Trying to be like Mary

So, here I am doing the Nov. Challenge.......


I'm grateful for.....
1. Great authors, and books
2. Having the gospel in my life
3. The many blessings that I have
4. A family that loves me
5. The plan of redemption
6. My savior
7. Yummy food
8. Music
9.Siblings

Little Buddy

So, tonight before hitting the sack, andrew and i were going to read the scriptures together starting at the first chapter of Nephi. Every verse i was explaing what was happening, and i got to the part where Lehi has a vision and he sees the heavens open and he see God on a thrown surrounded by angels and 13 people desending from heaven, one outshing the rest and the other 12 following, very brightly. I told him they were coming to the earth in his vision/dream. He said,"Are they coming to our new church?" What a cute little guy. I was then explaing about the plan of salvation and when we lived in heaven long ago, and how we cheered for Jesus's plan. I told him that we came here and we can make good or bad choices while on the earth, and if we made good choices that we could live in heaven again. I told him we can make good choices by helping one another, obeying, and trying new foods. If we make these little choices that we can get closer to be living with him. So, when we said our prayers, he said,"Thank you for my party, and for the good scripture story, bless us to make good choices. ( i told him to pray for help with our new goal) He is so happy and so am I.
Megster

Ah!

It is almost my birthday! I am going to be 11!! 11 i tell ya, just yesterday i was 3!
Megster

Some recepies

Here are some recipes that the fams been waiting for!


Shelly Salad

Salad:
1 or 2 bags of head of romain lettuce
1 c. swiss cheese shredded
1 c. parmasen cheese shredded

Dressing:
3/4 c. oil
2 cloves of crushed garlic
juice of one lemon( or 2 TBS. lemon juice in a bottle)
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 salt


Mix salad and cheese in a big bowl, don't put dressing on until right before serving. Mix it up and enjoy





Chicken and noodle cas.



1/2 a bag of spiral noodles
4 or 5 frozen chicken breasts( make sure precooked and frozen)
1 can of tomato sauce
handful of cheese of your choice



Cook noodles according to directons, afterwards in a 13x9 pan greased, spread on the bottom of pan. Thaw chicken in micorwave with the meat defrost. after done defrosting put on top of noodles. spread the can of tomato sauce on top. sprinkle cheese on top and cook for 30 min. at 350 degrees. Enjoy



Healthy Macoroni


1/2 bag of small shelll noodles
1 BIG can of V8 juice
1 c. cheddar cheese


cook noodles according to directions. in a greased 13X9 pan spread on bottom. pour V8 juice over the top, and sprinkle with cheese. cook for 30 min. at 350 degrees.

ENJOY!!!!!!!!!

What a ham!

On Monday night for home evening it was Caleb's turn to give the lesson . He decided to present the story of the Good Samaritan -- Caleb style.

First, Caleb brought up his arsonel of stuffed animals: Pilgrim Pig, Mr. Frog, Cheetah, and Panda Bear. Pilgrim Pig, a Build-A-Bear pig dressed in pilgrim attire, was the Israelite who was beaten, robbed and left to die on the side of the road. Andrew really enjoyed the part where Frog and Panda attacked Pilgrim Pig. Mr. Frog, who played in two different starring roles, was the first man who passed by and didn't help Pilgrim Pig. My personal favorite part in Caleb's version of the story is when Cheetah walks past Pilgrim Pig and says, "I'm sorry that I can't help you; but, well, I'm allergic to pork!" Like I said, "What a ham Caleb is!"

How mean

When the babies are playing on a blanket on the floor Mini Mart will have a binkie and Ethan will crawl (on his toes and arms) over, rip out the binkie making Mini Mart sad and sometimes cry. Ethan................ what are we going to do with you?
Megster

How Exciting!!!

