A true birthday gift

The blessed day had finally arrived. The weeks and weeks of built up anticipation finally flowed over and all was well with the world when Ethan and his Mommy got in the car to head to the Aquarium. We talked the whole way there about the different types of fish and other animals we would get to see.

Ethan is a smart little guy. He knew the proper names of many of the mammals and many facts about their habitat and other random pieces of knowledge (and I do mean random - anyone ever see Jerry McGuire - little spikey haired kid?). As we got closer to our destination though, his excitement changed from seeing the tanks full of crabs he could not eat to who we were going to meet...his friend Zach.

Zach is a third generation friend. His Mom (Amy) was my very first real best friend - not the kind your mom makes you play with - but someone you actually enjoy being around and have lots of real laughs (and boy have we had some laughs over the years). Zach's Grandma is one of Nomi's best friends - they are both members of the infamous club otherwise known as the "Beach Ladies". And now Zach and Ethan also seem to fall right in to the same rhythm as only two best friends would when they are together.

"Now Ashley" you might say, "How can you tell at such a young age that these two boys are good friends?" Just look at the pictures...like his mother and I, they can go days and weeks without seeing each other but once they are together it is like they never missed beat.

What a wonderful gift our mothers have given us...the knowing of true friendship. And what a wonderful gift to pass along...to the next generation.

Postnote: Yes, when Charlie is around they are like the three muskateers - Baby Ellie (I may call her that for many years) will be the troop leader once she starts talking!

Ethan turns Four

Yes, my oldest is four years old. I have become a soccer mom and the no-no chair is now a permanent fixture in our family room (we also have a spare chair in our living room).

So today in the car the boys and I were talking about what we were going to do this summer. Pool time, vacation bible school, visits with family and friends and several baseball games. Ethan was telling me how he was going to go to the pool and go swimming but he was only going in the small pool. He said, "I am only three and that means I can only go in the small pool. Big four year old boys go in the big pool, but not me." Mind you his fourth birthday was this past Tuesday (the night of the Jackson event...refer to earlier blog).

In other words, Ethan is very wimpy and does not like to take risks (Charlie is another story). I decided to test the waters and told him that only boys that are four can go to the Aquarium...his favorite place...and since he was three he would not get to...you get the picture. Suddenly he was four again and very excited about his birthday trip to the GA Aquarium with his buddy Zach.

Wouldn't it be nice to choose our age to fit our needs? I would pick...22... or maybe 26 that was a good year...or how about 28?

Another birthday note: Ethan got to pick his birthday dinner...he wanted crab legs. His total dream birthday was to go to the Aquarium and eat crab legs there...I told him that the crabs have to stay in their tanks so that other children could enjoy them. I still do not think he gets it but is okay with going to the Aquarium and eating crab legs elsewhere.

Charlie Speaks

So last year at this time I was very concerned about my dear Charles not speaking. When Ethan was that age he had the vocabulary of a college student...I know I am not supposed to compare our children...but...it happens. Well friends, he has found his voice and then some.

This past weekend Charlie was sick and we headed to the local doc-in-a-box. As he sat there waiting with his brother, very patiently I might add, the nurse and I discussed his symptoms. All of a sudden I hear from Charlie's mouth, "Hello gorgeous!" The nurse looked at me and laughed so hard. She asked if he had said that before and I told her I had not ever heard that phrase nor did I have any idea where he got it. It is not like my dear husband runs through the door every night, taking me up in his arms and saying, "Hello gorgeous." He does say very nice things but life itself seems to get in the way of any lovey-dovey talk lately.

My point is: Not only is Charlie speaking but he is doing it very well. His favorite thing to say when asked any question is, "I don't know." We also call he and his brother Pete and Repeat as he will repeat what Ethan's says and ends it with his voice going up as if asking a question. Our Charlie has grown so much this past year, fears of serious speech issues have been thrown to the wayside and thankfulness for his brilliant sense of humor fills our hearts. Now we are excited wondering, "What will Charlie say next?"

Busted!

Yesterday, Ethan exposed many neighbors to a lovely display of his heine (yes Betsy I said it). E decided it would be fun to go pee-pee in the backyard. I think this is fine and in family tradition (thanks to Jack and Will:)) and encourage him to do it quickly as I see the next group of golfers are teeing off with their balls heading our direction. "Aim for a tree Ethan," I yell and he of course does the opposite. No problem. I then hear, "Mommy!! I got some on my pants!" Uh-oh...

Sidebar: Ethan is very particular and high maintenance in some areas.

Where Ethan is located is down the hill very close to the fairway. I am up on the deck with Charlie...Matt is MIA (lucky man) although I thought he was much closer to the situation. I told E to pull up his pants and I will get him some clean clothes when he gets to the house. All I hear is, "No way Mommy!" The following is my interpretation of the next few minutes:

Scene: Ethan is standing, heine to the course, pants around his ankles.

Ethan: Mommy! Mommy! I am not pulling up my pants! (hop-hop)

Mommy: Ethan. Please be quiet. Pull up your pants and get up here. (aside) Where is your father?

Ethan: No Mommy! I am not pulling up my pants! There is pee-pee on my underwear! (hop-hop)

Repeat scene at least three times. In the mean time two groups of golfers go by watching and hearing everything. Matt is still MIA - maybe using the woods himself.

We hope and pray that the golfers had several children, especially boys, and felt sympathetic to the situation. We are also hoping we are not going to be fined by the club for indecent exposure.

What have I gotten myself into...again

So, I have pulled yet another Ashley. Last week I got an email from Musicology (the studio where I teach violin) wanting me to play with Alan Jackson (country singer) for his induction into the ever-famous Coweta County Music Hall of Fame (yes, this is real). I am thinking one of two things:
1. They must think I can play really well or
2. They are very desperate.

I have come to find out that the latter is true. What was initially introduced as an opportunity to perform with the superstar himself has now turned into an accompaniment of elementary chorus students singing the very country song "Little Bitty." This song also has many "fiddle" solos and this girl don't really fiddle - at least not since the 1990's. The other fun fact that they forgot to present was that it is volunteer - yup, no funds. I will be joined by several other wanna-be musicians including a local elementary principal on accordion (it seems that this is her drinking party trick). She seems to be as mortified as myself.

But for kickers...just to make it real fun...this performance will be recorded and played in heavy rotation for several months on the local Newnan channel. Yes, anyone that has Newnan cable will be able to enjoy this very surreal evening. Anyone wonder why Mr. Jackson does not tell many people he is from Newnan - he usually says Atlanta or Georgia. What a great way to pay homage to the only really famous person from your town...find children and old women to play your hit songs! Rock ON!! I mean Country ON!!

Time to catch up

Well, I have begun to blog our lives here in Georgia. What better way to watch the boys grow...keep informed of their exciting and silly stories and just know how we are...