Brandy's Groceries

Hey there! A few weeks ago I was on the wives trip to Oregon and while at breakfast 'wife' Brandy was telling us all how she saves so much at the grocery store. She swore it was so easy with very little effort. She says she even has a food storage envied by the whole neighborhood. So great she feels she might have to protect it with firearms. She got my interest along with a few other wives and promised there was NOTHING to buy. She even did a post on her blog about it. Click HERE to see it.

This is strictly a FREE class how to do it and a FREE website to help. I don't do the "party" thing, so I made sure there is NOTHING to buy. I don't get any extra points, money or my coupons doubled if you come or not. I am just the location where she will come and show us how to effectively use coupons. (She does give you a discount on the newspaper --where the coupons are-- if you subscribe)

I know not everyone is interested in using coupons. I love the idea but am skeptical of the work/effort involved. I am most interested because afterwards she told me all the fun things she spent her excess grocery budget on and I want to buy a camera like Brandy's. If you have any questions give me a call and hopefully I will see you soon, even if it is not Tuesday night ;)

Come Learn How To Feed a Family of 4 for $180 a month!

When: Tuesday October 20 at 8 pm

Where: Sara Hills House

RSVP: Sara Hill

Shop at only 1 store – no running around town!Buy all of your family’s groceries, household, and personal care items (including diapers) all for about $180 a month for a family of four – while building a massive food storage at the same time!NO clipping and filing individual coupons! Very quick and easy! A HUGE way to save money!Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet and have ease in meal planning!FREE WEBSITE and FREE CLASS – there is no cost to attend and no cost to use the website! What could your family do with hundreds extra every month? Bring friends! Thanks!

Where have you been?

So it has been a while...but I have excuses and a lot of them. Last night I tried to upload Ashtyn's piano recital (3 songs; 7 minutes) and after 4 hours and 37 minutes I canceled it and turned off the computer. A few weeks ago my computer got a virus and is sooooo slooooowwww! So no video or pictures for another month or so til I can get a new computer.

So what have we been up to? Football season started, I have some cute pictures of the kids at the USU game, I managed to sneak in a little Tupperware sand box in with his tractors for the 4th quarter. It was just what he needed to finish out the game without major meltdown. The following week we drove to CA to visit Ben (big bro) and attend the San Jose game. We lived it up in Turlock hitting TJ Maxx, Marshalls and the neighborhood park. As always absolutely loved hanging with Emily (SIL, get to know her here) Ben loved having his sisters come and "mess up" his house, tease and goose him. And just for fun we took the kids to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk and beach. Again maybe I will get pics and video up another day.

For UEA weekend we went to Amy's cabin for some desperately needed R&R. I was not sure I wanted to get in the car again, and it always seems to be more work getting there....BUT I am so glad to have gone. All of us were husbandless due to their careers so it was Mama time. Chick flicks, scrabble, scatagories, canasta, dancing, music, hikes/walks, makeovers, chocolate licorice, square ice cream...i could go on, but if you want to see pictures, including the beautiful fall colors that were breathtaking, you can Click HERE and HERE. The first weekend in June I was coming home from a family deal in Idaho. It was a very rainy weekend. 30 miles from home we hydroplaned on I-15, and totaled my car. No major injuries but something I never want to experience again. On the way home from this UEA cabin retreat it rained and rained. I had told Amy I was not going if it was going to rain. BUT having to get back on the exact same road with all the same sounds of rain and smells of rain and feelings was traumatic. (Something I would have never guessed would affect me like that?) A hurdle I was going to have to jump sometime. I was so grateful to have Wendy there to help me. Had she not been there I would have pulled over to the side of the road, cry and wait for the rain to stop. Thank you Wendy!

Last week was the CO State game and was able to visit Grandma Kern. This month one year ago, Grandpa passed on. At the cabin this past summer his spirit was so missed, yet still felt somewhere in the trees. It was good to visit with Grandma and wish I could visit more often. The other part of the weekend was spent with Aunt Holly, trying to figure out why sometimes she is Holly and other times Aunt Holly.

