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.