zoorassic park

 Whitney and I took the kids to the zoo to see the new Dinosaur attractions. 

Which was cool. 

What is there to say. Its the zoo and of course as a Mom I took too many pictures of every little thing.

So to spare the words just enjoy zoo pictures.

With minimal interjections.

 These dinos spit/hiss water at you. Which on a hot day for two little boys is a plus.

 I think these two are too cute. Plus I think they could pass as siblings.

 See what I am talking about with the hair color. Its pretty similar.

 It looks like a scene from Jurassic Park. Like a T-rex is charging after them. Awesome.

 Again, these two are cute!

 I so was wishing for the tigers to hop in the water for a swim.

Great day at the zoo.

parades and ninjas

Wow, Summer starts tomorrow and we've already had busy days filled with lots of fun.

Even though the weather doesn't quite know its summer, we hit up our first Parade and Carnival. 

There is nothing like going to a carnival when you are young. 

The boys were so excited.

 They stood like this last year at the parade.

Nothing like growing up with your cousins!

 The babes. 

I think their hair color is IDENTICAL!

 The fun slide.  

They were so proud to go down by themselves.

Such big boys they are.

 Can you see the excitement when the ride started to go backwards.

I love how much fun they had.

I think they had the most fun walking back to the car down the middle of Center street karate kicking their way back to the vehicle. 

Yep those green flyers are Karate flyers handed out by kids in Karate uniforms. 

Before Whitney and I new it we had a few ninjas on our hands to protect us and the babes while we walked through a sea of people.

Dear Whitney and Boys,

Thanks for inviting us to the Orem Freedom Fest. 

We had so much fun with you guy's. 

We love living so close and glad we can play with you guys often.

Thanks again, we cant wait until our next adventure!

Love,

Ash, and kids.

red hots.

Another year of Soccer has come and gone. 

We couldn't be more happier for Chamberlain.

We loved every minute of watching him play. 

He has so much fun out on the field. 

He scored lots of goals and he is such a good teammate. 

Both this year and last several parents have told us that their child has mentioned randomly during the week how much they like Chamberlain to their moms {did that make sense}.  He makes friends with all his teammates and plays with them like he has known them for years. 

Such a sweet kid. He really is so kind. 

And we really are proud of him. 

So happy to be playing soccer. 

team photo.

Siri loves watching her brother play sports. 

 

Every time he would score a goal he immediately looks for us and gives us this bashful smile.

Such a happy bunch. 

His coach encouraged them to do a slide after every goal, Chamberlain's was more like a roll.

receiving his medal. 

Proud papa. 

 happy. 

Siri is so proud of her big brother.

Perspective

 

Today in Beehives the lesson was on Eternal Perspective. Melissa gave an awesome lesson.  Lots of girls made comments and I have been thinking about her lesson all day. 

I applied it like this for today; When moving to life on 700 I thought this move was purely one that we could be closer to Josh. That he could spend more time with us and see the kids everyday instead of his days off.  And until today it seemed that way. Until I looked down our street after dinner and saw all the neighborhood kids playing outside and all the adults out visiting their neighbors.  I then realized how this move has blessed Chamberlain (and the rest of us).  He has been able to make lots of new friends all which live within a couple blocks and all are in his CTR 4 class at church. He also was invited to join a  preschool group with a few of those new friends, which he loved to attend twice a week.  Since the weather has been warm kids have been playing at our house nearly everyday.

I love to hear the stories he tells before bed of all the games they played and all the rolly polly's they found. Or how fast they rode their bikes.

Its not that my 4 year old needs to be with friends or that he has to have so many friends, I mean he is 4, he needs his family. 

Its that the Lord knows what we need at certain times or really at all times. The Lord has a clear Eternal perspective. I could only see what was happening right then; we moved to see Josh more often. But the Lord placed us in the exact spot we need to be right now. He knew I would have long lonely days ahead of me with a husband who see's the kids early in the morning and a few minutes in-between class and work, and I am left with the rest of the 10 + hours of sunlight to do what moms do.  It can be taxing and hard and sometimes I run out of ideas, things to clean, or fun games to play.  The kids in the neighborhood are such a blessing.  

I just need to remember that I can only see a pin prick compared to what the Lord can see. I need to trust in him all the time and not waiver. I need to remember that the Lord knows my needs and more importantly He knows my wants. 

I need to remember to keep and Eternal Perspective.

I hope as this week starts that I will be able to do so and I encourage whoever is reading this to do so as well.

vintage

My Aunt Suzie is my fave.

