I have been inspired....

I have been inspired by my best friend to return to the Blogging world. Jillie has a wonderful new food blog that EVERYONE needs to go visit Provident Kitchen If you get stumped for dinner ideas or just need to make something new check her out. YUMMY YUMMY YUMMY!!

I know its been months. I have a suitcase full of excuses but, I'll save them for later. So much to update but I think I'll just start where we are at this moment.

Right now I am a full-time stay @ home mom. And I haven't been this happy in a long time. I'm loving it. Oh don't get me wrong, we are so dang poor and stressed but faithful. I also have the opportunity to babysit some really Great kids to help our income. I get paid to play and love it. Along with everything else, I have a side boutique called, "Bangles, Dangles and Bows"

It a jewelery and hair accessories type of thing. It's fun to do in my spare time. WAHAHAHAHA.

Blake is a working going to school fool. I am so proud of him. A few months ago, he decided to go back to school. Wow!! He is in his second term at Eagle Gate College studying Massage and Body Work and I must say, "HE'S DAMN GOOD!" Its like he was meant for this. So if anyone needs a massage give him a call. He still is working in the Printing business 3 days a week and in school 4. On his days off he helps with the extra kids. He is really great with the New babies. They just love snuggling in his strong arms and I think its a good calmer for him. I can't tell you how proud I am of him. I know there are people that don't understand what we do and then there are those that just love us because we are trying. Love you Honey!

Gracie is 8 and was baptized in September by her dad. It was such a special day for all of us. She is in the 3rd grade and loves to read and style anyone that would let her. She loves clothes and putting things together and she is really good at it.

Lilly started Kindergarten this year. Her teacher thinks she is a wonderful little girl. She loves homework and writing. And can't wait to really read. It's fun to see her grow and be excited. I hope she continues on that path.

Emily is my little helper. She is 4 and stays home with me and takes care of the 2 year old children we care for. She is a little mommy to them. I love to be able to watch her grow. I never really had this opportunity with the older girls. She is my shadow and is such a good girl. Kunka also loves to do "homework". She can write her name, shapes and numbers. I think she is much farther along than her older sisters at this age.

We also have the dogs, Barney and Clyde and our newest member Lucy our cute orange tabby.
We have learned so much over the last few months. Our faith has really been tested and we know that its not over yet. But, we have our family and the support of friends whom we love. Thanks to all that has supported us in decisions and helped us in many way..We Love you.

Enough is enough already...

Hello everyone,
I know I have been on vacation from the blogging world. But I think I am back...let us hope right. So much has passed and I don't think my girls will really give me that much time to fill y'all in on everything so I'll share some thoughts and lots of pics.
First off...Happy 4th of July to everyone. I love this holiday. It's not only a time to get together with family and friends and eat great food...but its a time to remember those that serve and sacrifice for our country. How blessed we are to live in a land that is Free.

First of all, My sweet husband turned 40 in June. He made it to 40...he never thought he would lol. I decided to make him a cake from scratch. It was actually really fun. The first cake I made was for fathers day (the week before) it was a chocolate 3 layered cake with cream cheese filling and peanut butter frosting with crushed peanut butter cups on the top. It was really yummy and everything I made from scratch. So I asked Blake what he wanted for his actual day and he ordered a Yellow cake with Raspberry filling and whipped cream cheese frosting topped with fresh Raspberries and white chocolate shavings. The girls were happy to help me. As they always are.And here it is. It looked so pretty. And it was good. I find that baking, to my surprise, is relaxing to me AND addicting. I will never make a nother cake from a mix again.I can't wait to make my next cake. Maybe I'll make one for my dads birthday coming up.

Next are some random pics that we have taken over the past few weeks....
Here is Lilly at the park in Logan. My brother Ross and his family have moved up there about 6 months ago (we miss them) and so we try to visit as much as we can. The girls really like it and it helps us feel like we are taking mini summer vacations.Emily Turned 3 on June 7th. She LOVES monkeys and so I thought I would try to make a little sock monkey for her since our funds are pretty tight. Well, here is my finished product...Pink Monkey. He turned out really cute. I'll post her pink party later..my computer is not wanting me to load them.
Here is my birthday present I bought for myself this year. Not all the junk on the shelf but the Shelf itself. I got it for 10 bucks at the Salvation Army. I love it.
The Girls of summer
Trying to get the girls to sit still and take a good picture is next to impossible. This is the closest thing I could get. I wanted to give Blake a nice picture of the girls together for fathers day...but they just wouldn't sit and smile.
Here is another shot of them. This picture really is sweet.
Gracie is getting so smart and is growing so fast. She starts 2nd grade next year. Wow. She has lost 6 teeth total and loves to dance and move and climb. She is really trying to conquer the monkey bars this summer. She has been a great help this summer with the other girls.Emily playing in the bark
Lilly is 4 and such a sweet heart. She is really wanting to learn to read to we are working with her with that. She is also trying to stay on her little girl diet. Its hard but we do it and somedays are better than others. She loves swimming in the pool and still thinks she is a mermaid. (i hope that never changes) She loves to sing and play with her sisters. She is so tender and loving. You only need to spend two min. with Lilly and you are in love with her and you will be her best friend.
Emily is 3 (like I said) and she is a monkey. She climbs on everything and anything...I have some more pics of her climbing on our swing. She is so adventurous and independent. She LOVES to help me cook and loves to smell and taste everything no matter what it is. I love that she loves something that I love. Its like we are just starting this passion together. She has her daddy wrapped around her finger and loves to snuggle with him at night.

