Nine Years Young

Ashton is nine years old! It seems impossible and yet she is growing up right before my eyes. This year was especially fun because school had already ended the previous week. So we got to do some serious celebrating!

What could be more fun than starting your day with McDonald's breakfast? (One of Ashton's favorites!)

After lunch, it was time to PARTY. Ashton invited some of her closest friends to the movie Kung Fu Panda 2. Dad and Jordan came along too. After the movie it was presents, ice cream sundaes and Dance, Dance Revolution at home.

For dinner, she ordered her favorite....mom's lasagna. Then is was time to enjoy the "goods"....new rollerblades, legos, clothing, zoobles, squinkies and other "nine year old" things.






I love this girl so much. Nine things to remember about this gal at this age:

1. She is very active and athletic- loves sports, especially basketball and soccer, loves to be outside, has LOTS of energy, likes to try new things.

2. Loves to be with friends...and a friend is anyone who will play with her, any age. She has some little 5 year old boys from church this year who have crushes on her...she is always so nice and patient with them.

3. So creative- always drawing, creating, thinking of new ideas, pretending, etc....kind of a day dreamer, not always a lot of common sense! (Struggles like I do with losing things!)

4. Wants to do the right things. Some times when I correct her, she doesn't like it...but she is always willing to try to do what we have asked her. She has already worked hard to overcome some very difficult things.

5. Very emotional- Ashton can be VERY happy and VERY sad...all within a few minutes!

6. She loves music- listening to Radio Disney, her Ipod...and she plays piano and violin.

7. This past year, Ashton has started to be even more helpful to me. I see a new maturity in her- if she sees I am feeling overwhelmed, she will jump in and help me out with the kids. She loves to help me cook and is good at doing her chores. This girl loves her dad...she loves to spend time with him and he is definitely her parent of choice!

8. Her testimony and beliefs are getting stronger. She is a thinker and asks great questions about the Gospel.

9. She still loves to read and learn. Science is her favorite subject. She is a very good writer and her stories are so interesting to read.

Happy Birthday Lou! We love you so much and are so proud of the young lady that you are!