DiNoSaUr Bone'z

This is what we do when the weather looks like this.

We call up our cousins, and find a warm, indoor place to play. This time it was the mall at the "Dinosaur Bonez."

The Three Amigos

This is the perfect picture of all three boys and their personalities.
Hudson : Always a Cheezer (just like his mom!)
Chamberlain: Always doing something silly (maybe like his mom)
Gunnar: Marching to the beat of his own drum (just like his mom!)

This was the only picture, I could get Gunnar to actually look at me, one. And second, smile.

What a fun day.
Thanks guys.

tradition

This is one tradition that I look forward to every year. Swimming in the heated pool at the hotel my father stays in, during his B. O. T. meetings. The meetings are always held the 2nd week in January and the pool is a nice 80 Degrees. A perfect treat for those cold snowy days. I cant believe we have been doing this long enough for it to be called a tradition! I also can't believe that I have been doing this since I was a kid and now I am taking my own kid. Now that's something to smile about.

our stay

These are pictures from the hotel that we stayed at over Christmas break. I loved it. Not necessarily the rooms, but the building itself was really neat. It was converted from a bean and grain warehouse with rooms built in a lima bean silo, it also is listed on the National Registry of Historical Sites. I had to take pictures of this awesome building. So after church on Sunday that's exactly what we did. We never really spent much time at the hotel, we would arrive usually around midnight and leave early morning to be with the family. I know I posted a lot of pictures but I just couldn't help myself. What can I say, my boys are so cute.

Chamberlain begged and begged me, to let him, take pictures of us. This was his first take. I thought it was pretty good even though the top of our heads are cut off!

The Mayor

This is Kanab's new Mayor the blonde beauty on the right, sitting next to her loving husband Lloyd. Grandma Nina to my family, although if we took a blood test or stood next to each other we would not pass as related. However, to us she is still our Grandma. She has been on family vacations, taught all my siblings how to water ski, and traveled great distances to watch me play ball, both in high school and in through out college. We have Sunday dinners every week. Nina is also one of the first words both Hudson and Chamberlain could say. And did I mention that one of our vacations was to the great land of Hawaii. Where 12 of us shared a 1 bedroom loft condo (thanks again Smith's) which two of the 12 were under 9 months. We know what she can do and let me tell you she is going to do great things! Watch out Kanab, Nina is going to leave it better than she found it!

We are excited for this new adventure in your life. Congrats your Majesty.

Keep your tips up!

Woof Woof,



We love you,

Ash & Shel

Before I forget about Christmas

The drive down took a very long time. 30 mph was our top speed most of the drive. We saw two Bald Eagles, which one we almost hit.

We had two Christmas's. This is at Grandma Chamberlains house. Which he did not want to leave.

Playing with all his cousins at Grandma Reid Burgesses. He had a ton of fun.

We spent most of the break at Grandma Reid Burgesses house. This is Chamberlain on Christmas Eve we have a tradition of opening one presents and its pj's. This is as still as we could get him the whole night. Josh and I stayed in a hotel which was great for us since it was like a vacation for us on our vacation. However, I felt really guilty on Christmas Eve. I felt like I needed to be sleeping under the same roof as all of my family.

This was the drive home. LONG!


This is what Chamberlain did to entertain himself on the long drive. Played with all his toys and wanted me to take pictures of him while doing it.

Over all we had a wonderful Christmas. We can't complain about 75 Degree weather, watching Chamberlain play outside with all the toys he got, and not putting on a heavy coat all break long. Oh and not having to brace for the cold when you leave the house. I loved it. I did not want to leave. The sound of living in sunny California gets more and more appealing each winter. This was a Christmas we sure wont soon forget!

Random!

Today Chamberlain and I actually left the house. I just cant bring myself to leave our warm house on these, oh so cold days. However, today I wanted to get out and lunch time sounded like it would be the best time to go. Further, thinking, I thought lets ask uncle Truett if he would like to join us for lunch. Then, I got this tasty idea, to go to, In-n-Out! I was hoping the newness had rubbed off and it wouldn't be busy. I was wrong, but It was good.
Now to the Random.
As Truett, Chamberlain and I were standing in a very very long line packed tight like sardines. I was literally standing shoulder to shoulder with Truett when this huge, as in, tall bulky (not fat) guy, more like college student, kept looking back at us (as he was in front of us waiting for his order). He finally gathered up the nerve to say to us, "when you two have kids they are going to be huge!" Obviously he had not seen Chamberlain running in and out of the line. Truett looks at him in disgust like "please we are related". I so kindly replied "this is my brother." The Guy immediately looks at my ring finger, (lucky today I wore a ring) and goes well you are going to have huge kids no matter who you marry. Which at this point Im thinking in my head "am I supposed to be taking this as a compliment or what!" When Truett finally chimes in and say's "Her husband is tall like me and bigger". Chamberlain finally realizes this strange man is talking to us and immediately makes himself known! Then the Guy is like "oh, is this yours?" Followed by a "he's huge how old is he?" the rest of our conversation goes like this

Me: "He just turned three"
Guy: " He is going to be huge, he is huge!!!"
Me: "Yes, I like to think of my marriage more of an investment" (Jokingly might I add)
Guy: "Well too bad you aren't black!"
Me: "Right!?"

I mean what am I supposed to say to that. "Too bad you aren't black." Honestly. I just had to laugh, who say's that, but, no really, who say's that out loud! WHO?

I actually get this a lot it used to be wow your tall do you play ball? Now since I look like a mom I get you have got to have tall kids. All of my tall friends get this same thing. But this is my FIRST, "too bad you aren't black!"

I wish I would have remembered to take my phone in so I could have taken a picture of the dufus! He watched us the whole time we were there! People, where are your manners!

this is what we've been up to!

The Christmas Festival. This festival started 19 years ago as my mothers "Brain Child" to raise money for different axullieries in Kanab. Now its purpose is for the Symphony of the Canyons and the music department at Kanab High. Its a big deal, the money raised in this two day event supports both Symphony of the Canyons and the High School all year long. So, we transform the middle school gym into something not so quite like a gym. On Friday night we hold a fancy catered dinner, prime rib and all (thanks to Houston's Trails End Restaurant, Yum!) and the Symphony serenades us with some beautiful Christmas music while we dine. Then Saturday is devoted to local artisans with goods to for us to buy, and yummy food with entertainment going the whole day. Its quite a production for just 1 day and a dinner. Here is what we (my mom Chamberlain, and myself) did. Oh and for the 2nd year running we have had a light parade that runs down main street. so thats the dark picture with the truck that has lights! I wish that I did have a camera instead of my broken cell phone camera because it really was awesome. The theme this year was "Christmas is for the Birds" and we had bird cages hanging from all the chandilers as well as a huge 150 year old bird cage hanging from the ceiling in the middle of the gym.

Hanging Chandeliers

Chamberlain and Grandma on the Cherry Picker

All the arrangements that my mom made to go all throughout the gym


All the Trees that we cemented into cans that the sweet lunch ladies saved for us

The final product



Probably the funniest thing is, that we didnt take any pictures of the actual event during the night nor the day except the one of the delicous Navajo Tacos