A long overdue Girls Night...

Sophia and Thera catching air...

There are times that girls just need to be girls...and this weekend was one of them. We rocked out to Guitar Hero...played a karaoke American Idol game on another tv...ate CHOCOLATE...of course... and had a fun night! Thanks ladies for coming...and lets do it again soon!

Crap Happens! (Warning: Nudity and VERY disgusting images!)

Need I say more!

I just feel bad for Aana...who was also in the tub...and jumped out as fast as she could!!! I'm gagging just thinking about it!

Going once, Going twice...GONE!

Christmas crept up on our family and flew by...then New Years where we spent the evening in a car dealership a couple hours away from home. Now it is already Jan. 11th and I have not sat down long enough to write a decent blog post. Where has the time gone?

It never ceases to amaze me how much time can pass just doing the "normal" daily tasks...beyond that we didn't do anything monumental, but we have been insanely busy. Larry picked up a couple of extra days to make up for time off during the holidays. I sold our Civic and a ton of other things on Craigslist. (For those that don't know what that is...you need to check it out www. craigslist.com. Click on your state and find one in your town. Don't look around too much or you might wander into a men seeking men section, but the places I like to look are the local items for sale...like furniture, tickets, children items, etc. ) I have bought and sold on Craigslist for about 5 years now and it has been a wonderful experience. I made quite a bit of room in our garage and made some cash in the process. That is also where I sold our car.

I have scored some amazing things there. This fall, I bought a group of "gift certificates" on Craigslist from a lady that had won too many silent auctions. I scored 13 nights in different Bed and Breakfasts and resorts in our area...dinner certificates, zoo passes, massages, horseback riding excursions, and more..and all of it cost me $200. We have used several already and it has been so fun! What a cheap way to travel!!! It isn't all that lucky...but persistence pays off, I have learned!

Other than that, I have spent a lot of time in my calling in the church as Primary President. (which means I am over the kids programs for our church.) It is such a blessing to have this opportunity to serve, but it does take a lot of time!!

Larry works, works, and works...and has done a great job of supporting our family and working extra hours constantly to earn more to pay back those enormous student loans. I don't think he will continue with these long hous forever, but he has been a great sport this last year.

The girls are counting down the days until their birthdays (both Feb. 7th!) We are thinking about going to the Great Wolf Lodge as a family to celebrate...but I am having a hard time finding a discount and it just kills me to pay full price. So that is yet to be determined.

There has been a ton more going on...but that is all I can think of right now. Goodnight!

It just makes sense...

We needed a new car to replace my 11 year old Civic and after a lot of looking, we took the plunge and decided to buy a new van for the family.

Here she is... We are trying to think of a name, because I am having personal issues with the idea of saying "girls, get in the VAN!" It drives wonderful, had fantastic features, and is so family friendly that I have gotten past the "van" stigma and bought one. I actually love it!

And Christmas...

This was our first Christmas where we woke up to our own tree at OUR house...which was so much fun!!! We had a wonderful holiday and felt so fortunate to be so blessed. We had fun being with the family and the kids had a blast!

And the stocking were laid on the couch with care..

Reading a special story to keep the true spirit of the holiday before all of the gluttony of the presents...

Our tree...once the presents were all loaded in. (take note...there were 11 of us...just so you don't think we are that spoiled!)

When Santa Comes to Town...

Addie definitely wasn't too sure about wanting to sit on his lap...

Happy Grandparents with all of their grandkids and Santa!

One more attempt at a family picture....but not good!

My Greatest Blessings...

Taking the matter into her own hands...

So, ever since Bree had her baby, Addie has been even more obsessed with her dolls. She recently asked me to feed her baby "Pumpkin"...and when I gave it the pretend bottle...she pulled down the neck of my shirt and said "no...he's hungry!" I am guessing that she meant she wanted me to NURSE him... yeah, no!

She has also been wanting me to bathe her dolls, but they aren't all plastic, so I hadn't let her. I caught the girls in their bathroom bathing them anyway...princess style. Needless to say...the dolls dried out and we are all fine.

Thanksgiving rewind...

We have had some computer issues...so we never posted any Thanksgiving pictures.  We had a great meal at my parents house with friends and family.  And despite our desire to impress Martha Stewart....we got smart and decided to use paper plates this year.   I am used to having to cook everything myself, because in Cleveland we weren't near family and we got used to having friends over....so it was great having Mom's cooking!

Girls Night out...American Idol Style!

Aana has always been a huge American Idol fan... so when I saw that they were coming to the are, I had to buy tickets.    We had a lot of fun, but Aana was dissapointed that David Archuletta wasn't there.  Her favorite idol that was there was Chekezie (sp?).   We stayed behind and talked to he and Diana Degarmo...and Aana was so funny.  She was too tired to even pose for a picture with him....and she almost fell asleep waiting.  It was a school night...and she was exhausted.  We had a fun night!!

~NEED ADDRESSES for CHRISTMAS Cards!~

Please email to shandalee@gmail.com or post so that we can make sure we have everyone's addresses. So many of you have moved this year!

Ours (in case you need it):
2672 Stonecreek Dr.
Richland, WA 99354

Has is really been that long?

So... I realized that it has been two weeks and I haven't posted. We have been SO busy with Christmas parties and obligations that we have had no time to sit and catch up. We got a new camera and I got Photoshop, which would make you think I would have great pictures or creations to share....but I don't. The computer has been repetitively crashing and I can't seem to get our pictures off my new camera...other than these...so stay tuned!

We are about to purchse a new computer, so if you have any suggestions or know of a good deal, please post!

Blessed...

I am grateful for MANY things....but here are a few (in no particular order!)

