5 years

This is our family at five years...

Crazy...

The fifth anniversary is "wood" so we went out to dinner at Goodwood Barbeque and then saw Hunger Games, Catching Fire (soooo good!)  I also got crafty and made Jason this little wooden frame and carved our initials in it and tried making the glass a chalkboard instead.  It didn't turn out perfect but  it was still a fun little project.

Back in October we returned to Bountiful Mazda, where we first met back December of 2007.  Jason let me pick out my new car.  A sleek and curvy new Mazda6.  I love it.  It was our early BIG five year anniversary present.  We felt it was only right we went back to Bountiful Mazda for it.  We also wanted something completely reliable and under warranty while we were in Med School so it would (hopefully) be one less worry.

After Jason and I got home from our date night we were chatting with Toni, Ashton's favorite babysitter, and I started having some bad pains, which over the next three hours continued to get worse, to the point where we woke Ashton up and headed into the hospital at 2:00am.  I was admitted with pre term labor (@ 31 weeks), luckily they were able to slow down my contractions and gave me the most wonderful Zofran.  I don't know if it was the pain or what, but I couldn't stop throwing up, and my body started shaking like it did when I had Ashton, like it was going into shock or something.  I had really forgotten how bad contractions can get.
I had actually had a Dr's appointment earlier that day, where Dr. Lind had scheduled another ultra sound since I was only 31 weeks but was measuring 36-37 weeks.  He is thinking I'm carrying way to much fluid.  I started having a bit of a panic attack and began blacking out thinking about how early this baby was.  Jason just calmly looked at me and said "we're having a baby, it's going to be okay" gratefully that wasn't the case but as always I'm so amazed and thankful for how well Jason takes care of me.  My Doctor had me get a betamethosone shot at 28 weeks for the baby's lungs, just to be safe, which was very comforting for me now.  Ashton was such a trooper and sat in his chair watching TV and held my hand once things calmed down and we were just waiting things out.  Hoping he is not traumatized after all the commotion he witnessed.

How could I ever ask for a better little boy?

Romantic ending to our evening for sure... but really we are all just grateful this little guy decided to stay in for hopefully another month at least.

2013

Recap of 2013

This is hands down one of my favorite pictures from this past year. 

Live: Alpine, Utah
Drive: BMW, and a Mazda6 (yes we got a new car AGAIN, it was an early anniversary present... more to come on that later). 
Work: Blue Lemon for Jen and then not Blue Lemon for Jen. Spring mobile for Jason and IHC working as an EMT up at Snowbird.

School: BYU for Jase half the year, then GRADUATION!
Church Callings: Jason got called to the Elders Qurom Presidency and is now serving as secretary.  Jen is still on the RS Activity Committee and also taught the 7 turning 8 year olds.
Pets: One goldfish.  Ash also thinks he is either a dog or a cat 50% of the time. 
Traveled to: Hawaii for Mom and Dad, Park City trip for all of us, plus another Park City trip just for grown ups.  As well as a big family trip to Florida.
Highlights/Big Events: Traveling firsts, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the beach! Playdates with friends.  Graduation, completing and passing the MCAT, Med School acceptance(s).  Lots of biking.  Moving on to new adventures and being able to stay at home with Ashton all day every day.

Sent Stephanie off on her Mission.  Aunt Stephy was easily Ashton's favorite, she will be missed but Georgia is lucky to have her.

Lost Grandpa Joseph Beckstrand, who is now reunited with his love in the eternities.  He was not only a war hero and POW captured at Battle of the Bulge, but from everything I have heard he was a real world hero of a man that we are honored to be related to.  It was one of the most memorable and inspiring funerals I have ever attended.

Last Years Goals: "Play harder, laugh more, make it to the Temple, find time for each other even with our busy school/work schedules, try and drive the same cars all year long, take the MCAT, graduation, hug Ashton till he just can't take it anymore."

Well we definitely played harder, having a mobile child the whole year sure makes that more possible and fun! Ashton makes us laugh daily, sometimes I cry I laugh so hard with him.  He has the greatest laugh and cracks up any time I think somethings funny, which just makes me laugh harder.  We were able to attend the temple more, but not as often as we should/need to.  Going through the Temple with Stephanie this past year was a great experience as well as attending Alex's sealing for her wedding.  We almost made it with the same cars the whole year... so close! We can definitely cross off the MCAT and graduation and hugging Ashton.

