Pardon me...

It's not just you, my blog friends, but many websites out there on the interweb.  I feel like this may sound rude, but let me explain.  I typically open up my blog, look at my blog list, and then simultaneously open all the blogs with new posts that I haven't read into new tabs in my browser.  I love you all, and I love your musical tastes, but as a result of my tabbing habits (which I'm not willing to change).  I usually start hearing multiple music players start going at the same time.  I am forced to mute my computer.  Some of the time I listen to music on my computer while blog-reading, and in those instances I am only wanting to stop your player so I can keep hearing my itunes.  Unfortunately, this is many times easier said than done because the player is under all your posts, or the bottom widget on your side column.  I don't want to sound pushy, but please consider at least moving, if not re-moving, your music widgets.  Sorry to be the jerk to bring this up, but I know I'm not the only one who feels this --> way (see, I said I'd probably post about it later).  Maybe to start the revolution I'll begin making semi-regular posts about artists I like, and you can too, and we'll share our music tastes that way.

My next plea is for black or dark backgrounds with white (or pretty much any colored) writing.  It hurts my eyes to read.  I begin reading, the writing becomes blurry, I squint, the writing is still blurry and starts melting into the page, my eyes water and start to hurt, I give up.  I can't read it, so I usually don't anymore, and that makes me sad.  These requests aren't made to one person and aren't singling anyone out.  Multiple of my blog friends have this color scheme, so please don't think I'm a jerk ("Ashley you are a jerk!"  I know, I'm sorry!).  If I am the only person who has this problem, then don't change it solely for me.  Just throwin' it out there.

Being a mother

If this story doesn't paint an accurate picture of the joys of motherhood then I don't know what does.

About a month ago now my sweet boy had many flu-like symptoms (Good thing he got the flu shots...not! The pediatrician there that day, not his regular one, bullied me into giving it to him because he's so skinny. Never again!). Anyhow, I had done my best to stay at home as much as I could since his bowel movements for the five days previous had only included diarrhea (tmi?). But it was now Kasey's wedding day, so out into public we ventured.

Alex was a dear and watched him in the morning so we could go to the sealing and help set up the reception. My mom and dad picked those two up from our apartment and brought them to the party. Beckett was in a pretty good mood which I was grateful for. And then it happened...

As a side note I'll explain a little further. Skip this paragraph if you're easily grossed out. Over that week I had learned to listen closely for the sound of the dreaded deed. It was a short, somewhat loud, gurgling sound that announced the arrival of a stomach-turningly pungent soup that filled the lad's diaper without being absorbed onto the padding at all. This would be followed by a quick run into the bathroom for a standing diaper removal and bath time.

So while we sat at the table eating some chocolate fountain goodness, the gurgle made it's appearance. I didn't want to disrupt the table's jovial conversation, so I grabbed the boy, grabbed the backpack (we got over the whole diaper-bag idea a while ago), and headed for the restroom.

Now, most of you might be thinking...this could get messy.  I was thinking it too.  We set up camp in the tiniest of the three bathroom stalls since the other two were occupied.  I crouched and started at the bottom with removing the shoes and then pants.  I was amazed that his pants made it through the ordeal without a stain.  My sweetie was used to the routine by this point, so he held my shoulders and stood still as I carefully removed the diaper and cleaned his cute little tush.  I told him how good of a job he was doing and that he was such a good boy.  Our faces were very close to each other at this point, and he just looked at me and smiled.  I couldn't help laughing, and he laughed too.  And I thought to myself...this is what it's all about.  We got him in a fresh diaper, clothes back on, and returned to the festivities.

I have heard that it is moments like these that forever ingrain themselves on a mother's memory.  I know that this one will forever be written in mine, and I'm surprised to say it, but I'm so grateful for the diarrhea duty that allowed me to share this sweet moment and laugh with my boy.

Meeting Jeffrey R.

