Happy Halloween from Shirley Temple and Curious George

To me, Halloween is like Christmas Eve.  

It's fun.  

It's exciting.  

But, you know much better things are about to happen.

Thanksgiving is few weeks away.  

Then its officially the Holiday Season!!  

My absolute favorite time of year!!!

Nonstop Christmas Music.

Snow.

Shopping.

Decorating.

Baking.

Gatherings.

Cards in the mailbox. (please send us one... I love them!)

Even though I love what's about to come... I am enjoying the heck out of Halloween, too!!!

Here is my very own, made from scratch (not the costume), Curious George!

If that isn't cute enough for you...

Another made from scratch creation... Shirley Temple!

I didn't make the dress, however it was hand-picked by Grandma Cernech, and then hand-delivered by Grandpa Cernech.  How's that for service?  

God provided the curls.

Abby, Daddy and George picking their pumpkins out and then enjoying a hayride.

Peek-a-Boo Skeletons

 

Happy Halloween Everyone.

Love,

The Ascencio's

Everyday Life

Our everyday life consists of common things.

Things experienced by all parents.

Even though these things are experienced by parents of all normal children, we still didn't quite see it coming.  And now we are consumed by things such as...

• Abby and George want to have our full undivided attention only once we are on the phone.  Especially if we are talking to Grandma or Grandpa.  If I talk with you on the phone, you know exactly what I mean.
• Putting a two year old to bed is an iterative process.  Go to bed, get up.  Go to bed, get up.  I find myself counting to three, out loud, often.  Last night I moved her slide to the garage because she got out of bed too many times, and now she has lost it for a while.
• I sleep in the middle of our king size bed in an awkward position, because sometime in the middle of the night Abby joins us and she likes to sleep sideways.  My back hurts when I get out of bed in the morning.  I thought your back would hurt due to old age, not because you are just too tired to put your two-year old back in her own bed.
• Abby was very intent on going to the store last night.  Why?  We are out of stickers.
• George cries when I hold him, because he wants down.  I set him down, and he cries because I am not holding him.
• If we are staying home for the day, Abby wants to leave.  If it is time to go to Pre-School, she wants to stay home for the day.
• A kiss from mom or dad can instantly cure a boo boo.  They're magic!

This video captures a typical moment in our day.  

The range of emotions says it all! 

Meet Alex

Yesterday, 

October 28, 2010 

@ 10:48 AM CST

our Niece and Cousin,

Alexandra Nichol Cernech

was born!

"Alex" weighed a mere 7lbs, 1oz.

and was 20inches long.

Her Mommy, 

Jennifer Nichol, is up for Mommy of the Year for having a short, uncomplicated labor and for carrying Alex for 41 weeks.  She also knows ALL the baby stuff.  I loved when she visited when my kids were newborn, it was definitely a worry-free experience.

I'm looking forward to being 'Mommies' together!

Her Daddy, 

Richard Alexander, is a very lucky guy with one more girl to take care of.  I remember one time, overhearing my mom tell my brother "You take care of my girls.".  At the time, it was just Karen, Loretta and me.  Since then, Elisabeth, Hannah, Abby and Jen were added to the list.  Now Alex!  EIGHT GIRLS (on just this side of his family)!  Hopefully we can get a picture at Thanksgiving of all of us, with the new Daddy in the middle!

Here in Michigan, we are over the moon!

We love you little Alex and can't wait to meet you in person.

And for once, even during football season, we wish Wisconsin was just up the road.

Annual Ascencio Pumpkin Carving Party

Happy Halloween 2010!

Last Friday we made pumpkin shaped jello jigglers, packed the kids and our pumpkins in the Jeep and made the trip to Grandma and Grandpa Ascencio's house.   The extended Ascencio family gathers there each year before Halloween to carve pumpkins, eat pizza, drink wine and eat LOTS of sweets. 

Abby, Sophie, Shilee & Magnus.

Sophie & Shilee with their scary vampire teeth!

George was enjoying cousin Kimmie's attention.  He kept her busy most of the night.  It was great for me to have a small break.  Can we do this again next weekend?

Abby and Emily have lots of fun when they're together.  They are both ALL GIRL.

Once I became a mommy, I left the carving of the pumpkins up to Daddy.  

He does a pretty good job!

Aunt Linda, Abby, George, Jim and Jason.

It was really nice to see everyone.

Here is Abby with our pumpkins on our porch.

Gull Meadow Farms

This past weekend, Abby, George & I went to visit Aunt Loretta in Kalamazoo.

Just up the road from her place is Gull Meadow Farms.

It is an orchard and cider mill, just like the one Abby went to on her Preschool Field Trip a few weeks ago.

I am learning that going to an Orchard and Cider Mill is a fall tradition here in Michigan.  

I can see why, we had lots of fun. 

Abby did the following:

Road a train 

I was at the car changing George's entire outfit since he somehow drenched himself while having a bottle, so Aunt Loretta put her on the train and then speed walked along the train as it went.  I think she probably speed walked to keep Abby safe because she fears what would happen to her if Abby got hurt on her watch.  Let's just say Daddy is a little overprotective and Aunt Loretta is a good sport!

Jumped on a huge balloon

 This required Abby taking her shoes off and walking around outside in her socks.  Loretta and I had a good laugh imagining how stressful that would have been for Tommy if he was there...  We almost texted him  a picture of the dirty socks, but didn't want to ruin his day.  Hehehe.  It was worth it, she had lots of fun and used up lots of energy.

Went down a really big slide

 There was a really long line to ride the slide, so Aunt Loretta stood with her in line.  And there was only one way down once you got to the top.... so I have fun video of each of them coming down the slide.  I wanted to share the video of Loretta coming down the slide with you, but I have been threatened with my life if I do.  So, just imagine lots of grace as she got to the bottom of the slide.  She would have made a great ballerina... or not!

