Her Own Nativity

Ashlan and I were shopping at Hobby Lobby and she immediately noticed a 'Paint Your Own Nativity'. Ashlan LOVES nativities and she also loves to get creative with paint.....so I couldn't resist this purchase for her! We waited till after Thanksgiving to open the box and get started on the creation, so you can imagine the very next morning after Thanksgiving she was ready to start painting!

And she begins....

After she finished painting the nativity, she took a break for the day to let it all dry.... Then once it was dry, she added the finishing touches..

Yes, she wanted to add snow. All her own idea.

I think it is just perfect and most importantly, she is incredibly proud of it!

Then and Now

This picture was taken at Ashlan's First Thanksgiving in 2004. It's one of those pictures that makes me laugh every time I see it. Her facial expression is priceless!


It's now been 6 years since that picture and we tried to recreate it last week on Thanksgiving.



The picture 6 years ago obviously can not be recreated!

Astronomy Lover

Brent loves astronomy. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if when he retires he goes onto teach it! He has subscribed to Astronomy magazine for as long as I've known him. Whenever it's a clear sky at night, he often walks outside just to see what he can spot with his naked eye. The guys knows his stars, planets, galaxies, constellations, etc... He is a genius in that area!

He already has a large telescope, and by large I mean 6 ft tall and about 250 lbs. We recently took that telescope out to our lakehouse because it is soooo dark out in the country and it's wonderful to view things out there. But to carry that telescope back and forth from house to house is a PAIN! So why did it surprise me last week to see the FedEx man at my front door with all these....


Yep, he bought ANOTHER telescope. It's the same size as the other one, maybe a little heavier...and this one takes pictures which is what sold him on buying it!


And it didn't take him long to put it all together and get to viewing!!!!



Come on over anytime to view some spectacular sights!!!

Pioneer Day

Ashlan had Pioneer Day at her school this past week, before Thanksgiving! The kids got to dress up as colonials, pilgrims, or indians. Parents volunteered for the day and held different stations for the kids to visit and learn. For example, some of those stations were Soap Making, Quill Feather Writing, Antiques, Candle Making, Butter Making, Old Fashion Games, etc... The kids had a blast and enjoyed it so much! And as a parent volunteer, we were encouraged to dress up as well! Thankfully, my mom had lots of old bonnets and aprons from when I dressed up as a kid! Thank you for keeping those items mom!!!

All she wants for Christmas is.....

ONE front tooth!

Yep, Ashlan lost her first upper center tooth! Brent and I both wish the other upper front tooth would come out before Christmas so she could really utitilize the phrase 'All I want for Christmas is my TWO front teeth!'....

But if not, at least she will be wanting ONE front tooth!

Here is a before picture. We called it the 'snaggle tooth!'


And the after picture. She's so happy that 'snaggle' tooth is GONE!

Ashlan has adopted...

There is a gift store in downtown Plano called Nook 'n Krannies.

It is a wonderful store with holiday decor, baby clothes/gifts, cooking items, children's toys, etc.. It also has a tea room inside called Into the Garden. But the most special thing about this store is that it has a baby nursery where children can adopt their own baby. Ashlan has been longing to adopt a baby from that nursery for over a year, and her special day finally came yesterday.

Here is the nursery, so special, sweet, and realistic!!! Ashlan spent lots of time looking through the glass into the nursery trying to decide which special baby to adopt.

Ashlan has spotted the baby she wants to adopt and the nursery keeper is filling out the adoption papers...

Ashlan signing the adoption papers

Ashlan is invited into the nursery. She has to put on a hospital gown, then is asked to sit in a rocking chair so her baby can be presented to her


Ashlan adopted a blonde baby girl and named her Claire. The nursery keeper gave her the baby's stats. She said the baby was 19 inches and 6lbs, 1oz. I nearly came unglued when she said that. That was EXACTLY Ashlan's birth stats. This baby was meant to be.

Putting on Ashlan and the baby's matching hospital bracelets

Ashlan brought along a friend as a witness to her adoption. Ashlan said, "Baby Claire.....meet Aunt Grace" Very special.

Ashlan and Grace loving on the baby....


This was such a special event for Ashlan. Something she has been wanting to do for awhile now. If you live in the area and have a small child, I highly recommend this adoption center at Nooks 'n Krannies... It really is such a special moment and memory...

World Series 2010

We had the awesome opportunity to go to the 2010 World Series!!! We got tickets to Game 5 and enjoyed every second of it! No, we didn't win and yes we ended up watching San Francisco win the whole series....but it was worth it! The Rangers gave it 110% and we WILL be back next year!!!

Brent and I with out tickets in hand!

My dad even bought himself a ticket! He was eager to scratch the World Series off his bucket list!

Brent at the ballpark

It was packed! Not an empty seat in the house!

Way to go, Rangers!!! You made Texas proud!

Halloween 2010

Halloween was a BUSY day for us! We decided to make our first ever trek out to Fort Worth for the Air Show! Can I just say, AWESOME! I remember seeing the Air Show's when I was a child, but I hadn't been in YEARS and Brent and the kids had never been. So we decided to make a day of it at the Air Show. I WISH I had pictures to share with you. We left the camera in the car and never made the long trek back to the car to get the camera. There was just too much excitement with all the airplanes, jets, Blue Angels, etc... Let's just say, we will be going back next year, and the year after, and the year after, etc.... It was that awesome!

The air show ended at 4pm, but by the time we got to our car, waited to get out of the parking lot and made the drive back, it was 7pm before we got home. That meant RUSHING to eat dinner, get costumes on, and out the door to trick or treat. It was very rushed, but I managed to get a few pictures and the girls had a wonderful time trick or treating. (Nick decided to stay home and answer the door)

Katie was the Mad Hatter.

My sister joined the girls. She went as Little Red Riding Hood to match Ashlan.

Ashlan and her Aunt Traci. Aren't they cute!

And of course, I had to take a picture of my youngest trick or treater! Miss Isla Belle. Cutest bat ever!

Fall Sale

In the springtime, Ashlan has been known to set up a lemonade/cookie stand here and there. But it's currently Fall and Ashlan was having the itch to sale something. That's when she came up with her own idea of selling halloween candy and roasted pumpkin seeds! I thought that was a great idea!

So we texted and called some friends/family once Ashlan had her stand set up to come and purchase some yummy roasted pumpkin seeds or a piece of candy!

Here is her stand she set up all by herself


Grandpa Morgan was eager to purchase and Ashlan was eager to sell!

Brent made a few purchases...

It was a beautiful Fall afternoon, perfect for Ashlan to set up shop! Thank you to everyone who visited Ashlan and made a purchase!

And special thanks for Grandma and Grandpa Morgan!!!