This week we play UNLV and Jay wanted us to go, but after being away every weekend (minus the 2 home games) since the beginning of August, it was high time to just stay home, hike to donut falls, paint the table black, take out the lilacs bushes, clean up the garden beds and yard, plant some bulbs, hang the tv, enjoy our visitors (SIL Tara) watch the game..........

Motorcross....April 09.....

We were so excited to have the motor cross come back to SLC this year after not stopping here for 4-5 years. We thought Jacob was going to go ape for all the motorcycles and love every minute of it. But in all reality it was Jay and I who were more excited than any one else. He got tickets up in the box with dinner and pit passes. Jacob was not interested in the dinner. No surprise there, since he only eats oatmeal and pop tarts. He loved watching the big trucks in the parking lot from the big windows of the stadium. It was a little rainy when we went through the pit and we didn't know enough of the racers to know who to look for but the people watching was stellar. I tried a few times to be discreet and get some great pics but no such luck. You will have to just use your imagination for the amazing hair and outfits there. Regan from Good Things Utah sat across the aisle from us and I could even get a shot of her. I plan to work on my spy camera paparazzi moves.

When they started the races they lit these huge, massive fireballs that terrified Jacob
and this is how he sat for the first 45 minutes of the race

By the end of the races he was excited to see the motorcycles but when the winner crossed the finish line fireworks went off and another fireball and he was done. Good thing so were the races.

The Love Triangle

As Ashtyn was getting ready to leave for school this morning she showed me her book report. She had the choice of 11 options that included a movie roll of the events in the book, make a new book jacket, make 3 bookmarks, make a poster to advertise your book, you get the picture.
She chose to do the DIORAMA. She had spent the previous evening (while I was playing soccer and going to a movie with the 'girls' and not staying home to help with homework...guilt....) drawing a very lovely picture from a scene in her book and glued it to the bottom of a shoe box. I could not let her turn it in so I told her we would work on it when we got home. I really appreciate her independance and very rarely have to ask her to do her homework or to practice so I am glad she had it ready a day early. She just didn't have a complete understanding of what a diorama is. So I made her look up diorama and learn what exactly it is. Then we discussed the book. So when she started to tell me the story line of her book I was floored and decided I need to become more of a reader just to keep up on what she is reading.

The movie we saw (while I was not helping her with her homework) was 17 again, a movie about a father in 'freaky friday' fashion who is turned into his younger self and attends his children's high school. He sees first hand what his kids are really like, good kids making bad choices but in the end everything was happy and good and he saves the day...Adorable movie ( for the 16 and older crowd)

So I of course felt myself starting to panic as Ashtyn is telling me how the aunt Carol is in love with the assistant principal but the main character Jaime finds her favorite teacher jealous and wanting the assistant principal to fall in love with her......WHAT!?!? She is in the 3rd grade! So I immediately flipped through the pages and we decided she could read some less dramatic books, The title is "dear dumb diary, can adults become human" for heavens sake! This explains a little in the attitude department which maybe is just a stage? I may have overreacted a little but I do the same thing with Disney channel all the jokes are being sassy to adults or poking fun at others and the radio I won't even go there but when Alayna sings "hush girl, hush your lips do the Helen Keller and talk with your hips" ..... ??? How do you keep the innocent, innocent? So here's to the Diorama. I'm sure Mrs. Hall is going to be thrilled to have polly pockets holding hands (at least we didn't glue their lips together...)

yes, this is an actual page from the book

Is this normal? Seriously though I am off to read this book....I think I may be over reacting, I hope.... I would love any suggestions for good kid reads (especially since I don't take the time to read a whole lot)

Memorial Day

I don't know if we have ever stayed home for the memorial holiday? Although the original plans had us going anywhere from Vegas to Idaho, and then changed to Argyle Canyon where Jay's family Cabin is; I was so excited and grateful to be able to say NO to traveling this past weekend. We stayed and I enjoyed my yard, my home, my mountains, my kids, my husband and my friends.

