Happy Halloween!

So Aspen and I had fun today. I decided to not do ANY work, and to just play with her. We played makeup and dressup, and went to a carnival, and trick or treating. It was a fun day. She dressed up as Cinderella, and I dressed up (I know...amazing, since I HATE dressing up) as a Witch...since it was the only last minute, I feel guilty I'm not a better more fun mother, and I should give Aspen good memories of me as a fun mom, costume that I could come up with.

She was EXHAUSTED before we'd even finished. I kept trying to get her to wake up and be excited about trick-or-treating again, hence the "seriously?" look on Ashton's face in the picture. On our last stop, we went to My Brother in law's Jon's, and Aspen's little cousin "K" was there. Aspen turned to "K" who was also dressed as a Princess and said, "You're cute like me!" It was SOOO cute and had me bustin up.

We practiced all day saying trick-or-treat, and responding with "I'm a princess" when asked what she was dressed up as. It was a tough job. I tried really hard to teach her to only go for the chocolate when options were given...but she wouldn't do it. She only wanted the dang smarties, and I HATE smarties. She must have known I wouldn't steal those from her. Bummer. I tried so hard. (Thanks for the tip Felicia...I will have to teach her EARLIER next year...maybe the hand slapping should be applied. ha ha)

Here are some pics. Check out how much my babe and I look alike. We tried to pull the same facial expressions. All in all, it was a nice day with my baby girl. Aspen, I LOVE you my girl. Thanks for the great day and the fun memories!

What a fast month!

Wow! Where did this month go?? I blinked and it was gone. Yikes! I never get the time to get done everything I would like to. I would love the freedom to just do those things I'd like to. Like decorate my house...work on Christmas presents that I wanted to have done, etc.

But we did do one thing I wanted to do this month, we took Aspen to the Pumpkin Walk. My dad use to take me every year as a child, then we'd have hot chocolate afterwards. I wanted to share it with Aspen. She had a blast even though it was cold. Her favorite part though was the bus ride...sad...I know. But she did like seeing all the pumpkins, but not having to be stuck in a backpack. (Much easier to contain her though). Other than that though, not much else besides school has gotten done. It's been a very busy month. I hope next month does not go so quickly.

I also did a photoshoot for a friend of mine, and need to do more for my photography class. If anyone doesn't mind an amateur and would like to model for me before next Thursday, let me know! Ha ha. I'm VERY much an amateur right now, but hope to keep improving.

Here's some pics of my cute lil one, and the pumpkin walk.

She is growing up so quickly, and she is such a smart little thing. I love her so much.

Oh, and Happy 103rd Birthday to my Grandma Peck tomorrow! LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!

tag

So this tag was on the Keslers blog, and since I have nothing to blog about right now, I figured I'd do it.

8 Favorite TV shows...
I really don't watch T.V. that often, so I don't think I have 8 favorites, but I will list what I do occasionally watch some episodes of when I am bored...
1. Friends
2. House (except the crazy one's that I skip over - the mean guy makes me laugh)
3. The Office
4. Oprah
5. Super Why of course...since we watch it everyday (Aspen's favorite really)
6. American Idol
7. Anything with music
8. Is it just me, or are they alowing more and more nudity to be seen on T.V.?? Scary! I have been shocked more than a number of times...wondering if it's worth having cable T.V...

8 Favorite Restaurants...
1. Costa Vida
2. Olive Garden
3. Any Japanese Steakhouse
4. Takara Sushi
5. Chile's
6. Sweetly Divine (does that count?)
7. Happy Sushi
8. El Toro

8 things that happened yesterday...
1. School - ceramics...hate it
2. Worked
3. Took night pictures for class
4. made dinner
5. made dessert
6. had some friends over for dessert
7. carved pumpkins
8. played with Aspen

8 things to look forward to...
1. Getting pregnant someday hopefully
2. a HOME of our OWN
3. Getting done with school
4. Christmas
5. Family time
6. LEAVES - love when they start falling and all the pretty colors
7. decorating my home when I have time and money
8. the weekend

8 things I love about Fall...
1. The colors
2. SWEATERS!!
3. curling up in a blanket
4. leaves crunching beneath my feet
5. jackets
6. Means it's closer to Christmas
7. pumpkins
8. treats

8 things on my wishlist...
1. to be done with school
2. peace in the world
3. a home of our own
4. financially independent
5. do a job I like doing instead of what I currently do
6. become a great photographer
7. a wide angle lens for my camera
8. another baby (maybe twins...boy and girl...since I want another girl and Ashton is begging for a boy)

Thanks Alexa - that was fun.

One Year Ago today

Today it has been one year since my dad passed away. It seems like it has been a lot longer in some ways, and in others, like it was yesterday. I've been wondering all day how the rest of my family; siblings, mom, grandma, aunts, uncles...are feeling about the day or what they are thinking. Are they sad? at peace? Thinking about it too? I wish we all talked more about it. My Uncle Joe, my dad's brother is wonderful about sharing with me how he feels about missing my dad. I've appreciated that.

