HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Mama Leslie's B-day was Monday the 12th! Sadly we had school and work and were unable to go home to celebrate...but we are headed there tonight for some party and laughs! I haven't been home to visit since the end of July so I'm super excited to see everyone! We LOVE you lots!

Today is my nephew Austin's B-day and he turned 7! Happy Birthday Bubba! I can't believe he is getting so big. He'll be baptized next year...I'm so excited for him! Love you big guy and miss you lots!

The Narrows 2009

The last weekend in September, we went to Zion Narrows with a group of Casey's friends for some good solid hiking. It was so much fun. We hiked the entire 16 miles in one day. Most of the group made it in 10 hours. A few of us (Cole, Casey, and I) took slightly longer after an unfourtunate hammy pull (Casey). Luckily we were rescued and made it out safely! Ok, rescued sounds so dramatic... we had a few friends who had been waiting for over 2 hours hike a mile and half back up the river when night fell and there hadn't been any sign of us since lunch. Good souls. All in all, it was an amazing trip and I loved every minute of it! Casey's roommate had hiked the Narrows last summer and recommended renting special shoes from Zion Adventure Company. Super shoes for wet conditions! They are hideous but sturdy with amazing ankle support. We wore neoprene socks and our feet stayed so warm and comfy. A few in our group decided to wear thier own tennis shoes and got terrible bleeding blisters and rolled ankles. I felt so bad. I can't wait until next summer so we can go again! Below are lots of pictures!

This was taken just after we got off the shuttle. It was an hour and half ride from camp. We left at 6:30 and arrived to the trail head around 8:00. It was so cold! Only 40 degrees! It did warm up though!

SkyFest 2009

Saturday we went to the annual Cedar City SkyFest! It was a perfect crisp morning and we enjoyed every minute of it! The balloons were huge and beautiful. It was really fun watching them fill up and lift off. We ate breakfast sponsered by the Lions Club while listening to Queen. Yes, I'm serious! Nothing like jamming out to Queen at 7:00 in the morning! It was great. Jasper loves people watching and even made a few friends along the way. I hope we go again next year. Here are a few pics...enjoy!

Crock Pot Recipes

I don't know how many of you have a crock pot, but I love mine! Thanks Cody and Marci! Best wedding gift ever! It makes dinner so easy. Perfect for a yummy slow cooked Sunday afternoon meal. My friend found this blog with crock pot recipes for anything and everything! I hope you find something you and your family will enjoy!

http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2007/12/alphabetical-listing-of-recipes.html

It's been one whole year!

Saturday was our ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY! I can't believe how fast time goes by! It's great to think about how much we've grown together this last year. I love Cole more than anything! He's a wonderful husband and my best friend! We have so much fun spending time together! It's been extra nice lately because Cole is finally home and life can move on!

Work kept us from going too far so we spent the day in St. George. We ate at the Texas Road House for lunch and it was yummy! After, we saw The Proposal & loved it! It's a really funny movie so if you haven't seen it, do! We did a little shopping, wandered aroung the Washington County Fair, which was less than interesting, and went to the derby that everning. Luckily Chad, Anna, & Cambree were nice enough to save us seats so we didn't have to sit in the blistering sun waiting for some entertainement! They sat for 2 hours just to get front row seats! I'm glad they did though because it was fun being so close to the crazy. All the entertainment was pretty great...but the best was the van jump! It cracked me up. I've attached a video for your entertainment!



Next year we hope to go back to Oregon. We miss it there. I can't wait to celebrate another year with Mr. Rasch!

July

So...July has come gone. I can't believe how fast time flies. IT was a busy and crazy month! Cole has been working for his parents in Leamington this summer so it's been just me and Jasper for the most part. We head home to Delta on the weekends to see him and the rest of the family. It's good to see everyone, but I'm so tired of the traveling. Sadly, I'm almost excited for summer to be over. I just want my husband home again!

Cole's little brother Cooper turned 4 this month. He is growing up too fast! Only a year until Kindergarten! He is such a funny little kid and we love spending time with him!



Our little Jasper Ida Rasch turned 1 on the 15th. He got lots of tasty treats and some fun new toys. We love having him and wouldn't give him up for anything! Even though he destroyed my chairs.




Also, Cole's older brother Cody had a birthday and turned an undisclosed age...ha ha! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

There will be one more July birthday in the Rasch family next year. Little Macy Jane Rasch was born July 23rd at 1:54 am! She weighed 5 lbs 4 oz and measured 18 inches! What a cutie! We are so thrilled to have her join the clan! Congrats to Marci & Cody!



We got to go see her for the first time last week and she is the prettiest little baby! She's so sweet and has lots of dark hair. She looks alot like both her mom & dad. I loved holding her and didn't want to put her down! Little Savanah is such a good big sister. It will be so much fun watching her learn and grow.

Dancing Fool

This kid made my heart soar. Seriously. Enjoy.

The Proposal Story

Since I've started this blog, I've came across so many people I haven't seen or spoken to in such a long time. Many of them asked about my how Cole and I ended up dating, our wedding, his proposal, ect. So I thought it would be fun to share the story of how Cole proposed to me. I just copied and pasted it out of my journal...so I hope it makes sense.

June 20th, 2008

Last night, Cole came to spend some time with me. He has been living in Leamington with his family while working at Ash Grove for the summer. It was wonderful seeing him! I really miss having him around. I took half the day off so I we could go look around at a couple apartments. Honestly, we slept in and caught a few place on the way to work! Cole dropped me off around 1:00 and went back to my house to get cleaned up. He was going to meet all my friends at the office today.

