Family Pictures May 2007

Today I picked up a CD of photos that were taken back in May of '07, just a few weeks after Ashley's diagnosis.  We obviously ordered some back then, but I wanted to have them all!  Can you blame me, look how cute they are.  

We miss you so much princess!

Dogs!

Most of the time I absolutely love having a dog......

But sometimes it's really frustrating!

Babysitting!

We have been pretty busy these past couple of weeks babysitting our nieces and nephews.  We were first at Paul's sisters, then went straight to his brothers.  We had so much fun spending time with all the kids, and Alice had a blast.  I really didn't take any pictures but these ones.

Alice playing with her cousin Daniel.

Alice & Charly.  

Alice is just like her big sis, she has a real love for animals.

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We received the most amazing gift over the weekend.  Our friend Jeremy Holmgren drew this picture of Ashley.  He has some serious talent.  It looks like he just blew up the picture in black and white.  I can't believe a person can be this good.  The detail is unreal.  I know this took a lot of time.  Thanks Jeremy for such a special gift!  We appreciate this more than you know!

Biopsy Results!

 The results of the biopsy came back and everything is fine!  

BEAUTIFUL NAUVOO!

We had the wonderful privilege of visiting beautiful Nauvoo last week.  It was so fun to see Paul's parents who are currently serving as the Temple President there.  We got to see a lot of neat thing inside the temple and even climbed the bell tower to right below where Angel Moroni's feet are.  Wow!  What an experience! 

It was so fun to visit Nauvoo and see where so much of our church history took place.  There is an amazing spirit there.  The Saints were driven out on Feb. 4th, so it was neat to be there this time of year to know what a sacrifice it would have been to leave your warm home.  It was an amazing sight to see the Mississippi River frozen over.

Just to show you how close Paul's parents live to the temple, Paul is standing in their driveway.  I think they have counted and it literally take 100 steps to get there.  It's amazing to look out their windows and the temple is literally in their front yard.

The blacksmith shop.

Carthage Jail

This is the room where Joseph and Hyrum Smith were martyred.

The Browning Gun Store: 

John Browning was a famous gun inventor who lived in Nauvoo, His son,  John Moses Browning is recognized as the world's greatest gun inventor and contributed more to the national security of the US than any American inventor who ever lived.

THANK YOU GRANDMA & GRANDPA PETERSON FOR A WONDERFUL VACATION!

Give Ash A HUGE Hug For Us!

3 weeks ago today we had the privilege of meeting Morgan Palmer.  A sweet little princess battling DIPG (the same brain tumor as Ash).  She passed away Tuesday Jan. 20th, exactly 10 months after Ashley.  We attended this little angels funeral today.  It was beautiful.  As we saw her before the viewing she had on the bracelet I took to her last week.  How sweet!  I will never forget her face, she looked so beautiful and peaceful and literally had a smile on her face.  Alice absolutely adores her big sister Alexis who is 10.  She reached her arms out right to her and didn't want to come back to me.  She also did this last night when Paul took her to the viewing while I was at home resting and recovering from going under the knife.... again!  But this time for a different reason.  I had a breast lump removed.  I really am not worried and feel very calm about it.  I'll get the results next week.  Anyway I just think it is really cute how much Alice loves Alexis.  Two girls who have little angel sisters to watching over them.  Morgan's aunt took some pictures of Alexis & Alice today that I will post when I get a copy.

Click on this picture & notice Alice & Morgan both have pizza sauce on there cheeks!  So cute!

Cabin & Alice's 1st Birthday!

Happy Birthday Alice! 

We love you!  You are truly a miracle in our lives!

Loving her cake!

YUMMY!

We started her birthday at the cabin and ended at home with a butterfly cake!  Two teeth broke through on the big day.  Ouch!

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New Year's Eve @ The Cabin

Loving the pony tail.

Cousin Addie & Alice going for a ride in the sled!

Chris & Paul having too much fun snowmobiling.

Dec. Catch Up

Here is what we have been up to the past couple of weeks.

The Sunday before Christmas we had the opportunity to visit Sadie Huish and her family.  We can't even tell you enough how much we love her and her family.  We love to be near them.  Sadie reminds us so much of Ashley.  She schooled Paul in bowling, tennis, and boxing on the Wii.  Man, is she good.  The next morning Sadie said to her Mom "I bet if Ashley were here, she would help me beat Paul in bowling," then she said "I sure wish Ashley was here with us."  Her Mom tells me that Sadie mentions quite a bit how much she misses Ashley. Don't we all.  They never had contact on this earth, but I know they are dear friends.

How can you not get the biggest smile on your face when you see sweet Sadie's smile.  It's contagious!

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All of the sudden in the past couple of weeks Alice likes to snuggle. This is typically not like here.  We are loving it and will take all we can get.  This picture was taken at Paul's sister Jill's at our family Christmas party. 

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Christmas Eve

We went on Christmas Eve to visit the cemetery, knowing that on Christmas Day a huge storm was coming in.  It still seems very strange that we visit our daughter's grave.  It never seems right.  We miss Ashley more that we can put into words.  This was a hard Christmas.

Ever since I was a kid I have loved getting new p.j.'s on Christmas Eve

At Grandma & Grandpa Calton's

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Christmas Day!

This is what we woke up to.  It was like a blizzard.  Here is Paul snowblowing.

Grandma & Grandpa Calton came over to see what Alice got for Christmas.

She got a toothbrush!

New bath toys!

And a train!

I love a baby's first Christmas.  Since Alice is almost 1 she really understood ripping off the wrapping paper.  She loved opening her presents and loved to get what was inside.  She tried sitting on her train while it was still in the box!

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Last night Alice grabbed her bottle and walked away.  I went to see where she went only to find this.   I love there little relationship.  Maverick was behind his gate drying off from being outside, and she wanted to go sit by his gate and pet him while she drank her milk.  So cute!

Alice and her friend Lexi in matching P.J.'s.  They have become good little friends.

So Sweet!

They had so much fun pushing each other on Alice's new train.

Alice in her business!

Leave Alice alone for 3 minutes: Allows you time to quickly check your e-mail

A brand new box of Kleenex: $3

Checking on Alice after 3 min. of her walking out of the office and being very quiet, only to find this: 

Priceless!!!!

Her new favorite thing is to walk her baby.

Loving the snow!