Birthday BBQ

On Saturday a group of my friends got together and had a fun pool day! The weather was AMAZING! and the pool water was perfect! We spent the whole afternoon eating, drinking, swimming, and laughing! It was such a fun way to spend my birthday-eve! The boys grilled hotdogs, hamburgers, and even boiled shrimp (which I didn't eat) on the grill! We had tons of chips and cookies too and everyone had a really nice time. I'm finally not a glowing white anymore.. woo hoo! My spring break goal has already been accomplished and it's only day 3/10 off! :) The Lightning played at noon that day, but were winning so much that Z was able to hang-out up until he had to drive home to change for work!

I love my friends and everything they do for me! :) Thanksssss!!!

Some of the spread...

Some of the gang! :)
Love these girls!

Z's burgers are AMAZING!!!

-Ashley

Happy Easter!

Today is the first time in my whole life that Easter landed ON my birthday. It was close a few times and we'd do Easter egg hunts at my birthday parties when I was little, but I today was a first! I hope everyone got a chance to spend time with family and have a nice, relaxing weekend! Happy Easter everyone!

-Ashley

Quarter of a Century!

If you ask Wikipedia what 25 is they will tell you "25 (twenty-five) is the natural number following 24 and preceding 26". It is also the age I turn today. Holy moly! I'm officially in my "mid-20s". Siiigh. Halfway to fifty!? I think I'll go get my walker now because I'm 1/3 of 75! Haha. Only kidding. I always make my birthday a more than one day celebration. Friday my mom took me shopping... yesterday my friends threw me a birthday barbeque out by the pool. Let me just say the weather was AMAZING and the water temp. was PERFECT! After we went to the arena football game Z was working and got "hooked up" with free food and drinks. Today is Easter and my parents are having the family over for a late lunch to celebrate both holidays! :) I will post fun pics of the barbecue/party soon!

-Ashley

New Title in 2011-2012

Today my principal called in teachers to her office to let them know they'd be moving grades due to student numbers. 4th grade was losing a unit due to 3rd grade being so small this year, which meant she decided I'd be one of the 2 that would have to go to another grade. I had no idea what she was going to say.. and I was shocked when she said it.. but starting in August I will no longer be a 4th grade teacher but a ....

I'm pretty nervous. Their main focus is Science, which is my least favorite subject, but she promised me I'd have help, a great team to work with, and that I'd be just fine! I'm just thankful I have a job at the same school! Here's to "passing" 4th grade and going on to try to be smarter than a 5th grader!

-Ashley

Saturday Night Date Night!

Last Saturday night Zach and I decided... well, I decided, that we'd go out and have a date night - just the two of us! We thought about a movie, or the beach, or dinner, but we decided to go play putt putt golf! It had been years since we had gone and I'm pretty sure the last time we went he beat me by one. This time, however, I WON by one! :) It was a great feeling... lol. We had a good time together and before we left he stopped by the batting cages and took a few swings in the slow pitch and fast pitch cage.

-Ashley

Go Rays!

Even though my beloved TB Rays are 1-7, I still plan on going to games! Their offense stinks, their defense isn't the greatest, but we still have fun going and enjoying the atmosphere! We went to their second home game last week... and the lost, of course, but I'm so happy baseball season is back! Yayyy!

My baseball game partner and myself!

Just a random shot...

Another self portrait. Something to keep us entertained between innings!

-Ashley

Bridal Shower for my new Sis!

Last Saturday my soon to be sis-in-law (April 29th!) had a bridal shower thrown for her at Bahama Breeze! It was such a nice time - I sat next to my mom and gradnma and really enjoyed myself :). I am so excited for Melissa to join our family and MARRY my brother! I really never thought there would be anyone in this world who could get him to settle down, but she did, and I couldn't be happier! Yay! 19 days and they say "I do" in St. Lucia!

Melissa!

Sooo delish.. the bahamarita!

This was the favor given out.. so cute, and a perfect fit!

-Ashley

Ashley and Daniel's Wedding Day!

The real reason we drove across the state was to celebrate the marriage of my "randomly chosen" roommate in my dorm at FSU.. who I ended up living with in an apartment the next year as well and her bf she started dating our first year in college! The wedding was beautiful! The ceremony was held in a church in downtown Fernandina Beach and her reception was at a resort/golf course area known as The Plantation. They had a live band... a nacho bar... and unlimited amounts of "Pirate Punch"... Dancing... a great sunset... and many happy memories! Congrats to them both - they are truly perfect for each other!

