I'm so sad... I want to scream, cry, and turn back time all at once : (

It was an honest mistake but I'm having a hard time not lashing out. I realised today that Saturday Justin accidentally deleted ALL of the pictures and videos on my camera! I've lost everything from right after school started in August-last Saturday (Dec. 12). Seriously, so much lost and since I haven't been blogging like I should for the past few months I can't even find relief in my blog. The ones I am the most sad about are Halloween. My girls were both so cute and we had some fun family pics (we hardly ever have pics of all of us and now they are gone!!)

For Halloween Alexis was Princess Leia (she loves Star Wars, especially the old movies) and Ariana was a Giraffe (her favorite animal that she is OBSESSED with). I can't believe they are gone... I LOVED those pictures and movies and I think it was because they defined where my girls personalities are right now so well. (Halloween normally isn't like that but this year it just was).

On a sad note but not as sad as my personal photos I also lost ALL of my preschool photos from this year in preschool (and twilight, and Thanksgiving and decorating the Christmas tree). Ok I need to stop because now I am crying....

Ok I'm back:

So here is my plea, if you have any pictures of our family from September-December 12 can you please, Please, PLEASE email/send them to me?

Thanksgiving Memories

We went to Utah for Thanksgiving. My sister-in-law Kimberly had to work on Thursday so we called Friday Thanksgiving. So Thanksgiving Friday we had TOTALLY fun day. We played speed basketball, tackle football and most exciting Alexis learned how to ride a bike without training wheels!

My sister-in-law Kelly was telling me Friday morning about some good black Friday bike deals at Wal-Mart and that got us talking about how Alexis needs a new bike because she can ride her scooter faster than she can our little bike and she is a little embarrassed by her training wheels. Kelly mentioned that when they are ready they just "get it" referring to ridding without training wheels. We went out and decided to see if she would even ride on a bigger bike. I held the back and she took off. It only took me a minute to realise I could let go of the bike because Alexis was balancing the bike all on her own!! Yippee no more training wheels!! Congratulations Alexis! She rode her cousin Ryan's bike the rest of the trip and when ever she was on it had this HUGE grin on her face. Now she is begging for a new bike... maybe Santa can find one ; )

This is me trying to keep up with her and (notice Justin is just in his socks! ; ) )

The boys had fun doing silly stunts and of course pictures had to be taken.

Pain!

Last Monday I woke up and my left arm was hurting. I have no idea what I did while I was asleep and I assumed it would just stop hurting once I got moving. WRONG!! It just got worse and I ended up having to wake Justin up and ask him to please rub my shoulder (I'm sooo sorry honey!) I could barely move. I tried once and ended up like this. Justin couldn't help laughing and took my picture while stating "I know this isn't funny to you now, but I promise it will be funny later." Ya I didn't think it was so funny then that he was taking my picture but going through pics now a week later, yes he was right it is kind of funny.

Justin Turned 30!

Friday October 16, 2009 Justin Richard Ashby turned 30. The girls made fun posters for the front door and while Alexis was at school Ariana and I decorated the house with lots of balloons. The girls also made two books for him. We bought a baseball cake from Costco and invited a few friends over to share and help blow out all those candles.

Turning 30 has made Justin feel a little funny but we did have a fabulous day. We've been working really hard towards paying off his car so we decided for his birthday to pay the remaining balance as his "present". This is Justin getting ready to pay off the car:

YIPPY, now both cars a totally paid for!!

Justin also has never taken our girls to the movies and thought they might like Where the Wild Things Are that was being released on his birthday. We borrowed the book from the Scotts and the girls loved it!! (we had to read it three times the first night we read it) We ended up at a Matinee showing on Friday. Justin wanted to buy popcorn and drinks (something we never do and I know why WOW $17 for a large popcorn and 2 drinks) I couldn't even focus on the movie at first because I was trying not to hyperventilate about the expensive popcorn... don't spill ANY of IT!! The girls had fun going to the theatre and loved the popcorn and drinks. The movie was decent, the girls liked it and they loved sharing Daddy's lap.

