A Boy and His Balloon

Our neighbor brought over three helium balloons with garage sale printed on them. When Greyson received his balloon his face lit up with the most excited smile in the world. Receiving that balloon meant so much to him. Probably more than any of else will ever understand because none of us can remember back that far. I took Greyson for a stroller ride that beautiful day. As I looked at him his hair was blowing in the cool breeze. It's one of those moments that you realize this is what its all about being human. Strolling along appreciating the perfect day on this floating rock in space realizing its a complete miracle that we are alive with individual consciousness to do as we please enjoying the beauty of this world. The innocence we are born with and is quickly lost. Greyson is still in that innocence and I see him starting to get jaded by those around him namely Asher who has lost his innocence and is learning how to deal with the dark cruel reality of human nature. Through his super hero cartoons he is seeing good guys and bad guys and learning about good and evil. I tell him its all made up and there are no super heros, but in a way we all need to be super heros and fight against the evils of this world. I was taken back on that stroll with Greyson. I was taken back to my innocence and experienced it from a smile with a boy and his balloon.

The Boys of Summer

It's been a long hot summer. The mosquitoes reached an all time worse and it was the hottest summer since 1988. Asher got bit 5 times one day just going on a wagon ride to the other end of the neighborhood and back and it was at 6pm.

We went on a couple of trips. One to Mackinac island for three days and the other up to Silver Lake. The yearly Newman Family Reunion was a blast, Asher got to ride on a jet ski for the first time.



He got a balance bike for his birthday and has ridden the bike almost every day. Asher went up for a second time on a 4 seater prop plane at Oakland Airport. The first time he did it when he was 1. Asher had his first kayak ride at Uncle Bob's. His first day of pre-school was a couple weeks ago and had a special morning breakfast.



I can't believe he is already in school. Asher has a couple new friends next door. Cooper 2 and Carson 4 moved in this summer. Asher enjoys them very much and Carson always tells Asher how much he misses him if he doesn't see him for a couple of days.



Greyson had his first solid foods a couple months ago and is sitting up by himself. He enjoys biting things, trying to talk and can do a a 360 on the ground. He hasn't started to crawl but enjoys standing with assistance from the couch. I believe he got up for the first time with the help of a toy box, but unfortunately papa wasn't looking, so i can't verify this happened or not.




Kim is slaving away at home and I at work. Life with kids adds so much difficulty into ones life, but it's worth every annoying whining bit.......or so they say. Down the road it will get better, but for now embrace the exhaustion and know that all the hard work will pay off when they are model productive citizens making this world a better place. And if they aren't? I'm kicking their asses out as soon as they graduate from high school.




This last photo was on the way home from Silver Lake. Asher fell asleep playing with his pirate ship.

A Moment in Time

I missed my friends wedding last Sunday. I had a bad stretch of 3 days with lack of sleep because Asher kept getting up early because he would have a BM during his nap and was also getting up early in the morning. So Sunday rolled around and I just plain forgot about it. Lack of sleep does that to the memory. I have missed other events that I normally would have never forgotten before I had kids.

So I haven't spoken to my friend yet because I'm completely embarrassed. I hate the fact that I missed one of the greatest momements in her life that she wanted to share with me and my family. I just still can't believe I missed something I was talking about 3 days before and had on my calendar 2 months ago.

I realize I need to have a huge calendar on the door leading into my garage. Something I would see everyday unless I don't leave the house.

The Legend of Pumpkin Man

A mythical figure from Mennonite lore, Pumpkin Man was the defender of the crop. Some say it was a bagpipe, or Hurdy Gurdy they could hear in the field. I think I have solved that mystery. What makes a two year old want to go legend? If this isn't a passing phase I will be protecting Asher's identity for the rest of his life. This last picture was taken when Greyson heard the tune of Pumpkin Man outside on the front porch. Greyson didn't have to tell me, his eyes told me, "Pumpkin Man is here".

Vet-A-Visit

Every year MSU opens their Veterinarian College up for a open house. Last year we missed it and luckily we caught it this year. Asher got to pet a tarantula. He loves spiders, but this one was a little different.
I didn't think he would do it. Maybe it was because Papa and another young girl sat there and wouldn't do it. And just when we were about to move to the dinosaur lizards, Asher quickly moved his finger up to the tarantula and touched its leg. Sorry for no flash in the picture. The guy holding the tarantula kept emphasizing about not petting it the opposite way of the flow of the hairs. He should of said no sudden movements.
Overall, Vet-A-Visit was great and we hope to make it again next year.

