Random Reminiscing…

One of my favorite pastimes is looking through old scrapbooks and rememebing Matt and I in our dating days, or the children as new borns. Just wanted to share some of my favorites… especially for those who did not know our family when we were younger.


Me and my sister Tera-

This picture was taken when I lived in Lake Elsinore as a four-year old- the same age Ashton is- I also partcipated in Joy School- what are the odds?Matt when we started "going out" (secretly) I was fourteen- and yes, my hair is a little orange-our group of LDS friends- oh, the memories of stake dances with this bunch- what good times! We are all still in touch-Randy (still one of Matts best friends) Jeff (Matts brother), Ashely (one of my best friends), Matt and I and Will (hiding underneath) Highschool graduation- Lindsey, me, Liz and Kayla. Kayla has been my friend since Kindergarten. And if you think she looks like a model- its because she is!
The college days- going to club retrix, or whatever it was called at that time- I do miss dancing!Matt and I were engaged three months after he returned from his mission-We were married one month later- it as a quick engagement. Thank goodness, because I think we almost called it off three times. It wasn't the best engagmenet, but it made our first year of marraige, which some claim is the hardest, ( I disagree) a peice of cake!
My highschool girlfriends at our receptionFourteen months after we were married- little Ashton entered our lives- with a lot of personality and a lot of hair!Ashton- three months old- people called him "Spike"I graduated from BYU Idaho with my teaching credential when I was five months pregant wtih Tera- I was so happy to be done!Then- our little Tera was born.... such a good babyShe grew and grew- until she looked like this- we called her "sumo- baby" (lovingly of course)

Soon Matt graduated and we moved to Corona, CA where Matt was offered a job at Centex. Matt worked with Scott and Michelle and I became great friends and also great neighbors- I feel blessed for that period of our lives and living so close to such great people.A year later we bought our first home in Lake Elsinore- and we love it! We love our ward and the people we have met here. Matt also got laid off and found a new job- he is attending training meetings right now, which is why I don't feel guilty at all spending all this time on my blog!

And now you know our life story! Don't you feel all the better for it??

Nana and Ashton playing tag at Hermosa beach-
Tera all bundled up- it was a cold day at the beach. Tera loved to sit on the bench on the pier and watch the waves come in. Whenever we would tell her it was time to go she would say "one more." She has always loved the beach- it runs in the family!Ashton- a future photographer?? Ashton asked if he could take a picture so we let him and were impressed with his abilities- we will hire him out if you are interested!

IS NANA HERE YET?
I made the mistake of telling Ashton that his Nana was coming- two days before the actual day she arrived. So, for two days Ashton could often be found at this window waiting for his Nana. He made a list of things he wanted to do when she arrived. The list included- play tag, walk on the bridge, feed the ducks, check the mail, play with the kitty (aka Cleo) and go to the pizza place.He loves his Grandma! When we dropped her off at the airport he sulked and if Tera or I tried to make him happy he would say, "I don't want to be happy right now- I just miss my Nana." That night when I tucked him in bed I asked if he missed his Grandma and he said "yes, she is my best friend." I love to watch them play together!
Ashtons great grandma bought him a big boy spiderman bike. Ashton has went on a ride every day since and is loving it. He looks so big riding down the street!
The Joy of Joy School...
Ashton and Jared- usually the wild ones-
Today was officially the last day of Joy School at my house- what an adventure it has been. I have so much more respect for those who work and teach preschool daily-(way to go Melissa) it is draining to me with just the three boys once every three weeks! It has been fun to watch the boys learn (but mostly wrestle) and through this expereince I have learned that Ashton will probably not start kindergarden until next year. He would barley meet the cut off date for this year, but I am thinking it might be kind for his potential teacher to try to teach him a bit more self control before sticking him in the school system. At this point he would probably end up in the principles office for kicking his teacher and telling him or her that he did not like them and they were not his friend. What can I say? We are doing a great job as parents!!

Blogger in need of help!

So- I thought that I had learnd how to post multiple small pics. next to eachother- but instead, it looks like this.... if any one knows how to get the smaller pics next to eachtoher instead of so spread out- i would be much obliged- apprarently I am not very tech-savy!

Home, Colorful Home

Since we moved in a year ago we have managed to paint most rooms in our house (much to Matts dismay) My goal is to have no white walls- we have the bathrooms and laundry room left- wish me luck in persuading Matt- any ideas for good laundry room color?
Master bedroom..... Master bath... Dining room

Ashtons blue room- complete with new quilts made haphazardly by mom.... Teras room

Our unpainted kids bathroom- Matt assures me that I will not be copying Megans bathroom color and that this room will remnain white- perhaps it is colorful enough? The new almost done yellow/gold guest bathroom.

Our office- the place I now blog- scrapbook, etc. The kitchen- longing for an island!

