alpine loop

paul and i took a much needed drive on sunday to look at all the fall colors. fall is definitely my season, and i absolutely hate that it comes and goes so fast. my dream is the colors last until december 1st, than it can snow. is that too lofty? no. the colors were beautiful and inspiring. we will take as many drives to enjoy the colors while they are here. .
-ash

paul saw this bit of heaven. the smell, the cool wind blowing...

fhe

paul and i thought it would be a good idea to start having fhe each monday. we do spend a lot of time together, but we don't have a lesson or anything. since we are expecting a wee one the first of next year, we want to make better habits for our family (example: eating at the kitchen table instead of in the family room, which is harder for us than we both thought). for our activity, we picked peaches and made english toffee, then our lesson was on facing the future with faith (from a talk in april 2011 conference). we made some goals, ate some toffee and felt more at peace with life. funny how doing the little things make such a big difference. some of our goals are...take more time for fun moments, memorize scriptures, look for simple ways to serve, have fhe, etc...
-ash

winter here we come

the weather has been getting much cooler at nights and the leaves are finally changing. my one wish would be they would stay in the vibrant oranges/reds/yellows until december 1st. then it can snow. i would love to have fall for a few months. but, i know winter is coming and it is time to prepare. not just my mindset, but our wood. paul took a half day and got a splitter. now we have enough wood for the winter and more. i love my man...
-ash

5 months

i have a hard time getting my picture taken with just me in it. not a fan. i don't like the attention. that is why i have not taken a picture of me at each month of my pregnancy. finally at conrad's soccer game, mom had enough. so this is me at 5 months...
-my si joint is completely gone
-food tastes really good (roast, mashed potatoes, sour cream cabbage, oreos in milk, greek plain yogurt with homemade jam, rasperries, peaches with cream, frosted mini wheats, chocolate malts, bacon, brick oven, pralines and cream ice cream from baskin robbins...)
-i have a hard time eating eggs
-not sick at all still!
-we can feel him moving
-people touch my belly all the time and i love it
-emotional...really emotional at times
-i have a hard time sitting for longer than an hour
-paul gets to paint my toenails and does a great job
-i want to be home and nest more than ever
-loving the cooler weather
-i get out of breath fast
-wanting to soak up family and the things i love the most

-ash

answered prayers

(i took this post from mom...)

Life changed with a phone call. Conrad had fallen into the Provo Rec. Pool while swimming with his Dad, Phoebe and the young men in his church family. Accidents can happen so quickly and will become learning lessons. He was pulled out unconscious with no pulse, but all the right things were done and he was taken to Utah Valley Hospital, then transferred up to Primary Children's Hospital. Everyone could not have been more helpful or kind. I will always remember hearing Larry's blessing for Conrad, as Ransom held him in the Provo ER. I stood near the outside curtain and folded my arms and bowed my head. As Larry spoke, many of the medical people stopped and folded their arms in prayer outside of the room and I felt incredibly thankful for the gospel in our lives and the comfort that a blessing can bring.

I am not sure what to say. I think this experience will take time to work through and to fully appreciate & understand. It's not enough to say I am thankful, it goes much deeper than that. I think one day I will be able to get my feelings into words, but for now I thought I would post pictures of Conrad at Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake and let you see how he is doing. He is still thankfully our fun loving, good natured boy and will make a 100% recovery. Thank you for your prayers. We felt them around us and know our prayers were answered. We love each of you. He came home this afternoon.

Primary Children's Hospital is an amazing place. You can feel the spirit there so strongly as you watch them serve the children in such loving ways... many, many in heartbreaking situations. I am already thinking of ways to give back and help the children there.
-Brenda

(when paul and i got to the hospital, phoebe was screaming. she knew katie was in the other room, but couldn't get to her. paul and i took her home for the night. moments like this really put life into perspective. we all feel we can't be thankful enough in words, so our actions will have to be our words.)

When he was first sent up to Primary Children's Hospital,
Conrad was checked out by a lot of medical people...
he screamed a lot and was so miserable. The only thing that

would begin to comfort him was being in his Mom and Dad's arms.

The next day, Conrad was still on oxygen and
continued to be watch over. He never did warm up to the
poking and prodding medical people.

Snuggling time watching his favorite Disney movies

A visit from Phoebe helped a lot. She must have given him 10 kisses

in a row and he finally waved his arms and said "I'm done".

He loved to visit the Play Area down the hall...

a child's dream filled with the coolest toys and activities

Knowing he would be ok put smiles on our faces