Christmas Traditions

The day after Thanksgiving my mother has all 21 grandkids come to her house to decorate the Christmas tree.  After they are done they all head upstairs to decorate gingerbread cookies.  This is a highlight for all the kids even the big kids think this is great.  Sugar overload is an understatement by the end of the decorating.  That evening around 10pm  the sisters the girls 12 and older head out to shop and will usually stay out until wee hours of the morning.  Even if you don't buy anything you still have a great time.  This year at the Parker Christmas party we decided to put items together for the House of Hope located in Provo instead of buying Christmas gifts for each other.  What a rewarding experience it was for all the family to help with such an awesome project.  Thanks to all my family members for making it a success.  

On Friday night we headed up to Zoo lights it was very cold, but we had so much fun.  My parents went and we met my sister and her family there.   I think this could become a tradition to try and do every year.
We had the Scott family Christmas party today.  I love going because there are some family members that I only see once a year.  Tyler was so excited to sit on Santa's lap he told him all he wanted for Christmas was more hugs from his Grandma.  The little kids thought he was so funny.  You can never be to old to sit on Santa's lap.

On Halloween we were so lucky to have a visit from Hannah Montana and her biggest fan.  Can you guess which Doctor is that I work with ?I am so lucky to work with such a great group of people at Utah Valley Pediatrics.  Shaylee, Polly and I decided to go all out and dress as M&M's the kids loved it.  I am still silently laughing about the lunch visitor.

Jimmy Buffett or BUST

yThis is the extent of our dressing up 2 beautiful lays.  We missed you Marq and Sarah, but Jimmy will be back next year and I am looking forward to a fun weekend again with you then.

Very friendly he/she they were the hit of the pre-party and I am sure the post party also
Three grown men in there 50 dressed as blonde beach babes funniest thing I have ever seen I asked one of them for a picture and got the biggest hug of my life from him

Party held at Margaritaville  starts at 11 am the day of the concert and people will hang out the entire day then attend the concert that night 

Joe in the lobby of the MGM  
On Friday we drove out to Hoover Dam its amazing to see.

This past weekend Joe and I were able to attend the Jimmy Buffett concert in Las Vegas.  Originally Mark and Sarah were on board to go with us, but certain events took place in there lives and they were unable to go.  We missed them terribly, but Jimmy puts on an amazing and fun show and its always fun to attend.  They host a pre-party where all the "parott heads" dress up come enjoy food and fun and drinking.  By the concert everybody is very happy and it turns into a giant sing along with Jimmy.  Here are a few photos from the weekend.

Proud Parent Moments

One step closer to getting her license Candace took her written final today with the state and PASSED!  She has been studying so hard for the past few days she was told by several friends its hard and you really have to know your stuff.  Joe and I are so proud of her for passing on the first try.  She will take her practical on the 16th in St. George once she passes that she can apply for a job, until then she is still working at Parkers and will tend for any of the neighbors. 

Tyler was in his first choir concert for the year.  Miss Warby is an amazing choir teacher the kids love her and she loves teaching you can tell she loves what she does.  It also helps that she is a member of the Tabernacle Choir or as the high school kids say Motab Choir.  Yes he can sing even though you never see him sing in sacrament meeting.  I am so proud of my kids its so much fun being a mom.  All  the sleepless nights when they were little are soon forgotten and now we have sleepless nights waiting for them to come home from dates.  I treasure every moment with them, because they will soon be gone and starting there own lives and families.

Once a month I get the opportunity to spend some time with some very special women in my life.  Yes you guessed it Bunco.  This group of friends have been getting together for over 10 years.  They are the best friends anyone could ever ask to associate with.  We have been through tough teenage years with our children the joys of marriage of children and have recently been through some very hard deaths of family members.  I know that I could call on anyone at any time for help or support.  I am so grateful to have such great friends and sisters.

2000 hours and finally graduated

Candace finished hair school today and she is ready for the next adventure in life THE REAL WORLD!  Joe and I are so proud of her and what she has accomplished in the past year.  Her goal was to finish under her 1 year mark she made it by the skin of her teeth.  We wish her the best of luck with taking her state boards.  CONGRATULATIONS WE LOVE YOU

Kayla always had a comb or brush in her hand wanting to do everyones hair.  Watch out Candace you may have some family competition.  Kayla loves hanging out with her older cousin
Uncle Brent heading out on a dangerous snorkeling adventure hopefully he will return safely 
Grandpa Bob with a mow hawk after taking all the grandkids in for ice cream.  The kids love  their Grandpa and Grandma Thanks for  a wonderful trip
This past weekend we headed down to Mesquite for our annual show at the Touchan we went to see Big River it was a wonderful production.  So far I have never been disappointed with any of the shows that I have seen.  Its always fun getting together with Joe's  family we have made so many memories that I hope the kids will never forget.  Most of the day was spent hanging out at the pool and relaxing.  Joe made sure that anyone that was dry was thrown into the pool to cool off he is always  thinking of others.  I am sure his sisters really appreciate him picking them up and tossing them into the water.  We enjoy spending time with family and hope to continue the fun trips and memories for years to come.

