Summer so far

It seems like the start of spring was just happening and Boston and I were wearing sandals and capri's for the first time of the year and yesterday I heard my nephews talking about them going back to school soon. I'm not sure if time seems like it's going quicker because I am older now, because I have a baby, because we have just been having fun or just an accumulation of all three. Whatever it is I wish it could slow down a little though.

With that being said we have some staggering statistics to report: (actually they aren't that staggering of statistics I have always just wanted to write that in a sentence since I took an introduction to journalism class a few years back).

•5... The number of (big) boxes of otter-pops we have gone through.

•14... The number of times we have gone to the pool.

•4... The number of times we have gone to the lake.

•8... Hikes

•3... Camping trips 
*2.... Fishing trips

•10... Boxes of sidewalk chalk 

•6... Big cases of bubbles`
*1... and one plant that we have kept alive for two months!

 I can't even list the amount of times we have gone on stroller walks, fed sucks or went to the park. We have also had to play 'This is How we Roll' on repeat since it is Boston's new current favorite song to sing and dance along to. We plan to keep soaking up every second of sun, warm weather and good memories we can out of summer before we have to put on our hoodies and leggings. We have even more fun plans for this week. 

Here are just a few pictures of what we have been up to.

She usually can't go one car ride without putting on a pair of my sunglasses.

This was last Friday, not The Fourth of July even thought it looks pretty patriotic, she just looked so happy with her two 'tonytails' (pigtails) and pearls.

Camping with the family... and just to calm your fears she did wear a helmet.

My hiking buddy! I'm pretty sure she is my favorite human I have EVER met.

Monday evening we got caught in a rain storm in our matching shoes. We had to hide under a random apartment for cover but she had so much fun with it.

XO:

Ashlynn&Boston

BRONSON

Boston's 'dad

With Fathers Day approaching I have found a lot of people asking me about Boston's 'dad. Yes, she has one... she wasn't just dropped off by a stork...When I post on Father's Day I want to take the time to post about my own dad but I decided to write this up... These are just  a few of my views on what is okay to say to parents who aren't together.

•I obviously understand that because scientifically/biologically/genetically Boston has a 50/50 chance of looking like both of us. Sometimes I look at her and think to myself that she looks just like me and someone's I look at her and she looks just like him. Obviously I didn't have a problem with him aesthetically so if she has some of his features it doesn't upset me. But what is annoying is when someone will come up to me and tell me that. I'm pretty positive he would feel the same way. Have tact when you are engaging in that conversation with a set of parents who arnt together.

•Sometimes you will want to come up to me and tell me something about him. I will probably listen and I might even laugh. BUT if you have anything negative to say about him, please don't say it in front of Boston. I am hopeful that he would feel the same as well. Bost is two now and she understands a lot. If she has bad feelings towards either of her parents I want it to be formed by her own perception and experiences. Kids now-a-days have enough problems and issues to deal with why would I want to put one on her on top of all of the worldly ones?

•People have asked frequently if him and I fight a lot. Don't ask parents that... And, no we don't. I speak to him six times a year. It is cordial and nothing really more. Occasionally a few times extra if I help Boston FaceTime him on her birthday or Father's Day. If we fought the few times we saw each other it would be in front of Boston and I would never want her to see that... Which brings me to my next point... 

•For a long time I thought I hated him till I realized that for me to fully love Boston as much as I do it would be impossible for me to hate her 'dad. I don't particularly like him a lot, if I made a list of my top favorite 100 people I met.. No, he would not be on there. But out of those 100 people none of them are partially responsible for my baby... So I can't hate someone who is the father of my child.

•I like to give myself a lot of credit... Saying that I play the mom and dad role for Boston... Because for the most part and for now I do. I think we added and last year I had her 98.5% of the time. I am able to give credit where credit is due though and he does have a good job and he now pays child support and I really know that he loves her and when he does see her he tries. 

I heard a saying once that say's, "time heals all wounds unless you pick at them". It's so true... I was wounded pretty bad BUT that was two years ago and I'm past that... Until people bring it up to me all the time; don't pick at my scars. 

•Do I like all the people in his life? No, nor am I expected to or have been given any reason to. It literally has no impact in my life and a very moderate impact on Boston's. 