I've also contemplated how I feel today. It's a true statement that time heals all wounds, but it never seems to remove the missing for me. I miss dad. It doesn't hurt as badly now as it did, but I can still feel that emptiness; that void that is left without dad here. THe feeling that makes me stop and press my fist over my heart as a tear comes to my eye and I catch my breath as the thought "I miss you dad" enters my mind. I love that feeling though, as sad as it makes me, because it reminds me of how much I loved; love my dad, and that he means so much to me in my life.

One year ago today, ShaMayne my sister called me with the dreaded news, and many of us were drawn to my Grandma Pecks house. Maybe we were hopind his spirit would be there with Grandma, or maybe we just needed the strength that she has to offer, being the amazing woman she is. I'll never forget how my Uncle Dave took me in his arms and just let me cry without saying a word. Not only that, he cried along with me, and that meant a lot to me. To have someone share in my grief with me. He let me know it was okay to cry, to feel that pain. It comforted me greatly.

I'm thankful to have family, and to know that I will be able to be with my dad again someday. I will always miss him. What a great guy this earth lost.

Prayer Time

Yesterday night when it was time for prayers, Aspen informed us it was HER TURN. We thought, ok, here it goes, because she didn't want OUR HELP. She wanted to "DO IT MYSELF". So we were surprised when she started the prayer out right, prayed for things she hears us pray for, like work and school, and a good night, and ended the prayer the right way! We were so proud!

She is growing SOO fast! She picks up on everything we do or say (scary!) and she is so sweet. She's been great with going potty - even on her OWN now, which is nice. And she dresses herself and feeds herself. I hardly feel needed anymore except for hugs and kisses. She grew too fast. Too bad we haven't been able to get her a little sibling to play with. She gets so bored with just me around. These little sweet spririts from our Father in Heaven sure grow fast!

New York Trip

Well, thanks to a nice painful shot of steroids in my behind yesterday night, after my lungs decided to quit working, and my pneumonia decided it wasn't going to go away, and some nice strong meds from the Doctor, I can NOW think a little better since I don't have chills and body aches making me useless. So here is my update finally!

We flew into New York on Thurday night and stayed with a family that Michelle use to Nanny for. They have a set of twin girls. I coughed most the way there, so I was quite exhausted. We ate, went to sleep, all adventurous. Friday we got up and went to the Temple. It was very interesting. Definetely different from Logan Temple. But still SO peaceful and nice. That night we went to the Broadway play "Hairspray" I was really excited about going because I have never seen a broadway play, but I got the chills and had an asthma attack right before it started, and I was MISERABLE during the play because I was freezing cold while my body was heating WAY up. By the end of the play, I was in tears and aching, and chilled to the bone, while my face felt like it could fry an egg. I was pretty sick. I thought I'd pass out, but managed not to. Saturday I mostly stayed in bed since I was so sick, while Michelle went to her friends wedding. I didn't get out of bed until after noon, then I just sat around all day and coughed and felt sick as a dog. Sunday we spent time with the family we were staying with and I STILL had a fever. Monday I had to go out in the city and take pictures for Photography, but I didn't spend a great amount of time on it, because I was freezing, and aching still. I just wanted to go home. So that was basically New York for me. Not what I expected it to be. I was looking forward to fun and rest. Ah well. So is life. I missed my baby, I haven't been away from her that long before and I really missed her. So here are some pics we took and sorry for the long story. journals sake of course.

I will be glad when this pneumonia is gone and I quit having asthma attacks. Life will be a little more pleasant.

I hate being sick!

yup, that's the title of my post today. I HATE BEING SICK!! UGH! I am in New York City with my friend Michelle. I've been here since Thursday. But I've been SICK the WHOLE blasted time! I've had a fever off and on for 4 days now, and a terrible caugh. So my week of rest, has been ANYTHING BUT REST! Ugh again. We did get to go to the New York Temple, which was nice, because I have never been to any Temple but the Logan one, but that was the only time I felt good this whole trip. We went to a broadway play and walked around central park (pics to come) But I haven't enjoyed it as much as I'd like to because I've been so sick. But I've had a good time being able to visit with my friend Michelle. I've never really gone on a trip anywhere with a friend, so it's been fun for that reason. Tomorrow we go home. And I'm glad, because I really miss my little girl and Ashton. And home. And I have a LOT of work to catch up on. It really has been a crappy 6 or 7 mths. I have had one thing after the other wrong for the past 6 or 7 mths. I'm really not sure what my body is doing, and neither do my doctors. yes, I said doctors. I've been to SOO many, I'm about to give up. I can't seem to get well and stay well. I've been trying to cut out bad foods, eat really healthy, take vitamins, drink water. I just still am not getting well. it's stupid really.

Anyway. Today I have to go take pictures in Central Park for my photography class, so I better finish getting ready. School is busy busy. I never knew I'd have to spend so much time on it all.