Drumroll please....
Ethan has his first two teeth!!!!!! His sister doesn't yet, nor does she crawl or sit up(she refuses to when we try she stiffens her legs, but one of these times she'll get it) Sigh..............
Megster

My mother

My mom and i had to go to walmart to get treats for jacob's soccer game on saturday. As we were heading toward the door their is a lady that hands out yellow, happy face stickers to little kids my mom said, my daughter just loves stickers may she have some? she handed some to me and said what do you say to the nice lady i said thank you rather embarrersed sigh......... my mom

Funny Andrew

So today I guess my mom called Andrew honey. He said,"That's grandma Joan's word." Oh, Andrew.


Megster

Oh boy!

I am so excited for school tomorrow! We get to splatter paint in art class. We also get to do textures. Five grades get one art teacher (wich she isn't as fun as Mrs. Torman) Mrs. Torman is awsome! We do so many fun things! They spent so much money on it though. We are using really nice stuff. She said the school has invested thousands of dolllars in it. (it was either a thousand or thousands i can't remember) Well till next time


Megster

How to quickly embarass your child

So, on Saturday afternoon Meghan accompanied me to the grocery store for my bi-weekly shopping extravaganza. While checking out, one of Bowman's regular bag boys, Brian, helped us bag our groceries. He has helped me on many occasions before including one time when Marta Pinto was here. (She asked Brian if he had served a mission yet . . . he told her he was still in high school. She told him that if he were to be called to Brasil, that she would take care of him and cook him amazing meals . . .which I do not doubt.) Anyway, as you can see . . . I have had many a conversation with, Brian.

While we were loading groceries in the back of the van, Brian said, "Can I call you Pam? You look like a Pam to me." I told him that he could call me Pam; but, that my name was actually Shauna. I then proceded to tell him that my close friends call me "Hot Shauna." It was at this point that I saw Meghan turn red and head straight for the front seat. As Brian was walking back to the store, he turned around and yelled, "Hey, Hot Shauna, great pants." I exclaimed, "They're 'HOT' aren't they?" Meghan gasped from inside the van and said, "Mother, you are so embarassing!"

Tag, again by Megster

Ten years ago, living at my grandparents house as a little baby most likely crying for my mother

Five years ago, I was in kindergarten loving school

One year, helping my mom while she was on "restrictated activity"

Yesterday, I went to my brother and friends soccer games and played with my friend

Things I heart, being apprieciated, school,friends,sewing, reading

Five bad habits, plucking my eybrows and nose, eavsdropping, leaving clothes on the floor and not in my laundry basket (my mom mentioned this one), pestering(my mom also mentioned), worrying

Five things I hate, getting sick, mice, rollercoasters, people not apprieciating me, worrying

What I would do if I had a 100$ million dollars, buy tons of books,clothes, put most of it in a savings account for mission/college/later on in life

Five places I would run off to, Europe, New York, Holland, Conneticut, Canada

Now it is somebody elses turn!
The Megster!

Jacob the Great

Well, so Jacob is now in full swing with his soccer games. He is very excited because his jersey is #5. That also happens to be the same jersey number as his favorite Jazz player, Carlos Boozer wears. Yeah, its pretty cool! Today and last week, Jacob lost his games. He was sooooo close to scoring a goal, too! He said to me, "Mom, I know I shouldn't say this very loudly, but OUR TEAM SUCKS!" Poor Jacob . . . .

I'm Trying to Be Like Michael

So, after reading Michael's blog today, I took his little career cruise and this is what it said for me:

Sign Maker
Fashion Designer
Desktop Publisher
Cartoonist / Comic Illustrator
Animator
Child and Youth Worker
Special Education Teacher
High School Teacher
Elementary School Teacher
Teacher Assistant

I guess I chose a good career path since my major was "Fashion Merchandising." However, were I to do it all again, I would definately do Elementary Ed. I think 2nd or 4th grade would be quite enjoyable to teach. Truth be told, were all my children grown and gone and money not an issue, I think it would be fun to work at Heartland Paper or a fabric store. I also would love to run my own scrapbooking business and have group lessons and design cards and pages . . .

I am, however, quite delighted with my current occupation:)

I Want to be like Rachael and Mary

So, I was just sitting down (finally) and I read over the family blogs and I found it rather interesting what Mary and Rachael had done. I decided to do a little of it myself.