Boston and I will spend Father's Day weekend with my family and I will probably write about how awesome my dad that died when I was ten and my dad that raised me are.  Do I hope he has a good Fathers Day weekend? Sure, why not, but I am obviously not sending him a card and new golf clubs from Boston. Michael will see her for a weekend in a few weeks. It makes me happy if when she does see him she is happy and having a good time. What parent wouldn't want their child to be happy?...

Basically my life can be summed up by saying it didn't go how I thought it would and that's okay...

It's not the perfect situation but it's ours. As long as I keep on raising a happy, healthy, well rounded child that is the best I can hope for. 

-

Ashlynn 

Changes

There have been a lot of changes going on in our lives lately... Good and bad...So I hate change. I don't do well with it. I'm sad when the seasons change, styles change, it changes from morning to night... Ect. Yesterday we spent the afternoon on a walk, drinking diet coke and blowing bubbles & it made me feel a lot better. Someone once told me that "changes kick ass and rejuvenate the soul..." So, I'm counting on that being true. Fingers crossed. Also, the cool thing about this picture is that Boston is wearing one of my dresses from when I was her age! ....(thanks mom)

Our friend, Sam moved this weekend. He will be back for a week every two weeks but it's still pretty sad....(yes, Sam, I am dramatic.. But it's sad and Bosty will miss him).

I sure wish I was better at handling the seasons of my life.

What do you guys do to make changes easier?

XO:

Ashlynn&Boston

BRONSON

National best friend day was yesterday.... So glad I have this little peanut to be best buddies with.

All About Boston

My baby Boston is officially 26 months today... And yes, I am completely aware that you stop counting in months at a certain age but we love having things to celebrate. We are going to go get frozen yogurt to celebrate later today but I also wanted to dedicate a whole post to being all about Boston.

•She loves all of her big cousins. She asks to play with them almost daily and will randomly ask for one of them during the day.

•Her mullet is finally growing out but her bangs are the slowest growing things ever.

•She knows how to push ALL of my buttons... 'Terrible two's' are real. But she also knows how to make it better by giving amazing hugs and saying "love you... Mamma!"

•She LOVES my mom... Like, it could almost be scary how much she loves "namma".

•She loves to sing! She puts on great performance of "ehhh go!" (from Frozen), "la la la... Elmo's world"... "My sunshine" and any other song she puts her heart into.

•She loves dancing, and we have been practicing so she can start lessons in the fall. We say "tap tap tap" and she does a little tap step!

•She loves riding in tractors with pappa (grandpa).

•She loves going on bike rides with her mamma.

•She loves going and playing with the kids at the Kids Club at Sports Academy. 

•She loves driving her little car around outside, blowing bubbles and loves coloring with sidewalk chalk. She loves being outside.

•She doesn't have accidents at home but has a bit of a harder time when when she isn't home.

~She loves when we paint our nails.

•She can count to ten and sometimes past it.

•She makes the weirdest, scrunched faces.... That sadly I realize I do as well. 

~She is left handed.

•She is a cuddle bug.

I could seriously go on and on about how amazing she is, how funny she is and how smart she is becoming. I am so dang lucky every time I hear her little voice call me, "mom".

XO:

Ashlynn&Boston

BRONSON

I told her she could help write for her first time on this post... here it goes...
rggyyy77777sssss /2w       fd       v=og

*With the right pair of shoes a girl can conquer the world...

 Just a swingin'

Our Pictures

My VERY favorite app is Instagram. I love pictures. I have always heard the saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words" and I totally agree. Their are about a handful of people I follow on Instagram that I'm just in love with their beautiful pictures and moments that they capture, a ton of fitness and health ones for motivations, some other users I follow are moms who post super cute pictures of their life, who I look up to, and I actually follow a page that posts a ton of different amazing recipes and pictures of cookies (they are probably my biggest weakness). I first got Instagram and I didn't realize it was a social network, I just thought it was a photo editing app. I posted my first picture of me, Boston and her 'dad and was so confused when I got notifications for it (I swear I am technology illiterate).We have been so busy lately that I have slacked on posting any blog posts so I decided we would share some of our pictures and Instagram pictures from the last week. If you have Instagram find us (ashnbost_bronson) so we can find you and have some more fun pictures to look at.

Tuesday night Bosty and I did our facial masks. She loves it!

