This last week has been pretty hard for me. My grandmother passed away. I only knew her for the last 10 years of my life. I'm just grateful that I was able to have some relationship with her. What has been adding to my sadness is the fact that she lived down in St. George, and I wasn't able to be down there with my mom while she goes through this. I've been calling her every day just to let her know she is in my thoughts and I just want her to be able to talk to me about her feelings. I wish I had a picture of her to put in this post, but I don't. I'm hoping that as my mom goes through her things, she'll find a picture and I'll be able to have it and I'll put it up. She wasn't very old, but she wasn't in good health. She was fine and then within 36 hours of going to the hospital she had passed away. Thinking about it makes me sad, and I've had to keep myself busy so I don't get too sad. But I think if I can get my feelings into writing, I'll feel better. I deeply cherish the moments I spent with her. I was glad that I got to see her a few weeks ago when she came up for my cousins wedding. When she came to my house to visit, she said something to me that I will never forget. She said that I was the first one of her grandchildren to call her Grandma. I always knew I was the leader and not the follower, but because I have that memory of her I feel that much closer to her. I'm sad that she won't be alive when (and if) I have a baby girl. That would have been the 4th generation for her. I will miss her very much.

R.I.P. Grandma Barbra. I love you!

We went to the race track a couple weeks ago. It was good weather and good racing. Ashton loved watching the cars race.

Triston also had a lot of fun. He enjoyed watched the cars go around in circles.

I was so happy when Ashton went pee pee in his potty. I had to take a picture! You can kinda see the little yellow puddle in the bottom.

On Mother's Day Kyle was so sweet to clean up the kitchen and house. While he was doing dishes, Ashton decided he wanted to help out. He kept playing with things that he wasn't supposed to and Kyle said "I'm gonna spank your butt." This was his defense against daddy's hand! I was laughing so hard!

Ashton's 2nd Birthday - The Zoo

So we celebrated Ashton's birthday with friends and family a few days before his birthday. On his birthday, we took him to the zoo for the first time. He loved it. He would get really excited when he would see animals and by the end, he was saying "animal" really well. Unfortunately, 1/4 of the zoo was closed due to reconstruction, so we didn't get to see the penguins, the bears or the lions. But it was still a lot of fun. The area they are reconstructing is going to open next Spring, so maybe we'll go back for his 3rd birthday.

I love this picture of Kyle and Ashton.

Checking out the monkeys

I loved these two little monkeys. Just basking in the morning sun.

I think skunks are so cute. They just look so sweet and innocent.
I actually know someone who has a pet skunk.

Sweet little boy excited to be at the zoo for the first time.

The elephants had just gotten their breakfast so it was neat
to watch them eat their food.

When I first saw this elephant, I thought it was baby Suri.
I didn't see the little gray thing laying on the ground at first.

THIS is baby Suri. I was sad she wasn't up playing around,
but we were there early so she was still enjoying her nap in the
morning sun.

This is the baby orangutan. I don't know it's name or sex, but
it was so cute watching it play.

And here are the parents. Buried in the hay and fast asleep.
I wish Kyle and I could do that while the little ones played, but we would
wake up to a disaster.

I was glad I got this shot when I did. Right after I took it,
he turned his bottom towards us and wouldn't move. They were
cleaning his habitat and he wanted back in.

These birds are so majestic. It's no wonder they are our nations
bird. Just look at them. I did observe something about them though.
Down by the Wild Animal Amphitheater, they had a golden eagle, a bald eagle
and an owl. I heard what Kyle and I thought was the bald eagle. It turned
out to be the owl. The bald eagles cry was high pitched and kinda "wimpy."
Not at all what I thought it would be. But it is still a beautiful bird.

The tigers were so active that day. They are such beautiful
animals. I was awestruck watching them.

This one was pacing back and forth by the entrance to their enclosed
habitat, which happens to be right above the underpass. It
was pretty neat.

The birthday boy!

This giraffe was all by themselves. I think they may have the
males and females separated.

And the rest of the giraffes.

I love this picture. This one is just sitting by while the other one
works hard burrowing away.
I don't remember what they are called, but they are actually a rodent.
I think the largest species of rodent in the world.

I loved this lone bird sitting in the center part of the reptile house.

This was my failed attempt at taking a picture of all four of us
on the train.

I love this picture of these Prairie Dogs. Kyle said that was me and him.
I totally agree.
You can barely see the two cougars sleeping in this picture.
You have to look really close.

After all that fun he fell asleep in the car shortly after we left.
I hope he had a good birthday and knows how much we love him.

He may drive me absolutely crazy, but he is the sweetest little boy. He is a good big brother. He has such a big heart, and I am so thankful he chose me to be his mommy.

Ashton's 2nd Birthday - The Party

I cannot believe that my sweet, little Ashton was born two years ago. The time has just flown by me. Two years ago, he was so content to be in his bouncer or swing, or even just chilling on the floor playing with toys. Now, I don't seem to be able to keep him entertained long enough for him to sit still. The longest I can keep him focused on something is when I put Cars on for him, and even then he still loses interest at times and starts wreaking havoc. But I love him and I wouldn't want him any other way.

Ashton Kyle Walker 05/02/2009 8lbs. 1oz. 22" long

Ashton was lucky and got to celebrate his birthday twice. The first time was a family and friends party. Since my family was all in town we celebrated his birthday early. We crammed everyone into our little apartment living room and watched Ashton open all his presents, play with his cousins and friends and eat his cake! He had a blast!

Ashton loves the movie Cars. So much that he ruined the DVD
we had from playing with it too much. He got a new DVD/Blu-Ray
Cars movie for his birthday, and was so excited that he actually
opened up the whole thing. Plastic and all!

The day before his party we went to my cousins wedding.
The favors had were taffy and Swedish Fish. Ashton loved
the taffy so much my Aunt Susan gave him a bag of taffy! He
was so excited!
He took the bag right to Nana so she could open it and give him one!
"No more presents? Who's running this party?"
He blew the candle out all by himself! I'm kicking myself now
because I forgot to take a picture of the cake before I destroyed it :(
Enjoying his yummy birthday cake

It was a great party for him. He got lots of fun new toys and cute clothes. I can't believe how quickly he is growing up. It makes me sad at times, but I am loving every minute of it!