Monday, December 24, 2012

Merry Christmas!!!

It has been a fabulous year! We have been in Cleveland for 1 1/2 years now and have loved our experience so far. 
Max has gone from walking, to running, to jumping.  He loves wearing his fireman hat, running around our house ("ready set go"), reading stories, being a strong football player, skyping with both sets of "bamas' and bampas', and going on walks outside.  He is such a fireball, and we love him!!
Tim has stayed busy with med school, Board studying (which he will take April 2013), being a great Daddy/Husband, and dislocating his shoulder (no more basketball for this guy...)!
Canda spends her days baking/cooking, chasing after Max, running, storytime, and enjoying every moment with Max and Tim.  We are so blessed and so thankful for this season to celebrate our Savior, Jesus Christ!  Have a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful new year!!!

Sunday, November 25, 2012

It's never too early...

With all of the cooking and baking that has been going on at our house these past couple months, many dishwasher runs have happened.  Max has taken much interest in the dishwasher, and is a big "help" when I am loading it.  That dude is so dang observant, he pretty much taught himself how to start the dishwasher.  (Only a little help from us...).  Now when we are ready to start the dishwasher we call for our Mr. Start the Dishwasher to come and do his job.  Most of the time we don't even have to call for him, he is there all ready to go with the dish washing soap.  The best part is, is that he likes to do it.  He helps out with the dishes with the biggest grin on his face.  Our challenge: See how long we can keep that smile on his face as he grows up while doing his "chores."

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Pumpkin Post!

The Fall-time in Ohio will never, ever get old for me.  I am in awe of how pretty it is!  I just can't get enough, really!  It is colder this year than it was last year, but we have still had a lot of good-ish weather days to enjoy the beauty.
It has been a hectic/busy couple of months, full of a toddler being two, tons of church activities, Tim's school load being heavier than normal, pumpkin patches, soccer/football intramural games, bike rides, BYU football, and finding every excuse to make fall treats! (Sorry for the super long post again...I tried to delete some of the pictures from this post, but then it would delete all of the pictures...)
What you see is what you get...
Toddler. Alone. 1 minute. Mom and Dad's room.
Zoo Trip!
So disappointed in my traitor-husband...
It is BYU football season at our house, and we're loving it :)
This is during the Boise State vs. BYU game.  No comment on the outcome...
True BYU Fan
Let's pull it together for this Saturday Cougs!
Okay, so there is a place called Patterson Farms that is about 30 minutes away from our
house.  It has a "Fall Family Fest" every year and a to-die-for bakery with the BEST maple doughnuts  and apple
fritters.  My friend and I drove out one afternoon with our boys and, without knowing it, we drove to
Patterson's store, not the actual Family Fest.  Regardless, we still had a great time, and ate too many
doughnuts!  Max and Quinn chilling with the pumpkins :)
"Aw shucks mom...!"
Max and his Mommy!  Reluctant Max being pinned down, because holding still
is never in the cards for this kid.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TIM!!!!!!!! THE BIG 27!!!! I am married
to a geezer....just kidding.  We love spoiling our Daddy, and did it by
having the traditional Pork Spare Rib dinner.  Tim actually had a soccer intramural
game on his birthday, so we had the dinner the night before.
The day of his birthday we rode our bikes to this gorgeous board walk enjoyed
the pretty fall leaves and let Max run crazy!
We are so lucky to have places like this so close to us!  So pretty!
Max loving all the leaves :)
So I have mentioned before that Max is obsessed with copying
everything his Daddy does.  This picture cracks me up because he
saw that Tim's feet were able to touch the bench.  Max realized that
his legs were too short and flipped out.  You can see him pointing down with
his finger to show you the injustice of his leg length.  Poor little guy :)

Max in his glory!

So this place is the actual Family Fun Fest I talked about.  We were so impressed
with how dang cute and fun it was!  It is the perfect pumpkin patch, and we want to go
back hopefully one more time this year! Max and I running to the fun :)


It was gorgeous that day!  The trees in the background of this picture surrounded the
whole entire farm, it was so pretty.

This was one of many life-size tractors for kids to climb into.  Having
fun is an understatement for Max!

They had activities for all ages, even 27 year olds!

A sand box full of trucks...could life get any better?


They had a huge area of hay stacks with slides and tunnels.  Max LOVED this!

I can't remember the last time I swung in a tire swing, but this one was sure big enough :)

"Teees!"

Tim in the tree house.  I wish I could have taken a better picture of
the whole things, it was pretty awesome.

There was a tractor ride that took us back to our car
after we played around on all the fun.  Every 2 year-olds' dream!

So excited!

This was the giant slide the Fun Fest had.  Max climbed right up the steps and had
no fear going down.  It was so fun to see him all grown up!



The view from the tractor ride.  Love Ohio in the Fall!

We will definitely come back next year!


