I LOOK LIKE A "BOY"

PICTURE 1: My heart broke when Austin took the scissors to Ashlynne's hair in November, when Kassie and RJ were in Mexico.
PICTURE 2: Haircut after the shock in November.
PICTURE 3: (in maroon dress) Just before her 5th birthday in March (growing rather quickly.
Today Kassie had a dentist appointment and my brother-in-law, Keith, came down to watch Ashlynne and Andrew while she was at the dentist. When she came home, he presented her with a plastic bag full of hair and said he found the two kids in the computer room with hair all over and that Andrew had cut her hair. We couldn't understand why she had just sat there and let him cut it--then the truth came out!!!
PICTURES 4 & 5: After blaming Andrew for cutting her hair, she came clean and told Mom that she cut it so it would grow faster!!!
I asked her what she thought of it and her reply was "I look like a BOY!"

BEFORE AND AFTER

Did I mention that I have had these kids for eight days in a row and one or more at my side, or at least in the near vicinity of my side, while their mother and father did a "pseudo honeymoon" in Cabo San Lucas.

Ashlynne's hair did turn out cute, thanks to that adorable 6 year old brother of hers. I actually laughed about it when it happened. I am not so sure mom and dad are going to feel the same. I know her Grandma Cindy was none to happy about the cutting of the locks. FYI: Mom and dad don't know about the damages yet, so this will be very interesting when they arrive home tomorrow night to see the biggest damage of the week--unless of course the house burns down or a tree falls into the house form the wind! Let's just pray that this all doesn't happen!!

Other things that have happened this week are: Andrew threw a heavy toy at me on Monday and bloodied my lip and it was fat for 2 days. Austin wasn't at all happy with me when I told him "NO" the other day when he wanted something---he felt he deserved it because he is Austin and he picked up his plate and threw his food all over the kitchen! (I wonder why I detest sweeping and mopping all the time). Austin and Andrew have both been sick and having all three home during the day yesterday just about did me in! And although Austin was sick with fever, flu symptoms, etc--he certainly didn't act sick!

Ashlynne went on her first official date with the little boy down the street. Andrew is absolutely in love with her and yammers on about her all day to his poor mother, until she finally gives in and gets Ashlynne down to play or takes her with them to the aquarium. They had a great time and he was actually mad at his big brother for talking to her. I told my mother she may have a wedding to attend when she gets home in 7 months!

Andrew's mother and I have been laughing about this for a week--who knew that 4 1/2 years olds could be so enamoured with someone else of that age. He winks at her, fixes his hair for her, is jealous about her--it is so funny!!! I guess I will have to get her to go to church more often if we are planning on a "Temple Wedding". What's the going age these days without having to have parental consent?

there have been other things that have put me over the edge, but these are what stick out right now and that I can think of at 12:00 at night!

Wish me luck that I live through til tomorrow evening! I told Kassie tonight when she talked to the kids on the phone that I was walking out the door as they are coming in. I think I will leaving Dodge as soon as they return--this is just far too much for one near 50 year old to handle!

THE CATS ARE AWAY-THE MICE HAVE PLAYED

This 4 1/2 year old has, or rather had, hair down to nearly her mid-back. Tonight, while I was talking to my sister in the living room, the two big kids, Austin and Ashlynne, were in the kitchen being awfully quiet. A few minutes later, my sister headed for the kitchen and much to her surprise,











This is what she found. Austin, a pair of scissors and a sister without a big chunk of hair from the back and from her side. Andrew and Kelson were just observing the incident as innocent bystanders!
I must say I thought is was rather humorous and I wondered when it was ever going to happen and quite frankly I am surprised it hasn't happened earlier, but of course it had to happen this week while their mom and dad are in sunny Cabo San Lucas, Mexico taking a belated honeymoon and attending the wedding of one of RJ's cousins.

Needless to say--Ashlynne will be getting a lot more hair cut off tomorrow, thanks to Austin and his not so adequate haircutting skills.

HARVEST FUN

The day was perfect for a small outing to the Black Island Farms in Syracuse. I bundled Ashlynne and Andrew up and headed North. KoriAnn and Brighton headed South and we met in the middle. It was a trifle windy and a tad bit nippy but we survived.
Ashlynne is our little dare devil who at one point we lost, not that I am a bad grandmother, just that she is faster than I am and outran me to the farm train and was on it and rode around the farm before I could get there. She is quite independent and loves to do things "right now." Not waiting around for her.
Andrew on the other hand likes to explore, but always keeps you within his sites, especially if he thinks something might not seem as nice as he first thought; but then he gets the hang of something and continues on, sometimes having to be pried away and carried off kicking and screaming.








Brighton was definitely ready to call it a day. It turned out to be not such a bad day, a good deal, and I got a free, very large onion and medium carrot out of the outing!
Thanks KoriAnn for inviting us!!!

TOOTHLESS

It was a quiet afternoon at our house last Sunday. I was taking care of a few things down stairs and actually was trying to nap when Ashlynne came barrelling down the stairs.
Ashlynne: Nana, Nana, the Tooth Fairy gets to visit me!
Nana: Why do you day that?
Ashlynne: Because I lost my tooth at Grandma Cindy's.
Nana: Wow, I didn't even know you had a loose tooth.
Ashlynne: I didn't know either. So now what to I do.

I proceeded to get out an envelope and put her tooth in it, address it to the tooth fairy and seal it so the teeny, tiny little tooth wouldn't fall out.
I also told her that in order for the Tooth Fairy to visit, she would have to put the envelope underneath her pillow when she went to bed.

The next morning, she was crying--
Ash: The Tooth Fairy didn't visit me, Nana!
Nana: Why?
Ash: I don't know!
In walks mom with an explanation from the Tooth Fairy.
Mom: Ash, the Tooth Fairy came to my room last night and said she couldn't find your tooth. Where was it?
Ash: I held it in my hand all night long! (she rubbed it so much that the envelope was nearly worn away for the tooth to fall out)
Mom: The Tooth Fairy said she would come back tonight if you put it under your pillow--because magic is in the pillow and that it is the only way that the Tooth Fairy can pick it up!
Ash: Okay, mommy!
The entire time this conversation is going, Ashlynne's eyes are as big as saucers and can't believe that mommy had a conversation with the Tooth Fairy!

All was well the next morning. The Tooth Fairy made her obligated visit---and will be visiting again soon! The tooth right next to it is lose and as it was in June with Austin's teeth it is the same for Ashlynne, too---right down to the same teeth!

YUUUUUUUMM

Austin doesn't like corn, much less corn on the cob. Ashlynne likes corn, but not on the cob. Andrew on the other hand.....well, he devoured it quickly and there was barely any breathing in between bites!