Wednesday, on my day off, I went and worked for my brother-in-law doing construction. Cause, ya know, babies are expensive. Boston's Uncle Ryan helped babysit along with her Aunt Ami, so I was able to work an extra day. It was really nice of them.

"Mere' mommy... Sit... Me" translation: "come here, mommy. Sit by me." I love my big girl.

Our toenails are always matching but Friday we made our matching summer anklets. This is our third summer doing this!

Saturday morning we went and saw the Easter Bunny and to an egg hunt in Franklin. Although she looks scared this may have been one of the top three moments of her life. She was so excited! She went back over to him countless times to give him hugs and five. Franklin is such an awesome community and it was so great going with my family to it.

Saturday we played with my friend, Kat and her little boy, Cash. Boston is so happy and content coloring with the sidewalk chalk.

EASTER!

Easter 2011 I took Boston's 'dad to my family party. He helped hide eggs, was so cute to my nephews and I was pretty certain that was going to be my favorite Easter I ever had... I was so wrong.

Easter with my baby was the best time ever! The Easter bunny left toys and outfits and treats around her basket with eggs hidden around the house... The Easter Bunny was pretty excited about it.

And Boston loved getting all of her stuff!

We had an Easter egg hunt with all of the cousins.... Boston and my niece, Bracken got a huge head start.... and Boston still was pretty terrible at it... but she loved it and was adorable!

W

We also played a game where we put shower caps and shaving cream on our heads while the rest of the family in teams competed to get cheese puffs to stick (strange but really fun)... My parents and nephews were a little too excited to be able to throw cheese puffs at my head.

I always say that Easter is one of my top days of the year but I have to honestly that this is the BEST of I have had YET!

I take a picture each Easter of my baby....It's mind-blowing to see how much she has changed and grown!

That's our life in pictures for the last week... to say we had a great, fun-filled week would be an understatement. I basically ate my weight in Cadburry Eggs and Peeps so I would say it was a success! Boston was however pretty upset this morning that their weren't any eggs around the house and baskets full of toys and treats. We are two blessed girls. I hope your holiday weekend was great, too!

XO:
Ashlynn&Boston
BRONSON

Pictures

This past weekend has been so fun. We are falling in love with the warm weather!

My dad came and put a seat on my bike for Boston and we have loved bike rides!

• it's the cutest she puts her hands in the air and sings almost the ENTIRE time.

Saturday we went to watch big cousin, Hunter, play soccer. Boston LOVES him so much.

•and insisted he carry her.

Sunday she wanted a 'tonytale' really bad...

•

•

And then we went to my sister's house to decorate Easter eggs.

Monday morning was pretty great going to Pets Mart... It was even better for Boston, who was certain that the guinea pig was the Easter Bunny.

Our lives are so great lately, we are happy and healthy. Every day I thank God for blessing me with so much more than I deserve.

XO:

Ashlynn&Boston

BRONSON

Urban Stitched GIVEAWAY

Remember how I said we were going to be modeling some clothes for a mom and me line? Its going to be on Zulily.com soon... Super cool, right? Well, the company that we are wearing these adorable clothes for is awesome enough to sponsor a giveaway for us!

Urban Stitched is amazing and Boston and I are loving these cute and comfortable clothes. Starting today you can go to their page on facebook Urban Stitched Facebook find our picture on there and 'like' and "share' it! You can do this once a day till next Sunday night at midnight (April 13th) and on Monday morning the winner will be announced! The lucky winner will get to choose one item of their choice to have shipped to them. Yes, you heard me right, YOU get to pick the one item that you want for being the winner.

Urban Stitched is so cool that they arn't just doing a giveaway but for the next two weeks they are also going to be doing a promotional deal so you can grab you a cute spring time dress... By typing the promo code 'ashnbost' when you are ready to check out you will receive 70% off an item! Grab these cute items before they even appear on Zulily. Urbanstitched.com

The photographer who took the fun pictures that are going to be on the site was Sawyer Hemsley. He was so great to work with. Check him out .Sawyer

Leave us a comment and let us know if you liked or shared!

XO:

Ashlynn&Boston

BRONSON

Our Wednesday

Boston and I had a busy Wednesday. She had her two year check up and immunizations and then she came with me to my dentist appointment. Her first dentist appointment is in two weeks from today and I am so excited, it's so crazy that she is getting big enough for a dentist appointment. Her big cousin Bracken came over to play after and they had a great time playing in the sunshine. 

