SLIDESHOW today!

The 6th Graders in Mrs G's class were treated to a special presentation today from Ashton - It included a a few stories, a black bean snack, a handmade souvenir for each of them, and even a 6 minute slide show!  (Compiled VERY late last night by a patient BigBro SeanMarco, complete w/ wonderful Gaby Moreno background music).  

Click HERE, then click on the play button : )   

(let me know if it works - post a comment or some such thing, k?)

a fast 4...

THREE

Hooray!  I finally had a chance to find the first photos we took the day we left! (...beginning at the Provo gas station when we happened to see a friend).


I'm pretty sure that for most of us, leaving Provo, getting to the airport, and actually taking flight felt a little like Christmas...  that same magic or "pinch me i must be dreaming" kind of a feeling... 
And right from the 'get-go', of course MY first big thrill was watching ASHTON admire all aspects of aviation more avidly than ever before, and as a participant this time - for reals!
  
It was a day full of fantastic firsts for him, even down to dabbling in digital photography!  
As soon as we boarded, K & I smiled again as we discovered that his window seat gave him a perfect view of the wing, 'up close and personal'!  He asked for my camera right away and proceeded to silently and confidently capture shots of the various positions of the flaps during both our take off in SLC and our landing in Houston... 
  
I know for years to come, whenever i see any of these 1st day photos of him or taken by him, it'll bring back this same fun feeling of satisfaction for me.  It's also fun to think about what memories he'll end up having of all these experiences, once he's grown! 


As for today, here are only 3 from that bundle of firsts...  




MAGICAL. 

 

2 today

December advent of PHOTOS...

Like baby birds in the nest... patiently waiting for parents to come right back and drop food in their mouths - or at least point to which restaurant we chose!

For REALS -

We actually DID IT!

And doing it was even MORE incredible and significant than I had hoped or imagined...

I've been really sick since we've been home, w/ one difficult ailment after another that have drained me from top & bottom :) Yet my heart & mind are still very FULL!

There is SO much I want to share and describe, yet how can I do it justice? Kind of like trying to adequately write about ANY other high level joy experience in this life that exceeds your prior expectations... Right??

However, strange as it may seem, ha ha- i DO have some fun stories, not to mention a few great photos to share! And by a 'few' i mean a combined total of a few THOUSAND!!!!!
(Not counting most of Ben's nor Calvin's that we haven't even seen yet).
Nope, I guess I'll be lucky to show & tell 3!!!
But FIRST, let me just get LESS sick and MORE computer turns...


Now it must be time for that MacBook-of-My-Own Miracle Dream to come true, R I G H T ??

eleven-eleven-eleven

ELEVEN bits of HEAVEN today:

1. Woke feeling SO grateful for DAD and every other VETERAN who has served and sacrificed to help preserve our country and families... and SO grateful that we choose to observe a National Holiday in their honor... and SO grateful federal offices are CLOSED today - especially MINE  : )
2. LOVED the priceless photo Olivia sent me via text at 10 this morning - pure JOY!!!
3. Actually had the RARE pleasure of being home ALONE at 11:11 AM, and even began this POST while running laundry!  Total DELIGHT!
4. So GLAD to find a way to get what cousin Aby mentioned we could bring him - Had K & Cal stop at REI in SLC for cycling pants on drive home from Centerville mid-day.  So GLAD I asked Aby to think of something - He won me over right away years ago - he is sharp and thoughtful with a 'heart-of-gold', and he'll be hosting and playing with us next week - bless him and his family! 
5. Helped move last chunk of stuff to CLEAR a spot in garage large enough for a CAR (of all things), and helped CARmen park one in it!  CHECK!
6. Planted an AMAZING old die-hard amaryllis bulb K found in same garage - (its new sprouts are bout 4 inches high).   
7. ATE at J-Dawg's, after dropping J back at BYU - even thought to use StudentSaverCard for FREE AppleBeer!  (haven't had either in forever - glad K thought of stopping - they 'hit the spot' YUM!
8. Had FUN cleaning up neglected stuff on front porch w/ Maya, (got rid of spiders and worked hard while the sun was shining) - then rewarded ourselves w/ a quick trip to Bath & BodyWorks for lotion she's been wanting since her Oct bday!  20 minute lotion FEST - and nice little gifts for other cool Guate relatives ~ CHECK!
9. ADORED SeanBoy as he prepared for PROPOSAL to happy Hannah this evening… YES, he pulled off his superb SURPRISE with a little help from his friends, family, future in-laws, and Steve Jobs, of course : )  (He gave her a sealed iPhone box that actually contained a ring box inside - MORE fun stories to tell).
10. RAN to Target w/ J to get bday present for Car (for Sunday) and 11 little foods/drinks to enjoy at 11:11 tonight ~ by all who were home and awake!
11. Continued celebrating after midnight when the officially engaged ones stopped by so we could gather all around them and hear about their fun evening.

Heavenly 11-11-11