After the movie the girls each took their favorite item out to the car. Alexis wanted the popcorn bucket and Ariana had way to much fun waving her massive straw around. Alexis had way cuter pictures with her bucket but she insisted on me taking a picture of "shoving popcorn in my mouth" so I had to include her request.

Happy Birthday Justin. Don't worry I don't think 30 will be too bad. Your birthday was a fabulous first day and I truly hope the rest of your year will be too. I think back to where we were a year ago and the difference between the two years is black and white. I'm so grateful that we had such a great day for you! Happy Birthday! : )

I've never felt so loved during a temper tantrum before

Today I played the organ at church and while I played the prelude music I let my girls color. Its a lot better than them climbing and running through all the choir chairs. Once the meeting started I ask them to pick up and sit down. Normally this goes just fine with occasional whispered warnings while I am trying to play the opening hymn but today, well we had quite the different adventure. Ariana and Alexis started fighting over which crayons to put away and Ariana with all of her three year stubbornness was not happy with how many she got to pick up (these were cool triangle shaped crayons that they can't get enough off) So as I am playing the opening song there is screaming, there is yelling, Ariana was stepping on the foot pedals of the organ and making them play while she yelled about the crayons. And of course to make it all better she was yelling right in the bishop and 2'nd counselor's ear! I always bring a snack that they can have after sacrament is passed if they are reverent and so I whispered to Ariana that she wasn't earning her snack. Ok, wrong thing to say to an already past upset three year old. This just escalated the screaming and turning it into rolling around on the floor. Un-noticed by me, Reina Gammett came up and got Alexis to come sit with her but Ariana wouldn't have it. The song finally ended and prayer began and I was RUNNING Ariana out of the church as she was screaming "I DON'T WANT A TIME OUT!" So how did I feel so loved? As I ran out I was followed by at least 5 people trying to help. They all knew I needed to play again in a few minutes and that I was by myself with my girls and realised that I needed help. One thing that touched me was it wasn't just women who came to my aide it there was also a young women and Ariana's nursery teacher who is a man. I know EVERYONE in the room had to have heard our exit but no one had to come help but they did and it wasn't just one it was many. I feel so blessed to have people who care enough to try and help when I need it most. Its hard to ask for help sometimes but it is touching when other's reach out and just offer it. That situation could have left me very frustrated, crying and wondering why I even try. Instead I walked back in loved, appreciating the wonderful people around me and feeling the spirit. Thank you...

Ariana's counting method

On our very long trip home from Utah this summer I taught Alexis how to identify the numbers 1-100 by using the mile markers on the road. It worked quite well and Ariana enjoyed it too. Over the past couple months we've tried to keep up the number recognition and one day I asked Alexis what a 4 and a 5 was. Ariana instantly yelled out "four-d-five". I was amazed, had my little three year old really caught on how to recognize numbers by just listening in on my lessons with Alexis? I had to check so I started asking Ariana about other numbers and came to find out she has a new counting system. Ready for it? See if you can find the patteren : )

number/Ariana's name for it

45/ four-d-five

69/ six-d-nine

33/ three-d-three

25/ two-d-five

15/ one-d-five (this, by the way, is the one she tells me about all the time because she see's it on the speed limit signs on the way to school and no matter how many times I tell her it is fifteen she laughs and says one-d-five again and again.)

Funny Moments From August and September

FuNnY CaMpINg AuGUst 1-8, 2009

umm...yes dirt is an acceptable trade off for sand when building castle

We had lots of fun activities to do while camping. Once I told the girls something we were going to go do and Ariana got extremly excited and yelled "!vamanos!" and ran out of the tent. (I guess they are picking up some spanish.)

Ariana and Alexis were playing house and had two very funny conversations:

1)Ariana was the daddy and Alexis the Mommy. They decided that they were going to have a baby and had a whole debate on whether they should have the baby first or get married first. They decided to have the baby first...

