We spent a week up at my parents house in Idaho.  The kids had a lot of fun in the leaves with their cousins, Abbey and Cameron.

My dad was diagnosed with colon cancer about 3 years ago while they were on their mission at the London England Temple.  When they discovered the cancer it was already at stage 4.  For the first 2 years he was on chemo and when the chemo finally stopped working for him (almost a year ago) he went off it. He has done really well until the last few weeks.  We try to spend as much time with him as possible and spending time helping my mom.  He has always been such an amazing example to me.  He is kind, loving and funny.  I couldn't have asked for a better father in this life.

Halloween again

Halloween is normally my favorite holiday (except Christmas of course).  However these past couple of years I have not been in the mood.  Normally I go all out and decorate my house like a haunted house at a carnival.  Last year I went all out but got so sick of the house being so messy that I took them down the day before Halloween. This year I put up some lights and leaves and the kids threw the grave stones in the yard and we called it good.  I'd even forgotten about costumes this year.  Until 4 days ago when the kids asked what they were going to be for Halloween.  We always have a ward chili cook-off where the kids wear costumes.  So we did a little searching on Pinterest and came up with some fun costumes. 

Ethan of course thinks he is to old (I don't think anyone is to old to dress up) and he has to work on Halloween.  

Emery decided to be Josh Dun, the drummer from the band Twenty One Pilots.

(I know YIKES right?) 

 

 Nate wanted to be the Riddler from Batman Arkham City video game. It was really fun making his costume.  I found a green jacket at DI and then sewed the lapels and the tie added a ? here and there.  But the funnest part is the cane.  It is made out of 2x2 wood pieces and a wood dowel. 

And Will wanted to be a cross walk sign!  His is my favorite.  It's a cute costume, however he won't be able to go trick-or-treating while holding the sign, so we will have to figure something else out. 

 So those are our fun kids and the super fun costumes!  Another year of candy and having fun! 

um...years?

Since Instagram came around I haven't blogged (obviously) in years.  All my pictures are either there or Facebook.  But as a random thought I started reading old blog posts and laughed at my cute kids and realized I miss the journal entries that go with a blog.  So...since it's been to many years to catch up, I'll just start from now and try to remember to add stuff every once in a while.

Ethan is 16 almost 17 and a Junior at Alta High School.  He works at Papa Johns pizza, drives and is an amazingly awesome kid!  Who knew he would turn out so good?


Emery is 14, a Freshman at Alta High School, and is so much fun!  I am in Young Women's with her and am enjoying every minute.  She is constantly down in her room listening to music and drawing.

Nate is 12 going on 20.  He is in 7th grade at Indian Hills Middle School. He's so talented and funny!  He's in Young Men's and scouts and loves it!  He can whistle amazingly!  I mean, he can really whistle!

Will is the happiest 10 year old ever!  He is so happy, again, who knew "One screaming Will" would be so happy?  He is in 5th grade at Altara Elementary, my last in elementary school.  He is smart and loves people and has so many friends.


Josh is finishing up his military career!  He is retiring in March 2016 after serving for 20+ years.  We are still debating jobs and where we will live when that day arrives.  Josh also loves to write!  He is working on a huge fantasy novel, written several short stories, won several awards for some and has a few up on Amazon to purchase.

I am working at Alta High School in the Media Center.  Basically I am a librarian.  I am also working for Loralee Lewis managing her website and Etsy shop.  I love to create and design! I love to backpack and run!  I will be running a half marathon in November. 

Oh yea, we also have 2 cats....ugh...Kitty and Batman.

(These are just some random pictures I happened to have on my laptop) 

 Ethan and Emery at Youth Conference (What a sweet brother!) June 2015

 Kids playing Rumikub on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. August 2015

(they really do like each other)

 Rexburg Temple - August 2015 Will (not quite old enough yet) Ethan, Barron, Nate, Cameron, Emery.

