2013

Recap of 2013

This is hands down one of my favorite pictures from this past year. 

Live: Alpine, Utah
Drive: BMW, and a Mazda6 (yes we got a new car AGAIN, it was an early anniversary present... more to come on that later). 
Work: Blue Lemon for Jen and then not Blue Lemon for Jen. Spring mobile for Jason and IHC working as an EMT up at Snowbird.

School: BYU for Jase half the year, then GRADUATION!
Church Callings: Jason got called to the Elders Qurom Presidency and is now serving as secretary.  Jen is still on the RS Activity Committee and also taught the 7 turning 8 year olds.
Pets: One goldfish.  Ash also thinks he is either a dog or a cat 50% of the time. 
Traveled to: Hawaii for Mom and Dad, Park City trip for all of us, plus another Park City trip just for grown ups.  As well as a big family trip to Florida.
Highlights/Big Events: Traveling firsts, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the beach! Playdates with friends.  Graduation, completing and passing the MCAT, Med School acceptance(s).  Lots of biking.  Moving on to new adventures and being able to stay at home with Ashton all day every day.

Sent Stephanie off on her Mission.  Aunt Stephy was easily Ashton's favorite, she will be missed but Georgia is lucky to have her.

Lost Grandpa Joseph Beckstrand, who is now reunited with his love in the eternities.  He was not only a war hero and POW captured at Battle of the Bulge, but from everything I have heard he was a real world hero of a man that we are honored to be related to.  It was one of the most memorable and inspiring funerals I have ever attended.

Last Years Goals: "Play harder, laugh more, make it to the Temple, find time for each other even with our busy school/work schedules, try and drive the same cars all year long, take the MCAT, graduation, hug Ashton till he just can't take it anymore."

Well we definitely played harder, having a mobile child the whole year sure makes that more possible and fun! Ashton makes us laugh daily, sometimes I cry I laugh so hard with him.  He has the greatest laugh and cracks up any time I think somethings funny, which just makes me laugh harder.  We were able to attend the temple more, but not as often as we should/need to.  Going through the Temple with Stephanie this past year was a great experience as well as attending Alex's sealing for her wedding.  We almost made it with the same cars the whole year... so close! We can definitely cross off the MCAT and graduation and hugging Ashton.

Goals for 2014: Attend the temple more will probably always be a goal, I guess it is never wrong to want to go more.  Seek the spirit more often, church often turns into a blur with Ash, but now that he is in Nursery I'm finding more peace and light through even the littlest moments in primary.  I want to stay caught up on this blog and write more personally.  Not because I think anyone out there cares, but because I want to remember my thoughts and feelings and be able to look back on the moments that created our family.  Live in the moment.  I'm a planner, and tend to plan far in advance and forget about the now.  I want to remember the NOW, and live in the moment and cherish the days, hours, minutes, and seconds, with Ashton. 

2014 is a big year for us.  We are headed to Texas for the start of Med School.  A new chapter in our lives.  We are also welcoming baby number 2. 

 Little Brother is due April 26th!  

Fathers and Sons

Ashton went to his first fathers and sons campout with Jason and Grandpa Beckstrand this summer.  I was pretty skeptical on how well it was going to go, but apparently the kid had a blast, till it was time to go to bed and Jason ended up bringing him home at 1 in the morning.  Good try buddy, better luck next year.

As blessings would have it

Ashton and I started off our sunny day heading to South Jordan to find him a super handsome Easter outfit.  He was a super star shopper today.  We went to Jamba Juice for lunch and sat out side in the sun.  We were heading home completely happy and satisfied.  I looked back in the rear view mirror to see this.

 I thought, Today is perfect. This is one of those days that makes me want to quit my job and spend every second with this boy.

Coming around point of the mountain I heard the funny noise, I blamed it on another car at first.  But once we were getting off on our exit I quickly realized it was my car, and my tire, that was completely flat.  We made it off the freeway and pulled over on Timpanogos Highway.  Not the best place, but better than the freeway.  Jason was in Provo at school, I had a flat tire, and a sleeping baby who was bound to wake up any second.  After my mini panic attack everything started falling into place.  

I called my friend Casey who just happened to be up the road getting lunch.  He came to save the day.  Ashton slept almost the entire time, which is a miracle right there.  Jason had called a head to a tire place a few miles away and told them we would be coming and arranged for the right tires.  We started up the highway, but couldn't get going past 30 mph.  My traction control kept coming on and then the great Prius decided to just shut right down.  We didn't even make it half a mile. 

 Long story short, the Prius is lame, if the tire goes out in the front, you are suppose to switch it with a back tire and put the spare on the back, otherwise it trips the traction control and shuts you down.  

Casey had to be to school, we couldn't get the car started again even if he had time to switch the tires.  I called my visiting teacher, Natalie, who came and picked Ashton up off the side of the road, while Jason arranged for a tow truck.  By the time I picked Ashton back up it had been over a four hour ordeal.  Great day turned crapy right?  I was annoyed but as I was sitting at the tire shop I started seeing all of the amazing blessings.  

One, Ashton slept most the time. 

Two, Casey and Natalie coming to help us and them even being available.  

Three, that I didn't have any appointments at work that day (something that rarely happens).  

Four, Jason happened to be on a break at school when we first got the flat tire, otherwise we would have never been able to get a hold of him.  

Five, as we were driving home from picking Ashton up, I was a little emotionally exhausted and starving.  I thought in my mind "I just really wish someone would bring me dinner tonight".  Ten minutes later we were outside putting the car back together when Jaimie, (the people we live with) came outside with dinner for us.  I couldn't believe it.  Someones in tune with the spirit. 

This is another me post.  A post to help me remember that even with the littlest of things.  God is always watching me and making sure I'm taken care of.  Feeling so loved by him and his angels today.

