Star Wars

Ashby is a skilled jedi knight, and i've got the picture to prove it.

Happy Sweet 16 M'Chellie!

Well Michelle is my youngest sister, the baby of the family. Sometimes I forget that we are seperated by 10 years. I mean, what did I do in the first 10 years of my life without her? I mean, she is really fun, smart, cute and generally I think I've always loved her. Okay, well maybe my love was a little conditional (on a name) at the start. But lets not get all worked up about that.

Anyway, on July 7th she turned 16. So of course we had to have a party. In addition to the fam, she had a bunch of her closest friends over for what 16 year old girls to best: giggling, boy talk, laughing and fun! Instead of a cake, she decided on 3 different types of homemade cookies. So the day before, Mom and I spent a long time in the kitchen! For her birthday she got lost of nice things including, but not limited to a copy of Breaking Dawn, by Stephenie Meyer. A cute white hat, soda, lotion, movies, music, candy aaAnnd moola to go clothes shopping with. She and I went together on her actual birthday. Thanks sis, for letting me in on the special day!

Here she is blowing out the candle on her cookie-cake! Lookin' cute!

She doesn't have her license yet, so don't get worried about staying clear of the road. But when she does we probably won't have to worry too much, she'll do just fine!

Ashby helped in the kitchen and wanted her picture here to prove it.

Anyway, Happy Birthday lil' sis. Love you big!

Forth of July Fireworks

So in the post just below, you can read about our Independence Day camping trip. But here is what we did after we got back from camping.
We unpacked and then re-packed and headed north to my parents house in North Ogden.
We missed all the parades and activities of the day time celebration, but made it in plenty of time for the firework fun!

We love watching the many (close to 10) different firework shows as the go off throughout the valley below my parents house, in addition to watching the neighborhood street fireworks (thanks to Silly Steve as Ashby called him), the Weber High show and lots of sparklers. We had a lot of fun and Ashby stayed up the whole time! IT was her latest night yet! Fireworks still are fun for me and my fam. Hope they were for you too!

4th of July Camping

Ashby, Ryan and I joined Grandpa Ken and Uncle Preston on a 4th of July trip into the mountains to Celebrate the freedoms we have. As is typical Ken Bishop style that means getting as far away from other people as we could. Which isn't so bad, because it provides a chance so that we could just remeber the beauty of what God placed here in America.

We spent part of 3 days up in the Uintas and spent time relaxing, hiking, playing in the stream, fishing and just spending time together.

Hiking along the stream.

Preston caught this fish with his bare hands! This is is excited face.

Ashby's favorite activity was getting dirty! We had lots of fun and made it home in time for fireworks!

Three of the things I love best

Taking Pictures

Being a mom

My Handsome, Her Daddy, Ryan

Father's Day

This year for Father's Day we joined my parents and siblings on a relaxing Father's Day campout! We went up Southfork campground in the the Ogden Valley and enjoyed the beautiful weather, the hikes, campfires, books (mostly The Host), the river and each other.

Daddy and Grandpa

Ashby and Grandma enjoyed playing together!We all started off together on our little hikes...

...but before too long, Ryan'd be off on his own finding the paths to the top.

Yes, we are all pretty much Stephenie Meyer fans! My good friend Laurel let me borrow it and I ended up reading it out loud like it was story time at the library! For those of you who havn't read it, it was good. It had it's intense, sad and funny moments. She did an excellent job reminding us that there must be opposites in all things for us to appreciate the good. I recommend it to you.

Growth of Ashby

A good friend of mine, Sam, just started a blog (Yippee!). And she showed pics of her husband, Rick, with their kids from every year. Thanks for the idea, hope you don't mind sharing. Here are some from Ryan's first 3:

2006: First Father's Day, just 9 days old!

2007: Our little one year old, again in the mountains

2008: Camping for fun!

Ashby is Officially 2

2nd Birthday Party #2
Here is our birthday Girl! With both cheeks painted playing out back in on the grass. Our family and friends gathered with us here in Orem at the house. We had a handful of neighborhood friends and they each had a chance to make their own "party" hat, get their face painted and just have fun. We sang, had cake and ice cream and had presents. Overall I'd say that turning 2 seems more fun then turning 1. Enjoy some of our snapshots.

Singing and Cake
You can sing along if you'd like! :)

She Blew out the Candle! Horse Cake Loved being sang to!

Present Time!
The high pile of presents were much appreciated. She loves everything. But what I loved best were the tons of tissue paper used in wrapping. Did you know it is fun to stand under like falling leaves? Ashby Loved it

Friends and Family

Cute and Smileing faces





Lots of love.


Grandpa Ken and Uncle Preston where also there, I just failed to get them in photos. Aunt Amy and Uncle Jason left on dates! Anyway, it was fun to celebrate and to feel the love that we share in children.