Goals for 2014: Attend the temple more will probably always be a goal, I guess it is never wrong to want to go more.  Seek the spirit more often, church often turns into a blur with Ash, but now that he is in Nursery I'm finding more peace and light through even the littlest moments in primary.  I want to stay caught up on this blog and write more personally.  Not because I think anyone out there cares, but because I want to remember my thoughts and feelings and be able to look back on the moments that created our family.  Live in the moment.  I'm a planner, and tend to plan far in advance and forget about the now.  I want to remember the NOW, and live in the moment and cherish the days, hours, minutes, and seconds, with Ashton. 

2014 is a big year for us.  We are headed to Texas for the start of Med School.  A new chapter in our lives.  We are also welcoming baby number 2. 

 Little Brother is due April 26th!  

As blessings would have it

Ashton and I started off our sunny day heading to South Jordan to find him a super handsome Easter outfit.  He was a super star shopper today.  We went to Jamba Juice for lunch and sat out side in the sun.  We were heading home completely happy and satisfied.  I looked back in the rear view mirror to see this.

 I thought, Today is perfect. This is one of those days that makes me want to quit my job and spend every second with this boy.

Coming around point of the mountain I heard the funny noise, I blamed it on another car at first.  But once we were getting off on our exit I quickly realized it was my car, and my tire, that was completely flat.  We made it off the freeway and pulled over on Timpanogos Highway.  Not the best place, but better than the freeway.  Jason was in Provo at school, I had a flat tire, and a sleeping baby who was bound to wake up any second.  After my mini panic attack everything started falling into place.  

I called my friend Casey who just happened to be up the road getting lunch.  He came to save the day.  Ashton slept almost the entire time, which is a miracle right there.  Jason had called a head to a tire place a few miles away and told them we would be coming and arranged for the right tires.  We started up the highway, but couldn't get going past 30 mph.  My traction control kept coming on and then the great Prius decided to just shut right down.  We didn't even make it half a mile. 

 Long story short, the Prius is lame, if the tire goes out in the front, you are suppose to switch it with a back tire and put the spare on the back, otherwise it trips the traction control and shuts you down.  

Casey had to be to school, we couldn't get the car started again even if he had time to switch the tires.  I called my visiting teacher, Natalie, who came and picked Ashton up off the side of the road, while Jason arranged for a tow truck.  By the time I picked Ashton back up it had been over a four hour ordeal.  Great day turned crapy right?  I was annoyed but as I was sitting at the tire shop I started seeing all of the amazing blessings.  

One, Ashton slept most the time. 

Two, Casey and Natalie coming to help us and them even being available.  

Three, that I didn't have any appointments at work that day (something that rarely happens).  

Four, Jason happened to be on a break at school when we first got the flat tire, otherwise we would have never been able to get a hold of him.  

Five, as we were driving home from picking Ashton up, I was a little emotionally exhausted and starving.  I thought in my mind "I just really wish someone would bring me dinner tonight".  Ten minutes later we were outside putting the car back together when Jaimie, (the people we live with) came outside with dinner for us.  I couldn't believe it.  Someones in tune with the spirit. 

This is another me post.  A post to help me remember that even with the littlest of things.  God is always watching me and making sure I'm taken care of.  Feeling so loved by him and his angels today.

2012 according to Instagram

2012 couldn't have been much better.  

We saw so many changes and experienced so many firsts with our little man.  

Every day was a new adventure.  

Since this blog has turned more into a journal/scrapbook than anything else and most of my memories are on Instagram now, these are the photos that I just don't want to forget.

Like smiles.

The best baby eyes ever,

and baby toes.

We went to a few BYU games.

(9 months)

Worked on our muscles

so we could show them off at Seven Peaks.

(7 months)

Had the best cuddles. 

Helped Dad with homework projects

and helped Aislinn, Alex, Annalise, and Mom at work LOTS.

We played with puppies

(9 months)

and a few more of Ashton's favorite things.

Ashton loves snuggling all things soft but he loves driving and playing in cars even more.

Getting to eat solids was a pretty exciting thing this past year,

(7 months)

anything end everything from straight onions to spaghetti, to raspberries, to donuts, he loved it all.

We walked for a cure with CureSearch again, go team Super Skyler!

(10 months)

Got a new car seat

(7.5 months)

and learned about computers, teeth brushing, cooking, and some light reading.  

Adventured with Mom to California

(5.5 months)

and to Idaho for a family reunion.

Had an amazing Baby Blessing.

(3 Months)

The best Halloween

(11 months)

and a perfect Birthday.

Recap of 2012
Live: Alpine, Utah
Drive: BMW, and a Prius (yes we got a new car, and yes I miss the Maxima, and yes we now drive a Prius, check out our gas mileage and you won't make fun of us).
Work: Blue Lemon for Jen
School: BYU for Jase
Church Callings: 12 year old Sunday School teachers and RS Activity Committee
Travelled to: Canada for Jason, California for Ashton and Mom, Idaho a few times for all, Las Vegas for Jen and Jason, and St. George for all.
Highlights: Baby firsts, swimming, baby laughs, Band of Horses, the zoo, Real games, playing, crawling, walking, all things Ashton.
Goals for 2013: Play harder, laugh more, make it to the Temple, find time for each other even with our busy school/work schedules, try and drive the same cars all year long, take the MCAT, graduation, hug Ashton till he just can't take it anymore.

My favorite Insta pictures of 2012 that haven't made it onto other posts:

 (5 months)

 (3.5 months)

( 9.5 months)

(4 months)

(11 months)

(4.5 months)

Oh the many faces of Ashton Jay

Mother's Day in the Desert

Yes, I spent my first Mother's Day in the desert, while on my way to "The Desert".  I'll try and make this story as short as possible, but there will be an overload of pictures (something about having a baby makes you love every picture you take).

Long story short I got asked to help drive a car from Park City to Palm Desert by the family that I use to Nanny for out their.  I jumped on the chance to take a free vacation to California and spend a few days with my not so little girls and have the family meet Ashton too.  All I had to do was drive a car out there.  Easy right?  That's what I thought too.  We had the car checked out and made sure everything was ready to go the day before.  Sunday morning bright and early Ashton and I loaded up and said goodbye to Jason (who had to stay behind because of fun fun summer school).  We made it all the way to St. George before we had to stop and get gas and get out and play for a little bit.  I've done this drive a bunch of times, so I knew my next stop would be Barstow for gas.  We were on that loooong stretch of straight highway by Death Valley when all of a sudden the car started sounding like a lawn mower and I noticed the little icon that looks like a buoy floating in water (which I later learned is called the temperature gauge) had dropped down into the blue, which in my mind I thought was better than red, right? anyways I called Jase and he said to pull over as soon as I could. Before I knew it the car was smoking.  Luckily there was an exit I was able to take, the last and only exit for miles.  As soon as I took the exit the whole car lost power, no power steering, and no brakes.  I had to drive the car into some sand and pull the e-brake to get us to stop.  Yes I was freaking out, which made Ashton freak out, yes it was 100 degrees outside, and no we were not near ANYTHING!  There was a lot of drama with in the next 5+ hours that involved us being stranded in the hot car for over an hour before we could get a tow truck, and then being stuck in Bakersville for the rest of the time at a gas station while we waited for someone to come pick us up.  Did I mention we were driving a Land Rover, ya that explains a lot huh?

If I went into all the details of all the craziness that went on while stranded this post would never end.  After the initial freaking out in the car the rest of the situation was just completely laughable.  I usually get so nervous before any kind of trip, but felt completely calm and ready for this one.  I never even dreamt anything like this would happen!  We were on schedule to arrive in Palm Desert at 3:00pm but got there at 10 instead.  However the next day was spent completely relaxing and playing in the pool.

I have been obsessed with taking Ashton swimming and was so excited for his big debut in his swimming suit.

We swam.

We napped.

We had staring contests with the dog.

And we swam some more.

 We laughed and caught up on life.

 And I remembered why I love these kids so much!  

Tuesday we took one last walk down El Paseo before heading to the airport.   

Before the whole car breaking down thing I was so nervous to fly with Ashton, but after surviving all that, I felt like I could conquer anything!  Ashton did amazing, I loved having my little man with me so much and I secretly love all the attention he gets from everyone.  Just to top of our crazy trip, he had a blow out on the plane, I was too mortified to get up and try and get to the plane bathroom, plus I hadn't brought an extra change of clothes for me so we just sat there covered in poop for about an hour.  I apologize to all the passengers next to us who had to endure that smell the whole time.  So embarrassing...

Even though my first Mother's Day wasn't spent the way I had imagined I still loved Ashton and I's little adventure.  I just love being his Mom and I am so grateful to have him in my life.  Jason, as always, was super thoughtful and got me treats for my drive, a new gym outfit, and a super awesome kite.  

How he comes up with these ideas I don't know, but I love it! We also spent the Saturday before I left in Park City shopping and going out to eat with his family.  

I sure do love my life, car disasters and all.