Girl you're amazing...just the way you are!

Dear Ashley,

August, September, October, November.....these months have passed us in the blink of an eye. It was just yesterday we were planning your Halloween outfit and eagerly awaiting our October shows. Now we're talking about turkey, dressing and making a turkey project from the outline of your hand.

Your front teeth are dropping perfectly in place and you are growing up on us right before our eyes. In less than a month, you will be 7 years old. You are still amazingly strong-willed; however, your maturity is somewhat kicking in and you're realizing that you're not always right and that you really don't know everything there is to know about life.

You still smile all the time and keep us smiling as well. You sing like no other and dance like no other. You recently found photobooth, a software created by Apple that allows your creativity to flow and it is the one thing I resort back to when needing a laugh or two.

TV is still the center of your world!

The rest is still unwritten.............

What a wonderful week! Ashley is settling in to 1st grade and although there are challenges here and there, I firmly believe we are moving forward. This past week we implemented an afterschool schedule for Ashley - as recommended by SuperNanny - and it appears to be working fabulously! For the most part, Ashley came home with E's all week! Structure in the household does payoff!

It also helps us to not get carried away with TV, computers, etc.... Our time is carved out into 30 minute increments and each of us has a say in how the day is carved out! Ashley is doing tennis 2x a week and gymnastics 2x a week. She loves both immensely and is doing very well during practice.













On the Josabi's front, we have a huge October headed our way and I couldn't be happier -- three years of hard work is finally coming to fruition! -- Bring on the Toadies and Girl-in-a-Coma; two awesome Texas bands!

I'm also looking forward to the holiday's! It's been a couple years since I've had the opportunity to celebrate thanksgiving. I just can't wait to plop down in the louge of John's parents house and smell the pumpkin pie and turkey baking! I love the smell of christmas: cinnamon, hot chocolate, peppermint, etc.....

The 1st day of 1st grade

The first day of 1st grade came and went just like the summer. Ashley picked out her outfit from head to toe and decided to wear it to bed the night before school started. I didn't fight it because excitement is often killed by those wish to constantly follow rules and be normal.

So with sandals on the feet, a silly bandz necklace around her neck and watch on her wrist, she slept in her bed and anxiously waited for the first day of first grade.

Sweet, Sweet Summertime

Once again, summer has come and gone. And with the passing of summer there are many, many memories forever embedded in my mind. This summer in particular, was one of the most enduring and unforgiving yet joyful and rewarding.

As parents, we were working with unknowns. We had questions and no answers, we had fears, we were protective and we were terrified to say the least. We were judged in restaurants, we were forced to prove that seizures are an emergency and we had to make decisions that could potentially change our lives forever.

We cried, got mad, got angry, cried again and then smiled and laughed. We asked questions and we got answers. We fought hard for our daughter and fought hard with each other.

And In-between the challenges in our lives, we still lived life to the fullest each and every day. Our days were filled with cousin visits, trips to Fiesta Texas, trips to Sea World, outings to Pump-it-Up, Movie Nights, Mini-dates, Trips to The Painted Plate, the pool and to various parks in town. We tried new restaurants like Big'Z burgers, The Yacht club, The Melting Pot and even ventured to Grey Moss Inn.

As I look back and reflect on the past 10 weeks, I am in awe of the strength and patience our family truly has. I am thankful I am able to enjoy the summer with my family and truly blessed to have such a loving and supportive husband and a rambunctious little six-year-old by my side!

School is back in session and the routines are back on track; however, I can't help but think about the summer that was........

this is not your fault, it's out of your hands

Dear Ashley,

I've always known you were special. Whether it be that you couldn't sit up and protect yourself until after your first birthday or the time you wanted to wear your super girl costume to a princess and me party; you always have a zest for life, a nurturing; yet independence about you and a sparkle that lights up any room!

































As we work through our lives and try to be the best that we can be and as you get older and learn about life and it's complicated social game, I hope that you will always wear your smile when a friend looks away or turns their back on you, always keep your chin up when others are laughing and never give up on your hopes and dreams! You can do anything you put your mind to!

While some days may be a challenge -- You are strong, happy and charismatic and can get through anything! And when it seems that everything is a mess...just remember this...

this is not your fault
it's out of your hands,
the reason why we fall
is to get back up again
so don't forget to breathe

you gotta have the strength to change
the things we think we can
and if it's meant to happen
then help us understand
that all things have a purpose
an underlying will
from the times we are broken
from the times we start to heal

you gotta let it out, let it all out, let it all out,
you gotta let it out, let it all out, let it all out.

- Paco Estrada (Breathe)

We love you more than anything and we are always here for you! You are our daughter, our angel and our best friend!

Love,
Mommy & Daddy

A Snippit of Ashley at 6.5 years old!

Holy Cow Patty; our little girl is growing up! 1st grade is lurking right around the corner, teeth are falling out, and Ashley is blossoming! It was only yesterday we were singing "snug as a bug in a rug" when we got out of the bathtub and "how was your day" as we picked her up from daycare!

Now Ashley is reading books to us, adding up numbers and writing down sentences at least three times a week. She's still an electronics girl; however, we're trying to curb that with afterschool activities such as tumbling, swimming and the latest: tennis!

She enjoys these activities most of the time but we find her wanting to quit when they bust out the conditioning. She's witty -- but in the long run, skipping these kinds of things doesn't do a body good! Now I know why my parents did and said the things they did....It was only to make me a better person...WOW...If I knew then what I know now! LOL!

Flying High

It was a beautiful day yesterday! The sun was out, the wind was blowing and the gate was unlocked up at the school. John & Ashley decided to fly their first kite for the year and after about 20 minutes, I decided to join them too....with my camera of course!

We've tried to fly kites in years past but without much luck. We have always done more running to blast the kite in the air than actually flying the kite. This time was different! This kite was flying super high! okay..so that's because John put an extender on the kite so it could really fly super high! He was regretting that decision shortly after because what goes up....must come down!

After flying the kite, we headed to the swings and continued our high flying day! We had so much fun and laughed as we perused the pictures from our day!