Tip Toe Through the Tulips

This year the weather cooperated enough for us to make it to the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point. Mark was off work, the weather was a bit breezy and it was the perfect day to go! We decided to rent a golf cart (the ONLY way to go) and we had a blast. The tulips were beautiful! There were SO many and lots of different kinds. The kids loved hopping on/off the cart and running from place to place. It was an awesome family home evening! 

Sissy was an awesome helper!

Sunnies- it's how we get down as Williamsons. This is our selfie from the golf cart. 

Cruisin together

The Lawrence family cruise of 2016 was a grand success (THANKS MOM AND DAD!!)! We (Bree, Ty, Mark and I) were a little worried we wouldn't make the ship but, once we were on, we could relax and enjoy ourselves. We had an EXCELLENT time. It was such a much deserved break after a rough 2015. We flew into Tampa early in the morning, boarded the ship and headed to Key West. The weather was amazing! We left rain and cold for sunshine, warm ocean and beaches.

We shared a room with Bree and Ty, had dinner together every day, played mini golf, layed in the sun, watched movies on the ship (saw my first ever Star Wars), at lots of our "favorite" foods (the pumpkin seed rolls were awesome), I walked every morning on the boat, ate lots of Coconut Rangers, slept, read, and just chilled. The kids got to stay with Alex, Mary Ann and G & Chris. They hardly missed us I am sure. 

Key West was the first stop- we learned that the island is mostly man made. It is only two miles wide by four miles wide- so a strong hurricane could basically blow it into the ocean. We had Haagen Daz ice cream, shopped and just enjoyed being outside and not freezing to death. 

Amazing sunsets every night on the ocean. 

Our luxury suite that we shared with the Thomases. They graciously slept on the fold out beds the entire trip. 

Sisters in our $1.95 Key West hats. 

I walked into a store in Key West and a lady placed this little stick on butterfly on my shoulder. I  immediately started to cry. Ash was with me the whole day!

All aboard the Conch Train! We had a good time coasting the manmade island of Key West with our tour guide Bruce (26 years of experience). It was actually pretty fun. The ocean breeze was perfect and that took up some of the day. Tyler or "Tom Cat" as we lovingly called him, opted to prowl the island and return for food when necessary. 

Ernest Hemingway's house. 

Feeding the Nurse sharks at the Aquarium. 

The aquarium in Key West.

Brayden was able to join us in Key West (Missed ya, Brayd!)

Mark teaching us to play a Conch.

Here we have the 2nd place winner of the "Sexiest Man on the Ship" ( I totally made him enter)- Mr Tyler made himself a few geriatric lady friends. It was pretty funny, everywhere we went, someone knew Tyler and would tell him that he was "robbed" for not winning the contest. 

Brilliance of the Seas

Paradise Beach, Cozumel.

Cozumel was a blast! We spent the morning on recommendation at Paradise Beach. For $21/per person, we had access to all the beach equipment, snorkels, kayaks, paddle boards and the beach. I had the best nachos and guac of my life and really just enjoyed sitting there, watching the ocean. We snorkeled and saw Barracuda and brought home coral from the ocean floor.

We chose to do a Submarine excursion while in Cozumel too. It was pretty cool. I didn't realize how clear the ocean is. It almost looked like an underwater desert. There were huge fish, stingrays and a sunken ship they had purposefully sunk to provide more growth for habitats. We went super far down and saw the 2nd largest reef in the world. Pretty amazing. 

 We had too many awesome face swaps and lots of laughs at each other's expense which is what makes family trips so magical.

Tyler and Dad

Mom and Dad

Chilling in the sun.  

I could get used to this. 

On our last day in Tampa (before we flew home) we stopped at a Manatee habitat but didn't see one manatee. Oh well. 

Ashlee Smoot

Ashlee Smoot 5/5/1982-3/12/2016                               

I have experienced death in my life as it relates to losing a grandparent- someone who has lived a full life and yearns to be reconnected to a spouse that has long since passed. It seems almost unfathomable to be writing about Ashlee past tense and discussing our relationship as it WAS not what it WILL BE as we age, raise our babies and share holidays together as adults. I remember the conversation when "cancer" moved into our spectrum and threatened to destroy the normal lives we had lived. In the beginning, cancer was tucked away and Ash pushed through and kept going-looking back, I didn't realize how much she was suffering. She never showed it. Through treatment, sickness, exhaustion, fear, pain, and the unknown, Ash smiled and focused on doing what was best for her husband and kids. 17 months inched by. January 2016, Ashlee and I texted, discussed our lives and decided to get together when we got back from St George. A heartfelt and personal birthday message for me. 2/28/2016 "I love you too (smoochy kiss face emoji)" was my last text from Ash. I was able to get a few visits in- a personal house tour discussing every light fixture, Anthropologie wallpaper, every room and every detail that makes that house 100% Ashlee Smoot. We ate lunch, talked about our upcoming cruise, I sat and rubbed her feet. As we sat on the edge of the bed, she said, "This just sucks"- I could think of 100 other ways to describe the situation. 

Saturday, March 12, 2016. I head to Kamas early to bring a bag to Sunni. I got to sit with Ash and partake in some intimate family moments where the veil was SO thin and the sun shone through the window with Angels trailing into Ash's room. I had never seen the paradox so vividly as I did between a body so starved from cancer but SO alive in spirit. That was Ashlee. She passed away at 11: 37 PM. 

She chose to be cremated. Her choice was perfect. A sweet box carried her remains that Sunni and I tied with pink ribbons. I was surprised how much it hurt to pick up that box and feel the weight of her. It didn't seem real. Jamie Lee designed beautiful tables full of pictures, things Ash loved and memories. Audy held it together better than anyone. The service was amazing. The graveside service was special. 

She makes me want to be better. I hope to live a life where I can pass away and people will speak about me and my legacy they way they did about Ashlee. I miss her and think about her every day. Life moves on but I look for butterflies- she said she would visit. I am so glad for summer so I can see her more often. 

Sending some love to heaven. 

Easter

Easter was so special this year. Ashlee was close to my heart and the Savior's personal sacrifice for me. He died so that I can live again. I will see Ashlee again. I will see my grandparents again and my kids will be mine forever. That promise, just like the return of Spring at Easter, is eternal. I love him and am forever indebted. 

The kids get more and more savvy with the eggs hunt every year. We have come a long way from Mc shaking every single egg to make sure there weren't jelly beans in them. We got so much candy and money and of course a 2nd basket filled with goodies from Mimi. 

Carefully dying eggs.

Every year I am so excited to get these bags out that I had made for the kids.. 

Sunday best. This has been my favorite color pallette to date. The kids looked DARLING and Kingston's flower tie killed me. 

Baskets and egg hunt at Mimi's. 

Chocolate eggs with my name make me pretty nostalgic. My sweet friend Christy lovingly rolled caramel and nougat into homemade chocolate and painstakingly wrote ALL our names It was delicious and darling. 

Egg hunt at Mary Ann's Kingston made out with $17 in cash and coins!  

 Baskets!