Ashley's secrets REVEALED!!!!!!

My 3 favorite types of candy are:

1. gum
2. skittles
3. air heads

My birthday cake was a triple chocolate fudge monkey cake (mom's secret recipe)

I've seen High School Musical only 2 times (i own the soundtrack and listen to it all the time)

I've seen High School Musical 2 1.5 times

Of those listed Hilary Duff is my favorite. I also like Avril Lavigne, but my parents don't!

False. I do NOT enjoy sharing a room with my sister Chloe. she always steals my stuff and i find it hidden under her pillow.

True. I love goosebumps. i own over 30 of them. this month on cartoon network, goosebumps are playing everynight at 9:00 pm.

At the moment, the 2 things i collect are goosebumps books and snow globes.

i get about 3 phone calls a day. (dad comment: my eye, when smallville is on, ashley is on the phone the whole episode. come on!!)

My favorite subject in school is math

My favorite dinner is fettuccine alfredo with shrimp

For my birthday, my parents surprised me when a limo picked me and my friends up from school. When we got inside, everyone received their very own movie-star sunglasses & a purse with $10 in cash, a lipstick, a packet of gum. It was a lot of fun. The limo took us to The Junction (its kind of like the Gateway in downtown Salt Lake.) We played video games & went rock climbing. I climbed to the very tippy top!!

My favorite movie is 'She's the Man' with Amanda Bines

The activity I would rather participate in is playing a game of basketball.

True. I am great at getting up in the morning & getting ready for school. Sometimes, I even help my little sister get dressed.

If I could travel anywhere in the world, I would go to Italy.

I want to be a clothing fashion designer when I grow up. I have a sketch book filled with designs. All of my classmates at school review the designs in it & write comments on the back of the page.

True. My ears are pierced.

I love canned smoked oysters, hearts of palm, candy, pickles, jewelry, & oysters again.

Most of all, I love my family.

Questions for Ashley Lynn Perkins

I was thinking about my favorite first niece Ashley and how she celebrated her 11th birthday last week. Richard and I talked about what we should get her, (a late present, in the usual Team Hawkins Fashion) and I realized that I have no idea what specific things Ashley loves right now. I decided to create a quiz or questionnaire for Ashley to fill out, so that we can all get to know our favorite first niece a little better. Ashley, please post your responses in a separate blog post so that we can all learn a little bit more about you!

1. Ashley's 3 favorite types of candy are...

2. Ashley had what kind of cake for her birthday?

3. How many times has Ashley seen High School Musical?

4. How many times has Ashley seen High School Musical 2?

5. Which one of these musicians is Ashley's favorite?
A. Hannah Montana
B. The Jonas Brothers
C. Hillary Duff
D. None of the Above (please insert favorite musician here)

6. True or False, Ashley likes to share a room with her sister Chloe.

7. True or False, Ashley loves to read Goosebumps books.

8. Is there anything that Ashley likes to collect?

9. How many phone calls a day does Ashley get at home?

10. What is Ashley's favorite subject in school?

11. What is Ashley's favorite Dinner?

12. What did Ashley do for her 11th birthday?

13. What is Ashley's favorite movie?

14. Which of these activities would Ashley rather participate in?
A. A cheerleading camp
B. Playing a basketball game
C. Performing in a play
D. Dancing
E. None of the Above (Please insert an activity that Ashley would enjoy here)

15. True or False, Ashley is good at getting up and ready for school in the morning.

16. If Ashley could travel to any place in the world, she would go to
A. France
B. China
C. Peru
D. Indiana
E. None of the Above (Please insert Ashley's dream vacation location here)

17. Fill in the Blank. Ashley wants to be a ___________________ when she grows up (more than one answer is acceptable)

18. True or False. Ashley's ears are pierced

19. What is Ashley's favorite television show?

20. Final Question. Please write a short paragraph that includes a few of Ashley's favorite things not mentioned above.

Mill this over...

"Unsurprisingly, the game is also faring well on Xbox Live, with more than 2.7 million gamers having had a go online--over a third of the 7 million total registered Live users. Forty million hours of online games, which adds up to 4,500 years, have been played in the first week across the globe, with almost 30 million achievements unlocked."

