Our Jungle Trip

While snorkeling, Nick dove down trying to catch some fish.... almost!

I am wading in the ocean, trying to cool off. We spent the day on the island of Las Calaitas.

This is the view from the back of our hotel.... we truly are in the jungle.

After dinner photo... we enjoyed a yummy meal with ocean view!

This is the view from our balcony, looking out on all the pools, ocean, and beach. We were on the 8th floor.

We were in Puerto Vallarta for 6 days, 7 nights, and enjoyed every minute of it! This was an excellent way to end the school year. We were there right in the beginning of the rainy season so everything was very green. The sun was hit or miss and it rained a few times but it was warm and enjoyable. We visited the site were the movie The Predator was filmed, we snorkeled, layed on the beach, swam in the pool and the ocean, hiked through the jungle, and ate lots of yummy food! We can't wait to go back!

Love, Ash and Nick

Christmas 2009

Hi family,
Nick and I got our first Christmas tree this Saturday... we were dressed for warmth and headed out to the tree farm. We thought this would take us awhile to find the "perfect" tree, we walked in and found the tree within 15 minutes. Talk about luck, we packed up the car and headed home. I am so excited for spending Christmas this year with everyone! See you all on the 19th!
Love, Ash and Nick

Operation Jen 3.0

Me practicing my "free fall" position.
Golden Girls all geared up!
The airplane that took us to 13,000 ft.
That is me with my legs straight out, coming in for the landing.

WE SURVIVED!

This year has been an eventful year for the "Golden Girls". Whitney, Sarai, and I wanted to surprise Jenny for her 30th birthday. After some thoughtful planning and juggling of schedules we planned to kidnap Jenny on August 29th, have a slumber party and say goodbye to her 20's. The next day we woke up (August 30th) to say hello 30. At breakfast we told Jen about our adventure we had planned... were going SKYDIVING! We headed out to skydive Oregon, signed our life away and prepared to board a plane. The adrenalin that was pumping through us was unreal, free falling at 13,000 ft. is unexplainable, and floating through the air with wings on our back was a dream come true. This was an unforgettable adventure that I am blessed to have shared with these three amazing women. If your feeling up to it, I highly recommended this adventure! Happy Birthday Jen! We love you!

Injection day!

Well it's official, I gave my first injection yesterday! I have never been so nervous in my life. My partner was great and she even got numb!! My instructor said I was a natural, so folks I think I made the right career decision! Wish me luck tomorrow... stab lab is back in session!

Happy 50th Birthday!

Here are a few pictures from dad's surprise party... I have tons more that I will get to mom on a c.d. so we can pass them all around. Happy birthday dad... it is crazy to think you turned 50 this year. We all love you so much and are thankful for all that you have done for us! Here is to the next 50. Cheers, Ash

Belize pics

Here are a few more pics of the island...

Belize it or not!

My dear friends Megan and Josh decided to get married in Belize on February 27, 2009. Megan, Josh, Angie, Larry, Nick and I arrived at the Portland airport on Feb 23 at 4 a.m. We began our journey to Belize by flying into Fortworth, Texas and then to Belize City. We then transferred to an island hopper plane that seated 10 people, this small airplane took us to the island of Amberguise Caye, we landed in San Pedro and then caught a water taxi that took us up north to our resort. The weather was about 85-100 degrees with the water about the same. We snorkeled with sharks, stingrays, barracudas, eels, sea turtles, and many more. We canoed out to the great barrier reef and floated in the ocean. We then went to the other side of the island and into swamp land where we found crocodiles, which we fed! We spent another day in San Pedro where we wondered the street. Then the big day finally arrived, Friday morning we began the day by sunbathing and then we got the bride ready. Megan and Josh said their "I do's" on the beach, barefoot and in love. We then had a 3 course dinner on the beach about 3 feet from the ocean, the d.j. began playing some tunes so we danced the night away on the beach. This trip was amazing, the weather was perfect and the people were friendly. My heart did flips when I landed in San Pedro and I did not want to leave. I am thinking I may find my way back there within the next couple of years. Again I hope you guys get the opportunity to travel this magical world we live in. There is something about stepping outside of "our" world and seeing the simplicity and happiness that exists!