Our Day's of Christmas

We spent the month shopping here, playing there. Overall we really enjoyed the excitment that all the world seems to share! Ashby doesn't quite understand that Christmas = presents under the tree and that is just fine, but she does recognize "baby Jesus" :)
So on the right is picture of me about 3 1/2 years old from Christmas and the pic on the left is Asbhy about 1 1/2. I was excited to see how cute I could be...:) I still think Ashby's cuter!~

This year (2007) for Christmas we did 2 Christmas mornings. The first was December 23rd at my parents house. My brother Adam, who lives in Colorado flew in so we were able to have all of the family together! We all had a big sibling sleep over at my parents house and woke up not too early for our family Christmas gathering. In addition to gathering lots of wrapping paper, we made memories together on the new "Flip" video camera from my parents.

Ashby was very loved as usual, being the only grandchild/neice and she received books and stuft animals from my siblings and a shopping cart and a rocking horse from the Grandparents!

Our 2nd Christmas morning was the actual day. Ryan, Ashby and I flew out to California to be with Nana and Papa in Santa Barbara. We had a fun moring with Jordan, and the cousins coming by to open and share presents. And you'll never guess what Nana and Papa got for Ashby....that's right...a Rocking Horse!! hehe...Ashby definitely knows what a Horsey is!

We had a lot of fun and received wonderful gifts, but the best part of the holidays will always be the time spent with family and friends. So to all of you whom we havn't seen in a while, please know we think of you often and truly hope that this New Year is one of happiness and success for you. We are so blessed to have our little Ashby in our lives and are amazed on how we all grow because of one child. Merry Christmas!

Our Cute little Ashby

Mamma's Little Helper
So normally Thursday is laundry day. Yes, I know that today is Monday. Due to the up coming Christmas Holiday (in a WEEK!) Laundry Day was moved up! So, I am trying to get presents wrapped, clothes cleaned, dried and folded, rooms cleaned and have fun with Ashby all at the same time. So, what do I do? Well, I always take her with me down into the basement to change the loads and let her play with the kitty while we are down there, I read stories in between cleaning moments and we are generally silly during the day. Well, I had all but one load washed, dried or folded but as both machines were full, I felt no need to take the last load down. I had my basket with me at the computer desk on an extra chair, while the said load is still in my room. Well, my favorite little helper comes hobbling down the hall with as many white clothes as she can possibly stuff between her sweet little arms so that she can but those dirty clothes where they belong! She continued this until all of the white clothes were in the basket. I just love these sweet moments!

A Suitor for Ashby?
Tonight we went to the Chun's neighborhood Christmas party. Now for those of you who do not know the Chun's I am sorry. Seriously, you are missing out! They are some of my favorite people! We (Ryan, Ashby and I) have been regulars at their house since the first time we went there in June. With 3 boys and 1 girl ages 15, 13, 8 and 6 one might not see an automatic play mate for our 18 month old Ashby. Well somehow that isn't the case. Their 8 year old son and their 6 year daughter stop by as often as they can on their way home from school b/c they love to play with her. Tonight, at the party at their house was no exception. Ashby was just as happy as could be roaming from one happy group of children to the next buy somehow always finding her way back to one or the other of the younger Chun children. After most of the neighbors had returned to their own homes I was helping Mother Chun to clean up. She said that Alex, the 8 year old, asked, "Momma? Would you think it was weird if I married Ashby?" hehe...we both laughted as she told me. Of course Ashby is definitely not of marring age. And no, we aren't planning to have an arranged marriage! But it sure is sweet to hear a little boy so sincere. :)

The amazing flying time trick...

Have any of you ever noticed how quickly the year has passed?

I am not exactly sure how but I think next time I close my eyes to get some rest, I might wake up to the New Year! I love the Holidays and am so excited that this year I havn't felt too stressed, as of yet. I began this blog over a month ago, maybe two, with great intentions. However, I can't seem to control time very well lately. I think it may have something to do with having a full blown 18 month old toddler! Wow, Ashby has never been more fun, but also never seemed to need to know exactly where I am At All Times!

We had an early Thanksgiving with my parents and all the siblings the weekend before the real turkey day and then drove to California for most of the week of Thanksgiving. We had a wonderful time eating, playing and just being with family. Ashby's Nana bought some fun play tubes. The photos are proof of how much fun a little vinyl can be! lol. We even managed to have fun while our car broke down ... it provided an opportunity for "Nana" to tow our car all the way home to Orem! hehe.

We will be spending Christmas out in Cali as well and can't believe we are so lucky to be spending time out in Santa Barbara again so soon.

I still have plans to have much more fun on this blog, but that requires me to stop leaving my home computer (that has access to all my photos). So hopefully I will find or make time to do just that! Love ya

OH, Yeah....

So the kid in the picture to the left is not a new son that we have. He is an adorable model baby from a web page I was browsing. Not only is he amazingly cute, but to me he resembles my good friends Patty's little boy. What do you think Patty? Did you know your almost 2 year old was famos?

Knowing what you want

So I am no always as decisive as I would like to be, but apparently Ryan has been practicing this with Ashby. This morning Ryan was holding Ashby and getting ready to go into the Kitchen. I was still in bed, playing peek-a-boo from under the sheets. Ryan asked Ashby if she wanted to stay with Mommy. Immediately Ashby said "No" But that IS one of her favorite words these days, but to re-assure us, she waved and said "bye". She is starting to Know what she Wants! *Sigh* at least I know I'll always want my family!