Memories Lost

     What a busy busy busy day it has been! Ashlyn and I have been running since 9 AM. Ashlyn and I started our day off with school. Ashlyn's school is having a yard sale on Friday, and parents were needed to help separate all the belonging the parents brought in to sale. I was very thankful for the yard sale, I had tons of things I have been meaning to get rid of. After school, Ashlyn and I went straight to Trend Designs for a much overdue color and cut! After getting my hair done it was time for us to head to New Washington.
     Last night around 11, I received a phone call from my mom, she was calling to inform me that my cousin Ryan's house was burning down. All together Ryan's house caught fire 3 different times. Fortunately no one was hurt! Ryan and his girlfriend, Shelly, had went to the grocery store and left her 4 children at home with a 19 year old babysitter. The babysitter heard popping and cracking noises and immediately saw the flames. She called 911 and was able to get all the children out of the house. Unfortunately they lost pretty much everything. My Mom, Ashlyn, and I went to my Aunt Sharla's to take the youngest child Ava, who is 6 months old, some of Ashlyn's old belongings. Ashlyn loved helping care for baby Ava, I kinda enjoyed taking care of baby Ava as well.
    After we dropped off Ava's new things, we rode by the house to see the damage. Ashlyn had lots of questions as usual. The house was pretty much burnt to the ground and the smell was horrible. Standing there looking at the house burnt to the ground, it made me realize your life can change within seconds. My family has been extremely lucky and for this I am very fortunate. I couldn't imagine losing all of our personal belongings.
      Ryan put so much time into making his house perfect. His grandparent recently passed away, and Ryan was talented enough to take pieces of their barn and make walls for his house. He had taken his Grandpa's old tools and other belongings and used them for decorations in his house. He had his Grandma's homemade quilts displayed for memories, and all of these things were either destroyed or badly damaged. Many people would say they are just "things" but to him they were much more than "things", they were memories and heirlooms  he can't get back. Shelly had pictures of her children destroyed. The boys had to stand and watch all of their toys, clothes, and bedrooms burn to the grounds. I am sure it is something the children will never forget! I hope this is something no one ever has to experience again. Ryan and Shelly have lots of support and will recover from this tragedy, but not without exhaustion and heartbreak first.
     On to some lighter news, I started selling thirty-one today. I am very excited about this and can't wait to get started. I mostly started to sell it for my own addiction and for my friends at work. We are always buying new stuff at work, and thirty-one is too cute to pass up!
    On Friday Ashlyn went to school and I guess it really wore her out. She went out to eat that night with Josh's mom and she fell asleep with her chin resting of the table, poor thing! Ashlyn went bowling for the first time on Saturday! She went with my mom while Josh and I attended the Stoner-Davidson annual pig roast. My mom said Ashlyn played 4 whole games without wearing out. I am not even sure if I could play four games of bowling. My mom said she got some pictures, so they should be coming soon. Since, I don't have any new pics of Ashlyn I will end the post with some pics from September 29th, 2006- October 1st, 2006! She has gotten so big, I love looking back at her baby pictures.