Adjusting

It has been a little interesting, and scary at times, but Samuel is getting used to his "mini me" around.
At first Samuel would often be caught inching his little foot to Eli anticipating to push him away (such as off the bed) but was not successful. In trying to make Eli stop crying he would shove his binki in his face very hard. But over all we are finding balance and Samuel is learning to love his new best friend.


Little Buddies - sharing stickers


Some days are good


Some days are not


He does not like sharing his Nanna

Baby Eli

I can't believe he is finally here! Our baby Elijah arrived October 5. It was such an amazing experience. I was so full of peace, love and gratitude after having him. I feel so blessed.

It is deja vu all the time. He reminds me so much of Samuel. Even though his hair is dark and Samuel has been blond since day one, they are so similar. They have the same look to them. They make the same faces and are very close in size. After Samuel being induced a week late I had no intentions of having Eli early, so when I went into labor 11 days before he was due I didn't take it too seriously at first. At 8lbs 15oz I am so glad he came when he did.

I am the last one who would have guessed I'd have two little boys, but I love it!

Cape Cod

My first time to Cap Cod was a few weeks ago and it was wonderful. I can't wait to go back








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My Baby turned 2!!

My little angel, my first born, You have brought more joy in two years than we would have ever imagined.

Happy Birthday dear Samuel!

On the Blog again...

So it has kind of been a while. Lot's of things have happened as in any family in the past 7 months, can't believe it has been that long. Sometimes I have thought, do I want to start the blog again or will I get distracted and stop. Or other times I think, where would I begin, do I go back an try to document the past -impossible. So here's where I'll start -today.

Do husbands think??


My recent hostess cupcakes

Tonight after another long pregnant day I was reading Matt questions from a gift we received called Table Topics, while he was watching his nightly TV. The last and FINAL question I read him said, "If you had the money which would you choose to hire, a housekeeper, a cook, a gardener, or a personal secretary?" Assuming he would of course say a housekeeper or personal secretary, (but thought he should say a gardener) with out and hesitation he spouted off "a cook". What...is he serious. I would some what understand if I didn't like to cook, or I rarely cooked, but that is quite the opposite. The Food Network is my TV of choice, I spend ample time combing through cook books, I receive cooking magazines in the mail, and YES I cook a lot.

No matter how much I think my culinary abilities are well received, there will never be any getting past that one and only love for his mom's pot roast and jello salad. How can I compare...


At least someone enjoyed them.

A great man passed away on December 1st 2008

At my Granddad's house 10 days before he passed away


A great man passed away on December 1st. He touched my life in more ways then I can even begin to write. He was a kind, strong, and gentle man. Most of you knew him as an Apostle of Jesus Christ. I knew him not only as an apostle but I also as my Granddad. He lived life to the fullest enjoying every step of the journey along the way. He was witty, wise, humble and very funny. My Mom’s Dad Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, left behind a legacy of faith and example to the world of how to live your life. As far as I am concerned, he was a perfect father to my Mom, husband to my Grandma, and Grandfather to me.

My Granddad confirmed me after my baptism. He gave me the priesthood at age 12. At this time he invited me to sit up on the stage at General Priesthood session with him, I regret to admit I was a stupid 12 year old that was more worried about what his friends might think than what would be a life long cherished memory and probably the closest I’d ever get to be sitting on that stage. I declined the invitation. He set me apart for my mission to Sydney, Australia, and all the miracles the Lord promised through that blessing came to pass. He married Ashley and me in the Salt Lake Temple and gave us some very wise counsel. He also told Ashley and me that one chapter a day (of the B.O.M) will keep the adversary away, and also a couple who prays together stays together. This advise we have strived to live by.

There was two times as a missionary he helped change the course of my mission, with out even visiting my mission. The first time came in the form of a letter. When I was a missionary we received a lot of persecution. I remember when I was first out I wrote my Granddad, and told him about some of those experiences. I must have sounded like I was complaining and discouraged. He wrote me back, and said that a wise German Mission President once told me, "The toughest seas make the best captains." I found a picture of a boy captaining a ship with Jesus Christ by his side and hung it on my wall with that quote. It changed my mission and my life. I realized the Lord was molding me it to what he wanted me to be, not who I thought I should be!