Good Bye Teenage Years

Happy Birthday to a very special young woman.  Candace celebrated her 20th birthday today.

Joe and I are so proud of what she has accomplished so far in her life.  She is so close to graduating from hair school, and is so excited to be able to work in a salon rather than attending school.  We love having her spunky personality in our home.  She has a beautiful smile that is so contagious.  She is always looking for a new adventure last year she tried out for Miss American Fork something that takes a lot of courage, and she did great it was a very wonderful and exciting experience for her.  We are so proud of her and can't wait to see what the rest of her life holds in store.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY CANDACE!!!!!!!!!!

MY JOE

According to Bella  This is her Joe and she tells me this every time she sees me.  She will look out her bedroom window to see if Joe is home and if he is she will come running.  We are so lucky to live in an area where there are so many cute kids with several different personalities which make them so much fun to be around.   Brian her father doesn't appreciate it when Bella tells him she is Joe's girl.  Brian and Andra thanks for sharing your family with us.

Telluride Memories

After dinner at Allred's located at the top of the gondola
Dotty and Casey downtown shopping in Telluride
We celebrated 3 birthdays while we were there Mikes, Candace's and Bernie's
Day of Jeeping 
Halfway to the top of Imogene
The guys went jeeping up to the power house at the end of town while the women went into town to shop.
This house is at the end of town and yes someone does live in it.  They call this Bridal Veil or the Power house. 
Power house 
This is an arial view of downtown Telluride
Downtown Telluride the only way out is the same way you came in.  The mountain at the end of town is Imogene Pass I still can't believe we drove over it.
Mike and Joe at the power house.

Joe and Tyler playing a friendly game of golf.
Paul, Casey and Mike Girardi day of shopping in Ouray.Mike, Joe, Paul and Tyler exhausted after 18 holes of golf.

We were heading down the mountain and ran across a field of wild flowers the colors were amazing so Joe decided to set up the tripod for family pictures.  We were laughing watching Joe run from the Jeep to the rest of us before the timer went off on the camera.

This was on of Joe's favorite pictures I wanted to take the bridge over the water, but no Joe insisted on driving through it.Tyler tiptoeing through the flowers.
Top of Imogene Pass elevation is 13, 411 it was so cold right after taking the picture a cloud came across the mountain and you couldn't  see a thing the view was breathtaking.  Getting there was very scary for me I like a paved road.
Imogene pass yeah we made it now we have to get down the other side of the mountain.

We had a wonderful time in Telluride.  It was so nice to relax and enjoy time with friends from New Jersey.  The scenery is amazing this trip we did a few jeep trail rides that were breathtaking the entire time we were jeeping on Thursday Joe kept saying I wish Nate could see this.  As you can see by the pictures its amazing.  Hope you enjoy.

Telluride Here We Come

Yeah finally family vacation is here.  We drove to Telluride Colorado today to meet up with friends from New Jersey.  Its been a great day talking, laughing and catching up with the kids and there busy lives.  We are so grateful that 13 years ago we met the Girardi family at Lake Powell.  Joe will have to write down that story its quit entertaining.  The weather is so beautiful its about 15 degrees cooler that at home it feels wonderful.  The mountains are so peaceful if life could only be like this all the time.  

Steel Days Celebration

The annual Steel Days Celebration has come and gone for another year.  As a family we enjoy sitting and watching the parade although this year what a disappointment it was!  Then we spend the entire day swimming and visiting as grandmas house.  The highlight of the day is waiting for the fireworks this year they started late so most of the little kids fell asleep before they started.  We really enjoy getting together with family to spend time together to make memories for years to come.  Thanks to my family for making another year of fun at Steel Days.

Happy Birthday Mom

Grandma and Grandpa Parker with all the grandkids
 

Brothers and Sister 

I wanted to wish the best mom in the world  a very happy birthday.  My mom is one of those people that everyone wants to be around.  I feel very lucky to have her as my mom and my kids are very grateful for such a wonderful grandma.  Thanks for being such a wonderful example not only to me and my family, but to everyone that you meet.  I hope you had a very special day.  I am very lucky to have you as my mom HAPPY BIRTHDAY WE LOVE YOU!

My Favorite Neighbor and Letter....Q!

I, Joe Ashby, want to proclaim my intense admiration for my neighbor, Marque Trosper, aka "Q". He is a great guy. If everyone else in the neighborhood and ward truly understood what a swell guy he is, I could sell my house for over one million dollars to the highest bidder. That really says a lot because I have a great neighborhood and ward family and Marque is at the tops! Thanks, Q.

Family Fun

The past few days we were able to head to St. George to spend time with grandparents.  It was fun to get together to visit, relax and spend some quality time with each other.

Every morning we went swimming in grandmas pool play a game of volleyball and for some reason Joe and Tyler seem to think they are experts in pool volleyball.

Joe's favorite thing about St. George is seeing the Joshua trees that randomly grow everywhere he would have one planted in the front yard if it would survive through the winter.

Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Davis for a wonderful weekend we cherish the memories and fun that we share together.  As the kids get older I keep wondering how many more vacations we will be able to enjoy together before marriage and mission.  We cherish every moment that we have together as a family.