The Whitlocks visit...

The Whitlocks came to visit us in June and here I am only 2 months behind needing to get some stuff up on the blog. Noah is off to daycare today and I am doing some stuff at the house since I have no car to escape in...I even had to take Noah in the bike this morning to daycare. But I digress...

Their flight was delayed, so we were robbed of the first evening together. Luckily everything came in on the next flight, but that wasn't until something like 11:00PM!!! The following day we wasted no time in getting to our usual gaming. The boys once again beat us in hand and foot. I (ashley) of course won settlers and the other games were pretty much spread out...I cannot even remember what all we played. Jimmy and I stayed up late while Katie went to bed and Matt slept on the couch-ha! We had such a great time getting to visit with the three of them. Noah enjoyed pulling Isaac around in the wagon and also loved showing Isaac his big bubble wand. For Father's day, Matt's parents, Nicole and James, and G&G Bolin came over. We had a feast and even skyped with Dan and Lynn so that all the boys could wish Dave a happy Father's Day. If you would like to see some pictures, you have to visit Katie's blog because I don't have any?!?!? Not exactly sure how that happened... We miss you guys so much and are so glad you came to visit us. Anyone else up for a trip to Waverly?

Landscaping

Matt has found his calling in life... No wonder Matt and my mom get along so well ;) Matt is the mastermind behind this plan in the front yard. I liked the idea of the before/after pics my friend Katie did on her blog. The only pictures we have are from when the house was listed. When we bought the house, it looked much different. Everything was covered in snow until early April! These are the in progress pics because we planted wildflower seeds behind the hostas, and rubeckia & columbines off of the other ends of the coreopsus and daylilies. Such a change from 30 year old, overgrown, half dead, evergreen hedges!
Before

Progress

Now that I put these on here, I see I need a more upclose shot...more to come later. Too dark to do anything about it now!-ha

The lost is found...

Here is the picture I was talking about, the day we closed on the house...

Breast Cancer Awareness

We are coming to the end of our Help Whip Cancer campaign with Pampered Chef and I just wanted to inform all of the women and men who care about women about a form a breast cancer that is not very well known. Thanks to Jean Ellison for sharing this with me. It is called Inflammatory Breast Cancer and if you click on the link you can watch a quick video that is very informative. This is a very aggressive form of breast cancer and you do not check for it by checking for a lump. Please watch the video and pass it on!

Jesus Loves Me

home sweet home

After several requests, I think I can finally get these up...but i cannot find the picture of Matt and I from the day we closed on the house?!?! Well at least here are a few pictures:

Noah's toy room...

Living Room...obviously a few months ago...Look at all the snow out the window! So glad that is gone.

Just one of Noah chillin on the floor. For some reason he stripped his pants off. Thought he looked soooo big laying there!

Saturday

Well, 40 degrees feels the warmest it ever has. We went out in lighter weight clothing today and played in the melting snow...tomorrow we are supposed to get freezing rain so this could be the last of the "nice" weather for awhile. Matt is at work, so Noah and I have been hanging out today. We played ball with Sandy, hung up Noah's clothes, played with his alphabet bus, read a few books, Noah took a nap, unloaded the dishwasher and went potty several times. We also watched "Caillou" which still is Noah's favorite.

Last week Noah started going to one of our friends house for "school" 2 days a week. Noah seemed to love it and it was nice to be able to get things done in our house. Matt and I finished painting the living room and trim and door or the bathroom. we got the kitchen cleaned up and the living room arranged. It was so nice because I had some girls over on Thurs. for a Pampered Chef get together. My team is growing and I am really happy with my girls. I need a few more shows this month to keep up with it so I am working on that. If anyone wants to help out by hosting a catalog show, let me know:)

I have to upload pictures to be able to post them, which requires knowing where the camera is so...none for now. Maybe sometime soon.

Never Say Never

Well I thought Noah would never get potty trained, but finally success. While my mom was in town she sucessfully got him to go #2 on the potty several times. We already had the other stuff down. Then the day before she left, Noah peed 2x in his pants and also #2 in his pants. I was so frustrated because I knew he could hold it, but he would go in his pants on purpose. I knew this because I had a timer set to take him ever hour, but he would wake in the morning and be completely dry. My friend Melissa was a big help because she gave me the suggestion of letting him clean himself up when he made a mess in his pants...I think he had to do it about 5-6 times and it usually took him almost an hour of screaming at me, "No you do it!" to which I would respond, "I did not make the mess, I will not clean it up." So my mom says to me, "Just put him back in diapers for a little while so you do not loose your sanity." He was back in diapers for 2 days and had no accidents. Well I did not communicate to Matt that I was leaving him in diapers, so back into the "big boys" as Noah likes to call them, he went. Ever since that day he has been asking to go potty and has only had 2 accidents in over 3 months!!! That is success!

Now that I finished that, I can also add that we had a great Christmas here at our new home. With the move we did not put up a tree:( but we had a very cute Charlie Brown-type tree that Pam and Dave found for us...In some ways I really liked it better than a tree...it was really easy to take down.

Baga and Noah built a snowman baby...well, Baga built and Noah threw snowballs at Baga...it was a fun time for all.

One of these days...