2) Its dinner time in play house land:

Ariana in as deep as voice as she can make:"I'm the daddy. Its time for dinner. I don't know how to make the dinner."

fUnNy WEdDinG rEcePtioN August 14, 2009

My sister-in-law Kara got married on August 14. Her reception was beautiful in her oldest sisters back yard. At the very end of the reception Alexis, her cousins Taylor and Derek and her Uncle Devin all decided to make the party a "splash" Devin REALLY made an "electric" moment when he did a flip in and his legs got caught on one of the strands or lights set up as a canopy above the pool and sent the lights into the pool and slightly shocking himself.

FUnNY ArT September 12

We are participating in a group that does "pizza parties" Its the best baby sitting exchange group. Our kids love it and when its your turn to host you take everyone else kids, provide pizza, a craft, movie and pop corn. Well last week the craft was decorating paper bags and this is what Ariana accidentally did to her bag. SOO FUNNY! When we picked the girls up Ariana was asleep and we were assured that it was not done on purpose. The next day Ariana told me about her bag and said, "I wanted a P sticker and two O's and then I wanted another P." And than laughing,"Mommy I spelled poop!"

FuNny GIrlS BeING GiRls September 17 (well and for the last week)

When ever one of the girls has to go potty the other one out "I need to go too" and runs to the same bathroom. Wow, yes going to the bath room in groups is something born into us (I guess) : )

Grocery Smarts Class at my house Saturday

I am going to be teaching a class on how to save money using coupons and the free website grocerysmarts.com Saturday August 29 @ 11am. If you would like to come or have a friend or family member that has been wanting to learn about grocery smarts e-mail me and let me know. Everyone who comes will get a binder ready to use for couponing.

I promise couponing isn't scary and doesn't require hours and hours of time. You can be organized in 5 minutes a week and save HUNDREDS a month! Check out my Saving made Simple blog for extra savings tips. : )

Good Morning Sleepy Head

It's been awhile since I've seen morning hair like this. Good morning Alexis!

Our 7'th Wedding Anniversary

Yesterday was our 7'th wedding anniversary. I can't believe 7 years have already flown by and that we have a little one ready to go to school! We tried to have babysitting yesterday but Justin ended up not being able to come home from work until 8pm so we'll have to try that again. When he got home he was very sweet, he brought me a dozen red roses and (get ready to laugh)... twilight the movie board game. I made sure the girls were ready for bed by the time he got home. They made a cake for us so we all ate cake and off to bed they went. Justin and I rarely eat dinner together on the days he works so last night we did and the house was quiet. (WOW that's a gift all by itself!) After dinner we played the twilight board game and this is the really funny part... Justin won! I don't think I'll ever let him forget that : )

Highlights of my day

I've been feeling a little "off" for a few days. I have a lot to get done in the next couple weeks with summer winding down and I feel slightly overwhelmed and sad but when I just laid down to try and sleep all I could think about instead of all there is to do were 4 highlights of my day and how grateful I am for them.

1) Justin being willing to come home because he could tell I might need it.

2) Getting in an huge hose water play session with Alexis and Ariana while washing the dogs in nothing but our underwear. (I know that sounds strange but I swear my girls run around in nothing but underwear in the morning over summer break so that's what they were in when I started washing the dogs) We sprayed each other, danced in the "rain", jumped over the stream of water, limboed under the water etc.

3) Having a "beauty" day. Alexis and Ariana brushed and "did" my hair, make up and nails. Alexis also did Ariana's make up, and I did hers. Have to admit Alexis is actually decent at make up but Ariana is awful. She insits that eye shadow goes under your eyes as well as on your eye lids. Ariana does a fabulous job brushing and combing hair. (I'm serious!)

4) Taking my girls shopping at Khols and watching them have SOOOO much fun trying on several outfits. (I didn't try on anything I just watched and helped them) Ariana would put an outfit on and than proceed to model it for several minutes before moving on to the next one. I loved watching them giggle, smile and be incredibly noisy in the dressing room and tell each other how cute they looked and which pieces they liked the best.

