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!