Pictures of Greyson

Mornings Off

I decided to take off 2 weeks of mornings from work to help Kim with the adjusting process from 1 to 2 children. One of my priorities was to get Asher out of the house to give Kim a break and also get some vital one on one time with Asher to let him know Greyson isn't taking up all of Mama and Papa time.

Monday we took the Element into the Honda Dealer to get some recall work done. It only took an hour. Then we were off to the MSU sheep farm to hang out with the barn cats and sheep. I think there are as many cats as sheep.


Tuesday we went to the Holt Library for some reading for kids done by the librarians. Asher tried 3 times to sit on the librarians lap while she read the books to the children. Just like he does when Mama, Papa, Grandma, Grandma and Aunt Sandy read to him.

Wednesday the whole family went to get Asher's first hair cut. Well, it was more of a trim. We don't want him to lose his baby curls.



Thursday Asher and I were off to Jumping Jax with his friend Nathaniel aka Nay Nay. Asher and Nay Nay had a run in with the "bad boys". As I conversed with another parent Asher and Nathaniel were on one of the inflatables when I heard Asher start to cry. I went over and asked what happened and Asher told me one of the two boys that were wrestling hit him. I watched one of the bad boys pull the others collar choking him as he tried to get away. I called the aggressor over to me and asked him the whereabouts of his mother. The beautiful little 3 year old then growled at me and turned around and ran off. He then went over to the slide and hit Nay Nay on the head. I had enough and grabbed the beautiful child and walked him over to a group of parents not paying any attention to where or what their kids were doing. Yes, I snitched on him to his mother. Later, I found out it might not of been his mother but the daycare employee.

Friday morning I gave Asher some karate lessons. You gotta be careful what you teach a 2 year old.

Over the weekend we went sledding on Saturday and watched Asher's second cousin William play little league hockey. Asher wanted to transform his bike helmet into a goalie helmet. Coolest goalie helmet I've ever seen, only problem is seeing the puck. Uncle Haven came into town Sunday afternoon and spent the night.



Monday morning Asher, Uncle Haven and I went to Valhalla Park. The snow still hadn't melted around the play scape. We went for a great walk through the woods. Love this park.

Kim found out from a friend that the local fire station gave private tours. I called on Wednesday and scheduled a visit for Thursday morning. I had no idea we would get an exclusive tour by the fire chief himself. Asher said he wants to be a fireman when he grows up.

Asher got his first belt. As soon as Kim put it on him he did a little dance. We named it the belt dance.

Friday it was breakfast with my friend Joel at the Pad. Interesting little restaurant. Frog memorabilia line the walls along with a huge pile of frog stuffed animals and toys Asher played with during breakfast. Hence frog leg Fridays.


And Greyson he's doing great. He's been a little under the weather, but doing fine. No pictures please!

So that sum's up the two week's of mornings I had off. Tomorrow it's back to the 8-5 grind.

Brotherly Love

I came down to post about something after putting Asher asleep for his nap. I can't remember what I wanted to post? Hmmm, I'm not going to let that stop me. I'm just going to write about whatever.....

Asher is adjusting better to having a brother than Kim and I expected. We were worried he would reject him from the beginning realizing his golden days of only child just came to a grinding halt. He continually goes up to Greyson to snuggle, hug, or hold him. At times he asks us to put down Greyson so he can have a hug, but for the most part he's doing well. He even wanted Greyson to nurse from him today pulling up his shirt and reaching for his nipple. What more could a brother ask for?

Greyson is sleeping better through the night. The other night he slept from 11:30pm to 4:30am. We are a little worried he's not getting enough milk from breast feeding because he's only gained a couple of ounces. Asher bulked up immediately. As long as he's not losing weight we'll just have to wait it out a little longer. For the first time he's having problems falling asleep tonight. He's not feeling well.

Well, I still don't know what I was going to write this afternoon. Maybe later it'll come back to me. So here's a bunch of random things: Mom is getting a new vacuum cleaner. I'm being moved into a different position at work helping manage a 1600 pc roll out this year. Can't seem to stop reading about mountain bikes. Giant Trance X2 seems to be the best bike for the $2500 price range.


And whats with this $25 million dollar Strand Craft 122 super yacht. It comes with a custom built super car that has 880 hp and top speed of 230 mph. First of all, who needs a $25 million dollar yacht with 14,000 hp which includes a super car that's garaged inside it? 6 of these beasts are being built and 5 are already sold. Who are these people? Millions of people are starving in the world and these people feel the need to blow it on a super yacht. This is all the proof that one needs to know the world is wrong. I would jump ship, or should I say super yacht if I could, but unfortunately no other planets for me to live on just yet......maybe someday, but not in my generation.