The Ashton Farm House

*** I also posted pics of my trip to Idaho Falls, make sure to scroll down. ***


This probably won't mean much to anyone except my family memebers. But before we left Idaho, Eric has the chance to go down with my dad to the farmhouse in Ashton Idaho. He took some pictures for me. The house is almost exactly how I remember it. I love it. She has such a simple house, yet was so happy. She loved this house and farm more than anything and so did we. I find it interesting that this was our favorite family vacation, yet it is so simple. No fancy rides, swimming pools, ect, just hanging out at Grandma and Grandpa's farm house in Ashton Idaho.

Sometimes I get frusterated because my house is so small. Then I look at these pictures. Grandma had everything she ever wanted, an amazing hardworking husband, 4 great kids, a beautiful home and farm. She teaches me what is really important in life. Looking at these pictures reminds me that life isn't always about how big and fancy my house is. And All the fancy furniture and stuff I can put inside, but about the simple things. Like the spirit that you feel when you walk into a home.

Idaho Falls- The Last Part of Our Trip

I am soooo thankful that we were able to make it to Idaho Falls to see Grandma Stringham as part of our trip. She has got to be the most amazing women I have ever met. Everyone that meets her loves her. She makes you feel so loved. She is so kind and genuine. She listens to everyword you say with sincere interest. She seriously is the best Grandma that anyone could ever have.

Some of my most favorite childhood memories are our family vacations to Idaho. I loved the farm my grandparents had in Aston Idaho. I loved playing in the canal, riding there 3 wheeler, picking peas with Grandpa and rasberries with grandma and getting to eat them till my heart was content. I loved playing games with Gradma. Boy she was competitive and so fun to play with. She would sit down and play games with us for hours, and she truly was having fun. Not thinking of all the other things she could or rather be doing. I loved there Idaho Falls house across the street from the Temple. Being able to walk around the temple and the falls and feel the spirit so strong.

I am so glad that Eric got to know her and that Tommy got to spend sometime with her as well through the years. It makes me sad to know if Blake and my new little guy will never really get to know her, but I will always tell them stories of her , her goodness and all the memories I have of her and her goodness. My Grandma Stringham has been one of the strongest examples in my life.


Spending Time with Grandma Stringham:






Grandma used to always take us out to eat when we would come visit. We would go to one of her favorite Reastraunts called Norths. Things never change, when we went to visit her she gave us a check and told us to go out to dinner like old times. We tried to go to Norths, but when we got there it had been torn down. This was sad to me because it was just a sign to me that things were changing. And I don't like change. I want things to stay the same forever. Here is a pic of all of us in front of Chuck A Rama after having dinner together.


It was fun to have Rebecca and her family in Idaho Falls at the same time as us. We went to the Zoo/Miniture Golf/Ride Park that we used to do when we were young with the kids. Here are some pics of them enjoying good times. I am so glad that my kids have such close cousins and great grandparents as well, so they will have as wonderful memories growing up as I did. Here are some pics:

More Vacatioin Memories....

Visiting Aunt Emily and Uncle James:

Uncle James is a police officer for the city of Orem. Tommy had fun checking out the police car. He got to ride around in it and turn on the sirens. He even got to be handcuffed, but his favorite part was handcuffing daddy.

Blake wanted to have nothing to do with the police car. On our trip down to Utah we kept telling him that if he got out of his car seat the police would come and get him and take him to jail. So when it was time to take a ride in the police car, Blake was not going to go anywhere near it. He was afraid James would drop him off at jail. He was excited when Tommy and Dad came back safe and sound.







Going to Salt Lake City Zoo with Cousin Lane and Ashlyn...

When Eric's cousin Ryan served here at Ft. Lewis Tommy and Lane got to be quite the buddies. Tommy knew Lane moved back to Utah so when he heard we were going to Utah for a vacation, he made us promise to get together with Lane. The boys had a lot of fun. It was like no time had gone by at all. They were still the best of buddies. Blake and Ashlyn got along well too.





On Uncle Johns Farm:

Tommy and Blake had so much fun on Uncle Johns farm playing with there cousins Savannah and Jackson. They liked riding the horse, but Blake was a little nervous and would not ride it without his big brother Tommy. John has chickens, goats, and sheep, which they had a lot of fun playing with as well.

Summer Vacation- Part 1

We have been having so much fun this summer that it has been hard for me to get a spare moment to post some of our pictures. We just got back from our family summer vacation. We drove down to Salt Lake City and Idaho Falls. I was really worried how the kids would do on the drive down, but they did amazing. We stoped both ways in Boise and got a hotel, just like I used to do as a kid. That really helped a lot. Here are some of our favorite pics and memories from the trip,

Driving in our car- Look how happy they look. Ok, sure we had only made it down Peasly Canyon at this point, but seriously they had fun the whole way.






Our first night in Utah. Usually mom or dad reads Tommy stories at night, but it was fun for Tommy to get to read with Nanna and Papa for a change.



The next day we went on the boat. My kids loved riding on the boat, and being pulled on the intertube. Tommy wasn't sure he would like it, but ended up loving it. Blake was amazing too.



Tommy and Audrey- Just chillin on the boat.



Daddy and Blake- riding the tube!!




Papa , Tommy and Blake having a great time!





Holding on tight.








Next on the agenda- Haircuts from Nanna. Blake wasn't too sure how he felt about it.



He looks pretty handsome though, doesn't he?




Well it is 11:00PM at night and I am exhausted. I have so many pictures and memories to share, I think I took a total of 600 pictures on this trip. Don't worry I won't make you sit through them all but I will post more tomorrow.