FIVE YEARS Today!!! Happy Gotcha Day, Ashley!

Hi again, Dad here for a quick drive by post to commemorate Ashley's 5th Anniversary of joining our Family!

It's been a busy handful of months since we last visited, and so much has happened.

Ashley is now a BIG SISTER to her new brother, Ryan.  He joined our Family in May of this year and we were so excited to welcome him to our world.  Ashley and the rest of the crew made the trip to China (along with Aunt Rita) to bring Ryan home forever.  She loves being a sister and loves being an older sister even more!

After a GREAT year in Kindergarten at Oak Ridge Elementary, Ashley started FIRST GRADE and she even has some of her Kindergarten friends in her class.  She really enjoys school and has become a tremendous reader.  She's reading well above her expected level and has been reading everything she can - even advanced chapter books!

Since her surgery two years ago, her confidence, strength, athleticism and energy have really increased.  She's a very capable cyclist and scooter rider, and she's doing her best to help Ryan learn as well.  We are actually looking forward to her second surgery next month, and are confident that her system has recovered to the point where she can find her new normal.  We are all pulling for you!!

We visited Mexico in the spring, and Michigan this summer to catch up with Uncle Mark, Aunt Avery, Paityn, Luke and Logan.  Ashley's a strong swimmer and has been working hard on her strokes - and her jumping.  It seems that she'll be moving into soccer soon since that what she seems to be liking most.

All-in-all, summer was a lot of fun and was filled with activities, day trips, day camps, and lots of time at the skate park!

We just wanted to drop by for a few moments, give a brief update, post some photos and let her know how excited and proud we are of all that she's accomplished.  Here's hoping that First Grade won't pass by too quickly - it's been fun watching her grow into a beautiful young lady.

Mom & Dad love you very much!  So does Grandma and Poppa Wedder, Grandmom and Pop-Pop Lockhead and all of your Aunts, Uncles and Cousins!  Until next time, keep it going!!

Love ,
M&D

With the Natives in Cancun

Ashley & Ryan in China

The sign above Ashley's head is where she was born: Hubei Province

800 Feet up (in the Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai) with only some glass to sit on!!!

Keeping cool at home this summer

First Day of First Grade

Cartwheels at Logan's LAX Tournament

A Wagon Ride at Cherry Crest Farm

Ashley's Signature Pose - at the Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor, NJ

In the Pumpkin Patch at CC Farm

At Longwood Gardens

Looking good in Mexico

With our Birthday Card for Ryan - that we photographed and sent to him in China

Ashley and Charlotte

With the Bros in Mexico

Ditto...

First Time EVER Face paint

At the Great Wall, Beijing

With Robert, our Beijing Guide in China

About to enter the Forbidden City

At Crystal Cave

Dorney Park

At the Mack Truck Museum

Surf Dancing in Cape May

An SI Cover waiting to happen!!

Making Pretzels at the Sturgis Factory

Making Ice Cream at the the Turkey Hill Factory

At the Sprinklers in Saucon Valley

Dorney Park

At the Nature Center

Cape May

With Mom in Stone Harbor, NJ

Uncle Ed's Jet's Jersey

Picking up Chicks - at Cherry Crest Farm

Happy 6th Birthday, Ashley!! (And belated Forever Family Day!)

Hi everyone, it's been a while since our last visit, and it's time to make note of another Lockhead family milestone.  Today is Ashley's SIXTH Birthday.  And it seems we just celebrated her Forever Family Day, way back in October.

It's New Year's Day and we are preparing to head back home from Grand Rapids, Michigan.  It's our annual family holiday trip to visit Lisa's parents and her Brother and his family. The kids always get pumped up when they know that they'll be visiting their Michigan cousins.

It's been a fun week or so, capped beautifully with Ashley's Birthday today.  There was a great Christmas Eve at Uncle Mark's house, some bowling, some trampolining at SkyZone, a movie (Night at the Museum 3), and lots of other fun just goofing around.

Six years old...unbelievable.  Ashley's personality is really beginning to emerge and she's doing super at Oak Ridge Elementary in Morning Kindergarten.  She's a good student and really enjoys school - even though it's only a short day.  She's gaining a lot of confidence every day and is looking forward to First Grade in the fall.  She's reading very well, and her writing skills are also coming along.  We could not be prouder of her.