Simple Moments of Joy

This week I have really been thinking about what things have been the best parts of my day and it has been the simple things. For example a few days ago the girls helped me get the dirty laundry in the washing machine and then we just watched as our front loader machine began washing. It was silly, fun and simple just watching the water, bubbles and clothes spin around. Last night the girls helped make cookies with me and it was all giggles, eating the dough and having milk and cookies when they where done. A perfect end to the day. Justin just got home and Ariana came and laid down on him while he is watching baseball. Its 6pm and she hasn't eaten dinner yet and I warned him she was falling asleep and he said"Its ok, I like this and I so rarely get the opportunity." How could I deny him this simple moment of joy?

An Angel Traveling in Fillmore, Utah

The first two weeks of July the girls, our two dogs and I vacationed in Utah with Justin's family. We had a great time. I'll try writing about it later. Last Friday we all set off to come home and see Daddy and a little an hour after driving our air conditioner in the car stoped working and then Ariana started screaming that she had to pee and of course we are in the middle of no where. I pulled over on the side of the high way and smelled a burning rubber. Perfect! So Ariana peed for the first time on the side of the highway (by the end of the day we will have done that 3 times) We got back in and I wasn't sure what to do. To stay there and call AAA, it was really hot, over 100 or try to keep driving and hope even a little city would come soon. While talking to my Dad I decided to keep going and see if anything was close. If I didn't find anything in a few miles I'd pull over and call AAA. Fillmore was only a few miles down the road so we drove and got off and pulled into Carls Jr. We got towed to the local AAA shop. It turned out to be a busy day for the little company. The mechanic looked at the car and couldn't figure out what was wrong for awhile and then decided that the air compressor had a part that was broken. Bad news/good news for me is that part was just replaced a couple months ago! So if I could just make it home because everything else runs fine except the AC I could get it fixed for hopefully free but to make things worse my front windows are broken and can't roll down so even driving at night was out until we could get them down. My AAA membership gets me free tows up to 100 miles and Provo is about 100 miles from Fillmore. The towing company said they could tow us back but it would be a few hours. Ugh, I mean Yippy, hours out in the hot because we have to keep the dogs with us. We were VERY hungry at this point and a local cafe was recommended to us. We got there and ordered but soon found out that I was out of cash and the cafe only took cash or checks no credit or debit cards. Before we could cancel our order and try and find Carl's Jr. again my angel came to my rescue. A kind woman in brite green shirt jumped up and said "don't worry I got it". I was so over whelmed. I started crying. I was so grateful to not try and pack the girls and dogs back into the car. I was tiered and hungry just like my girls and our angel helped us just when we needed it. Our world can be a crazy place but I hope that I can be sensitive enough just like this woman was so that when someone else is in need I can be there for them. She didn't ask for anything she was traveling too to American Fork. Alexis who is normally shy around strangers even ran up and said thank you. Just thinking about it and writing about is making me tear up. Thank you traveling Angel you truly helped make a bad day better! (The picture is us in the tow truck driving back to Provo/Orem)

Camping at Lake Mead

The first weekend in May we went camping at Lake Mead with our friends the Jacksons. We had a great time even though our trip was cut slightly short because we had to get back to meet Justin's family and get Justin packed to go to his Grandma Ashby's funeral in CA. The kids were all so excited to sleep in the tents but Friday night the wind blew so hard that we had to sleep in the cars and take the poles out of the tents. It was a long night for me since Mom's always seem to draw the short end of the stick and I was the one that ended up all twisted up trying to sleep half sitting half laying down the short way in the car. Oh well! The next morning and afternoon was beautiful.



There was so much to do and explore outside but the three little girls played for a large part of the day inside the car. It was good for Ariana though because she is so fair that it was really hard to keep her from burning and the car offered her some nice shade.

