"Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body." (Elizabeth Stone)

Friday, November 2, 2007

Um, so for the last two months......

We've just been really busy around here. Silly me for thinking life would pick up nice and simple after the piano exam was out of the way. Luckily (after a couple of really long weeks) I found out that I had passed my piano exam - YAY!!! So, now I'm teaching piano to 7 students and I'm doing Joy School (a preschool where you rotate between houses) two times a week.....you know, because being a mom of 3 preschoolers just wasn't crazy enough. I'm also starting to go to Volleyball. It's supposed to be weekly, however, I have only made it once because craziness happens. Now I'm in charge of a Christmas program for the Relief Society Christmas Party....AHHH!! Anyway, Kaia is doing well. Kienna is growing like crazy and Saryn is also growing. We just got immunizations done today and Saryn is above the 97% for weight and is on the 97% for height and is about 2 cm above the charts for her head....so she's doing pretty good. Kaia is also 97% across the charts (she also got her immunizations today). Ugh.....today was SO horrible... we spent 3 hours at the clinic and all 4 of us got immunizations - some routing and some influenza. Kaia went first and was trying to be brave, but as soon as the needle touched her, it all few out the window. She screamed - which of course set the other girls off. Kiennas face looked like she was forced to watch her sister being tortured and Saryn cried. Then it was Saryn's turn and she was screaming long before I even put her on my lap. This put Kaia and Kienna over the top and they both decided to start screaming - although Kienna never actually cried until she asked if she was getting any shots. Once I told her she had to get one too, all 3 of them were going. I did my shot before Kienna so she could see that it isn't all terrible, but she wasn't convinced. It took a good 5 minutes for me to pry the shirt off of her arm so she could be ready for the shot. I don't think she even felt it though because she was throwing such a fit....she was really surprised when I said it was done. Of course, by then I had all 3 kids trying to climb up on my lap all crying like crazy because they either hurt or felt bad for the little girl who had just suffered this high source of torture. So, on the way home there was a unaminous vote to NEVER do that again. A chorus of "I HATE shots" and "that hurt SO bad Mommy" went up as I asked what they wanted for being so brave. I'm just glad I wasn't a basketcase like some other moms who walk out with their baby and you'd think the mom was the one who got the shots. It just might be a bit much if all four of us were crying the whole way home. Anyway, thanks to Halloween candy, they've been happy ever since and will probably have a very good
nights sleep.

Speaking of Halloween. I'll post some pictures. We were at my moms and were thrilled that the weather was nice enough to actually go door to door trick-or-treating. We went around the bay where Jarett grew up and of course got lots of comments on who looks like whom. Then we dropped the baby off and went around my moms crescent. It was a late night, but the kids were sure loving the experience.








Okay, so I'll really try to actually post more often, if I get reminders in my email and on facebook, I might actually do it. I DO love seeing everyone else's blogs.... so I'll try!! No promises though.

Friday, July 20, 2007

Okay, I know....no excuses, right??

Well, except for getting ready for this blasted piano exam, I have really had no excuse. So here's my updated blog. Some random pics.....to start.





Um, this was pre- ante- and post-surgery. The cake was found by a 2 year old. Luckily the cake was still in its box.....but he just had to hold it sideways and look at it better. It was funny. Kienna was still okay with her birthday party....even with a smushed cake.

Okay, I'll add later, I just can't justify being on the computer when I could be practicing. My kids are leaving me alone....it's a blessing.

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Okay, so it's been a while.

Here's the deal. Since March, I've been to Seattle to visit my sister; I've visited my parents in Calgary a few times; I've started preparing for my piano exam (eeeek) and my kids have started to wake up with the dawn (which is Edmonton is approximately 5:30am these days). SO, I haven't been quite as valiant at doing my blog. But, we're very excited that Jarett is done year 1 of the law program. Next year he's starting the Business aspect of his LLB/MBA degree. So we're now down to 3 years left (if he doesn't decide to continue and add another degree). The kids are all doing really well. They're growing like crazy and keep me VERY busy. I'm currently in Calgary, so when I return to Edmonton, I'll add some pictures. We've just been loving the summer and can't get enough of the sun that has finally graced us!! Well, here's to more current updates......

Sunday, March 25, 2007

KAIA, KIENNA, AND SARYN

Okay, so I know it's been a long time, but here's a TON of pictures to compensate. I think it's like 20 pics. We've had a fun month (even though Jarett's been at school all day every day). We're really looking forward to the summer (as indicated by the last couple pictures).


