Asher is 5 and we got him a Chrysler Town and Country

July 16, 2012

My Facebook status,

“It’s not that I’m more thankful than other people for my kids, it’s just that Asher has had this journey with hydrocephalus & we watch him so closely and every birthday that he has pretty much has me weeping with gratitude for his life. The Ash Man, The Noggin, the totally hilarious Asher Michael is FIVE today.”

Yesterday he would touch his forehead and say ouch ouch ouch. A little pocket of panic always rises up from my gut to my chest when he does something like that. It’s probably the heat, the way humidity and barometric pressure play games with someone with head pressure issues like hydrocephalus. But I always watch closely for anything more and then I hope hope hope that it isn’t a shunt malfunction. He’s okay. He’s five years old today and he’s okay. He’s more than okay. He’s Asher.

“Mommy, look! I put on your eyelash stuff so I’d have angry eyebrows!”

The A Man is pretty much convinced that the Chrysler Town and Country that a nice man named Chuck from Fury Motors in the Twin Cities dropped off on Friday is ours to keep. No matter how many times I explain that I write about things on the Internet and sometimes I get to try these things out for fun and then give them back, he believes this blue van will live here forever.

our real life van is actually silver and very dirty

It does match our house and it IS really really great. Seriously, you guys. All the bells and whistles (and buttons and cup holders) are in this Limited Edition and all the boys in my family are thrilled, as am I. (Elsie is not terribly concerned, but she does love that there’s an AC vent above her head in the back, to blow her hair and make her laugh.) I love that the doors open on their own and that it has a bazillion satellite radio stations. And I’m not going to lie, I love that the DVD players (2!) come down from the ceiling. We have a portable DVD player that the boys consistently mess with while we’re on road trips. Enough said.

Anyway, Asher asks if we can get in “the new van” about every five minutes and I say yes a lot. We just go. We don’t even have a plan, we just feel like we’re on a little vacation. So now we’re thinking of actually going on one, in honor of Asher’s fifth trip around the sun and just for funsies. This could be a terribly brave birthday adventure, or a totally insane idea since Elsie loses her effing mind in the car seat Elsie doesn’t really travel all that well.

No matter what, we’re doing it together and you better believe I’m grateful for Together.

I’ll keep you posted. If we survive.

{Sing a little Happy Birthday tune for my Noggin boy, huh?}

{This just in! We’re leaving tomorrow morning for Edgewater Resort and Waterpark in Duluth by Lake Superior. It’s a long drive. BRING IT ON. We’re so excited!}

{I was given a Town & Country by Chrysler to drive for one week for the purpose of review. This post is part of a Chrysler sponsorship. More than that, it’s also a simple story of a birthday and a summer road trip. To Be Continued.}

{ 17 comments }

nicole July 16, 2012 at 1:47 pm

I hope you have so much fun! Our vacations are limited by reluctant car travelers too. The farthest we have gone is 4 hours and we left the 2 year old with his godparents. Happy birthday Asher!
nicole recently posted..Zebras in the Shower

Jessi J. July 16, 2012 at 1:59 pm

Happy birthday to your little man! What a blessing! The angry eyebrows made me giggle! Have fun on your vacation! We just did an 8 staycation and had a blast!
Jessi J. recently posted..Staycation Day 2

molly July 16, 2012 at 2:02 pm

Happy birthday, Asher! Have so much fun on your trip!
molly recently posted..Lately

tara pohlkotte July 16, 2012 at 2:23 pm

um duluth is down south from where i’m originally from and where my family lives, they live all the way in Ely. In fact, my kids just past through duluth on their way yesterday with my parents. i, on the other hand am home. for a week. husband had unexpected work trip out of town. did you hear that? oh that’s just the sound of me grinning. and napping. #hatersgunnahate. :) enjoy your trip!!!
tara pohlkotte recently posted..And For Tonight

Heather July 16, 2012 at 2:53 pm

YOU ARE HOME ALL ALONE? Oh what a great thing. I’m glad for you. I won’t even be mad about it. Maybe a little jealous, but no hate. :)

xo

Heather July 16, 2012 at 2:43 pm

Happy birthday to your boy, and have fun in Duluth!
Heather recently posted..Hold On, Summer

Kelly @ Love Well July 16, 2012 at 2:49 pm

Edgewater is awesome. You will love it. The BOYS will flip they lid over the water park. And the high in Duluth tomorrow? 73. I’m tempted to head there myself.

