Dear Olivia,

I love you sooo much. You make me smile a million times a day. You're my best buddy right now since Addison's at school and Drew's just a baby and I enjoy it so much. You are my best babysitter while I'm in the shower, you are my best shopper, you are my most reliable newspaper fetcher, and you are my BEST ever all day snacker. But please, please can you stop crying about everything! You and your strong personality are going to be the death of me.

Seriously.

Love,

Your tired Mom

The Swimming Pool

Olivia and Addison love to go "swimming" at Banna and Branda's. Usually it's their thing with Dad and usually Branda, but since Dad hadn't come yet, Branda took them for a swim.The scene a half hour later . . .
Branda sitting on the edge while O and A still splashed around.

Branda: I'm too hot, but I can't get these girls to get out.
Olivia: I want to stay out here FOR-EVE-R!


Same comment the next morning when Olivia got to shower in Banna and Branda's shower with the hand sprayer. It's the little things, right?

Poor Boy and his Pink Binky

Can you tell he has two older sisters with hand me downs . . .

I'm sure this is just the beginning of it.

It makes me smile . . .

when I drive carpool to pre-school with these cute kids.

They are still so excited to go to school. They sit in the back seat talking, giggling and singing Hoedown Throwdown and every once in awhile a movie during the 5 minutes drive . . . but only if it's a "boy movie" per Bryson's request.

(I tried 2 different days to get some pictures, but they are so excited, I can't barely get them to hold still for one second for a picture . . . plus there was the sun issue) Bryson, Bella Boo and Livvy Lou

Grandpa Sharp

I wrote this several months before my Grandpa Sharp passed away in July 2008. I never thought I wrote enough to capture my feelings and everything he meant to me so I never posted it until now. Something is always better than nothing. My Grandpa Sharp has Alzheimer's and recently moved into a care facility since it was too hard for my Grandma to take of everything he needed. I've been to Oregon with my girls 7 times in the last 2 1/2 years and I am so grateful I was able to spend that time with them before my Grandpa's Alzheimer's got so bad. We had so much fun and I really discovered how funny he could be.

Anyway, I thought I would write down a few things I learned from my Grandpa. I really think that I could sum my Grandpa up with this motto: Work Hard, but Play Hard

Three things I learned from my Grandpa . . .

1. Work Hard
My Grandpa was a hard, hard worker. He never sat still, he was always, always being productive. I've inherited this personality trait from my Grandpa and though we work hard (or at least keep busy) to a fault sometimes, I'm grateful that he's been such a great example to me and that I've learned to work.

2. Work Hard, but Play Hard
My memories of my Grandpa include him in the thick of family roller blade hockey, riding wave runners at the lake fully dressed, aggressive go-cart racing, 4-wheeling in full riding get up and the various other sports and all of that was late into his life.

3. Family
My grandparents started a great tradition when we were all young of yearly, week-long, family reunions. Our family reunions have now mostly been replaced with mission farewells and homecomings and weddings, but I am so grateful for the relationships that I've built with my extended family and that my grandparents helped cultivate that for us.

4. His Testimony

Grandpa has a testimony of the gospel and I know it. His example of service and his commitment to the gospel has impacted my life and I can never explain (or probably understand) how blessed I am to be apart of this family.

We had a big family reunion that most of us made it to last July and we got a family picture. My Grandpa passed away a week later.

Some things I'll always remember about my Grandpa . . .

• He was always on some new health kick (drinking a gross smelling thick barley-green drink, millions of random vitamins, eat for your blood type . . . )
• I'll always have my short, fat fingers to remember him by.
• He smashed the bed of his brand new truck with his brand new 5th wheel the week he was taking them to go on his mission. He just got in his car and drove off. Later he called and told Grandma to pass on a message. . . "you can pity me, but don't talk to me"
• He bought "post-it" notes like no one's business
• He used to stay with us a lot when we live in CA. My mom would always make creamy chicken noodle soup and homemade wheat bread when he came. He always brought us each a pack of gum.
• He used to watch CNN all day, everyday. I love that after he had Alzheimer's I was there when Anna Nicole Smith died and he watched the coverage all day feeling so sorry for Anna. We finally told him all the things that made her famous and he wasn't impressed. For the rest of the week we kept asking him if there was anything new about Anna and he'd laugh and laugh.