• Health
• The opportunity to learn from our mistakes in life
• Modern day appliances: microwave, dishwasher, oven, washer and dryer, hot water heater
• The Sweet, heartfelt, and humble prayers of children
• The beauty and majesty of nature
• Music (as it has been a comfort and inspiration to me throughout my life)
• The amazing ability children have share love and joy all around them
• The Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Plan of Happiness (my rock and my compass)
• The freedoms and protections of America (we are so blessed to live here...even despite trying times!)
• The internet (as it is such an amazing tool...and keeps me connected to my friends and loved ones!)
• The powerful examples I am surrounded by in my life...those that teach me daily and likely don't even know it!
• Sundays...as they are such a respite for me from the regular chaos in my week!
• Laughter...
• Service (as I have noticed that in doing this is where I find the most joy and learn much about myself)
• Family... the most brilliant arrangement of our Creator. It is where I am given the most love, support, strength, opportunity for growth, and even trails.
• Love (which has the capacity to warm, sweeten, heal, bond, comfort, forgive, and overcome...)
• Digital cameras; because now I feel limitless with the pictures I can take of precious moments in my life.
• Chocolate!! (need I say more!)
• My husband...who seems to love me despite my quirks, flaws, and shortcomings...
• My girls...who are the source of all joys in my life and have added meaning to everything!
• My parents....who have helped me along the journey and have inspired my steps

There are so many others things that are flooding my mind...maybe I will try to write them down more often. I feel truly blessed...

Modbe Black Friday and Saturday Doorbusters...

Great time to get the swim for over half off and tomorrow Camis and Cap sleeves will be cheap. Take a look...spread the word! Have a great day!

Just click on the picture to show the deals. The camis are $7 tomorrow and the caps are around $9. The swimsuits are also on sale...and I love them...there is just a more limited size selection right now. Make sure you apply the extra30%.

https://www.modbeclothing.com/shop4me

Our Kidless weekend at the Beach...

This weekend Larry and I went to a resort on the beach on the coast of Washington for a couple nights. We left after work Friday afternoon and drove about 5 hours. We drove through desert, mountains, rain, and snow...and even almost hit an elk, but eventually we got there. It was completely dark the whole time, so it was nice on the ride home actually seeing what we had driven through. It was an absolutely beautiful drive!

We stayed in Ocean Shores, WA at a resort where we had a great room overlooking the ocean with a nice fireplace. We had a credit that covered all of our meals in a nice restaurant and each of us had massage included in our package. That was my first massage ever...and I have to say that it was pretty mediocre. (The lady ended up talking my ear off...and quit massaging when she was talking!)

My parents and sister watched my girls while we were away, and we had such a nice time. Good conversations...good laughs...and great memories!

For Twilight fans: Larry even went to the Twilight movie with me, which was fun! When we were driving, we realized that we were very close to Forks, WA...so we had to check it out!

Change is in the air...

So I removed the live feed and I can no longer tell if anyone has even viewed the blog. In saying that... I hope that those that view our blog will try to post. That helps us know that our efforts are not in vain... (and I will commit to doing the same...as I often have just a second to look, but I am not as good at commenting!)

It has been so fun to keep in touch with so many of our friends now scattered all over the world...

If you don't know how to post comments, you can use the same username as your gmail address if you have one. Also... I am slowly discovering the blogs of our family and friends, but if you have one I haven't included on my list, please drop a comment and let me know. Thanks!

The AMAZING sound of Silence...

Preface: I know in life, you often get what you deserve. Those of you that know me well...know I talk alot. I think I enjoy it...and must have to meet some subconscious word quota each day.

Now...I have two very talkative, inquisitive little girls. So last night....when Larry got off work, I went out by myself....ALL BY MYSELF....and enjoyed an evening of running errands and a little bit of shopping! This might not have meaning to all of you, but anyone that has a chatty two or five year old girl will know what I am talking about. I really do try to give meaningful answers to their questions...but there are only so many times I can answerWHY, WHY, WHY....and WHY???? As a mother, there are few times in life that I get to be all by myself...with no noise, no questions. Showers, car rides, reading, even the restroom (sorry for bringing that up)...I ALWAYS have company~
In saying that, I need to explain further.... I LOVE my girls and I feel so blessed to be a mother, but every once in a while, I just want a little bit of space. My girls are my life and my joy, but it was so nice to sit in the car...and not answer a million questions. To run in and out of a store...again without questions...no cart...no snacks or bribery to distract from other purchases. No diapers...no goldfish...no kid cd's blasting in the car...no diaper bag...nothing, but me...a normal purse...and silence. I didn't even want my cell phone...

IT WAS WONDERFUL! Now I am rejuvinated and ready for my chatty girls, but wow... it was nice!

Who said there was no school today?

We had class starting early at our house. Aana decided to take the matter in her own hands and lined up her class bright and early. She was trying to teach them the alphabet in sign language and was getting a little frustrated that Addie wasn't catching on as quickly as she wanted....

Next...Aana retreated into her toyroom for a while and came out with two (basic) paragraphs that she had written herself that she said was the start of a book she was writing. She keep surprising me and it has been so fun to watch her discover reading and writing. She loves it!!

The Halloween Blur...

I didn't take many pictures...and I am dissapointed, but we had a great Halloween. My inlaws visited from Utah...and it was their first time at our house. We had a great time. We carved pumpkins, trunk or treated, ate (of course), trick or treated (on golf carts...just because we could!)...and had a great time!

Hammin' it up!

Aana had picture day at school today and insisted that she practice....

I wish I had a video instead but she went into a funny photoshoot mode... I didn't post the crazy moves, but there were defintely some interesting ones.

She also told me that she had to have great shoes to make her outfit...(like they would show up in a yearbook head shot....)