Cincinnati Reds

A few weeks ago we were able to go to a MLB game and go and see the Cincinnati Reds play the Atlanta Braves - I will just spare you the suspense and tell you that the Reds won the game we were at, it was really sweet. While we were en-route to the big game we stopped at a flea market on the way there. I was hoping it would be a really sweet one you see on TV were everyone on HGTV gets super sweet finds and displays it proudly in their home...not the case.

This picture might give you a glimpse at why that was the case

It was basically the craziest, dirtiest disgusting place ever - and all those sweet flea market finds, garbage! But it was a most entertaining experience, and it was just 2 bucks to get in, for both of us, now that is a cheap thrill.

Nathan did manage to find a new friend while he was there though...The game didn't start until later and we had a few hours to kill. Unfortunately it was really hot that day, so we looked for things to do inside, and that led us to an art museum. That's right, I got Nathan to go into an art museum - mark that on your calendar folks. The best part is, he suggested it! Call it what you may, but I think it's love. Anyway, the featuring artist of the museum was Keith Haring, an incredibly famous graffiti style artist. It was pretty interesting for the most part, but we loved the top floor of the museum which was the children's area, which meant that it was interactive and actually fun.

Then came game time. ESPN was there for the pre-game show, if that's what they call it anyway. It was a lot of fun just to see how crazy people act just to get on camera. Here are a few highlights from the game...

Don't forget the famous ball park franks

And of course the reason we all went to the game, to celebrate Nathan's cousin Max's birthday, Happy Birthday Max!

A Trip to Kirtland, Ohio

This last Sunday we were able to go and see the Church History site of Kirtland, Ohio. It was a really great place to see where the early saints began building the very first temple. We were able to go inside, and see many of the original things from the church in the 1830s. It was a awesome experience and a great opportunity to strengthen my testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel.

We are still very much enjoying our summer, but we are certainly ready to go back home to a drier air - the humidity is melting us....one more month.

Recent Happenings...

Hello all of my five faithful readers - this update is for you. Not much has been happening lately, we had a small change of events for the summer where Nathan has got a job as the "dreaded summer salesman," but really it isn't that bad. We are at an undisclosed location for an undisclosed amount of time, and we are here with lots of Nathan's family - so it has been a lot of fun for us. We brought our trusty companion Duke with, largely for my own entertainment, since I find myself constantly bored.

As of late this is what has been happening depicted in a few random photographs...

First, way back in April - Duke turned 2! He got a new toy and I made him a peanut butter cake, dog friendly of course...

Next, for Mother's Day I made my mom some awesome polaroid magnets, which is basically copied the idea from this website, and mom loved them! It was a really great simple project.

Within the first week I was here (my secret undisclosed location that is), I went to a Taylor Swift concert with another girl that is out here working with her husband and the company - and it just so happens that we are in the same ward back home...small world, I know. It was awesome!!!

After a few days of being bored, I headed to the grand state of North Carolina to visit my sister-in-law, Amber and her family. She has twin boys, and they were a hoot. Take a look...I took these pictures in the car (Collin was really thrilled...)while Amber and I took turns shopping.

Meet Collin and Grant, age 3 1/2 - they are feisty little guys, but they were so much fun to hang out with while I was there.

Speaking of shopping, I have to tell you of the little adventure we had in North Carolina while we were on our way to a little shopping venture. So here is the story, we are getting in the car and I look down the road and I see a shredded tire, or what I thought it was...nope - this is what it really was....
a SNAKE! It was just slithering across the road, it was crazy and at least four feet long. So we watch it cross the road and get along our merry little way and then...a vulture flies down and picks up a squirrel, right in the middle of road! It was a wild, morbid morning, but we survived.

Also, Nathan had been studying his little bum off for the Dental Admissions Test (DAT), which we were both nervous about. He ended up taking the test and did really well (all that worrying for nothing), now we just have to apply for school and get on with this whole dental school thing.

Last but not least, we celebrated our 2nd anniversary on June 25th - it was so exciting. We went to eat at the Cheesecake Factory...yum. It was so romantic, and we had lots of fun. The end.

