Family Getaway!

We took a family vacation to a "castle" on Jared's last day of school.  Kailee was sooooo excited.  They wore their princess dresses and had a blast!!  We went to a Hampton Inn & Suites (which are awesome by the way).  The beds were so comfy, pool was awesome, and the breakfast was sooooo delicious!  The girls had a blast!  We really enjoyed watching them b/c they were so happy to be at a new & fun place.  This is going to be a new family tradition!!!  We ate pizza that night and then went swimming at the "castle."  The next day after breakfast we left and went to a kiddie water park!!  So fun!

Jared's awesome dive!!

Sunday afternoon Kailee came down with a fever and then threw up all that night.  I think she picked up something from the pool. :(  Then Allie got the same thing on Wednesday and another sleepless night.  So glad we're all healthy now!!

Do you see Critchfield or Smith??

Love her in pigtails!

Our pretty princess!

We love you girls!  Thanks for the fun times!!

So Proud!

For those of you that don't know... I have the most amazing husband ever!!! I am reminded of this daily, but really felt he deserved a post in his honor after his awesome choir concert last week. I love watching him conduct music for those cute middle schoolers. I loved seeing the smile on their faces. Jared has like 5 different choirs and they were all amazing. My favorite song was "Supercalifragalisticexpealidocious!" Who knows if I spelled it right! He had the kids do the movements to spell out the word and it was awesome. All of the songs were filled with smiles, gestures, personality, and fun! I was so proud of him and his students. They have worked hard and Jared really has given his all to his choirs. In honor of all of the time he spends away from the family and for going above & beyone his call of duty (such as his before school "Synergy" Choir... his volunteer coordinator coordinated a way for parents to chip in and get us an ANNIVERSARY GETAWAY at a really nice resort not too far from where we live. We were ECSTATIC!! And still are. We are so pumped for July!! It'll be 5 years for us!! If any of you parents or choir kids are reading this. THANKYOU SO MUCH!! We are seriously so grateful and so excited! We already have a babysitter lined up!!! 2 nights and 3 days away from our girls. Bittersweet! I've never left them for that long, but I know they'll be okay and I'm just pumped to spend some time with my man! Here are some pics and a few videos from his concert! Enjoy! Watch the videos!! You'll be so glad you did! Sorry the view isn't that great, but just listen!! These are just a few of my favorites!

Personal Revelation

It happened.  The moment I've been waiting for...The General Conference Addresses came in this month's Ensign!!!  Kailee pulled it out of the mailbox a couple days ago and I finally started reading it.  I love hearing the words of our latter day prophet and church leaders.  Last fall, Jared & I tried to read 1 talk a night together, which was wonderful, but I think with his busy schedule these next few weeks with teaching early morning seminary, school, & lessons... I think I'll start reading it on my own.

One of the 1st talks is by the Relief Society General President, Julie B. Beck, and I REALLY loved this talk b/c it totally applies to my life not only right now, but forever.  You can find this talk at http://www.lds.org/.  Click on General Conference Addresses.  This talk describes a typical good woman and how we can receive personal revelation to guide us in our lives.  "Revelation can come hour by hour and moment by moment as we do the right things.  When women nurture as Christ nurtured, a power and peace can descend to guide when help is needed."  Even when we're tired and the kids are going crazy.  If we stay calm, the Spirit will guide us.  "Personal Revelation gives us the understanding of what to do every day to increase faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and seek those who need our help."  The Lord's Spirit will "enlighten our minds, fill our souls with joy, and help us know all things we should do.  Promised personal revelation comes when we ask for it, prepare for it, and go forward in faith, trusting that it will be poured out upon us."  This is so true.  This is a bit personal, but I'll share anyways.  :)  Allie, as you know is almost 2 years old.  I totally want a 3rd baby and was thinking we'd start trying again when she turns 2 (told I had to wait this long in order to try for a VBACK.  Plus with my painful varicose veins, I can't get pregnant until I'm no longer having to hold Allie all the time). Jared said... I'm ready whenever you are... you're the one that has to get up tons during the night :)  So, excited at the thought of getting pregnant in August or September, I started to pray and ponder a lot on the matter.  A newborn sounds so fun and the thought of 3 little kiddos playing together sounds so wonderful!  But something just never sat right, still doesn't.  With our girls, we had that great feeling like it was the time!!!  But we aren't having that same feeling now...it's more like a stupor of thought.  All I can think about is Allie and how difficult she is sometimes.  She is a very strong willed child and I honestly feel she needs my guidance and direction right now.  Her 2nd & 3rd year are crucial and I'd hate to neglect her when she needs me most.  Let's face it, babies take A LOT of our time and attention.  Even after having these thoughts, I kindof brushed them aside and thought... people do it all the time... I'm tough, I can handle it, things will workout, Allie will be fine, I want another baby..... then what happened?  I got SUPER sick... Sinus infection/Strep throat.  I seriously felt like I was about to die or something.  I couldn't walk without my head throbbing and it hurt SOOOO bad to swallow.  It was so hard to give Allie the attention she needed with me feeling so sick.  I thought, what if the next baby is a boy and things are different and I get SICK when I'm pregnant.... maybe the Lord is trying to tell me I should wait a little longer.  So, I finally listened to my heart and what the Heavenly Father was trying to tell me.  I kept thinking... when am I going to know... when is he going to answer my prayers and tell me yes, it's time, go for it.  Then I remembered, it's not on my time table, it's on His.  So, we've decided to wait another year.  And I feel really good about this decision.  It's nice to finally have the confirmation that we've been looking for.... that now is not a good time.  Who knows why.  Maybe my veins are going to hurt a little more than last time and I'll have to elevate my feet all the time, maybe I'll be bed ridden at some point during my next pregnancy, maybe I'll have twins, or maybe Heavenly Father knows that waiting is what Allie really needs.  I don't know the whys, but feel confident that we're doing the right thing and I trust in Heavenly Father's plan for our family.  I'm only 24, I still have time to have lots of kids, right!!!  Sorry this post is long and full of rambling thoughts.  End of the talk... last quote... "the greatest good we can do to ourselves and each other (as women) is to refine and cultivate ourselves in everything that is good and ennobling to qualify us for [our] responsibilites."  Stay tuned for the next Conference talk I read!!

