JUMP!!!!

I had gone under the railroad tracks at least 100 times in the boat before, but I had never really thought about being one of the crazy people who actually goes up and jumps! Well, put two crazies in the boat with me and heck yes I'm jumping!! John helped Allie and I up and I WALKED across the top and waited for Allie to go up... and CRAWL across. And then waited for John to make it to me... and THEN Allie decides to just JUMP! and then John! and THEN ME! It was like waiting 100 years to get to the water, but it was so fun!

Wondering what the plan is to get up there...

Still wondering!
John helping me up.

I made it!

Allie starting to crawl over while I'm blowing in the wind...

Are you here yet?!

... Allie!

....John!

... Ashley!!

HOLY MOLY! It doesn't look very high, but standing up there was quite the rush!!! I may or may not ever do this again... I guess it all depends if anyone else is doing it! Because if my friends/family are jumping off a bridge/railroad track - I totally am too! Until next lake weekend...

-Ashley

Boating on Lake Sinclair

We spent a lot of Friday and most of Saturday out on the boat... Thanks Captain Zach and Captain Deb for driving us around! Although, I did drive once and I scared people on my boat and people not on my boat! I prefer riding and not paying attention - Z prefers paying attention and driving. Works out perrrrrfectly! The weather was a bit cloudy, but as we all know, the sun still got to us and we all were nice sunkissed! :)

Deb!

Allie!

John!
Clouds!

Cheeeeeers!

Captain Z and Shipmate Ashley!

John and Allison

... and my favorite sign ever!!!!

-Ashley

Weekend @ Lake Sinclair!

Two weekends ago Z and I made the trip up to Georgia to spend the weekend with some of his family at his grandma's house... which just happens to be on beautiful Lake Sinclair! When Z and I started dating we realized after a few months that we both had family that lived 6 hours away, and only about 15 minutes from each other! My family had planned a trip up during the summer, and it just happened to be the same time that Zach and his family were going to be there for their annual "Camp Meeting". We ended up spending time together that summer (2003) and have been back together almost every summer since! The next summer I drove up from FSU and spent my first weekend on the lake... and there have been many more times since then, and each time it seems to get better! :) We play cards together, eat/plan many delicious meals, we go tubing, boating, and just relax on the deck/in the water on a raft! PERFECTION! Thanks, grandma, for letting us crash and take over your house once a year! Hehe. :)

Zach with his brother John and cousin Alex (and grandma's head)!

John and his amazing girlfriend Allie! On one of the sunset "cruises"!

Love this view! I was excited to have caught my first lightning bug! Having fun with sparklers on the dock! Allie made us some amazing banana pudding.. and Alex couldn't let any go to waste!
Deb needed some triangular moments... here is one! ;)
I have more pictures on my other camera... so this weekend will be a two parter! ;)

-Ashley

The Reception!

On May 28th my brother and new sister-in-law had their wedding reception here in Tampa! It was at a country club close by and was absolutely perfect! They had tables set up inside and out and the weather was wonderful! A lot of family came in from out of town so we were able to spend time with them over the weekend as well! They showed the video from their ceremony in St. Lucia to everyone and it was so sweet! :)

One of the few pics I got with the bride AND groom!

Set up outside...
The hubby and I!

Mom and I!

My aunt and grandma!

Congrats again to them!! I'm so happy for my big bro! :)

-Ashley

The Ybor Experience

Last weekend I headed downtown for a bar crawl to raise money for cystic fibrosis. It was an absolutle blast! About 10 of us bought tickets and started with eating lunch together, then hopping around town from bar to bar. It started at 2 and ended at 11, with different drink specials at each place. A free drink here, or a free shot there... and for a good cause! We all wore lanyards that were hole punched once you made it to the next place and ordered your drink or two. There was a certain amount of time we could stay at each spot, and everyone would move on together, for the most part. We started at Green Iguana, went to Gametime, then Centro Cantina, Blue Dog Cafe, Gaspar's Grotto, Coyote Ugly, JJs Cafe, and Double Decker's something or other. Most of my friends had done it before, but it was my first time. I'd definitely do it again though -what a fun day!!

Cab ride there.

The Green Iguana for lunch!
First stop: Gametime... with a picture of our lanyard.

