Asher's Fourteen

Boy, oh boy.  Asher is getting too old, too fast!  This year was fourteen, and he's solidly planted himself into teenager-hood (is that a word?).  We're so proud of this kid.  A few things about Asher...

• He still adores sports, all of them.  listening to sports radio is still something he enjoys while falling asleep.
• Soccer is still his favorite.  This year we're trying a Club team out and he's loving it.  He plays whenever he can...lunch at school with friends, in the backyard with his brothers or by himself, weekends holidays.  He loves kicking that ball around.
• He's doing great in school.  He's been learning Spanish this year and other than hearing him say, "Ole!" constantly, it's been fun to hear using Spanish here and there. 
•  He's become a master whistler.  It's very cheerful and fun, unless he's in close proximity or in the car.  I think he can whistle just about anything!
• He's determined.  Watching him eek out his Eagle Scout Award (still forthcoming) has been impressive.  He knows how to work hard, and under a deadline.
• He plays well with his brothers...most of the time.
• He took 1st place in a recent 5k (after a snowed out Turkey Trot, they ran a Santa Race instead.)
• His favortie teams are Manchester United, the Dodgers, Cougars, and Lobos.  He's a devoted fan!
•  He's about as tall as I am now.  That's just weird.
•  He went to his first church dance a couple months back and actually asked girls to dance.  The food is still a major draw though:)
• He leads a great F.H.E.  and we are always grateful for his help!
• We love that we have a dependable babysitter.  What a gamechanger that has been.  Thanks Ash!
•  On his birthday, the fact that he'd start driving after his next birthday came up, which is not a reality we're ready to deal with yet!
• He's a great guy who is responsible, kind and it's fun to see how he's growing.  We are so lucky to be parents to this kid.

For his birthday he chose his faves...nachos for dinner, a cookie cake for dessert.  He had some friends over for pizza and pizzookies followed by an indoor soccer game.  Happy Birthday Asher!

Christmas 2019

Woowee.  December was jam packed with stuff, good and great.  We had the traditions we do every year, like our advent calendar with candy and scriptures and service opportunities, which the kids love. We baked Christmas cookies (Dawson is a new big helper in this department), did our annual family puzzle (this year's Dowdle puzzle was a Christmas scene),  made Cinnamon Bun Popcorn for neighbors and friends so the boys could deliver it, sent out Christmas cards, went to an awesome Flamenco performance for Aaron's girls, wrapped lots of presents, went to Dawson's preschool performance (he sang a solo...Silent Night, and the sweetest thing EVER), watched too many ridiculously cheesy Christmas movies(the boys would get sucked in too when they were on, hehehe), went bowling at Kirtland Airforce Base (surprisingly awesome!), went to the River of Lights, made gingerbread houses and then cookies for our family and Santa, had a family Nerf War at the church, fun date nights, shopping, helped Asher finish up his Eagle project (details to come), went to a couple of Christmas parties, sang Silent Night as a family at the ward party, hiked Tent Rocks (awesome!) and a fun trip up to Santa Fe on the Rail Runner (snowy, blizzardy day with kids museum, pizza and adventure!).  Whew!  Just typing all of that up is seriously exhausting. It was a wonderful time though with lots of chances to focus on the Savior's birth, have fun and enjoy time together. We made some great memories.  Merry, merry Christmas!