Z and I outside of the reception hall (covered in gnats!).

The porch area of the hall... Daniel, Ash, and Ash!

The hubby and I again! :) The girls!

I love Z in blue!!

We had a wonderful weekend together with our bffs! Many fun memories!

-Ashley

A+D Wedding Day

So on the day of Ashley and Daniel's wedding a lot of fun things happened before the wedding...

1. Z got his first (and def not last) pedicure!

2. We went to lunch at a beach side restaurant on their deck... perfect!

3. Jess and Kyle joined while Britt was doing "bridesmaid stuff"

4. Zach and I left the restaurant and went straight to Target to pick up a wedding gift. (Don't judge, we are ALWAYS last minute). We made it back to the hotel in time to change/shower, BUT something happened to where I had literally 15ish minutes to get completely ready. We walked into the hotel room and Jess is in her towel, hair wet, etc and starts off by saying "Don't get mad.. I've already called the front desk". Z and I looked at eachother and had no idea what she meant. Well, apparently while she was showering she needed to shave so she moved the showerhead over so it wouldn't wash away her cream and the WHOLE SHOWERHEAD CAME OUT OF THE WALL! She said she had shampoo in her hair and it was spewing out of the hole everrrry where!! A guy eventually came up to fix it, but said it would take awhile. I was freaking out because I was in no way going to a wedding as gross as I looked. Thankfully after 15 minutes of talking to the front desk they allowed us to use a booked room's shower (but the people hadn't checked in yet)... it was insane! I didn't feel I looked very nice, but whatever it was still a fun wedding... and that will be the next post!

-Ashley

Amelia Island Boat Day!

Friday morning Z and I got up early to get to the marina to take out a boat we were going to rent for the day! It was chilly when we first went out, but the weather ended up being perrrrfect! We stopped at a dockside restaurant to have lunch and picked up Kyle so he could spend a few hours out with us on the water. We heard about Cumberland Island, GA being a small island with wild horses so we docked there and through the woods we found them! It was so cool getting to see them eating and running around where ever! It was a great day out and about...

Kyle trying to be artistic!

Kyle searching for horses... sand spurs much?! OUCH! Trying to get the boat unstuck from the mud... Horses... crappy point and shoot! Captain Z and his firstmate Kyle!

I swear I was the one taking the pics... even though I didn't make it into any of them! :)

-Ashley

St. Patty's Day!

Yes, this post is titled St. Patrick's Day. Yes, it was almost a month ago... BUT it's here now so whatever! Anyway... we spent the 4 day weekend in Jacksonville/Amelia Island/Fernandina beach mainly for a wedding, but also celebrating my bffs 25th bday *which happens to be March 17*. We got to the hotel at about 6, got ready, and headed downtown for dinner and drinks. It was low key, but a lot of fun! We did Mexican and then visited the "oldest saloon" in Florida, the Palace! Pics below to start the weekend!

The bday girl and her bf Kyle!

She's easily embarrassed. Haha.

Z and I in our green!

Z and his bff! :)

Me, Britt, Jess! So much fun!

-Ashley!

The City Scramble!

Sorry for the lack of posting (to my 2 loyal readers - hehe) ... each day seems to go by quicker than the one before!! Work is crazy busy getting ready for testing in April and my weekends have surprisingly been jam packed with fun activities! Last Saturday I participated in an "Adventure Race" around downtown Tampa called The City Scramble! It was so much FUN! We (Britt and I) were given a piece of paper with 12 clues - 9 being places you had to take a picture at, and 3 involving different puzzles/challenges. You could start at anyone and check off the activities in any order, but the clues were actually pretty hard and it was necessary to have a phone-a-friend (or 10!) helping out! You couldn't use any other form of transportation than your feet and we up ended running around for about 5 miles and completed it in 2 hours and 08 mins! We placed 8/25 ... which we considered not too bad since we were mapless! Oops! :)

Afterwards Justin and Melissa picked us up and we went out for lunch... and one too many drinks! What a fun day! :) Pictures below are in a crazy order - I thank blogspot for that for making it so annoying to change the location of each!

I will definitely participate again next year... with a map! Go Team BASH! (Britt/Ash put together.. clever, I know!)

-Ashley