We are loving our home!! It is so nice to be out of apartments and we feel so blessed! I will post pics of the outside when I get a chance- I know a lot of you have seen our home- I guess this is for all our out of town homes- now you can picture where we live- I know your lives just weren't complete until now:)

Random Things....

Sandals Jamaica--- if that made you think of the office good- that is why I am posting this picture!

I forgot to post this picture with the cruise ones- this is dedicated to all the office lovers out there. You have to look in the background- but that is a billboard for sandals Jamaica- the resort where Michael Scott and Jane went- I saw that and we just had to get a picture taken there!
Best Buddies- Ashton and Seth hung out together everyday when we lived in Rexburg, ID. It was so fun getting them back together and seeing that they still loved to play (and fight) together.

You might be a redneck if.... You look like this

Our friend Heather threw a b.day party for her hubby Seth. Y0u had to come in costume- a redneck or hick. It was fun dressing up. Matt looks for any excuse possible to wear these flag pants!

Seth and Heather- what a darling couple! (Above) Kim and Clint below- I must say we have the best looking friends-am I right?
Good morning Cuties...
I think that the sweetest sight to see is my kiddos in their PJ's sitting together on the
couch. Each morning Tera wakes us and says "downstairs." She loves to go downstairs and visit Ashton and turn on a movie. (Usually Scobby Doo) I had to take a picture to remember this precious time and these early mornings!

Merry Christmas! I tried to get rid of the red eye in this picture, and instead it looks like I accidentally created a black eye on Tera- oops! Looks like I ruined it. I better get copies of this one in sepia!
Our favorite Christmas memory- waking up to Ashton saying "Santa ate them all!" At 3:30 am. It was hard to get him to go back to sleep but we finally convinced him to lay down with us. He wiggled in our bed until he snuck out of bed and we woke up at 5:30am to discover he had already opened everyones stockings! Tera loved opening the presents and would say "ahhh..." very excitedly every time she opened something- even if it was a pack of underwear!

Cruise #2- Western Carribean- Bahamas, Cayman Island and Jamacia

The kiddos enjoying the beach in Cayman Island- it was beautiful weather!

Ashton enjoying a ride on Uncle Trevors back- a flea market in Bahamas
Tera on the short walk from the taxi to the beach- it was so green and beautiful in the Bahamas! The water was the prettiest blue water I had ever seen.

The Bahamas-- Nassau all the girls- Sierra, Me, Mom and Tera We have grass!! Hallelujah!! It was a long road- but Matt finally completed the retaining wall, sprinkler system and the sod- we are loving it!!

Cruise #1

So- this suit sorta looks like an old lady suit yea?? I got it for 6.00- so no complaints- and yes, Matt is white! Ashton is not in this pictures because this particular day he decided he hated everything- we love those days- in his defense he was suffering from two ear infections!

Our friends Scott and Michelle landed free cruise tickets on the Mexican Riveria- and pulled some strings and were able to take us and another couple along as well- although the kids and Matt got sick- we had a good time. I loved the break from cooking and cleaning- we actually just returned from another cruise to the Western Carribean- we are getting spoiled-

Beach

If you're lucky enough to be at the beach....
You're lucky enough.

Our friend did a photo shoot of our family at the beach for Christmas card pics- it is fun having some nice photos- I admire all the people out there who have that talent of taking amazing pics- someday I would love to take a photography class- for now we will rely on others :) We love the beach and go there any oppurtuinty we get! I feel that now I have to live somewhere near to the beach- we are still an hour away- but at least we can go any weekend our hearts desire- the kids love to play and we love to soak in the beauty that Heavenly Father has given to us on this earth...

The Sweetest Thing...

Teras' smile melt my heart...

My friend Sophia- took this picture- if you ever need a photographer in the Redding area- email her momentsbysophia@yahoo.com I thought this picture really captured Tera- and I must say that she is the cutest thing I have ever seen!! Tera is the sweetest little girl. She loves to give hugs and kisses and tell us that she loves us "this much" She is starting to talk a lot and it is fun. The other day she was running around the house without a diaper and I encountered a puddle on our kitchen floor- nice image right? I said, "Tera did you pee on the floor?" She said, "Yes- I get a napkin." She ran to the bathroom and grabbed and single square of toilet paper that she thought would be sufficient for cleaning up her her mess. She is fun!

I love this little boy- he makes me laugh all the time. I am so glad I get to stay at home with my kids. Matt has been out of town the last few weeks, he just got a job that he is training for and the kids really missed him. One night when I was tucking Ashton in he asked if we could "hop int the car and go get dad." I told him Dad had to work and Ashton said, "to get money?" I told him yes but that he would be home soon. Ashton said, "I could give Dad all the money in my piggy bank so he could come home." What a sweet boy we have! I am the first to admit he is wild and often times out of control- but when it boils down to it- he is such a sweetheart!!