Took a wagon ride through the Orchard

George fell fast to sleep after this picture.  

If we lived in Illinois, I'd give him to Uncle Dean each afternoon.

(Uncle Dean is a farmer and pretty much lives in a tractor this time of year.)

Had Cider and warm doughnuts

As we were waiting in line, 

Abby spilled Cider all over herself and the floor in a very crowded area.  

Never a dull moment.

But we found a picnic table in the sun to have our snack while George napped.

While George was finishing his nap and the adults were relaxing, Abby found a flower.

She was smelling it and being really cute....

until....

She pretended to gag and Loretta and I laughed.  

She thought it was so funny, 

from that point on she would smell the flower and then pretend to gag to make us laugh.  

It worked!

That's my little angel... helping me laugh every single day.

Thankfully, she knows just what to do.

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We had a really great day.  

I really enjoyed watching Abby have so much fun and looking forward to each activity as if it was the most exciting thing that has ever happened to her.  I also kept thinking that next fall, George will be running around with her.  

They will have so much fun growing up together.  

I feel fortunate to be able to see their friendship grow each day.  

It makes me love my sisters and brother a little bit more, too.

Yo Gabba Gabba Live!

The Ascencio's, and Uncle Shane, visited the famous

Fox Theatre in Detroit last night to see

Yo Gabba Gabba Live!

Abby and George love Yo Gabba Gabba. 

If you are wondering, Yo Gabba Gabba is a show on NickJr.  The cast is a really tall skinny guy in a spandex orange jumpsuit with a fuzzy orange afro and 5 make believe characters.  It is one of those shows you never think you will actually watch, and then it becomes a staple in your life.  It was somehow comforting to see all the fellow Yo Gabba Gabba fans at the show last night.  I feel a little more normal today than I did yesterday. 

Take a look at the Yo Gabba Gabba cast on stage.

Here is a picture of Abby with some of the famous Fox Theatre in the background.  George was holding onto me for dear life, so he didn't make the picture.

Abby had the best time.  She was jumping, dancing and clapping.  Thousands of balloons dropped from the ceiling right on our heads!  That is fun no matter what your age.  Uncle Shane bought her a souvenir which prompted her to throw herself into his arms for a thank you hug.  Being her mother, I was proud of her.

Spicers Orchard and Cider Mill

Abby had her first field trip last week. 

She and her pre-school class went to Spicers, which is an orchard and cider mill.  They are a u-pick farm during season, and in the fall they morph into a child wonderland.  They have toys, trikes, slides, sand and corn to play in, animals, hayrides, pumpkins, apple trees, cider, fresh donuts, and out-of-commission tractors for kids to play on. 

Daddy and George chaperoned, while Mommy worked.  Unfortunately, this will probably be the first of many field trips I miss.  But, Tommy takes lots of pictures for me so I don't feel so sad.  And, that means I get to share them with you!!  And, it works, take a look at the pictures in this post and tell me you don't feel happy!

Aunt Monica and Abby at Spicers. 

Even though it is only the first week of October, it was COLD!

Abby on the hayride. 

"Look!  I have a donut, Mom!"

And look at my good girl, eating her apple and drinking her cider and not touching that icky donut! (Saving it for Mom, of course!)

I don't know who had a better time, Abby, Daddy...

  or George!

Here is Abby pretending to be one of her cousins down on the Werries Farm. 

Hehe. Just kidding around, we all know they don't own anything yellow.

Abby is conducting the train and waving, that's my girl...

a natural multi-tasker.

I'm going to ask Tommy to photoshop my face in the open window in the picture below.  Then we'll have a nice family picture.

It is tradition at Spicers to take your picture next to the Apple Growth Chart each year.

Here is Abby, measuring just under 3 feet. 

Take a look at Abby's, Daddy's and George's trip down the slide at Spicers.  (Here's a tip:  Watch Abby when Tommy & George are coming down the slide for some added humor.)

Happy Fall Everyone.

Love,

The Ascencio's

Aunt Karen's Birthday

Today is Aunt Karen's Birthday.

And since the Ascencio Family loves her, I feel it is news worthy to be noted in our blog.

She is 37.

I remember when that used to sound old to me.

Now it just feels right around the corner.

Aunt Karen, my older sister, is a wonderful person.

She fiercely loves her family!

And, since I am lucky enough to be her sister, I will always feel loved as long as I live.

I talk to my sister several times a week.

Even though she is more active than almost everyone I know (except Aunt Monica, of course) she always has time to take my calls.  Even if she is running to a parade with her hands full, she answers her phone when I call.  And you know me... I say "Karen!  Are you crazy?  You don't have to answer your phone just because its ringing!".  But she doesn't care.  She tries her best to be a Mom, Sister, Wife, Teacher, Grand-daughter, Daughter and friend.  She is smart enough to know I need someone to listen to me, so I can maintain my sanity.

It is safe to say...

She lives each day to its fullest.

Here are a few pictures of Karen I thought I would share.

From time to time she still looks as cute as she does here.

The saddest part of this picture is that I have memories of wearing that same striped one-piece short outfit.

And, I'm 5 years younger than her!

She was the center of our family back then, too.
At least we let her think that.. hehe!

Is it me, or does Abby resemble young-Darlene in this picture?

This picture was taken at GG's old townhouse.

I loved that place.

And, to make sure Loretta doesn't feel left out, here is a picture of the four of us.

Karen obviously woke up late the day the picture was taken because she didn't get a chance to do her hair.

And if she actually did her hair, oh boy!

(Yes, we had the wallpaper picture in our living room growing up.  I actually liked it then.  What was wrong with me?)

Well, Happy Birthday Karen Eileen.

We love you.