Putting Olivia in the car . . .

Me: Well, I guess we're going to get Addison a new car seat and move you into her old car seat? Do you want to do that?
Olivia: (excited) Yes, I can move into her car seat.

A few minutes later . . .

Olivia: We should get Addison a new bike?
Me: Why?
Olivia: So, I can move into her old bike.

First, she's smart, I'll give her that. She's always thinking. And two, I'm so glad she likes the idea of hand me downs.

Motherhood

I was rocking Drew to sleep the other day and I noticed his Bumbo box in the closet and saw this . . .

So, I don't know about you other Mom's, but I can totally relate to this picture. It's like someone snuck a picture of me during mealtime. Except . . . usually I prefer a black evening dress (preferably with sleeves) or actually maybe just some black sweats. And I guess I do prefer an up do, like a french twist with diamond bobby pins or maybe, say, a ponytail. And I have problems with carpal tunnel so I don't usually lounge on top of the table with my baby. It seems to be easier to lay ontop of the black baby grand piano or something like that. I have to admit, that sometimes, he's on the kitchen counter top and I'm feeding him while I'm making lunch, talking on the phone and emptying the dishwasher. But that's a rarity, a real rarity.

Yes, yes. I would have to say that this picture depicts my life perfectly. Really it's a perfect picture of Motherhood.

(So, it makes me laugh now everytime I'm rocking Drew and I get a glimpse of it.)

The Week of Chris

In August, Chris came for week long visit and we had a great time. We had the carpet installed in the basement the day Chris flew in and so Chris was the first one to sleep in the extra room downstairs. Now the girls call that room "Chris' Room." And. . . I did not do a good job with pictures.

Wednesday: Bees Game complete with hotdogs, soda, ice-cream and the best firework show I've EVER seen (seriously)!

Thursday: Cafe Rio and then he spent the day in Park City with his girlfriend who happens to be from here. We missed him. Addison and Olivia were relieved he left stuff here which meant he was coming back.

Saturday: Boys Golf and Wingers (for Chris) and boating was cancelled due to bad weather :(

(Chris put Drew to sleep and then laid him on the floor . . . first time for that!)


Sunday: Drew's blessing. We waited until Chris was coming so he could be here!

Monday: Four Wheeling and Boys Golf again.

Tuesday: Boys Golf , Rubios, the girls' back to school Hannah Montana Party.

(Chris-the utlimate Red Sox fan and doomed to be lifetime rival, Drew-the soon to be ultimate Yankee fan).

Chris will be back here on Monday (more with the girlfriend for Thanksgiving), but we'll still get some face time! The girls can't wait.

RT Company Holiday Party

(Addison, Ethan and Ollie)

So, owning your own business has some perks . . . like company parties for 8. Our Fall Red Tree Accounting company party was at the Mayan. Semi good food, but really exciting entertainment for the kiddios (you know they still have the divers).

My partner, Melissa, and I went to college together. We had the same classes for most of our undergrad. She started her Master's in the summer and I took the summer off with new baby Addison and then we met up again for some classes in the Fall. Melissa's husband Brian was also in accounting and so was Ansen. Aren't we the cutest four-some ever?

So we all graduated, she went to Ernst & Young and then Deloitte, and I went to stay at home Mom. Eventually I found a niche and started working at home. We kept in touch for the next couple of years and met up for dinner here and there. January of 2008 she quit Deloitte and we officially started Red Tree Accounting. It was such an easy transition and it was PERFECT timing for both of us (I could give you a billion stories of how it all perfectly fell into place, but I won't bore you). We already knew we got along, we had already worked together in classes, and we already knew each other's weaknesses. Business is great and has already grown faster than we ever anticipated (but still slow some days). She's been a great partner and an even been better friend over the last 2 years.

