The Scene of The Crime

My Nightstand.

I am supposed to be cleaning out the house and packing stuff up today. I'm not. I'm updating the blog instead. Partly because I'm not sure how long we will be without Internet during the move, and partly because of my nightstand. Yesterday, I was a touch overwhelmed. I needed to start going through the house and getting rid of all the unimportant things that I have not gotten rid of in the last 4 years. I was purging. I'm not really the best organized person out there and I really don't even know how to be which makes it difficult! One of my friends last night told me its how our brains are wired! We are either organized or not, its a right brain left brain thing. I am NOT the side of the brain that is organized! I tend to rather fly by the seat of my pants and just have faith that everything will fall into place! It always seems to too, which is a tremendous blessing! But back to the nightstand. I was trying to purge and adapt a new lifestyle that would hopefully help me be more organized in this next chapter of my life. This was before I knew about the brain thing and that me being organized might just be a hopeless cause! I had made my way through the house to our bedroom. Now, for those of you that don't know this, since we moved into this house 4 years ago my top nightstand drawer has never closed. The design flaw of these nightstands is that the drawers don't come out and the nightstand itself is just a solid box so if you are messy and happen to drop an unknown object back behind the top drawer, it will no longer shut all the way. Well, I was on a mission to get that drawer to shut! I was also super curious to see what had been hanging out back there for the past 4 years too! Tyler was going to be so happy with me when he came home to see that my drawer was shut all the way! It was going to be monumental! I shoved my hand and arm back in there and retrieved about 15 pictures from when Tanner was just a week old and then I got my hand on the culprit.......a plastic bowl. I didn't know what color it was, if it had any characters on it, or best of all, if it had food in it! As I tried to remove my hand and arm and bowl I realized I was stuck. Oh shoot! I had been so pleased with myself about 15 minutes prior to this incident. I put both the boys upstairs with a bowl of popcorn and a movie on for some quiet time and Hadley was napping in her crib. That NEVER happens all at the same time! I usually have at least one child up and needing something. So, I am stuck in the nightstand and the phone is not in the cradle on the nightstand where it usually is and I can hear my cell phone receiving a text message from in the laundry room. Oh shoot! I tried to yell up to the boys and I got no response. I tried again-Carter yelled back down "I is good!", not what I was hoping for. I yelled again, this time with no response. So, back to my hand. It kind of hurt, I tired and tried to get it out. I was watching the clock and I had now been stuck for 20 minutes when I finally freed my hand and arm by wrenching it out. The bowl was orange and it had a lion on it and 3 Cheerios in it. I threw it away and guess what, my top drawer shuts all the way for the first time ! My wrist hurt, but the pain seemed to go away later in the evening and I forgot about the incident. I forgot about it until this morning when I woke up. It really hurts today!!! Which is why I am not packing and cleaning like I should be, I am updating the blog and waiting for the Tylenol to kick in! I am keeping my cell phone on my body at all times just in case I get stuck somewhere again.........listen for your phone........it might be me calling you to help me get unstuck!

Thanksgiving Weekend Festivities

We had a terrific 4 days of Thanksgiving Festivities! We spent Thanksgiving day (of course I forgot my camera) with family. First we went over to Tyler's parents house and had a fabulous early dinner with all of his family. Tanner and Carter played with cousin Caden and had an absolute ball! The 3 boys play so well together, it just warms my heart! While that was going on, the men were watching football and the girls played Quarters around the table. It was so nice and relaxing! After that, we headed over to my moms house for dinner, more football and more playing! We have so much to be thankful for!

Friday, Tyler, the kids, and I had a relaxing morning in the house and then headed out to brave the crowds! We went downtown and had lunch at the Ram and then hit a few stores to price out items we would like for our new house. It was a great afternoon! That night was the BSU game and little did I imagine I would actually stay up to watch the game in its entirety but I did! It was a nail biter!

Saturday we woke up bright and early to head downtown again for the Christmas Parade! It was snowing and freezing! Hadley and I made it for about 15 minutes and then went back to the car to wait for the boys to finish watching the parade. They joined us about 30 minutes later. We didn't make it to the end of the parade to see Santa due to the weather and having to go potty! Who knew how much little boys would love to go potty in the snow! Its a whole lot of fun and excitement, let me tell ya! We came home for a bit and then headed out to Costco for a TV. I feel like we are always buying TV's but that is another story for another day! With hot dogs in hand, we walked the TV aisles until we decided on the perfect TV. I love Costco. We headed home for a little bit of quiet time and then we picked up Mimi and were off to the Festival of Trees for dinner and Santa!

