Happy Anniversary!!!

Wow I'm having a little trouble with this! There is so much to say! So it's been one year since Aaron and I have been married! It seems like it just happened yesterday but at the same time it seems like it has been forever! They say the first year is the hardest. Well I don't know who "they" are but "they" are right! You learn so much during this time. You learn how to live with each other, learn that is's not all just about yourself, find out each others' habits (good and bad), and basically grow up together. I can honestly say that it has been very hard but I wouldn't change it for the world! I know there are going to be many more rough times to come but we will get through them. It's been exciting, scary and the most wonderful time of my life. I don't know what I would have done without those late night calls to Christina! I save the day calls for mom and mom Kimmel! But what is even better, are all the good times to come. We have so much ahead of us, I can't wait!

Aaron and I spent New Years in Florida and had to leave the day before our anniversary so we decided to combine it all and celebrate both! Aaron picked out the condo and it was so nice! We met so many wonderful people, almost all were retired from the Air Force and had moved to Florida! We heard many interesting stories. We were at the nice outdoor mall and Aaron was giving blood (I know) so I sat out on one of the benches to wait. The man next to me starting talking to me and told me that he was retired from the Air Force and went on to tell me about all the places he lived: Japan, Korea, Italy, Germany, Hawaii. He loved it and so did his family. They got to see so many places and things that most would never have the opportunity to do. He told me it would be rough but to hang in there and support Aaron, because his job is not always easy. Stick it out twenty years and it will all be worth it! And that's what the plan is now anyway. The rest of our trip we spent a lot of time out on the beach. And in the heated pool! And we met another retired guy who talked to us about selling one of his condos to us! Hopefully next year we can do it! We got to hang out at almost all our favorite spots including McGuires and the Crab Trap! I can wait to go back! It was a wonderful trip!

New Years!!!

New Years...what FuN! We spent bringing in 2009 in Florida! We had so much fun. We left at noon on New Years Eve and got there just in time for all the excitement! And with no speeding tickets might I add! Between me, Aaron and Bartle I think we did ok! We tried to go to some of our favorites but being "snow bird" season most of them closed early. So we hit up Hard Rock and had a good time there. Then decided to head back to the condo to watch the ball drop and the fireworks over the ocean. I can't think of a better way to celebrate! We spent the rest of the weekend shopping, hanging out....well you will see in the next blog!

How it all got started!

Glad you made it to our page! Since we live so far away from family and friends we decided to start this so we can keep in touch with everyone and let them in on all our journeys. Remember I'm not the writter in the family. Hope you enjoy!
Aaron and I got married on January 5, 2008. I guess I could skip back a little and feel you in on everything. So here it goes! We meet at HomeSlice a restaurant/bar in Toledo Ohio.

Aaron & I the 3rd night after we met!

One month later Aaron left for basic. The day he got out he called and told me that he was going to Hurlbert AFB in Florida. Right then my parents and I started planning our yearly beach vacation for Pensacola FL. We went there in June and my parents met and loved him.

I went back to Florida at least once a month until November when he graduated. Fortunely I met a retired Air Force pilot that owned 3 condos in Destin and he let me stay there on my visits! October 5, 2007 my brave sister and I traveled to Toledo to meet Aaron's family. Aaron was still in Florida and I was so scared to meet them alone so my sister went with me. After 2 nasty hot dogs, getting arrested and getting lost going 98 mph we finally made it there. They invited us over for dinner where I met most of them. They were all so nice and had lots of stories to tell about Aaron. I am so thankful for them, I couldn't ask for better in-laws!(However his mom wouldn't let me talk to him on the phone until I ate all my veggies!) On October 25, 2007 Aaron asked me to marry him. Here's how it happened...I had been waiting patiently at the condo for him to get out of class. Finally he got in and asked if I wanted to go for a walk down the beach. Of course I said yes and we headed out. I remember hearing the song " Hey There Deliah" and then stopping to read something written in the sand. There it was " Ashley, Will You Marry Me" after me reading it several times to make sure it said what I thought it said, he pulled out the ring and proposed. It was beautiful. There were flowers, music, the ocean, and his 3 friends who were recording it all! It was a night I will never forget.

The 3 guys!

Milan, Clark & Trimble


November came and Aaron got a few days off for Thanksgiving, so he decided to come to Missouri to meet the rest of my family. November 2007 Aaron graduated and both our parents got to meet each other! We had so much fun.

Yes that's Aaron's Mom climbing a tree!

Right after his graduation Aaron was off to Washington to another school. While I was home planning the wedding. Since Aaron had not been home since April we decided to spend Christmas and New Years with his family in Ohio. That was exciting to say the least but I still really missed my family. During that time we stayed very busy. I got to meet his Aunts, Uncles, counsins and church family. Somehow we squeezed in Christmas with some of my family that live there and we did last minute things for the wedding. We decided to get married at his church. All the people there were so nice. They helped with everything, from the cake to the pictures! It was so nice. Now the wedding was over and we were on our way to Louisiana as Mr. & Mrs. Kimmel!

Enjoy!