So, what do we talk about at these company parties? Lots, and then of course Accounting! We all have a different specialty though . . . Ashleigh-Financial (and Tax), Melissa-Tax (and Financial), Ansen-Audit and Brian-Banking. We'll be so well rounded when Ansen and Brian come to work for us . . . or we sell it for millions, right.

Edited** And where did "Red Tree Accounting" come from? Oh, no good explanation. I used to joke that the only thing keeping me from officially opening a business was a good name. My brother in law did come up with "Bookkeepin' It Real" for me. It took me 3 1/2 years to think it up and then 6 months to settle on it. Melissa loved it immediately. I was trying to think of something obscure, professional, but not just Hatch Accounting. So, I don't know . . . I have red hair so Red and then I always loved the Redwood Forrest growing up in CA so Tree. And I settled there I guess.

The life of a . . .

Work at Home Mom

When I'm here . . .

doing this . .

He's here . . .

doing this . . .

or here doing this . .

and She's here . . .

doing this . . .

Dear Blog Reader,

As I'm sure you have noticed from reading my blog I have issues with spelling and grammar and sometimes I make up words. I did graduate from high school and I did make it through 6 years of college, but I am an accountant. I am wonderful with numbers, fabulous with budgets and I actually like reading the IRS tax updates, but I am not especially good with spelling and I am horrible at proofreading. Anyway, thank you for overlooking my short comings.

Sincerely,

Ashleigh

P.S. Surprisingly I am a tough competitor at speed scrabble. Seriously, who would have guessed? And I guess while I'm saying it . . . I also am no good at history or geography. History I find fascinating, but it's in one ear and out the other. I guess on the bright side, every time I hear it it's a new riveting story to me.

And . . .

the BEST memory from Aruba . . .

The Iguanas!

(I took pictures of 100s of Iguanas and I was never able to capture a picture that did one of the them justice.)

There were Iguanas everywhere in Aruba. They were really noticeable as you floated around the lazy river because they were right at eye level and some of them were HUGE. Anyway, first day around we were all talking about how someone had once told Lisa Iguanas could swim. Ha, ha, how preposterous, . . . right?

Literally 30 seconds later a child was chasing an Iguana around the pool and for safety the Iguana jumped into the water, swam faster then anything (I'm not sure what to use as an example here) and crawled up the rock on the other side. We were lucky to live and tell the tale. Seriously there would have been no escaping an Iguana who was after you because it was so darn fast. We screamed, splashed around, fell out of our tubes and are almost died.

We finally calmed ourselves with the observation that I guess they do in fact swim, but obviously ONLY when provoked. Again literally 2 minutes later one willingly jumps in, swims across and out the other side.

It was difficult to truly be at complete ease in the Lazy River the rest of the week.

Then a few days later . . .

Addison was swimming 15 feet in front of us and she started screaming a blood curdling scream and flailing around for dear life. At first we couldn't tell if she was serious, but pretty soon realized she was completely scared out of her gourd. Ryan luckily rescued her because all of the sudden I was even scared to cross the water to her because whatever attacked her was still in the water. (Ryan just was a little closer, and I would have risked my legs to save my first born.) In the end, she had thought her life jacket strap was an Iguana in the water. I have NEVER seen panic like that from her in her whole little life. We couldn't stop laughing for awhile and she eventually laughed with us.

The last day we were there, Lisa and I were going around talking about how crazy the swimming Iguanas were and a first day vacationer laughed at us and our little "joke" . . . Ha, ha-if Iguanas could swim. We tried to warn him, but I don't think he ever took us seriously. I'm sure he learned his lesson . . . eventually.

Backing up to June. . .

ARUBA!

We stupidly planned a trip to Aruba with my family leaving 1 week after I was due and hoping the baby was early since none of my other babies have been early. Obviously there was no way I would have any complications of any kind since I already had two perfect deliveries and two perfect babies. We had bought my plane ticket as transferable on the very "off chance" I didn't go. So when Drew was breach and C-section was the choice, the trip was doomed.

