What have we been up to??

Once we returned from our trip to Mongolia, we (Ash) were all set and ready to work on the yard. Ash worked so hard. We went on lots of motorcycle rides looking for ideas of what we both liked. Ash even spent time looking online for tips and ideas.
The finished product makes our house look as if it is really lived in. It is amazing what landscape can do to the look of the house. We still need trees and bushes but I think it looks amazing. Thanks honey for working so hard!

Of course, it would not be Ashley's work without horns... :) Gotta love him!

And of course, it wouldn't be fall without the hunt! Ash shot an elk on the 2nd day of his hunt.

And here he is working hard to skin it.

October was homecoming for Pleasant Grove High School. I cannot believe that Lacey is a senior. She is all grown up and beautiful. Her and Braydin are captains of the cheerleading squad and their half time routine was awesome! I love watching her cheer.

And then there is Brooke! Isn't she a beauty as well! She is the assistant coach for the cheer squad!

Ash and my dad were in the stands while Chad and Cami were playing with friends, which is why it is just my mom, Brooke, Lacey and I in the picture below. I love my sisters and mom so much! They are amazing and my best friends. They are always there when I need a friend, or need to tell my funny stories, or cry. I love them!

Cami turned 11 on 10/10/10! She is growing up so fast!

Other than the pictures above, Ash and I have been working a lot! :) Ash is still going to school and I am still loving my jobs! I will have to post some pictures. But I have done hair for a couple of the brides that got married at The Canyons this summer. Including my co-worker Brooke, who looked exquisite!

Up next in the chapter of our lives is MY BIRTHDAY!! YIPEE!! The BIG 2 -4!! WOW! So the countdown begins to 10/20/2010!! (I know, Ash makes fun of me that I make such a big deal about my birthday but.. I don't care because.... IT IS MY BIRTHDAY!) -

October 4th, 2010

Last week, on October 4th was our 4 year anniversary! I cannot believe it has been 4 years! We have done so much together and grown so much as a couple.



I can remember the day as if it was yesterday! It was fun to talk about it with Ash and the different parts that we remember!
In 4 years we have traveled to San Francisco, Hawaii, Mexico, Jackson Hole, Florida, China and Mongolia.
In 4 years we have moved from PG to Coalville, from Coalville to Deer Valley, from Deer Valley to Coalville and finally from Coalville to Heber! (Our new home)
In 4 years we have worked... worked and worked some more!
In 4 years we have gone on countless motorcycle rides and adventures to the ranch.
In 4 years we have grown together through trials and heartache. And learned so much about each other.

The day was wonderful.. we worked (of course) and then made dinner together at home and watched a war movie (Romantic.. i know..) snuggled on the couch! Couldn't have been a better day!

I love you honey!!

MONGOLIA!

We landed in Mongolia at 6:30AM. Viewing Mongolia by air that morning was breathtaking. The sky was blue with no clouds, the mountains were so green and it was completely peaceful. It was a perfect way to be introduced to Mongolia.


Ashley has kept in contact with some of his mission companions and they were nice enough to come to the airport to pick us up! They were so excited to see Ash and vice versa. The laughs, memories, and language all came back to Ash so quickly. It was wonderful to see him in this element. It was like coming back home for him.


We were able to go to church at 2 different buildings. Even though I didn't understand one word, you could feel the spirit. The members there are wonderful. The members were friendly, kind and inviting. Everyone came to shake our hands and introduce themselves.


The members are asked to come to church in their best outfit. And they do. They wear the nicest clothes they have. Their sacrament meeting is a little rowdy, but they are doing their best with what they have.

The little kids in Mongolia are so sweet. They loved our American candy (Swedish Fish and Laffy Taffy).



We went to a grocery store and Ashley ran into another kid he knew from his mission.

Mongolia does not have the best parks, but they do have small carnival rides in the city. This one was super cute. It was a giant kiddie pool with paddle boats in it. The kids were laughing and screaming and having tons of fun.

More posts will be coming about our trip to Mongolia. I am so thankful that my husband chose to devote 2 years of his life to serving the Lord in the country of Mongolia. Right before we left for our trip, Ash found all of his mission journals and let me read them. He described some of his companions who we met and places that we were able to visit. You could feel his love for the country through his words.
While Ash was on his mission he bought a Mongolian Wedding Band for his future wife. On our first wedding anniversary Ash took me to dinner and gave me this pink, older ring box shaped in a heart. He opened it up and it was a Mongolian Wedding Band. He put it on my finger and it was a PERFECT fit. The ring he picked was just for me. That night was such an incredible spiritual experience. Ash and I wore our Mongolian Wedding Bands on this trip and it made it all the more special!

