Summer Catch-up Part 2: Cousins, Fish, and Horses

Here's my attempt to catch up on all the different activities from the last month or two:

One of the great things about belonging to a big family is that it's almost a guarantee to have cousins (or 2nd cousins) the same age. We, the parents, always try to get them in a picture together.

Kimball, Logan, and Jensyn were all born w/in a month of each other.
Some of my favorite 3 year olds!

And Tod, and his cousin McCade are 10 days apart. So fun to see these kids grow up together.


Anyone that knows me, knows that I'm a bit of a home body, and get a little hesitant about taking all of my kids out of the house by myself, but I have some awesome sister-in-laws who invited me and the kiddos to the aquarium, offered to help me if I came. So, I took them up on their offer and we had a great time. Thanks to good older cousins who are willing to help me keep an eye on Kimball.

Looking at the camera isn't half as fun as looking at the crabs and stingrays in the touch pool.

"Please don't fall in, please don't fall in, please don't fall in" (what I'm thinking as I am grabbing my kids).

Kimball was a little obsessed this this alligator, she thought it was pretty cool, and wasn't afraid at all. Natalie may have a different feeling, because the alligator jump at the glass as she was looking at him.

Jack having a great time trying to touch the fish.


Really, this picture was taken to prove that Tod was there too. We was more entertained by his toy, and was just happy to be out of the house.

And, another proof picture that 4 moms and 15 kids (Jack, Tod and Liz and Erica were stuck in strollers) can make it to the aquarium, and more to the point, make it home without forgetting anyone. Woo hoo!

So, when I'm not brave enough to get out of the house, here are some of the random moments caught on camera.

Okay, before someone calls CPS on me, I caught the kids in the dryer, got the camera, snapped a shot, and then they got huge warnings not to do it again. Sending the wrong message? Probably, but the kids can discuss that in their therapy sessions in 15 years.

Tod has discovered the joy of his bouncer. His mom has discovered the joy of having him in the bouncer.

And, this is our recent endorsement deal for DQ. Who wouldn't pay to have these cute kids endorsing their product? Maybe I'll send an email.

For Labor day, we headed north to my parents house for Swiss Days. Well, the kids and I actually ditched Jason for a couple of days, and made the trip up without him the week before. My parents kept the kids and I very entertained and arranged for us to go horseback riding.
I have to admit that I didn't feel as comfortable up on the horse I as was hoping. All of a sudden I seemed very high up, and concerned about the phrase "the bigger they are, the harder they fall."
Jack hopped on the horse with me, and we went for a ride around the corral. Jack didn't understand what was supposed to be so cool about this.


Kimball had no fear of the horse. She climbed right on, but she did start to cry because of the flies. The nice guy that was leading her around said it was pretty funny, because most kids are afraid to be on the big horse, but not Kimball, she was afraid of the flies. My little city girl.

And this is the one picture we took while we were at Swiss Days. The whole family enjoyed some delicious cotton candy.

Getting Caught-up Part 1: The Hafen Retreat

In August, all of Jason's family (minus Brandon and Cara who live in Idaho) got together for our reunion. Someone (I can't remember who) said we can't call it a reunion, because we all see each other way too often for that title, so now it's been rebranded as the Hafen Retreat. It was a great weekend getting hang out with everyone.

The adults planned little activity camps for the kids on the first morning there. Danette and I tag-teamed the "Little Squirts" camp with toddler. They got to finger paint and then splash around in a little pool.

Here's Kimball enjoying her paints.

Jack also enjoyed his paints. We can't really figure out how they got on his face.


But I do know how the paints got on his back. I couldn't help but play in the paints, and I figured what better canvas, than Jacks back.


The painting only lasted so long, so Kimball and Jack ditched their artwork for the buckets filled with water, squirt bottles and sponges.


The next day we had lunch at an awesome park that had a little pool/pond for the kids (and some of the adults too) to play around in.

Kimball and Jack decided that collecting all the sponges was more fun then the cold water.


Tod, Jason, and his mom, Susan getting out of the sun.

Before the retreat Carmen (the organizer for this year) told each family to prepare a video to be shown on movie night. I'll try to post the new video once we get more memory installed on our computer... but here are some pictures of the prep time. Our video was Cirque Du Hafen.
This is Kimball getting in character.