Painting!

Finally got around to doing a little more painting in our house.  Here is our half bath!

Below is our kitchen.  This painting totally depicts my dream home!

We painted the kitchen a while back; I just now added the sconces on both sides of the picture and painted the yellow sandy color wall.

Why this high chair is here, I know not.  I keep hoping Allie will stay my baby girl, but she is too grown up and too independent to sit in the highchair now.  She sits proudly in the pink booster seat!

Mother's Day

First off, I had a wonderful Mother's Day, thanks to my hunk-a-burnin love!!!  On Friday, Jared brought me home a beautiful bouquet of flowers.  On saturday, I was seriously sleep deprived so Jared took our girls and our two nieces to Sam's and the park to give me a little time to sleep.  Of course I didn't sleep b/c there were still 2 loads of laundry to fold and i needed to clean the bathrooms.  But I really enjoyed the time to myself b/c honestly, it's hard to get a lot done with cranky, teething Allie demanding my attention!  Jared started off my day (Sunday) with breakfast in bed (sausage, egg, & cheese biscuit w/ o.j. and a banana)!  My favorite.  I ask for it every year!  After church, he made me a turkey sandwich and helped me get the girls down for a nap.  For dinner, he made me Chicken Cordon Bleu with mashed potatoes, green beans, a salad, and Texas Toast.  Soooooo yummy.  Jared would tell you he was born to sing, not cook, so I love it when he makes me dinner!  It gets better.... he did ALL of the dishes too!!  What a relaxing day.  Thanks babes!  You are the best.  I totally understand why all of your friends call you the J-man!!! lol

Sidenote: I rejoice in motherhood not only on mother's day, but every day!  I was born to nuture and love.  Now that I am a mother, I am certain that God truely does have a divine plan for women.  He gave us this wonderful role, as mothers, and the ability to love unconditionally as He does.  I feel closest to God when I am with my sweet children (except when Allie is throwing a temper tantrum) :)  I never knew how rewarding motherhood could be.  I wouldn't trade it for a gazillion dollars.  I live for my children (and husband) and I would die for them as well.  Sometimes I wish we lived long ago when there weren't so many things demanding our time.  Sometimes I wish we lived in more humble circumstances on a farm without a car where we grew our own crops as a family, worked as a family, fetched our own wood and water from a well as a family, slept in a small 1 room house or shed as a family, without any phone calls to make or receive, without e-mail to check or internet to browse, or gyms or restaurants to attend.  Just for a moment, it sure would be fun to cook and eat all of our meals with Daddy.  To spend all of our time together.  To go to sleep singing silly songs and hymns and waking up to Kailee and Allie crawling all over us.  I bet there would be more time for long family walks, more games of hide-and-seek, more gratitude in our hearts for all that we have, including each other.  Family really is my #1 priority and I'm so grateful to have a husband that puts his family first as well.  Though we can't hop in a time machine and live a hundred or so years ago, I hope that I can teach my kids to love one another and to be grateful for all that we have, to reach out to others, and to always put family first.  I hope we are never too busy to sing and dance around the house, to read stories to our children, to talk and to laugh, to live and to love.  I am so grateful to be a mother.  The Lord must really think highly of us to entrust us with Allie, as she has surely hit her "terrible twos!"  Though she is strong-willed and a challenge, I'm going to look at this next year as her "terrific twos!!"  I"m grateful Allie has such a wonderful big sister to look up to.  Kailee truely is an angel.  She is so sweet and loving and patient with Allie.  Allie too is a sweet little angel; her wings are just on fire!!! :)  Kailee randomly tells me all the time "I love you Mommy!"  Allie loves to give hugs and kisses.  Both girls love to snuggle and play with us!  These are the moments we live for!  Thankyou girls for bringing your Mommy so much joy, so much laughter, so many smiles, and so much love.  "I'll love you forever, I'll love you for always, as long as I'm living, my babies you'll be!"  And even someday when I pass on, I hope you'll always remember the love I have for you!  Though my mom does not live close by, I can still feel the love she has for me!  I think a Mother's love is the greatest gift God could give children.  Thanks Mom for always loving me, encouraging me, and believing in me!!  You have made me a better person and a better mother!  I love you!

