Is it Spring yet?

Check out this dress giveaway featured by Grosgrain. She's extremely talented and has entered her dress into the Shabby Apple dress competition, and is even a finalist! And did I mention you can win her dress? Who doesn't need an adorable new dress for this Spring? Especially, one as lovely as this.

Trick-Or-Treat

Little People, Big Pumpkins

This weekend Marcus and I went to the Roloff Farm. What's the Roloff farm, you ask? Well, have you ever heard of the television show Little People, Big World? The Roloff's own a Pumpkin Farm at their house that is open during the month of October. The family is from Oregon, and when we found out we were going to Oregon for school, we knew we had to go see it. We're HUGE fans of the show!

We were lucky the day we went, because it rained all day (in typical Oregon fashion) but when we made it to the farm in the afternoon, it was blue skies and all of the family was out! Our first stop was the gift shop and when we came out, there was a familiar face we couldn't wait to meet!

Amy Roloff is my favorite from the show. She's hilarious. We were lucky to snag a picture and an autograph with her. Here was our conversation:

Ashley: It's so nice to meet you! We are huge fans of the show!
Amy: I love your sweater, is it from Banana Republic?
Ashley: It's from H&M (I almost ripped it off my back and gave it to her).
Amy: Well I like it because it's smaller, you know me, I like short sweaters.
Marcus: Well Banana Republic is her 2^nd favorite store, maybe you guys should go shopping together?

So basically, me and Amy are going shopping next weekend.

Oh look, there's Zach, driving the tour tractor, and Jeremy. Ain't no thang. Actually, I screamed hello to both, while waving profusely, they looked at me like I was nuts. Maybe it's cause I am.

There's the TLC crew with Matt and Jeremy. The crew was around everywhere!

Picking out the perfect pumpkin, there was only about a gazillion to choose from. Which got me thinking...why do we spend so much time finding the “perfect” pumpkin. In two weeks it'll shrivel up anyways, right?

We took the tour of the place, and saw the house, their sa-weet soccer field (that they made just for Zach's team the Grasshogs to practice on before they went to Ireland, watch the show this season to see how they do!) basketball court, and volleyball court. I'd totally be there friend! And probably never leave. Then we went to Western town, one of Matt's many ideas.

At Western town we met Ma and Pa Roloff, and Molly! They were the nicest people! Marcus spent at least 10 minutes talking to Grandpa Roloff about law school and politics. It was hilarious.

And here's Molly's castle we saw, it was from this year's season premiere. It took Matt 10 years to make it,...Molly's now 16. I bet she'd rather have a cool car now.

We had such a great time! We're definitely making this into an October tradition.

Couponing

I need your help blogging friends! We're trying to save money in this Henry Home, so I've decided to pick up the craft of couponing. I hit up all the best websites on coupons, printed off coupons from the best places, organized them and then took them to my local Winco to use.

At the checkout I placed each item with it's coupon and the young checker-man said, "Oh we don't take internet coupons, where did you get these?" I almost started to cry as I sat there with all my food! Luckily, he said he'd take half of the ones I brought. But, what I'm wondering is, these were actual, legitimate coupons from websites...

So where can I use coupons and get my grocery shopping done, any ideas?

Any other tips you'd like to give me? I'd love to hear them!

Where Have We Been?

Well to start, we've been busy! Over the last few months we've had fun celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, and family reunions. These past few months we've felt like our life has been on a roller coaster, literally!

We had fun celebrating our anniversary at this bed and breakfast. Check it out and make your reservations...today! It won't disappoint. It was my first time staying at a bed and breakfast, and won't be my last. From the fondue dessert, to the themed rooms, and fuzzy robes, Cameo Heights Mansion is a dream come true!

The Henry Family Reunion took place at the Oregon Coast this year. It was great to spend some quality time with the Henry's and have the whole family together. We also had the Mathews Family Reunion and let me tell you, this is no ordinary reunion! We had a packed weekend and some of our favorites included the adult family dinner, Newlywed game, family auction, and of course, the Amazing Race. Thanks for such great memories!