Finally a Break - Hawaiian Style

Spring Break recently came and went a little too fast than both Nathan and I would have preferred, but oh well. We were able to go to Hawaii for Spring Break - it was SO great to have a break from school. School got out and the following Sunday we left for Hawaii - it was a lot of traveling, but we finally made it there at 10:30am on Monday. We went to the island of Kauai, which is the first one on the left in this picture.

As soon as we got there we were greeted at the airport with leis and a gift bag with some information about the island and some other little knick-knacks.

Nice leis....

After we got picked up by Nathan's mom, sister & our nephew we headed to Costco...I know, it's quite the thrill - first thing you do is visit Costco. But it was awesome! I always love me a good Costco run, but in Hawaii, I guess you just love it that much more. Once we left Costco we got to our new home for the next week. We stayed in the "city" of Koloa in the Marriot Beach Club - so fabulous, see for yourself!

This was taken out the door of our room, and you can the ocean just beyond the palm trees

Mary, Leann & Brennan ( Nathan's mom, sister & our nephew) had arrived in Hawaii the previous Wednesday and they had already planned out our week for us when we got there, which was really nice that we didn't have to worry about making reservations for anything. First we enjoyed a day at the beach, with some snorkeling of course - followed by a helicopter tour of the island - which was AMAZING! Here are some pictures of both:

Leann & Brennan

view from the chopper

The next day was pretty low key. Nathan and I got up early to go zip-lining, which was so much fun! Though rumor has it Mary somehow ended up upside down while she and Leann went - wish I could have seen that!

Ashley propelling down the rigorous terrain...sort of

This is what we did while Mary & Leann went zip-lining...

Lastly we went to a luau, which was way cool. It was awesome to get to eat so much great food and experience many different cultures.

All in all we had SO much fun, and I recommend that everyone visits Hawaii at least once in their life. It is a really great place to relax and have fun with your family.

Careers and holiday celebrations.

I'm lame. I have a hard time updating this whole blog thing - and I know that Nathan would never update it, I wonder if he even knows that this thing even exists? Anyway, to make up for my lameness I will just have to fill you in on the latest and greatest of the Leavitts. Since the last post we had an open house for Nathan's sister Emily and her husband Tucker from the wedding during Thanksgiving break (you will have to stalk Emily's facebook for pictures) and we also celebrated Christmas with Nathan's family in Lewiston. We stayed at the Leavitt's house for practically an entire month - and that is no exaggeration, but we had lots of fun and ate way too much food. Nathan claims that he gained 10lbs while we were there, which may be a slight exaggeration.

Oh, I forgot to say that when we got home after Thanksgiving we had a snow day! It snowed 8inches overnight in Boise, and the entire University was closed! Best. day. EVER. Duke really enjoyed the snow. Oh, and I had to buy Duke a Christmas sweater...Nathan hated that I dressed the dog.I think it's cute.

In January we started school again, I am taking some studio art classes, and Nathan is busy with sciences classes and an "internship," which he is basically getting credit for job shadowing. Oh man - I almost forgot the most exciting news of all, Nathan has decided to become a ....

DENTIST!

Maybe you all aren't as relieved as I am to know that Nathan has finally made a "final" decision as to what his career goals are. Originally he was pursuing Medical School but after job shadowing some of the professions that he was interested in, he decided that is wasn't for him. Erin, Nathan's dad-who is also a dentist, always has Nathan come in and help at the office and during Christmas Break it just sort of dawned on him that dentistry is the really the best option for what he is interested in. With all that in mind, he will be taking the placement test, DAT, this summer, and be applying to schools this fall and hopefully he will snag an interview. Yay!

Lastly, Valentine's Day is my FAVORITE holiday - but no one really knows why, I just like it. We went and had lunch together instead of dinner, we both have night classes, so it just worked out that way. I got Nathan Mario Kart for the Wii, and don't worry he has had it for a week, and the whole game is nearly beaten. And I got flowers and an iTunes gift card, which I really wanted. I also made chocolate fondue with strawberries, pound cake, rice crispies and brownies - it was, delicious, not to brag - but it was.

The Leavitts Lately..

