the lack thereof

I know, I have been lacking in the blogging area part of my life. It's funny though, I will go throughout my day and think "oh, that would be good/awesome to blog about"....and never blog about it. Ugh...I'm in front of a computer all day long at work, that is the last thing I want to come home and type...plus there is a wonderful boy in my life as of late.

Something I thought I would share is the different types of, well...animals? insects? we have at our house.I stole this one from Alyssa, she came home one night to this sitting by the garage door opener...YIKES!!

These aren't "unusual" around our house, but it's just fun when you do see them because they're HUGE...and ugly. My mom was watering her flowers one night and he was just hanging out by our swing.

Jake and I were walking up to the front door and I saw this little creature...the bat. *shiver*
He was just hangin out. We took pictures with flashes and watched him for awhile--it didn't even seem to phase him. Yuck, yuck, yuck!!

We get the rattle snakes, black widows, and those nasty huge wolf spiders, but I guess that is what you get for living so close to the mountain. You may remember my story about the snail on my window...now I am use the noises they make and it happens a few times a WEEK. I still truly hate snails...actually, all bugs and insects.

2009 FSA Conference 8/1/09

This years conference (Families Supporting Adoption) was great! Interacting with adoption advocates is always fun, but the best thing is being with Jared, Amanda and Max! Max has grown up so much, it's insane! He is the smiliest, happiest boy and this kid doesn't walk... he RUNS. Making him giggle is the best...he has thee cutest giggle! I love it. I could just eat him up!! It was the best time ever.
I cannot wait to see my Peanut again! I'm sure he will have changed again in that short amount of time. I treasure each moment I get to spend with him and love him so dearly. There is not a day that goes by that I do not think of Max and see his cute smile and bright eyes in pictures or mind. Oh I love that boy.

Happy 4th of July

I am proud to be an American.

1 year old?

Time flies. One year ago today this cute little guy was born. Max Milton. I love this boy more than anything in this world. I am so grateful he was able to come down to this mortal existence to bless not only my life, but Jared and Amanda's. I think about Max several times throughout my days as I see pictures or things that remind me of him and think what a wonderful life he is going to have, what a wonderful year it has been--yet a trialing year as well. Not a lot of babies go through what Max has, and he has been such a trooper throughout the NAM and his surgery.

I am so grateful for adoption. For the opportunities to see pictures of Max, to see him and interact with him, to give him loves, hugs and kisses! It is amazing how the Lord has helped me is so many ways. A lot of people have asked me if adoption has been hard. From the time I chose Jared and Amanda to be Max's parents, there was a connection I felt, they were to be his mom and dad. The Lord knew Max was suppose to be their child, my job was to find them. I don't feel sad when I have to leave after seeing Max, I feel so unbelievably happy that I was able to see him.
Throughout this past year, I have had several opportunities to interact with Max in person and a couple times via web cam! He is an amazingly smart boy and very active! I love Amanda's post of what he is up to lately.. definitely a good read about my baber babers :DWhen Max started smiling it was infectious. You couldn't look at him or his pictures and not smile. Amanda taught him well to be a poser for the camera :) I loved how you would put the camera up or even your phone and he would get the biggest grin, like "I'm ready, take my picture!"
He definitely warms my heart.
I never knew I could possibly love somebody as much as I love Max. Although I don't get to see him grow up every single day, he is in my heart every single day. I cannot believe how fast this year has gone, and how quickly he has grown up into the little boy he is. My mother and I had the opportunity to attend his 1st birthday party on Sunday, June 7, 2009 at Amanda's parents house. I will tell you one thing, that boy is ALL BOY! He is one super crawler--going from here to there, back to here then to there. HAHA I love it.
(I will post those pictures in a separate post, I promise ;) )

My Peanut is 1 year old today.HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAX!
I love you!

Happy 8 Months

He's grown up so fast...

Happy 8 months to my Peanut!!

Are.You.Ready?

There's a lot that has happened in the life of Ashlee since...oh, December.

