Zachary's Birthday Ballons

December 13th, 2008
Our family joined with many other's cross the great state of Texas and beyond to remember Zachary Ashton with spiritual birthday wishes. Each of the kids took some time planning their special wish for Zachary. We decided on colorful balloon due to the very windy, very overcast sky. Bart and Sophie, (David and Gillian's family's dogs) even joined us. Our hearts and prayers are always with you.

Zachary's Balloons

The pictures say it all....Caleb, still our avid runner woke up early last Saturday morning to go run a 5K benefiting our elementary school. I'm not sure he cares who he is running for as long as he is running. Wish some of that motivation would rub off on me.

CALEB RUNS THE REINDEER ROMP 5K

Our Ward Christmas Party

Last Friday was our ward Christmas party. I'm sure most of ya'll have seen this scenario...the happy little family in the foreground enjoying their Christmas Eve traditions, talking about Bethlehem etc. while sweet music plays in the background....well, this year was our turn. The primary presidency wanted Emma, we're not sure she knew what she was getting with her 3 brothers in tow. We pulled it off but don't think we'll be offered the part next year...maybe they will just borrow Emma and adopt her into another family :)

"The Christmas Family"

Lot's of Family and Fun

With the big occassion of Ethan's baptism brought lot's of family. Jacob got a new camera and had fun trying it out on fresh subjects! Dave and Karen's boys make for good entertainment Henry the oldest (6) Willie (5) and Charlie (not quite 2).

Lot's of Family to Visit for Ethan's Baptism

On December 6th we celebrated Ethan's baptism. Grandma and Grandpa Frandsen, Uncle David and Aunt Karen & Kiddos, Uncle Brett and Aunt Candace, Aunt Rachel with lots of Ashton cousins joined our family during this special occasion. I got pulled from the congregation to lead the singing and then...here's a good one...play the interlude while all the participants changed. You know it must have been a very desperate situation to have me at the piano. I later heard that Ethan commented to Glenn that " mom is having a hard time" based on the look on my face :) Hard to believe this is our last one...Thanks to all who attended!

Ethan's 8th Birthday

Ethan's Birthday November 20th

Here come's December...ok, so I put new new batteries in the camera and am going to attempt to brag on my kiddos a bit. Where to begin?...First things first let's start with Ethan. Found some pictures of his 8th birthday. Big one for Big "E". November 20th, we once again hauled the family and Gillian and the kids off to Chuck E Cheese. (Ethan's favorite birthday spot since he was 2) We are wondering how much longer that will last.? He was very pleased with pizza, Gorilla mountain, a Build-a-Bear gift card,a digital camera and of course a new Alaska sweatshirt.

Where did November go?...

Seems I go in spurts...October was a very blogging month, lot's of pictures, lot's of happenings etc. November came, I got mad at my camera so I refused to use it and thus for Thanksgiving I refer you all to Dave and Gillian's blog for reference to our Thanksgiving festivities...
Sometime in the near future I will obtain the pictures that everyone else took so that I can have them for myself. Gillian did a beautiful job so just take a gander and see how much fun we had!

Trick-or-treating

S'mores in the Backyard

Fun Family Night Just Before Halloween

Traditionally, the Monday before Halloween I give into the wishes of the rest of the family and we dig out pumpkins, make a huge mess and laugh alot. This year we got a special treat and Glenn got a firepit to put on our piddly porch. Glenn and I were out "escaping" and came across this very Texas pit. Rationalized with the thought...if we don't have power we could always go dutch oven and hunker-down in the backyard...heck, we could sleep in the "shed". Not planning on that anytime soon. Anyway, we threw in some logs, dug out the marshmallow roasters and had s'mores for dessert. Appropriately it was the night of the first freeze of the season! We'll probably be doing that alot throughout the next few months.

Pumpkin Carving 101

Fun at the Flowermound Pumpkin Patch

The reason merry-go-rounds are disapearing from playgrounds!

David and Benjamin are having too much fun! 'Nuf said!

Fun at the Flowermound Pumpkin Patch

What a weekend! Ben and Rachel drove from Midland with kiddos in tow to see a football game not worth driving 300+ miles to see so....to hopefully make it up we rounded everyone up and headed to the Flowermound pumpkin patch. Dave and Gillian joined along and all the local cousins had fun playing in the hay...eye-balling the perfect pumpkin and in general just horsing around. Missed the Manning clan and the "other" Ashton's! We love and miss you all! It's fun to watch some of our "big kids" never quite grow out of certain things.

Last Saturday in September

One of the things I love about Texas is we finally get to be outside more after HOT AUGUST! Emma and her friends set up a lemonade stand and Emma dressed the part, I guess :). If people didn't notice the lemonade, they noticed Emma. (She has her mom's fashion sense!) Caleb regresses to sidewalk chalk in the middle of the street and creates a ripstick obstacle course along with several other creative directions. Ethan just loves being outside with his friends and "Mom, take a picture of me!"