We did a short 3/4 mile hike up to doughnut falls in Big Cottonwood canyon. It was beautifully sunny. Chilly enough for a jacket. Great fresh mountain air and the perfect hike for little legs. There was surprisingly a lot of snow, people and run off. I am not sure what I was expecting but our shoes got a little muddy. (Jay wore his newest under armour shoes) We stopped to eat our sandwiches in a little meadow with rocks and grass that was not too wet to sit on. It was so nice. I hope we will do more hiking this year. I am working on getting Jay to cross the Tetons, a hike I did a few years back, but this time in one day instead of two. (Less packing).

We buzzed Jacob's hair. He is such an adorable little (BIG) guy. He barely fit in the pack. Ashtyn rode in this until she was THREE! He loved the hike and continues to see if he can out run is mother, father and sisters.

A week or so ago, our date of the month was taking a grilling class. We learned a lot. Jay was so excited to use his new skills and made a wonderful dinner (and made up for the 18 holes of golf he played the day before after being gone recruiting the entire week. I am whinning but I was bummed)

Ribs that fell off the bone with a red pepper jam BBQ sauce (Thanks for the jam Amy)

yummy smoked, grilled brussel sprouts

Smoked granny apples with a vinegar and mustard sauce (I was so leery of this one but I crave it on a daily basis)

Smoked tomatoes, we decided would be best in a spinach salad with bacon and fresh mozzarella

And for dessert DUHN - DUHN - DUHN - DUUUUHN

Banana and nutella angel food cake sandwiches with ice cream and whipped cream. At the class the dude did it with the pound cake from Costco and I would use that over the angel food cake from now on. But still a fabulous finisher.

As I watch our summer calendar fill up and our summer evaporates before we even get there, I am glad to have kicked it off here at home. Hopefully it will entice us to stick around little more.....

I woke up this morning with the sweet after taste of busy dreams. I dreamt of planting trees, lots of them. Flowering trees, fruit trees, ornamental trees....The neighbors started to cut a few of their trees down and Jay said to go get more trees for us to plant. It was euphoric. I woke with the smell of dirt still in my nose. This spring although a long time coming has been beautiful. Just the last week with the trees popping the bulbs blooming and the grass greening I have been filled with such happiness and content. Even the kids are happier and have a much more pleasant disposition. I was able to get back to a few projects today...Some mine and some not. Jay asked me to finish dethatching the grass and over seed the lawn before the rain started. There was just a small strip that had to be finished and I was happy to get outside early. Jay said the funniest thing last night as we were starting the dethatching project. When I offered to take a turn raking, he said something like "You are a woman and bear children I wouldn't want anything to happen to your ovaries." I just started laughing. He never brought up my ovaries when I moved and raked 14 tons of sand and a dump truck full of manure through our yard in prep for a lawn...? I did remember he has been doing a lot of thinking and reading on his role as a father, husband and provider (And It must be recorded that he is excellent at all of them) BUT I believe that was a line from a book he had read. Still it makes me laugh. I of course didn't drop the ovary thing and teased him the rest of the night with "ooohhh.....I think I just sprained my ovary" or a little later I would hand him the rake and say "Here ya go, my ovaries are tired" He laughed and even though I doubt he will say something like that again, given the context it was thoughtful in a way that only Jay can be. In my need to show that even though I have ovaries I got a little carried away and raked one of the sprinkler heads right off. I went to the sprinkler store to get a new head and came out with a head and a miss beefy's patty maker. The salesman was one of those who could go on and on about everything and just when your hand is on the door he draws ya right back in to see another invention or to give you another item for free. Once free I stopped by my favorite paint store to get some painters putty, I hear it works miracles..... I have almost finished my chair project. I think I will get a set of four completed tomorrow, the fifth one will have to wait till I order more nail head trim.