 Ethan at his canoeing/kayak scout camp June-2015

 Ashton family-walking at the wetlands October 2015

Emery's bold new haircut! May 2015

 

 Nate 250+ mile bike trip with the scouts!  June-2015

Will Pine Valley Ashton family reunion September 2015

Sequoia National Park

Our big family vacation was going to be camping in Sequoia National Park for a couple of nights and then heading to the coast and seeing Monterey.

Well we started out great!  We stayed a couple of nights at Jake and Susie's house in St. George.  (Very fun by the way)
Sunday we got up very early in the morning and were heading into Sequoia. But they all started to get very sick about the time we hit the mountains.  (we assumed car sick)

Ethan and Emery sick in the car.

 

The entrance to Sequoia National Park!

Emery, Ethan, Nate and Will

 

Josh and Kara Sequoia National Park

 

But we got in, saw a few amazing trees, General Sherman for one, and then set up camp, ate dinner, had a campfire and went to bed.

 

The pine cone that almost killed Will.  

This pine cone fell about a foot behind Will as we were walking on a trail.

I have never seen pine cones so big (and no these are not from Sequoia trees.  Sequoia's have pine cones the size of chicken's eggs)

 

In the middle of the night Emery woke up very sick!  Luckily she threw up outside of the tent.  She was up all night throwing up.  The next morning she said she felt better and so we carried on.

(We did get to see one little bear in our campground)

 

Moro Rock...WOW what a view!!!

 

Emery was completely TERRIFIED!  The trail was straight down on either side with nothing but a couple of bars like you see in the picture.  But she did it and in the end she was so proud of herself! (I was kinda proud too.  Way to go Emery!)

 

Will and a giant Sequoia!

 

Nate the butterfly whisperer!

Ethan was now not feeling well.  So we thought he would be the one to get sick.  Nope, Emery again was sick, but this time couldn't get the zipper open on the tent in time!  It was another VERY long night.

The next morning we decided to scrap the Monterey part of the trip, stay a night in a hotel to get cleaned up and head home. (Which was a very good idea I might add!)

On the drive home I mentioned to Josh that I had always wanted to see Death Valley.  So we took a 5 hour detour (The kids were all much better) and headed into the hottest place in the US in the hottest month of the year!  Crazy?  Probably.

 Josh said "So there is a place in Hell for Mormons!"

But it was fun....at least for Josh and I!  The kids liked it until we made them get out of the car in the 118* heat and walk out on the salt flats in the middle of nothing :)  (we are such good parents)

People were boiling eggs on the sidewalks.  118* (the week before it was 128*)

  

 Another classic picture!!!  Will was so mad at me!  But I just think he looks so cute in his little ranger hat turned around refusing to let me take his picture! 

 Something we will never forget and hey, now the kids can check Death Valley off their lists of places they never have to go. 

Will's Birthday!

Will's birthday was on vacation, so we did his cake and presents the day before we left.  

Since it was the day before and it was very last minute I just quickly made cup cakes....

 He will forever be a tractor and truck boy.....

 Hyrum, Sam, Jonah, Ethan and Noah...

 For some reason I love this picture...He was hiding as we were singing Happy Birthday!

 By the way, thanks Abe for getting my kid a real cake!  :)

Horses!

In June a good friend of ours invited us up to her cabin up in Kamas. Just a couple of us girls and our kids.  We had a blast.  The kids especially!  She had horses that the kids took turns riding all day!!! 

Will and Dallin...

 Nate...and the filly

 Emery....(she was so scared...but wouldn't let it show)

 Ethan....he was quite the horseman. 

 Maggie, Will, Ethan, Ruby, Tyson, and Austin (Emery coming down the path)

 Dallin, Ian, and Will...stick weapons.

 Nate and Ruby...my kids love that sweet little girl!

 Nate and Luke!

 The girls!!  Maggie, Sydni and Emery!

 Lunch! 

Entire crew!