Ashley is 10

Ashley turned 10 yesterday.  I can't believe that she disobeyed me again by having another birthday.  I told her that this is the last one for sure.  She can't get any older.  I think she might listen this time.

Ashley has been so much fun for me.  I am so glad that she is my little girl.  She is smart, funny, caring, loving, wise, helpful, sensitive, and many other things.  I remember how cute she was when she was born.  I remember how much she pooped before they could even weigh her.  I still remember exactly where we were when she stood up on her own for the first time.  I remember how she always used to ask for "fries and coke" or "noodles and coke" (and that it wasn't me that let her try coke).  I remember how she used to say beef turkey (beef jerkey) and holy tell (hotel).  When Olivia was first born, Ashley called her Weela.  I remember how smart she was, how she could spell her name when she was 2.  Later she learned how to count to 100, and wanted to do it for me over and over.  Then I taught her how to count to 100 by 10's.  Ashley (and Olivia) have been there for me when I've had hard times, by loving me, hugging me, and comforting me.   

She loves to read, she loves art, she likes many different types of food, Star Wars is her favorite movie, she loves school (more about this in another post), she likes taking pictures, she loves carrying Donovan around, she loves going to church, she loves playing games, and she's interested in just about anything that makes her think.

Ashley is, quite simply, the best Ashley ever.  She is one of my very best friends.  I can't imagine loving her more than I do.  I would do anything for her, and she would do anything for me.  We celebrated her birthday with Van this year.  She has been telling me since he was born that she wanted to celebrate it with him.  I hope she had a great birthday.