JACKSON, WYOMING

A couple days after X-mas, we drove Mom and Becca to Jackson, WY, for the day. The Tetons were sure majestic under that blanket of Christmas snow.

The drive was almost as fun as the destination. We read comics, rocked out to my new Taylor Swift CD, and were just plain goofy. Family is so fun. .
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And of course, I had to take some pictures. What a beautiful, sparkly drive it was! Click HERE for a few more of the trip through Jackson Pass.

For an updated family picture, we stopped on our way at the giant potato...again. Mostly I wanted to try out my new tripod. How did I ever live without one?

(Mom totally kicked Andrew in the head a second after this was taken. It was an accident of course...but sooo funny.)

Jackson is the best. Ever been? So quaint and touristy and artsy...and still so festively decorated for Christmas! Here is "take one" of Andrew and me in old town Jackson. (Andrew always needs a few practice shots first before he gets his sillies out.)

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I won't mention how many takes it required before we got this one.

Pretty Mommy.

Oh No. That giant stuffed polar bear in the middle of this department store is going to EAT us. FYI: We were lucky enough to escape unscathed.



Meanwhile, Andrew was distracted by wildlife of his own.



I was wondering why he was making such a goofy expression until I stood in the same spot, and suddenly, I understood. lol!
(Doesn't it look like he's smiling for the camera?)


I was in heaven, wandering through countless high-end art and photography galleries, outdoor sporting goods stores, and charming little book shops. But nothing compared to this glorious sight.



Now, I've been to Disneyland several times, and I'd say it's a pretty happy place. But, I don't think the guys in charge of slogans over there have ever been to this candy store.



Becca: wandering around the happiest place on earth packed wall to wall with every imaginable goody. I'll admit it. I have a sweet tooth...a really big one.



Guess what I discovered? Huckleberry Fudge. (They gave free samples of a whole parade of fudges.) Who even knew such an exalted sweet existed? This place was so magical, I just had to take lots of pictures.

The snow, the lights, the decorations, and the magic of Jackson sure made me miss Christmas. I love this picture! Nativity set, presents, ribbons, wreath, and stockings. And the TV's reflection shows our Christmas tree and the shape of a paper snowflake cut-out hanging in the window. Sigh. This'll have to hold me over til next year...

OH, WHAT FUN!

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On Christmas Eve, Mom arrived from Arizona! Here, she and Becca chat before our family Christmas devotional.

The Ashmore family has a fun Christmas Eve tradition. Everyone gets to unwrap a new pair of pajamas. Then, we open a new family game and play it together! We've tried to carry on the tradition, but we've modified it to better match our means. We unwrapped fun, new socks instead! Becca loved her Snoopy socks. She's a Peanuts fan.


Mom's fun foof-ball socks

I loved my Christmas-y socks.

(This picture was not supposed to be dirty...but I've just had to learn that when Andrew's around, photos won't ever turn out the way I expect.)



Our game this year was Settlers of Catan! Hooray! We also played hours worth of our favorite card games in pj's and new snuggly socks.

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I guess we had a lot of fun on Christmas morning, because I didn't even get any pictures! The only one I have is this one that Andrew took in our living room mirror. But boy did we ever rake in the loot. That giant TV you see isn't ours. If you recall, we were babysitting it for someone. We've since had to return it to its owner. We were resigned to the fact that we were going to have to back to our little, teeny, tiny TV forever...So you can imagine my surprise when while standing in our front doorway, a special friend of ours handed me a bow the size of my head ("Here. hold this.") and proceeded to carry in the awesomest 40 inch flat screen TV you ever saw!! Holy Hannah!

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Andrew got that jacket with gift card money. I can't find the words to describe how studly my husband looks in this getup. I also got a tripod for my camera (yesss!) and Andrew got some fancy shmancy new scriptures.

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And The Grand Finale: Andrew made me this bed and these nightstands to match! My husband actually built these in a friend's wood-working shop! I am still recovering from shock at how beautiful it all is! I can't believe it! It would cost thousands of dollars to buy a bed like this at Pottery Barn...and Andrew put 'em all together for hardly anything. Aren't they gorgeous??!

(Erin made me that beautiful quilt draped over the chair below for Christmas. Perfect colors.)

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Check out the beautiful knots all over the wood.

It was a very happy Christmas.

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3-YEAR ANNIVERSARY

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In honor of three happy years together, I thought I would re-post our very first blog post. It documents our love story. Our love story? It's a good one. Andrew and I were definitely meant to be together. The Lord's hand was very apparent during that phase of our lives. Many of the miraculous details aren't apart of the story we wrote below, but this gives an overall gist.

In some ways, I can't believe it's only been three years! (I mean that in a good way of course) It just seems so much longer. I can hardly remember life before I had my Andrew. Wasn't I a miserable, unhappy wreck? All I know is life would sure be like that now if I suddenly didn't have him anymore! Love ya, babe. You're my perfect match in every way.

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-December 29, 2006-

How it all began...

