Rigg's First Birthday Party

Happy Birthday Bubba! Our sweet chunk of handsomeness.  You make our world happier buddy boy.  You are sweet and easy-going and the happiest baby around.  Your smile is contagious.  You're the juiciest baby boy in all the land, I just want to squeeze you all the time!  We couldn't have asked for an easier going baby boy at this crazy time of life.  You love chasing balls around the house, outside, at the park, and basically anywhere you can!  You love to read peek-a-boo books and are loving animals lately.  You love doing animal sounds with momma.  You love when your daddy sing the genie song from Aladdin.  It cracks you up!  You are so ticklish and love chasing your big sis around.  You're the perfect tormentor haha.  You follow her around everywhere!  Your a good sport when she pushes you down or tickles you too hard.  You are the glue that holds this little family together these days.  Your happiness is the biggest blessing in our life right now, and we couldn't imagine life without you!

LOVE YOU BUBBA!!

Rigg's 1st Birthday Fiesta! from Ashton Barrett on Vimeo.

 

Our Temporary Home

I've been thinking a lot about this blog of mine lately, and so often throughout the week, I'll have a sweet moment with Reese or Riggs or a funny story that happens in our little life where I'm like, "I should write this down! I want to remember this forever!"  And too often, I think I get caught up in wanting to have pictures with the stories or be able to sit down for a solid block of time and write down a beautifully written post but you know....ain't nobody got time for that anymore!  At least not me anyway!  So for more realistic purposes and to better record the little joys of my life with my family, I'll try to get on here and do little family journal entries of sorts.  Hope you enjoy the ride!

I don't really feel like I have the right words to start this post, but Todd's grandpa, Theodore James Barrett, passed away on Easter morning.  He lived a long, full life and was surrounded by so many loved ones in his last few days.  He went into the ER Friday night, and over the weekend, Todd and I were kept in the loop with what was happening and his progress.  On Saturday evening, things weren't looking good, and so we came back from Salt Lake to come visit him at the hospital.  We drove down to the hospital after dropping the kids off with their Grandma Hawl.  We went up to his room, and when we walked into the room and saw Pa hooked up to all sorts of machines and tubes, my heart dropped.  Pa wasn't awake, but Todd went over to hold his hand.  Even though he wasn't awake, Pa had been squeezing hands when his grand kids talked to him.  I haven't been in the Barrett family long but what a wonderful man and Grandpa I could tell he was.

Todd was talking to him about Reese and Riggs, and he would squeeze his hand when he talked about Reese and Riggs.  It was a really sweet moment and just a really tender evening over all.  We left the hospital, and on the way home Todd talked about some different memories he had of his Grandpa and about how good of a man he was.  The man was a "Renaissance Man" as his bishop said of him at the funeral. "Renaissance Man" defined as a person who is an outstandingly versatile, well-rounded person with many talents and a vast knowledge of many different fields.  That was Pa!  He was an engineer, a poet, an artist, a father, a God-fearing man, an astrologist, an athlete, a friend, a husband, an architect, a builder, and so much more.  Those were some of the ones mentioned in the funeral services that stood out to me.  He was also hilarious!  At the funeral, there was an entire book made by his sons, Bill (Todd's dad) and Robert, depicting cartoons of all his crazy phrases!  I wish I could remember some of them.  I'll have to ask Todd!

The viewing was the night before the funeral, and there was the sweetest movie of pictures of Pa, his wife, his children, and great-grandchildren.  Most all pictures I had never seen before.  Pa was such a handsome man!  He truly loved each of grandkids and great grandchildren so individually and deeply.  Even I felt that love!

We miss him, but we know he is with his sweet wife Fae and watches over us everyday.