Well, that is all that my computer will let me download. I'll add more later. I hope this finds everyone well. I love comments so please leave some. Happy 4th of July!

Uncommon Thoughts on Common Things by Robert Fulghum

GIANTS, WIZARDS, AND DWARFS was the game to play.

Being left in charge of about eighty children seven to ten years old, while their parents were off doing parenty things, I mustered my troops in the church social hall and explained the game.
It’s a large scale version of Rock, Paper, and Scissors, and involved some intellectual decision making. But the real purpose of the game is to make a lot of noise and run around chasing people until nobody knows which side you are on or who won.
Organizing a roomful of wired‐up gradeschoolers into two teams, explaining the rudiments of the game, achieving consensus on group identify—all this is no mean accomplishment, but we did it with a right good will and were ready to go.
The excitement of the chase had reached a critical mass. I yelled out: “You have to decide now which you are—a GIANT, A wizard, OR A dwarf?”
While the groups huddled in frenzied, whispered consultation, a tug came at my pants leg. A small child stands there looking up, and asks in a small, concerned voice.
“Where do the Mermaids stand?”
Where do the mermaids stand? Says I. “Yes, you see, I am a Mermaid.” “There are no such things as Mermaids.” “Oh, yes, I am one!”
She did not related to being a Giant, A Wizard, or a Dwarf. She knew her category. Mermaid. And was not about to leave the game and go over and stand against the wall where a loser would stand. She intented to participate, wherever Mermaids fit into the scheme of things. Without giving up dignity or identify. She took it for granted that there was a place for Mermaids and that I would know just where. Well, where DO the mermaids stand? All the “Mermaids” –all those who are different, who do not fit the norm and who do not accept the available boxes and pigeonholes?
Answer that question and you can build a school, a nation, or a world on it.
What was my answer at the moment? Every one in a while I say the right thing.
“The Mermaid stands right here by the King of the Sea!” says I.
(Yes, right here by the King’s Foot, I thought to myself.)
So we stood there hand in hand, reviewing the troops of Wizards and Giants and Dwarfs as they roiled by in wild disarray.
It is not true, by the way, that mermaids do not exist. I know at least one personally. I have held her hand.

Meet Virginia...lol

I have been on a little Vacation from the blogging world. Mostly just trying to heal myself from myself. I've had a pretty hard month or two and now feel I can be back to my blogging game. I have a ton of pictures that I don't have time to blog right now...but I will...slowly. LOL.
About a month ago, I was struggling with myself...I suffer from PMS anyway but this was beyond my control...and so I called the doc to get a little help. Between the two of us we found that I suffer from PMDD...Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder or Severe PMS....I thought that maybe I was just going crazy..lol...or that my alter ego Virgina was in town for good and was moving out the really Shanna. It's pretty serious and now (with good pharmaceuticals )maybe I can function...lol...better. Thanks to everyone for their concerns...I'll add pics a little later this week.

Random pics of the last few weeks

I have a bunch of random pictures...

Lilly in the rain.

Whimsical tree we decorated at the center. You can click on this picture to see what they said about it. It won best in show the every first day. That is always awesome.

Yes the tree is upside down. Harder than it looks.

The top. It was really fun to decorate.

The second tree we decorated was a fairy tree. It turned out really pretty.

Lots of pinks and greens and white and of course fairies

I really like this tree. Come down to the Utah Cultural Celebration Center for a free tour of the trees. Cheap date. lol

Lunch with the girls

The holy war...I took my nephew Todd. He had a blast. He has all the pictures of that game on his camera..so I just a few of my family.

RuthAnn and I at the TCU game (great game)

the family getting Uted up for the Byu Utah game. Blake hosted the party while I went to the game with Toddy.

Gracie's new hair cut

THANKSGIVING WITH MY FAMILY

Jer and AshThe Long tableLong table 2Dad and mom cutting the turkey. YUMMYLilly couldn't get enough of her aunt Tammy. Lilly just loves her.Gracie's art work (jack the pumpkin king)Gracie getting ready for Thanksgiving with Blake's family.My table center piece.Happy Thanksgiving center piece. I didn't take any pics of Thanksgiving with Blake's family...Just too busy cooking.Emily trying to help trim out tree.Gracie helping me with the decor.She finally got a chair and helped.Gracie's School picture. (before her haircut) She looks so big.Emily helping Grandma Shop for Christmas Jammies. We helped my mom get a bunch of stuff done before she goes in for her surgery. Her surgery date is this Thursday. She'll be in the hospital for about a week then she'll be home. We pray for her.