Birthday Celebration!

Here are some pictures from last night. Although it was a very hard day it was so nice to be with family and celebrate Ashley's birthday. I know she was happy that we were together remembering her and celebrating! It was sprinkling when we pulled up but stopped a few minutes after we got there. Thanks for good weather and a beautiful sunset Ash!

Alice & Addie

The beautiful sunset.

Watching the balloons go up to heaven.

Most of Ashley's cousins!

Ashley's cousins decorated some pumpkins and wrote little messages on them. We were going to leave these at the cemetery but as we started to pull away we decided they would be fun to have on our front porch. So if anyone wants to write a little message on Ashley's pumpkins we have plenty of sharpies so come on over!

Jane and Daniel writing their message!

Hannah

We sure love you and miss you Ashley. We can't wait to be with you again someday!

Please teach that little brother of yours all you know!

TOGETHER FOREVER!

Happy 7th Birthday Ashley!

HAPPY 7TH BIRTHDAY TO MY SWEET PRINCESS ASHLEY!

WE LOVE YOU & MISS YOU SO MUCH!

I sit here right now in a quiet house, Paul is at work, and my wonderful sis-in-law Jill is out running errands for me with Alice. Since this is the only kind of journal I keep, and even though it is a public journal as well, I still thought I would write down some of my thoughts and feelings.

Today is the hardest day of the year for me. I miss Ashley each and every day, but today the pain and sadness is multiplied more than I can even explain. I have been so emotional about it over the past week or so, every time I think about her birthday I start to cry. I am sure that being pregnant adds to my emotions. Ashley loved birthdays and holidays. I wish she could be here in person to celebrate with us.

Here is a little video from this morning of Alice singing Happy Birthday to Ashley. It is so cute, although she is way distracted. Maybe she will have it perfected by the end of the day and we can do it again! (MUTE MUSIC ON SIDEBAR)

I had such a fun time yesterday evening meeting one of Ashley's friends from preschool, Chloe, and her sisters, and mom. They wanted to meet me there and take some special things to Ashley resting place. The weather was frightful but we had a great time. Thanks girls, I know Ashley loved the notes you sent to heaven in balloons, and the cute pink flowers, and the balloons you wanted me to take to my house. You are such great friends. Thanks for remembering Ashley. I know she loves you so much.

I will post more pictures and an update of today's events later tonight or tomorrow. We plan on meeting our family at the cemetery tonight followed by cake and ice cream at our house after.

I tried to repost Ashley's 6th birthday post because it has a lot of fun pictures of her birthdays in the past, but I can't figure out how, so if you are interested go to the post from 10/15/08 and check it out!

I love my daddy, he is the best in the whole world! I love to play with him!

Butterfly Kisses!

Kissing my neck! It tickles so much!

Tight Squeezes!

I am even practicing my golf so I can play with him someday!

Growing up so fast!

Alice is growing up so fast. It seems like everyday she is comprehending more and more. She is one determined little girl, but very sweet at the same time.

Thank you to all my wonderful friends and family who have been taking her to play for a little bit and giving me time to "take it easy!"

I am so glad both girls got there daddy's eyes and eyelashes. Ashley's were not quite as thick and long as Alice"s but she still beat me. But man....Alice's.....I am jealous! She is one and they already beat me!

Dilating!

Well it's official. I went to the Dr. yesterday and I am dilating early like I have with Ashley and Alice. I am 30 weeks today, but am already dilated to a 1 and 70% effaced. So I guess it is time to take it easy. The goal is to make it to 36 weeks. Ashley was born at 36 and Alice at 37, so I think I can do it again! Wish me luck!

Car Seat

In preparation for the new baby we got out our old car seat to trade in to Babies R Us. I guess it is baby safety month and if your car seat is old enough you just bring it in and get 20 % off a new one. Well since our is 7 years old, and we heard they are starting to check at the hospitals now and won't let you leave if it is too old, we thought we better take advantage of this deal.

Needless to say Alice loved playing with it, she even wanted to be buckled and rocked with her binki and all snuggled with her blankies. I am thinking we should leave the new car seat out until the baby is born so that maybe Alice will be over the car seat obsession when the baby actually gets here.

Labor Day Weekend at The Cabin

We had a great Labor Day weekend. We kicked things off Friday night with a BBQ with some dear friends, the Huish's and the Palmer's. Both have lost daughters to DIPG (Ashley's same tumor). We shared some tears and laughs. We love these families, and can really relate in a way that no others can. We all wish our 3 princesses could have been there with us.

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We then enjoyed one of the best football games in a long time.

GO COUGARS!

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We then headed to my parent's cabin for some R & R. We had a great time with some wonderful friends, the Pizza's and Bowen's.

We played a little Rock Band!

Go Paul!

Went on a little walk

Nothing like a little smooch while you're walking! Don't look Zack!

Here's Faith trying to help the little ones hold Maverick's lease

And they all loved snuggling with their blankies! So Cute!

Thanks for a wonderful getaway!

Paul's Videos of Alice

Pause Music (On the ipod on right side of blog) to hear the videos:

Enjoy!

Alice's Animal Sounds

Alice Counting to Ten, "Awesome"

Alice 19 month Pics

We got Alice's pictures taken:

Cute Giggles

Sweetness

Smile

My Daddy's brown eyes

Bike Trailer

We are loving our new bike trailer! Here is Alice and Mav up in Midway a few weekends ago. I love how she can't put her cell phone down, she just has to talk while riding!

And this was last week after the Draper Days Parade. I guess she had too much excitement for one morning and couldn't make if 5 minutes back home before falling asleep!

A Crazy June!

You know it's time to update your blog when your 6 year old niece is giving you a hard time! I know it's been awhile! Here's what we've been up to.

Last week was the funeral of our sweet friend Sadie Huish. She battled long and hard and brave the same brain tumor (known as DIPG) as Ashley. We are so grateful the Huish family for letting us into their lives and letting us get to know there little princess. The funeral was obviously sad, but yet a beautiful tribute to a beautiful girl. I was sitting out in the foyer and sweet little Olivia, Sadie's little sister, spent some time with me near the end of the service drawing pictures, and then cuddled up in my lap and almost fell asleep. It was sweet, I had to hold back the tears.

Here is Sadie and Olivia at our house back in September playing in Ashley's dress ups.

Here is the DIPG group that was at Sadie's graveside service.

I am so glad I know these people, although I don't like the circumstances in which we know each other. Hannah Binn's mother came from Texas, and Mara Adams parents came from Washington. I wish we could have a picture of all of our little girls in heaven together!

We miss you already Sadie, give Ashley a HUGE hug for us!

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WE LOVE CALIFORNIA!

In order to get your daughter to love tennis, you get a room overlooking the tennis courts!

Could someone get me some more ice please!

ThE LiFe!

A little chicken fingers and fries by the pool. SpOiLeD!

So Adorable!

Alice loves smelling flowers!

Alice loved the beach, it took her a minute to figure it out, but she ended up loving it. Her and I stood at the edge of the water for probably 20-30 min., or until my back couldn't take it anymore, just letting the waves come up and hit our feet. She could have stood there all day.

Paul and I celebrated our 8th Anniversary while there. The past 8 years have brought a whirlwind of trials and emotions, but I am so glad I have my best friend right by my side to help me through them all. I can't imagine my life without him! I am the luckiest woman ever!