So, mom has been the Regional Public Affairs graphic artist for the church in San Diego for a few years now.  Last year we got to benefit from mom's calling and go to the Mormon Battalion Visitor Center's re-dedication (mom took pictures for the Church news).  Jeffrey R. Holland was the Apostle there to perform the dedication, and we got in the long line to meet him, his wife, and a few other general authorities.  Elder Holland was really confused/fascinated by Jeremy's faux-hawk.  It was awesome!

"Wow, you've really got that hair going right up there don't you?"

Doris Marie Serdahl Monroe

My dad's mother...my grandma Monroe...passed away last night.  Her health had been declining for some time, so it was not unexpected.  She lived a long and wonderful life, and I am glad that she is not in pain any longer.  Grandma, you will be dearly missed, but we are all happy for you to be with grandpa again! I went through my scrapbooks and took pictures (rather than ripping out and scanning them all) of the ones of she and I.

making cookies - 1987

going to see the San Diego Temple under construction - 1991

my baptism day - February 1993

most of the Monroe cousins w/gma at Sea Lodge - summer 1993

at my high school graduation - June 2003

my wedding day - May 2007

One of my favorite pictures of her - so cute! - being helped into the Young's home by our friend Ian for Arica's wedding reception - September 2007

"The perfect and absolute knowledge that we as Latter-day Saints have of the divinity of the work in which we are engaged, the absolute assurance that when life ends, if we have been faithful we are to have the pleasure and the privilege of going back into the presence of those whom we have loved and who have gone on before, and that we shall be associated with our Heavenly Father, our Redeemer, the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Patriarch Hyrum and all of the great men and women who have devoted their lives to this cause, brings a peace and a happiness upon occasions of this kind into our hearts, which I am sure no language that I possess or that anybody else possesses can fully explain. 

"To a Latter-day Saint, while death brings sorrow into our homes and our hearts, that sorrow is more or less of the same nature that we feel when we are temporarily called upon to part with our dear ones who are going out into the mission field or who are moving away for some time. That awful anguish that I have seen exhibited by those who know not the truth, I believe never comes into the heart of a true Latter-day Saint."

-Heber J. Grant

Need a laugh?

Because I love Tom Hanks, and find kiddie pageants ridiculous like most Americans.

"I mean, I know what it's like to be a kid...because I played one in 'Big'."

For good measure.

A few more pictures that I just love from the wedding shoot +1 other...sorry if you're sick of them!

This (head on the dirty asphalt) is how I accomplished...

...this!

One of my favorite pictures from the day...Beckett and Woody chillin' at the temple.

The first potty picture!  I know you can't see it, and he hasn't had any desire to do it again since, but it's in there!  (Don't mind his shaggy morning hair.)

we love gg

Lately my family has been dealt quite a few hard blows.  We are all overcoming sicknesses that seem to be almost impossible to completely get rid of.  One grandma is back in the hospital after being in a nursing home following her seizure...six months ago she had a stroke.  She might also have pneumonia.  My other grandma is in the hospital after suffering being beaten nearly to death by my uncle (her son).  She is on the long path to recovery (fingers crossed), but it is going to be a physically and mentally draining process on her and my mother.  I saw her yesterday, and we're going to take Beckett to see her and cheer her up tomorrow because she keeps asking for him.  I hope that I can get some sort of schedule worked out so that I can lessen my mom's load in being at the hospital almost 24/7.  We got the above picture printed to go in her hospital room to keep her positive since she can now open her eyes.

In happier news, we bought Beckett a Lightning McQueen potty (not really planning to potty train any time soon, but hoping to get him used to the idea of the little potty being for him).  We've had him sit on it a few times, and yesterday he came into the bathroom where Jeremy was getting ready and said "pee pee".  Jeremy asked him if he needed to go pee on his potty and Beckett said "pee pee on the potty", so Jeremy took him and sat him on it.  About a minute later he went!  His favorite movies right now are Cars, Incredibles, and Meet the Robinsons (which he calls "Lewis!").  He is so fun and I love that I get to be at home with him and be his mama.

Here are my favorite pictures from Keith's wedding that I'm in!...and probably the only ones I'm in actually, haha.