Tanner and Carter watching the parade go by.

On the way home from the parade, the boys got really tired and the car was nice and quiet!

Festival of Trees with Santa! Carter ran right up to Santa and told him he wanted a monster truck! It was so cute! Tanner was full of information for Santa, some which applied and some which did not apply! This was Hadley's first Santa experience and there were no tears! Christmas will be pretty magical this year as Tanner really knows what is going on and Carter is following his lead and getting into the season as well!

Sunday, Hadley got baptised! We met up with family and friends at church for the occasion! She wore a dress that my Grandma made for my sister Cammie when she was baptised at about the same age as Hadley. That was so special! Maybe someday Cammie will have a little girl who can wear that dress, and maybe someday ( a really really loooooooooong time from now) Hadley will have a little girl who will wear that dress too! We all headed over to Mimi's house after church for brunch which was so much fun! After brunch, we headed out to the train depot for some pictures! The elevator at the depot was open and running and the kids got to go up and take in the view of the city! They loved it!

Hadley and Pastor Phil

Hadley being baptised!



Hadley and Mommy

Cutie Hadley-Roo! We love you so much!!


Hadley and Mommy!

A sneak peak at Mom's Christmas card picture! Here's the crazy gang!

10 Year Anniversary!

We kicked off the Thanksgiving weekend Wednesday night with little celebration for our 10 year anniversary! We went to dinner and a movie, just the 2 of us! It was wonderful! So much has happened in the past 10 years; lots of trials and tribulations, 3 kids, 7 different vehicles, and topping it all off we are moving into our 4th home today. Its been a whirlwind of fun! When I look back at our wedding picture, I can't believe how my love for Tyler has grown. I love him so much more now than I did that day. Marriage is such a leap of faith and I am so happy I took that leap with Tyler! We are tackling life together and I couldn't have asked for a better man to share my life with! I am so excited for many more years to come!

Anytime, Any Place..........

I'm sure you have heard that phrase a hundred times in sports. Coaches seem to use it frequently meaning they will play any other team anytime and any place, and win (hopefully). Our family is big college football fans and so the phrase gets tossed around a lot around here!

Every time I hear it, I think of my parents. Anytime, Any Place, and about ANYTHING. Seriously, anything. It can be the dead middle of the night, or on a sunny day, they can be at home, work, in the car, or on vacation, and it can be about something ranging from totally awesome, to earth shatteringly horrific. The amazing thing is, they listen with love and do not judge. Then they do something even more amazing, they help, all this happens with total and complete love and compassion.

I took this for granted growing up, I know I did, I just expected them to be there for me all the time, and they were, without hesitation. I don't really know why, but I assumed that when Cammie and I grew up and were out of the house and married, that maybe the love for us as their children would be less or much different, but it's not. They seem to love us even more as adults and love our husbands and children too! Its wonderful! Now, even with a family of my own, I need them just as much, maybe even more, and now there are more of us that they have to be prepared to have an "any time, any place, and about anything" conversation with. I kind of think they even want too as well! It is the most comforting and safe feeling in the world to know that we have these wise loving people who have experienced lots of the same things we experience to turn to about anything and they show love and compassion. I don't know how they do it!

When I talk with my Dad he just breezes through everything with such grace and simplifies things which is always a weight off my shoulders. My mom is such a strong woman and has an amazing gift of being able to fix things. She makes me laugh when I am done "filling her in on something" and she takes a deep breath and then her mind goes to work on "fixing"! The deep breath she takes she probably doesn't even know she does it, it is just another way that makes me feel safe, and having her as another person to confide in feels great.

When Tanner was born, I finally understood the love that a parent has for a child. I wondered how I could have enough for more children. We do have enough love, more than enough, because we now have 3 of our own to love and worry about. Luckily, that love never fades away, it just grows and gets stronger. I can only hope that Tyler and I can be that same type of open, loving, anytime, any place and about anything parents for our 3 kids. If they wrote a book, not only would I buy it, but I would actually read it!



Thanks so much Mom and Dad for being such wonderful parents and grandparents. You both are truly wonderful role models for me!

Happy Birthday Chris!

Chris turned 28 and we went to dinner at Epi's! Fun times and great food! Chris didn't know where he was going to dinner and he also didn't know we wold be there! It was a surprise!

