Places I have been and where I'd like to go

I have been to the neighboring states, Utah, Arizona, California and Idaho. All to see family or go to cheer camp. I've also been to Disneyland and Seaworld. I had the opportunity to go on the back east trip after I graduated. I was nervous to start this trip because 10 days seemed like a long time to be on a bus, away from my comforts of home. I'm fussy that way. But it was an amazing trip. My testimony was strengthened and I felt a deeper connection to Joseph Smith. I had always know him as a prophet and revered him as such. But on this trip I got to know him as a man. A man with a wife, children and weaknesses. I saw parts of the country that were so beautiful it truly ruined the desert in its ugliness forever!! My favorite part was the rural areas of Pennsylvania and New York. So beautiful!!

I would like to one day go to Alaska. I don't really have the desire to go anywhere tropical. It's hot here and if I am going to pay a lot of money to go somewhere I want to be COOL.

I would also like to go to Spain. I'd like to go see if there are Alderetes somewhere.

I have no desire to go to any part of Asia, Mexico or Africa. I don't think a war torn or unstable country sounds like a fun vacation spot!!

Things That Make Me Happy

This is a very interesting question!! I am actually very easily pleased!! The traditional answers are: my husband, my children, my family, and those things do make me happy but I will branch away from the normal and share  some of the simple things that make me happy.

1.      When the peacocks are out and about when I go on my morning walk. A family who lives on my route has several of them.

2.      Winter days

3.      Rain storms. I like the long drizzly winter ones that can go on for days.

4.      Body wash

5.      Socks

6.      Ironing. It's very peaceful to me.

7.      Reading

8.      When my cat lays in my lap after the kids have gone to sleep and I get to read and pet her. Very relaxing.

9. When I feel like I've helped someone or made them feel better.

10. Unasked for kisses from my children

11. Surprise mail. Like invitations or birthday cards.

 

Pet Peeves

1. People who think they are better than others.
2. People who just can't stand it when they think you might have something that they don't.
3. People threatened by others. Get over yourself.
4. Smoking
5. People who drive slow in the fast lane.
6. Old people at the post office.
7. Wet towels on the floor.
8. Uneven, ragged finger nails.
9. When my contacts slip around.
10. People who chew with their mouth open.

This is merely the top ten!! :)

My Parents

 

 

 

My mom and dad started dating when they were very young. I think they were around 14 and 15. They have had a relationship a LONG time!! Like all young love, they broke up and reunited on probably a yearly basis. That's high school!! But they have made it nearly 32 years!!

 

They were married December 27th, 1980.

 

I remember I read an article in the Ensign by President Hinckley when I was in high school. It was about how to help your children understand love. (I paraphrase this article, as I do not remember it in its entirety.) He stressed there wasn't a need to over talk about love and relationships into a deep extent. The concept is hard for children to understand at such a tender age. He said the way to teach your children to love is to SHOW them. Show your children how to love by openly loving your wife. Show her respect and kindness. Listen to her. Say 'I love you'. Hold her hand.

 

I feel like my parents always taught this way. Never with a loud voice, but with a quiet example. No, they weren't perfect. Yes, we fought. Yes, they made mistakes. But we were loved, we KNEW it and we were happy. It didn't need to be a big broadcast, just a simple, quiet reassurance of love by example. I love my parents very much and I know with out a doubt I was supposed to be their daughter.

 

My parents have never had it easy. They married young, had children young, and had their fair share of hard times. Most people in the same situation have not made it. But they have. My parents were officially sealed in the temple on January 31, 2003. We were sealed as a family the same evening. I will always include that day in one of the greatest in my life. 

It was supposed to be the color test

I was supposed to do the color test and share its results. But I couldn't find one that was free!! So instead I am going to share a few more little things about me!!

My genealogy is something I am very proud of. It's interesting and diverse.

My mother's ethnicity is regular white person!! She comes from pioneer stock and her relatives were some of the first in this country and this valley. She had an ancestor on the Mayflower!! Her blood lines come from England, Denmark, Canada and a little bit of Scotland. My granny was always very specific about the 'little' part when it came to the Scottish!!  I don't know why. One of my great-great-great grandfathers was a polygamist and had 8 wives and 54 children. I think he almost single handed populated the Bunkerville area!! They have been members of the church as long as it has been restored.

My dad's family is hard to trace very far because he has several ancestors who were adopted. This was back when babies were left at the orphanage in a basket on the front steps. The lines we can trace originate in Spain. My dad looks like the stereo type of a Spaniard. Black hair, green eyes, high cheek bones. I have done some of my own research and there is actually a village in Spain named Alderete. It was named after a Lord Alderete, who had 15 children, 14 girls and 1 boy!! He had 3 wives, not all at the same time. 2 died in child birth. Not really a surprise as 15 children is A LOT!! The main export of the village is sheep and wine, and it was founded in the early 1500's.

I love history. I think of it as a mystery to be solved and the more layers you peel off the more interesting it becomes. I like discovering things and learning more about where I come from.

Nick Names

I have a few nicknames but mostly people call me Ash. Very few people call me by my full name. Very few indeed!! I have never liked my name. It’s common and I feel like it’s associated with blond homecoming queens or other equally vapid women!! Plus it doesn't have any kind of special meaning. Ashley means- ash tree.

My dad calls me peanut & my granny called me lady bug. Brent calls me turtle dove or sweat pea sometimes.

I call Scarlet my little chicken. When she was little she made a funny squawking noise that sounded like “BOCK!”

I call Ella Missy Prissy or Missy Duck. When she was a newborn, Brent’s aunt had given me a ducky towel. She was all wrapped up and so cute and her cry sounded like a quack.

I call Brent muffin.

I call my brother “Little Buddy” from Gilligan’s Island. When we were little we spent a good amount of time at my granny’s and she watched a lot of classic TV!! My sister and I also called him Bubba Clubba, from a Donald Duck episode that had a cave duck in it. This was a looonnnggg time ago. I think he was around 2!!

 

I call every one either sweetie or honey. I started doing it when I was doing hair in Mesquite. I would forget names and clients would come in and I wouldn't have time to look at my books to refresh myself with who they were. It made the men feel special and most of the time the women called me the same thing. Now it's just kind of a habit!!

30 Day Challenge!!

So I have decided to copy cat my SIL Chelsey and do a 30 day blogging challenge!!

Day 1: Introduce myself, recent picture, 15 facts about me.

I am Ashley Alderete Bowler

1. I am 5'1"
2. I have brown eyes
3. I have brown hair. Yes it is my natural color.
4. I have 2 daughters.
5. Every one in my family has a summer birthday. They are within 8 weeks of each other.
6. I married my high school sweet heart, but there was some drama in between.
7. I love cats.
8. I am a hairdresser
9. I love cheerleading.
10. I enjoy fitness, although I don't think you can tell!!
11. I think I'm hilarious, but I also think my sister may be the only one who agrees with me.
12. I have a large vocabulary.
13. I have a sweet tooth.
14. I am easily pleased.
15. I am also easily irritated.

SO on to the challenge!! I think it will be fun!! There criteria is already laid out for me so I don't even have to come up with topics!!