Thunder Storms

We have had a lot of thunder storms here lately. They are absolutely amazing. The thunder rolls on and on and the lightening is constant, making the night time sky very bright. The lightening also comes in 2 layers. There is the lightening between clouds and then lightening between ground and clouds. It is amazing.

This is video from our front door, of the first storm of the season. It lasted a good 3 hours or more.

Dexter, How Did Those Apple Chunks Get There?

Today for his snack, he had little apple chunks. After he had eaten what he wanted, he started to take the chunks out of the cup and put them here in his exersaucer. Maybe he was saving them for later. I don't know. It was pretty funny though.
What do you mean they don't go there Mom?

10 Months Old and On the Loose!

Dexter turned 10 months old last week. He is getting to be so much fun, and trouble. About four days before his 10 month birthday, he figured out how to crawl, and has only been getting better and better at it. Baby gates are now part of my decor and will be for a while! Here are some of the things he does...

• crawl


• do his own version of Tarzan


• beg for table food (cough, cough)


• loves books


• loves his baths


• wave bye-bye


• loves people (he has no "stranger danger" fears at all)


• loves to go to primary with Dad on Sundays

Bracket Challenge Wrap Up!

Ashton's Bracket Challenge '10 has been over for a couple of weeks. First, let me congratulate Crayson for winning in his rookie year! Here are the final standings:

1. Crayson 119 (Duke and Butler, who knew? Apparently, you!)

2. Blake 104 (Duke Finally did it for ya!)

3. Leigh 74 (One upped your wife, could you make it any closer?)

4. Michelle 73 (So Close to beating Leigh, so close)

5. Ashton 67 (Stinkin Kansas!)

6. Bryan 65 (Curses to Georgetown!)

7. Eric 64 (I thought you were going to take it!)

8. Ali 63 (What? No mascot fights this year?)

9. DeeAnn 62 (all top seeds? It'll never happen)

10. Tyson 59 (beat by DeeAnn, nothing more to say)

11. Ashlee 57 (It is more fun to watch the games with something on the line, isn't it?)

12. Curtis 56 (We will chalk this one up to being too busy with your Master's degree)

13. London 52 (Someday Pittsburg will win it for you, someday)

14. Devon 48 (two years in India is apparently too much time away from basketball to do well here)

15. Dexter 42 (you can only go up from here little guy)

16. Kevin 32 (If only you had picked odds instead of evens, maybe next year)

17. Stratton 27 (Rookie year winner of the “Better Luck Next Year Award”)

As you can see, Crayson took home the victory with Blake being the only one near him. We had quite a few newcomers this year including Crayson, DeeAnn, Ashlee (a friend from school), Dexter (he picked by his favorite toy), Kevin (also a friend from Pharm school), and Stratton. Hopefully it will continue to grow next year. Ali and I decided that Devon and I get to add duct tape to the trophy from the years we won, so, mine is now on there and Devon will have to add his after he gets home. As for last year's winner, here is what Ali added to the trophy:

As you can see she added a nice jersey to the bowling man (she says she can't make pants until she wins again) Here is the official hand off photos (unfortunately, we couldn't be together, so, they aren't actually handing it off, it will be in the mail soon):

Way to go Crayson! This year's Better Luck Next Year Award goes to Stratton! I have decided to make this award permanent and what good is an award without a prize? I am proud to unveil the official Better Luck Next Year Award! (Hopefully, it will help):

They are kind of blurry. The front says; Ashton's Bracket Challenge and the Year. The back says: March Madness, Better Luck Next Year Award, and in the middle Flip It, to Win It. Thanks to everyone for playing, I hope to see you all next year!

Our Easter

We had a good little Easter this year. It was our first one with Dexter and our first one away from family. On Saturday, Dexter got his basket with a bunny and a book. He first pulled out the bunny and squeazed it and squealed. Then he pulled out the book and made his way to my lap so that we could read it. Then inbetween conference sessions, Kevin, Karen, and their boys came over for a little egg hunt and BBQ. It was fun. After all of his training, Dexter even found and got an egg. He wasn't quite sure about the grass though. While the guys were at the priesthood session, Karen and I went to her friend's house and dyed easter eggs with the kids. It was fun. Then we came back to our house for dessert with the guys. Sunday, was a lazy day listening to General Conference and eating a lovely ham dinner prepared by Ashton. He did a really nice job.

A Little Mischief

I put Dexter in front of his mirror to play while I got ready, and I forgot that I had a box of Kleenex by him from earlier. When I came back, this is what I found...

He had pulled out almost all of the Kleenexes from the box. He was quite proud of himself and to my surprise, he didn't even try to eat it.