(P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, A-MAN!)
Kelly @ Love Well recently posted..Planned Spontaneity

Heather July 16, 2012 at 2:51 pm

73! Kelly! 73! I had no idea. And now I’m even more excited!
I would laugh so hard (and get even more excited) if all of the sudden, there you were, escaping the heat!

Ellie July 16, 2012 at 2:54 pm

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ASHER!!!!

And I LOVE THAT CAR. LOVE.

Have fun on your vacation… well deserved!

-xoxo
Ellie recently posted..Heather and Ellie and A Beautiful Mess

Gianna July 16, 2012 at 9:36 pm

It’s particularly long so that you can review the van perfectly!
That’s why you are going. Don’t think it’s for any other reason.
It’s all about work. Not fun. Work.
Remember that when you are having the time of your life or ready to pull over and puke from all the stress.
It’s the work.
Gianna recently posted..A Little Bit About Bedtime

Varda (SquashedMom) July 16, 2012 at 10:26 pm

OMG, 73? Can I come on that road trip with you, can I can I? Because it is going to hit 100 here in NYC tomorrow and I don’t want to fry my eggs on the sidewalk.

Oh, wait, I have kids I need to take care of, my mother in rehab, responsibilities… Never mind (stares dejectedly at shoes while visions or road trips still dance in her head).

See you in 3 weeks at BlogHer!
Varda (SquashedMom) recently posted..Week in Review (with pictures!)

Jen @ Martymom's Musings July 17, 2012 at 6:53 am

Happy Birthday!
My Jessica (4) was looking over my shoulder while I read and said “why does that boy have his angry eyes on” lol!
Jen @ Martymom’s Musings recently posted..He Has Made Everything Beautiful in its Time…

Christa July 17, 2012 at 8:19 am

have FUN. waterparks are the absolute best, besty, bestiest. i may have been caught shoving my five year old out of the way so i could be first down the slide…so please know that, if you fully unleash your inner child, you’ll get no flack from me.

and, again, happy birthday to asher!

and: we need another rendevous.

Sabrina July 17, 2012 at 8:51 am

Happy Birthday Asher! I remember when Kelly and I were babysitting you and you had a diaper blow-out! :)
We have a Town & Country van and we LOVE it!
As a matter of fact I just made my first long solo trip with E to your town! I almost stopped over, but had a tired little guy. Next time! Art festival? :)
Have fun in Duluth!
Sabrina recently posted..Hey! It’s Me!

Kendra July 17, 2012 at 8:59 am

Enjoy! And happy 5th, Asher.
Kendra recently posted..Happy Mother’s Day, Mom

Erin July 17, 2012 at 1:37 pm

Happy five years on this planet, Asher.
And mama, as Tommy is turning three, I get this sentiment so much. His birthday isn’t any more special than Luke’s, but this gratitude for his life is big sometimes.
Erin recently posted..Celebrate

Stacy July 17, 2012 at 6:02 pm

Happy birthday, Asher! And happy late birthday, Miles! We just turned six and one since Easter. Have fun at the water park, we are going up north with our family in three weeks, too. Swimming is lots of fun, we have been practicing a lot at the pool and Grandma and Grandpa’s lake, and have gotten really good at jumping in, holding breath, and swimming back to the side underwater with goggles.

Annika (and Lily) Nguyen (with a little help from Mom)

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