I really had thought that I would have been just as happy home with my baby while Ansen had the girls even if they were in Aruba without me. I could sleep, recover and be ready for 3, but as the trip got closer I got sad thinking that I would miss watching the girls swim and see all there was of Aruba and Ansen might miss the first smile or something sweet of Drew. Sunday night I went to bed and 2 hours later I woke up and my water broke. I was 11 days early and while I was devastated I had to have a C-section for sure, I realized that there was a chance of going on the trip after all. And then the blood clot canceled the trip. We still took a shot and the first stop leaving the hospital -Costco for a passport picture and then the Passport office. I got the OK to go from the Dr on Thursday, packed for all 5 on Friday and left on Saturday morning.

We had so much fun! All 3 kids were champs on the plane on the way there, but had a huge melt down from Olivia on the way home (Ansen and I became those parents-threatening everything, promising everything and bribing with everything while we tried to muffle her crying. It felt great.) Aruba was amazing and completely relaxing (minus the iguanas). We spent most of our days swimming, sleeping, reading, and relaxing. Drew received lots of incredulous stares, and made us lots of friends when they people came to look at the tiny baby and his crazy parents.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Church-Wow! Such a tiny ward and a tiny chapel. Half the ward speaks English and half speaks Dutch. They had translators for everyone. Same gospel though.

The LAZY River-We spent everyday, all day, in the lazy river. Or reading, sleeping and enjoying by the river
The Van-My dad ended with a huge, huge shuttle van and we ended up with the only thing we know . . . a Taurus. (Sorry Mom, I know it's a bad pic of you and Ryan-that's your own fault.)

The LAME hats-They gave us Aruba Marriott hats and Ansen and my Mom were legitimately excited about them (we ended up with 2 in our closet). Water slide-Hours spent on the slide as with the other water slides we've vacationed with. It doesn't get old I guess. We could not get Olivia to try, but she loved watching. Airport departure lines- I wish I had a picture of the masses of people leaving the island EVERY weekend. The lines at the airport were miserable and it was one after another. Also, we'll not forget, BARELY making the flight out of SLC. We only got on because we used Ansen's Gold Medallion status to check in and some how they escorted us to the front of security because we had a stroller. You'd think in Utah they would care less. They were paging us by name when we finally made it to the gate.

Snorkeling at Baby Beach- I "opted" to stay at the hotel with Drew and Liv and watch Ace of Cakes while the rest went snorkeling. Ended up they didn't see any fish, waited FOREVER for the public bus and my dad went snorkeling with his wallet so he had to air dry it on the side of the road . . . A tall, skinny, white man waving dollar bills at passing cars, desperate for a ride . . . quite the sight I heard.

Oh, and it was HOT and MISERABLE (or so I heard) waiting for a bus!

Orangastad- Let's see . . . public bus, Ryan was offered drugs 3 times, Jeff 2 times, Ansen and Lisa only once (me notta, I guess with the baby I looked clean), Hotter than anything I can describe, not much too see, but there was a Baskin Robbins . . .

Look how tiny my baby was!

FOOD-Of course, always a memory for us. So, first there was the horrible milk that was way expensive and then went bad in about an hour. The first person to open the milk in the morning got good tasting milk and then as we all eventually made our way over to mom and dad's kitchen the milk got progressively worse until water with cereal sounded appealing. And then there was the gallons on Dt. Coke we went through (to be clear-my mom did not drink any) and the special treat my dad got for himself-Malta. I can't even remember now how we described what it tasted like, but it was horrible. It's what he used to drink on his mission in Venezuela so he loved it and even saved some to bring home. And as always the chaos at mealtime in the kitchen created lots of laughs.

And this isn't the right picture, but we all sacrificed for a night out on the town at Brazzill Grill. Ryan, Kendall, Mom, Dad, me, Ansen and Drew went to the Marriott timeshare presentation while Lisa and Jeff babysat . . . for 3 hours. We got some gift certificates to dinner, which we thought would cover it all, but turns out it's a little pricer in Aruba to get so overly stuffed and sick from an all you can eat buffet. Anyway, it was a night to remember.

And so in the end . . . we had a great family vacation, I almost finished my Sudoku book, Addison learned to swim underwater comfortably, Olivia just plain got in the water, and we came home relaxed and so ready for 3!