Secondly, I adopted two kids for 4 1/2 days!!   Jared's sis went on a cruise with her hubby (lucky)... so our nieces, Ocean & Eden, came to play with us!  Our girls thoroughly enjoyed the company!  Their girls are 3 and 5, so they joined in our preschool and were a great addition!  Kailee LOVES playing with them!  Allie loved the company too, she just didn't like that there were more people to share and take turns with :)  On Sunday night, Jared's brother, Cameron, came to visit for a night.  Here are a few pics.  Enjoy!

Kailee looks like she's asleep! :)

Chilly Willies!!  AKA popsicles! Yummy!

Little Allie Anne

Not lookin so little is she.  21 months old.  Where does the time go?  She tries to be a big girl like her sis.  She held her diaper and said "I poo poos" and ran to the bathroom and said "I poo poos" again.  So, I took her diaper off and put her on the potty.  She just sat there smiling, so happy and proud to be such a big girl sitting on the potty.  She insisted on some toilet paper and is trying to wipe herself :)

Definitely not camera shy.  Is saying "CHEEEEEEESE!"  Love this girl.  Such an angel!  An angel with an attitude!  I started painting the bathroom a very light shade of purple and it turned out pink (which Jared definitely vetoed)  So, we'll have to pick a different color that isn't so girly :)  I was in denial at first b/c it is a light purple, but the lighting or something made it look pink.  One of my preschoolers said "I like your pink walls Mrs. Shannon, I want pink on my walls, that's pretty!"  I guess Jared was right... it looks very pink.  He offered to repaint it for me...anything but pink!!  I guess he is pinked out!

Is it just me or are my little girls growing too fast?

Last week Jared surprised me with these beautiful flowers!!  It seriously was the perfect day for the surprise b/c I had literally spent ALL day cleaning and organizing.  I know I clean everyday, but this was like all day spring cleaning where I only sat down to eat and play with my girls a little.  A perfect day to feel appreciated!  Thanks babes!

Our little Allie Anne isn't looking so little anymore.  She'll be 2 this summer.  She just got tubes in both ears due to her multiple ear infections.  Dr. said all the fluid behind her eardrums affected her hearing and that her speech should take off.  It's true.  She was saying many words but now she is starting to say more words and 2 word phrases.  I am excited for this next phase of her life: learning to talk!  I miss Kailee in that stage.  Kailee talks so much now... at least she still mixes up her pronouns!

I moved the girls into the same room a couple months ago, but at nap time they nap in separate rooms because Allie goes down for a nap like an hour before Kailee does and gets up before Kailee.  Kailee sleeps on a twin bed.  In this picture of Allie & I, I straightened Allie's hair, lol.  Total mullet!  Just wanted to see what she might look like someday b/c her curls are only in the back, her hair is starting to grow in straight now. :(

Me & My Girls!!!

I took Kailee to see "Disney on Ice!"  My friend, Lisa, and her daughter, Jaclynn, came too!  It was a blast!  Except the villain scene was a little scary for 3 year olds.  We got the cheapest tickets at the very top of the American Airlines Center and could still see everything.  Kailee knew who a lot of the characters were!  They played one of my new favorite songs, "How Does She Know" from Enchanted... I think that's the title??  Kailee was up dancing around during that song!  Afterwards, we went to Chick Fillet, but as soon as we got out of the car, her friend Jaclynn threw up all over the parking lot.  Missed my van by about 2 seconds, lol.  So, we got food to go so we could get Lisa and Jaclynn home.

Kailee's best friend, Jaclynn!