Gaspar's Grotto!

Me, Annmarie, and Cristina *who teaches at my school*

Can't wait for next year!

-Ashley

April Showers Bring Cute Duckies to the Pond!

A few days ago Z and I headed to the pond around our apartment complex with a few pieces of bread in hand. Not too long after we arrived it seemed like every animal around was waiting on us to throw something their way. There were two sets of 4 baby ducks, 3 turtles, 2 dogs, and a partridge in a pear tree! We had a lot of fun.. and so did the pups... They kept scaring them away, but they always came back! Too cute...

Watching, waiting, wanting!

Lua wishing she wasn't attached to a leash...

Mama and babies... and one of the resident turtles! :)

Now every time we go out and walk the pups the ducks follow us around hoping for a little something, something. I love spring!!

-Ashley

A word to the wise!

Just a little word of caution to all of Ashley's followers...I (Zach) was recently cutting a lemon in the kitchen to put on my salmon that I was preparing for dinner when I carelessly cut my finger bad. It wasnt horribly bad but deep enough that I had to seek medical attention. So I have learned my lesson about taking my time and using caution with a large knife. It cost me $199. I am writing this to remind you that an extra few moments in the kitchen to ensure you are practicing safe habits is well worth it. Here is a photo I found online, this is not my finger but it is similar to what mine looked like:

Consider yourselves warned! That is all!

~Zach

Things the make me SMILE!

Every once in awhile I just sort of stop and think of things that are going on or happening in my life and I realize I have a lot to smile about! In no particular order below are things that make me happy.. some pics come from my cell phone, others the web! :) (they are in no particular order)

Drinks with friends...

Sally Hansen Salon Essential Nails in "Girl Flower"

Super easy... super cute.... (the toes - not my ugly feet!) lol.
My puppies. They always melt my heart!
This was at the grandparents.. eating ice cream!

23 days left of school... which means BEACH season soon! Tresemme Dry Shampoo on days where a shampooing isn't 100% needed...

... and I'm just so proud of my hubby and all of his accomplishments! Way to go babe!

-Ashley

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to ALL the moms out there!

I have been so lucky to have a mom who has always been there, through the good and the bad, and has believed in me through every decision and choice I've EVER made! I can only hope that one day I am half the mom she is! I love you MOM and can't thank you enough today.. and EVERY day for all that you have done for me! xo. :)

A little girl, asked where her home was, replied, "where mother is." ~Keith L. Brooks

-Ashley

My Graduate!

I was going to wait until Zach came back with the camera from Georgia, BUT! I just couldn't wait that long so you get a fun preview up there! ;) My wonderful husband is halfway done with his college career and officially has his AA degree! He walked across the stage on Friday afternoon and his wonderful mom was right next to me cheering him on as he shook the hands of those all important ones! :) He is on his way to USF to be a Bull and study secondary education and I couldn't be more proud of him! He had a rough start in school before he joined the Army, but he has figured out his priorities and is on track to graduate with honors if he keeps it up! I love you so much my sweet husband and I'm so proud of ALL! of you accomplishments.

-Ashley

Pretzels... With the screw on top!

This morning I heard Z wake up to take the dogs out and I eventually fell back asleep for a few minutes and when I woke up he was gone... I texted him and asked where he had snuck off to and he told me Publix, the local grocery, and told me to let him know what I wanted... I gave him the list that literally read: "I need coffee creamer, bread, lean cuisines, and a big thing of pretzels with the screw on top...." Well, a few minutes later he calls me asking what pretzels had a picture of the screw on top?! I had to explain that I meant the big barrel of pretzles that you can open and close with the screw. on. top! He's responded with "ohhh the pretzels with a LID!" ... DUH that's what I meant. He said he'd been looking for quite some time for the label that had a screw... hehe! It made me chuckle. Texts are sometimes hard to read, I guess! :)

What I wanted:

At work I like to keep a huge thing of pretzels around for me, my students, and fellow teachers so no one goes hungry! Having the screw on top... aka lid! keeps them fresh so much longer than a bag. Although Publix didn't have the barrel, Z came home with 2 bags I can put into my running low barrel I have on my desk! :) Thanks Z!

-Ashley