Here at Galaxyland...on the dragon rollercoaster. Kienna took a couple rounds before she could smile like this.


Kaia's first time mini golfing.


Kienna's first time mini golfing.


Princess Kaia reading her Princess book in her Princess dress feeling, well, like a Princess.


Kaia, Kienna and Ella Sladek all wanting to wash the dishes.


Mary, Kaia and Kienna sporting some new shades.


All 3 of my girls in the bathtub (I swore I'd never take so many bath pics).


Saryn's roley poley shot. (Jarett's mom calls her "Baby Buffalo")


Saryn's SO sweet.


We're sporting two teeth now - as of today there's almost 2 more!



Kaia, Kienna and Jillian Wood playing dressups.


The first picture in about 4 years that I've liked of myself.


Kaia and Saryn having fun.


Kienna being silly - again.


Saryn sleeping - she's SO sweet!!


Saryn's new snowsuit.


Ella Sladek and Kienna sharing a sleeping bag (a happy resolution)


Kaia falls asleep in random positions periodically - this has been my favorite somehow.


Kaia's anxious for the summer to arrive. First nice day in Edmonton for months.

Kienna celebrated with getting out the tubes.

Monday, March 5, 2007

RANDOM FACTS!!

Okay, this is in response to a request. I'll try to come up with 100 random facts.....BUT I don't guarantee any of them to be THAT interesting. No promises.....got it? Good. Here goes.

