Back to School

Ashton and Maddie headed back to school last week after their "winter break", as the schools like to call it. Alex and I weren't sure how Maddie would do because she was out of routine for two weeks. She is a very structured, routine oriented child. She surprised us though and really did well. She actually did great! Ashton always does great, so that was no surprise. He loves all his little friends at school and comes home each day telling us what all the boys do.

Wednesday, I went to pick Maddie up and her teacher says, "Maddie, would you like to tell Mommy what you did today?". My heart sank because she had such a serious look on her face and I was thinking, oh no... what did Maddie do to another child?! I know, I know. Why would I automatically think that... well, because Maddie is used to defending herself with Ashton, so she has no problem in that area. She has a few rambunctous boys in her class, so it wouldn't of surprised me at all. However, I was so wrong. She had gone to the potty at school!!!!!!! We've not been pushing the potty because we wanted her to just be ready on her own. When she asks to go we take her, but we've not really had too many times that she preformed. Well, on Wednesday she went TWICE at school and ONCE again when we got home. I was so excited and thought we might finally get to stop buying diapers. Well, not just yet.... she has only gone one time since. Lets keep our fingers crossed and hope that she gets back in to the swing of things.

A new year and new beginning!!

With the start of a new year, I have really been thinking about a lot of things. I've taken a look at many aspects of my life and family. There are so many things that have changed for us this year, yet I still feel like there are more to come.

I, like I'm sure most of you, have made a list of new years resolutions. I've never sat down and done that before. I may have said "this year I want to do blah", but I've never actually put them in print before. This makes it a little more real for me. I don't like having a list with things not getting marked off, so I think it will be a little "pressure" for me to actually achieve these resolutions. So far, I've got about 30 things on my list and still adding more. I'm anxious to get started on conquering them one at a time. Some of my resolutions are the typical, eat better, exercise more and then others are more personal goals and things I need to work on for me. I'm really excited about them and hope to get to every single one achieved. I am still deciding if I'm going to share them all with Alex, so I have someone to hold me to them... He is a tough coach some times, so I'm not sure I can or not. We will have to see on that one!

Hope everyone has a great new year and success in whatever they choose to do!!

Happy New Years

from The Perrys!!!

Our year all wrapped up

This year seems to have flown by. It seems like just a couple of weeks ago when Alex and I were heading out for the movies, only to get up in the middle of the movie and walk out because it was that bad. :) So much has happened, it is hard to just hit the highlights...

It has been a year full of new beginnings, sad endings, births, celebrations, cook outs and dinners with friends, the start of many new relationships and the ending of some others, struggles and successes, major accomplishments and goals met, short outings and long trips, unfortunate news and yet prayers answered, hurdles overcome despite all odds, and most importantly to me is growing closer as a family through it all!!

I love my husband and my family and look forward to a great 2009 with them all.

Happy New Years!!

Just a few of our Christmas moments

The night before Christmas Eve we had our Christmas get together with Alex's dad's family and this was a picture taken of us.

Left to Right: Alex, Ashton, Andy (Alex's dad), Me & Maddie, Debby (Alex's mom) & Clint (Alex's brother)

When we got home, we found a package that had been left for Ashton from some "friends" of ours. It was a nice little drum and a pair of cymbals. Ashton decided that before bed he, Alex and Maddie needed to "play band". So, of course, I couldn't resist another picture.

I'm not TOTALLY sure which of the three are MORE in to the "playing band". (Check out Alex's face!!) LOL

Christmas Eve, Alex had to work for a little while, so the kids and I went to my grandparents' house to visit for a while. We had a nice time and it was good to ge to see them. A few years ago, we started a little tradition and we have dinner with Alex's parents and the kids open their presents there. They had a great time playing and seeing what they got. Ashton was particularly excited about his "I Spy" Cars book.

