Asher's Birthday :: Part 2

We decided to forgo the big party this year and do a simple birthday dinner on a weeknight with all our parents. Which was great because there were no invites to make or mail, no weather to worry about, and no exposure to sick kids. There was, however, a lot of laughing and squealing and screaming. Not just by Asher, either. You put eight adults madlyinlove with the cutestbabyonearth and see what volume you reach. "It goes up to 11." {Bonus points if you know that quote. Serious bonus points.}

I made a super simple dinner of soft tacos, spicy corn, pinto beans and cupcakes (with incredible fugde frosting). All served buffet style. I have no idea why my family didn't do things this way growing up. So fewer dishes! Anyway. Super easy and quick and tasty. 

 {Any "My Name Is Earl" fans? We love the closed-eye picture tradition.}

There are no family photos. I can not believe it! I'm resolving right now to be better about making someone take a picture of Asher with his Mommy and Daddy. Seriously. 

The plan was simple: sit around the table and eat while we watch Asher eat. He always provides good supper-time entertainment and general face messyness. He was definitely entertaining during dinner. The best part was probably after dinner, though. Justin got up and began clearing the dishes (I know, bonus points for him) and when I joined him Asher went to play with his little barn. He loves the music and plays the songs over and over and over again. Well, he played the songs and ran in circles. The entire time we did dishes. At least twenty five circles. He'd stop and dance for a  minute, but then back to running. None of the grandparents took pictures though, so be mad at them, not me. I think we did get some video, so I'll try to check into that soon. And my next post won't have anything to do with Asher's birthday. But it will probably still have something to do with him. Let's just face it. 

Asher's Birthday :: Part 1

You've waited long enough. No more delays. I mentioned here that I'd made about thirty meals. It just so happened that I did that when Justin was out of town. And it was Asher's birthday. Sometimes things just happen that way. Here's how it went down. First, when it's your birthday, I am an advocate of having whatever you want for breakfast. Actually, I feel like this fairly often, but especially on one's birthday. Especially when you're two. So Asher has milk and grapes and donut holes. Actually, this is his first experience with cakey donut holes, but I thought he'd like them and they sounded good to me when we were at Kroger. Don't judge me.

Asher ate his breakfast, we practiced our flash cards and sang happy birthday and I started on this. 

Cajun 16-bean soup. Can you find sixteen different beans? Me either. I only counted twelve. Maybe I'll try again later when we eat some. 

While I souped, Asher played. We're big fans of free play on Saturday mornings around here. I just read an article about how free play is really good for fostering independence. Not that he needs any help in that department. 

I rounded up supplies for all my meals. While it was a lot of work, I am excited to do it again. And it's been so fun to eat things from our freezer. Tonight we're having Santa Fe Chicken Chili and tomorrow Cream Cheese and Spinach stuffed Chicken wrapped in Bacon. Be jealous. 

Asher helped me get out some other things. 

I cooked, he played. He cooked, I played. We cooked. We played. 

We took a break for lunch and wagoning. Asher received a Radio Flyer for Christmas so we wagon often. Elmo was in Asher's good graces that day, so he was offered a wagon ride as well. 

After wagoning, Asher took a nap and I returned to the kitchen. Later that night, Asher went to MeMaw and PawPaw's for dinner and movie. Lucky kid. I was still in the kitchen...

P.S. Asher loves meatballs.

totally behind

Asher started school in November. I know time flies, but don't worry. He's not really in kindergarten or anything. I took these pictures that morning because aren't you supposed to have pictures from your first day of school? Asher didn't think so. : (

Maybe hiding behind the trash can will help. Nope. It doesn't. 

On a side note, while packing his lunch, I was really worried about what he'd eat since their lunch time was way earlier than our normal eating time. Actually, everything about school is way earlier than our normal time. Also, I was concerned that he'd run out of food while other kids were eating and that could be detrimental to the rest of his day. So I packed and packed and packed food for him. 

Lunch includes:

1 peanut butter fold over with extra peanut butter

cheese puffs

1/2 cup yogurt puffs

string cheese

two clementine oranges

5 pretzels

2 animal cookies

water

He ate every bite. 

Also, mornings are much better now. And he likes school. He doesn't always eat that much for lunch. But sometimes he eats even more. : )

ch-ch-ch-cheesecake

For your immediate viewing pleasure, I give you tonight's dinner time enjoyment:

Cheesecake with Grandpa and Mimi.

Mmmmmm.

Lest you think our lives are boring...

My adorable little trouble-maker keeps very busy. Busy being adorable. Busy making trouble.

What? You don't believe me?

That's fine. I have plenty of evidence.

On this particular day I'd made some blueberry muffins for a visiting friend. Visiting friend shared muffins with Asher. Visiting friend left. Asher's desire for muffins did not.

"Oh, there's Mom."

"What's she staring at?"

 "I should crawl up on the island so I can reach the others. Yeah. That's a good idea."

"Hmm. This fancy leafy paper by Martha is tasty."

After eating the top off the first muffin, Asher tossed it to the side and lunged for more. One for each hand. That move was less successful.

cupcake mistake

I have these fun things called in-laws.
Maybe you have them, too.
Well, probably not mine because, well, we would have an issue as my hubband is an only child and we all know what that means.
If you so happen to have in-laws, and a child, you know that means grandparents ... and you know where I'm going with this.

Mimi and Grandpa (aka Grumpy) like to bring my boy "prizes". Once upon a time I received prizes, but no longer. I'm not important any more. (Again, if you have children and in-laws, you know where I'm coming from.) I also want to mention that I think it's so funny they are called prizes and not presents. A prize suggests winning. And if grandparents bring grandchildren prizes, does that mean they are brainwashing him to think he's won the grandparent lottery?

I mean, he has, but still.

Where was I? Oh yes. Grandparents. Prizes. On one such grandparent prizing occasion, Asher received a cupcake as a prize. Lucky kid. (I received no such cupcake.) The funny thing about prizes for grandchildren is that often, not always, but often, a prize for the grandchild ends up being a terrible punishment non-prize for me.

Here is the evidence of one such occasion.

Guess who had the "prize" of cleaning that mess? I'll give you three guesses, but you'll only need one.