Version I: By Andrew

We were first introduced by her sister, and since Rachel was/is so cute I asked her out on a date. Of course she was dieing to go out with me so she said yes...We went to the D-Backs game and we were together everyday after that. She was planning on serving a mission, and actually had her call already...so I knew that I didn't have a lot of time to work the magic, so I laid it on pretty thick. After 2 weeks I knew that she was the one I wanted to marry, so I popped the question. She thought I was a little crazy, but was willing to kick around the idea! Sweet! Well, to make a long story short, she took a week to thing about it and we were married 3 months from our first date!

Version II: By Rachel (A much more accurate version)

I moved from BYU-Idaho back home to Arizona to prepare for my MISSION to Charleston, West Virginia. My little sister, who had met Andrew at the high school where he had coached wrestling, introduced the two of us in passing in the hallway at church. I thought nothing of it. A few weeks later, however, I noticed that he kept smiling me and I could just tell that he was going to ask me out. I was annoyed. I tried to avoid it until one Sunday Andrew cornered me and asked me to a Diamondback's game. I was focused on a mission and wanted nothing to do with the drama of dating. I did not want to go! But I love baseball and so I went for the game. I remember dreading that date the entire time before he picked me up. Most first dates totally suck but my mom says that when I got home after this date, I was floating on cloud 9. It was the best first date ever! We saw one another every day after that though I kept reminding him that I was leaving in a few weeks to West Virginia. (Why do you keep asking me out??) Ten days from our first date, Andrew asked me to marry him. Well...sort of. He never really even asked me the question or showed me the ring because when I realized what he was about to do I freaked out, refused to let him ask, and told him he was very much a cRaZy person. That next week I couldn't shake the feeling that I should at least think about it all because there had been way too many coincidences to list in the circumstances that allowed me to meet Andrew. As I prayed about it, I continued to go forward with my mission plans. I even gave my farewell in Sacrament (with Andrew watching from the back row) and set the date for my TEMPLE endowment. Exactly a week after he proposed, I got an unmistakable assurance that I was supposed to be with Andrew Ashmore. So, in the Celestial Room of the Mesa Temple, I told Andrew that I would be his wife. Two and half months later we were married and moving up to Rexburg, Idaho, to start our new life together. I haven't regretted my decision once!

GINGERBREAD

The 2nd Annual Gingerbread house building get-together was a success...well, I guess depending upon what you consider to be the meaning of success. This is Andrew's gingerbread box with gumdrops. After several vigorous tests, Andrew proclaimed it to be earthquake proof.

After more experiments with flying remote controls, Andrew concluded that his structure was NOT however, airplane crash proof.

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Jared thought his was #1 though.

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Amanda's cute pregnant self built an impressive 2-story mansion.

I was mostly proud of my chimney. And the snowman.

The only things missing from the evening were our Hayashi and Blevin friends. We miss you guys. =(

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HOLIDAY PREP and CHRISTMAS CARD

Christmas break has started! (Let me hear you say YEe-ahh!)

Preparing for the 25th has kept life just as busy...but in a good way. I'm beginning to get really excited! I have holiday music playing all day (Jewel's Christmas CD is my all-time fav), the guest bed all made up with clean sheets and new pillows, and I've even had self control enough to obey Andrew's order not to go in the garage (he's storing my Christmas present in there). When I was a kid, I remember being so excited for Christmas morning, I would stress that the world would end before it ever came around. My anticipation isn't quite as extreme anymore...but pretty close. An example of what I'm up against: check out that monster of a present that can't even fit under our tree! Are you just a little bit curious as to what it is? =)

Can't tell you yet!

We built gingerbread houses over the weekend (more pics to come). The remains of Andrew's have been sitting on a cookie sheet in the kitchen. Andrew was simmering some dinner last night. He didn't have a lid big enough to cover the pan...so Andrew got innovative and plopped the entire cookie sheet, gingerbread house and all, over top of the pan of stroganoff. I had a good laugh when I walked in on such a silly image. Whatever works I suppose.

I spent every moment yesterday, between cleaning, errands, and gift wrapping, chipping away at the mountain of dirty laundry that had taken over one side of our bedroom. At the end of the day, I was rather pleased with all that I had accomplished...until I realized it was time to start chipping away at the mountain of clean clothes that now needed to be folded! Tell me. Does laundry EVER end?? Hmmm...I wonder if Andrew's hiding a housekeeper for me in that garage.


But anyway, here's a copy of this year's Christmas card! (click picture for bigger view)

(Yes, we are on a giant potato.)

Merry Christmas and a

Happy New Year to all our

friends and fellow bloggers!

May we all survive the preparation and anticipation!

Lots of Love,

Andrew & Rachel Ashmore

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RACHEL'S FAVORITE THINGS

I love to make lists. Lists give me a sense of organization and power in a world of stress and worry. When there is a lot to be done or a lot to think about, my brain can't handle focusing on one thing at a time. It tries to solve all of the world's problems at once...and then bad things happen and nothing gets done (think along the lines of tantrums and full-blown meltdowns). Being a perfectionist probably doesn't help much either. As a result, I resort to writing lists for anything and everything that pop into my mind: groceries to buy, chores to accomplish/errands to run, students who need extra help, items to pack for a vacation, favorite baby names, Christmas gift ideas, things that annoy me, famous people I've met, life-changing books, recipes to try, things I'd like to learn more about, funny things my students say, and...I'll even admit, businesses in Southeast Idaho with names that sound dirty (you'd be surprised at how many there are...but I'll refrain from sharing that one).

