Ooh Child things are gonna get easier, Ooh Child things will get brighter

These are the words echoing from my mom's mouth each time I tell a story about Ashley. She's been saying this for years and I have to admit things appear to be easier; however, it's days like these that make me wonder if things will ever really get easier.

Oh Ashley, WOW...You've done it again! My emotions are like a sea-saw. Tonight, I laughed so hard I cried and cried so hard the tears wouldn't stop! You are so full of life, so full of laughter, so beautiful and so charming! You do something so extraordinary or unexpected on a daily basis and the things you do create unique, unexplainable mind-blowing moments! In the movies, moments like the ones you create win actors Academy Awards but in real life it's different.

Getting the call from the camp counselor was unfortunately expected as we never leave our phones when you are away at a camp; but what we heard next was unexpected and had us laughing so hard we cried!

Today you decided to have a blast in the bathroom! You put your shorts, socks & shoes in the toilet and told the camp counselors they fell in by themselves. When I arrived, you told me you had so much fun jumping up and down in the toilet making the water splash out! You even walked me to the bathroom with a smile the size of Texas to show me the water surrounding the toilet. Once we got to "the stall" you explained to me how the toilet you used was made of metal and the color silver.

You then looked at me and asked me if you were in trouble. I asked you if you thought there should be a consequence and you said, "yes, what it is it?" I suggested that you have to wash your own clothes today and you said, "yes, that's awesome!" and then proceeded to say, "thanks mom, for not taking away my TV." Once we got in the car, I took away your favorite TV show and you were happy it wasn't your second favorite TV show, Sponge bob.

I am still trying to figure out how to handle this situation and want so badly to be upset with you but can't seem to have that emotion. From this one incident alone, I can see that you see the world in a positive way. When something is lost, you can still see the positive. You are fearless. You are an outside-of-the-box thinker and constantly push the limits, the barriers!

For now.....we will just have to wait and see.... although, I'm pretty sure.....things will get brighter!

Girl Scout Cookies, Banana Smoothie, I love my mom & Rumpelstiltskin

You may never guess what these words mean; however, I'm pretty sure you will guess who blurts this out two-to-three times a day: Ashley! The nine most random words, Girl Scout Cookies, Banana Smoothie, I love my mom - have the same meaning as raising the white flag, giving up, surrendering! They simply end the seconds upon seconds of tickling that happen each and every day in the jansky household! However, this surrender phrase only works when I am tickling Ashley! When John is in tickle mode, she has to remember to use their surrender phrase, which is Rumpelstiltskin.

Tickling in our family was and is to this date one of my fondest childhood memories! I can still remember lying on the floor of my living room in our house on bowling brook, with my hands under my back and my legs stiff as a board just waiting for my dad to tickle me! Our goal was to stay as still as possible and contain or withhold our laugh for as long as we could stand it. My dad would do a claw-like movement with his hand and a "wah, wah, wah, wah" with his voice. My brothers and sister called it, "the claw." We'd laugh for hours at each other and try to have the longest time without laughing when it was our turn! I don't ever remember getting past a couple of seconds.

With Ashley, we have also introduced "the claw" and she even loves the wah, wah, wah, wah sound! The surrender phrase changes often and gets funnier and funnier as time goes on! It's truly a time of unexplainable bursts of laughter and memories of good times and fun!

We're an overnight sensation (Sarcastic Comment)

The Lauryn Hill concert on Friday night left us all standing there in awe as we saw how an artist of that statue showed no accountability to anyone, not even her fans! She showed up drastically late and left the promoter and Josabi's reputation hanging out on a limb to be destroyed with each minute that passed until she hit the stage.

We had no time to look back as we had to prepare for another amazing concert on Saturday night with the band, Blue October. After countless hours of preparation, I finally took a moment to stand up on the balcony and watch Blue October entertain the 1700 fans attending Josabi's that night.

It wasn't until the band sang Jump Rope, a song they wrote about childhood and life in general, that it all finally sank in and my eyes began to tear up! The Jansky family was an overnight sensation and it only took 12 years to get there! As I've stated in a status post on facebook, I don't think anyone truly knows how much work and time is spent preparing for days like these! Although magical like, it didn't all start at 7:00pm when the doors opened, rather it all started 12 years ago, when my then boyfriend, Mr. John Jansky walked into Lucy's Retired Surfers bar on Sixth street in Austin, TX.