A trip to Silverwood was a must this summer as well. We had a great time with the Henry, Haertling, and Cazier families and there really is no place like Silverwood. Okay, maybe there is, but no where has ice cream like they do! And P.S. a big thanks to the Henry family for letting us go with them. They really are the funnest people to travel with! I mean really, how can you not have fun with this little guy!?

The last of our travels took us to the German town Leavenworth and up to Seattle. We had fun at a wedding, seeing the town, and then going to the amazing Melting Pot. So good, I die. This place is unreal. It was nice to have a little getaway for us before we separated for the next month and half when Marcus went to law school while I finished work.

AND NOW...we're finally back together! And in Salem, Oregon nevertheless. Pictures of our apartment to come soon! We live in an octagon. That's right, an octagon. Are you intrigued?

BYU Graduation

WARNING: This post contains an extreme number of photos. All those who may ridicule or judge, please close browser now.

Here are many of our graduation photos. We were so lucky to have many of our family members drive down, fly in, and travel the 6 blocks, to get to commencement. We were so happy to have all of you there, and all of you who could not attend, we have appreciated all of your love and support!

On Thursday all of the graduates came together for the large ceremony. I love this picture of the Marriott Center because it shows all 7,000 of us (It sure beats the 80 students I graduated with in high school!) And I'm sure we were all thinking and feeling the same exciting emotions..."when's this gonna be over?"Where's Waldo? No, where's Marcus and Ashley!?

FRIENDS

Over the years we have gained so many friends from BYU, these are only some of the people who we couldn't have graduated without. These boys were roommates of Marcus', and have become some of our best friends over the years. We will miss them, and their wives, so much!

Brad and Marcus were also freshman friends, and study buddies in Spanish this year. And while they played together out on the intramural field, Katie and I were their own personal cheerleaders on the side :)This is my Sociology pal Meg, who just happened to have almost every class with me. So it was only fitting that we graduate together too! She helped me keep my sanity during those last few weeks before graduation.FAMILY

Bill and Carolyn. Marcus' parents, they really are the best in-laws a girl could ask for. I'm so lucky to have them and all of their family in my life. They have done so much for us, and I appreciate all that they continue to do. We love them very much!What a great day this was to look up into the audience, and see my family smiling down from above. During my years at BYU, my family was always only a phone call away. You could always count on them to send a package from Cougar Care Packages when I was sick, or be so excited for me when I'd ace a test. I love them so much and appreciate all they have done for me.

Here's a picture of me with my mom and Aunt Vicki, who flew in from Colorado. We had such a good time that day going to the spa, getting lunch, and yes, dinner at Tucanos. She inspires me to become the best woman I can be, and I admire her hard work and love for others. Here are some pictures of us with Marcus siblings, and their families.

Dave, Tara, and family. You inspire us to be the wonderful parents that you are, and you are both amazing examples to us in all that you do!Cory and Jen. You mean the world to us. Thanks for being not only our family, but some of our best friends too.Dallin and Ashley. You are both beautiful individuals from the inside out, and it meant so much to have you both there for graduation. We can't wait for yours next!DIPLOMA TIME

MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT GRADUATION? Meeting President Samuelson of course!

Now, many of you may not know this, but ever since my freshman year, I have had a small crush on this President of ours. I know, silly right? My roommate and I use to joke that he looks like he could have stepped right out of an old western movie, and it has always been a dream of ours to meet him.

Two weeks before graduation he zoomed by in a golf course on campus. I almost reached out and touched him and I thought this would be as close as I ever got to the John-Wayne-Cowboy-of-a-President. Luckily, there was a meet and greet with him for all graduates. How convenient!I decided early on, I didn't want to miss it. We woke up early and when we got there, to our surprise there were only 4 other couples there! So we FINALLY met President Samuelson and his wife, and we actually got the chance to talk to him. I told him of my desire to meet him before graduating, and his wife quickly responded that I sure was "cuttin it pretty close"! She was right, and I got that perfect picture I had dreamed of....or so I thought!

