oops

My sincere apologies for not updating. Must. Get. Better. Okay, let's see...what did we do between June 20 and Sept 22 besides lose my cell phone?

Well, tried to parent these two Yay-hoos for one.

We were lucky enough to have Masha (the middle girl) stay with us overnight on her way to and from Liisa's house in Moab. She is just the sweetest girl and every time the girls hear the word "Russia" or see an airplane they talk about Masha from Belarus.

Our big vacation was to lovely Minnesota to see Grammie and Grandpa Walbruch and meet our new cousing Halle. I scored big points by only getting....ya ready???? <strong>1 </strong>picture. I will refer you <a href="http://alandbrittblake.blogspot.com/2011/08/nate-and-ashley-came-to-visit.html%22%3Ehere%3C/a> for a better documentation of our time. Thanks Brittney for being on top of things. Although I would not recommend taking 3 little girls on a 24-hour-each-way road trip, we had a blast being with family and especially going to my inlaws' beatiful cabin in Wisconsin.

Sisterlove?

50% at the Consignment Store. "Go choose ya a dress girls!"

Our friends Danilo and Juliana were sealed in the Columbia, South Carolina Temple! Over a year ago these two were able to learn the gospel in our home. To see them dedicate themselves to this completely new religion and make the changes necessary to be sealed together and make very sacred covenants with Heavenly Father was very humbling for me (life long memeber of the Church) to observe. Juliana has since given birth to a beautiful baby boy, Sergio. This day was so special to be a part of.

Princess it up girls!

Hannah started ballet. With Nate's grace/poise and my long thin legs, I think her chances of making it on Broadway are pretty darn good.

Our sweet  little (she's 3 lbs less than Ellie) Jocelyn Karin turned ONE!!!!

Yep, this is how much trouble I went to: clearance cupcakes at Walmart and a couple presents. I'm a minimalist, what can I say? The night of her bday, she walked across the room and hasn't stopped since.

Nate took the girls to a parade while I was working. I can barely get this circus act through the grocery store ailsle and he's rockin it at a parade with em... What the?

Guess who can get dressed ALL. BY. HERSELF?!?

Pookie headed for the big leagues. We are doing a preschool co-op this year and the girls (and moi) are LOVING it. Two days a week for two hours. I teach 4 times in 12 weeks. For $40/kid, can't beat it!

She knew she was in trouble alright.

Me: "Why did you make such a big mess with Mommy's mascara?"

Ellie:  (innocently) "Put on my eyes?"

Bring a Friend Week at ballet. Glad Hannah didn't have to deliberate too long on who she would take.

Nate is doing swell. He went back to school to get his masters in Educational Administration. He's excited, which makes me excited. So, with me working and our church callings etc, most nights we are passing ships, which is not preferable but....all for a good cause:) And to think we are adding to the bedlam? Don't fall out of your seats folks: Ash is pregnant. We find out boy/girl next week! So so fun!

After being at Target for 40 mins, I realized I'd lost/left my cell phone at Chick Fil A earlier. When scouring the van and grilling my children yield no leads, we go back to CFA. Good news: someone JUST turned in a cell phone....it's not mine. I've no choice but to assume it's been thrown in the trash and grudgingly request to transfer 3 heaping trash bags (2 were leaking) into my van and head home to ransack their contents....in 90 degree heat. 20 minutes later and who knows what life forms on my sandals: nothin. I'm obvisouly in tears when Hannah comes down from her nap and (in around-about-way) tells me she ACCIDENTALLY put my phone in the shoe bin in the playground. Sure enough, the manager, Tom found it just where she said it was. Just another proud and shining moment in the life of Ashley Walbruch.

So sorry about the absence. Hmmm, absence. I find the absence of alot of things these days. Sunday shoes...that match, temps less than 90 degrees, the fast forwrd button for life, meals that don't require a 425 degree oven, the rewind button for life, the *pause* button for life, my purse (wish I was kidding about that one), my mind. It just feel like I'm always looking for things that can't be found. And I'm just sure I'm the only mother out there who has ever felt that way:) Here is a bit of a picture overload to catch you (and I) up to speed. (Of course blogger is having "issues" for the 30 minutes I have to do this). Grrr. So, since the bunk beds:

First up! Natalie, who switched NC for DC a while back, made a pit stop on her way home so all our kids could get together. Good times at Lauren's house.

Gathering up our food bags we passed out to our neighborhood for our ward's food drive.

Slaving away in our Square Foot Garden

Tia being her agreeable little self

Strawberry picking

Ketchip and mustard

Oh wait, did I just nonchalantly drop the "ketchup and mustard" thing...well here's some clarification: ELLIE RUBBED KETCHUP AND MUSTARD ALL OVER IN HER HAIR. Can you just smell it with me right now?

True surprises in life are rare but I got one when my sister rocked my world and flew in for a week! Long story short, I ended up finding out a few hours before she arrived but I would have been no more surprsed had she rolled up to my door. We had a great time and laughed and laughed and laughed some more. Jenna has always been hilarious. It is fun to be at the point where we can look back at our "youth" and crack up at things we thought were normal. You can tell how much fun we had by how many pictures I took: 1. And isn't is a fantastic one too?

Thank you, thank you Aunt Jenna! (For bringing your iphone)


Enjoying some good old NC spring rainstorms...in style

Although planned months ago, it was just as fun to have Uncle Spencer come visit. The high point of the visit is when he bought us a POOL PASS! Our neighborhood doesn't have a pool but the next development over does and they sell passes to non-residents that comes out to be less than $1 per day per swimmer. PRICELESS. We've been 11 out of the last 14 days. Spence is the kindest person I know. His future wife is one lucky lady, just sayin.