Do As I Say And Not As I Did

This is another mommy bragging moment so if you already sick of it then don't read on, but I am mostly doing it cause I need to write this down and this is the only way I do it lately so enjoy it if you like. When I lived in CA, I was a girl scout. I remember it being really fun doing lots of fun things, going on campouts, and selling girl scout cookies. One of the activities that we had was to go to an ice capades show. The bad thing was that it was on a Sunday. I really really wanted to go and I knew that my parents wouldn't let me. I remember asking them if I could go and they gave me the whole spill of keeping the sabbath day holy and that we don't do those things and blah blah blah and then they told me that it would be my choice. I think they were thinking I would make the right choice, well they were wrong. I was so out of there, and I went to see the show. I remember I could not even enjoy the show cause I felt so bad about not doing what I should and for letting my parents down, but I did what every kid would do, right?
Well that is what I used to think until a couple of Sundays ago one of Braxton's friends dad goes up to Brendan during church and asked if they could take Braxton up to Chuck-E-Cheese with them after church. Brendan told him that he have to talk to me to see. When Brendan talked to me I was like No way It's Sunday, duh. But then we thought that since he had been baptized that he knew what he was supposed to do and that he could make his own decision. I was a little skeptical because I thought for sure he would be like ok thanks I am going. We told Braxton during Sacrament that he got invited and that he would decide if he should go or not. You should of seen the color drain from his face when he heard this. He was having such a hard time cause he wanted to do what was right, but he really wanted to go to Chuck-E-Cheese. He kept saying that this was to hard for him to choose, he wanted us to make the decision but we wouldn't. I think he said like 5 prayers to help him. Finally after Church we went home and he had to make his choice cause his friend was waiting on him, and he chose to not go. We were so proud of him. He is such a better kid than Brendan and obviously I was when we were that age. We would of been gone to Chuck-E-Cheese so fast. So thank heavens sometimes our kids do as we say and not as we did.

Goodbye 2008 Hello 2009

I can not believe that it is already 2009. This past year flew by way too fast. 2008 was another great year for us. I just thought I would put down some of the highlights of our past year.

At the beginning of the year I received a new calling to serve in the Primary as 1st counselor. This calling has been such a blessing in my life and I have learned so much from it. I think being in the Primary is the best calling in the Church.

At the beginning of March my little family and my brother's family went to Disneyland. I always get so excited when we go to Disneyland. Kyra got to meet Cinderella who is her favorite princess. When she seen her she ran right up to her and gave her a big hug. It was so cute! We had a blast!

Another highlight of the year was Kyra was potty trained. YEAH!! I was starting to think she was going to be in diapers forever. It is not fun having two in diapers. One more to go and no more diapers forever.

We had a couple of additions to our family. In March Brendan's sister Nicole had a baby boy. We now have four nephews and two nieces.

In June Brendan got a yellow lab puppy. I am not a big animal lover, but I do end up loving our dogs. I just can't wait till he gets out of the puppy stage.

Ok so this one is for Brendan. I know that this is probably his number 1 highlight of the year. He got a pretty big buck. Awesome huh? I know your dying to know what it scored, but sorry I don't know.

I can not believe this but Braxton turned eight this year and was baptized by his dad. He was able to be baptized with his cousin. It was such an awesome day.

We have a few things this year to look forward to. The end of February we are going to Disneyland again. I know it is nuts that we are going again, but when we found out that almost all of Brendan's family is going we didn't want to miss out on the fun. Plus I am always game for Disneyland. I just hope my kids don't think this will be a yearly thing. After this trip it will probably be awhile before we go again.

This July we have a big Ashton Family reunion in Island Park, Id. It is real close to Yellowstone so I think we are going to go early and make a little vacation out of it.

In September Ty comes home. I am really looking forward to when he returns. He is doing such an awesome job, and I am so proud of him.

This year I also am going to get my butt into shape. That is my number one resolution for this year. My baby is almost two years old so it is about time I get rid of my baby weight. We just bought an elliptical machine so I don't have any excuses.

As each year passes I realize more and more how lucky I am. I am so grateful for my husband who loves me and is so good at telling me all the time. I am so grateful to be blessed with three children. I am so grateful that they are all healthy. I feel so thankful that we have a home to live in and that Brendan and I are both employed so that we can pay our bills. I am so grateful for our families and all that they do for us. I am grateful for the gospel and the happiness it brings in our lives.

Firestation Visit

A couple of Saturdays ago the kids and I went up to visit Brendan at the station. We don't get to see him at work that often, but when we do it is always so exciting to go to the firestation. This next picture is of the kids hanging out in the lazy chairs. Right before we got to the station they got a call so we got to hang out, eat our KFC, and watch TV until they got back.


These next ones are of the kids each taking turns being the engineer. Braxton kept asking his dad to take him for a ride around in the fire truck. I guess he didn't know that he can only drive the ambulance. I don't think his captian would of been too happy if we took off in the engine.

We all then tried on Brendan's turnouts. I could not believe how heavy those clothes and boots are. I could hardly walk in them. I could not imagine actually doing physical work in them. Brendan also pointed out that they will have an air pac on. I definately could not cut it as a firefighter. My husband is such a stud.

Don't you love Brenna's belly shirt. She has got such a juicy belly that her shirts just don't cover it very good.