He came back about 2:00 with some lunch knowing I was hungry and visited for an hour or so! It was so fun having him there at work with me. Everyone has been waiting to meet him. Melody always talks about his pictures and how handsome he is! I totally agree and loved showing him off! I tried to get him to stay longer but he had some errands to run before I got off work. I asked him to pick me up a little early before he left to go talk to his old boss and figure out when he would start work at the school again.

Time dragged on for the next few hours and I couldn’t wait to get off work and head to Delta with Cole for the weekend! Around 4:40, I noticed a filthy, homeless man had wandered through the parking lot and sat himself in front of my office window. He was propped up against a pillar with a cardboard sign reading “Out of work. Anything will help. God Bless.” I pointed him out to Gary & Andy, my co-workers. It was strange to see a homeless person in this small town…plus he was right in front of our office! I watched him for a few more minutes before realizing the time. Cole was supposed to pick me up early! I tried to call him but he didn’t answer. I figured he was still at the school. Customers kept coming in one by one keeping me busy for the rest of my shift.

Once they cleared out, I noticed the homeless man again. He hadn’t moved at all and I wondered if he was overheated. I got a text message from Cole shortly after 5:00 that said “Babe, I’m sorry but I’m running a little late. Just wait on the curb for me.” I was going to kick his butt! Not only did he not come early…but now he’s coming late! I text him back and said, “No. There is a scary homeless man out side my office. I will wait inside and watch for you.”

I sat back at my desk and watched the man a little longer. I felt sorry and decided to get him some water. Our little paper cups are so small and I knew he’d need more water than that so I grabbed my $2.99 KB mug Cole bought me and rinsed it out in the bathroom sink before filling it with ice water. I had a left over banana from breakfast that would probably just go to waste so I grabbed that as well. Gary felt sorry for the man too and offered a can of peanuts he brought to work that we had all been snacking on. I didn’t have much money on me so I scrounged a dollar out of my purse. I asked Gary if he would come with me so I wasn’t alone. I didn’t think the man would do anything harmful, but I was still uneasy.

We walked out to where the man was sitting and I tried to acknowledge him. He didn’t move or lift his head so I got a little closer and tried again. He lifted his head just enough to see me standing there and dropped it again towards the ground. I knelt down by him and told him that I had water and told him to take a drink. He lifted the mug with a shaking hand and took a small sip. “God Bless” was the only words he mumbled. I proceeded to tell him that I brought a little food and money. I looked right at him and his beard looked a little strange. I could see tan netting against his skin and I wondered if he was scamming people for money. I apologized we didn’t have more but hoped that it helped a little. He didn’t say anything more so I got to my feet and headed back to the office door. As I was walking, I looked at Gary and whispered “I think his beard is a fake.”

Just then, the man said “Wait!” I turned back around wondering if he had heard me. “Come here” he said as he struggled to his feet. I started to panic and my heart was racing. I took a step back ignoring his request. “Come here, just come" he repeated. His voice sounded familiar as it cracked. “Cole? Are you Cole?” I asked. Probably not the best grammar, but I seriously remember saying, "Are you Cole?" Ha ha! He once again said “Come here.” I took a few more steps back and told him “No”. As he stumbled closer, I asked him what he wanted. I noticed his hand in his pants pocket and started thinking of the worst happening! Did he have a knife? Am I on hidden camera? What was going on? Suddenly he dropped down to one knee and from his pocket; he pulled a little black box. When he opened the box, I saw the most beautiful diamond ring! I walked over to him and he said, “Amber Bunker, I love you so much. Nothing would make me happier than for you to spend the rest of your life with me. Will you marry me?” I was speechless! Even as he knelt there in front of me proposing, I still couldn’t recognize it was my Cole! I knew it was though from his voice. I, of course said, “Yes!” I was so happy, I couldn’t even cry! I was overjoyed and still in shock from what just happened! I turned to look at Gary and he was all sorts of confused! Cole put that ring on my finger and picked me up with a big hug.

I kissed his dirty face and got black grease all over my teeth! I had dirt and grease all over me! I didn’t care though! I was so happy that I was going to marry Jamie Cole Rasch! I asked how he had text me from out front without me seeing but his friend Trevor had his phone and was parked in the very back of the parking lot watching the whole thing! He told me that his beard and moustache were made of real hair and he had purchased them from Taylor Maid in Provo. He had gone to the Salvation Army to find haggard shoes and clothes, and he had painted his hair black with temporary spray. I asked how he got so dirty and he told me that he used makeup, grease from Trevor’s truck, and took a little dirt bath in the parking lot. We stood there laughing and hugging for the longest time.

I don’t know how he came up with such a clever scheme, but it worked! He told me he remembers all the times we’ve been together and I’ve given money to the homeless...I seriously have the hardest time when I see someone in such bad shape. He knew that it wouldn’t take long once I saw him to come out and help. Best proposal ever right!

I made him pose for a few pictures after all the excitement was mellowing out. Here are a few lovelies!

Awkward Chicken

I am a daily reader of the X96 Radio From Hell blog. Yesterday I came across a few links to some fabulous websites and thought I'd share some laughs.

http://www.awkwardfamilyphotos.com/

http://www.subservientchicken.com/


Enjoy!

Mother's Day

I hope everyone had a great Mother's Day! This year, we had a nice family get together in Leamington. Casey, Cole & I were the only ones who made it home. My parents came with us and it was so much fun. We ate lots of yummy food, visted for hours, played horse shoes & bachi ball, and had a wonderful time. Here are a few pics from the day...

Our Moms! We love them so much!

Little Jasper...he got lots of treats that day!

Playing Bachi Ball.

Jim, Casey, & Cole.

My Dad & Cooper hanging out!

A toast to the Dews.