I'm finally able to move a bit more from hurting my tailbone and we went on a beautiful walk.

She was really good for her shots... The sucker after helped of course.... And she has shown everyone and anyone her bandaid and made them feel bad for her.

Dr. Labrum at Primary Care Pediatrics is so great.

This was all in ten seconds... So many emotions.

She love love loves her new glasses... And always rolls up one pant leg... I choose my battles.

Thanks for the kind messages we have been getting about our grandma, it means so much to us.

XO:

Ashlynn&Boston

BRONSON

Positive Vibes

Boston's 'dad is using his parent time he has every few months and even though it's for just a short time and she hasn't even left I miss her already. I show her one of the pictures I have of the three of us often in hopes that she is a little less nervous and she hopefully recognizes him so she won't be as scared. I have been telling her that she is going to spend a little bit of time with him and he is really fun and he probably got her a present for Christmas. I let her know that his mom and dad and siblings are fun and will be good to her and that he is funny and will dance and sing with her just how mamma does. I tell her tons that if she gets sad she can call her mamma. Seriously, nothing hurts my whole heart worse than when she cries when she goes with him...as hard as it is on me having her gone for such a short time it's harder being worried about her be sad. I'm sure he is nice to her but she is just a baby and it's hard on her.

•

Send us your good vibes and prayers that it passes fast. I'm sure he will have a pretend Christmas for her so hopefully that's fun for her. I have a ton planned for myself so I will stay busy. My little bully I'm sure will relish on me missing my baby so I have already mentally prepared myself for that.... But along with preparing myself for the worst I have been working on having a positive mind set for it... This too shall pass & it's going to be over super quick so if I make it enjoyable it's bound to turn out enjoyable, right? 

•

We have done so many Christmas activities already.. Saw Santa (a few times) saw the lights, Christmas movies,Gingerbread  houses... You name it and we have done it.. We will go to my parents home for Christmas Eve with my sisters and their families and I'm trying to decide if I want Boston and I to stay the night there and have Christmas morning with my mom and dad or do our own thing at our house. Feel free to give me your advice on the matter...

•

XO:

Ashlynn&Boston BRONSON

Nighttime snuggles!

Sugar Rush Photography

At the beginning of 2009 I just moved to the 'big city' of Logan, Utah. I hardly knew anyone at the time besides my friends from high school, Dayne Alder and Sam Nelson, along with about three girls that worked at the salon I worked at. I slowly started to meet people and pretty soon I had a good circle of close friends. I met this girl named, Lyndi, who is literally the happiest, kindest, most talented and down-to-earth person you will probably ever meet. Lyndi seriously has about 500 talents, all of which she excels at, one is music. She just graduated from USU and currently lives in Salt Lake where she works at the hospital doing music therapy. She is amazing, I know this because when she lived with me I would hear her play/teach that violin at 9:00 am on Saturday mornings.

If you know me then one thing you know about me before this post is that I am literally the most awkward person out there... and what really emphasizes and brings out my awkwardness is a camera. Luckily for me I have a good friend who is a darn good photographer. Seriously, a camera comes out and I freeze and make the most strange, forced smiles. A lot of photographers are great with photoshop, which she is too, but what puts her on a whole different level is how great she makes you feel while you are getting pictures, she makes it fun. Boston is adddorrrabbble but she is sometimes a little stink and Lyndi, who is full of energy, keeps Boston entertained to get great pictures from. She also takes all of my weird ideas I have for pictures and runs with them, promotes them and even helps add on to them....(matching leopard cardigans... a prom dress and an almost naked baby in a garden...)...I am just sitting here waiting for Boston to wake up looking through pictures from the last year realizing how dang thankful I am to have been able to have such awesome moments captured. I can't wait to do her two year old birthday pictures in two months! All of my friends are so great, I really did win the lottery in that department.

If you are needing some soon for any occasion check out her work here;
http://www.sugarrushphoto.com/

or

https://www.facebook.com/SugarRushPhoto

here are some of my personal favorites she has done for us

9 month old pictures/ fall family pictures

First birthday pictures

15 month old pictures

My Maxi Skirt ads

18 months fall family pictures