Almost Time!!!

I really didn't realize that it has been so long since I blogged! I also didn't realize that I haven't taken any pictures the last few weeks, until I went to put some new ones on here. My new job is just taking over my life. I am putting in about 60 hours a week. To say my job is very stressful is an understatement. I just can't find the time to do much of anything anymore.

There is a lot of excitement around our house as we get ready for our BIG Disney World trip! Exactly one week from now we will be there! My entire family is beyond excited. We have been talking to Ashlyn a lot about the trip. I think that she has some kind of idea. We have also been doing a countdown and she gets a huge smile when I tell her we are counting down to see Mickey and Ariel. This week will fly by with trip preparations and work. (I don't even want to go into what it entails for me to be gone for 5 days from my job!)

I know Ashlyn will have the time of her life! She gets excited when airplanes fly over our house. She always says "hairpane". She said she is excited to fly on one. She has flown before, but she doesn't remember. This time she will have her own seat. She will ride in her car seat. I hope that this reminds her of being in the car and that she sits still. We are also bringing the portable DVD player and "The Little Mermaid", so that will keep her occupied for sure!

Ashlyn continues to talk up a storm. When I picked her up the other day from daycare, her teacher also mentioned how much she is talking. She amazes me everyday with the new stuff she says. Last night, Alli was trying to get comfortable on the couch. Ashlyn said "Alli lay down." (Alli did) "Good girl Alli". It was too cute! She now will say "what?" when you call her name. It is a little thing but it is just another way she is growing up!

I can't believe she will be two in a little over a month. I am already planning her birthday party. She is going to have a family party this year and then a party with friends. I bet you can't guess what the theme of her party will be?

I better make this a short post. I am trying to take advantage of every second of this weekend and get down a thousand things I have to do before we leave next Saturday. I plan on taking at least 1,000 pictures while we are there. I also am going to take down trip notes. I want to make some good blog posts and I also want to make a short book about our Disney trip. So, be prepared for the next post to be FULL of pictures. I hope it doesn't take me too long to get them up!

Below, are the very few pictures I have taken over the last few weeks. I need to get better!

Here is the countdown calendar that Ashlyn and I made together. I was marking off the days at first, but then I realized that Ahslyn loves doing it. She did sneak in a couple of extra days here and there, so it is hard to see that we have 7 days left.

Here is our little Broncos fan. She is carrying Alli's favorite ball.

Alli and Ashlyn playing at the huge park behind Ashlyn's Uncle's house.

This is my new favorite picture of Ashlyn. She just looks too precious!!!

This was Ashlyn after she ate something really, really messy. I honestly can't even remember what it was. I just love that mischievous grin she has.

Our Little Mermaid

Ashlyn continues to do very well after her hospital visit. She was bouncing around the house very quickly! That girl is just so wild! She can't be held back! We are getting very excited for our BIG trip to Disney World. We leave on October 3rd! Joey is finally able to go on a big vacation with us. It will be both Joey and Ashlyn's first trips to Disney World. Ashlyn and I created a countdown calendar the other day. We cross of another day each night. She doesn't understand the concept, but it is something for us to do! I am really looking forward to an entire week off of work!

Work continues to be very hectic. This job is quickly becoming very overwhelming. My old class was very difficult, but my school was great. We had one staff meeting a month that I would have to stay late for. With this new job, I am literally staying late every single day. Yesterday, I left for school at 6:30 am and didn't return home until 5:30 pm. What a day! I am just sad that I am missing precious time with my ever growing girl! I try to pack in as much quality time as possible. After dinner, we have been playing ever night. Her favorite thing to play is "ponies" with her My Little Ponies. Some of them are actually mine from when I was young. It's kind of fun because I get to relive my childhood.

Ashlyn continues to be OBSESSED with Little Mermaid. We finally let her watch the movie, and she would watch that thing on repeat all day if we let her. (It did SAVE us in the hospital!) She just loves anything Little Mermaid. If we are shopping and she sees something Little Mermaid, she gets so excited and screams "Ariel!" We are all taking bets on what she will do when she finally sees "Ariel" in Disney World. My mom finally found Ashlyn an Ariel costume. She loves it! It is more of a ballerina costume. She is in-between sizes and is too small for the really cool Ariel costumes yet. We are already planning a Little Mermaid 2nd birthday party.

We have been keeping very busy on the weekends. It seems that September is already filling up fast as well. Our trip will be here before we know it! I have included some various pictures from the last few weeks. I know in the past I tried to blog once a week, that is still my goal, but realistically, it may be 2 weeks from now on. I am praying this job gets better and less time consuming!

Here is Ashlyn as "Ariel". Please excuse her wild hair. She is just like her mom was at that age, and HATES having her hair combed!

She decided she needed the wand to complete the look.

A princess can ride a horse too.

She loves that horse.

I finally got her to sit still. For some reason, she did not want me to take her picture.

This one is funny. I was trying to get her to take a picture of the two of us. She was not happy. This is the face she made. It is priceless!

Again, she didn't want me taking her picture. She was covering her face with an Elmo book.

A friend won a box seat at a Sky Sox game. Ashlyn enjoyed it. She was having a great time!

Daddy, Ashlyn, and her corndog at the game.

Another game pic

A family picture

On Monday, we headed to the State Fair. I went growing up and I love going every year. It is neat to see Ashlyn enjoy the stuff I use to enjoy. They had a petting zoo area. They had a cool sandbox filled with dried beans instead of sand. Ashlyn really seemed to enjoy it.

Looking at the kittens.

Petting some sheep

Standing in front of a fountain. She loves water! It was cute, I told her to stand in front so I could take a picture and she did!

Eating a funnel cake as fast as she could.

Our attempt at a family picture. Really wish Ashlyn was looking at the camera.