That's the quote. The in-laws internet is somewhat unreliable.

It just amazes me that FORTY MILLION man-hours were played in the first seven days. That might be enough time to build a pyramid, or at least Stonehenge. And yet we spent it fighting for online glory and water-cooler bragging rights.

Second thought: bullet-hole stickers. What exactly are they trying to communicate? The world may never know.

How are our San Diegian Gimbel's?

Anyone hear any word from the San Diego branch of the Gimbel Family? Just hoping that someone has heard that everyone is okay in that neck of the woods. They have evacuated over 200,000 people from San Diego county and the fires are continuing pretty strong in San Diego county, Orange County and Malibu (The sky is red and hazy here because of all the fires)

"About Halo 3"

I edited the Halo quote below. It makes more sense now.

Cleveland Rocks!

Richard just got a call from one of the judges he interviewed with and he got the job! He is going to be a clerk next year for a federal judge in Cleveland. I will post later about all the wonderful things in Cleveland to get you all excited to visit us!!!

After his clerkship, we'll move to Hong Kong and Richard will work for the firm that he worked for last summer.

I love my husband Richard and we are excited for this next adventure!

Found this gem of a quote from Gamespot: "about Halo 3."

Ashley's Eleventh Birthday Bash

Today Ashley is eleven. That is so incredible. She is now almost as tall as Grandma Claudia. Ashley is in fifth grade this year, which is unbelieveable to me, since I was just in fifth grade myself.

It seems like I just met you Ashley. You were so cute and so smart at four years old. I met you in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, with the help of a little brown teddy bear. It was the day your mom and dad got married.

I hate being so far away from you. I wish I could be close to you every day. One of my most favorite memories is being at the American Girl store and restaurant in Chicago with you. Another favorite memory is when we read the story "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane" together at your house. I love the memories of making cards together, and I remember making paper dolls together.

Ashley, every memory of you is a happy one. I wish I could be there to celebrate this special day with you. Grandpa Ed and I love you so very much. Since we can't be there today, you will have to take your Ashley book off the shelf and read it, and remember how much we love and miss you.

Grandpa Ed and Grandma Claudia

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY RICHARD DEAR!

Happy 28th Birthday to my dearest Richard. Richard is such a wonderful husband and has been so incredibly supportive and kind during our entire marriage, but particularly during these last few months when life has been very busy. I am blessed everyday that he wanted to marry me! I thought I would highlight some of the wonderful things that make Richard incredible.

R is for righteous, for that’s what Richard is.
He keeps his eyes closed during the prayer
And is humble like the kids

I is for ice cream, for which Richard is always game.
He loves ice cream with cookies the best
And always shares, which isn’t lame

C is for caring, Richard cares for people small and big.
He loves listening and sharing with all around
And even loves animals, like dogs, cats…even pigs!

H is for Hott, Richard is hott with two t’s
I bet you that he is blushing now
And embarrassed, but I love him so please!

A is for academic, for Richard is as smart as they come
His keen mind amazes me and he works so hard
And he can remember things very well, his mind is tight like a drum

R is for riotous, for Richard is so funny, he’s a riot
My tummy hurts from laughing together all day,
And I bet you he could do stand up at the Hyatt.

D is for Darling, for Richard is so sweet and cute
He is the most adorable boy I know
And he dances around the kitchen well to boot!

(Sorry, no pictures, my laptop is crazy right now!)

Family friends

You guys remember the straight days of sam? I forget how many in a row it was but it was in the 200's I think. I think for that year he was over somewhere close to 350 days. I think sam wins the GFBBFF (Gimbel Family Best Best Friend Forever) award. Who's your nominee?

My new mansion... anyone want to loan me some money?

Here is a building in Shelbyville for sale... only $160,000. It would take some time to fix up, but it'd be a fun project to work on in my spare time and I could have all you guys over at the same time. Just send your checks to 3443 S Burks Ct, Bloomington, IN 47401

Ryan's family summer adventure of '08 or How my mother dresses me funny

I'm thinking about buying this car for 100 dollars






to compete in this event next summer.

i'm not sure when next years event will be, but it will be hella fun. read through the website and discuss.