Chris and Cammie as they walked in to Epi's! Cammie looks more shocked than Chris does!

Chris, Grandma, Me, Tyler, Mom and Cammie. Hadley was either in her little car seat or being carried around by Chris.

At no other restaurant will the owner carry around my baby while we eat! Chris held and cuddled Hadley and gave me the chance to eat and enjoy my family! Hadley had the best time walking around the restaurant, going in and out of the kitchen, and visiting with the other guests!

Chris and Cam!

Hadley, Tyler and Ashley!

Mom and Hadley!

Epi Chris with the Birthday Boy, Chris!

Mom, Hadley and Cammie!

Chris and his delicious birthday cake!

...............Make a wish!

Grandma, Hadley, Cammie and Ashley

A New Breath

This is a reblog from a friend, who simply put, hits the nail on the head. Thank you April!


"She's turning her life into something sacred:
Each breath a new breath.
Each moment, a new chance.
She bows her head, gathers her dreams from a pure,
deep stream and
stretches her arms
towards the sky."
-Monique Duval

Setting out to begin a blog came with the greatest of intentions to "be true" in what I spoke about, the person I am. I've managed to keep the intention yet have always felt a sense of hesitancy to share it 100% for fear that it might be perceived as "dull" or slightly "self-absorbed". This hesitancy got the best of me these past few weeks. Sitting down to write a post left me without words. Yes, I love to share quotes but I also love to share my thoughts and observations of my life and my passions.

You know I love books. But, you don't know to what degree or about the path of self-education I am currently traveling on.

April 2010. I made a promise to myself relating to my physical well being that I have not spoken of. It's a promise that has changed my life in ways I never imagined.

These are just a few of my personal aspirations that have been kept snuggled inside my heart wanting so badly to be set free and shared.

"Be faithful to that which exists nowhere but in yourself." -Andre Gide

Yesterday I sent a quote out into the world. A very special quote that needed to be sent out. A reminder to myself. An urging to let the world know me as I am. A setting free of those aspirations and passions I've guarded closely to my heart. Letting go of the fear of being judged or thought of in a certain way. Once I recognized (or remembered) my initial intent for creating this little blog as a way to record my journey and that it only mattered how I perceived it, was I able to let the concern of being judged go.

Just thinking about a few blog posts I've wanted to share and now will makes me giddy with joy. Gone is the hesitancy. You can take me or leave me in all my funny little imperfections and quirkiness.

"Your own words are the bricks and mortar of the dreams
you want to realize.
Behind every word flows energy."
-Sonia Choquette

So, my friends, I am so very excited to share my dreams with you, my passions, my journey. All the things that bring such harmony and grace and energy to my life.

Me.

The Best Pumpkin Seeds. Period. Ever.

Compliments of my friend Lisa........these are the absolute yummiest!

2 cups raw pumpkin seeds
1 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 TBSP. butter, melted
1 1/4 tsp. seasoned salt

Preheat oven to 250

Rinse seeds, pat dry. Add sauce, butter, and salt in a bowl. Add seeds and stir until evenly coated. Spread in an even layer on a baking sheet.

Bake 1 hour, stirring occasionally, until crisp, dry, and toasted brown.

Tired Little Sissy

Sissy gets so tired sometimes while she is playing that she just falls asleep in her exersaucer. I was in the kitchen getting dinner ready, the boys were playing on the computer, and she was playing in the exersaucer right by them because she wants to be involved in the action as well! I thought I heard snoring and couldn't figure out where it was coming from. I realized that it was her and thought it was hilarious! With 2 wild big brothers, she can sleep anytime anywhere! If you turn up the volume, you can really hear her snoring away!

Halloween Hysteria!

This Halloween rolled around very quickly as we had just gotten back from a week in Mammoth! I really love Halloween and had actually forgotten it was Sunday night! Nothing was going to stop me from taking the kids out however! We were actually supposed to meet some friends at Reflections Church for their Halloween festival and then head on down to Harrison Blvd to meet up with more friends at their party. Next year. That would have been a bit ambitious after a 10 hour drive! This year we just stayed home and trick or treated in our neighborhood which turned out to be really impressive! Thank goodness my mom reminded me and we were able to have Mom and Cammie over for dinner and then some Trick-or Treating! Saguaro Canyon really put on a show this year! Tanner and I were game to go out and really canvas the neighborhood, we had to rope everyone else in! Especially Carter. He was in no mood to go out, he was exhausted, but he pulled through for candy! It was hilarious hysteria with the two boys, let me tell you! Of course, I am right along with them pushing them! It was so much fun! Tanner was running from house to house while Carter preferred to have Cammie push him in the stroller! Hadley was just along for the ride and I can only imagine her trying to keep up with her big brothers next year! We had a blast and trick or treated until it was too dark and cold to do it anymore!