The Holidays

(Barrett Family Picture, October 2015...Roni wasn't feelin' it haha)

"A thankful heart is a content heart.  It is a peaceful heart.  It makes us calm...the opposite of anxious.  A thankful heart displaces unrealistic expectations.  It brings faith and optimism.  When we gratefully focus on what we have and are, we don't become distracted or discouraged with all that we don't have.  I invite you to develop a thankful heart.  As you do, I promise you that you will feel a deeper sense of joy and satisfaction, and your love and testimony of your Heavenly Father will grow."

Today I really needed to be reminded of this.  My brother sent this quote from his mission president (he is serving a mission for LDS church in Mesa, Arizona) yesterday, and I just got to read his email this morning, and that quote was too perfect.  A perfect quote as the holiday season is upon us.  I hope I can remember this message throughout the holidays this season.  

I've been seeking more simplicity in my life lately.  It's been a slow but steady process of refining what's important vs. what's not and what's necessary and what's not.  It's the battle of good, better, and best.  I'm learning that I get more satisfaction out of spending meaningful time with my kids, with Todd, and with good friends than I would get checking things off my to-do list.  Not to say that there aren't days when I get frustrated because my list of things to do somehow continues to get longer and longer and pushed further and further on the back burner.  But I'm learning more and more how to be okay with it.

I'm learning to let go of my OCD tendencies and that everything can't always turn out the way I want it to be.  Life is about being flexible.  I'm learning to get back to the basics.  I really want to focus on the simple beauties of the holidays this year.  I want to spend time with the people I love.  I want to build relationships and strengthen friendships.  

I want to get down on the ground with Reese and Riggs, playing with them, interacting with them, and soaking in their little personalities.

I want to fill my life with light this holiday season, and try to always remember the reason for the season.  My Savior.  

In efforts to have a more thankful heart, I'll try to get on here more this month and talk about things I'm grateful for.  Truly grateful for.

Some things to start off that I've been thinking about lately:

1. A husband who insists on watching the kids while I go workout in the evening because he knows how much I enjoy it.
2. A mother who's always willing to chat and just listen.  Even if it's about nothing much at all, it always means the world to me.  
3. Good friends to laugh with.
4. All the people who love my babies, Reese and Riggs.  There is nothing more comforting than knowing my babies are loved.
5. A wonderful ward family that I love so much.
6. Sisters.  Each one of you.
7. A car that gets us from point A to point B.
8. A mother-in-law that has always been nothing but sweet, loving, and understanding.
9. In-laws.  All the in-laws.  They're the funnest group of people ever, and I'm lucky to call them my family.
10. Christmas music.  It is the most peaceful, happiest, heart-warming stuff ever.  And the Christmas tree.  I'll be putting it up tonight because I just can't help myself.  I put it up early because for me the lights on the tree remind me of Christ.  One month is too short a time to have that green, happy beauty up in the house. 

That's what came to mind today.  I'll try to post some more specific things throughout the month.

Hope y'all have a great Tuesday.  I was seriously having a rough start to my Tuesday but writing out this list made me feel a lot better.  Cheers to trying to have a more thankful, peaceful heart!

♥, Ash

Christmas Morning 2014

Christmas Eve and Day!  We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with Buns' family this year.  Christmas Eve dinner Buns' family has bratwurst and tamales for their traditional dinner.  I can't say I'm into the bratwurst haha (it's a Barrett thing), but I loooove the tamales.  Mix with some eggs, and you've got the yummiest concoction that's ever hit your tastebuds. 

After dinner, Bill and Hawley (Buns' parents) shared a Christmas message with us, and we hung paper ornaments on the tree that had Christmas scriptures on the back.  I'm so grateful for my Savior, and even though I know we should keep Christ close to our hearts all year long, I love the opportunity I have to reflect on His impact in my life every year at Christmas.

Click here for what we tried to focus on this Christmas.

The painting below is a painting I had never seen before by one of my favorite LDS artists, Greg Olsen entitled, "Take My Hand".  This painting totally set the mood for our Christmas this year.  Todd and I were walking through Deseret Books a week before Christmas, and I saw this painting on the wall.  I immediately fell in love with it.  It made me think about our son on his way.  It made me think about the relationship I hope our children have with Christ.  That they know how much Christ loves them and that he is one of their dearest friends.   

