graduation

I am almost a month late, but I had to take a minute away from packing and preparing for our move to Seattle to commemorate a fantastic, emotional, wonderful day and milestone in our family.  On May 12th, Brady graduated with a double masters degree from the University of Arizona.  Doing the duel degree, an MBA and Master's of Information Systems, is slotted to be a two and a half year program. About a semester into the program, Brady decided he could finish both in two.  The timing made a lot more sense according to when big companies do their recruitment and hiring; it also meant a semester less living on student loans.  Let me be honest, I was hesitant at first and wasn't sure it was the best idea--but let me also say how incredibly impressed I am that he did it!  Brady worked so hard, stayed up well into the night countless times and still somehow made time to make dinner many nights and cuddle his girls.

 The day of Brady's graduation was wonderful (although a bit hot) and we were to happy to have Glen and Michele here to see him get hooded.  They were angels and took turns with Harper, walking behind her as she explored the beautiful old theater.  Once I looked back and Glen was holding her way up so she could reach the balcony; Harper's always in heaven when Grandma and Grandpa are here.  As Brady's name was announced and he walked across the stage, I felt so impressed by him and what he has accomplished--I was overcome, relived, but also a bit sad to see this chapter end. 

 After graduation, there was a reception outside and it was bittersweet knowing that this was goodbye to a lot of classmates and friends.  Ben, Lindsey and Macee joined us for the reception and then we all headed downtown for a celebratory dinner.  What a perfect day!

Brady, I know you are not one for public pronouncements of love and affection, but I just have to say, I am so impressed by you.  You have TWO master's degrees!  You have accomplished so much and I am so excited to see what the next two years hold for us.

celebrating harper

 Harper had her first birthday party this past Saturday.  We had so much fun with our friends and family that were able to come celebrate our little lady.  A week before the party, Harper's Grandma (Brady's mom) called and said she wanted to come to the party from Utah.  We were thrilled!  We have loved our time here in Tucson, but for times like these it's tough to be so far from Harper's adoring grandparents.

It was so fun to have Michele here for the weekend.  Harper loved spending time with her Grandma, they loved taking little "discovery walks" together and touch and explore things.  On Friday as I was decorating cupcakes and getting things ready, the two of them were upstairs for the longest time playing and cuddling.  Harper was in heaven and I'm pretty sure Grandma was too.  Thanks for coming Michele!

We were glad that a bunch of Harper's friends (and their parents) could come celebrate with us.  Harper's cousin, Macee was here showing off her crawling skills--the five month gap between them is getting smaller and smaller as they grow.  Although Macee may well walk before Harper does, Harper had a few ways to show off for her cousin while they were here.

We had a ball watching Harper dive into her first taste of cake.  She adored the feeling of frosting between her fingers and enjoyed a couple licks while she played.  Brady finally helped her discover the cake that was hiding beneath all that frosting.  Harper's a lucky girl to have such a nice dad.  The clean up was less fun, but it was worth it.

I'm not totally sure how first birthdays will be celebrated for future Ashdowns, but I had a lot of fun preparing for Harper's party and although I know she won't remember it, it was a big, exciting day for us.  She admired my decorations and wanted to pull them down so badly, while Brady and I were happy to spend a perfectly sunny day with family and friends celebrating one year of parenthood.

whatever this stuff is, it feels great

 

and tastes good too!

this is hard work!

taken right before Harper realized how fun it is to clap with frosting-coated hands

Harper and Grandma recovering from the party and cake

look Mama!

one!

Happy birthday Harper girl!  I can't believe it has been a year since we welcomed Harper into the world.  I have to be honest--in some ways it seems like yesterday and others I can't remember life without her.  She brings so much joy into our lives, loves to make us laugh, meet new people and go anywhere with her mama.  She isn't walking, but she loves climbing stairs and stands up on anything.  Harper is one joyful little girl and we are so grateful to have her.  I put together a little slideshow to commemorate Harper's first year.  Enjoy.

a bit nostalgic

I began feeling wistful last week when I quickly ran to the grocery store on March 23rd and the feeling hasn't really gone away.  As I was getting in the car that night, I smelled a sweet springy smell, very unique to Tucson.  On my drive home, my mind was flooded with sweet thoughts and memories of Tucson and as I drove I realized the next day, March 24th, marked seven years ago that I was transferred to Tucson while serving my mission and that that same, wonderful smell of Spring filled the warm air that day too.  Thus began my love affair with Tucson, on the eve of turning 23, but never in my wildest dreams would I have expected to move back. 

 

When I got home the other night I told myself, tomorrow I need to write about my little walk down memory lane and all that Tucson has brought me, including my sweet baby girl; about how hard it will be to say goodbye in a few short months.  We will leave our first home, a ward we love, and the place we became three.  But I didn't end up writing that day because I ended up in the emergency room getting my finger stitched up after chopping onions (ironic since I don't even like onions) and have done very little typing since.

