Where do I begin???

NOTE: I wrote this entry a few WEEKS ago - BEFORE our vacation to CO, because I kept meaning to "finish" it. I never did finish it, but I'll go ahead and post it anyway. I'll try to get better in the blog-world...AGAIN! :)

Well, it's been a while! When I get busy like I have been lately, and I haven't had much time to get on the computer, I get a little overwhelmed when I think about "catching up" on my blog (and others' blogs) and facebook. But I suppose I'll just go for it and see what comes out. :)

I think since the last time I blogged, we've had several visitors. My sister Amy and her kids came around the last of July or so (I think - I've lost track. :)). We had such a fun time! Some of the highlights were going to a waterpark about an hour away and Beau taking us all tubing on the lake. Asher even tubed with me (as Beau drove the boat VERY slowly of course!) and loved it!

A few weekends ago, we went rafting with our Sunday school class down the Illinois River. It was a nice, slow trip down the river, so Asher got to join us for that too. It was a very beautiful area, and Asher had a lot of fun. But he did get a little tired and bored by the end. He even fell asleep for a while - first on the floor of the raft, then he slept in my arms for a while longer. I don't know if I would do it again, just because there were lots of things around us that were very distasteful to say the least. But we're glad we got to spend a fun day with some friends and get to know a few people better!

A couple of weeks ago, Beau's parents brought us our car and picked up their truck. Mark did a lot of work on our car and had some work done on it too! Thank you so much Mark!!! And thank you Barbara for letting us use your truck while it was getting fixed! We appreciate y'all SO MUCH!!! And it was great to see them! Their visit was perfect timing for helping our friend Dina move. Beau and Mark also fixed our water heater. And the kids loved playing with their Grammy and Grandad!!!

That same week after Mark and Barbara had gone home, I spent some more time helping Dina move. Then Friday, the kids and I left to go to their cousin Claire Bear's 3rd birthday party. It was a fun time with cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. Then Saturday, we headed to Waco to spend the week with my parents. We see my parents fairly often but hardly ever get to go to Waco, so it was really special to be at my old "home" - with my old parents...just kidding Mom and Dad. You're not OLD! Sunday morning we went to church. It was a great service, and as always I loved seeing lots and lots of old friends! The rest of the week was spent seeing Coby, Adrielle, and the girls, and a few other friends. I loved seeing all of them and catching up. I don't usually get to spend much time with friends when I go home, because I'm always there for some family event - which is great :), but it was fun to see a few of my close friends! Hopefully I'll get to see more of my old, close friends around the holidays!!!

.....So that's my "unfinished" post. I'll work on updating now. :)

FUNNY!

Asher Case

Asher has started saying things like : "by the way", "actually", and "Can you mind to put this on your face?" (pointing to the sunscreen that was setting on the bathroom counter). He also said several times today, "It's a nice day." And many of those times was as he was floating on his back in the bathtub - with an "Ahhhh..." before the sentence. It's so fun to hear him trying to talk like we do. :)

He took his first road-trip without us last week! And he did GREAT! Our friend Dina was going to her daughter-in-law's baby shower fairly near Livingston, where Beau's parents live. So Asher rode with her on the six hour drive to see his Grammie and Grandad for the weekend. He was only there for one full day (two nights), and he didn't miss us at all! :) Next time, maybe it can be longer. But we missed HIM!!! It was nice to have special time with Ainsley, though. Thank you Dina, Mark, and Barbara!!! It was such a fun weekend for him!

Today he went to work with his daddy. :) Beau had to drive to Tulsa to pick up some parts for something, so Asher went with him. They had a fun time together, and I got a LOT done around here! It was needed BADLY!!! So badly, in fact, that I held my hand up and made a vow to Beau that I would work as steadily as possible ALL day long today (with NO computer breaks)! :) It worked. The house isn't perfect by any means, but I got a lot done!

And tonight Uncle Tyler (Beau's brother) is here. He's never gotten to come see us in Oklahoma before, so we're really happy to see him!!!

New May Pics...

New Waters family pics from May '09. June is on its way... http://picasaweb.google.com/beauandsarawaters/May2009
NOTE: There are a billion! Look as quickly as you want, or take your time...it will probably take lots of it. Sorry! If you skip the videos, that will help. :)

I Don't Want to Forget...

*We were talking about fire ants, and how Cooper got in fire ants a while back. And Asher said, "When we were at Poppie's and Gibbie's, and we were playing in the sparkle?" #1: Good memory! #2: SPARKLE?! That's the cutest name for a sprinkler I've ever heard! :)
*We had been looking at pictures of Asher when he was a baby the other night, from when we lived at our old house, and in some of those pictures, he was playing in a little blue inflatable swimming pool. So, the other day, we were driving, and he saw a blue swimming pool in someone's yard and said, "Is that my old little blue swimming pool at our other house?" We love where we are, but sometimes I really miss where we were!!!
*We're borrowing Beau's mom's truck right now while his dad fixes our car, and today when Beau drove up in it, Asher said, "Did you drive your mom's truck?" Funny. :)
*Ainsley's got on a shirt today that has polk-a-dots on it, and when I put it on her, Asher said, "Are those her princess polk-a-dots?" Awwwww...
*As Beau drives off for work, Asher yells, "Be careful!"
*The bridge we normally drive across to get home from town has been closed down a lot lately, and yesterday when we drove across a different bridge, Asher very excitedly said, "The bridge is open! YEA!!!!" He cracks me up.

Just a few things I wanted to remember...

News Flash!!!

Ainsley has been saying "Mama" for quite a while now, but we haven't been SURE that she has said "Dada"...UNTIL just a few minutes ago!!! We're so happy. :) Especially Beau! I was sitting downstairs with her, and she was looking up at our landing, as if she was looking FOR something, and she started saying, "Dada. Dada." She was looking for Beau. It was too cute! :)

Our Kids

ASHER CASE

*Asher said, "I got an ant. I see his face and his legs. They're so little. But he'll eat food and get big, then he can play basketball." - or something like that. Then he thought for a minute and said, "No. He not play basketball."
*I mentioned something about Grandad (Beau's dad) fixing our car, and Asher said, "Daddy's dad?" He's starting to get connections better. The other day he said, "Daddy was a little baby, and Grammy held him."
*"I do it all my byself." (the "m" and "b" intentionally switched)
*He has started saying "music" instead of "sumic". I hate it! I want him to call it "sumic" forever! :)
*On that same note of reversing letters...We have a summer staffer here named Fisa, and Asher called him "Sifa". It's so interesting how his little brain switches things.
*Our conversation yesterday:
A: Where is Santa Claus?
M: At his house in the North Pole.
A: In the swimming pole? He took his shirt off, and you can see his armpits.
I thought I was going to lose it! That's hilarious! Has ANYONE in the whole wide world ever mentioned Santa's armpits before? I doubt it! :)

AINSLEY GRACE

*Her fifth tooth is breaking through (top middle right).
*She's having more fun playing, since she can move around more now.

*She still usually falls asleep easily in her bed when I put her down, but it's getting a little trickier at times, because she'll sit up or stand up and then not know what to do with herself.

That's all I've got for now, folks. Happy July 8th!