After the family devotional, everyone got the kids ready for bed.  It was so fun to see my older nieces (2,4,5) getting cookies, carrots, and lettuce for Santa and the reindeer.  Their excitement was contagious.  I can't wait until Reese knows what's going on, and we can share that excitement with her!  

Once the kids were all put to bed, we played some games (including Pit which was nice because that's a classic game in my own family) and got all the pressies and stockings ready for Christmas morning!  I have the fondest memories of Christmas Eve for many reasons, but one of which being that once the secret was out (shhhhh*) and I was a little older, my mom would let me help wrap all the gifts and stuff stockings.  It is seriously one of my favorite Christmas memories spending that time with my mom and getting all excited about the next morning.  She wrapped our gifts in our own special color ribbon.  I used to love that touch.  We didn't get a chance to watch It's A Wonderful Life on Christmas Eve like we normally do in my family, but Todd promised we'd watch it Christmas Day.

Even though I missed my family horribly for the holidays this year, it was really cool to share in traditions that Todd grew up with.  To share a part of his childhood with him.  I'll never forget Christmas Day, he made a comment about how he hadn't been at his home for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day since before his mission (almost 5 years).  I could tell he was so happy to be there, even though he was bummed I couldn't be with my family.  And the funniest thing happened.  I put myself in his shoes and found myself getting super emotional and happy that we were able to spend the night for Christmas Eve, and he was able to experience Christmas like he did when he was a kid.  I know it can't and won't always be like that.  Pretty soon here, we will do Christmas in our own home and start developing our home traditions, but it was nice.  Like I said before, really great to get a glimpse into his childhood Christmases.  Because I know how special Christmas is to me when I get to spend it with my family, and when we got to go home to Tennessee for Todd and I's first Christmas together, I was so happy to share that with Todd.  And I know he was happy to share his with me.  It really was a beautiful Christmas.

  

Christmas morning, Reese and Todd slept in until about 8:30, but I was up at 7:30 ready for the party!  Haha.  As soon as Reese made a peep, I shook Todd and told him Reese was up, it's go time!  So we went downstairs, and all the cousins were already up starting to open their pressies from Santa, and it was just wonderful.  Their excitement and sweetness was the cutest.  We let Reese "open" her presents first, which were some boards books, safari animal toys, and clothes.  She's obsessed with little figurines and trinkets, so the animal figurines were a hit.  She just likes to walk around with them.  And chew them.  Then Todd and I exchanged gifts.  Todd is the cutest when he buys presents for me.  Once I've opened it (and always love it), he reassures me throughout the whole day that if I don't like it, we can return it and get what I want (insert laughing-so-hard-I'm-crying emoji here).  He's a cutie. 

Then we had some leftover tamales and eggs for breakfast which was BOMB.  Did I mention I love tamales?  Throw a little hot sauce on those babies, and I can destroy a serious plate full.  And of course, we also had to have some of our favorite cereal from our stockings.  That's a tradition that Todd's parents did with them on Christmas morning.  They gave them their favorite sugar cereal and soda pop.  That's a tradition I'd love to continue.  So Todd got Cinnamon Life of course, and I got Berry Captain Crunch.  HOLLA.  I haven't gotten that cereal in YEARS because I can never justify getting it, but Christmas tradition was all the justification I needed.  I had 5 bowls throughout the day.  And I thought of my dad every time because whenever we went on vacations or it was a holiday or he asked me to go on a drive with him to the grocery store, that was his top pick.  We both agreed that tearing apart the roof of your mouth every once in a while was worth it!

The rest of the day Todd and I got to just hang and relax and watch lots of The Office.  It was just what the doctor ordered.  

Hope y'all had a wonderful Christmas, and have a Happy New Year!