2012 according to Instagram

2012 couldn't have been much better.  

We saw so many changes and experienced so many firsts with our little man.  

Every day was a new adventure.  

Since this blog has turned more into a journal/scrapbook than anything else and most of my memories are on Instagram now, these are the photos that I just don't want to forget.

Like smiles.

The best baby eyes ever,

and baby toes.

We went to a few BYU games.

(9 months)

Worked on our muscles

so we could show them off at Seven Peaks.

(7 months)

Had the best cuddles. 

Helped Dad with homework projects

and helped Aislinn, Alex, Annalise, and Mom at work LOTS.

We played with puppies

(9 months)

and a few more of Ashton's favorite things.

Ashton loves snuggling all things soft but he loves driving and playing in cars even more.

Getting to eat solids was a pretty exciting thing this past year,

(7 months)

anything end everything from straight onions to spaghetti, to raspberries, to donuts, he loved it all.

We walked for a cure with CureSearch again, go team Super Skyler!

(10 months)

Got a new car seat

(7.5 months)

and learned about computers, teeth brushing, cooking, and some light reading.  

Adventured with Mom to California

(5.5 months)

and to Idaho for a family reunion.

Had an amazing Baby Blessing.

(3 Months)

The best Halloween

(11 months)

and a perfect Birthday.

Recap of 2012
Live: Alpine, Utah
Drive: BMW, and a Prius (yes we got a new car, and yes I miss the Maxima, and yes we now drive a Prius, check out our gas mileage and you won't make fun of us).
Work: Blue Lemon for Jen
School: BYU for Jase
Church Callings: 12 year old Sunday School teachers and RS Activity Committee
Travelled to: Canada for Jason, California for Ashton and Mom, Idaho a few times for all, Las Vegas for Jen and Jason, and St. George for all.
Highlights: Baby firsts, swimming, baby laughs, Band of Horses, the zoo, Real games, playing, crawling, walking, all things Ashton.
Goals for 2013: Play harder, laugh more, make it to the Temple, find time for each other even with our busy school/work schedules, try and drive the same cars all year long, take the MCAT, graduation, hug Ashton till he just can't take it anymore.

My favorite Insta pictures of 2012 that haven't made it onto other posts:

 (5 months)

 (3.5 months)

( 9.5 months)

(4 months)

(11 months)

(4.5 months)

Oh the many faces of Ashton Jay

Easter Firsts

This kid got spoiled! Which makes me feel spoiled, funny how gifts for him feel like gifts for me too. 

We had a great Easter this year.  We teach the 12-13 year olds Sunday School class, we did an Easter egg hunt with them and some of the eggs had scriptures telling the story of the Resurrection.  I don't know that I have ever really read the different stories in Luke, Matthew, and Mark.  I loved putting this lesson together, and learning more about the Savior and his atoning sacrifice for us, I probably got more out of it than they did.  Having Ashton in my life makes me even more grateful for the Atonement and for the blessings and opportunity we have to live with God and Jesus again as an eternal family.

After church we headed to the Beckstrand's for Easter Lunch and an Easter egg hunt with all of Ash's little cousins.  

We spent the rest of the evening at the Snyder's for more yummy food and another egg hunt.  Ashton got so much candy which he has lovingly shared with us and a bunch of new clothes from Grandma Snyder  (which he desperately needed since he has grown out of almost everything) and some sweet shades and beach towel from Grandma Beckstrand.

We also got the Pass of all Passes from Seven Peaks!  I am slightly obsessed and cannot wait to take my little dude swimming!

4 month stats:

Length: 26.75"

Weight: 16 lbs. 13 oz.

We are not even on the premature baby charts anymore, he is actually in the 95th percentile for length on the normal baby charts. Tall baby! But he is only in the 12th percentile for head circumference.  Big kid, with a little head I guess. 

Blessing Day

March 3, 2012

Dear Ashton,

Today you were blessed by your Dad, it was a perfect blessing and a perfect day.  I've been looking forward to this day long before you were even born.  Every time there was a baby blessing I would get so excited with the thought of Jason holding and blessing you.  Such a special moment for you and him, and for me.  

You looked so cute in your blessing outfit, even though your shirt was too big and your pants were to small (they were the same pants your Daddy was blessed in, we couldn't squeeze you into the same shirt though). 

We were able to do it on a Saturday, at our church building, so it was just our family and friends.   So many people drove so far to come and be a part of your special day.  

You had a lot of amazing men stand in the circle with their hands on your head.  Your Grandpa Snyder and  Beckstrand, your Great Grandpa Morehead, Millward, and Beckstrand, Uncle Todd, Jayden, Eric, and Tom, and your Dad's good friend Brent.  I want you to know that all of these men are good and caring and they all love you and I hope you can gain qualities, and have the opportunity to learn, from all of them.  

We had several generations with us, you are a lucky boy to be spoiled by so many Grandparents!

We had lunch afterwards, with yummy Blue Lemon BBQ Brisket, and lots of yummy treats that everyone brought for you.  I wanted to do something special for you so we had a wishing tree for people to write their hopes and wishes for you on.  I hope you will take the time to read your stars someday, and that you will remember how special you are and that so many people love you and want you to be happy and succeed in life.

Your Dad gave you such a beautiful blessing.  Ashton, remember that you are a Child of God and that he loves you.  Remember to love the scriptures, to set an example in all you do, to marry in the temple, and to have a sense of humor. 

Remember that your parents love you so much and most importantly remember that your Heavenly Father loves you, and while this is just one of many blessings you will receive in your life, remember that each one is special, a little love letter from your Heavenly Father just for you.

I love you with all my heart and I am so proud of you,

-Mom