The Barbie Fishing Pole

Before we left I bought 2 pink barbie fishing poles for the girls from Wal-mart. We were really impressed with how well they work and how good both Ariana and Alexis can cast. Justin ended up spending a lot of the day playing with a barbie fishing pole too. Isn't he cute? ; )

The Jackson also brought kayaks. Ariana LOVED the kayaks and so did I. We had a lot of fun paddling around the lake.

When they weren't in the car the girls were collecting sea shells. Doesn't Alexis look great in those purple goggles?

When we got home we all looked rather comical because we all had sun burns in different wierd ways. Justin was just red all over because he didn't put on sunscreen. I used a face stick and apparently only rubed in the middle of my forhead because just above my eyebrows and around my hair line got burned but nothing in between. Ariana was fine everywhere except right under her eyes. Justin's family had a good laugh when they saw us that night.

Did you know your shower can turn into a bath tub?

Please excuse the lack of clothing. I probably should have been a little upset but all I could do was laugh. My girls have started asking to take showers and I don't mind because I don't feel like I have to sit with them the whole time when they do. They have figured out though that one of their bath toys is the perfect plug for the drain and last night used it to let the shower fill up like a bath tub. I think they were hoping it would go higher but all it did was start flooding the floor and I caught it before it was too much of a mess. Justin was slightly grumpy but I just couldn't stop laughing! It reminds me of an old I love Lucy episode when Lucy and Ethel get stuck in a shower that fills all the way to the top. (I was raised on old shows and movies, if you ever want to sit down and watch a good old black and white with some one call me and I'll be there!)

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo with a Siesta

This is how I found Ariana this afternoon right after my 4 year old preschool class was over. I can't think of a better way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo than with a siesta.

Ariana's first hair cut

Ariana finally had her first hair cut last night. She has needed a hair cut for a long time (she is 3 after all and has never had a hair of her head touched by scissors which is amazing considering she and Alexis like to play with scissors daily!) I am typically too chicken to cut my girls hair so I leave that job to the capable hands of my sister-in-law Kristin. Last night after bath time I finally got up the nerve to do it my self when Justin was combing her hair and said "you could probably cut her hair. She just needs the hair the middle on her back trimmed" The middle part was about 2-3 inches longer than the rest of her hair and so I decided to do it. I've been dragging my feet a little on this because that part of her hair sooo curly and I love it that way and I've been afraid that cutting it off I'll loose all her curls. The hair cut went fine and we have yet to see if her hair will still curl because both her and Alexis wanted their hair in buns for bed time. I hope it curls still. We'll see.

Before...

The hair cut begins, no turning back now...

Happy Little GirlAll done!She wanted a picture with Daddy when she was done

Missing for 4 years

We moved to Las Vegas in July of 2005. Moving is hard but one of the worst things about moving are the things you loose. When Justin accepted his current job here Las Vegas the company paid for us to be moved. Two guys came to our apartment, loaded everything in boxes, wrapped up our pictures, furniture etc. and packed it into a truck. It was all so fast and effeicient, or so it seemed... When we finally settled down and unpacked our boxes I noticed we were a few utensils short. I was pregnant and so of course the first thing I noticed that was missing are my ICE CREAM scoops. I just moved to a state that litterally feels like it is on fire and my ice cream scoops ran away? NOOOO! (I was not happy but spoons work well for ice cream too) Finally last year Santa brought a new scooper for me but I've always wondered where we could have lost the other ones. Sunday Justin was going through the garage and decided to open up a box that contained his collector item magic cards...Ta dah... all of my missing utensils! Now why wouldn't we have thought to look there because everyone knows that collectors items (that never get touched) and kitchen wear should be packed together right? ; )

Dogs, Birds and the facts of life

Our dogs have been happily living in San Diego for a couple years (THANK YOU mom and Dad!) and finally came back home with us after Alexis birthday. The girls love having the dogs back and the dogs have been doing really well here both adjusting to a new home and be bombarded twice a week with preschoolers. Last Monday while I was at dance class our dog named Jewel caught a bird in the back yard and Alexis saw the whole thing. Justin was trying to not let her watch because Jewel actually was eating the bird but curious little 5 year old that she is wouldn't close her eyes and go do something else. Before preschool started on Tuesday we made sure all of the mess was cleaned up and Alexis asked me where the rest of the bird was. I don't remember what I said first but I wanted to see how she felt about the whole thing and so I said something like, "its sad the bird died" Alexis response surprised me. She said, "its ok there are lots of other birds" She wasn't sad she just stated the fact and that was that.