So that is how I spent the eve of my 30th.  Weeks previous I had been a little sad at the prospect of leaving my twenties behind, but as I approached the big day I actually got excited thinking about what's to come.  Hence, more nostalgia.  Not to mention that eight days after my big birthday would come Harper's FIRST birthday.  Can you believe it?  Tomorrow I will be the mother of a one-year-old--how I adore her! 

Add to all of these thoughts, events, and milestones it being General Conference weekend and then Easter next week and you get yourself some teary eyes, a very full heart and one nostalgic mama.

happy birthday baby girl!

Spring Break 2012!!!

In true Ashdown form, we didn't make firm plans for our final spring break ever until we were actually in said break. We had big plans of potentially going on a cheap cruise, visiting the Grand Canyon, or going out to California. Alas, for one reason or another, all these great ideas fell through the cracks.

However, our good friends and neighbors had some parents about an hour south of Tucson and they invited us to stay a couple nights at their folks' house for some R&R. They live near some cool Southern AZ touristy spots, have a pool, and best of all had plenty of couches to lounge around on. We happily accepted.

Our first day in Sierra Vista, we took Harper to Tombstone. That's right folks, the first proposed capital city of Arizona, the old stomping grounds of the Earp brothers, and last but not least, the famous O.K. Corral. Its still a functioning little city that has worked to preserve all the fantastic historical features that are common in the many movies that have been made about Wyatt Earp and his historical clean-up of the lawless 'Cowboys' of the era. Here are some photos for your viewing pleasure.

The famous OK Corral

There were stage coaches all over the road

Nice Ass

For those of you who have seen any of the movies about this town, you may have seen a few of these landmarks. This is the Bird Cage Theatre, a saloon, brothel, theater and gambling parlor that was reported by the New York Times in the late 1800's to be the wildest place in the country. 120 bullet holes are still visible throughout the building, and a variety of knife slashes in some of the paintings that still hang. Apparently, it is also the site of the longest running poker game in history, because the Bird Cage was open 24 hours per day, the poker game is reported to have run straight for eight years, five months and three days.  

Big Nose Kate's disreputable Bird Cage Theatre

Pointing out some of the bullet holes

A little cuddle time

After Tombstone, we did some well deserved relaxing in the spa and tried out Harper's new blow up boat. She sits in the little seat and can kick around the pool all she wants. We're really stoked to use this all summer long!

Harper never missed the Cheeto bowl as it floated by

Taking care of a pigeon problem

Harper the dog whisperer

It was a fantastic spring break and we couldn't have asked for a more hospitable and welcoming house to stay at. Thank you to the Ray family for having us over!

Ragnar 2012

This past weekend, Brady participated in the Ragnar Del Sol relay race that goes from Wickenburg to Tempe, Arizona.  Ragnar is a 200 mile running relay split between 12 runners, each runner has three separate legs between 3 and 9 miles and there is always a member of the team running until you finish about 30 hours later.  I should start by saying that Brady has never been a runner and comes from a family of proclaimed non-runners.  When he told me last fall that he had been invited to participate in an Eller MBA Ragnar team and that he had accepted, I couldn't believe what I was hearing.  Honestly, I was thrilled.  I can't tell you how many times I have suggested to Brady that we should run together and how each of those countless times I have kindly been turned down.  Until now, Brady had no interest in running.

patiently waiting in the heat for daddy to cross the finish line

Harper and I accompanied him on some of his training runs, but he did most of them solo.  As Ragnar got closer his runs got longer and his desire for a sweatband, fanny-pack and short shorts got stronger.  Just days before the race, out on a run, he found all three at a nearby thrift store.  Don't be jealous of me as you look at race-day pics.  Brady had been planning on running 11.6 miles come race day, but the day before he was asked to switch with someone increasing his total by two miles.  Brady, run two more miles?  No problem!

Some teams only had 6 members, Ultra Teams. Average 33 miles per runner!

Goofy costumes were the norm. Note the topless ballerinas

When the runners only had a couple hours to sleep between transitions, they took up residence wherever possible.

Taken at 1:30AM, just ran 5.5 miles on no sleep and a tuna fish and cracker dinner

Team Eller crosses the finish line

 

 

Who owns that incredible mustache?!?

post race celebration

Harper and I spent last week with my sister, Susanna in California and flew into Phoenix a few hours before Brady was due to finish.  It was a long day for Harper after a rough night and I was worried how everything would play out, but she was in good spirits and so happy to see her daddy!  And give him a congratulatory hug--well done Dad!
 

Brady and his biggest fans

We're both really excited to get into more races in the future. We are looking into half marathons, bike races and triathlons. Are we becoming those people?!? Maybe.