End of 1st Grade... Boo Hoo :(

Ashton had another wonderful year of school at Walnut. We love her school! She had amazing grades this year and we could not be more proud of how well she is reading! It is unbelievable that she will soon be a 2nd grader and we are thankful she loves school! She is already half-way through the summer packet of homework her teacher gave to complete for a prize. Here's is to a fabulous next school year - after a much needed Summer break! I was definitely as ready for Summer to get here as Ash was and we are enjoying lazy mornings with no schedules!

The Concert Of A Lifetime...

Ashton will attend hundreds of concerts throughout her life but her 1st concert will always be etched in her memory and Taylor Swift did not disappoint! Ash had been asking for over a year to go to a Taylor Swift concert and Nana was bound and determined to get tickets. Alas, the day the tickets went on sale, they were sold out within seconds. Not minutes - literally seconds. So Nana was devastated until a week before the concert, she learned that her company had tickets! So exciting!

I remember my 1st concert - Huey Lewis & the News with all of my family and Erin's family. It was wonderful! A perfect family concert. Through my father's advertising agency, I was able to see many wonderful concerts (Ozzy Ozbourne, Alice Cooper, Bon Jovi, Tim McGraw, Willie Nelson, Reba etc) but your 1st is always memorable!

What I truly loved most about this concert was that it was all moms and daughters. Seriously 12,000 moms and daughters packed into the Frank Erwin Center all decked out in Taylor merchandise and singing at the top of their lungs. We did not have a positive woman role model when I was growing up that my mother would have enjoyed with me - Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Janet Jackson,... Debbie Gibson might have been the closest but I don't remember her being the positive role model that Taylor has become and I definitely was not obsessed with her.

The concert was amazing!

A full Broadway style show with beautiful costumes, dances and most of all, I just loved how much Taylor talked about being a strong, independent girl. To not succumb to mean girls and negativity. I needed to hear it as much as Ash did. It was just so uplifting! I think I had an even better time than Ash as Taylor did not come onstage until 8p - which is our usual bedtime.

Ash, thank you for experiencing this first wonderful concert with your mommy. I loved watching your eyes light up and to see you dance and sing freely - with no embarrassment about being with your mom as I know that is coming all too soon. Thank you Nana for a great night!

Our baby is 7!!!!

No matter what we did, our daughter still turned 7! We tried everything to keep her younger but it was inevitable. We are so proud of her and her sweet nature. She is a joy to parent! We are very blessed! 

Her birthday festivities always last a week and we kicked it off with a family campout in our backyard. It was so much fun and actually comfy - not too hot and the air mattress made it great! 

The week went on to enjoy cupcakes at school, cowgirl swimming party and Uncles and Aunt in town to celebrate! Overall, as always, we are so blessed with how many people love our baby! Happy Birthday beautiful, smart, loving, girl! 

Chris landscaped Mimi's cottage

Celebrating with Mrs Woodland

New Guitar to learn how to be the next Taylor Swift

Paint the Pony!

Great job Tillie!