Ariana still doesn't think dogs eat birds (I was actually a little surprised when Justin told me that our dog had) and laughs at Alexis when she tells her that Jewel did. She says"Nooo...dogs don't eat birds" with a little chukle in her voice : )

Pretty Little Faces and Scars

We've had an interesing month full of blood and scares. First in mid March Ariana fell off a swing in the back yard. Alexis ran in the house yelling "Mommy, Ariana fell off the swing and hurt her tummy." Ariana likes to run around in only underwear and this day she was playing outside in only underwear so I went down stairs expecting to see scratches all over her tummy. What I found was a little girl covered in blood from her chin to her toes! She had her mouth full of blood, blood driping from her chin, blood all over her tummy, blood down her legs and driping on the ground. Turns out it wasn't her tummy at all. She had bitten her lip, scratched her chin and cut open a small gash on the side of her mouth. The gash was tiny but full of pebbles. My friend, neighbor, and pediactric ER nurse Tenielle looked at it and recommended that I clean it out. I decided it wasn't worth taking her to see if it needed stiches since the part that was the worst was the wound inside her mouth and there is nothing a dr. will do about that. Now Ariana is all better but a month later she has scars all over her chin and the gash feels like a hard ball. Hopefully they will continue to fade with time.

April 2, two days after we got back from our trip to CA I was getting a shoping list ready, Alexis was doing a paint by numbers that Grandma Frederick gave her for her birthday and Ariana tried to help. Alexis flipped out and while screaming and yelling at Ariana hit her head on my piano. I was upstairs and just heard all the yelling. Ariana wasn't suppose to touch Alexis paint so I went down to help. When I got there Alexis was screaming that Ariana had ruined her picture, what she hadn't realised that she had hit her head and it was bleeding everywhere. It was in her hair, all over her hands, dripping down the side of her face. It had even gotten in her left eye and because she was crying about her picture she was actually crying drops of blood from her eye! Ewww!!! The gash was on her forhead and I decided this one was worth having a Doctor look at because I didn't want her to have too bad of scar. Tenielle happened to be getting off work when we got to the ER and took Ariana home for me. I will never be able to thank her enough because we got to the ER around 7:30pm and the whole experience wasn't over until 12:30! Justin had been playing at a company softball game and got to the ER around 9:30. One of us needed to go pick up Ariana and so I thought Justin would go but Alexis wanted him to stay. I was a little shocked and wondering why but on the way home I remembered that when I was younger and I'd get hurt I wanted my Dad too. He was the one who always took me to the ER, or the urgent care. When I had surgury in college it was my Dad that drove through the night to pick me up when I was discharged. It makes me happy that Alexis wants her Daddy like that too. Alexis ended up getting 3 stiches and we are still waiting for 2 of them to come out. Of course this all had to happen now because it is time for birthday pictures! We got them taken last Saturday and Alexis hair is in her face and Ariana is wearing makeup to cover her chin.

Princess Day

Once a year Miss Lori has princess day for dance class. We missed it last year because we were in San Diego but this year we made it! The girls have both been so excited about this. They love to dress up and to be able to do it while going to dance class is just pure excitement for them. Here are some pictures from both of their royal dance days:






Once a year Miss Lori has princess day for dance class. We missed it last year because we were in San Diego but this year we made it! The girls have both been so excited about this. They love to dress up and to be able to do it while going to dance class is just pure excitement for them. Here are some pictures from both of their royal dance days: