I love this girl!

After we went to the salon on Ashlyn's birthday we went over to the mall to get her pictures taken. I thought that she looked so grown up and I wondered where all the time has gone. I can't believe that she is seven. I know every mom says this but it really does seem just like yesterday that she was such a tiny baby. I have loved her so much from when she was that little until now and I very much look forward to growing with her for so many more years to come.

Ashlyn is my oldest so she sometimes gets the raw end of the deal. I expect alot out of her, and I think that in a way that has made her a very strong personality but also a very accomplished little gal. She really is so smart and excels beyond most expectations. She is a good big sister to Carly and that makes me so happy.

Some of her favorite things are playing outside, reading, High School Musical {especially Troy, yes, at seven}, Hannah Montana, and being with her friends. She is becoming so independent that it sometimes makes me sad, but at the same time I'm so grateful that she can help herself.

I can't imagine my life without sweet Ashlyn. She is a giant part of who I am and the reason that I set new goals each day. I hope she will someday forgive me for all the mistakes that I have made and will make. Above all I hope that she can live her life being happy and finding the things that will complete her. She is a beautiful girl and I love her so much.

Ashlyn's 7th Birthday

Last Saturday was Ashlyn's birthday. I can't believe she is 7 {and already such a diva, I think we are truly in trouble}. Her big day has never fallen this close to Easter before, so we had a busy weekend. We had a bunch of her friends over for a party in the morning. It was so cute. We had them all come in their pjs {which made them so excited, it was hilarious} and Shane made a big breakfast where we let them decorate their pancakes with whipped cream, cherries, etc. Who knew that smiley face pancakes would be such a hit! Then, since it was Easter weekend, we sent them on an Egg Hunt. I hid so many eggs that it kept them busy for awhile and it was so cute to see them running around as fast as they could. I couldn't keep up to get very many good pictures--they were too fast.

Ashlyn wasn't too picky about what her cake was going to look like. She wanted it to look like an egg, but I talked her into cupcakes. {Very smart on my part, I must say}. It saved me hours of cake making...and the cupcakes turned out pretty cute.

After the party I took Ashlyn to the salon to get her nails and hair done. This has become a pretty fun little tradition for us. Ashlyn was quite thrilled with her hair {you can see it in the last picture}. We got pictures taken and then told her she could pick wherever she wanted to go for dinner. The big decision...Purple Turtle. Whatever.

Ashlyn was pretty spoiled by everyone who knows her. And on several occasions throughout the day she played the part of that super spoiled diva perfectly. In fact, I didn't know if Shane was going to make it.

Thank you to all who helped make her day {actually several days} a special treat for her.

Are You Mad?

Alongside the beginning of college football season in the fall, March Madness is a favorite time of year for me. It brings out my competitive, gambling, smack-talking {even though this year there isn't much for me to smack about other than BYU choking...} personality. For sports lovers this can be as exciting as Christmas. Seriously, I am one of those people that doesn't get a thing done during the madness because I'm glued to my tv from 11:00 game time to the last game in the evening {many of Shane's friends have told him how lucky he is to have such a sports enthusiast for a wife, but I am very much underappreciated, I must say}. I figure if there really are people around the country who take sick days for basketball, then why can't I.

The first round is my favorite because upsets happen and it seems that almost every game goes down to the wire. I love seeing the losers cry and the winners rejoice. There usually aren't many fights, but when there are I sure do love 'em. I love sitting on the couch with my orange marker, highlighting the crap out of my brackets. I love comparing brackets to see if I'm doing better or worse. I love, love, love it all.

I'm thinking this year my big money is on North Carolina. I wasn't thinking that way a few days ago, but this morning I made up my mind. Just thought you'd like to know. Oh, and let me in on how your brackets are doing, because I'd love to know I'm beating you! Oh, the madness!

Will You Take Me Back?

This last week has been so hard. Will you take me back? While I absolutely did have some extra time to get things accomplished, I sure missed you all. I guess that I will just have to live with the fact that I'm truly addicted. It could be worse, right? I remind myself that I am basically keeping a journal while I sit here and blog away, so I'm doing myself and my posterity a favor. Someday, my family will thank me {even if it means that some nights they may have cereal for dinner}. There are worse things in life, that's for sure {like oversudsy laundry soap, which is a whole other post for a later time...}

I have been thinking about why I love this blog thing so much, and why I find myself totally addicted. First, as I mentioned above, it's like a journal. Because life has kept me busy enough to forget writing in my journal more than a few times a year, I always justified the time I spent working on my scrapbook. Now, I can justify my computer time, because I post things that may otherwise be forgotten. On the flip side, I feel that I have gotten to know some of my blogging friends better through their writing. When someone posts 100 facts about themselves, there is usually something in there that I didn't know, and that would not likely come up in a conversation. I have found old friends that I hadn't spoken to in over a year, and now I feel like they are closer. I truly love this bloggin' connection that I have found, and it's so worth the time spent. Now go post something, cause I love to see my google reader full.

I'll Relapse for Birthdays

I know, I know. I'm not supposed to be here {and this has been Oh. So. Hard. Especially because I have the funniest video of Ashlyn to post, but it will have to wait. The break-up is still on.} But, I did have to get on very quickly to give a shout out to my Papa {grandpa} and my cutest little niece Ivy. Today is Ivy's first birthday. Papa's was Tuesday. Carly and I got to visit Papa on his birthday and give him the oh so elaborate Snickers. But, we are missing "baby Ivy" {that's what the girls call her} today. Happy Birthday to you both. We love you.

I even had a picture of them both together. Precious.

A Necessary Break-Up

My name is Megan. And I'm an internet addict.

As I've been watching Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, I've realized something. I have an addictive personality {duh, I already knew that...}. I have dependencies. My current substance is the internet, particularly all of your cute blogs. I use my computer to start my day, end my day, and whenever I'm bored {which sometimes includes when I just don't feel like getting my housework/mom duties done}. I have often found myself wondering out loud how much more I could get done in a day if I only had another hour or two. Dr. Drew has helped me realize that I can create that extra hour for myself, if I just stay off of the computer. So, because I have a busy week coming up, I'm breaking up with Mr. Blogworld. I will miss you all, and I will be checking up on you in a few days {which will seem like a long time because I currently check up at least a couple times a day. It sounds pathetic doesn't it.}. I'm aware that I will probably go through a withdrawl period {all of my celebrity friends did}, and that it may involve some trembling and tears. I'm prepared for the rocky road. I must do this for myself and my family. I promise, it's not you, it's me.

Back to Sunshine

Yesterday was such a great day outside--it gave me a grand case of Spring Fever. So, Flashback Friday is taking us back to the sunshine. These pictures were actually taken in the summer {August 2007} but the concept is the same. We love being outside and the girls are anxious to be out riding their bikes and playing with all of the neighborhood friends. I hope that Mother Nature is gearing up for Spring and that this isn't just a tease.

Carly is my best little friend during the day. We have such great times together at home. I love the one on one time that we get to have together. She is such a happy little girl and is very content most of the time to do whatever is scheduled for the day. {Our favorite days, though, are those that end up just like this was, when there is nothing scheduled and we can just play together}

When I took these pictures I was disappointed that they didn't turn out. Now I love the light in them--they are some of my favorites. Happy Friday.

It's Midnight, Are You Thirsty?

For Christmas, my parents gave us new appliances for our basement kitchenette. We had this little mini fridge down there, but it didn't fit. So, when we got a new one, I asked Shane what we should do with this old one. He got this big smile on his face, picked up the fridge, and walked away. I should've known something was up {when will I learn}, but I continued to clean up downstairs. Just a few short minutes later, Shane was yelling for me. I could tell he was very excited about something. As I wandered into our bedroom {which, by the way, now looks more like a bachelor pad}, Shane is posing like a Price Is Right girl over his new baby. A fridge in my bedroom. Even better, it was already stocked {remember, this had only been minutes, my friends} with sodas and water. Not only was the fridge a new addition to our room, but it had taken the place of his night stand! He moved that over to make room for his cold ones, because heaven forbid that they not be within reach at any given moment.

I do have to laugh every night since, because it never fails as I climb into bed, Shane will no doubt say "Can I get you a Coke?" I wonder if he will be coming up with these funny things well into our 90's. I'm thinking probably yes.

What Did I Tell Ya?

After my last post about becoming a Ute, my Daddy surprised me with a little gift. And I love, love, love it. I told you he was the best...

The Year I Became a Ute

My friend Angie left me a comment that she never knew I was a Ute. I had to laugh because I have often found, here in Utah County, that everybody assumes that everyone around them is a True-Blue Cougar. Our bishop made a comment to Shane last week that he thought it was funny to see me walking around with my 2 girls, wearing my Utah sweatshirt. {I had to laugh at that--what did he mean? Good moms can't be Utah fans? Just kidding--I love our Bishop}. So, because today is also the big rivalry basketball game between the two teams, I decided to fill everybody in on how I became a Ute. For those of you who care nothing about sports, this won't mean much to you. But around here, this is a big deal.
I was in third grade. Before this age, I don't remember a thing about sports, or caring about any particular team. The year was 1986. I remember because I was 8 {are you getting my enthusiasm, and sarcasm, on this topic}. Now, when it appeared that most everybody around me cheered for BYU, I went ahead and tried that, for like, a minute. But it never felt right. Something felt terribly dorky about the whole thing--like we were all just a bunch of robots. Then, one day it hit me. It came down to 2 cute boys, really. One was named Bruce, and the other was my daddy. Now, Bruce was the boy in my class who came to school everyday wearing something with Utah on it {his whole family was this way, it was awesome--they were our neighbors, too}. And my daddy, well, I've explained before how spectacular he is. So, I decided, that if my crush and my daddy were going red, then I was too! And about this time, when I started showing some interest in Big Red, my daddy started taking me to games. We went to football games, basketball games, and even gymnastics meets. I remember him teaching me all about what was going on, and before too long I was in love--with college football especially. I've never looked back. Each and every day I've stood stronger and been more proud. Being a BYU graduate didn't even shake me.
Now, friends, it's not too late for any of you. I love you and I want to help you. You can join us. You'll see--the most fun and most pretty people go Red.