House Guests

I have a ton of pictures of this weekend. It was so much fun. My girls were here! Leslie and Angie. We've been friends since Jr. High? Is that right girls? Love them. Definitely the kind of friends I can trust 100%. Life long friends. Oh, and Leslies family....Chris and their daughters Maggie and Ava. Love them too! We always have so much fun when we are together. My kids miss Maggie when we are away from her and ask constantly when we will see her again. And little baby Ava...precious, she is four months and this was our first time seeing her. She is so sweet, quiet and mellow...reminds me alot of Piper's personallity. Anyway, here is a picture recap.
A weekend full of:

• laughter
• playtime
• swimming (including a blatant display of a woman having way too much fun with a very large water fountain at the pool. GROSS!)
• games
• good wine
• shannonisms, ie: geomography and gibby. Who knows?
• staying in pjs till the afternoon
• wedding planning (Ang's getting married in Oct. in Maui...and Im a bridesmaid. Aloha!)
• memories old and new

Sweet Ava Kay and her big sister Maggie Jean


Emery's latest Make-over subject.


Angie reading to the kids...they all love her, especially Ty.

Maggie, prances around everywhere with the cutest personality. You should see her dance...so funny!

All the kids saying "cheese" for the camera as they snack on cheese!

The New Girls. Right after this picture was taken Emery said "will someone take this?" Talking about Ava in her lap. Ty would not sit in this picture...he was very sad at this point because they were about to leave to go back home.

And I'll leave you with another sweet one of Miss Ava.

X Marks The Spot

I got this check list in an email from my friend Stacy, thought I would fill it out and share it on my blog. Mom, I appologize in advance for some of my answers ;).

(X) Smoked a cigarette (tried, but couldn’t inhale)
( ) Drank so much you threw up (I don’t think so, Jamie would remember im sure ;)
( ) Crashed a friend's car
( ) Stolen a car
(X) Been in love
( ) Been dumped
( ) Shoplifted
( ) Been laid off/fired
( X) Quit your job
( ) Been in a fist fight
( X) Snuck out of your parent's house (yes, once my senior year with Brian Berg)
( X) Had feelings for someone who didn't have them back (maybe for some hot football player in college)
( ) Been arrested
( ) Gone on a blind date
(X) Lied to a friend (yes, unfortunately)
(X) Skipped school (once…and I got caught)
( ) Seen someone die
( X ) Been to Canada
( X) Been to Mexico
(X) Been on a plane
(X) Been lost
( X) Been on the opposite side of the country
(X) Gone to Washington, DC
(X) Swam in the ocean
(X) Felt like dying (while giving birth to Emery)
(X) Cried yourself to sleep
(X) Played cops and robbers
(X ) Recently colored with crayons
(X) Paid for a meal with only coins (Dick’s Drive-in Baby)
( X) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't
(X ) Made prank phone calls
( X) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
(X) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(X) Danced in the rain (love this!!)
(X) Written a letter to Santa Claus
(X) Been kissed under the mistletoe
( X) Watched the sun rise with someone you care about
(X) Blown bubbles
(X) Made a bonfire on the beach
(X ) Crashed a party
(X) Gone roller-skating
( X) Ice-skating
1. Any nicknames? Honey, Mammaaaaaa, Shan, Shanny, Shan-Shan,Winkywat, Jane Elaine
2. Mother's name? Corean
3. What is your favorite drink? Ice Water
4. Tattoos?? No
5. Body piercing?? Ears
6. How much do you love your job? ....Love it!!
7. Birthplace? Puerto Rico
8. Favorite vacation spot? Im longing for a trip to San Diego lately!?
9. Ever been to Africa? Yes, its amazing!
10. Ever steal any traffic signs? No, that’s a weird question.
11. Ever been in a car accident? Um, yes, about 5 days ago.
12. A, B, C, D, DD cup size?? C (not something I would typically put on my blog)
13. 2 Door or 4 Door? 4 Door
14. Salad dressing? Ranch
15. Favorite pie?? Blackberry
16. Favorite Number? 7
17. Favorite movie? Um, I have lots, cant think of one right now.
18. Favorite holiday? My Birthday ;)
19. Favorite food? Fries
20 Favorite day of the week? Monday
21.Favorite brand of body soap? Dove, Cucumber.
22. Favorite TV show? Grey’s Anatomy or Survivor
23. Toothpaste? Crest
24. Favorite smell? A Clean house
25. What do you do to relax? Read, go on drives.
26. Message to your friends/family reading this? Love you all!
27. How do you see yourself in 10 years? Frantic! Mother of a 15, 14 and 11 year old. Oh MAN!! But I am sure it will be fun. Oh, and designing invites for Oprah!!! ;)
28. What do you do when you are bored? Boredom?? What’s that??
29. What do you enjoy receiving? Good Magazines in the Mail!!
30. Furthest place you will send this message??? Um, whoever reads my blog. Maybe my sister Jill in Atlanta?

Was I the fastest Stacy?