1. Ten years ago would have been 1997 . . . Michael and I and Meghan were living at my parent's home while they served their mission in DC. Cade and Becca were living with us, too as well as wee tiny little MiniG. My nephew, JuJu was also living with us! Michael was working at IHC. We had just our little Honda and sometimes I drove Michael to the bus stop so that I could have a car during the day. (Otherwise, he drove the car to the bus stop.) We spent $50 a week on all of our food, cleaning supplies, and necessities. I shopped at Dick's Market with a calculator in hand. I was also just about to find out that I was pregnant with Caleb.

2. Five years ago would have been 2002. I was just about to be put on bedrest with Andrew. I remember that Robert was just about to come and spend a month in Utah. In October, I would be in labor for the whole month . . .finally in November, Andrew was born weighing in at 9 pounds and setting the record for the longest umbilical cord ever recorded at LDS Hospital (as far as we know, that record still stands). Michael was working for the Lord's Book Store. We lived at our old house on Pebblecreek Drive. Meghan was 5 and in kindergarten, Caleb was 3 1/2 and going to pre-school, and Jacob was 2 and was somewhat of a living nightmere :)

3. One year ago . . . ahhh . . .funny thing . . .I was just about to go on my longest and craziest bedrest ever! I had just found out a few days prior to today a year ago that we were going to have twins. I was still throwing up everyday. The kids were off track for the entire month of September and were taking swimming lessons at the Clearfield Aquatic Center. Michael was working at Intermountain Healthcare.

4. Yesterday . . .hummm . . .the days sort of all run together it seems. Let's see. I got up at 7 am and fed the big kids breakfast. I fed the twins both baby food and a bottle, each, and then changed diapers and dressed them. I did dishes, 8 loads of laundry, fed the babies and changed them again. I made lunch for Andrew and me. It was something really spectacular like Cheerios. MIchael came home from his trip to Irvine, CA early, Caleb went on a hike for Scouts. Lots of neighbor kids played at our house. I did more dishes, fed more babies, and changed babies, again. We babysat some kids for some friends of ours. I finished a book I had been reading.

5. 5 Snacks I enjoy: chocolate chip cookies (raw or cooked), string cheese, popcorn, poppyseed or chocolate muffins, and pretty much anything chocoately.

6. 5 things I would do if I suddenly had $100 million dollars. I would pay of our house. I would pay off Dean and Claudia's house. I would buy Michael a black VW Passat with tan leather interior. I would shop exclusively for the wee babies at Gymboree and Hannah Andersson. And, I would make sure I had educational funds set up for each of our children and take our kids all over the world traveling.

7. 5 Places I would like to run away to: I would definatley want to take the kids to DisneyWorld and to Epcot in Florida. I would also like to take them all over Brasil. I would super want to take Michael on a personal tour of the Holy Land (that has always been a dream of mine). I would want to travel all over Europe as a family and stay in really nice hotels everywhere and try all kinds of yummy cuisine. I would like to go on a cruise with Michael to somewhere warm and tropical.

8. 5 Bad Habits I have: After taking a shower, I don't necessarily put my clothes immediately into a laundry basket, but rather on the bathroom counter. I pick zits. I sweat a lot when I am nervous (which is so gross and unladylike). I try and guess what people are going to say before I let them finish their sentence. I don't wear good shoes all the time (which I really should so I don't have crater feet or owie piggies).

9. 5 Things I like Doing: Getting my house organized and lighting a candle so it smells nice. I love making homemade cards and scrapbooking. I love to read Christian Fiction, especially uninterrupted (usually I have to read in the bathroom for this to happen and even then . . . ) I enjoy having friends over to eat and visit (including neighbor kids and family). I love spending time with my adorable family.

10. 5 TV shows I like: Gilmore Girls, Remington Steele, Alias (before I decided not to watch it anymore), Scarecrow and Mrs. King, and Christy.

11. 5 Things I hate doing: dieting, budgeting, dusting, trying to find pants that really fit, and eating ketchup.

