San Fran Weekend

Fall already?!?!

Where did summer go???
Ali had a birthday! Congratulations Tink--we all survived you being two! Three fits so nicely and she's so much happier feeling like such a big girl. Love this little lady...

The Trick-or-treating crew visiting Great-grandma Irion @ Highland Cove

Elphaba

Qui Gon Jin (a Master Jedi for sure)

Cinderella

Cow...say Cheese!

And this cow was on the moooo-ve

....can't wait for Christmas pictures to be taken....so fun....

Happy Halloween!

Journal worthy

This is a day that Ashlyn & Tyler won't soon forget, but the details will get fuzzy for me, so I'm recording them in the blogosphere for safe keeping!

A month or so ago, grandfather invited the 10 primary-aged grandchildren and greats that live near by to sing "Follow the Prophet" for President Monson in a Regional Broadcast recording. Ummm...are you kidding me?!? How lucky are they? So Tuesday was the big day, and boy were they excited when we pulled up to the church office building and they had 4 golf carts ready & waiting. Here's a shot of the fun crew

Grandfather arrived and we were all excited to grab a quick photo, then get into our own little carts and whiz through the underground tunnels and get a "backstage pass" through the belly of all of the various buildings.

The kids were so excited and the drivers even put on their flashing lights to up the wow factor. And impress them they did!

We got to the studio where they were going to film the broadcast and the kids were so excited. See, can't you see the excitement oozing out of them in this picture?!?!?

They were pretty distracted with the lights, the teleprompters, the cameras and the set. Trying to soak it all in before one last rehearsal of the song. I love this picture below of the kids singing and grandfather watching in the wings. He would do a slight jig during the chorus because, how can you not?! The kids mentioned to me how they loved that. But really, this so typifies him. Supporting us and making meaningful experiences available for all of his family whenever possible. I really don't know how I lucked out with him.

After they ran through it, right before the recording, there was President Monson. He said he hoped they got to miss school for this, which they enthusiastically responded in the affirmative! It really was so special to watch each of the kids interact with him as they were introduced. But my nephew, Lucas, below with this darling red-hair got extra special attention.

President Monson zeroed right in on him and pulled him in close to him and Luke nuzzled right on up to him as if he'd known him his whole life! He admired his crimson locks (which grandfather later said--"Oh yes, him picking out a red-headed child is as predictable as the night following day!") and then kept him in the crook of his arm for the prayer before this broadcast. And boy was this prayer needed. Not only for the songs and talks being offered, but that we'd have to keep all of these kids quiet as a mouse for over an hour and half for the recording!!

The kids sang their hearts out to Follow the Prophet as they sang FOR him. What a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. One that won't ever be forgotten by Ash & Ty at such an impressionable age, nor for this grateful mother. How do you thank someone adequately for giving her children a gift of solidifying their testimonies that a prophet lives today? It was a touching and memorable day.

eight

Everyonce in a while, I have to stop and catch my breath. All the cliches you hear as a new mom are so true.

I remember during some of those long, exhausting, drawn out days of just me and Ashlyn as a new baby, feeling like the well-meaning people that said, "They grow up so fast, enjoy every moment!" had just forgotten what life was like with a newborn. While yes, enjoy her I did, time sure did not feel like it was whizzing past. Days and nights were mixed up, sleep seemed to evade me, and with Casey gone and busy, it felt more like a slowed down time warp.

But here I sit, 8 years later and I'm perplexed. Staring at these pictures, wondering how in the world we could go, in a split second, from this... to this...
Honestly, what a great journey it has been. Casey & I feel so lucky to have Ashlyn as our first. She's such a great girl and just fun to be with. We love her dearly. Her baptism was such a neat experience for all of us. Her great-grandfather was able to be there, along with her great-uncle, Elder Ringwood, on the stand. So many dear family members and neighbors were able to be there for her big day. It really made it so memorable and special.

Everett is her best buddy. He's one day older than her, so they were lucky little ducks that got baptised together. How fun is that? We have a small trail through our back yard & the Poulson's from these two coming and going to each other's house almost daily. They just moved to Logan, and there's just a trace, faint shadow of trail that's left. I'd take having that little path in the grass over a perfect lawn, anyday. She's blessed to have had such a good friend live so close.

She even had the added bonus of having another friend in our ward, Hyrum, baptized that same day. Here they are, cute, clean and pure!

4 generations

Holy Smokes, they are cute.

Proud parentals

One of Ashlyn's favorite presents was from Ev. She LOVES flowers, and he knew that these are exactly what she would want. Seriously, is he the sweetest?