2 months and 3 days

 Chamberlain morning the loss of his beloved wrist band with his superman cape.

is how long he wore this bracelet wrist band.  I was wondering how long it would last.  It was practically disintegrating on his arm.  I'm pretty sure if Dave wasn't here when it happened he would have cried. All it took for this thing to snap was him putting his big toe in it.  However, he won't let me throw it away. 

It was a memorable day after all.  

He would get so nervous when I would put a long sleeve shirt on and his wrist band would go up his arm and feel like it was going to come off. Then Sandi pulled on it while we were at the Temple, asking him what it was.  Later he told me, mom don't let Grandma take my wrist thing off, remember its from my birthday. 

On a different note I was talking on the phone with Shelbie when she asked if she could call me back since she was mopping up some hot chocolate that she spilt on the floor.  Really sis, is it that cold, in the valley of the sun, that you need to warm up with some Hot Chocolate.  Its so cold here, that we have had some food that needs to be in the freezer and we don't have enough room so we have left it on the play place with a bit of snow on top and its been nice and frozen all week! 

4 months

~Siri~

Like I've said before time is flying bye with this baby girl of mine.

I'm trying to soak up every minute and every moment we have to spend with her.

Siri is wearing 9 to 12 months clothing and sometimes when I don't want to let go of my really, really, favorite 6 month pieces,  I squeeze her in them as long as I can.

She is sitting up for moments at a time.

She is rolling from her tummy to her right side.

She is laughing more and more each day, especially when Chamberlain comes around, she laughs the most at him.

She loves to hear her voice so she talks and talks and talks.

Her favorite time of day to talk is usually around 11 p.m. 

just about the time when we are winding down for some sleep.

She loves being held by her daddy. 

Most of all she loves to smile,

except right before I take the picture.

I love you baby Siri.

I love everyday I have to spend with you.

hide and seek

This is Chamberlains favorite game to play.

It was maybe a high of 18 degrees outside that day.

He insisted on waiting out there for like 10 minutes till Josh came.

I don't think Josh is ever surprised but he sure acts like it for his son.

Especially when Josh comes home from work and Chamberlain is awake.

We have a huge window on the door and he will hide under the window and pop up when Josh gets to the door. Now that one I think gets Josh everytime.

Chamberlain, 

For the record I let YOU pick out your clothes.

So if you dont like what you are wearing when you look back at these pictures 2o years from now, well you know why. 

You have a mother who lets you make your own clothing choices.

Which I find quite entertaining most of the time, as long as you are proud of what you picked, and if its not hurting anyone, you look great.

marshmallow pilgrim hats

There are so many Things we/I have to be Grateful for this Thanksgiving season.

We had our Thanksgiving Feast with the Claybaughs whom I have grown to love so much! 

Judy is the best she really is, and that goes for all of the family members. It really is a treat to sit and chat with each one.  We ate at their church building which was great we had room to move, visit and play.  We ate in the Primary room which I found fitting with all of the quotes on the chalk board and all of the pictures of Christ around the room. It really had a neat feeling. We started out with a Thanksgiving Turkey (pumpkin) in which before we could eat we had to grab a feather and put it in the pumpkin before we could fill our plates.  It was fun to hear what the children were thankful for, Chamberlain thankful for Siri, and Dave was thankful for celebrating the holiday in the states. What a treat for us to have Dave.  

Not only was it Thanksgiving but it was Judy's Birthday. What a great birthday I think to celebrate a day of Thanks with the people you love. John called on her to bless the food. In the prayer she mentioned Tim and Shelbie and their brown boys, I may or may not, have shed a few tears at that point. Being with the Claybaugh family is warm and welcoming I really do enjoy the time we get to spend with them.  However, it really makes me miss my sister and her little family. 

The food was delish and the company was super. One of my favorite moments was when Clay and Chamberlain had finished their meal and started to "play" at the pulpit.  They were practicing giving talks which was so sweet. Pretty soon all of the kids 6 and under were in line waiting to give their talks.  They played like this for a while. Once we ate as much food as we could we headed to the gym to play play play, from throwing footballs, to basketball, to movies, to Karaoke, and the fun game Whoonu. Siri slept most of the day the only picture I got of her was in her car seat she fell asleep at 2 and slept till 6. 

Oh and I can't for get about the Pilgrim Hats. I made these delightful hats all night last night. They made me giggle quite a lot. I thought for sure the children would love them I mean who wouldn't love these tasty sugary goodness. Whats not to like about a marshmallow dipped in chocolate sitting atop a fudge striped cookie. During the dinner the kids didn't really take to them.  I got a little sad I mean I loved my Marshmallow Pilgrim Hats, they were soo cute.  Have no fear, 4 hours later after all the games and goodness, the children flocked to them.  I only had 4 left.  