Instead, I'll share my current list of favorite things--things that make Rachel Ashmore happy. If Oprah can do it, why can't I? I'll just humor myself into thinking people would even care without me having my own talk show, magazine, or a million dollar fortune. In no particular order...

1. Dinner Schedules

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While we're on the topic of lists, dinner schedules are among my favorite things. I don't mind cooking dinner so much...it's the having to come up with something every single night when I'm tired that drives me crazy. Especially when my husband's only help with the decision is to assure me that: "whatever you make is fine, dear." Too many of these nights turn in to popcorn and cereal for dinner...simply because I don't want to have to come up with anything else. This list is a lifesaver. I spend 10 minutes jotting down a schedule 1-2 weeks in advance, and then I'm set. Dinner time is relatively stress free! I also find I'm wiser with the food we have and ingredients are less likely to spoil before I remember to use them.

2. Settlers of Catan

I love, love it! I apologize to any friends of ours who feel that we're social only to play with your game. It's only partly true.

3. Colorful Socks

Wearing colorful, fun socks, even with tennis shoes and jeans (or black dress pants for that matter) over top of them, can make my day so happy. If you ever see me looking especially chipper...ask to see my socks.

4. Dimples

More specifically, Andrew's dimples. All I have to say is: if Andrew doesn't pass those adorable genes on to our children, he's going to be in big trouble, Mr.

5. Bath and Body Works Hand Soap

Transforms any hand washing experience into a heavenly walk through an apple orchard. But I can't justify spending 5 bucks for a little bottle of this stuff when I can get a gallon of hand soap for 99 cents at Sam's Club. Oh well. I guess you now know what I'd spend my sweepstakes winnings on.

6. Tumbleweeds

It's kinda hard to explain. For some reason, one of these rolling down the street make me grin from ear to ear. They are so funny to me! I guess it just seems like something you'd only see in cartoons and old Westerns.

7. Blogging

It combines so many things that make me happy. I enjoy writing, journaling, scrapbooking, taking pictures, and staying in contact with friends and family. (And yes, I may have told people once or twice just to look at my blog rather than just telling them about something.)

8. Musicals

I'm one of those who actually like it when characters in a story randomly break out into song and dance. Andrew and I do it in real life all the time (definitely recommend that). When Maria runs over the hills with her arms outstretched, or Elphaba rises in the air promising to fight the wizard with all her power, or Gene Kelley dances those tap shoes through the rain with such grace...I totally get goosebumps. There are a few exceptions however. Carousel and Showboat teach horrible lessons, and little ophan Annie singing "The sun'll come out tooo-morrowww!" makes me want to throw tomatoes...and explosive devices.

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9. Father of the Bride Movies

I am a huge movie watcher and would find it impossible to name just one favorite. However, these ones are close pretty close to the top. If you haven't seen these classics already, take my word for it and check 'em out. I like the 2nd one even better than the 1st. I've seen them at least 30 times and yet I still laugh out loud every time. Martin Short is a frickin' comic genius.

10. Books on Tape

I love to read and rarely have as much time for it as I would like. I'm also a multi-tasker who hates to waste time. To solve both of these problems, I frequent the public library where I can check out as many books on tape/CD as I want. Just by driving to work and home again and running a few errands a week, I have listened to countless books: Helen Keller's autobiography, The New Testament, probably 15 Junie B. Jones books, Shackletons's Antarctic Adventure, Cricket in Time's Square, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, The History of Classical Music, Emma, and Stargirl just to name a few. I am currently in the middle of Little Women for the first time. (loving it!)

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11. Children's Chewable Vitamins

I struggle to swallow giant adult pills. I feel like they sit in my throat for days afterward. Chewable pills have been the answer. But honestly, why do they even have those giant horse pills for adults? Wouldn't everyone prefer fun-shaped, candy-tasting ones instead? (Don't you just love Andrew in the background trying to figure out why the heck I am taking pictures of my vitamin bottle?)

12. Red

My all-time favorite color. You wouldn't be able to tell from standing in my living room though.

13. Canning Jars

I have a whole set of them that I use as water glasses. They just make me feel happy and domestic...like we live in an old farmhouse or something.

14. Corner Pieces

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They're just the best. Crunchy, chewy goodness that can't be matched by any other pieces from the pan. Andrew was a genius and started making brownies in 2 small square pans instead of one large 9x11 pan. Twice as many corner pieces!! (BELOW: I plan to own one of these pans some day. Every single piece is an edge piece! What a glorious thought! Too bad there wouldn't be any pieces for Andrew.)

15. Run-less Nylons

Ladies, I don't know if you can relate, but I have the hardest time keeping my nylons "run free" for more than a few uses. It is so frustrating...especially here in Idaho where nylons are a necessity in these ridiculous winters. A brand new pair without a run spreading mercilessly down my leg just makes me feel "good all under."

Now, what silly things make your list of favorites?