She is such a warm and loving person. I love being around her, although I don't get to nearly enough.

She has many many talents and one of those is sewing. She sews like the wind, and she is good.

She made this apron (and many others) from vintage table cloths that she finds on her Good-Will hunting's. 

How cool is that!  

In fact I have always known that my Aunt Suzie is an amazing seamstress. I remember my mother's stories of how Aunt Suzie could sew, and sewed all through high school. And there was this pant suit, that Suzie sewed and wore that my mom still talks about to this day.  It must have been fabulous if me Mum keeps talking about it.

In my book anyone who can sew, and sew well, deserves gold stars. I have no clue how to sew and I have sewed several things in my life we two, a pillow for me and an apron for my mum. I hope someday I can sew like my Aunt Suzie. Thank You so much Aunt Suzie, for the beautiful apron. I wear it often and I absolutely love it. You are amazing.

Messiah in America

This past weekend Josh and I had the opportunity to go hear my Uncle Mike sing with his choir in the Tabernacle.

It was awesome. 

It was awesome because this was one of the longest dates Josh and I have been on since children. A big thanks to my Mom and Sage for watching our offspring while we stayed out way, way, way too late. We could not have gone if it weren't for my mom. Thank You so much.   
It was also awesome to double date with Truett and Kelsi. I hope we get to go out with them more often. How fun to go on double dates with your siblings. 

My Uncle Mike's choir is AMAZING.

I didn't want the concert to end.

I really didn't.
I could have listened to them the entire night.

 What an neat opportunity to sing in the Tabernacle and I was glad that we got to share this special moment with my Uncle Mike.

He supported me all through college attending games and always cheering for me. I'm glad I could return the favor. Although there wasn't any cheering while singing I did try and clap the loudest at the end. 

Dear Uncle Mike, 

You rock.

I love you lots!!

Thanks for keeping up your beautiful talent of singing. 

What a blessing it is to our ears.

Love, 

Ash

the Y

 (The trail head)

It started like this. Yesterday I had the privilege of hiking the Y with the Young Men/Women's group in my ward (I am the Beehive adviser and all).  This is a harder task then it seems with 20 + young adults ages ranging from 12-18.  Along with that, this was my first time hiking the Y since 2005. Yes its been that long... So I felt more like a sheep herder than hiking enthusiast. It was long and slow and guess what I only made it to turn 9 (there are 11 turns) when we decided to head back down. At the time I was all for going back down ( I was at the point of wanting to throw up the shrimp wrap I had like 40 minutes prior) and then going home. So we did, I mean I had to be at the bottom to take kids home, right?  But then nightfall came and I couldn't sleep. It ate at me that Y. Mocking me while I lay in bed underneath her.  I can see the Y from my bedroom window and she was taunting me all night. I couldn't believe how much it actually ate at me to not make it to the top. So this morning I convinced Josh it would be a good idea to take the kids and hike the Y. He concurred and we were off.

This was Josh and Chamberlain's first time hiking the Y. Chamberlain has been wanting to hike the Y the day we moved to 700. Josh carried Siri in a pack and Chamberlain ran up ahead like 20 feet or so the entire hike. Both kids did great. Siri smiled the entire trek.  I made a game out of it for Chamberlain, to see who could be the first to touch the turn markers and of course he won every time.

I think we should make this a weekly family tradition. One because it will get me into shape and two because Chamberlain fell asleep twice today and went to bed like super early!

Dear Y,

I never realized the love/hate relationship I have with you. 

I loved you when I literally could run up and back in 20 minutes or so and then run back home to 400, and still have energy in excess.  I loved when all my friends wanted to hike you in the middle of the night after finals and I was totaly game, because I knew you were such an easy climb. I even loved when my sister and friends played a dirty prank on us and we had to carry her all the way down. It was a sinch. I love that every time I look at you, you are a reminder of what I once was, and all the sweet memories we have shared. We were such great friends.

I hate however, the first time I climbed you fresh out of high school and didnt know the meaning of conditioning. I hate how I have aged and you have not. How my limbs have grown old and my body has changed and you have not. In fact you have gotten stronger and wider trails, a paved parking lot a pretty bathrooms, and a fancy new gate to state your existence.  You have been taken care of, and I have not taken care of myself. I hate how you own me now and I have to work even harder than I did before.

Until we meet again on Monday you do not own me!

Love,

Ash

Dear Dessert,

Oh how I love thee. I dream about thee and am constantly thinking of thee. However, I will be gone for a while.  I'm sure it wont be long,  just not as much and nearly not as often.

Kisses,

me