee Haw!

You know that feeling when you're at the gym and there are 8 different TV screens in front of you and you're trying to watch them all at the same time, but somehow you end up watching nothing.  

That is my life.

In the past 8 days I have successfully:

-Painted the downstairs walls

-Thrown a baby shower

-Built a skateboard

-Gone to Home Depot (thrice.)

-Driven to school twice every day

-Started Season 2 of dive coaching

-Made a music video for Cameron's B-Day

-Painted the bathroom counter-top.  (Yes.  I painted a counter-top.)

-Watched both girls get school awards (Holla!)

-Sewn a maxi skirt

-Went to Disneyland for our last time in a long time

-Fed the missionaries

-Refinished the bathroom cabinets

-Went through the temple with both my younger bros. for the first time

-Babysat a friends' kids for 2 days

-Attempted to read the Book of Mormon in a month (Didn't happen.  I'm giving myself 2.)

-Attended soccer practices and games (Aubrey's scoring tally so far is 9.  In 3 games.)

-Endured a hellish weekend of Luke working nights

-Watched my youngest turn 2

 Plus all the mandatory stuff like:

-Not let the children starve

-Take a shower when you can no longer stand the stench of your own body

-Laundry

-Answer 1,563 emails and 972 texts

-Dishes

-Dancing with the Stars

-Feed the peacock

But, since all work and no play makes Ash a dull girl, we found time in there for a little 

P-A-R-T-Y.  

Texas style.

Our besties, Ben and Emily, had a bucking surprise party complete with Cafe Rio, pinata, and mechanical bull.  

Plus no kids were invited.

Guys.

Everything is Bigger Better in Texas!

 

Yee. Haw.

Layla's Adoption Story

So.  We have a peacock.

Now.  One does not simply adopt a peacock.  One does, however, get the poop scared out of them one morning when a peacock attempts to walk into their open front door.  (How many times do I have to tell them to SHUT THE FRONT DOOR?!?)  Then, we chase the peacock down the street.  Then, the peacock makes herself comfortable in our foot-high grass.  Then we give the peacock food and water.  And then the peacock decides it's a member of the family.  

And that is how we now have a pet peacock named Layla.

So... allow me to introduce you to our newest family member, Layla, the peacock.

Layla is a fatty.  She eats several pieces of bread a day.  (That's a carb!)  And for dessert, she polishes off helpless, little baby lizards that Aubrey catches.

 

(for reals.  this happened.  aubrey didn't see it.  thank the heavens.)

 Layla is a narcissist.  She models for herself in the window reflection.  Who does that?  (You do, don't you?) I always thought she was just watching us inside, but we were all outside and she was still doing it.

  Caught red handed.

 Layla gives people the stink eye when they get too close to her.  The girl certainly defines her boundaries.

Layla is a stalker.  Sometimes when we're outside playing, I'll get that awful feeling that I'm being watched, and I turn around and BAAAAMMMM!!!  I see this. 

Layla wants to come inside.  She's made a run for the door several times now.  (With a little help from the kids, who think it's hilarious that she wants to come inside and think I'm a big old meanie for not sharing my couch with an enormous zoo animal.)  It's not happening.

 (Someone get this kid a hamburger!!  Geez.)

Layla has a personal vendetta against the kids going down the slide.  

Freak-out-mode every single time.  

And when Layla goes into freak-out-mode, Cameron goes into freak-out-mode times one million.

 

 And like the amazing mother that I am, I take a picture.

Layla likes her space.  Which is cool with us, because while she's trotting around, we enjoy some time climbing trees, wrestling on the trampoline, playing in our clubhouse, and enjoying the sweet summer nights.

 

Welcome to the family, Layla.