Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Yep, that's right . . . I'm a'walkin' . . . everywhere. But, sometimes, I still like to ride. Dad's new snow shovel worked just perfectly for a lift when I was too tired to walk in my big, bulky (mom says it's "cute") snowsuit.

I loved walking to Grandpa and Grandma's tree and picking ornaments off of it. Luckily, the one time my cousin and I broke some, Grandpa and Grandma were gone . . . this is my first confession - Grandpa and Grandma, I am sorry and ask your forgiveness. It just might happen again though before this season's done - just warning you.

All this walking makes a girl thirsty.

Check out these moves too!

Making my way up in the world.

I can't remember the last time I liked a toy this much . . . well, it might have been this morning.

Mommy says she's wishes she could sleep this good - just once.

Yeah - life's good around here. We all wish you a joyous end to this wonderful year!

Yes!

Few words can describe how grateful I am that my daughter loves to sweep - albeit she sweeps in every direction around her rather than into something practical like a pile. We call this and similar routines "concept chores."We thought to ourselves, "could Myna be any cuter?" And, yes, in a bear hat she can be even cuter than ever.

Mommy just couldn't wait for Myna to try out her Christmas gift . . . Santa's going to be hard for some of us.

Did I mention that Myna's been sort of into climbing??? And, climbing while playing the piano??? Yes, she's pretty amazing, yes she is.

Our Very Own Plan of Salvation

Home Can Be A Heaven On Earth

Here you go. This is our cute, yellow house:If you want to see the inside, you'll just have to come visit (when the inside is decently enough unpacked to show).

Myna's getting bigger and bigger! She loved (sleeping through) Conference.She loves (claiming my) apples.She loves (sitting on) her Daddy!She loves sharing (other people's stuff).
And, this was just cute (until she saw the camera and stopped).

Swingin in the Garden of Eden

Since Pete's company so kindly gave him two weeks to move from SC to NY after his triumphal graduation from the Navy's Nuclear Power School, we went on a long anticipated trip to visit some of the poor relatives who had yet to meet Miss Myna-Moe. (there are other trips planned too - for those of you who are still in that boat - don't worry)

One of the neatest mornings we spent was in Eden, Utah, home of Myna's Great-great-great grandparents. Pete and I have felt a special desire to know about our ancestors as we have been teaching a Family History and Temple Work Class at church. So, this sidetrip was very useful and meaningful to us, and there was a tire swing, so it was amazingly fun for all!

I'm proud of my hardworking, dairy farming relatives. I owe them a lot of gratitude for giving me my life, my faith, and hopefully a bint of their enduring spirit. Blessed, honored pioneers they are.

Happy Labor Day

This is how Myna took cover for Earl . . . took cover in sand (I guess I should have explained the process better).

If I Had One Wish Then It Would Be

A Happy, happy birthday Daddy!On the 7th, Pete celebrated his undisclosed number birthday while Myna turned 7 months old! What a fun day we had together. The best gift given was a total surprise - Myna started crawling!


Myna, of course, had to document the month's growth next to Howard.
It didn't take her long to find all the cool things within reach.
Our good friends told us about the Angel Oak. It's supposedly the oldest tree East of the Ole Miss - estimated at 1500 years old. Now that's a birthday to celebrate. The longest branch is 89 feet long! It was beautiful.

The day sure tuckered out some of the Bontornos. Luckily, the picture of me snoring in the car won't be posted.One of Myna's new toys is her favorite - Paradise Island - a place of joy, serenity and relaxation (for mom).This is Myna being brave and taking her inhaler. Poor thing has bronchiolitis and has taken up wheezing for the past few days :(But, she sure seems pretty contented to me!
Another of Charleston's beautiful trees.For those who are interested, Myna still speaks in almost all vowel sounds - and, she thinks it's pretty funny when we show her what consonants sound like. She's definitely our little independent lady.

Also, most of you know that I have some mysterious health issues such as unexplained food allergies and recurring hair loss. For years, I've done tests and gone to doctors and homeopathic specialists and anyone I can think of. I finally decided that it was stress. And, after years of searching, I finally found some information that says that all my symptoms can be attributed to Adrenal Fatigue/Exhaustion, or massive Adrenal Stress!! Now, I'm not talking simply being busy. My entire being's been stressed out since having Mononucleosis in high school. It's my body's inability to handle too much of anything. So, this is no official diagnosis nor is there a cure-all for whacked out adrenal glands, but it is an answer and a name to put with what is going on to my body. If you're interested read here http://www.mcvitamins.com/adrenal-exhaustion.htm.

What's Up?
My mom says that I've overrun the blog and that perhaps this Bontorno Tale needs some tale to go along with the pictures.

So, I decided to take a family poll about what our favorite things are about South Carolina.

Myna: So, Dad, what do you like most about South Carolina?
Pete: What, huh? We're not in New York?

Myna: So, Mom, what are your top favorite things about South Carolina?
Ash: #10. The beach
#9. The beach
#8. The beach
*7. The beach
#6. The beach
#5. The beach
#4. The beach
#3. The beach
#2. The beach
#1. Banana-split Thursdays!

Here are my SC favs: swimming, the beautiful Oak and Crepe Myrtle trees, lizards on the porch, hammocks, really sweet old southern ladies who call me precious, learning that there's more to South Carolina than that it was the first state to succeed during the Civil War, ocean waves, warm cars (okay, that might be my mom's favorite thing), having neighbors who have great faith in Jesus Christ, alligators in our pond, feeding the turtles, going barefoot! And so many other things. I glad that everywhere I've been has interesting history and people - there's so much to see and learn.
Fort Sumpter

Colonel Moultrie
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Moultrie

Hee hee hee
This is fun
I've almost got it!

Dancing with Dad - My #1 favorite thing in all the world!!

I Have A Family Here On Earth

Each day, I see more and more of the beautiful things that are here on this earth. And this week, I saw many wonders of the world with some of my amazing family that came out to SC to visit.

Oops. This isn't my relatives - but it was quite a wonder of this mega-bug producing state. (Mom and Dad haven't enjoyed the bugs too much - something about a big one in the toothbrush-holder . . . )

Here's my fam :)
They said I seem so grown up.
So, I celebrated my grownupness by putting various items on my head.
#1. A Sariah shawl
#2. Manhattan's finest $5 glasses
#3. Daddy's best birthday bag. (okay, my mom admits to putting these all on my head - I was just the unknowing accomplice to much cuteness)
I think I'm pretty cute all the time - even without anything on my head.Gotta jet - Dad and I are working on my runway walk so that I can model my cuteness even better soon. Ciao ya'll.