3 days 'til Christmas continued...

I didn't quite finish my post earlier, but my son was demanding my attention-so I had to go back to mommyland for awhile & be w/him. So, hopefully I can finish my posting this time!)

When I wrote of extended family, I also wanted to mention Dustin's family. My husband's family is a very good family. I love them very much. They are great w/Shane. I'm grateful that they have accepted us into their family w/open, loving arms! Duane & Gloria, Dustin's parent's are good parents who want the best for their children. Sara, Dustin's sister that's just younger than him, is nice & she thinks Shane's a cutie. Sara is married to Bob & she has 3 kids from her 1st marriage. And, she is expecting a baby w/Bob--which is exciting for me because that means Shane will have a cousin close to his age! Sara's older 3 kids are Kylie(12), Kelsie(11), & Kwentyn(9). They are very cute, good, & fun kids. We don't get to see them too often, but we always have a good time when we see them. Then there's Dustin's little sisters, Wendy & ShawnDee. I have to make mention of them, of course! Wendy & ShawnDee are quite a pair. They are 3yrs apart in age and sometimes they get along and other times they don't. I enjoy spending time w/them. And, Shane LOVES spending time w/his aunts! They are wonderful w/him.

My family is a wonderful blessing in my life. I learn from them every day in one way or another. I love them and I'm glad they're my family! Have a very Merry Christmas!
Love,
--Shelly

3 days 'til Christmas

Wow, there's only 3 days left until the big day arrives! And, I feel like the luckiest person in the world because I get to spend Christmas with my wonderful family! They are amazing and I am so thankful for them!

I have a great husband who loves me and I love him. And, there's my sun, moon, & stars--my son, Shane whom I love more than I ever imagined I could love someone! He keeps me on my toes, tries my patience, tickles my funny bone, & warms my heart all at the same time!

Then there's my extended family...of course! There's my supportive and caring parents--what would I do w/out them? They have been here for me every step of the way and I love them dearly. Mom & Dad give Shane, their only grandchild, an overabundance of love & it's so fun to watch them w/him! My bro, Mike, is a good big brother. He is an even more awesome uncle to Shane! Mike spoils Shane as much an uncle can spoil his only nephew! Mike is so cute w/Shane, too. Chris, my older sis, is a good aunt & she likes to spoil Shane, also! Chris & her husband, Brian have been very helpful & supportive to me & I am grateful. Lesley, my twin sister is an awesome aunt! She loves her little Shaner so much! She was lucky enough to be the first person to hold Shane, too! And, if you haven't noticed--there's a pattern of being spoiled here...Lesley spoils Shane right along w/the rest of the family!

I am blessed. I couldn't think of a better way to say it other than that--I am blessed!

Holiday Happiness

I think the holidays always bring such a feeling of happiness w/them! This is my favorite time of year...It seems to begin w/Fall & it marches on through Winter to usher in the enjoyment, togetherness, and wonder of each celebration. During the holidays there's a warm and cozy feeling surrounding us and I wish I could bottle it up to keep all year long!

I love Fall in all its colorful glory. The world around us changes almost completely right before our eyes! Then, of course, Halloween follows suit right after the beginning of Autumn...And, I do have to say that Halloween is not a big favorite of mine. Although I do like the fun part of Halloween for the little children. Seeing little kids dress up and enjoy themselves--that's what makes it fun & full of excitement.

Next November arrives, the weather gets colder, and Thanksgiving approaches. I love the Thanksgiving holiday, too. This is a time of year we get to eat & eat & eat--even though we know we shouldn't!) I love this holiday because it's a time spent with family and that's where it's at in this life. Which reminds me that Thanksgiving '08 was the last time we all saw my cousin, Gary. He left this earth a week and a day later...and we will forever miss him and the great person he was. I know my life was definitely impacted by Gary in so many ways. Gary was a wonderful cousin, brother, son, & father. I love you Gary! And, I am very thankful we were able to see him before he passed on. He spent that Thanksgiving with all of us. I remember him holding Shane and how he said he loved holding him and loved how he smelled. Gary just looked so happy holding my baby boy. Thanksgiving's a time to be thankful, but I think being thankful is what we need do all year long.

Now, it's December 1st...And, Christmas is getting closer & closer. Our house has been decorated for Christmas since about a week & a half before Thanksgiving. I'm glad I decorated so early which really isn't early to me(because I've decorated earlier before!) The main reason I wanted & needed to decorate was to get myself out of feeling down & isolated. And, you know what?! Just by me decorating our tree and getting the house all festive elevated my mood and made me feel better--I couldn't help but smile! Adding in some Christmas music helped, too! Our home is full of holiday happiness and it's so cozy-warm that it makes me HAPPY!!!

I think I'll close for now...I need to do better w/this blog thing & be more consistent...but then I've been so busy w/so many things it's hard to keep up w/everything...if only that were possible, right? Well, take care for now! Love you lots!

Just Another Day in Paradise!

Today's been one of those days...I just can't seem to get my 'mojo' going. And, Shane is into EVERYTHING today, too! It's almost 2 in the afternoon & Shane's napping--which is wonderful for the moment. To back up momentarily--right after I put Shane down for a nap I heard Phil Vassar's song, "Just Another Day in Paradise." And, you know what? That really fits me today! It's sooo very true...in many ways. I love my life...but today just feels 'blah' to me. It's one of those days that I wish I could just load Shane up in the car & go for a drive somewhere. Then we could just hang out & have fun. Today would be a fun day to go to Gardner Village in West Jordan, UT--but I know that's too far away! (lol!)

Or, today would be a nice day to be able to go out w/a friend & just hang out--you know just be able to talk, enjoy each other's company & have a good time together! I miss having days like that...it's been tough not living near friends & family up here in Montana.

But--I am excited, because we'll be going home to Burley next week for Thanksgiving(as long as the weather cooperates!) It will be nice to be back w/family & maybe see a few friends in passing. I'm hoping we'll be able to get together w/my cousin Kim & spend some time at her house, too.

Well, this is all for now! Take care!
Love,
--Shelly

A Hippie, A Cowgirl, & Tigger, too!

Halloween was a lot of fun this year. Shane didn't really know what was going on, but he was Tigger for the big day & he was so adorable in his costume! Shane's aunts, ShawnDee & Wendy, took him trick or treating around to a few people in our branch. Both Wendy & ShawnDee said Shane had a good time. They said he would get excited every time they took him out of his car seat to go to another house.

Dustin & I went to Dillon to go on a 'date.' Our date was shopping & eating at Taco Johns. We had a nice time out together. And, the car ride to Dillon & back was awfully quiet--we weren't used to that!

We got back home & went over to Dustin's parents' house to pick up Shane. When we arrived Shane was running all over the living room and he looked so happy & excited. I am glad he had such a good time that night.

ShawnDee & Wendy got so busy that night w/Shane & getting ready for trick or treating that they forgot their camera at my house. So, no pictures were taken while they were in costume. As a result, when we got together yesterday for Sunday dinner at their house we also tried to recreate Halloween by taking pictures w/Shane back in his Tigger costume & the girls in their costumes. Shane was not too happy about being back in his costume--I think it's really warm in the costume for him! We did get a few pictures but mostly ones w/Shane looking away from the camera! Oh well--that's okay, what can you expect w/a 15mo old?

Yesterday in church President Young told Dustin he wanted to talk to us after church...? And, I immediately wondered why? Dustin, once again, thought Pres. Young would be asking us to speak in sacrament meeting. Church ended & we waited by the president's office. Pres. Young came & invited us in...he quickly got down to business & said he was releasing us from our Primary teaching post. Then he asked Dustin to be the den leader for the 2 scouts in the branch--Dax & Guy(the boys from our Primary class). And, Pres. Young asked me to be the 2nd counselor in the Primary presidency. I told him yes I would do this calling...but then now I wonder...? I'll have to do sharing times, probably lead music which I know nothing about, and whatever else--like planning activities & stuff. It sounds like fun, work, and stress all rolled into one calling! We'll see I suppose, right?

Well, I think I'll end my posting for now...Next year I'm sure Shane will be more excited about Halloween & maybe he'll be more cooperative w/the picture-taking!

Maple Bars...Yum!

Today was the first day of rifle hunting season so we practically woke up to a pop here & a pop there w/hunters shooting their guns all over! Little old Dell-Lima, Montana has never been so busy I'll tell you. After we had a hunter come through our yard, my husband went & locked one of the gates since the hunters aren't supposed to be passing through by our house. Then...my dear husband went to the Yesterday's Calf-A(it's Cafe, but spelled like calf w/an "A" on the end!) and got us the most wonderful maple bars! Talk about eating a 'puff of heaven'--sorry, Swenson's in Twin I just stole your catch phrase, but it really fits for these, so I'm really just borrowing it for a moment!) The Calf-A's maple bars are BETTER than the Declo Stake ones at the fair, too. Oh my gosh--I could go on forever, but I won't!

Life is busier & busier w/Shane walking all over & discovering everything. While I was resting w/a sinus headache Dustin had him confined to the living room & you could tell. The living room was ransacked pretty much. He had thrown his toys all around, pulled the pillows off the one couch, tried to play w/the blinds & the VCR, and he beat on my bedroom door so my so-called idea of taking a nap was fruitless. Oh well! That's the life of living w/a very inquisitive almost 15 month old!

The New 26--?

Today is my 36th b-day & I get to share this day w/the best person ever! Lesley, my twin sister & my best friend, is who I'm talking about--of course!!! I titled this blog "The New 26--?" because of Lesley. She mentioned something about 36 being the new 26 in one of her facebook postings & I liked it, so I had to talk about it here. Lesley knows I agree w/her on that one since I'm usually the one who has a hard time w/how old we are...which really age, the actual number, doesn't really matter too much anymore. I see our age is what kind of person we've been, what we've learned & gone through in our lives more than anything. Age is our experiences whether good or bad or happy or sad. Age is a part of us. And, as for that number thing that's attached to our age--it's just a number & sometimes we have to refer to it, but we don't have to wear it as a banner on our chest like a scarlet letter either. Okay--I kinda went on & on there for a bit! Oops! Oh well!

Lesley is a most wonderful twin sister! I love her tons & tons. I am sad that we weren't able to spend our birthday together this year...in fact it made me wonder if we've ever not spent our birthday together before--? I think this may be the first year we haven't celebrated our birthday together. I'm not sure though--I'll have to ask her. She's going out w/friends tonight & I hope she has a great time. They're going out to eat at a pizza place that sounds way yummy. I miss being able to do things w/Lesley like we used to...I know that's been quite a few years ago, but I still miss that. The times we lived close in Salt Lake & got together w/our friends to do fun things, go to good restaurants, & just talk--that was the best.

My son must've known it was my birthday today, because he let me sleep in a little longer this morning & it was nice! But then it wasn't so nice to hear 600 some head of cattle bellering & bawling just outside our house! My husband, Dustin, warned me about the cows coming over here this morning & I told him--gee what a nice wake up call & birthday present for me! I think the cows are getting shots or vaccinated or something...I don't pay much attention to what goes on w/them. I just know they're a part of our livelihood here at the ranch where Dustin works & we live!

I told Dustin I wanted to do something fun, so we're going to Dillon for my birthday. We'll probably eat at Sparky's restaurant--it's a yummy place. They have sweet potato fries that I absolutely LOVE!!!

What a day this has been so far...I feel so blessed to have such an awesome family!

Mobile Machine

It's been over a month since I began my blog & I haven't done much w/it yet. Maybe I should start doing more on my blog--? I still feel like the 'new kid in town' w/this blog stuff. I'm not totally sure what I'm doing w/a blog, but hopefully I'll figure it out soon:)! Lesley, my twin sis, suggested for me to do a blog awhile ago--so, guess what Lesley? I'm finally listening to you w/your prompting! Thanks!

My son's currently napping, but I'm not sure for how much longer since he's already been sleeping for about an hour. So, this may be cut short if he wakes up! Shane is my son--he will be 15 mos old on Nov. 9th & he keeps my husband, Dustin & I VERY busy! Ever since he became the little walking mobile machine our home has not been the same. Shane motors all over the house to investigate, evaluate, & experiment w/everything & I mean EVERYTHING! Just last week we boxed up all the movies in the living room, because Shane continued to think they were something to use for entertainment--but not by watching them--by throwing them! We also had to move the bookshelf that had movies in it out of the living into our guest room to protect Shane. Our little Shaner decided to play King Kong & shake the empty bookshelf w/a stereo still on top of it. As a result we had to move the bookshelf, stereo & such out of his sight in order to avert disaster!

Yesterday was a wonderful day spent w/family. Dustin's sisters, ShawnDee & Wendy, came over to our house w/their digital camera and took pictures of us. It was awesome having them take photos of Dustin, Shane, & me. Hopefully one of the pictures will work for a Christmas card!

Dustin & I also did some cleaning up, rearranging, & organizing in our home. I love our home--it feels like home & that's what's so wonderful about it! I worked on my card-making in the afternoon, too. I do so LOVE creating new cards & working on scrapbook projects--it is my happy place! It is a moment of me-time when I can take a breath & just enjoy while I create & dream up new things & ideas!

Well, I'll close for now since I'm sure my mobile machine will be waking up any moment wanting my full & undivided attention! Have a fantabulous day!

New Kid in Town

I'm new at this blog thing, but I thought I'd try it out & see how it works. It's very late & I should be sleeping right now. We had a very long day in Idaho Falls all day Saturday. I think I'll end for now & continue this later today/tomorrow whatever you wanna call it--all I know is it's in the middle of the night & I think I will finally try to get some sleep. I'm hoping I'll be able to sleep now & feel better. Good night!