12. 5 Biggest Joys at the Moment: listening to the kids talk about their days, taking care of Ethan and Marta, spending time with Andrew, having quiet chats with Michael, watching our kids as they grow and see the amazing things they are each capable of and the fun personalities of of them have.

The Twin Phoenomenon

I accomplished something major today . . . I went to the grocery store with 5 and 6 all by myself and I wasn't pushing them in a stroller! I was making dinner for a friend who just had surgery and I needed a few items to make the meal complete. Meghan is always getting stuck watching the two dears and so I decided to just leave all of the others 1-4 + 6 friends home while I quickly went.

When I pulled into the parking lot I was a bit nervous I mean how was I going to get two small babies out of the car and into the store by myself? Yikes. Somehow I managed to get both of them out of their carseats and into my arms, put my purse on my shoulder, and shut the door to the van. I began the walk from the parking lot into the store. It was so funny to see people point and me and smile.

You can always count on the grandmas and the grandpas for some sweet looks, and I swear, I can't tell you how many times I hear, "You certainly have your hands full." (It kind of gets old hearing that . . .you know just like the Cleverly jokes get old.) I digress, anyway, I managed to get both kids into a shopping cart that had two baskets for babies. One in back of the other. I put Ethan in first because he is so darn heavy and then I placed Marta in. I encountered my first obstacle: Ethan's seat had a buckle, but Marta's did not. There was no other cart that would work. The seatbelt helped keep Ethan in a sitting up position. Marta is pretty good at sitting up; but, it would have been much better if her seat had one too. So, I placed my purse next to her to balance her a little and I kept putting my other hand near her to steady her.

I kept getting those looks and those comments (the ones I read all about in my book about twins). My book said that for some reason people come out of nowhere to see twins. Its like you're not a human or something. Everyone has to comment. Some have to touch. A few point. And then, of course the . . . "you certainly have your hands full . . . . " annoying comment. I want to say something sarcastic back to them like, "Yes, full of love." but I can't bring myself to do something like that. I just smile and say something really sweet and sappy . ..

Nonetheless, the point still remains that I survived! They didn't both start crying during the quick shopping experience and I lived to tell the tale. Everyone at the pharmacy thought they were darling, and one of the baggers, Brian, commented that it was fun to see the babies behind all of the baby food I usually buy:)

Kids are the best!

Today marked the first day of M, C, J, and MiniG's first tennis class. It was so great! It is lots of fun to get to watch the kids and laugh inside at how uncoordinated they are while at the same time be thrilled when the ball actually finds their rackets. After class, we had to go and get stocked up on tennis balls (which we had exactly none of) as well as birdies (which we had just three of). I can see that hitting the balls into the neighbor's house to the east of us is going to be a bit of a problem at times. We also sometimes hit it to the neighbors just South of us; but, they are a lot nicer about it. They just let the kids go through their gate and retrieve the ball. Mr. Meanie to the east of us (you know the one who smokes and Meghan thinks is probably going straight to hel . . . .). Yesterday when Louise very kindly went over to ask if we could retrieve some balls, he rather grumpily asked if this was going to be a continuous problem. Louise, who couldn't be mean if she tried, noted that children are rather rambunctious and don't necessarily have the greatest aim. Mimi pointed out, much to his delight I am sure, that they were all started tennis lessons today. Louise jokingly said that hopefully their aim would improve soon. Why do some people have to be such grouches?

Backyard Bliss

To all of you who were at the family dinner tonight . . . we hope you had fun! It was exciting to actually have a fun picnic table to eat on and fun backyard stuff for all to enjoy and play on. Thanks to all who played with the litter and made them feel special and helped them to have fun! We look forward to more events and even more backyard bliss!

Joy and Rejoicing

So, Meghan and I were loading and unloading dishes together tonight and I started to really think about how great our kids are. I completely appreciated all that Meghan does to help around the house. Lately, she has been a really great helper with Andrew, too. In fact, he often calls for her to help him with things rather than me. (I especially enjoy and appreciate that.) She'll watch movies with him, help him in the bathroom, help him get bathed or just about anything else. She is also really wonderful with the twins. We're so lucky to have such a great daughter!

