Our winner!

Buck's e-mail to me simply said- "yes, I am a winner. Regards, Buck"

Ashley, Buck and co-workers at University of Phoenix

A new nephew

This is our newest nephew Jack. We went to Texas for his blessing. Tanya looks radiant and Ella is smiling, I don't really know what happened with my hair, Amanda looks great. It was a tender experience to be at the blessing. I now treasure this picture more that I thought I would at the time it was taken. What I didn't know at the time it was taken was that a wee baby was growing inside of me. So small that there was no "baby bump" as it is called these days, nonetheless, there was a little life. Sadly, this baby could not stay, we didn't get to keep them. So, because it was a miracle for us to even conceive, and perhaps in my life I will not have that blessing again, I love this picture- bad hair or otherwise, because it capture a moment in time when I had the distinct honor of carrying another life inside of me.

What a handsome bunch! Brian gave a beautiful blessing and Jack was quiet. Thank goodness he has such strong uncles as he is quite the linebacker, even in his infancy.

The beautiful family

Watering the Garden Summer 2009

Brielle and Anabelle water the garden- they are very helpful and often it seems they choose one plant and that is the recipient of all their water.

Uncle Buck caught a great picture of Brooke- who was the youngest out on this day and carried the largest watering can.

Aunt Nadia has sole possession of the hose. One day they will get a little older and it might not be so easy, but for now we enjoy our time in the garden.

This is the hard time- they can't carry a full watering can, but they don't like to leave with it only half full. Sometimes the majority of the water ends up on them instead of the plants, but in the summer in Arizona, I think all living organisms- plants, flowers, little girls- everybody could use some more water.

Is your gardening crew this cute?

Birthday Cakes

A birthday cake for my friend Haley- my mom gave me a cake decorating book for my birthday and this monogram technique was taught. In the book they use a "0" tip- the smallest I have is a "1" and that takes so much pressure to push out, I cannot imagine trying to use a "0". I thought it gave a neat look to the cake and I love the color blue that came out.

A little cake and a niece's birthday. I had to work and missed her party- but it was fun to deliver her a little cake and present.

Cakes

For a birthday party- the birthday girl had the idea and the box for us to copy- I think it turned out great.

This is not the finished picture- but I made this cake for New Beginnings as the theme was "A lighthouse in the dark" and during the lovely program the lighthouse fell over. One of the young women saw it leaning and motioned to another young woman who went over and caught it- but was then left with her hands full of this cake lighthouse. It tasted delicious- snickerdoodle cake with cinnamon cream cheese frosting and filling- and the Bishop tied in the parable of the wise man and the foolish man, so it didn't distract too much from the evening.

A lesson on homemaking for the young women. The title of the lesson was "Homemaking" and so as I rarely- maybe twice in my years in the young women- have brought treats, I thought it was an appropriate lesson to include them. The hangers that are falling over are with some of my homemade fondant, which never quite hardens enough.

Curly Girlies

Family Pictures January 2009

Three generations of beauty

Family Pictures Jan 2009

Growing so fast...

I put Scott in the picture for scale :) She is growing so fast!

The joy of the Cardinals making it into the Super bowl, and the equal joy of juice.

Sweet angel face

Date Night

I remember my mom telling us, during fights about who had to sit in the middle in the car or other critical issues, that someday we would love spending time together and that we would each others' best and most cherished friends. Once again, my mom was right. We had such a good time- even though half of us drive mini-vans, we make them look real good!

The Perfect Pear 2009

Amanda and Tanya made a game for us all to play called the Perfect Pear- a play on words as the winners took home specially made pears. Amanda and Justin came in as the "newest pear" which was hilarious and shows how much integrity Amanda as after knowing the questions she did not prompt Justin during the time before the reunion with the correct answers. This game was so much fun. I heard a rumor that next year it might be The Perfect Pair- Iron Chef style!

Buck and I came in third, which is okay because the bronze pear I thought was the most beautiful anyway and our treat was snickers- we decided to try and be third every year. Bytheway- we were playing this early in the morning while Grandma had all the kids and then some of us were going on a hike- so please excuse the variety to apparel.

Scott and Melissa ended up with the silver pear in a last minute double or nothing finals round. It was interesting to see how much more they new about each other after being married for more years than the rest of us. Having said that, they both still were full of little surprise answers.

Here they are- the Perfect Pair! In fact I think we are all quite well suited with our mates, but this year they took home the trophy. And I should say that Tanya has a lot of integrity as well and did not prompt Brian, which made the success even sweeter.