She'll be needing a new bike soon as she's mastered 2 wheels, and she's excellent on her scooter.  Her daily objective is keeping up with her brothers!!  She's a very special part of our family.

Happy Birthday from Mom, Dad, Kyle and Dylan (and all of your grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.)

Here are a few recent photos...

 Showing her guns at Ringing Rocks Park in Upper Bucks County, PA

Ashley's FIRST EVER Face Painting - a Butterfly - in late summer.

 

On a Fall Hike on the Wissahickon Trail

 

 Hiking, too...

 Modeling her Pool Robe Birthday Gift!

 A quick family shot at The New Wedder Home in Grand Rapids

 Oh look, I think those are the Frozen Sisters!

 Earlier tonight, with her Birthday Cake...

Ashley and one of her favorite cousins, Paityn.

 Modeling a new Hair Tie this summer...

Christmas at the Lockheads this year...

Posing with Uncle Sean at the Lockhead Christmas

That's all for now...

We'll post again shortly (hopefully...)

 

Graduation - Good Bye Goddard School; Hello Oak Ridge!!

Thursday June 12 was Ashley's Graduation Day at Goddard School.

I am speechless - the Goddard Family has been part of ours for a little over SEVEN YEARS.  Ashley's last day(s) were weighed down with the realization that it was "the end of an era".

It all started with Kyle's first day - when I can remember, vividly, leaving him in tears with Miss Tracy.  (That was a really difficult day for both of us.) Then, seeing the look of pure relief on his face when I picked him up that afternoon was priceless.

Over the years, Kyle, Dylan and then Ashley went on to experience so many "firsts" that I can't keep track.

As Dad, my memories are in the rear view mirror - literally.  I can remember looking in the rear view mirror of the car during our morning and afternoon drives to see Kyle; then Kyle and Dylan; then Kyle, Dylan and Ashley; then Dylan and Ashley; and then finally just our little Ashley.  I'm certain that there were days when it rained and some when it snowed - but I'm afraid I can't recall many of those.  I can mostly remember their little faces on the clear days - as the morning rising sun, and the afternoon setting sun lit them just right.  The years seem to have flashed by as if in a movie trailer - too fast, and leaving me wanting more. It really hasn't hit me yet that I'll never make that drive to Goddard school with students anymore.  We'll only be guests when we have the off-chance to visit.

I'll miss herding them all across the parking lot to start their days.  I'll miss signing them in to the most comfortable, secure and nurturing place we could imagine for them. I'll miss their excited voices telling me about their activities as I gathered their stuff from their cubbies. I'll miss signing them out in preparation for the trek home.  I'll miss so many things...  Truly the end of an era.

The journey out the door yesterday, was one of the most difficult walks I can remember, so many memories of the past seven years careening through my mind in the last seven seconds before we walked out for the last time.  I had trouble processing all of it - not many dry eyes for the Lockheads.

Our thanks to the Goddard Team in Malvern - past & present.
We will always remember these days, and how our children's lives have been changed.

Back to Ashley...
The ceremony was really fun to watch and well organized by Ms. Jericka and Ms. Caitlin.  Great Job ladies!  Thanks also to BOTH Ms. Amys.  After the introductions, Ashley knew the songs but had a little trouble with the all of the acting that went along with them!  She did great, though.  We all loved to hear about Mrs. "Q".

Congratulations Ashley!!  We are so proud of you and what you've accomplished!
Oak Ridge Elementary, here we come!!

There was a lot going on at the Graduation and we got as many photos as we could before things started to break up, and folks began to head out.

Here are a few that we were able to capture:

Miss Amy (Brady) and the gang - Thanks for all you've done!!

Wait - How did THAT get in there??  (Miss Amy and Kyle and K's Graduation!)

 Ashley and her BFF, Bella

Ashley and Ms. Caitlin - THANK YOU!!

 

Ashley and her future husband, Benji.

 

Courtesy of Kyle - Mom, Ashley & Dad

Miss Amy & Ashley - we'll miss you... (and you'll miss us...)?

One last family Goddard School Portrait as students...

Ashley & Miss Jericka - THANK YOU!!!

Ashley & Aunt Rita

The Gang

 

 The WHOLE Gang!

 

THANKS AGAIN - We will miss you.
The Lockhead Family