Hard Mommy Moment

This morning I went through one of those things that most moms have to go through at some point in their life. It was much harder than I ever thought it would be. On Sunday, Ty stole a toy from the nursery at church. We realized it yesterday and he admitted to pocketing it. So I told him in the morning we would be going back to church and he would return it and have to apologize for taking it. This morning he actually reminded me about it, so off we went with Spiderman in tow. I prepared him before we went in that he needed to say "I am sorry for taking the toy". He said he understood. But when we got in there, the whole church staff was in a meeting and I had Ty give the toy back to Dorothy our Children's Ministry Leader. But he clammed up and would not say Sorry. She took him out of the room away from everyone else to see if that would help. It did not. He just would not say "Im sorry". See, Ty has a hard time expressing himself when he is upset. He just closes down...it's so sad to see. Its something I am hoping we can break him of, because it is not something that will help in his relationships in the future. Anyway, after quite a while of Dorothy talking with him about how important it is to ask for forgiveness, he still wouldn't say the words. I sat there so sad, tears streaming down my face. Its not like I could beat an apology out of him, although I threatened it ;). I even asked if he wanted me to get daddy involved. I was just feeling so helpless. I took him outside and talked with him about how I apologize to him if I do something wrong to him, and had him practice saying he was sorry. We finally went back into church and he said he was sorry to Dorothy. I was so thankful it was Dorothy he was talking to and not some manager from Walmart. She has raised 3 very good boys and she was so patient with him. Some dude from Walmart would just say..."awe that's okay, dont do it again" instead of talking about importance of not stealing and asking for forgiveness.
Anyway, it was rough, I am pretty sure he wont be doing that again. I am still surprised by my reaction...sitting there crying like a baby over my little thief of a boy.

What's Your Life Song?

Had to share these lyrics with you this morning. I say along with this song this morning and it got me thinking about my Life Song? I want for my life exactly what this song sings. And I too hope at the end of the day that my heart is found true.

Empty Hands held high
Such Small sacrifice
If not joined with my life
I sing in vain tonight
May the words I say
And the things I do
Make my lifesong sing
Bring a smile to you

Chorus:
Let my lifesong sing to You
Let my life song sing to You
I want to sign your name
to the end of this day
Knowing that my heart was true

Let my lifesong sing to You
Lord, I give my life
A Living sacrifice
To reach a world in need
To be your hands and feet
So may the words I say
And the things I do
Make my lifesong sing
Bring a smile to you
Chorus
Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
Let my lifesong sing to You
____________________

So when you think about it, what song is your life singing?

Little Readers

This is how they all went to bed last night after daddy read them their books. Even Piper got to take a book to bed and she did a little dance because of it. I heard her in there with the book open chattering away like she was reading it...so I just had to take some pictures.

Blueberries, A Swim Suit and A Towel...

The Blueberries in the title obviously go along with these cute pictures I took of the kiddos picking in the wee hours Thursday morning. Okay so it wasn't really the Wee hours, although we did hit the road by 7:30 am. We had had fun with Grandma, the Tuckers and their grandson Zack, whom Emery followed around everywhere.

As far as the Swim Suit and the Towel of title go; 2 things you don't want to be caught wearing as you and your family, happily stopped at a red light after a trip to the river, are slammed into by an idiot! Yup, that would be me, standing for an hour in the middle of the main highway that runs through our town in my swimsuit with a towel wrapped around my waist. Lovely! All joking aside, I would say it was the worst accident by far I have been in. The idiot was trying to swerve in between our van and another car in the lane next to us to make the light but ended up hitting us both. It came without any warning. The scarriest part by far, is the split second after being hit, the fear welling up as I knew I had to turn around to see if my babies we safe or not. What a horrible feeling. Safe and Sound they are, but shaken. We are all a bit shaken, and sore. Our cute little cougar sport'in mini-van however, is not safe and sound. Towed to the nearest lot waiting it's fate. We are thinking it will be totaled. We'll see.

Well, Im loaded up on advil and benedryl and off to bed. Enjoy your weekend!

Go John Go

I took some family photos of our friends Ted and Kristie and their 3 boys last night. It was a fun time and I am still editing the 160 pictures I took. I wanted to share this little story board I couldnt resist making of their little guy who seemed to be lagging behind. Hope you dont mind Kristie?

An Evening at the Farm

Last night we went out to Darrin and Angela's for dinner and then down to their old barn to see the combines in action and have a mini photo-shoot. We were down there for about 30 minutes and I took 137 pictures. Ouch! I couldnt just pick a few to share...so here's a bunch for you.
Thanks guys, it's always fun on the farm. (even with sick chickens ;)

July Layouts

Its that time again. Kit layouts for the Daisy Bucket. The kits were pretty girly this month so no Ty layouts...but here are my girls...oh, and one of Bobbie, Sue Ellens daughter. I ran out of pictures to scrapbook Friday night so she printed one out and I made this layout for her. It was my first time scrapbooking 12x12 in a long time. It was a nice change of pace.
(colors are a little wonky, brighter in real life).

Baby Rolls: This layout shows how much I use my blog to aid my scrapbooking. Here I used my sister's comment from the blog for my journaling. I think Piper will love to see what Auntie Michelle said when she's older.

Looking So Sweet: Who would know Em has some sass to her from this picture ;).

Angel Baby: This layout was inspired from Elsie's new book.

Bobbie-licious: Sue Ellen's daughter. She's a doll. The colors arent as vibrant here as they are in person.

Serious Cheese: I love this one. This picture completely shows Piper's personality...total Goof ball!