12.3.09
12.4.09
12.5.09
We have the BEST dentist ever. Not only good, but generous!
(the pic gets sent to each home as a Christmas card). 
Sam and Ashlyn LOVE setting up the train.
In college I worked at a Christmas store, and was lucky enough to buy an expensive LGB train with a smoking engine. I never imagined I would let my 8 year old put it together and PLAY with it, but I do.... She loves the train even more than Sam does.
Our little pilgrim...
Can you believe we fought the crowds and stayed up....WAY up.... past our bed times to see a MOVIE???
Yep, We did! And it was SO worth it!
What a great time to go to the zoo! In case you have not heard.... It is baby time at Hogle Zoo.
The main attraction is ZURI, the most adorable & playful elephant. She was born 8/10/09 weighing a mere 251lbs and 36 inches tall!
Off to the giraffes. Guess what? A sweet "big" baby! Here is a pic of a giraffe doing something I have never seen. He kept slipping... I was so afraid he was going to snap one of those long legs in half. 
Sweet "baby" 7 feet tall. Mom is 16 feet tall. Beautiful creatures!
Then off to the cats. My favorite was the snow leopard and her cub. I was so in love I forgot to take a picture( here is one courtesy of Utah's Hogle Zoo website :).
Baby did not enjoy having its picture taken!
Well, after countless hours of questioning and a blog poll, Ashlyn chose to be Padme'. Sorry to all of you that voted for Cleopatra, but this girl loves her Star Wars.
Dobie, on the other hand, did not enjoy being an Ewok
Mummy Meatloaf...
Vampire Blood...
Witches Teeth & Mashed Potato Ghost's...
Skeleton Bones....
Graveyard Dirt...
Ashlyn and Mrs. Kuhni
Grandma & Grandpa
Ashlyn's creation....Great use of the "whole pumpkin". More pumpkins should have horns!
The final product. Sam is so very talented.
Today we lost our 20 year old kitty, Twinkie. Our hearts are heavy as we say goodbye to our ornery, independent, and loyal family member...
Twinkie was abandoned as a few weeks old kitten. Found and hand fed by my sister Kim, and named by my 2 year old niece, Lacie. When she was about 2 years old she went to live with my boyfriend(later to be my hubby) Sam, and his family. There she lived until Sam and I got married and built our home. She was a very unique cat. Not overly loving in any way. She was truly the BOSS. A cat that never rubbed against a leg searching for attention, or knew what to do outside. She would duck as birds flew over her head. Her world changed when we introduced her to our baby girl in 2001, and then again in 2004 with the arrival of "the dog". I had many regrets after getting Dobie, because Twink then chose to live downstairs as a total recluse for a year or two, only to sneak up for food or a nighttime cuddle initiated by her and ONLY her. She was our first "kid". Those of you who have had pets before children know how much your pets become your children. Then those "children" are replaced by cute little drooling totally dependent children. When we realized Ashlyn would be our only cute little drooling child, we chose to adopt a dog. A "brother" for Ashlyn. The dog was a perfect fit for all of us, except Twink. Dobie was a puppy and wanted to play. Twink was an old cat that wasn't very friendly. The two were like oil and water. She learned to tolerate Dobie and steer clear of him, except those times when we were in the room, and she knew the dog would get a yelling at for bugging the cat. She was a tease. She did get a few breaks when we would go on vacation, she would get a vacation from Dobie. She loved going to Grandma and Grandpa Blackham's house. Her health had been declining over the last 6 months, with a diagnosis of congestive heart failure. She required meds for the last 4 months of her life. She did not seem to suffer until the last few days.... Her breathing became difficult and she would not eat much. I prayed her heart would give out and stop while she was sleeping. My prayer was answered when we found her this morning "asleep". Our family is devastated. I knew she wasn't going to live much longer, I though I was "prepared". I had no idea how much this cat touched my heart. We will miss her immensely, were lucky to have her in our family for so long.....We can only hope we touched her life and that she knew how much we loved her, despite all the annoyances we added to her very long pampered life :)
We had our annual Bowers family summer party.We had such a great time. Cousin Greg and his fiance' Sabrina came from Washington. Aunt JoAnn and uncle Dennis came from Scottsdale, AZ. We were so happy to see them. It has been WAY to long. I am so blessed to come from such a close family.
Elphaba,
Now you have all the details, and Ash is trusting all of you to make the right decision. You may leave your vote in a message, or vote on the poll to the right!!!
Despite all the comments about never going back to school.....
ASHLYN STARTED THIRD GRADE!!!!!
It takes my breath away to say that! Where did the time go???
I love this girl and know she will do many great things with her life. She LOVES so strong. CARES so deeply, and is so SECURE in who she is.....
I am blogging my birthday because i will no longer be having them...I will forever stay...36. That really hurts to say out loud. I am in morning a little. It is hard knowing i am closer to the big 4-0 than 30! My dad told me once that he loved his forty's. Not so sure...i will just experience them as a 36 year old.
Thanks to all my friends and family for the phone calls, text's, Facebook wishes, and gifts!
My great friends sent this cake to work. Susan Fox is the best! Thanks girls! 
Great BBQ!
A beautiful memorial for Don...not a dry eye in the house.
Water games...
Ashlyn going down!
Ashlyn LOVED the dunk tank.{we just noticed huge bruises on her legs from being dunked too many times!}
After a FULL day of activities, we still had one more place to go...
Stadium of Fire, featuring the Jonas Brothers and SHeDAISY. Oh, and don't forget the world award winning FIREWORKS!
Watching for KEVIN JONAS!!!!{Ash's favorite}
I have to admit...I really like the Jonas Bros music.
Sam is also now a closet Jonas fan... shhh... don't tell anyone ;)
The whole gang.
F-16's. The Pilots were just back from Afghanistan.
Lacie and Chase
(This was my favorite poster that hung lovingly on my wall)
Seriously, bawled like a baby. 
Ash wearing her Limbo prize!
So happy the entire family could go this year!
Today, our darling daughter was baptized. 
Ashlyn is an amazing girl...so insightful, thoughtful, and loving.
Ashlyn's program cover...Thanks to Sam, her program was beautiful!
The sunset on her "best day ever!"
Thanks to Julie...The song they danced to is playing...
Ash with Mrs. Thurgood
Remembering...That is what Memorial day means to me.
Remembering those who have passed.
Those who have served our country.
Those who died for my freedom.
Those who fight everyday for our freedom...
This year we headed to Moroni and Mt. Pleasant with Sam, Sybelle, Sarah, and Morgan. Dad Blackham took us on the "trek" around the cemeteries. I appreciate the time he takes to learn more about his heritage so he can teach us. He had great stories to share with us. Sam made the comment about how Ashlyn was different this year. She is grown up and understood so much more about honoring those loved ones. She also was quite concerned about not being able to put flowers on all the "Blackham" graves. If you have ever been to the Moroni cemetery, every other grave seems to be a Blackham. So, she went along picking every dandelion and placing it on the "Blackham" graves. Running around saying"here's another Blackham". She is so cute, I love her thoughtfulness.
I am grateful we were able to spend time as a family remembering...
Loved, loved, loved it! Before the performance. In her Celia costume.
She was awarded the outstanding performer award from Miss Allison.
Ashlyn with Miss Allison
We are very blessed to have family close so they can share these experiences with us!
Oops! This guy was trying to fix the tank, and fell in!
Dobie supervising, and wondering when he gets a turn.