Then, I started thinking about sweet Caleb and how he is gone with Cade and Becca. And while I realized that he tends to fly under the radar a little bit around here . . . I realized how much he adds to the dynamics of our family. For example, when I asked him how it is to be so cute he answered, "Well, let's just say, it isn't easy." I love his dry sense of humor. He really is a little Michael.

Next of course is Jacob. It was so darling to see the joy in his sweet little face when he got to shoot the first hoop on our new Sports Court and it went in! He was so tickled. He is so full of hugs and smiles . . .you just can't help but feel good about life when Jacob's around (even when he tells me that hugging me is like laying on a big pillow) . . . I guess I'll take that as a compliment?

Like Caleb says, the great thing about Andrew is whenever he asks you a question, he always provides the answer for you. He is hilarious! Today, his Primary teach game up to me to let me know that Andrew said the closing prayer today in Primary. This is huge considering just a couple of months ago he refused to even go to Primary! Now, if we could just kick the kid out of the parents' room . . .love him . . . just not his feet in our backs all night long.

The babies . . . are darling . . . and so much fun . . . . especially adorable when they are both asleep, which seemed like it would never happen today at church.

When Michael and I got married Grandma Claudia told me that he was "a diamond in the rough" and it was my job to smooth him out. Well, as a dad . . . he is an excellent one. Our kids absolutely adore him. It has been so fun to see how "polished" he has become.

Well enough sapiness . . until next time

The problem with two puppies

So, the dilemma I am having is that I have two adorable babies and they both seem to want my undying attention. (I know, some of you are thinking . . . .just two of your kids want your attention?) Anyway, so this morning I went into the nursery to see who was fussing and to feed them. What happens . . .I have one baby with giant eyes staring up at me and flashing me an adorable gummy smile. The other baby sees me and her eyes disappear in her cheeks with her huge grin and mostly what you can see is her precarious tongue (which she has recently noticed) that is sticking out of the side of her mouth. They both seem to be looking at my like little puppies at a pet store saying, "pick me, pick me." It is so sad . . what do I do? Whichever baby I choose, the other one is heartbroken. It tears at my little mommy heart. It is very difficult to have a litter . . .

The Sunday Guilties

So, as many of you know, we are putting in a sport court in our backyard. We have ripped out the garden, some grass, a bunch of sprinklers, and our beloved sand box. The concrete goes from fence to fence (East to West). I am so excited for all of the family fun we will have on it. Not to mention the future parties teenagers will enjoy at our house. . . where Michael and I can keep track of them! So I am feeling fairly warm and squishy inside about the whole thing. Well, that all changed during Relief Society on Sunday.

So, our lesson is on "Being Prepared." You know, the classic food storage, self sufficientcy stuff that you hear over and over again. I was listening intently thinking about how I really should make more of an effort to increase our food storage when a bolt of lighting strikes . .. well, at least it felt that way. What do they say, but how important having a garden is. Did they say, garden? I ask myself. Yes! Slowly I start thinking about how it is really no big deal about not having my own personal garden for I live in farm country and their are farms all over the place to buy fresh produce from. And, golly they sure can grow it better than I can. Of course you can imagine how the next comment was made that we can't depend on farmers in the area to get our produce from. Haven't we all seen the death of farms as new construction pushes farmers out and subdivisions in?

Dang, that means that my feel good back up plan has been axed too. So, I silently slip into the guilties. It gets better, however, for the lady sitting next to me, elbows me and loudly interrupts the lesson to say, "So, Shauna, nice concrete!" I felt myself turn red and sink into my chair. I tried to rebound quickly by raising my hand and declaring, "Does anyone else here have those horrible Sunday guilties? Please ease my pain over the concrete slab that now rests atop my garden!"

Women in the room immediately start telling me ways in which I am growing a garden. A garden "of children." I guess it was supposed to make me feel all better inside; but really, it just made me want to go home and take a long nap. Sigh . . .