Ansen: Olivia, you're going to have to help Mom today. She's really sick.
Olivia: And Addison can help?
Ansen: No, she's sick too, so you're going to have to help both of them.
Olivia: Uh, I don't fink I can.
Ansen: You're a big girl, yes you can.
Olivia: Then we're going to have to take off my training wheels.

Ollie's Os

Olivia learned to write an O and pretty soon I started finding them everywhere. They were all over all of my todo lists everyday, the Bingo board for Addison's Halloween party, my work papers, Addison's homework, my checkbook, the ward list, . . . I wish I'd taken more pictures as I found them. Now it makes me smile every time I find a new O and I've learned to keep the important papers put away.

First Food

On Halloween morning, we thought we'd give food, or at least cereal, a try. He was my best eater so far (conceptually-open and swallow) and seemed to like it for the first couple of minutes. Then he started making faces and eventually wouldn't even open his mouth. The girls and I had a fun time watching him.

Addie's Theatrical Debut!

Addison has been taking a theater class this fall with her friends, Kate and Sarah. It has singing, dancing and a few lines so it was sure to be her thing. But then, little did we know, they were doing 101 Dalmatians and since Addison has acted like a dog since she was 2 it was a home run!

This weekend was finally the performances and she did great! She was Perdita and my favorite part of the whole thing was that she knew Pongo's lines perfectly and cued him with the first word for each of his lines. It was such an Addison thing to do!

Olivia knew all the songs by heart too (and she HAD to have the nose every night), so I'm thinking next year they'll both do it.

The BIG Sisters (Addie & Kate)

And the LITTLE sisters (Livvy & Bella)

We had two unfortunate incidents . . . .

1. Opening night Ansen was video taping and we had decided that for that night we'd just video tape the parts she was in rather than the whole play. Pretty soon Ansen is taping away and I ask him (or reminded him) that we're just video taping Addison's parts. He says he knows that and that's why he's video taping. Uhh, no . . . Addison's not on stage yet honey. Yes, he was taping another little girl and we got the whole conversation and realization that he couldn't recognize his own daughter on tape. In his defense, the other little girl did look a lot like Addison but was clearly a Chiwawa and not a Dalmatian.

2. The night of the final performance Ansen dropped me and the girls off at the door and he went to park. Pretty soon he came in and I flagged him down. As he gets over to us I asked him where Drew was . . . umm, he's still in the car. I guess 3 is just 1 too many for us.

Good bye and Good Riddance!

I'm using my 30 posts in 30 days to catch up on all the old posts I never had time to finish.

So, maybe you remember our Easter gift . . .

here: http://hatchies.blogspot.com/2009/04/addison-opted-to-have-easter-bunny-come.html

and here: http://hatchies.blogspot.com/2009/04/they-flyed-mom.html

(I don't know how you magically make the "here" go straight to the link and I'm not even looking into it for now)

and now, I EAT MY OWN WORDS . . .

The Chickens ended up being a disaster! Initially we thought we only agreed to keep the chickens for 1-2 weeks. We were taking them to some a great tax client I know with a chicken coop, but then it was still too cold and they were going to be smaller than the rest of her new chickens, so we had to keep them for 2-3 more weeks.

All parents, please note: Chickens are NOT so cute past 2 weeks old!

They stink, they're loud, they eat, drink and poop a TON! and then they start to fly and it can scare the bugeebers out of you.

I was sure that I was going to end up dropping the chickens off on my way to the hospital, but turned out we dropped them off a few days before. The girls were sad to see them go, but they have a great new home and my basement no longer stinks!

Though Ansen and I decided it wasn't one of my better ideas in the end, the girls loved them!

So, good-bye Big Mama, Snuggles, Tiny Tim and Betsy.

I forgot to get pictures of the chickens before we said our good-byes, but here's their new home and our sad/happy girls.

And the follow up story, that my girls still don't know is that a week after we dropped them off a dog got in and killed all of ours except Big Mama and all 24 our our friends' chicken. It was a massacre. If we had known that would be their fate we might have just let them go in the field across from our house 3 weeks ago. They made have even had a chance.