Best Wishes in the NEW YEAR

2008 - Highlights

-Healthy Pregnancy
-Trip to Idaho/Utah with Trent & Robin
-Trip to Las Vegas with Melissa & Gregg
-Lake Powell Reunion
-New Baby Weston
-New Job/Business
-Trip to Utah for Powell Family
-Ashlyn turned TWO
-Visit from my Sisters Family

They must have been good kids

This is my favorite Santa of all time

He made a special visit to see the grand kids at my parents house! They felt pretty special that Santa came to see ONLY them.

Mustache Bash 2008

We attended the 1st annual Mustache Bash and it was hilarious, it was put on by Brock Frost and Bryan Holladay! The men were to grow out mustaches (Blake couldn't because of church) and the girls were to have a "throw back" hair style... of course the dress code was ugly Christmas Sweaters... We loved it

Matt, Monica, Gregg, Melissa and Andrea

Gregg and Melissa, Andrea and Blake

Melanie and Brock(hosts)

Melissa and Gregg

Blake and Andrea
I crimped my hair (yes I still own a crimper, I knew it would come in handy)

We did a white elephant gift exchange and I took some dress up stuff from a couple for Ashlyn! we had so much fun and appreciate all the time planning.

Playtopia

I think this is the best park I've ever been too, (besides an awesome one made out of ALL wood in Washington by my aunts house)! This park is almost all covered and it's huge, the kids had a blast and there were toys for every age... My sister and her family have been in town for the holidays and so we've been keeping busy - we thought we'd try out this park and I'm sure I will be returning. It has 3 sections, Farm Land, Critter Land and City Land...

City Land, kids can bring there bikes or scooters and ride around the little town!

(Above)Farm Land has all kinds of slides, this one is a 3 lane one and my three nephews road all together. Aidan, Adley and Eli (he's not even 2 yet and he's fearless)

Eli and Ashlyn

More of Farm Land, it's huge

Ashlyn driving the school bus

Ashlyn and Eli in Critter Land, you can crawl in an egg shell or turtle shell and dig in the sand to find dinosaur bones... so fun!

They have so much stuff kid size, like these picnic tables - we brought our own lunch!!
We love Playtopia

Birthday Parties

This is on Ashlyn's actual birthday and she loved telling everyone at church that she was 2!
I know I do hair and my daughters hair is in her face, but I'm trying to grow her bangs out and clips slide out or she pulls them out in seconds so just forgive me!

Our Little Lovely

Today we celebrate
ASHLYN CARMA POWELL
She was born exactly 2 years ago today and it was neat to sit and watch her birth video (nothing graphic I promise) and see how she has grown and changed so much, we had NO idea she was going to be so much fun and bring so much love and joy to our home! We feel so blessed to have her in our family and love her to pieces!

Quote of the day

Me: "Ashlyn that's you on t.v" (while watching her on video at about 3 months old)

Ashlyn: "No that's not me, I'm right here mommy"

We love you so much Ashlyn, Happy Birthday




Ashlyn Dec. 2006


Ashlyn Dec. 2007

Ashlyn Dec. 2008

~A New Trend~

Our cute little 1 year old (not 2 until Sunday) has set a new trend and went accident free once again, I actually got out of the house today and went to my moms after sitting in the house for 3 days training her! She didn't seem to mind a new environment to go potty in. I apologize that my posts are ALL about "the potty" but when it's pretty much all I've done this week and it seems to be working i tend to be a bit excited - besides it's about $50 a month in savings, what could be better! This photo is from our Thanksgiving trip, she loves her Papa Wes...

Third Day's a "CHARM"

I have three words...


NO ACCIDENTS TODAY



I guess there's hope

Another Day Another Update

Today was a bit more frustrating than yesterday, Ashlyn seemed to act like it was more of a game than anything else. She had a bit of an opposite day compared to yesterday - she had more trouble going pee today and did pretty well going poo in the potty... 1 pee pee, 3 poops and 5 accidents! maybe tomorrow she'll get the hang of both bodily functions and make our lives a little less stressful. (not likely) She is going to have her 2nd birthday this Sunday and I'm hoping we get the majority of the accidents out of the way by then. I'm SO looking forward to only 1 child in diapers - but I know I still have a long road ahead of me getting Ashlyn to understand this potty training stuff. Wish me Luck and enjoy a few photos of her birthday celebration with the Powell family a little early(I made the tinkerbell cake with the help of my mother, thx mom)

Potty Training Update

Well today was DAY 1 and it hasn't been terrible...it took a little time to get her excited about the whole idea! Anyway she did better than I expected and I hope tomorrow is better. She went in the potty about 5 times and had 6 pee accidents, she didn't go poo but I think she had to because she asked me to put her diaper on a few times. Of course I said no (I'm not going back) and she must have just held it or something. She loved putting stickers on her Potty Chart and getting a special treat (Orange Tic Tacs). I'll update tomorrow and hopefully I'll have better results, but I've heard the 2nd and 3rd days seem the hardest. let 's just say it was a LONG day for me!

little man - 4 month stats

totally laughs out loud
rolls belly to back & back to belly
smiles all day long
great sleeper(loves tummy)
likes propping himself up on his elbows
grabs at all toys
talks great "baby talk"
loves his "paci"
takes bottles when needed
chews on fingers
has blue/green eyes
red hair like his big sister
has a nickle size birth mark on his left bicep

We love you Weston Blake

Turkey Trip

This is how our Thanksgiving morning started, with a 6 AM flight to Utah and yes we woke up at 4 AM to make it on time... Ashlyn hasn't been on a plane since she was 8 months and thought she was such a big girl sitting in her own chair (we didn't have to pay for her or Weston, Ashlyn turns 2 in 2 weeks)!

We stayed at a Lodge in Aspen Groves out Provo Canyon and it was beautiful, thanks to Blake's uncle Mark for taking care of all the details and planning!

They had games, magic shows, music with chimes, dancing, and of course Ashlyn has her tongue out while dancing... I had to throw in a picture of her fun hair I did!

Weston is just under 4 months and as smiley as EVER! He did great on the trip and loved getting so much attention

**Friday Blake and his brothers and sister and there kids went skiing up at Snowbird and had a bunch of fun, during that day I went shopping with 2 sis in laws, Blake's mom and aunt LeAnn at the Park City Outlets***

Above= Kim, Dan, Deret and Tristen
Below= Trent, Charlotte and Tucker

We all took a hike up Mt. Timpanogos to the water fall and it was a nice/tiring walk (especially with a baby on the front of you and a toddler on your shoulders)

Yay we are on our way down and it's SO much easier...

He got the best ride, he slept the WHOLE time except for pictures at the top when I stopped moving for 5 minutes!

I loved seeing these wild berries

We saw about 3 of these hornets nests

And close to the bottom Blake's mom and sister Kim pointed out this MOOSE about 50 yards away, so beautiful huh! (it's a view from the backside)

After the moose gazing we headed to the bottom of the Mtn.

Our little Ashlyn loved playing with Grandma Terrie's glasses waiting for our plane to go home

**This holiday season we are so grateful for amazing family and friends, near and far! We appreciate your friendships and love. We are also VERY grateful for our knowledge of the gospel and the huge part it plays in our lives... Happy Holidays**