Nathan and I have been really busy with school this semester - and taking summer classes did not help, we were completely burnt out and counted down the days until Christmas Break was here! This is probably going to be long post, so prepare yourself - I guess thats what happens when you never update your blog.Towards the end of the summer we finally started getting some fruit on the peach tree - and they were delicious! We tried making a Peach Almond Bread, but it wasn't that great, especially when you have the Leavitt family recipe for zucchini bread (I made a lot this summer).

Don't those just look delicious?!?!...they were! Once summer ended - we were busy with school, but I already told you that, so I guess that means that we are looking for sympathy? Anyone? No, ok - that's fine too. We had told the secretary at the institute that we were just busy with school all the time, and she asked "do you ever do anything to take a break?" Nathan and I looked at each other and said "no" at the same time - after that I kind of decided that there was more to life than just school, so we started renting one or two more redbox movies - talk about adventurous. But I think that there was a lesson we learned that day.

Then came October - which means Halloween, and I LOVE decorating for Halloween. I don't have pictures of the house, but for the Ward Christmas party Nathan and I dressed up as Woody and Bo Peep from Toy Story - it was a hit, but so were the other four that were at the party...

Let's see...after October comes November. We were really excited for the the coming Thanksgiving Break to spend time with family and take the much needed break from school. Nathan's sister Emily got married in Rexburg the Friday of the beginning of the break. It was a really nice wedding, Emily looked smokin hot - too bad she didn't compensate for the freezing cold weather though. I can't believe I lived there for two years and didn't die from being so cold. We also got to see Amber & Zach and the boys - it had been almost a year and a half since we had seen them, and they have gotten so big!

After the wedding we drove to Lewiston, stayed a few days, made gingerbread houses and then drove further to Pierce, Idaho, population 617 - a very small town, but half of my family seems to be living there. We had lots of fun playing games and eating a lot of food.

Now December has arrived, and it's nearly Christmas, and yes, we did survive the semester. We hope you all have a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

Blog Post Anyone?

Hello my long lost (few) followers of this desolate blog...it's me Ashley and I have come to update you on our very exciting life....and yes, that is sarcasm.

Let's start with the summer, shall we? Like I said, us Leavitt's are a really exciting crowd - all summer Nathan and I took summer classes. That's right, I said all summer. Nathan took Organic Chemistry - which was condensed to a 5 week course, (I don't recommend it for anyone) and I took a digital tools class and also a photography class, which was all film, not digital - I will have to scan in some of my favorites and expose them to the world wide web later. Luckily though, classes went from Monday to Thursday so we did get to some exciting things on the weekend. For one of the most hilarious events, it's best if you just read the Doss' blog on the weekend adventure in Cascade, where we went camping for the weekend. Here is the link: http://ajdossfamily.blogspot.com/2010/08/get-outta-town.html, trust me it's worth reading. Let me just give you a sneak preview.

If that doesn't peak your interest, then I don't know what will. Anyway, we also celebrated Nathan's 23rd birthday while visiting his family to welcome the newest nephew. Leann and Steve really produced quite the little cutie. They named him Brennan Lee, and it was a truly amazing experience getting to hold such a new baby, just recently heaven sent - what a blessing. Here is a picture of the little guy...

Another thing that we did this summer was float the Boise River - a lot! We even took little Duke with us, which was quite the event. You see, from previous blog posts you will come to find that he does not like taking a bath, so you can imagine the nervousness I would have when throwing him into the river. But to my dismay, he did really well, he was walking all around every ones rafts and just had a good time. There was one incident that got me a little worried though, I'd like to think it was the "motherly instinct" in me, but Nathan just thinks I'm a freak. We where going over a "rapid" which took us maybe an inch off the rest of the water and Duke lost his balance and fell out, I was freaking out and basically shoved Nathan out of the raft to go and save the dog, in the middle of the "rapid" mind you....Duke ended up being fine and he can swim turns out, but it still makes for a good story.

Last but not least we were able to welcome in another new addition to our little family, are you ready for this?

Tada! Nathan and I decided to invest in a new MacBook Pro - and it's AMAZING!!!!!!! Since I am studying Graphic Design in school and as students you get waaaay sweet discounts for the design programs, we decided that it was time to take the plunge from PC to Mac, and I must admit - it's not as bad as it seems.