Love

What's not to love?

One Year Down, and One to Go

We love any excuse to celebrate and eat cake (who doesn’t?). But this time we really have something to celebrate—Johnny finished his first year of graduate school. We are so proud of him and all that he has accomplished. He is at the halfway mark, and we couldn't be more excited. One year down, and one to go.

Mother's Day

Being a mother is a very special calling in life. I often marvel at my two children and the fact that I get to raise and nurture them. Though not everyday is blissful and perfect—if ever—I cannot imagine a moment without my children. They bring meaning and purpose; joy and laughter; fun and excitement; zest and exuberance; but most of all, they bring love. Being a mother has brought me more than I could have ever imagined. I am truly grateful to fill the calling of a mother.

That being said, today was a very special Mother’s Day indeed—Elle sang two songs with the Primary, and she bore her testimony for the first time (we had Stake Conference last week). Having Elle bear her testimony was a very special event. She watched two girls from Primary go to the front and bear their own testimonies, and from that moment she wanted to bear her own. She kept asking/pleading with me to bear her testimony. I told her that she could, and she got excited and told me that she was going to bear it all by herself—no help from me. I then asked her what she was going to say, and she replied, “I’ll tell you in the microphone.” My mind immediately started to imagine her rambling nonsensical sentences, and I asked/pleaded to be allowed to help. She, of course, declined, and repeated again that I would find out about her testimony in the microphone. So, with a wary smile on my face, we walked to the pulpit, and I lifted Elle up. However, she did not right away say anything, so I whispered the things to say in her ear. She spoke loud and clear, and bore the sweetest testimony. I was very proud of her, and was glad to have understandable sentences.

All in all it was a wonderful Mother’s Day, and I could not be happier to have my two sweet, crazy, hyper, energetic, happy, and loving children.

Pirate Parade

What is more exciting than dressing up and attending a party with friends? Not a whole lot more according to Elle. Today, at our local Barnes and Noble Bookstore, Elle got to get dressed up as a pirate, and participate in a pirate parade with our neighbor Koen. She had so much fun donning pirate gear, and getting into the character of the costume. She had an eye patch (which, surprisingly, she wore the entire time), a pirate earring (much less painful to adorn than getting her ears pierced), pirate tattoos (she wanted to wear every single tattoo), and a sword (what’s a pirate without a sword?). When Elle woke up this morning, she carried all of her pirate gear downstairs, and then proceeded to ask me every five minutes if it was time to attend the pirate parade—what a long morning. But finally, the designated time arrived, and she was able to attend the event and have so much fun. She even won a prize for the best costume. All in all, Elle had a fun day dressing up as a pirate. But when does she not have fun dressing up?

A Day at the Zoo

One never knows what he or she will find at the zoo—it is completely unpredictable. I think that is one of the reasons we love it (that and Elle is forever dressing up as animals). The animals change daily at the zoo—no one can predict their behavior or actions from day to day. We, meaning Elle, Hudson and I, are always pleasantly surprised at what we find at the zoo. Elle can spend hours at the lion house, simply because the lions are constantly surprising her with their sporadic and variable behavior. Hudson is impartial to the entire experience. And I love seeing the enjoyment on Elle’s face as she meanders through the zoo, watching all the unpredictability.

Splish Splash I was Takin' a Bath

Seven Years

Seven years ago…



Today…






Johnny,

Thank you for all the laughter, the love, and the joy. In these past seven years, I have never learned more, laughed more, or had more fun. You are my best friend, and I am ever grateful to spend my life with you.

Yours forever,

Ashley


I just wanted to mention that Elle took the pictures of us today. It was quite comical. I especially love the one where she cuts Johnny’s head off—very funny. But for a four-year-old, they were not too bad. And with a little editing, we ended up with a pretty good picture.