And Alex was pretty pleased with RockBand. And let me just tell you.... we have played and played and played. He thinks he is a pro at it now. LOL

Before we headed home, we decided to take a family picture. We don't seem to get too many of these and I want to cherish them as long as I can possibly get the kids to cooperate! So, this is our Christmas Eve photo for this year. And trust me, there were some FUNNY ones, but this is one of the more tasteful and semi cute ones.

Christas morning, the kids got up EARLY. Alex was NOT pleased with that. As you all know, Alex treasures his sleep and doesn't seem to ever get enough of it in his book. The kids were just so excited that they couldn't wait.

I think I took about 100+ pictures over the course of three days, but thought I'd spare you all that. This is just a couple of cute ones showing how excited they were. Ashton loves his "tracing thing" that Santa brought and Maddie loves her computer to do her letters that Alex and I got her. All and all it was a wonderful few days packed with lots of family and friends. I hope that you all had just as good of a Christmas as we did!!

Much love,

The Perrys

Our Weekend and Great Friends

Alex and I had a date night on Friday. It was SSSSSOOOO nice to get a break from it all and just enjoy each other!! We really need to do that more often. We had dinner, which was super quiet, and then headed out to do some shopping for the kids. We are always done way before now, but this year things have just gotten in the way and we're a little late finishing up. That is okay though.... it gave us a reason to get out and spend some time together without the kids. :)

Saturday, we had dinner with some friends and let the kids exchange gifts. They LOVED it!! Ashton is so excited to tell everyone what he has gotten and Maddie likes her new boots so much that she wants to wear them EVERYWHERE. It makes me super excited to see them on Christmas morning!! I'm starting to feel like a kid all over again... getting super excited and counting down the days until THEY get to open their stuff. Funny huh?! The kids had a great time playing together and the adults had some fun playing games too! It is a blessing to have such great friends and get to spend time just hanging out!!

Sunday, the kids and spent the afternoon napping. Yes, we all took naps. Doesn't happen around here very often, but we did. Alex had some shopping to do, so he headed out and we all crashed. It was a nice, lazy afternoon at our house!!

Tomorrow starts a whirlwind of Christmas gatherings for us. So, in case I don't get to post again, I hope everyone has a safe and Merry Christmas!!!

Christmas Program at Church

Last Saturday night, our church had a Christmas Party and the kids sang two songs for the crowd. Maddie was so excited and had been practicing at home like crazy. She gets on stage though and every single picture I have looks like this....

She did not sing a word, instead just stared at all the people watching her. I don't think we have to worry about her pursuing a career in singing. LOL

Ashton, on the other hand, sang away. He seemed to really enjoy himself. We looks so big standing up there with his little hand in his pocket like he is cool stuff. LOL

Santa and his Reindeer

This past Saturday, Santa and his live 8 reindeer we at Providence to visit. I had to run to JoAnn's to pick up a few things, so I talked Alex in to taking the kids to visit and HOPEFULLY get their picture made with Santa.

We managed to get there right as it was opening and surprisingly, there was not many people there at all. It was great. We got in and out and were on our way.

Ashton and Maddie thought the reindeer were neat, but didn't want to get too close. Any one that knows our kids, knows they only like animals from a distance.

Here is a shot of the reindeer. Alex and I were amazed at how large their antlers were. (And yes, Katrina, I was one of those people that didn't get up to the fence to take my pictures.... LOL)

Finally, we got in line to see Santa and get the kids picture. Well, as you can see.... Alex and I had to have our picture taken too.

On an exciting note....

We have been telling Maddie that Santa would be taking her passy when he came on Christmas Eve and leaving her presents instead. She knows that is where Ashton's went and has been fine with it. Well, on Saturday morning when we told her we were going to go see Santa she ran to her room, got her passy and said that she was going to give it to him so he would bring her presents. I really didn't think that she would go through with it, but while we were in line to see him, she told me to get it out of my "poppit" aka pocket and give it to him for her. It was cute! So far, she has done great. The first two days it took her a long time to fall asleep, but since then, she has been a super big girl. YEAH!!!!!!!