1. My full name is Ashley Dawn Cahoon (Maiden name was Mullen)
2. I have been married for 5 years and 3 months now. (it went really fast)
3. I have 3 little girls.
4. I had a C-section and LOVED it.
5. Including Jarett's family I have 9 sisters and no brothers.
6. I have now played the piano for 20 years (started when I was 4)
7. I also started when I was 4: speech competitions
8. swimming lessons
9. gymnastics
10. snow skiing
11. water skiing
12. star singers (a little singing group)
13. kindergarten (ECS)
14. I was in the afternoon ECS class only because I slept in on my first day of school and missed the entire morning. So I was bumped to the afternoon.
15. I LOVE sleep
16. My mother's family is from South Africa
17. My father was born in England
18. Therefore, I'm first generation Canadian on both sides.
19. I was given the nickname Zanzurkie in Jr. High because of my African heritage. (long story)
20. I've also been called Junkie because I would skip classes to attend Seminary. I know, I'm a nerd.
21. My name was spelled wrong in the yearbook in high school and twisted it to be Sahely...two years in a row.
22. My favorite # is 22.
23. My birthday is on Dec 22.
24. My anniversary is also Dec 22.
25. If I am in a choir, my most comfortable range is Tenor....altoish.
26. My children's middle names are all after someone we think they could look up to and admire.
27. I love having my teeth cleaned.
28. My father-in-law has a PhD in physics, but still was my paper boy for years.
29. He was also my bishop when I got baptised as a little 8 year old.
30. I was an extremely large baby.....also called BBT (Butterball Turkey)
31. I had to have my mother-in-law help me get my high school diploma after a year of college (stupid CALM).
32. I sang in Calgary Girls Choir for 6 years.
33. One of my favorite past times was hanging off my bed upside down playing hand games with my sister, Alannna
34. Alanna, my older sister, is my best friend......and always has been. Even when we lived together growing up.
35. I don't like M&M's - much prefer smarties.
36. I went to Thailand on my honeymoon.
37. I went to England when I was 13 for 3 weeks.
38. I used to fall asleep on the stairs upside down.
39. I used to make milkshakes out of anything and everything...Iand then try to give them to my sister.
40. I used to make mush out of my pancakes and orange juice and thought it was good.....??
41. I used to have a magic world under my covers......and caves for my little pony.
42. My Dad is a lawyer and my husband will be soon.
43. When I was two, I dropped a large rock on my sisters toe....and then denied knowing what was wrong.
44. I like to scrapbook (thanks to my sisters-in-law)
45. I played the Oboe for 2 years......big mistake.
46. I am on the HFPE comittee and head up a play group twice a month.
47. I'm not crazy about chocolate. I like it, but I'm not crazy about it.
48-49. I was president of both the Jello club and the Virgin Lips Club for years.
50. I won a draw and became a member of the highly prestigious Jelly Bean Club.
51. I have been known to ride my bike into parked cars.
52. I have kissed a drainpipe due to some icy patches and resulting in 3 stitches in my upper lip.
53. I chipped my tooth on a pull on the back of a boat.
54. I've also been hit in the head by a golf ball on a mini golf course.
55. I've read the Work and the Glory series.
56. I've read the entire standard works in less than a year.
57. I have had more children born in the states than in Canada.
58. I haven't kissed any guy besides Jarett....my husband.
59. My dream vacation is a trip to South Africa
60......or a cruise through Italy, Greece etc.
61. I own every available season of Frasier on DVD.
62. I was born in Lethbridge while my parents were on Christmas holidays (they were in Edmonton going to school - but I was 6 days late)
63. I've never been anywhere to the East of Alberta in Canada.
64. Jarett and I have moved 7 times in our 5 years of marriage. (8 including moving to our first place).
65. I have a Protein S deficiency
66. I am anemic - at a level 3 last time I checked.....and low is considered a 12.
67. I have had fun things like orbital cellulitis, contusions and all sorts of interesting things.
68. I successfully had a VBAC with a 9 lbs 1 oz baby.
69. I am not a hero.....I LOVE epidurals.
70. I LOVE musicals......my favorite? probably Calamity Jane or Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.
71. I'm not a big sci/fi or fantasy person, but Jarett's converted me to Lord of the Rings and I love it.
72. I have only had 3 callings out from behind the piano...since I was 12.
73. My parents were debating between naming me Ashley and Amber.
74. I currently drive a Windstar and we're hoping for a Sienna soon.
75. My parents live about 5 blocks away from Jarett's parents.
76. My four younger sisters are gorgeous (just in case anyone has single, cute, younger brothers)
77. I'm now on Facebook due to my sister-in-law, Marella.
78. I babysit a girl named Mary from Oklahoma, which is like my mother in law.
79. I am probably one of the top 5 most laid back people I know.
80. I LOVE making friends and socializing etc.
81. I am in the process of getting my passport done and it's driving me nuts.
82. I have recorded a few CD's while singing in a choir.
83. I take out stress on the piano.
84. I think that is why I have a hard time when I'm stressed about a piano exam.
85. My first job was rollerblading at Superstore.....and I LOVED it.
86. I also was the FIRST female rollerblader in Alberta.
87. I don't think I will ever have a son.....although I'd be thrilled if it happened.
88. I will probably have a billion kids.....we're going to be one of those crazy families.
89. I have been known to sleep through almost anything.
90. I love Disney World.....a lot of good memories.
91. My cousins on my mom's side are pretty much siblings. (Once again almost all girls).
92. I LOVE accents.....my grandparents especially.
93. I have a Health Science Degree from BYU-Idaho.
94. One day I hope to be a nurse.
95. I like to be active...but I frequently forget it.
96. When Jarett and I were dating, I had to prove that I could camp.....and did successfully. We are now officially a camping family.
97. These random facts have taken me about 2 weeks to complete - so I'm sorry if I've repeated anything.
98. I have become an emotional basketcase since I became pregnant with my first child.
99. I enjoy FUN!
100. I am glad to be done this......haha!

Monday, February 26, 2007

Well, I'm getting better - only a couple of weeks since my last post

My new hair cut - not too different, or not too great - whichever, but not too many comments. The jury is still out in my mind. It's nice, but not my all time favorite.
Camping in the living room
Sisters - Kienna and Saryn
Saryn's first bath without the company of her sisters....notice the smile.....
After bath time
Catching up on sleep



So, this is a lot sooner than my last spacing. I haven't done too much. It was reading week and Jarett and I headed to Calgary. I thought it'd be so much fun to have a husband around after a crazy few weeks of his school, but it was worse than when he was there because he wanted to get ahead. He's also planning for his MOOT court (a mock trial for 1st year students). Anyway, I've been catching up on sleep as I can. Saryn has finally slept through the night for a total of 4 nights in the past month. (two days in a row going strong). Anyway, here's some new pictures of the fam.

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

okay, okay, okay - here's an updated blog

This is Mary, Kaia and Kienna. We watch Mary about once a week.


This is them dancing with their stuffed toys. They really enjoy playing like this.


This is right after church on the 4th. This was the week that Kaia did her first scripture in Primary. She did such a good job, I was super proud of her. She did John 14:27.



And of course Baby Saryn.....taking after her Daddy's love of reading. She LOVES this book.