Emma and Auntie Ash, Bridal Shots Continued

This really was a fun day, and Emma enjoyed every moment of it! 

Here are a couple of poses of Emma in her teal dress!

 

Ahhhh, the joys of being a mom and a grandma!

I am so blessed & I am very honored to be both!

Bridal Shots

                              

 What a fun day this was to watch Ashli as she was photographed in her wedding dress prior to her wedding day.  She and Sherrie work very well together and as you can tell, she has a fun spirit!

                            

Emma loves her Aunti Ash and is very mesmerized by her.  She stares at Ashli when she sits next to her.  It is a funny thing to watch her do.  We decided that it would be fun to include Emma in on the Bridal shots, so we brought her along for a girls day in the studio.  She modeled her teal dress that she wore for the wedding and she modeled her first of 3 white dresses, her blessing dress. This was fun, but, Ashli wanted to make sure that although she loves her niece very much, she is not the Mom, Afton is! Thanks for sharing Afton!

Engagement Photos!

Dave and Debbie Frank, Daniels Parents, with Ash and Daniel

Tiff, Greg, and I, with Afton, Ashli and Daniel, Jason was the photographer
(as you can tell it was very hard looking into the sun!)

Ashli, being tugged by her daddy and her hubby to be!

Even though she chooses Daniel as her hubby, she will still

have her daddy!

Ashli and Daniel just outside the Albuquerque NM Temple. This was a very special day for Ashli as she was able to enter into the Holy House of the Lord and make very sacred and eternal covenants with our Father in Heaven in preparation for her eternal marriage to Daniel!

Here are a couple of engagement photos. I can't find the cd that has all the indoor shots! Look for them on Ashli's blog to come!

This truly was a fun day! I don't think Daniel has ever had to pose so many times in his life since being engaged to Ash! Good Job Daniel!

She said Yes!!!

Apparently they have had some fun times at Farmington Lake, so this is the spot that he chose to propose!Ok, well here are some of Daniel and Ashli's proposal and engagement photos. She and I decided that we just need to create a blog for them......so tune in for their blog, TBA!

I didn't play match maker!

Daniel and Ash in the way younger years!
Ashli and Daniel after a whip creme n cheerios fight!

At the Albuquerque Temple for Jason and Afton's Wedding, 2006

Enjoying a Smile! Goodness, they are sooooo young!

On September 9, 2009 Daniel Frank returned home from a very honorable 2 yr. mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, where he served in the Ventura California Mission.

While Daniel was serving his mission, he and Ashli continued their friendship, but both traveled on different paths, unsure if there would be future plans together.

The night Daniel arrived home, he went to visit Travis and Terica. Daniel and Travis have been best friends for a long time. On the phone with Ashli as she got home (she was living with Travis and Terica at the time) I heard this conversation take place, "Daniel!!!! Ash!!!!!, wow, your hair is black!" I knew at that point I was the 3rd wheel and hung up the phone. They had a lot of catching up to do. Funny point to make............About a month or so before Daniel came home, Ashli and I were talking about him and she said, "Mom, I'm telling you since now that you need to get rid of any ideas you may have of playing match maker with Daniel and I, We have lead two different lives in the last two years so don't be trying to get us back together! I know you, and I know how bad you want us to be together but we have both changed!" My reply to her was this, "Ash, I love you and I love Daniel. He and I kept in contact the two years while he was gone, and yes, I would love to have him as a son-in-law, HOWEVER, I can tell you this, he has changed...He has grown alot, and matured a lot, and here is a reality check for you to think about, Daniel may come home and may not be interested in dating you again." I wasn't trying to be mean, just honest. I learned through his emails and letters that he truly had grown to be a Man of Honor, A Man who would always be blessed for the Honorable mission he served, I knew that his way of thinking had also matured. So, because of the changes he made on his mission and the growth that had taken place, I didn't know what or where or who he was going to choose when he came home.......and apparently neither did he!:)
So, Long story fairly short, Daniel and Ashli spent every day together once he got home. As he put it, lots of confusion was going through his mind...When he left California, he was unsure of what life in Bloomfield would be like for him. Nervous? Yes! But, because of his unwavering faith in our Father in Heaven, he took his concerns to him, and trusted in him to guide him in the direction that was best for he and Ash. She did the same. She had her own concerns. They have been friends since she was 14 and he 16. They dated, had their good times and some not so good times, but they knew they were both MORE mature now. They weren't the kids they were back then. So, Through much Fasting and Prayer, and numerous marriage talks, a visit or two to the temple, they knew they received their answer, and became engaged on September 30th.