At my Mission Farewel with my Mom and Grandparents

Another experience I had on my mission was when I was out six months, and I was discouraged. I wasn't having the success I wanted to have I didn't feel I was living up to my potential as a missionary. I also felt in sports all you had to do was work hard and you would see the results I found that the mission was different in so many ways. It wasn't until a gift came to me in the mail that help me fill in the missing pieces. This gift came in the form of a church magazine. Inside the magazine was a talk my grandfather had given called, “Lessons Learned in the Journey of Life.” This talk also made a huge impact on me. I followed the 5 steps he described and I became the missionary I knew the Lord wanted me to be. As I read the talk I could feel my Granddad speak to me, his voice seemed to jump off the page. In order to get the five steps I suggest you read the talk it could change your life as it changed mine:) http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=2614a1615ac0c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1
After my mission he helped me make the most important decision in my life, prior to moving to New York City. I thought I was confused and didn’t know what to do. I was living my dream playing college football for the same crimson football team he played for. I loved Ashley so much, but I knew if we were going to get married I was going to have to move to be with her and give up my dream of playing for the University of Utah. I knew this in my heart already but sometimes it takes wise council to point out the obvious. He told me sometimes if in life we come to a cross roads he said, “You are at this point,” he asked, “Do you love her”? I said, “yes of coarse but can’t we wait to be married?” He said, “In this life there are windows of time for us to make the right decision, don’t let that window of time pass you by.” With out telling me what to do he told me, “marriage is more important than football and besides they have college football out east.”

Joseph B. "Speedy" Wirthlin playing football for the University of Utah.

I have never looked back and know realize how important that decision was that I made. Ashley and Samuel mean more to me then anything in the whole world, even more than Utah Football:) My Granddad loved Ashley he used to tell me what I already knew he would say, “You have the most wonderful wife, she is so beautiful, strong in the gospel, and down to earth.” We will all miss my Granddad but I am so happy he is with my Grandma. He will soon have a full head of hair again and his strong athletic build back, There might have even been signs that read, “welcome home Speedy Wirthlin.” I imagine the reunion with my Grandma was one of the sweetest in the history of heaven! As I live my life I hope to live in a way that would honor him and make him proud.

On my Grandparent's Wedding day, May 26th 1941.

ZPR aka Zion Ponderosa Resort

In August Samuel and I, sadly Matt could not come along, ventured to my family ranch on the east rim of Zion National Park. This little piece of heaven is filled with so many memories for generations in my family. It is breathtaking. There is so much to do but I find myself just wanting to sit back with all my aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents and enjoy each other.

When I was growing up our many trips to the Ponderosa were spent staying in a large family cabin that was pieced together with all kinds of random scrap building material around an old camper (where my great grandma & grandpa Lewis slept) and big trees to stabilized the shifty structure. Little time was actually spent in the cabin as we were so busy chasing lizards and building forts during the days and sleeping under the stars at night. When I was a teenager a cabin to accommodate all the distant family coming together was built. This was luxury with bathrooms and running water, I never thought the ranch would have these amenities.

The ranch resort (http://www.zionponderosa.com/) was not part of the original plan when my great grandfather bought the 10,000 acres in 1961. It was a whole new wave of luxury at the ranch that started small about 15 years ago and has grown tremendously. I spent summers working in the kitchen, cleaning cabins and checking guests in at the front desk. It was a huge step with a swimming pool, electricity and a paved road all the way there.
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This most recent trip I felt a little out of sorts. Instead of catching blue belly lizards I was eating at the new 4 star restaurant the Blue Belly grill - divine. I toured all the multi million dollar mountain homes that have been built in the new home division. I had a massage at the spa and sipped pina colodas by the new endless pool with waterfalls and all. This was not how I was used to the ranch, but I definitely enjoyed every minute of it.


I was taking Samuel down to see all the animals and little kids were running up with news that a new colt was just born and none of the wranglers were around. My lucky little sis was playing with a few of her cousins near the horses when the horse was born. She said, "We saw a big white thing fall out of the horse so we ran to see what happen. The horse then ripped it with it's teeth and a baby came out of the white thing." We got there a few minutes later and it was amazing to see this little colt stumble around trying to stand. Then the little colt found his way to his mom's milk, it was so interesting.