Tanner, Carter and Daddy at the Haunted House down the street!

Tanner running away yelling "I got some good candy for you Daddy!" It cracked me up, especially since I was more the instigator! I love candy!!

Cammie pushing Carter!

Trick-or-Treat!
Mimi and Hadley

Tanner with our favorite neighbor boys Talon and Jaxon!

Tanner AKA Spidee making a web!

Carter the Spiderman! The pink sippy cup really adds to the costume!

Mammoth Lakes, CA

We just got back from a wonderful week in Mammoth Lakes, CA. We met up with my Dad, his wife Sue and her daughter Stacy, husband Gabriel, and their two boys Gabriel and Noah. We had so much fun together! We stayed half of our trip at The Village and the other half at Snowcreek. We talked, laughed, cried, ate, went on hikes, ate, relaxed, woke up to snow one morning, and thoroughly enjoyed each other! Did I mention we ate?

The snow was a treat! I know Tyler and Tanner were ready to go skiing. The mountain was open last year on October 13th so we kind of thought that maybe just maybe a storm would come in for us and make skiing possible, but not this time!

It had been about 5 years since the last time we had been to Mammoth. I had really forgotten the total grandeur and beauty of Mammoth. The vivid colors, the amazing smells, the familiar places that bring back so many great memories of my childhood, and the absolute huge Mountain that is and can only be Mammoth. We need to go back more often.

This was the first time we had met Stacy and Gabriel and their kids. We LOVE them ! They are just great and I am so blessed to have them as part of my family! The little cousins all played wonderfully together! I'm not going to totally omit any tantrums or little squabbles that came along with the trip....they were there too, but the kids just loved each other as well! We all have so much in common with each other. I feel lucky to have gained another sister who stays home with her two little boys as well who I can bounce ideas off of and also just vent when the days get rough!!

I took way too many pictures and posted way too many as well! We can't wait to go back again soon Enjoy!

Tanner with a snowball the morning we woke up to snow!

Noah and Gabriel with Hadley. I think they need a sister!

Hadley "the body" Compton

Noah, Tanner and Gabriel

Sue and Dad at Lake George

Carter. He's having a melt down! No trip is ever complete without meltdowns!

Tanner and the "cute little baby tree!"

One of the Twin Lakes

Dad and Carter

Dad and Hadley during nap time!

The toy that occupied the boys the most! They had a ball with this!

Tanner and Carter

Tanner and Carter

Dad and Sissy after a hike!

Gabriel, Tanner, Noah and Carter after our hike to Devils Post Pile!

Tanner and Carter with their rocks!

Carter, Grandpa and Tanner sitting on a tree bench!

Sue skipping with the big boys!

Me, Hadley, Dad and Stacy

Tanner, Dad, Tyler and Carter

The awesome Devils Post Pile!

Tyler, Carter, Ashley, Hadley, Tanner, Stacy, Gabriel, Gabriel and Noah

Carter, Noah, Gabriel and Tanner

Hadley having a bath in the kitchen sink!

Dad and Sue cooking up a storm!

Tanner and Carter

Captain Awesome!

Carter along with high jumping Tanner!

Tanner and Carter

Another beautiful spot in Mammoth!

Carter and Tanner at Twin Lakes

Snow on Chrystal Crag

Hadley! She is such a chunky monkey!

Hadley snoozing with Grandpa! Something she loved to do!

Stacy and Sue!

Gabriel, Tanner, Carter and Noah playing games!

The 3 flags by "The Mammoth". I thought they looked so beautiful against the crisp blue sky!

Tanner and Carter with "The Mammoth"! I have about 28 years worth of pictures with Cammie and I by "The Mammoth". It was so much fun to put my boys up against it and take their picture! It brought a tear to my eye! Hadley would have joined in but she can't sit up yet! It will be really fun when Cammie and Chris have kids who can also join in "The Mammoth" picture!

Tyler and I at Lake Mary. 10 years ago in August he proposed to me right in this very spot! It was so much fun to come back! Can't believe it will be 10 years of marriage this November. It has gone by so fast and I love him more and more every day!