I am grateful for

my savior, my eternal companion, my beautiful healthy children, my family (mom dad brothers sisters aunts uncles in-laws you get the rest), Claybaughs for their generosity,  for the Pilgrims determination to find a land where they could have religious freedom, and the Macy's day parade what can I say its tradition in my family to watch it every Thanksgiving. 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

PS. Dave dunked it for all the little kids and they went cRaZy.... and both Joshua and David are braving the black Friday crowds to get us some good loot! Good luck guys.

bust

 spongebob chicken noodle soup and Chamberlain's art

The "Arctic Blizzard" never came, however we were prepared with our blanket fort and some soup to keep us warm if it did hit. 

Josh got off early today, Dave came down to spend the holiday with us.  We got to see some sweet cousins, Jordann, Matt and baby to be, Whitney, Kelly, Gunner, Jett, and Karly. 

We are excited to have a Claybaugh Thanksgiving this year!

I have my Marshmallow Pilgrim Hats cooling hopefully they turn out.  

3 Things I am Grateful for today

1. Josh has the rest of the week off! 

2. Family, Family and more Family

3. Pumpkin Cookies

hunkering down

We waited and waited and waited for the snow to come this afternoon.

We were prepared with our blanket fort. 

 We have our trusty cow flash light. 

Just in case.

 Still waiting.

The snow didn't come till it was time for bed.

Good thing we have our fort ready for all of tomorrow.

Let it snow 

let it snow 

let it snow!

doodle pad

This is how Chamberlain spent his weekend.  

Well as much as he could anyway.

I think if we would have let him (and if it was all right with Dave) I think he would have sat there from Saturday till Dave left this morning (Monday), playing on Dave's ipad. AKA, Doodle pad is what Chamberlain kept calling it.   We have been spoiled this past month or so with Uncle Dave spending the weekends at our house.  Dave has been a good sport and let Chamberlain bombard him with games, stories, wrestling and angry birds on the doodle pad etc...   We even got to show him some of our favorite Yo Gabba Gabba shows on you tube, which he laughed at with this episode and this one too. I hope you learned to"Don't bite your friends."

Dear Dave,

You are awesome. You are the best Uncle ever! Chamberlain and Siri and I think I can speak for all your nieces and nephews, they LOVE you tons!  I know you would much rather be working right now and making that mad paper but we are sure grateful for this time we get to spend with you.  You are such a softee for kids. Thanks for being patient with Chamberlain and his OCD behavior towards you and your doodle pad, oh and when you found that long nasty hair in your food mouth teeth at our used to be favorite place to eat and for when Siri pooped on you.  Thank you for helping me with Siri while I tried to juggle cleaning, cooking, and helping Chamberlain make a rainbow that never turned out. It was sure interesting to see how much wax is on skittles.  Thanks for eating the food that I cooked and having seconds especially on the 7 layer bars and the Oreo's!  Really though I'm glad that you are in our family, or is it that I'm in yours!? Anyway I'm glad that you live so close for now.  We will have you anytime, you are always welcome at our house as long as you bring your doodle pad or iphone.

Love,

Ash

PS I'm just joking about bringing the doodle pad or iphone part,

a wedding day.

Today Josh's beautiful cousin Laurel got married. 

Let me tell you if you are planning to get  married in the SLC Temple, a Thursday in November is a wise choice. It was so romantic and felt so secluded there was only ONE other wedding party that we saw the entire morning/afternoon. The weather was overcast and the temperature was nice. Perfect.

It was a lovely day to be at the Temple. 

I love to see the Temple....

Best Christmas ever

is what Chamberlain said when Josh found this cute pillow case along with a tube of M&M's, and a sweet little note, at our front door, Sunday after church.

He hasn't parted with it since.

No really he drags his pillow where ever he goes in the house.

And the fact that Hudson has one just like it makes it that more exciting.

 THANKS, JUJU

You really are one of the most thoughtful and caring ladies I have ever met. 

We LOVE you. 

I'm sure it will be the Best Christmas Ever for Chamberlain.

one more mile stone

Siri found her feet today.

And she is quite happy about it!

My goodness she is so much fun.

a poem and some pictures

I was looking through my pictures and found this one of our dear friend and Chamberlain taken the week that they moved to paradise.

This photo reminds me of a poem I learned in middle school.

It goes like this.

One bright day in the dead of night 

two dead boys got up to fight

back to back they faced each other 

drew their swords and shot each other

deaf policeman heard this noise

came to shoot those two dead boys

if you don't believe this lie is true

ask the blind man he saw it too

Not that these boys would do such a thing to each other but it just reminds me of the silly poem that has stuck with me all these years.

We took this picture to document how much they will grow while they are away.

We also took this picture to see how much these girlies will grow.

They are only a few days apart and so far they are pretty close in weight, size, and volume-ous hair.

Friends.

I threw this one in just because I liked it. 

Funny kids, funny, funny, kids.

Can't wait till spring!