I checked my camera, and I had my eyes closed. I hesitated, this was the picture, the moment, I had dreamed of! And out of all of us, "I" was the one with my eyes closed. I decided I had to get another one, so we stood in the short line again and I got to meet President Samuelson, not ONCE, but TWICE!
This truly capped off graduation. What a great, fun time we had during our years at BYU. We will miss you BYU, but...probably not for awhile!

WE DID IT!

Since We've Been Gone

"This little blog of mine" has unfortunately not been shining too well for the past few months. Life has been busy! Let me feel you in:

-We both graduated from BYU

-Moved back to Washington to spend the summer living with our parents (Doesn't that seem backwards? Go to college, get married, graduate from college, move in with parents??....)

-Marcus went up Seattle to sell for work

-But then came home 3 days later to spend the summer on the farm (so he works 17 hour days which usually comes down to "me=a widow")

-I've been applying to jobs, lots of jobs...and I finally got hired at a Fitness gym (key word, finally)

-We celebrated our 2nd anniversary (yes, we were actually together to celebrate it this year, but it was close! Which also means new recommends, isn't that right Rachel?...)

-Also, we were called as 6 year old Primary teachers in our ward (I love it, no really I do (no sarcasm intended!) Our kids don't stop talking and ask us for candy every two seconds. It's kinda like being with myself! I've never been in Primary before though, so it has been fun)

-And... Marcus finally made the decision (with the help of a scholarship) to attend Willamette University in Salem, OR this fall for Law School! I'm so proud of him and how hard he has worked. We are so excited to move to Oregon, live closer to the beach, and break bread with all the Oregon hippies! It should be a fun 3 years, and is a lot closer to home than Utah. Which, personally, I am just loving. However, we will miss our Utah comrades and Italian soda, Rook playing, cupcake making, move watching, sport playing, state traveling, best buddies, Jen and Cory though. Actually, we already miss them!

So that has been our life in a nut shell the past few months. Pardon the absence, but I'll post some pictures soon. I mean really, who doesn't want to see the endless graduation photos? This IS (or was) suppose to be like our journal, but at least now you all know that we've just been homeless, jobless, and husbandless. No biggie, right? Hope you're all having wonderful summers!

Salt Lake City Half-Marathon

Last year my two sister-in-laws, Jen and Rachel, inspired me after they ran in a half-marathon. And although Rachel was able to run in it with little training (I know, she's amazing!), I knew that I would have to train for months to do something like that, if I even could! So for months, Marcus and I have been waking up at the crack of dawn, running countless miles, and have suffered many blisters, aches and pains. And a week ago, Marcus and I participated in the Salt Lake City Half-Marathon.

We started up at the University of Utah and made our way down to the Gateway Mall. It was hard, really hard, but we didn't walk once (which was our goal) and even finished with a decent time! We had such a fun time even running the race, because random people came out and cheered us along the whole way, street performers were there on corners, and the hundreds of people that volunteered at water stations were greatly appreciated! We were also so happy that Tara, her boys and Emiline, and Carolyn could all come down and support us in our race, and that Jen and Cory could come up to Salt Lake too! We had such a fun time with everyone, and seeing their smiling faces at the finish line was a great motivation to finish.

Here we are about to cross the finish line!

Right after the race, standing for a picture. We had to force our smiles in this one! We were hurting so bad and for the next 3 days we could hardly walk. However, this didn't stop us from walking to the food tables of ice cream, yogurts, and bananas! A banana had never tasted so good!

So not only did Marcus and I run in the half-marathon, but Tara, Carolyn, and Jen ran in the 5k and Luke in the 1k. It's a Henry thing, they sure are inspiring!

What an accomplishment this was for me. Months ago Marcus and I had set out to do this, and I'm not a runner by any means! Looking back now we worked so hard to reach our goal. I remember laughing about a mile and thinking I'd never be able to run it. Then it was two miles, three miles, then all of a sudden I was running 12 miles! I still am not a huge fan of running, but it just shows what we can do when we put our minds to something. I'm so proud of us and all we've accomplished. Thanks for being such a great partner through it all Marcus. So what do we do now? Well, we're training for another one for July 4th!