Alayna had preschool reading night and loved every minute of it. She was so big and I got a little sad. With Ashtyn she always followed directions, was very well behaved and I didn't have any idea of what I could worry about. With Alayna, She is such a free spirit and if she doesn't follow directions and gets in trouble her huge conscience is so tender....? We talked about following directions and I think she is ready and will do great, but I will still worry. She on the other hand is just excited to eat in the "Bacteria" (Cafeteria)

Ashtyn turned in her monologue and came home beaming. "Mrs Hall said that it was wonderful and was exactly what she wanted." The 4th graders put on a wax museum and the rest of the school comes to see. Because Ashtyn is in a 3/4 split she gets to participate in a lot of extra fun things. Ashtyn chose to be a wax version of my great grandma Sarah Ellsworth. She has to memorize her monologue telling who she is. I am excited to go see it.

Jacob is such a sweetheart. I love that boy. He is so happy and engaging. I keep thinking I want him to slow down and not get any bigger but the he does and he just gets cuter and more fun. Some of his favorite words (and thing) are Big truck, tractor, ka-chow (lightning mcqueen) nandy (candy). Stinka means he needs to be changed and calls for Layna all day. He still is a stinka when it comes to eating. He has yet to eat vegetables or meat? He love oatmeal, toast with cinnamon and sugar, cereal/fiber bars, pop tarts, cinnamon toast crunch, milk, cookies (especially pumpkin choc chip) What do I do???!!?
We just cut his hair and he looks like such a big boy, at first I was so sad, but he looks so cute with it cut so I decided not to let it grow back out ;)

BUT, his hair was so fluffy and angelic...it almost made him look like he had a halo.

Easter weekend was wonderful. We kicked if off by participated in the MS walk. A big woot-woot to all those who participated by both walking and donating. Click here for some great pictures. Then we came back to the house to dye eggs have a hunt and a yummy ham and potato dinner. The best part was having almost all my family there. Mom and Dad, Josie Blake and their 3 kids, Emily and Kennedy.

Deals Anyone?

My BFF Amy introduced me to eyes.lips.face and you just can't beat the prices. I heard that Nordstrom had bought the company or was going to use their products or something?? Anyway I have been pleased with the stuff I got, Emily likes her stuff and again $1 for most products!!?!?! Seriously a good deal. I love the brushes I got. So not only are most their products $1, they have endless discounts codes (you can find them at discountcodes.com or naughtycodes.com)

So deal #2 Is a free fisher price precious places dvd! Totally free, no shipping or handling charges.

More than dinner and a movie

This year I am on a mission....I have grown bored of the dinner and a movie date. Which usually was I make dinner after I pick up a red box. SO, I decided to take matters into my own hands and each month I make a date for Jay and I to get a babysitter and we go out and do something new, different and fun. I had a few things on my list to get me through the first few months. We will have to see what happens as the ideas run out...

So far, January we started out being tourists in our own state and went to the Sundance film festival. Cole and Tara were good sports and came with us for the adventure.

We were afraid we were going to get skunked on seeing anyone famous until we ran into a friend who got us into HarryOs for FREE and were front and center for Gnarles Barkley . It was so fun to walk up and down main street in park city with the excitement of maybe seeing someone famous and pretending we were young and hip hanging in the club ;)

In February, I made Jay good on his pre-nuptial agreement that he would take me dancing. For years he has claimed we are still married so he still has time fulfill his prenup.

In murray there is a dance center that teaches ballroom. Once again Cole and Tara indulged us with their company. As well as Ryan and Amy. I was so glad they came but I don't know that they were glad they went...She wrote this about the experience. Pretty accurate on the scene description. Although the stuff about Jay and I not exactly as I told her to write, She missed putting in the part about Jay and I winning the dancing with the stars trophy in the next season. JUST JOKING, as far as the dancing goes, next to a 65 year old man and an instructor wearing very worn out merrill shoes you can only imagine....