-ryan

ps. no it doesn't run yet, but its very close. from what i understand just some vacuum lines. famous last words right?

pps. incase my bad to the bone hyperlink doesn't work, its www.24hoursoflemons.com

We took this picture in London. It must have been the sixth or the seventh of July. I remember thinking how cool it would have been to see the race in England. No such luck.

Anyway, I was looking through our pictures and I saw this one and remembered that I wanted to post on it all that time ago. Or did I post on it already? Hmm.

New Car: the Subaru Factor

So after a long wait we got our new car! Two months of buses and walking were quite educational but we are more than super-grateful to Ryan and Bo-J for this most awesome motorcar. It's a 1996 so it's no spring chicken, but it has almost half the miles that the Saturn had when he met his untimely demise. It's 4-wheel drive, is significantly higher off the ground than one would anticipate (making entrance and egress a simple thing for the tall) and has room enough for us to move to San Diego this week without any problems. Awesome!

Thanks to Ryan for being an awesome big brother. Plus we had a blast with you and the girls on Saturday. Bummer that we're moving!

Plus if anyone wants to know how much it costs to get from Provo to Ogden by bus, it's a buck sixty! Seriously, even with a car, I'm temped to take the bus from now on. Save some rubles.

quikie

i've really had a crush on this song. it makes me wish i could play a guitar. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvP-ae4KxXE


-ryan

ps cold war kids.

pps we used to vacation acoustic on you tube

You bloggers stink

Last one to comment is a rotten egg... you have to play no matter what...

My systems analysis and project management professor

"An unusual love story, a unique adventure, and a classic escape plan combine in Escape, the true story of Dwight and Barbara Worker..how they met, fell in love, married..and left a trail of outraged police and Interpol agents, arrested government officials, an embarrassed U.S. Embassy, and at least one dead body behind them. Dwight Worker was the first person since Pancho Villa to escape from the maximum security prison called Lecumberri in Mexico City. Through this lightening-paced account of what life inside a Mexican prison is really like, we relive with him the dramatic events leading up to his arrest and "trial" in Mexico City; his first hand confrontation with beatings, filth, rape, and extortion; his refusal to "cooperate" with prison commandos...a refusal that resulted in violent torture and a near-fatal stabbing. The engrossing narrative then takes the reader deeper and deeper inside this "inescapable" prison and its politics as Dwight describes the behind-the-scenes events Americans never hear of: a U.S. Embassy spokesman on the take from a Mexican lawyer; a corrupt network of U.S. trained narcotics agents with lucrative "connections" of their own; and a group of some 500 American prisoners, many of whom epitomize the plight of the stoned generation..passive, dependent, inarticulate, and in Dwight's words, "doped to the eyelids". Barbara, in alternating chapters explains how they met, their courtship, their plans for marriage and for freedom."

This is the description I found for my professors book, which was also made into a tv movie. I think he was arrested for drug smuggling. This stuff makes me laugh.

Happy Birthday, Betsey

A little early, I know but I wanted to be the first to wish you a very happy birthday. I'm thinking about you and hoping that you have a very enjoyable day tomorrow, October 4th.

In honor of you -- a picture montage of whatever I have on my computer.

xo!
-Your sister

Dream Job

Marjorie started her new job yesterday. Karl is starting a new job in December. Ryan recently changed positions within his company, Edward and Meridth have new jobs on the horizon. I've got a new "job" coming up in 8 weeks as a mom. All this started me thinking about what my "dream job" would be. If I had no constraints at all, what would I want to be doing with my time?

Initially, I thought that I would be good as a professional television watcher. I love T.V. I'm have a very low standard at what television shows I enjoy watching. I can watch Ken Burns "The War" just as easily as I could watch Brett Michaels Rock of Love. It is all good to me. But then I realized that I start feeling a little sick if I watch more than 5 hours of television. I start feeling physically ill. I don't think that is a job I could do everyday for 8 hours a day.

Then, I decided that I would be a good baker. I would like to own a bakery and make delicious yummy cupcakes and treats all day long. I enjoy trying out new recipies and I really love to eat cupcakes.

But then I thought about working for my favorite radio show "This American Life" and decided that it would be a close race between owning a bakery and working on This American Life.

So how about all of you? What are your dream jobs? What would you do with yourself if you had no constraints?