Oops, I did it again!

I suppose it is a bit cliche and I'm not sure if it's just a being "40" thing to add to my list but after about 8 years of patiently striving for long blonde flowing locks, today, I gave up! Decided I was tired of hair everywhere and my children were starting to complain when they kept finding hair in their food. So, it's back to what works for me and I'm loving it, (Jake just informed me he wants the old hair back, don't think that's going to happen! Sorry Jake!) I apologize for the vain update but those who love me will understand!

Julie Get's a Haircut

Caleb is a Star and Jake is not far behind...

Caleb and Jacob continue to work hard on scouting. This month Caleb earned his Star rank and several merit badges including First Aid, Wilderness Survival and Enviromental Science. Jacob is following close behind earning Fishing, Cycling and currently one merit badge away from Star. Mom is thinking about a double Eagle Court of Honor within a year or two. But let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. We are so proud of our boys!

Julie Takes off Again!

On September 17th I boarded a plane to New York City to spend a wild weekend with the Frandsen women. I was lucky enough to have Candace as a travel partner leaving from Texas. Hooked up with Cortney and spent Wednesday getting the lay of the land before Mom, Kristen, Karen, and Kaitlin arrived. From that point it was non stop, late nights, early mornings, shopping, siteseeing, shopping, eating, shopping, walking and did I mention eating. So many things to see and so little time. This is the first slideshow I have one more coming when I get pictures from Candace and Cortney. Had a wonderful time. Am up for it again as soon as I replenish the funds. (That could take a while) :)!

New York, New York!

Big Jake after the game!

Look at him run!

Jake's First Football Game

This year Jacob decided to try his hand at football. For the past 3 weeks he is out the door at 6:30am, suited up and on the field by 7:00 ready to go. Tonight the family got to see the fruits of all his hard work. Gene Pike Panthers (in white) faced Medlin Mustangs (in blue). These 2 schools are long arch rivals so this was a big game. Pike held onto the lead until the last 10 seconds barely letting the last and winning touchdown sneek through. Afterwords the coaches told the team they had gotten closer to beating Medlin than any other Pike team in a long time. Still hard to lose the first one! Jake is #7 and played free safety this game. The video is him in the backfield...making the tackle. Way to go Jake!!!

This summer Emma was invited to attend an Art Club. A friend of ours works at the Kimbell Art Museum and has unbelieveable amounts of patience with children and "messy things" like paint :). Each week she would highlight an artist like Andy Warhol, Jason Pollock, Picasso etc. and then let the kids create in that artists style. Emma ate it up and loved expressing herself!

Emma Jane Gallery Night

Presenting...Kevin and Kaitlin Whitaker

Here Comes the Bride

August 8, 2008
Making a quick trip to Utah for Kaitlin Frandsen's wedding. Glenn's youngest sister surprised us all with...I have a boyfriend...a fiance...and by the way we are getting married in 4 weeks...Happy 4th of July! Needless to say we loaded up the suburban, grabbed Glenn's brother Brett and headed to Utah for the nuptuals. She married Kevin Whitaker and they are now living in Reno, NV. Everything was very pretty and it was good to see the family!

Special Sunday for Jacob

August 17, 2008

Jake is ordained a deacon...passed the sacrament for the first time Sunday August 24th

You can see he still is ... "Jake" WE LOVE HIM!

Backyard Shooting Range

Caleb and Jacob got BB Guns for their birthdays!....Dad set up a shooting range in the back yard...Kept them entertained for a considerably long time!

Happy Birthday Jacob

August 14, 2008

Jacob has had a very busy summer...mowing lawns, playing with friends, playing at the pool and picking up a part time babysitting gig for 2 little boys up the street (Porter 5, Wyatt 3). Now finally to finish up his summer he is turning 12. 7th Grade is going to be a big one he's all "grown up" now and ready to face all that is coming. Jake's birthday dinner consisted of BBQ ribs, and a Lemon Merague Pie for a birthday cake.

Caleb Becomes A "Teenager"

August 12, 2008.....Caleb Turns 13....wahoooo! This summer not only has he grown in height and shoe size (11 eeeeek) He now holds the title of teenager. Dad figured he had the maturity to handle his first BB Gun...Mom just cringes in the background and takes as a right of passage. Grandma and Grandpa Ashton found the perfect t-shirt in Alaska...caption is, "I am Smiling!" Aunt Gillian stopped by for dinner (fried chicken and the works) and birthday cake (chocolate chip blonde brownies). Grandma and Grandpa Frandsen encourage the spiritual side with a brand new set of scriptures. Leatherbound Quad! Wow! Thanks to ALL!