It was very good marriage therapy as well, we learned a lot about each other. Jay doesn't like to count or listen to the beat of the music and I want to lead.....Once I stopped counting (and listening to the music) and let Jay lead we actually were able to make it through a few phrases. I had a blast, it was exactly what I was wanting to do. Jay keeps saying we will go again....I can't wait ;)

For March we signed up for a rock climbing class. In high school I had a couple friends teach me and when we moved to SLC some friends in our student ward took me to my first outdoor climb. But it has been over 10 years since I had been to a gym and really climbed. Rustin and Teneale signed up with us and went to Momentum Climbing Gym. Our instructor was very good and gave a lot of good pointers. We learned that to get the best grip you want you climbing shoes to be at least 2 sizes smaller than your street shoes. Our instructor wears her shoes 3 1/2 sizes too small! We were dying with just the 2 sizes smaller. It didn't help that 3 days before Jay had a 300lb+ tight end step on his foot and tear his pinky toe partially off. I loved every minute of it. Rustin and Teneale were game to go again and plan to look into the wall at their gym. So they must have enjoyed it. It was great and more than I expected. I will admit I was not very good at "belay" ing (I think that is how you spell it?) Even the instructor said "watch how he is not sure if you have him at the top." She was right, Jay would take forever to let go but then I would let him drop then brake, let him drop, then brake. Even at the end I still didn't have it. But Jay kept climbing up trusting me that I would not completely let go. He on the other hand was very good and the coach in him came out and really helped both Teneale and I get the motion right. Again a little marriage therapy. Learning to trust your spouse is not going to let you fall. It was pretty accurate. Jay is strong and I never doubted his ability to get me down, he did play and let me hang an inch off the floor for a minute. Me on the other hand, I never let Jay fall, but I was very unpredictable. and most times he would just roll his eyes when he would hit the floor ;).

I forgot my camera so there aren't any pictures of us, but here are a few pictures of the gym we went to. There were a ton of people, but the gym was pretty big so it was able to handle them all well.

So on to April. Maybe we will try out the Desert Star Theater in Murray. From what I hear it is a similar setup as the playmill. But they make up their own comedies. Instead of doing Joseph and the amazing technicolor dream coat or see how they run. They are spoofs on Hollywood, like Scary Poppins, Home School Musical and The two upcoming shows,

AND

.

What is your fantasy date?

Humpty Dumpty

While driving on the freeway, out of the blue in the most concerned, sincere voice Alayna said "Humpty Dumpty never should have sat on that wall! " then a deep breath and a long pause, "he broke into all those pieces and if he didn't get on the wall he would have never broke. That is so sad"

Tickets

Stake Conference was this past week and it was all about work. Finding work, losing work, enjoying work, teaching kids to work and on and on. It was a very familiar topic. As a child we only had 2 lesson topics for family home evening, work and minding. And to my parents credit I remember having FHE at least once a week sometimes twice. A lesson sunday night on minding then putting that minding to use Monday night when Mom and Dad told us to work. Of course all in the name of Family Home Evening. I am confident I learned how to work. In fact I like to work. But I am a complete failure when it comes to teaching my kids to love work. They can work but the sure do moan and groan and take forever to complete a task.

Back to stake conference; the stake primary president spoke to the primary children about work.

Why is it when someone else tells you child something they listen? When Ashtyn's first preschool teacher taught her "you get what you get and you don't throw a fit" she loved to say it, use it and her fits nearly disappeared. Alayna was in the Costco restroom and heard another mommy tell her little girl, who did NOT want help washing her hands "That is what mommies and daddies are for, they help their kids do things" miraculously Alayna started letting me help her.

One of the stake primary presidents ways to help kids learn to work was the use of tickets.

We currently use marbles for behavior and obedience. If we ask the girls to do something and they do it right away they get a marble. (get jammies on, brush teeth, etc...) Or if they have been happy or kind to each other they get a marble, on the other hand if they are mean, unkind, don't do what they are asked or do it slow or with a bad attitude a marble is taken away. When their jar is filled to the line they get a reward of their choice. They have chosen things like going to build a bear, going swimming, a pottery studio and movies. It has been very effective. I can't take credit for this method, I copied it from my sister in law Emily, who I often go to for parenting advice.