CHINA!

The trip started out with our SUPER airplane ride from Seattle to Beijing! I have this weird fear that I am going to get sick from the circulating air in the plane so I came prepared! I had my hand sanitizer, mask and my eye shades! I even had some gloves and sanitizing wipes but everyone convinced me that was going a LITTLE overboard.. :)

We made it to the Great Wall of China! It is amazing! The architecture was beautiful. The stairs were VERY uneven. Some steps were so small you could not consider them a step and some were tall enough that you had to literally climb up it. As I am walking up the stairs, a young Chinese couple stood directly in front of me. I thought I was in their way so I apologized and moved to the other side of the staircase. They pull out their cameras and want to take my picture. So the man stood next to me, made the peace sign and we took a picture! It was so funny!


Isn't he soo handsome! Ash planned our WHOLE trip- It was incredible to spend 2 1/2 weeks with him in 2 foreign countries!
To be honest, I preferred the food in China as opposed to Mongolia. But we did visit some tourist restaurants. There are just random carts on the street selling food on sticks. There were snakes, sea horses, fish and even octopus! It smelled so gross!

China had these "EXERCISE PARKS" filled with hundreds of people in the morning stretching, exercising and working out. It was very interesting to see. They had such confidence in stretching in front of so many other people. I highly doubt that "EXERCISE PARKS" would be a popular item in America... .

This is near Tian Men Square- The building behind us is a government building.


Shopping was probably my favorite part! This market was incredible. There were vendors selling the same thing, grabbing your arm and trying to convince you that their price was lower than the vendor next to them. It so fun to talk the vendors into giving us a lower price. Ash was much better at bargaining than I was.. I got a pair of Puma's for $5 and a Coach Purse for $15. She originally wanted me to buy it for $190. SO MUCH FUN! There was so many different vendors: Watches, purses, shoes, wallets, jewelry, kitchenware, IPODs, and SO MUCH more! One little lady was literally holding on to my mother-in-laws arm and would not let her go until she purchased the bag!

We ended our China adventure in the Chinese airport. Our flight to Mongolia left at 3:30AM Sunday morning. This is Brandon and my bed was next to his. Ash had already started to find some Mongolians and was excited to begin speaking the language!

Almost Time...

It's almost time for our trip to Mongolia!

I am so excited to be able to spend time in the country that my husband loves. To meet some of the people that he touched and served. To hear him speak the language all the time and guide me around a foreign country with his knowledge of the land. I am excited to have the opportunity to go to church while we are there- Although I will not be able to understand anything I know it is going to be amazing. I am so thankful that my husband chose to serve the Lord for 2 years. I have been putting together his scrapbook from his mission. He was smiling in EVERY picture. The pictures of him baptizing families in the river is so beautiful- I can't wait to go visit those places I have seen in pictures.

I am a little nervous since I have never really been out of the country. (We went on a cruise to Mexico but I don't think that counts.) I am kind of a picky eater.. OKAY I AM TOTALLY A PICKY EATER! I want to bring a 5lb bag of pretzels and boxes of crackers. But I know I am going to have to be polite and try the food when we are invited to eat with some of the people.

I am getting my camera ready, with extra memory sticks. I cannot wait to document this whole adventure.

Wish me luck!

Arizona!!

Last weekend was so fun! My friend, Bre and I went to Arizona! The sun was amazing. I wish it would visit Utah for a while! Our adventure, once we landed started with a total rip-off called a RENTAL CAR! We were quoted $60 and it ended up being close to triple that amount.. BUMMER!
No worries- we did not let that put a damper on our trip!

Evidence below, that the sun was shining! Even at 6AM it was bright and sunny!
LOVED IT!

The view from where we were laying out for the day! The pool was amazing! We stayed at the Wigwam Golf Resort and Spa.. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL!

Our hotel room was so large. The closet was huge, nice kitchen area, large bathroom and lots of space!!

A necessity!
Lastly, a picture of my shining face while enjoying laying out!

The Sun, a good book, an ice water, shopping and girl talk... All elements of a fantastic weekend!!

Lou goes to Prom!

My little sister Lacey went to Prom this last weekend! Her & Cody started the day out with a four-wheeler ride and lunch from Subway. Then she came home and got ready for the dance! It was so much fun to help her get ready for her date! Lacey is beautiful and is growing up so fast!
Ash came down with me for the day! He is such a trooper! He grew up with one brother so to come hang out at my family's house is sometimes a little overwhelming with all the females! Then Chad had to stick his finger up his nose for a picture.. Typical 12 year old boy I guess.