So.......I don't get to say I played match maker......Our Father in Heaven already had it all taken care of!

Who's that kid with the oreo cookie?

Doesn't this look like a happy 8 month baby!
Could you resist giving a baby with such beautiful blue eyes an oreo cookie?

She actually managed to eat all the creamy middle first without separating the cookie!

Who's that kid with the oreo cookie? Licking out the creamy middle like u do when u r little?

I couldn't resist giving Emma the opportunity to indulge in an oreo cookie. As you can see, she absolutely loved it! And I didn't even mind cleaning her up afterwards! Ahhh, the rewards of being a grandma!

Sweet little treats

I know im a day late and a dollar short in posting these pictures but I wanted to share them anyway. These were taken at Sutherland Farms during Octoberfest. It was a nice day with family. Well, minus a few.

Lions and Tigers and Bears....oh my!

On September 26 our family(minus Travis-he had to work) went to Albuquerque to spend some time in the temple and then to the zoo. Our time in the temple was very much needed. My spirit was in need of time apart from the rest of the world, to enjoy the peace and comfort one can feel in the temple. I long for the day when all of my family can attend together!

After the temple we ate lunch and then headed over to the Rio Grande Zoo. It was a very nice day, the weather was enjoyable and all went well. Of all the animals on display, I believe that Brady's all time favorite was the duck and fish pond. He didn't want to leave! We couldn't convince him to ride a camel, he was quite content just looking at it. Here are a few photos we took at the zoo.

Take the tractor another round, and another round!

KUBOTA - What does that refer to? My Father In Laws new toy. Wait, maybe it is a piece of equipment to him and a toy to me? When Greg left for his hunt I had him show me once again how to properly operate the tractor. Pretty expensive so I didn't want to have to explain to his parents if I broke it while they were in Las Vegas.

I plowed for awhile the night he left and had to stop for a couple of days while it rained. On Friday morning I was on it again at 7:30 am and loved every minute of it. You talk about therapy! I think I may have irritated my neighbors for making so much noise that early but to me they were burning daylight. They didn't say anything, thank goodness. After going round and round with the tractor, I found myself singing the verse to a new country song that goes something like this, " take the tractor another round and another round, and another round." I don't know what the title is, but I remember that part because it was stuck in my head for 2 days afterwards.

I got to be pretty good at maneuvering the tractor. I was quite impressed with my new found talent of operating heavy equipment (hey, it is heavier than a rototiller!) I began moving dirt, leveling the ground that didn't need leveling (ha ha!) it was AWESOME! And I owe it all to Greg's dad for being so generous and sharing! THANK YOU GREG! Both Gregs actually.

Anyone need their fields plowed? Anybody have any grass seed they would like to share? How bout water rights? Just checking!

6 X 6 and pretty thrilled!

Greg and Brady proudly holding the Elk horns

Greg showing Brady how to "properly" hold the Elk horns.

Jason and Greg, full of testosterone, facial hair, and the smell of elk!

Jason and Greg with the elk and his hide.

Greg's Bow hunt for elk was this past week. He left for Cebolla Tuesday evening and he was pretty pumped up for his hunt. Jason couldn't go until Friday so Greg went and paved the way. He was being teased quite a bit during his hunt, seeing severl elk, both bulls and cows, and getting frustrated that he was missing some pretty easy shots with the bow. He said he missed one that was bigger than the one above, So, Jason arrived on Friday and he and Greg went out again. Since I can't tell the story the way they do I will just say that they were pretty fired up when they heard the bull grunting as he was coming towards them, showing off for the cows. Jason put the rangefinder on him (i hope that's what u call it) and whispered, 35 yards. Greg pulled back and successfully hit his target. The bull ran about 50 yards and then dropped. They were both pretty excited. Jason has a hunt in October. Same place. The days will go slowly by i'm sure. Greg will be forever grateful to his Uncle Ernie, Uncle Luis, his cousin Luis Jr., and Jason for all helping to get the elk in the truck. And he will definitely be forever grateful to his Aunt Lenora for making him dinner each evening! A million thanks to them for making his hunt so much more comfortable! And for letting him call and tell me he was safe! I am pretty happy for him and most especially happy that he doesn't want to mount it in the living room!

Greg has the better pics on his cell phone so when I can figure out how to get them on my blog I will repost.

3 Sweet Grandchildren to love

You can have your wealth and riches....all the things so many seek, Position, power, fine success, The fame you long to keep. You can earn so much you wish for, Reach a status high above, But none of these can equal...Having 3 Sweet Grandchildren to love.