But when it comes to work I struggle. We've tried allowance and job charts which failed. And then there is the part of me that strongly feels that children should not expect to be paid to do chores. As a part of a family you should responsibilities that in turn will give you satisfaction and the benefits of having a roof over your head and a safe place.

So the tickets go something like this....You earn tickets for doing your assigned chores and any other work around the house. Then if you want to play with a friend, have a late over, watch a movie, watch tv, play the wii, computer etc... you have to pay with tickets. The best part of it all....it also teaches responsibility and honesty. The children are entirely in charge of their tickets. When the chore is complete they go to the bank bag and put the correct amount of tickets in their bag. When they want to watch a show they have to put the correct amount of tickets back in the bank bag. It has only been 4 days but it has been as effective as the marble jar. Maybe even more. I haven't heard I am bored for 4 days (a phrase that was said at least every twenty minutes) I hear things like what other jobs can I do? Have the dishes in the dishwasher been unloaded? Can I have some cleaner to wash the walls? Are there any clothes to fold?

Music to my ears.

And on the other end I hear; I have x amount of tickets I would like to watch a movie. (A movie, not 3 or 4) tv watching has almost been eliminated because they would rather earn more tickets and there is not a complaint. They are so excited to get up and do some more work. The other night as I was making dinner, the table was already set and all of the sudden I heard the vacuum going upstairs (Ummm, that has never happened. I can count on one hand how many times that vacuum has been used by someone other than me). This morning someone made my bed.

And I am more excited to let them play with a friend or have a late over, because they have "earned it." Which is my final point. Work is something that should be expected when you are part of a family. As well as enjoying things like a movie or playing with a friend. The tickets make it a a good balance.

How do you teach your kids to work?

Memory Monday

HOW I MET MY SPOUSE

Although they can be cheesy, I love the categorical blogging days, Friday Favorite or Funny Friday, Thankful Thursday, Tribute Tuesday, Wordless Wednesday. So here's to MEMORY MONDAY

I met Jay hitch hiking.....

Somewhere around October or November of 1996 My BFF Sarah came to visit me at College. I was so excited to have her there. I don't think she was there for more than a weekend but we sure packed it in.

This was the weekend Jay and I met. It must have been the first night Sarah got there. We had just looked up a friend (Cathrine) and were on our way to a basketball game when we realized we didn't have our tickets. Although it was only 4 blocks to our Apt it was freezing cold and we wanted a ride. So we stuck out our thumbs to hitch a ride. I don't remember if it was the first car to pass or not but when the green blazer slowed down we opened the door and jumped in before they could say anything. Once we were in the car we explained how the tickets were left at our pine view apt. They too were on their way to the game and offered to take us to our apt. On the way they introduced themselves as Pete and Jay, both claiming to be on the football team. I of course thought I knew most of the players and was like yeah, uh huh, water boys? Both of them were not sure what to make of being called that. I wish I could have recorded the conversation between Pete and Jay as they waited for us to get our tickets and return to the car. (I later found out that Pete had to talk Jay into me over Sarah, claiming he had seen me around campus before. AND of course not the first time I was second to Sarah, such a beautiful friend)

When we finally returned to the car and arrived at the HART for the game we gave a quick but gracious thank-you and went separate ways. After the game we went to Ami and Angi's to make plans. As we walked into the crowded apt. Pete (who was hot on the tails of Angi) became agitated we didn't recognize them from his good Samaritan deed of driving us to the game. I think we even said "should we know you?" Jay didn't say much, if anything and of course we were more interested in the "party"

The rest of the weekend was immortalized into the deans book as the group of 20+ who went to play cards and watch movies at a cabin in Island Park. (I still am wondering HOW the group that went all got together. Big Rick, little Rick, they were friends, but then Josh G and Chris from the Basket ball team? and then who invited Phil? Seriously!)