And Jack, ready to show off all of his tricks.

I don't have just a picture of Jason in "character" but it was classic. He was in spandex pants and a sweater vest. He's such a great sport, and always very willing to go the extra mile (or should I say extra sock) for a laugh.

We had a great time with the good food, a great family testimony meeting, getting to watch Kimball and Jack play with their cousins, and late night laughs with the adults. Thanks everyone!!

Summer Updates

My desktop computer (where I keep all the pictures) is running so slow, that I can't blog on it... it takes 10 mins to open blogger and upload 1 pic. So, this is my attempt to be patient and give some updates for the last month using the laptop.

I can't believe how fast this summer is flying by. Here's a picture log of what we've been up to.

We've been going to the swimming as often as possible, but with 3 kids it's getting too difficult to get action shots of them in the pool. So break time is the best time for pictures at the pool.

Tod loves the pool as much as his big brother and sister and loves to show off his pastey-chunky thighs.

Kimball and Jack enjoying a break with juice and snacks.

It was also Kimballs birthday at the end of July. We celebrated at family dinner with Kimball's cousin Lilly. My sister-in-law Katrina and I tag teamed an attempt at a fondant cake. It didn't turn out too bad, and now I'm not as intimidated by fondant. It was pretty fun to work with.I can't believe how fast she's growing. And able to blow out 3 candles.

Kimball showing the cake looks just as appetizing after it's been chewed.

She's also old enough to grow a fabulous moustache like her grandpa.

On her actual birthday morning, we had a couple of presents and balloons ready for her when she woke up. She was barely awake, but managed to climb up on the table with her eyes half way open to check out her presents.

Jack managed to get in on the brithday action too. Kimball learned the hard way that balloons don't come back after you let go of them outside. So we made a trip to the party store to get another balloon (hey, it was her birthday) and Jack got one too. On the way home, we checked the mail, and there was a birthday package for Kimball from Nana. And being the wise nana that she is, she included a treat for Jack too. So, overall a good day for all the kids.

I'll update more about the Hafen Retreat at the Ranch when I bribe (favorite cookies or something?) a certain brother-in-law to help us speed up the desktop. (Hint - that means you Chris).

TIMBERRRR!!!....Rub-a -dub-dub

Have you ever seen a big tree fall to the ground? Well, the Ashton family managed to make the 4th of July a little more memorable at my parents house. There was a tree in there back yard that was starting to lean in the wind a little too much. You could say it was "leaning." Anyways, the grass around the tree started to move up and down as the tree blew back and forth in the wind. It looked like it was gonna tumble, so we (by we, I mean my brothers) decided to help it a bit. It started with a pocket knife cutting the sod, and ended with a chain saw cutting some roots. And with one more big gust of wind down it came.

Kimball and some of her cousins playing on the tree post tipping over.



As a mom, I can't help but taking pictures of my little ones in the tub together. Maybe because I know there are pictures like this of me floating around.

And this is my latest achievement (every little thing counts as a win in my world)... I managed to french braid Kimball's hair. With an episode of Diego or Dora, I can get her to hold still just long enough. Once it's done, it's a whole other story trying to get her to keep it in.

And one last little video to show Tod and his occasional smile and giggle. He's getting so big so fast, and is the most mellow baby I've ever met.

The Ever Expanding Ashton Family

I'm not quite sure how my mom manages to do this every 4th of July. She gets all of us in one place at the same time, and even orders t-shirts for us all, and almost all of us are smiling.

I call this the "real" picture.

But this is the REAL picture.

And here are all the grandkids (minus 2 on the way). It's too bad there isn't a picture of all of the parents yelling behind the camera trying to get the kids to smile. That was a classic picture.

Thanks Mom for making us do this! The pictures are great.

Thanks Abe and Kim for actually taking the pictures!

Loving Every Minute of It

Here's a little update of the mellow couple of weeks we've had.

Jason enjoys his time at home, especially when he can get one of the kids to take a Sunday afternoon nap with him. There is really nothing cuter in this world than this.






Kimball continues to entertain us with random facial expressions, and when she gets bored with her own face, she decides to spruce it up a little with some marshmallows from the cereal box.



