Day 27 - The person who gave you your favorite memory

My favorite memory at the moment is the day we got married.

Here goes the cheesy part: Of course I am going to say my hubby since he is the one who asked me to marry him and who said I do with me.

However..

Heres the funny part: The second best part about the day was the fact that the judge could not get my name right... and who hasn't heard the name Ashley? Its only one of the most popular girl names of all time. She kept saying Ashley with different pronunciations of the A.
Later that day, I asked the hubby if I had said my name with a southern accent (sometimes I get a little country) and he said I must have.. Almost a year later, and we still joke about that day. This post would be so much better if you could actually hear it... Just picture someone saying Ashley with a hillbilly accent. hah.

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My name is Ashley.

I'm married to a sailor.

I can say that he is my high school sweetheart, since we met 2 weeks before graduation, and started dating ON graduation. Seven months into our relationship, he left for bootcamp, and 10 months in we got married.

We are from Phoenix, Arizona, and are currently stationed in San Diego, California. We have dealt with one 'underway' that was a couple months long, and have another one in the future. I'm still getting a hang of being a 'Navy Wife' but I think I'm doing alright! We also have this little guy right here:

Right now, I am enjoying my life as a homemaker and wife.. while actively trying to find a job and figure out what I want to go to school for. I attending UofA for my freshman year as a business major, and I'm not sure if I want to go back, or do something more interesting, like be a pasty chef! Speaking of which....



This wasn't bought at a store!

I love to bake. and decorate. I try to limit my baking to one time a week, so the hubby and I don't put on any newlywed weight.

Thats me, in a nutshell. Welcome to my blog!

btw, theres definately no blizzard out here in sunny SD.

Day 26 - Your nicknames

My most used nickname is Little Ashley. It started at my first job (when I was 15).. I worked at a sandwich shop with like 15 girls, and my boss would have a really hard time remembering names when someone first started, so he started calling me 'tiny tim.' When another Ashley started working there, Bill would get confused when someone was talking about us, so he started calling me 'Little Ashley' and other people picked it up also. Flash forward another job to my first job in college, where there was also another Ashley. I don't know how it started, but once again I became known as 'Little Ashley.'



I think this picture is fitting



The only other nicknames I have really had that stuck are 'a-dogg' from a friend in middle school (yes, we still start out conversations with hey a-dogg or k-dogg! lol) and 'assley' from my best friend in high school (and yes, she still calls me that... in a voice we like to call our forest gump accents). hah I'm not even going to try to explain those two.

Day 25- A hero who has let you down

I remember a few years ago, sitting in the high school group in my church and listening to our leader tell us, "Everyone in life will let you down, except God." I had a really hard time with this concept- what about the people who loved me? My friends and family? My future husband? How am I supposed to trust people if they are going to let me down?

I now know that this is completely true- everyone in my life, who has meant something to me, has let me down in some way.

So I guess I have to broaden this topic to both heros and heroines in my life.
I have always looked up to my mom for how strong, independent, and giving she was/is as a single mom. She has let me down.
I couldn't be happier with the man that I am going to spend the rest of my life with, and I admire my husband's kind heart. He has let me down.
My grandfather was the only father figure in my life. He taught me life lessons, and I honored him more than anything. Even he let me down.

If you let someone into your heart, they will eventually let you down. No one in this world is perfect; we all have our faults. What matters is how hard you try- to mend a mistake when you let someone down, and to except forgiveness when someone asks for it.

Day 24 - A picture of you

This is from my birthday weekend. We went out to eat at this amazing fancy italian restaurant downtown, and as we were walking back to the car passed this luxury/ historical car place. I fell in the love with this 1960 baby blue mustang.. So gorgeous!

Day 23 - A picture that you took

A picture that I took? hah. My husband is the photographer of the family, and a damn good one at that. So the only time I take pictures is when I yank the camera out of his hands to get a shot of him. Example:

My boys at Balboa Park!

Day 22 - A picture that makes you happy

Halloween 2009

Our first Halloween together Chris and I decided to switch roles- I was a sailor and he was a 'nerd.' Let's get something straight though, I am not a nerd, but Chris and I were from different crowds in high school- I was one of the 'smart kids' haha. He didn't let me live it down for a while, but I don't mind. Now he is proud that he has a smart wife : )

I loved our costumes, and we made them ourselves! I know its cliche, but all the sailor costumes are so cute, I will probably do the same thing another year!

Day 21 - Someone you judged by their first impression

I don't know if I necessarily 'judged' Maddisen by her first impression, but it definately made for a funny story. It occured during freshman year P.E. while playing dodgeball... and all I remember is her charging down the gym like a mean bull. Not that I was one of those shy-in-the-corner kids, but I am only 5ft tall and she was a bit intimidating! haha
My P.E. class got switched about half way through the semester, so we never got to know each other, until our junior year when we ended up sitting at the same table at lunch. I'm not sure how our friendship started, but we ended up having a lot of crazyy times together.

Day 20 - A talent/hobby of yours

My top three are horseback riding, reading, and baking.

I sold my horse before I moved out here to be with my sailor, but one day I will be able to get back into the saddle. Riding is in my blood.

I really love baking and decorating.

From top left, clockwise:
Classic red velvet with cream cheese frosting.
Pumpkin chocolate chip cupcake rats for Halloween.
Easter basket chocolate cupcakes with fondant eggs.
American Flag cupcakes.

Its been awhile

It is now 2011.

2010 was one crazy roller-coaster ride of a year.

January- Chris left for bootcamp. Theres no way to explain what I went through while he was gone.

February- My grandpa had heart surgery. At the end of the month, Chris graduated basic, and we got to spend an amazing weekend together. Chris asked me to marry him.

March- We made anouncements to our family, and on March 27th, Chris and I got married.

April- After three months in and out of hospitals, my grandfather passed away. Chris got emergency leave and made it just in time for the funeral.

May- I finished my freshman year of college, and Chris graduated A-school.

June- Chris went on his first deployment (technically an underway because it was a little over two months).

July- I packed up the uhaul truck and moved to Cali.

August- Chris came home, and we finally got to live together as a married couple.
November- I cooked my first thanksfiving dinner (it was a big deal to me!)
December- Chris and I flew home for Christmas and brought home a puppy with us.


Now its a new year, and I cannot wait to see what the future brings for us. There will definately be more downs (theres never too much time between deployments) but the ups will make it all worth it (being married to the love of my life).