They look kind of diseased and sad, but attempt to make pumpkins.  There was
supposed to be green leaves with frosting, but I was too lazy to add that detail :)

First painting experience.  He could have done this all day!

Making cookies with Mommy.  I was a big help :)

Pumpkin Sugar Cookies!

Max has been obsessed with tucking his "guys" in lately.  Here he is right when he woke up
one morning :)

Ward service project!

I love service!

After the service project, we headed to a Metro Park and enjoyed a long bike ride and picnic!



I'm trying to get in as many runs with the stroller as I can before it gets too cold!
Max and I sing songs, recite the ABC's, and count while we go.  I think
runners/walkers passing me think I'm insane...don't blame 'em!

I asked our Landlord if she would leave some of the raking for us!  After all,
it isn't much of a chore :)  Max had a blast!

We worked really hard...!

Showing his muscles.  The only way we can get this dude to eat
at mealtime is if we tell him he'll become strong like a football player.
After each bite, he usually shows us how strong he is getting :)
Yesterday, he pointed to the drawer with the camera in it, and wanted
me to take a picture of him showing his muscles.  We have quite the body
builder.  Love all of the stains on his shirt, way to go buddy!




Saturday, October 6, 2012

Trip Out West Summer 2012

Okay, so don't judge me.  I have put posting this summer off long enough!  We had SUCH a wonderful time going back home this summer to see family and friends.  Cleveland is sooooo far, and soooo $$$$ from Utah and Idaho!  We were lucky and thrilled to get to spend so much time with those we don't see very often!! Max and I flew out to Utah at the end of June and spent about a week and a half with my family.  Then we flew up to Boise, met Tim there, and spent a couple weeks with Tim's family.  Then me, Tim, and Max drove back down to Utah where we got to see my sister Elise and her sweet family. Then, I stayed in Utah for a couple more days while Tim and his most of his brothers and their Dad drove back up to Idaho to go backpacking at Ship Island Lake. PHEW!  Did you follow all of that?  We had such a great time, it went by way too fast!! Here are our adventures: (Warning, this is the longest post I've ever done, and will ever do, so please quit when you feel like you're ready to pop!)
Aspen Grove!  We got to go see Annie in action as a counselor!  She was a  Romper (ages 0-2)
counselor this past summer, just like I was in 2009!!!  Gotta love Family Camp :) This was the day
Max and I flew in from Ohio...so on top of a long airplane ride, no sleep, going up and down Provo Canyon,
Max couldn't take it anymore.  He decided to puke, big-time puke, all over Grandma and Grandpa Holt's brand new car!  What a great way to start off the trip...sigh...
My mom, sister-in-law Christine, sister-in-law Callie, Annie, me, and sweet baby Henry
(Dallin and Callie's 3rd little boy) all went shopping and out to lunch at Salt Lake City's new City Creek
mall.  It is pretty awesome. This was all courtesy of Grandpa Holt and Uncle Devin watching the kids.  Thanks boys!
Max with long hair...much to Grandpa Holt's dismay.  Finally, after much peer pressure from Grandpa to cut
Max's hair, I finally gave in.  I was so scared that his darling curls wouldn't grow back. (When Tim was a baby, he
had hair like this too, and his Mom cut the curls off, and they never grew back...).  Luckily, it has grown
out again with curls!!  Yeah!!
Very professional, I know...sweet little Max!
Notice the chocolate bar and popcorn to try to calm him down...didn't seem to work!
Not quite sure if I like it Mom...but it's okay, I still have popcorn left over!
Max and Grandpa Holt.  Max enjoyed his first ice cream cone.  Love this picture!
Hanging out with cousin Claire!  She is so dang cute!!
Max loved playing with Claire :)  She was such a good sport to put up with all the Maxisms...
Me and Annie!  
No comment... 
Grandma Holt got a little pool for the backyard!  Clearly, the sun
was in our eyes for this picture :)
Max got reacquainted with the famous Uncle Joe at the Lion House (mmmmmmm!) .
  Joe will get any kid to like him in a matter
of minutes after meeting them.  He is pretty great :)  My cousin Bruce's daughter Hailey is on Joe's other leg and is
so stinkin' cute! 
This is Max right after his visit to the ER.  Yes, a trip wouldn't be complete without that , right?
He had a coughing attack and couldn't breathe.  After he started turning blue, and I was hysterically crying ,
we took him in.  Luckily my brother Devin drove us there in record time and Max was okay.  He had a croupy cough and was given a breathing treatment and steroid.  My mom stayed with Max and I for almost 3 hours.  It was interesting to find ways to entertain a two year old when all you have are stickers and a cell phone.  So glad he was okay, and thanks to Dev, Dad, and Mom for being so awesome!!   
Celebrated the 4th of July!  I ran a 5k with my dear friend Michelle earlier that morning,
and my parents took Max to the good old 53rd ward sunrise breakfast!  
We went on a hike up by the Bountiful Temple.  Max was in heaven :)  I miss the mountains!
Max could have spent all day throwing rocks into the river.  Such a pretty hike!
And we're on to Idaho!  I can't tell you the number of minutes/hours we spent on this trampoline.
I still can't believe that Tom is the only Ashworth boy (out of seven) who has broken a bone!  Max LOVED
the trampoline, "leeeen!"
Uncle Spencer and Max.  Spencer was so dang cute with Max, Tim and I are convinced he is going
to go into something with pediatrics.  He is so good with kids :)
A boy and his stick.  We went boating at Lucky Peak with Tim's family.  A nice man in their
ward took us, and we were there all day!  Thanks so much for the fun in the sun!!
Spencer, Max, Tim, and Tom getting skin cancer...no, when you're with the Ashworth family,
it is sunscreen like crazy, or you're in big trouble :)  Nothing wrong with that! 
In the boat. I am surprised Max did so well with a full day in the sun and no nap.
Way to go buddy!
No fear!  Max wasn't scared for a second being pulled on the raft!!  He is his Daddy's son :)
All the boys got up skiing!  This is Nato, his first time!  So awesome!
Thomas hitting the waves!
Ow Ow!  Tim had such a blast with his brothers.  I am so glad that he has them
to be crazy and dangerous with.  I am kind of a chicken when it comes to certain things...but I'm getting
better!
Spencer wake boarding!
Nato and Max playing with water guns!  Max is so lucky to have so many fun uncles!
Relaxing at the Sandy Point beach that is close to the Ashworth's house :)  We sure got our
fill of swimming in!  
Max and Grandma Ashworth!  
Max and Grandpa Ashworth.  We went bowling, and I'm sure you can all imagine
how helpful Max was.  Grandpa was kind enough to take him around while we all played!
This is definitely one of those activities where I'm so glad Tim has his brothers, and not just his
pro-bowler wife.  Totally kidding about the pro-bowler wife. 
The guys