Preschool Easter Park Party!!  We played at a park, had a picnic, ate easter cupcakes, did a craft, had a bunny hop race, and an easter egg hunt.

Warm weather= more playing in the back yard!!

These sisters really do adore each other.  I love it!  I am training them to be best friends! :)

Kailee was holding Allie's hand "that way she doesn't fall"  Notice Allie is in her pj's still and Kailee is dressed, but is also wearing Mommy's green shirt.  It looked like a cute little green dress on her.  Seriously, maybe I'll just start sharing my clothes with her and add a little bow to my shirts or something!

Jared had a BUSY week teaching seminary and going to UIL 3 times this week (choir concert/competition).  His choirs did AWESOME!!!  I was so proud of him.  We listened to their songs last night.  They sounded amazing. 

I have been working at Lady of America gym for almost a year and decided to apply for LA Fitness... I got a call, filled out an application, had an audition, and got the job!!  I'll start teaching Step aerobics (my favorite) twice a week starting this Saturday morning!  I'll sub kickboxing and Body works when I can and i hope to teach 1 of those classes eventually.  I want to get into teaching cycling and aqua fitness that way when I get prego, I can still teach!  With my varicose veins, cycling and water aerobics is about all I can do after 4 or 5 months.  The best part about this job is I get free membership and free daycare.  I went almost everyday this week taking body works, kickboxing, & step classes.  Jared went with me this morning and after step, Jared took cycling with me.  He loved it.  We are debating getting him a membership!  More like trying to work a deal. :)  For date nights, we can come play raquetball or basketball; it'd be sooo fun!!  And free babysitting!

Kailee & I went to Walmart to get Allie's medicine for her ear infection.  On the way in the store, Kailee said "I want gum Mommy."  I told her I didn't have enough money for both and asked if she'd rather have gum or Allie's medicine that way Allie's ears won't hurt anymore.  Kailee first said "I need gum, Allie can have her medicine later."  This put a smile on my face and made me giggle inside.  I explained the choices again and how much Allie's ears were hurting and Kailee decided we should get Allie's medicine.  I believe there are tons of little teaching moments throughout our children's lives, we just have to take advantage of them.

Yesterday, a man in our ward blew himself and his house up.  The Mom and five kids had gotten out of the house and are safe, but I can't imagine what the family is going through.  They were about to get a divorce, but still losing a Dad and ALL of your belongings, home, and cars has got to be tough.  They have to start from scratch.  Anyways, their youngest is close to Kailee's age and wears her size, so we were going through her clothes to see what we could give to this little girl.  I explained to Kailee that a family's house burnt down and all their clothes and toys got burnt by the fire and how this little girl didn't have any clothes to wear or toys to play with.  I asked Kailee if she could share some of her clothes and toys with this little girl.  Kailee agreed.  We gathered a couple outfits, 2 dresses, some bows, & socks.  Kailee has a FAVORITE pair of princess pajamas.  I didn't think she'd share them, but I thought it'd be a good thing for her to experience sharing some of her favorite things.  At first she said, "she can have my christmas pajamas."  But after I told her Christmas is over and how the little girl doesn't have any princess clothes or toys anymore, Kailee agreed to give her her favorite pajamas.  I was so touched by her kindness.  I hugged her and told her how happy I was and how happy Heavenly Father was and how happy this little girl will be.  Kailee has 1 pair of flip flops and 1 pair of sandals, both of which she loves.  Since her Granny gave her the sandals, I asked if she could give away her flip flops.  She LOVES her flip flops... but she happily said "okay, I can share them that way her feet won't hurt and that way they won't get dirty when she plays outside."  As I was going through my clothes to see what I thought the Mom might like, I came across one of my favorite shirts and the natural man side of me said this is my favorite shirt... it's so cute...I can't give this away.  But inside, I knew that would be the Christlike thing to do.  This Mom could use a really cute shirt, I'm sure, so instead of giving her an "okay" shirt that i never wear, it felt really good to give this shirt away b/c I felt like it was a sacrifice.  Since my legs are so long, I didn't think any of my jeans would fit her, so I found my favorite white shorts and tan capris... it wasn't easy putting them in the bag, but it sure felt good.  Kailee also gathered a few of her books, an Elmo DVD, and a puzzle.  I am so grateful to have such a sweet girl.  I am grateful we had the opportunity to serve as a family.

Girls nights are so fun! With Daddy at the priesthood session of conference and Allie sleeping, Kailee & I painted our nails, played junior boggle & candy land, ate popcorn & drank chocolate milk while watching Christmas Barney, read Kailee's library books, and sang songs! I love snuggling my baby girl! I wish she'd stop growing so fast.