We decided to give Jack his summer "hair-cut". The poor kids hair would be drenched within 2 minutes playing outside. And that's in the morning when it's only 90 degrees. So, we buzzed him. I'm always a little sad to cut his hair because it's so soft, but as my brothers used to say... "there comes a time in every mans life when he's fuzzy." Or something like that.


Tod continues to grow so fast. He loves to gurgle and chat, and is starting to really figure out his hands and will grab at all sorts of stuff like toys, his plug, my nose and Kimball's hair. He's now 4 1/2 months old. Time flies! He's getting in some good tummy time, along with some great facial expressions. He and Kimball will get a long great (we hope).

While Jason and I were at the pool last weekend, a random stranger, said to me "You didn't have your kids close together, did you?" Normally I appreciate a good sarcastic comment, but coming from this skinny lady in a bikini tanning herself I was a little taken back. She asked how many I had and their ages. I just told her I have 3 under 3 years old, and she asked if I was still sane. I replied that I still had my hair so yes, and that my mom and mom-in-law both kept their insanity through this same experience and so I could do it too (though maybe not as well.)

When I told my mom about this exchange, she gave me some great advice. She said that whenever people would question her and my dad about their large family, they would give details about how many and when they saw those looks of disbelief and horror they would add "And we love every minute of it." And, that's the truth, I'm sure my parents will admit to hard moments but us kids always knew that they not only loved us, but they enjoyed being our parents.

I truly do love every minute of it! I'm going to steal something my sister wrote on her blog a couple of weeks ago to sum up how I feel. She explained it perfectly, and I agree with her 100%.

"I remember when it used to be acceptable to respond with "a mom" when asked what you wanted to be when you grow up. Is it just me or are those days long gone? Work, education and worldly statuses have overshadowed women's true role to be a mother. I'm not ashamed to say that this, what I'm doing right now, is what I've always wanted. I've never worried for a second that I would regret having kids so quickly or so close together. I'm not anxiously awaiting the day they leave the house so I can go back to work. I don't feel that I am at all supressed by staying at home with my kids every day. It is the most fufilling, rewarding thing I've ever done. So in answer to "What do you want to do/be when you grow up?" I answer proudly - I am doing it. I am a MOM and that is enough. That is everything." ~ Sammy Jacobson

I am a blessed woman to have these kids, and to get to share raising them with Jason. Thanks Mom, for showing me that I need to explain that even if I look insane - I'm loving every minute of it.

To Nana and Papa's house we go...

Here's what we did while we escaped home for a while.

Kimball entertaining herself during the ride.
(The nursery song leader should be so proud.)

We went swimming 3 different times at this fabulous indoor pool in
about 20 mins away from Nana and Papa's. I love small town pools they aren't quite as strict as the pools I used to work at. Which means Kimball and Jack got to ride down the big water slide with Jason and I. And, I could catch Kimball as she jumped to me from the diving board. Just sad I didn't get a picture of it.

Tod loved the pool, he just floated around checking out everything, and didn't even sputter when Jason and I passed him under water a few times.

We fed some ducks and geese at a pond that I used to go to as a kid (yes, very nostaglic)

The kids had a great time. We loved watching the kids chase the geese, until they wanted to follow them into the pond. Thank goodness for long-armed parents and sturdy t-shirts that didn't rip under the weight of the kids.

Aside from all the activities, we really just loved hanging out with Nana and Papa, and with Sammy and David's kids Ashbug and Hannah.
Three little monkeys swingin' in a tree.

Kimball and Ashbug trying to dance together.

Papa and Ashbug getting a portrait done by Kimball
(she's getting pretty good with the camera)


And, last but not least, we took a trip to Hogle Zoo in SLC. We had a great time. I have one of Kimball's favorite TV shows "Go Diego Go" to thank for her yelling "three-toed sloth" when I pointed one out to her. The adults also had a good time watching some giraffes, but I won't go into detail, let's just say it was a National Geographic moment.

Jack was thoroughly enjoying his time walking around with Papa.



He thought the animals were great and all, but most the carousel was his favorite.


Abbey enjoyed her time being pulled around like one of the kids.

And I had to get a picture of Kimball at this drinking fountain because I have a picture of me drinking out of that same one when I has her age.

We had such a great time - THANKS Mom and Dad - and now that we're home, we're trying to get back to real life. And, Kimball and Jack are catching up on some missed nap times. Even to the point of falling asleep in the same bed.