Well so much has happened in our lives since I last posted that it feels weird to even come back to the blog. A few of the highlights are:
1. Bought a house in Waverly to call our very own, only through the blessing of God
2. Noah is fully potty trained!!!!!!!!
3. "Baga" came to visit for Christmas
4. Dan and Lynn moved to Turkey!!!!
5. We visited FL, but still didn't see everyone
6. Spent 8hrs in the Cedar Rapids Airport when we came home because the Jetta's fuel had gelled in the -30 temps the week before
7. Ashley promoted to Director with Pampered Chef!
8. Matt is finally on his regular work schedule
9. Ashley went to Denver for the Pampered Chef Leadership Convention and visited Sandy and Tex
10. The GATORS WON the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AGAIN!!!

...not to mention celebrating Christmas at the Jensens, Bolins, Dave Bolins, Baga Sue's.

Noah and I celebrated New Year's Eve with bunch of friends at the Baker's residence and also went out to the Stanley's which Noah calls Na-na's house because the little girl, same age as Noah's nickname is Na-na).

I think that is the jist of all that has gone on thus far this year and back into last year a few weeks...if you want to know more details, CALL ME!!!!!

Some over due photos

This was after a big snow fall, or maybe the snow was still falling. Just thought it looked beautiful.

Noah gives the thumbs up for going to play in the snow

Another day of getting dressed to play in the snow....

With potty training comes a new set of problems...how to hold the pants up!

Thanks!

Well, the last couple of days have been really great. We had Dan and Lynn come stay with us last night and Lynn and I stayed up really late discussing all sorts of great stuff! Girl talk is always fun and never seems like you can get enough.

Also, had a great time at my Pampered Chef Christmas Party. It was a small group, but I think sometimes smaller is better!

We are all planning our trip for 2010. My director Carol with her "ears" on!

Melissa, next to me, has become a really good friend and I really enjoy getting to spend time with her and her little ones. It is so nice to have someone to talk to about life.

Best of all, my good friend Katie called me today and it was so nice to catch up a little with her on the happenings of Iowa and NC. I definitely needed that. Thanks Katie!

Tomorrow the high is supposed to be 45! That will be really nice, however the low tomorrow night is supposed to be -1! That is a huge swing! Monday there will be a high of 2 and wind chills of 15 below. I am not looking forward to that! We are working on all of the details of the house stuff and will close on or before the 19th! It is coming up so fast... and then best of all my mom is coming to visit on the 23rd!

Forgive me Lord...

So as I was reading today, I came across this and I was again convicted. Bear with me as I show you what I feel like God has been showing me lately.

Romans 13:1-2
1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves

Well, for starters I am asking for forgiveness for being against that which God has established as an authority in this country. I have resisted and I will have to be judged for that when I meet my maker.

However, I also believe that many Christians to this day are freaked out about the leadership-elect in this country. I implore you to look past what differences we have with our leadership and instead support and pray and uplift our leadership.

This is hard for me to talk about or do, because our current leadership I feel has made some "unloving" decisions, but I nonetheless have to do that which I feel convicted of, even though it will be hard and not always pleasant.

Lord, please grant me the wisdom, patience and most of all love, to do what you ask of me. Amen

Thanksgiving

I had heard a story at my MOPS group, read by Nancy, our mentor mom. I looked for a similar story on the Internet and I came across a blog which I really liked the shortened version of the story as told on this blog. I thought I would share it with you all. My prayer is that I could have a faith that would carry me through a ration of 5 kernels of corn, no matter how my corn comes, whether it be in food, clothing, relationships, or any other source in which God rations me to be dependant on him.

Five Kernels of Corn by Candice Watters on Nov 22, 2007 at 10:02 AM
It's easy in our culture to lose sight of what we're remembering -- what we're celebrating -- on Thanksgiving.
In the midst of garish glitter and premature pictures of Santa; of circular charges to "give thanks for thanksgiving," for a day off, for too much food, for friendships, for new toys and stylish clothes and beautiful homes and fancy cars and strong bodies, it's easy to forget. The Light and the Glory for Children says,
During the winter of 1621-22, the Pilgrims entered a "starving time" like the settlers in Jamestown. Plymouth now had thirty-five extra people so the supplies went quickly. They were down to a daily ration of only five kernels of corn apiece. But, as always, they had a choice. They could either give in to bitterness and despair, or they could trust Jesus. They chose Jesus.
The people who came to America before any of this country's bounty was known or even imagined, sacrificed everything -- to the point of death. And then they fasted. Repeatedly they turned to God with fasting and prayer, even as they faced starvation, to seek His guidance and provision.
He was their source and they knew it. And when God sent help -- the Indians -- they recognized the rescue for what it was: God's answer to their prayers. I'm humbled and sobered by their example.
Today isn't a day for generic thanks for unparalleled wealth. It's a day for humility and gratitude to God. He is still our source.
Colossians 1:16-18 exalts Him saying,
For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
Oh, that we would never forget. Lord, grant us a heart of gratitude.

Hello? Hello!

Noah's new word...

What???

So about a week ago it snowed enough over night to cover the ground and the car. I was not so impressed...

A few days prior to that, on a very cold morning we went to Heartland farms and their pumpkin patch. Noah had a good time, but was ready to go when it was time because it was sooo cold!

Matt worked over 100hrs in eight days last week, but hopefully that is coming to an end tomorrow morning at their shift meeting. They should be moving to 4 on, 4 off which will be so nice.

We also made a peanut butter chocolate torte a few weeks ago and I never posted the video of Noah enjoying the spoon!