I was last telling you how I had read Twilight..
Which by the way,
I am now on Breaking Dawn.
I can tell you, they are very good books, and you can't just read the first one... but I do have to say, this last one, is a little on the weird side...
Sorry Stephanie Meyers.
__________

Aside from Twilight, way back in December,
our family had our yearly family Christmas party!
Not only did we get a visit from Santa...
but Jared, Amanda and Max were able to come down!!
Best Christmas party EV-ER.Max was fascinated with Santa's beard and glasses...
So much that he just wanted to pull them right off!


He is a cheeser for the camera!! It was like a magnet...
He could be crying and you could hold the camera up and he'd smile for it :D
Such a cutie.


My nieces and nephews loved to hold Max...
The boys would throw a ball up in the air and Max thought
that was just the most hilarious thing he ever did see,
he was giggling so hard...too cute!



We couldn't get enough of the smiles on camera...
I think he has thee cutest smile EV-ER!


I don't think you can kiss him enough!!
And by the look on his face... I don't think he minds ;)


That had to be the best Christmas present ever.
__________

Christmas came and went fairly quick!
I had a great Christmas...
It was very low key...
Just me and my mom, then the whole fam later that evening,
with the most snow I think I've ever seen on Christmas Day.
It truly was a White Christmas!
We are very grateful Aly and Nick made it home safely in the blizzard they hit in Lehi, in which they were blessed with a good samariten snow plower to guide them home.
__________

January.
The New Year.. New job.. New President..
I do not work at SISEL International anymore..
My last day was December 29 and I started a new job at Circle Pix on December 30!
I'm happy for this new year and what it has in store...
I have set goals this year that I plan to accomplish!

If you didn't notice...
There is a new president in office.
Hopefully he can bring some CHANGE to what is coming of this economy!
__________

On another note...
January 10, 2009
My sweet, adorable, handsome little Max
was blessed and sealed for time and all eternity to the amazing Jared and Amanda.
This picture is priceless.
They are the cutest family EV-ER!!!
I had the opportunity of a life time to go to Max's blessing with my mom.
The Spirit was amazing.
Max looked like a little angel in all his white.
I was able to meet Jared's wonderful parents who
drove all the way from Ohio.
I was able to meet both Jared and Amanda's extended family,
who are all amazing!
I am so grateful for this opportunity and for having
Jared, Amanda and Max in my life.I love my Peanut.
__________

de Funk

n., funk

1. a. A state of cowardly fright; a panic.
b. A state of severe depression.
2. A cowardly, fearful person.

v., funked, funk·ing, funks. v.tr.

1. To shrink from in fright or dread.
2. To be afraid of.

_________

It will end.
It's just that every time I come to blog, I sit here...
b l a n k...
When in reality, I have a lot to blog about.
My head is so mumbo jumbo right now, I don't know
WHAT
TO
SPIT
OUT.
The funk will end soon.
I even use to stalk my regular blogs daily...
that's even in a funk.
I need to catch up on everyone's blogs!
You'd think my life was crazy.
I love you all.
DO stay tuned...

Oh, Edward.

Now that I have read Twilight,

I have unrealistic expectations of men.

I finally finished it. I didn’t read it in two days like everyone else did. I simply kept it at work so I had something to do and read it when I had time. There were parts I wanted to vomit, but I will admit it was pretty good. I will read the rest of the books so I know what happens…well our waiter at IHOP told us what happens after we went and saw the movie,

he was a huge fan.

So, in the end, I didn’t hate it, but I’m not obsessing about it.

It’s a book.

A Day In History.

Today is a very important day...
Today my Peanut's adoption was finalized.

Aren't they the cutest family ev-er?

HAPPY 6 MONTHS!!!

No, I'm not mistaken. That is a 6 that I typed.

Max REALLY IS 6 months old today!

Can you believe it??

I can't.

Where did time go?

The adoption is going to be legalized in a few days...

You know what that means??

Max is getting to be blessed and sealed

to Jared and Amanda

for time and all eternity!

Look at those happy eyes and that happy smile...

It sure is a contagious smile.
You can't help but grin ear to ear when you look this handsome boy!