Getting your foot in the door of the music industry is no walk in the park. John earned his way in by working for free at Lucy's booking bands! From there, we moved from Austin, to San Marcos and then finally back to San Antonio where he continued to spend hours upon hours building relationships, learning the industry and all the while being a family man!

The Quote above our front door reads this, "You miss 100% of the shots you never take!" And for us and everyone in life this is so true! Pursuing our dreams was not easy but had we never tried, we would never have known what this moment while standing on the balcony with 1700 fans ever felt like! Life is like a jump rope and along the way there have been many ups and downs, successes and failures and I wouldn't trade it for a thing!

For all of you who have supported us along the way, I want to say thank you! We are very fortunate to have your support! And for John, thank you for always pursuing your dreams! I have and always will believe in you! You are a wonderful father, husband and friend!

And for those who have yet to attend an adventure at Josabi's land, please come check us out!

Girl you're amazing...just the way you are!

Dear Ashley,

August, September, October, November.....these months have passed us in the blink of an eye. It was just yesterday we were planning your Halloween outfit and eagerly awaiting our October shows. Now we're talking about turkey, dressing and making a turkey project from the outline of your hand.

Your front teeth are dropping perfectly in place and you are growing up on us right before our eyes. In less than a month, you will be 7 years old. You are still amazingly strong-willed; however, your maturity is somewhat kicking in and you're realizing that you're not always right and that you really don't know everything there is to know about life.

You still smile all the time and keep us smiling as well. You sing like no other and dance like no other. You recently found photobooth, a software created by Apple that allows your creativity to flow and it is the one thing I resort back to when needing a laugh or two.

TV is still the center of your world!

The rest is still unwritten.............

What a wonderful week! Ashley is settling in to 1st grade and although there are challenges here and there, I firmly believe we are moving forward. This past week we implemented an afterschool schedule for Ashley - as recommended by SuperNanny - and it appears to be working fabulously! For the most part, Ashley came home with E's all week! Structure in the household does payoff!

It also helps us to not get carried away with TV, computers, etc.... Our time is carved out into 30 minute increments and each of us has a say in how the day is carved out! Ashley is doing tennis 2x a week and gymnastics 2x a week. She loves both immensely and is doing very well during practice.













On the Josabi's front, we have a huge October headed our way and I couldn't be happier -- three years of hard work is finally coming to fruition! -- Bring on the Toadies and Girl-in-a-Coma; two awesome Texas bands!

I'm also looking forward to the holiday's! It's been a couple years since I've had the opportunity to celebrate thanksgiving. I just can't wait to plop down in the louge of John's parents house and smell the pumpkin pie and turkey baking! I love the smell of christmas: cinnamon, hot chocolate, peppermint, etc.....

The 1st day of 1st grade

The first day of 1st grade came and went just like the summer. Ashley picked out her outfit from head to toe and decided to wear it to bed the night before school started. I didn't fight it because excitement is often killed by those wish to constantly follow rules and be normal.

So with sandals on the feet, a silly bandz necklace around her neck and watch on her wrist, she slept in her bed and anxiously waited for the first day of first grade.

Sweet, Sweet Summertime

Once again, summer has come and gone. And with the passing of summer there are many, many memories forever embedded in my mind. This summer in particular, was one of the most enduring and unforgiving yet joyful and rewarding.

As parents, we were working with unknowns. We had questions and no answers, we had fears, we were protective and we were terrified to say the least. We were judged in restaurants, we were forced to prove that seizures are an emergency and we had to make decisions that could potentially change our lives forever.

We cried, got mad, got angry, cried again and then smiled and laughed. We asked questions and we got answers. We fought hard for our daughter and fought hard with each other.

And In-between the challenges in our lives, we still lived life to the fullest each and every day. Our days were filled with cousin visits, trips to Fiesta Texas, trips to Sea World, outings to Pump-it-Up, Movie Nights, Mini-dates, Trips to The Painted Plate, the pool and to various parks in town. We tried new restaurants like Big'Z burgers, The Yacht club, The Melting Pot and even ventured to Grey Moss Inn.

As I look back and reflect on the past 10 weeks, I am in awe of the strength and patience our family truly has. I am thankful I am able to enjoy the summer with my family and truly blessed to have such a loving and supportive husband and a rambunctious little six-year-old by my side!

School is back in session and the routines are back on track; however, I can't help but think about the summer that was........