Ashlyn ewo 08\12\2010 (92 photos), by Stefanie Gillespie

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Wasatch Class of 2000 Ten Year Reunion

A photo of my classmates at my ten year class reunion.

August 2010

For our girls trip this year we stayed overnight in a condo in Park City. We played a little Bunko (a lot actually) had some pizza and stayed up late laughing! In the morning we got semi-professional pedis (thanks Sandra!) and shopped A LOT at the outlets.

It was so fun to be home during fair days. I got to take Ellia to the parade and the rodeo...she stayed home from the derby but I got to go!
When the flag came by at the parade it was Ellia's first real experience showing respect for it. Ironically she had a little silver heart embroaidered on her shirt so Abby coached her to put her hand on her "heart." Well it worked until her right hand got tired and she had to switch to her left.

Jeremy has a hard time understanding that just because everyone isn't around on your actual birthday doesn't mean it won't get celebrated, actually it generally leads to birthdays that last the whole month...so even though it was a month later we got together with jer's side of the family to celebrate Ellia's birthday, and some birthdays that were in August too.

At first Ellia was really scared of the lawnmower, but after she got a ride of course she only wanted more.

The first few days were almost unbearably hot and I was feeling frustrated that I had left the horrid heat in California (at least we have ac and the pool) but at least it cooled down in the evenings. we actually spent a bit of time playing in the yard. One night we had a hot dog and marshmellow roast with the hugest marshmellows I have ever seen!

Ashlyn kept putting her face/mouth right on the sprinkler and of course it wasn't long before someone suggested we turn it on - obviously I was against that, at least this time.

It was so fun to see the girls in jackets and jeans again that I had to take some pictures.

We got a chance to go the the lake one night and it was so much fun...despite the wind.

I try to explain to people that Ashlyn likes obstacles, she climbs into or under something and most times can't get out. This was just another example.

That wasn't the only trouble she got into. The second we set her down SOMETHING went into her mouth. Here, while I was trying to keep Ellia from running too far out into the water, Ashlyn was eating the lake-gross.

Ellia and Jace, like two peas in a pod. Really. They can got months without seeing each other and the second they are reunited they are playing like nothing ever separated them.

What a pose!

So if the previous examples don't make it obvious that Ellia's shyness disappears around Jace, maybe this will be the icing on the cake.

The kids were playing in the sprinklers while we were trying to get them to do concrete handprint blocks, and when they got really wet they just took off their clothes. I don't know what's better, the fact that Ellia didn't start it, or the fact that she's just a follower?

It was a pretty hard goodbye, but they managed.

Back at home we found another escape from the heat by going up in the mountains. First up for a Sunday evening family BBQ

Then with some friends for a weekend roast. This time we REALLY escaped the heat. I was freezing the whole time and the fire just wouldn't get big enough.

The kids had a blast staying warm by running up a little hill and sliding down it.

July 2010 - Part 1

Ellia's ongoing birthday continued at Build-A-Bear with her friends.

She was so excited as they each arrived that when she ran to give one little girl a hug (who was also running) they grasped each other and fell over sideways.

They all got to choose an animal to stuff and play fun games with.

Putting makeup on the bear!

Brushing the animals.

Can you believe they all posed for a picture at once?

Just one picture though!

Back at the house for presents, ice cream and cake.

Then of course the following day we had to have friends over to play with all the fun new toys!

Fourth of July bike parade, breakfast and swimming at the park - (on July 3rd)

It all wore Ellia right out.

but after a night's sleep she was ready to celebrate her birthday again - her REAL birthday this time!

the cake

the culprit

and of course we ended the evening with some fireworks in the street. After the first few she didn't like them, Ashlyn just stared, and we ended with lots of pop's which Ellia had a nice sidearm throw for - she also liked jumping on them.

Jer took his scouts on one last overnight campout to prepare for Mt Whitney

A friends birthday party that pulled out all the stops!

petting zoo...

pinata....

(thanks to Joe for putting Ellia right in the middle of the action!)

pony rides........

and water fun!

Ellia's swim class

Ashlyn gets really jealous when it isn't her turn to take a bath

We have this little rubber snake that Ashlyn loves to chew on, it is so funny to see it hanging out of her mouth that I had to post the pictures.
oops, sometimes when she smiles it falls out!

Baby Play date. These little girls are all within 4 months of each other. From left to right, January, December, November, February.

Ashlyn was way too into the glasses so she had to be separted from Violet.

This might look innocent enough but there was a lot of baby dunking going on!

Ellia's fairy tale theatre group. They met for three days and learned a song and dance to perform for the senior citizens.

After all the activities this week, Ellia was beat. This is one of her favorite play spots and this time she just zonked out there, and it took us a minute to find her. (who does that sound like mom?)

ASIDE: I guess that calls for a story. When I was little I used to fall asleep all over the place and it would scare my mom or grandma or whoever was watching me. Once I was under the dining room table, and another time I was on the front porch.