Our summer in a somewhat large nutshell

These past couple of months have been really crazy for us. Here's what happened in a nutshell:

1)We were both involved with New Play Project's show Mixed Up. I wrote a play called "The Man Who Cried Woof" and Steve acted in it. It took 2nd place :) I acted in a mini musical called "Gotta Be Happy" by Lyvia Martinez. Steve directed it. That took 1st place :) We will place a link on this blog to the recorded shows in case you want to see them for yourself.

2)We've been job hunting, as the business gives us jobs in waves. Steve got a job as a web design teacher at Maeser Preparatory Academy and as a freelance web designer through Heritage Web Solutions. Woo-hoo! And, the business has picked up a few big jobs. I'm going back to work at the library tomorrow. Steady income = relief.

3)I am wanting to finish my degree at BYU. The problems have been a)choosing a degree and b)being able to register for classes due to holds on my account. I have "decided" to be a Theater Studies major, though I'm still having second thoughts. It took me forever to get my registration woes taken care of, but I have finally figured out who to talk to and who NOT to talk to in BYU Collections and Financial Aid. Some people told me my case was hopeless. I finally found a guy a couple of days ago who actually wanted to help me. I am forever grateful for him.

4)Ariah was in the 4th of July parade for getting 1st place in the baby contest. As I walked, I tried to get her to wave and smile, but she decided she would rather arch her back and cry. I'm pretty sure the spectators were wondering how on earth she won. We got to go see Stadium of Fire. I was quoted in the newspaper about it.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705315966/Stadium-of-Fire-flag-burning-was-fake.html

5)Steve wrote me a very fun song for my 22nd b-day. He wanted to plan something more elaborate, but I told him before my b-day that we are too poor and didn't have time for anything elaborate. The song was an amazing gift. I couldn't ask for more.

6)My parents gave me a season pass to 7 Peaks for my b-day, so this whole summer we've been having a lot of fun there. Ariah's favorite thing to do it splash like crazy - making it hard for her and the victim holding her to see. Steve got me to go down all the scary slides I said I would never go on :) Now I'm queen of the world.

And now, pictures.


One day we ran out of diapers and didn't have money to buy any, so I made a diaper out of a towel. You can imagine how well that worked. Luckily, we got a paycheck the next day.





Ariah is hard to keep up with! She is on the verge of walking and is into EVERYTHING. So, I try hard to keep her entertained. We like to pull her around in this basket. She finds joy in it, though her facial expression doesn't seem to show that.



She won't wear bows! I was lucky to get this picture. As soon as I put them in, she takes them out :( Sad day.





She's eating solid foods. She does not like to eat baby food. She wants what we're eating. Even if it makes a face, she wants more. She just wants to be like us.





I can't get enough sleeping pictures of her.


If you read through that whole thing, you are awesome. Go reward yourself with a candy bar or a cookie.

Dead Chicken Song...finally!

We finished this extraordinary song, and it only took us two years!

Listen to "Dead Chicken Song."

"Dead Chicken Song" is the touching tale about a boy who loses his pet chicken, created by Your Imaginary Friends and Maxed Out Puppetry.

Music by Stephen Gashler - Lyrics by Caitlin Shirts - Produced by Monte (Trance) Emerson - Vocals: Stephen and Teresa Gashler - Guitar: Curtis Wiederhold - Piano: Stephen Gashler - Bass and drums: Freddy Desposorio

Summer Puppetry Workshop

What are your kids doing this summer? We’re now offering a fun and exciting children’s puppetry workshop, in which kids will learn from professional puppeteers (us!), make their own puppets, watch guest performers, create their own shows and perform in the park for friends and family. They’ll receive a professionally recorded DVD of their performances as well as awesome t-shirts.

The workshop, to be held at the home of Stephen and Teresa Gashler (457 W 730 S, Provo, UT 84601) is spread over two weeks of one hour classes and is open to all children. Admission is only $60.

June Workshop

• Jun 22nd – Jul 3rd, MWF, 1:00 – 2:00
• Jul 3rd, 7:00 PM: performance in the park (location TBA)

July Workshop

• Jul 15th – Jul 26th, MWF, 1:00 – 2:00
• Jul 26th, 7:00 PM: performance in the park (location TBA)

August Workshop

• Aug 10th – Aug 21st, MWF, 1:00 – 2:00
• Aug 21st, 7:00 PM: performance in the park (location TBA)

What could be more fun? Don’t miss this incredible opportunity! For more information or to sign up, call 801-494-3440 or email info@yourimaginaryfriends.net.

Beautiful Baby

We entered Miss Ariah in the Provo Freedom Festival Baby Contest. We spent all morning debating what to have her wear and how to do her hair. It was rather silly and Ariah was getting annoyed at us for playing dress up with her. We knew she would only have a chance if she was in a good mood, so we tried really hard to make sure of that. Since the judging was right during her usual nap time, we woke her up extra early, and then had her sleep until 9:00. Then, we fed and changed her immediately before judging.

She shone with the judges. She cooed, smiled, babbled, showed them her 2 tiny teeth, and was so cute and social. She even demonstrated how she roars after Steve roared to her. One of the judges commented on how cool it was that she made eye contact with them and smiled. She's so friendly... when she wants to be. Sometimes, she refuses to look at anyone.


When it was time for the awards ceremony, Ariah was getting pretty impatient with the events of the day. Finally, they announced the winners for girls 7-9 months. Our Ariah took 1st place!


She received a medal, a headband, gift certificates, coupons, 2 Granny B Cookies, a onesie, and popcorn. Oh, and we get to be in the 4th of July parade with her.

We've talked a lot about contests and pageants, especially baby pageants. It seems pretty silly to put a baby over another baby, but I think if everyone has the right attitude, it's overall just a fun, silly experience. Ariah could have lost easily if she were in the wrong mood. I had a look at all the babies I could see, and they were all beautiful. Steve was entered in a baby contest as a wee one, and did not win. So, we don't plan to make this a big deal. It's just a fun thing that happened. We don't believe our baby is a lot more special than all the other babies, she just was able to communicate her cuteness at the right place and time.

I do plan on entering all my kids into this, just for fun. I don't have ridiculous expectations. And I can't stand parents who try so hard to put their kids above everyone else's kids. But that's another rant for another day.

Victory never tasted so.... metallic.

New Play Project and New Film Project

I submitted my first ever play, called The Boy Who Cried Woof, to New Play Project. It got selected! They are going to perform it starting July 30th. I'm way excited. For more information about that, click here

Steve has been working crazy on New Film Project's first movie: Johny Rock VS the Bees. To see more updates on what's going on with New Film Project, click here

Here is a fun little teaser he made: