Mara & Other Princesses

Mara Adams is a beautiful sweet little girl who had the same brain tumor as Ashley.  She passed away yesterday.  After I learned of Mara's passing, I quickly remembered that is was Hannah Binns 6th birthday.  Hannah also had the same tumor and passed away last year, 3 days after her 5th birthday.  I hope Ashley, Hannah, and Mara had a princess party in heaven.  I also had the privilege of having Sadie Huish, yes another princess with the same tumor, come and visit me yesterday.  We played dress up, kitchen, read princess stories, and watched a couple short videos of Ashley.  Needless to say yesterday was an emotional day.  

We had the wonderful privilege of meeting Mara and her beautiful family on June 11th, they live in WA and were in town for a wedding. Here is a picture of Mara in our backyard.

And here is a picture of Sadie in one of Ashley's dress-ups yesterday.

Thought for the day:

To appreciate every single day with the ones you love the most. 

 Never take anything or anyone for granted.

Appreciate the small and simple things.

Be Grateful.

First day of school!

Since everyone is posting there first day of school pictures and I can't put one of Ash on her first day of kindergarten I will have to post one of Paul on his first day of MBA school.   He has been very busy, but enjoying the things he is learning.

A couple of weeks ago Ash's friend Chloee wanted to go with me to see Ash's "resting place."  It was a fun filled evening with her sister and Mom eating at the Training Table then to the cemetery.  I love that Chloee likes to go visit Ashley.  She is such a special friend!

Here is what Alice has been up to.... she in no longer interested in toys, but floor vents, doorstops, the bottom step, plants, knobs on cupboards, and her new favorite, pulling herself  up on anything she can and walking around it!  

I can't believe I actually gave her a piece of licorice, but she loved it!

Parties & 1/2 Marathon!

I had such a fun week last week getting together with my girlfriends.  Karrie, Kristen, Missy, & Mandy came in town for a special SWOSS BBQ at my house.  We had so much fun reminiscing about old times.  Most of us have been friends since we were tiny little things!  I have always felt so blessed to have such amazing friends.  I love these girls so much.  And no matter how much everyone tries to figure out what SWOSS stands for they never will!!!!  Well our husbands might know now, at least Paul does, sorry girls!

Another fun Party at my house this week too!  It was a week of parties.  Here is the Campbell House Girls!  We were roommates in college our sophomore year.  Alisa & Karrie live out of state so it's been a long times since we have all been together.  It was so much fun.  We have so many fun memories!  I love these girls too!  

Wow! I am so relieved that my 1/2 marathon is over.  My bro-in-law Brad and I decided back in May that we would do the Hobble Creek 1/2 Marathon.  We have been training since then and it has been hanging over my head for way to long.  I am so glad it is over, and I am so glad I was able to finish the race!!!  I have amazing blisters that hopefully won't take too long to heal, and I am very sore, I have never run that far!  When we were at the top of the canyon I was looking around sizing up my competition and thinking "I shouldn't come in last because I think I can beat that person!"  As I was running I had Ashley on my mind the whole time.  She kept me going and kept me motivated.  I kept thinking to myself as hard as this is I would much rather be going through this physical pain (because I was in a lot of pain at the end) than go through the pain I have felt in my heart over the past year and a half.  Thanks Ash for helping Mommy through it! 

Here is Paul clapping

I am so excited I'm about to finish I am cheering myself!

Here is Brad, who finished about 30 min. before me, way to go Brad!

Here is sweet Alice cheering me on too!

P.S. Thanks Jill and Lindsey for surprising me at the finish line.  You guys are great friends!

Alice's Big Week

Alice had two teeth break through this week.  It's been a big week for her.

Alice started crawling last week on August 6th at 7 months old.  Look at her go. 

Princess Room!

Here is a couple of pictures from the room Wright Homes did in memory of Ashley.  It was themed around her wish to Disney World.  The designer was having a hard time picking out which pink paint to use when she came across paint called "Ashley Pink."  Perfect!

Ash would have loved a bed like this!

On Friday I got to hang out with sweet Sadie Huish again.  We went to the dinosaur museum!  I love being around this sweet little girl!

Air!

Not too bad since it's been 3 years since Paul last wakeboarded! 

 NICE AIR!!!!!

Future Wedding Video Picture??????

Cute Alice & Zach

Thanks Bowen's for a fantastic boat ride! We had a great time!

Brooke, Tara, Alice, Me, & Faith!

The Beach

We had a fun week last week.  Alice and I went to the beach in Carlsbad, CA.  Paul had to stay behind because he had to go to scout camp over the 24th, and he is also really busy with work.  We missed Daddy but had a fun time with Paul's sisters Jill and Judith and there families.  Alice did good but was way off her schedule so she was kind of fussy a lot of the time but we still had a great time.  It was kind of hard for me though because Paul and I have gone there every year since we've been married and for the last 5 years Ashley has been with us, so it was hard for me to be there without her.  We have so many fun memories there.

Alice was a little tuckered out after the beach!

It's kind of hard to tell but the humidity made her hair go even more curly!

Love those pigtails!

Sadie

We had the wonderful opportunity of having Sadie Huish and her family over for dinner last Saturday.  It was a pleasure to have them in our home.  Sadie brings such a wonderful spirit with her.  Like I wrote on Ashley's site, she reminds us so much of Ashley, that it is hard to explain.  They look, act, and talk a lot a like.  Sadie is so very sweet.  She is so brave to be going through this difficult trial.  Her family is amazing to.  We feel such an amazing connection with them and with Mara Adams and her family.  I think we were friends before this life, knowing we would be enduring the very same trial.  

Alice grabbing Sadie's hands

Sadie having a good time swinging

Us with Sadie

Sadie & Olivia petting Mav

Sadie showing me her preschool book

Pictures of Angel Moroni

Angel Moroni

Yesterday Alice and I went with Grandma Calton to see the Angel Moroni get placed onto the Draper Temple.  It was really neat.  When we got there you could see it in the back of a truck, a few minutes later it was hooked up to a crane.  They let it hang about 12 feet above the ground for about an hour and 1/2.  We got to get close to it to take some pictures.  It was amazing to get that close to it and see all the detail.  I will probably never get that close again!  It was definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity.  

Happy 4th

These are pictures from the 4th of July last year.  Funny how we did the same thing this year. We went to the neighborhood parade and then headed up to the cabin afterward.  Oh how I wish sometimes we could go back in time.  

Alice with her friends Lexi & Will at the neighborhood parade.

We had a great 4th of July starting off with a neighborhood parade.  We then headed up to the cabin for some r & r.   Paul didn't really get much r & r, but that is a whole other story!  It was nice to get up in the beautiful mountains for some cooler weather.   Most of my family was up there except Tim & Suzanne, we missed you guys.  

 

Ashley's Headstone

Ashley's headstone is finally done.  We are so pleased with the way it turned out.  It will be nice to go visit the cemetery and not see a small circle plaque with her name on it.  It still seems so surreal that we go visit her grave.  She should be visiting our grave in about 50 years!

I was blow-drying my hair the other day and put Alice on her butterfly mat.  I looked over a few minutes later to find her almost completely under my bed!  I just had to run and grab my camera before pulling her out!
Yes Mav is spoiled!  He ran beside me for the first little bit but then got tired, after all he is a little dog.  So I put him in the stroller!  Why not?  He loved it.  Good thing I have a double jogger!

I can't believe I can put pig tails in Alice's hair.  She is only 5 months old!  Now if she would just hold still enough for me to get the part strait.  Also as you can see if Alice keeps laying on the floor like this she will have the strongest abs in the world!  She just won't relax.