❤, Ashton Tilton

Oh the Yin-Yang

WARNING:  Explicitly cheesy content of my love for my husband and his buns in this post, as well as the typical, incorrect use of grammar.

It has been foevvaaaaaa.  To save you a lengthy post (which this might actually end up being anyway), life for the past couple of weeks has been CRAY.  For no reason in particular, other than ever since getting back from Tennessee to visit my parents (more on that at the bottom of the post!), I have been utterly epic failing at getting back into the routine of daily life.  But man oh man was it worth it.  

For quite some time, I'd really been missing my parents.  I guess that's an always thing, but for the past couple of months it's been "bad real bad, Michael Jackson."  I wish we lived closer.  And that's that.  So Reese and I flew to Nashville (Reese's first flight! a.k.a. the flight from hell...only because wrangling Reese was exhausting, but at least she was all smiles!) and had such a great time hanging with her Grandma Lynn and Grandpa D!  More deets of the trip in the Weekly Yin-Yangs at the bottom of this post. 

If I had to sum up the past couple of weeks in one word it would be...progressive?  Thought-provoking?  Incredibly...ponderful?  Haha, idk, none of those are really hitting the nail on the head, but I guess I've just been continuing to learn about myself as a mother, wife, and friend.  Just tidbits.  Things that I feel that I'm good at.  Things that I really, really suck at.  Pardon my french.  

I've realized that I absolutely, 100% married the man of my dreams, best friend, and tell-it-like-it-is stud that gets my blood pumpin'.  

Todd and I went on a hot date to the Sundance Halloween chairlift this weekend, and words can't describe how much I needed that hot date.  Note to self though:  Bring a blanket!  Holy hellfire, it was chilly at some points in the ride!  But we got to snuggle, laugh at all the corny, scary Halloween scenes below, and talk about every stage of our relationship and life together from beginning to now.  We talked about a lot of fun memories that neither of us had thought about in a while, and it made me want to jump his bones buns (see WARNING at top of post).

Communication y'all.  Make it happen in your marriage. (Since I have such experience under my belt to be offering advice....HA ) It's one of those things I can really, really stink at sometimes, but whenever I take the time to talk things out (typically encouraged by Buns), it's usually always worth it.

>>Yins:  Unpacking // Not being able to take my parents with me back to Utah // Not being able to take Buns with me to Nashville // Wiggly, no-nap church on Sundays forcing us to take her out to the grass to get some fresh air // "judgementalness" // neverending dishes // neverending laundry // getting back into the routine of work and home life // trying to contain Reese on the plane (she did GREAT actually...it was me who didn't do so hot) //

>>Yangs:  Celebrating my brother Todd's 23rd birthday bowling with my fambam // Visiting my parents in Nashville!! // movies with momma // BYU football with dad // chats for daaays with momma // pizza date with dad // Martinelli's with momma // just spending time with them in general was much needed // Reese spending time with her Grandma Lynn and Grandpa D // Jakers pumpkin patch with Barrett cousins // happy baby girl // Sesame Street // pumpkin cake // Jakers take two with friends followed by the best cazookie I've ever had in my life // game nights with friends // our church primary program that always brings me to tears (sweet merciful, I'll be a mess when our kids are actually IN it) // shopping with momma // Sundance Halloween chairlift with Buns // tender mercies delivered in the form of laundry // newlywed sister and bro-in-law // in-laws // pumpkin decorating //  people that love Reese almost as much as I do // baby rolls // Reese's curly lips // "days that allow bras off, hair up, sweats on" // Roni baths with Grandma Lynn // workout music // coming home to find Todd's leg stuck in the window trying to get in because he was locked out (priceless! )...had to snap a shot before I released him // workout music // Claire Wilson // seeing Buns after getting off the plane // hugging the crap out of Buns after getting off the plane // kissing Buns after getting off the plane // holding hands with Buns after getting off the plane //

Have a great week y'all!
❤, Ashton Tilton