'Tis the greatest gift from Heaven, Brady hugs that hold you tight, and a kiss so soft and gentle when you tuck them in at night. A million precious smiles, and each story often read, Six eyes so bright and smiling, and 3 darling blonde heads.

One can never match the goodness of 3 trusting little faces, or a heart so full of laughter spreading sunshine in every place. 3 Sweet Grandchildren to hold and cuddle, 'tis a gift from God above, and now my world is so much brighter now that I have 3 Sweet Grandchildren to love.

(author unknown, poem changed to fit my sweet grandchildren)

Brady, Emma, and Connor

Brady, Emma and Connor. My 3 sweethearts!

Grandma Maggie

On Sunday afternoon (September 20th), we were in church, partaking of the sacrament, when Ashli quietly came and sat by us. She let us know that Greg's Grandma Maggie passed away. She had a stroke about a month ago and just didn't get better. She was only 82, and the mother of 17 children. She lived in Cebolla NM. She had 40 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great grandchildren. (Brady, Emma, and Connor)

The last time we saw her alive and well was for Chama Days weekend. A short visit, but a good visit. We then saw her at St. Vincent's Hospital in Santa Fe on the 2nd of September. It was tough to see her suffer the way she was. She was very tired. I know how hard it is to lose a family member. I still mourn the loss of my Father(4 1/2 yrs) and my Grandmother(1 1/2 yrs); but, I am so thankful that she no longer has to suffer and live in this drama filled world. I pray that she is happy and at peace and that we will all remember that it is more important to love our family members, to serve them, and to be forgiving. That is the hard part, but it is so important. I pray that all the material possessions (that moth and rust doth corrupt) in this world will never take the place of family!

The picture posted was taken in December at her granddaughter Katrina's wedding. The First picture is a 5 generation picture of Greg's Grandmother, Mother, Him, Afton, and Brady. The next picture is of his Grandmother, Mother and his 6 of his mother's siblings.

Remember This

The other night I was missing my Dad and Grandma Syl very much. I stopped what I was doing and pulled out an old suitcase that once belonged to my Grandpa Martinez (Grandma Syl's Dad). Grandma gave me this box of goodies a few years ago when she lived in Santa Fe. I still love the "old smell" of the cardboard box. The contents in the box were a bunch of old newspapers, papers and mementos that my Grandma saved. (She saved everything - I think that is where i got it from) Anyway, in the box was a thought by F. Collis Wildman. As I read it, again, for the millionth time, I just felt the need to blog it.....I think we all could use this in our lives, and if the word "Damn" offends you, sorry, it is part of the thought. Enjoy!!!

Remember This

Be good, but not too good - a little naughty, but not too naughty. Say a prayer if you feel that way, say Damn if it gives you consolation. Be kind to the world always, if possible - yet if you must be unkind, smash right and left, get it over and forget it.
Smile, always smile, have a smile ready even though sometimes it hurts. Grab all the happiness you can - wherever and whenever you can - don't let even a wee bit slip past you. Live, above all things live, don't simply exist.
If you are blessed enough to know what real love is - love with all your heart, soul and body. Live your life so that at any hour you will be able to shake hands with yourself and try to accomplish at least one thing worth while each day. Then when your nights come you will be able to pull up the covers and say to yourself - "I have done my best". F. Collis Wildman copr. 1926

A trip to the playground

After having her bottle, we took her to the playground/playroom at the hospital. Very nice setup I must say....she enjoyed the much needed fresh air and also enjoyed the windsocks and other garden items. And thank heavens for the play areas, they were a lifesaver for keeping Brady entertained....which I might add, he did quite well hanging out at the hospital. He loves helping water the garden, grass, etc. around the house, so when he saw the hose that was the first thing he went to, even with all the wonderful toys in the play area.

Ahhhh, the key to happiness and comfort!

Emma was a very happy baby when she got to have a bottle. She didn't have any difficulties feeding from the bottle. She went right to sleep after having 3. She was starving!

Dr. Cuadros initially said that Emma would have to go 7 to 10 days without her bottle after the surgery. When she got out of surgery, she was fed through a zip and feed bottle which was basically a large bottle syringe. Then, as you can see, it was easier to use the medicine dropper, but this did not bring her any satisfaction or comfort. Since Dr. Cuadros told Afton during his rounds that he would send her home with a bottle, Afton asked the nurse why she couldn't just have one now.....so Sweet Nurse Amy went and got her a pack of enfamil bottles. Ahhh, the key to happiness and comfort for our sweetheart.