As far a Jay and I, a few days later, Jimmy called to hang out. I had just returned from the gym and said give me 15 minutes to shower. Thinking it was just the "boys" from his apt I did nothing to get ready. I got out of the shower and put sweats on and with wet hair went to hang out. Jay had asked Jimmy if we knew each other and set the whole thing up. I believe that was the night we shaved their legs and I got my first glimpse at the "pals" tattoo.

First impressions....??

question of the day

How did YOU meet your spouse?

Nine!

Ashtyn turned nine on January 24th. I love to celebrate birthdays. My mom always made my birthday so special and I hope to do the same for each of my children. This year she did the party planning and chose to go to Cookie Cutters. The girls got their hair and nails done, danced and sang karaoke. I think they had a lot of fun. Ashtyn has been able to make friends with some sweet little girls.

As a tribute to my beautiful NINE year old daughter, here are NINE things I love about Ashtyn.

9. She got her dad's even temper. There is not much that can get this girl to loose it. Even with a little sister and brother who can find anyone's buttons. She is so loving and patient. Always willing to help look after them. Even at nine years old She has wonderful tricks up her sleeve to distract and entertain all kids.

8. She is has the most beautiful long straight blond hair of anyone I know. I love to do her hair. It is perfectly straight but will hold a curl all day long. I was so happy to see her generosity in donating it to locks of love and coming out of the salon chair with just a few inches creating a short a line bob. Even though it was a shock she never complained and has waited patiently for it to grow out again, reminding herself someone has her hair as a wig.

7. She loves to read. Anything and everything. The newspaper (sports page and Sunday funnies) to the scriptures. The things she reads and retains is amazing. One day in church she heard a story and said "Hey I just read about that last night" and then proceeded to tell me the story from the Bible. I about fell off the pew, then decided I needed to read the scriptures more, just to keep up. I love to hear her library stories of how she chose her next book. I especially love that she reads to Alayna everyday. I believe Alayna will be just as good of a reader because of Ashtyn's example. She has taught her to love reading

6. I love that I know just about everything she is thinking, (because I thought the same things at her age). We have very similar ideas and thoughts. I love to finish her sentences or answer her guess whats (because almost always I get them right)

5. I enjoy watching her develop her talents. Ashtyn is a wonderful dancer and is able to learn steps quickly. She has also learned to play the piano. I remember falling asleep to my mom playing the piano every night. I am so thrilled to hear Ashtyn playing every morning at 7am. I can't wait for her to get better and better and love listening to every minute. Growing up you could get out of just about anything if you were going to play or practice the piano. She may not know it now but I would let her skip the dishes to play the piano. I hope to hear more and more twinkling keys in the future.

4. I am glad she is little. Not for any other reason than that is how she was made. She does not like to be called 'bubba gump' (bubba gump shrimp, cause she's short) so I try to refrain. BUT there is more heart, love and compassion inside that makes anyone who has met her, know she has a giant spirit.

3. I am so happy that we had 4 years and 4 months to get to know each other and become friends before any other siblings came along. She was my little pal who would come to work with me on occasion. We shopped together, we played together, we laughed together. It was a very special time where I truly enjoyed every minute and now cherish those memories. Now with a few extras it a little harder to find that one on one time.

2. Ashtyn can make friends and conversation with ANYone. Age 0 - 110. One day while at the pool she visited with a mom she knew from school for about 20 minutes. I know she did not get her conversation skills from me. It is very easy for her to talk to just about anyone. Many people have told me how pleasant she is to talk to. I agree.

1. Ashtyn can do anything. She is very diligent in the goals she sets for herself. If you tell her she should do something, she will do it. When she started piano in Sept. she was told to practice 30 minutes every weekday. She gets up on her own, sets the timer and will practice her 30 minutes. She is supposed to read every night for 20 minutes, and she does. If she has been asked to do it, she will. If she gets frustrated, she just keeps working on it until she gets it. That is why she can golf and I can't. She reminds us about FHE, she doesn't forget achievement days, every night she sets her clothes out for the next day. I rarely have to remind her to do her jobs or homework. I am glad she has been my little girl for 9 years. I have learned so much from her.