Ashlyn is 6

Ashlyn turned 6 yesterday. She already thinks that she is 6 1/2 today! Time flies, but not that fast! She has such a big personality on the inside. It is not hard for her to run the show. She plays a real good teenager impression (too bad it isn't an impression) but she can be so kind and gentle (most often when she is not in my presence, I hear this from others.) Yet she is still so small on the outside. I realize just how young she is when I see her walk home from school with the older kids. Not to mention she still wears toddler size shoes!

So tonight we had German pancakes for dinner- her favorite.

I lover her to pieces because... 1. She is a great shopping buddy 2. She is an amazing artist 3. She gives the best hugs 4. She tells me when I look good or when I don't, and she is usually right 5. She loves shoes just as much as I do 6. She is a thoughtful friend

Ashlyn asked for a Ocean Birthday party... Her wish is my command...
The waves, bubbles, and fishing net...The fish cake...The ocean water with fish ice cubes...We enjoyed some great weather on Ashlyn's birthday so we played a few games outside.

Octopus Ring toss...

We timed everyone's crab walk...

Until someone stole the cones...

The kids loved tossing the water balloons! One side of the cannon...

And the other side...

No one really got very wet so we had to hose them down...

I can sum up what Ashlyn received (and asked for) for her birthday in just two words- shoes & Barbies- and she is darn happy about it.

Cake, ice cream and an entertaining movie- Barbie Mermaid Tale 2!!! Whew, it's over!

Continued learning

This is something I am really proud of. Not the kind of proud I get when I finish a sewing project, much more than that.

I was recently called as the RS pianist in my ward. I can play the piano but not great, so I knew this was going to be a great opportunity for me to work on it. However, it is more work than I had hoped. This week I have been working on this song...
If you look closely it is really marked up. It is a 6/8 time signature. I realized I haven't had any good experience with this time signature. The first day I felt like I was reading Japanese. I buckled down and had to write every single count in. Now that I am on day 5 of practicing I have picked the speed up to where it is supposed to be and I am not counting every single count anymore. Whew! But I am proud because I have worked really hard. I considered asking if the song could be changed to a simpler one, but I stuck with it. I learned a lot from this. I am also proud to tell Dylan, who is taking lessons, that even I have to practice really hard on pieces that are difficult and then it gets easier.

So here's to my slow, old fingers and my poor eye-hand coordination- or so it feels.

Our First Blue and Gold

The begging of the end has arrived! Dylan has begun his scouting career. He received his Bob Cat award at our Blue and Gold banquet a few weeks ago. Luckily he shared this big first as well as his baptism with his good buddy Ben...He has already mentined more than once how much he loves scouts and how he wishes every night was scouts. He also loves his den leader, Jane, who also gave the most wonderful talk at their baptism. He asks often to go say hi to her since we are kinda neighbors. And of course the best part of every Blue and Gold...the plethora of desert!One of my callings is part of the cub committee. I put together the center pieces. I will have to admit, they turned out rather cute but they took longer to make than I imagined!
Scouting here we come!

Dylan's Baptism

Dylan Connor Thompson, my first born child, was baptized Saturday, March 3rd. I was proud yet so humbled by this wonderful experience. I am amazed that the outstanding young man Dylan has become.

Dylan was baptized by his Dad, and both his Grandfathers were there to be whiteness and to stand in the circle when he received the gift of the Holy Ghost.

We really are proud parents, can't you tell?Even Cami, Connor's sister came down from Cleveland to attend the baptism. All these wonderful people made this day even more special...

We of course had to enjoy the time we had with family in town. We ditched school and wen to the children's museum to make pizza...
And be pirates...
We went to Pullen Park to climb like monkeys...
And pretend to be part of the Swiss family Robinsons. Okay so we really road the carousel till we got sick (well, just Connor)...
And we sailed like captains...
And road like... well, just passengers...
My parents brought with them a lamp my grandfather brought home from Japan, I'm in love...
Of course we had to take advantage of Papa Steve's handy-man skills. Since Corbin is attached to Papa Steve's hip he became quite a good little helper. He put in two new electrical outlets, fixed our stair railing (once and for all), fixed a few drafty windows, re-caulked a shower... And Hung a swing from the deck...
And of course we played hard...
We love and miss you all already! Come back soon!

Father/Daughter Dance

Ashlyn's Elementary school had a Father/Daughter dance . Ashlyn was very excited to get all dolled up for her big date!
After dinner, dancing and a double date with a friend for desert they came home and showed me their new dance moves!