There is a place called Planet Kid close to Tim's house that is every kids paradise!
Max thrived in the toddler section, and was almost too big for it.  Next time we visit,
he'll definitely be climbing around on the "big-kid" toys :)  
The counsel, "Immerse yourself in the Scriptures," was heeded by this guy.
That is what mom gets when she leaves her scriptures on the dresser in arms length of the pac 'n' play.
We all wondered why he was so quiet falling to sleep that night...
Lesson learned.
Theo, Max, and Grandma playing at the park.  Max loved all of the cousin and Grandma time he got this trip!
Spencer, Max, and Theo having way too much fun :)
We were so excited to be able to attend Spencer's Eagle Court of Honor.  Way to go dude!
Talk about a proud mom here.  All of the Ashworth boys except Alex, who is on a mission :)
And back to Utah!  There is a fire truck park by my house.  Max was beyond happy there, it was
pretty cute to watch.
Pete and Tina, Tim's brother and his wife, recently built a home in Erda, Utah.  It is sooo nice
and has such a home-esk feel.  They invited us over and we were able to oooh and aaaah all over.
Don't worry, we'll be there in about 10 years.  Way to go Pete and Tina!
No, we didn't coordinate our outfits!  Me and Tina in their amazing kitchen!  Little
Oscar is poking up his adorable head :)
Eli, Ezzy, Brenna, Bren, Tim, and Max all ready for bed.  We were so glad we got to go to Cedar City
and visit the Dixons!  They were so nice to have us, especially since Elise gave birth to sweet Owen that
same week.  Brenna, Eli, and Ezzy played so well with Max, we wish we could have stayed longer :)
Sweet Baby Owen exhausted from all the partying we did :) 
A trip to Utah wouldn't be complete without going to P-town, right?  I can't say who was
more excited to go: Canda or Max....
It was so fun to show Max the "BYU Cougars" in real life, rather than looking at pictures
and you-tube videos.
I saved most of my spending money for this.  I know, I'm a BYU nerd, but am proud of it!
Daddy and Max in the BYU Football museum at Legends.  
Ticket to Ride.  We sure got our fill with both my family and the Ashworths!
My beautiful friend Anna got married, and I was able to go!  So glad the trip overlapped with her wedding! 
Celebrating a pre-birthday for Max.  Right after he burned his finger with the candles.
Poor guy.  We are proud to say that he is a successful candle blower outer now, and
wants to do it all the time :)
Max with Annie showing his "boo-boo."
The girls ready for church!  
We were able to go and see Tim's Grandma Ashworth.  She is one of the sweetest
ladies I know, and made us a wonderful dinner.  David and Sherrie were able to come too!
At the top of Ensign Peak.  Such a pretty view!

A very common position.  This is what Tim does when Max wants to run all over the place...
...which is ALL the time!
This is Ship Island Lake!  I am so glad Tim got to go with his brothers and dad.  They had a blast!
This may or may not be my husband...
As well as this guy...
The Ashworth boys being Ashworth boys :)

The End.