Reflecting back over the year...

I thought I would take a minute to reflect back on 2011, before we jump head first into 2012.  First, this year went by within the blink of an eye for me us.  Every time I turned around, I felt we were being faced with some kinda challenge.  I know that is life, but it seems like some years you are challenged more, and this was one of those years for me us.

The year started out with this little angel being 6 months old…  So sweet and innocent!

What happened!?!  Just kidding, but my Ash is a little spit fire and is now a year and half old, and likes to talk back! 



Even though you are a little spit fire, you are still my little angel, that I adore.  I'm so thankful for having you in my life!

The little man had just turned two, and had started speech therapy and school. 

Now he is three, and we can’t get him to stop talking!  He is potty trained (thank you), and had decided that momma's bed, is his bed.  But at the end of the day,  I wouldn't have it any other way, I enjoy getting to cuddle with my baby boy! 

I couldn't be prouder of you!  You are my first born, and will always be my baby boy!

The husband and I celebrated our six year wedding anniversary!  And had our first night away from the kiddos, in three years, WOW!  I'm looking forward to another getaway!  Maybe 2012 will have a vacation for two, on the agenda...  I also had my first girls night out, in four years, it was a blast.  Looking forward to more of those also, come 2012. Every now and then, momma needs to let her hair down!  The husband also had his first guys trip in probably five years, and I have to say that was really hard on me.  So no more of those!

Come Sunday, we will be putting together our resolutions for 2012.  I feel that this is something we need to do.

This year in a whole, wasn’t that bad, minus my health problems.  We are blessed with two amazing children, which I couldn’t be more thankful for!  And I'm blessed with a husband that loves me (most of the time)!

 Good-bye 2011 and hello 2012!
Cheers!
Happy New Year! 

xoxo, Shanna

I couldn't resist...

I couldn’t resist myself…  I was in Nordstrom right before Christmas, and what did I see, a pink pair of TOMS calling Ash’s name!  I just knew they would be the perfect match for my shoe loving little girl.

I want a pair for myself, not in pink, but in a more neutral color.  I guess now that she has a pair, I will be buying me a pair pretty soon. 

Sweet angel, you are just too precious!

xoxo, Shanna

My little monkey face...

I’m so excited that I have another FOUR day weekend!  Much needed, I always look forward to this time off, if you know what I mean.

I would like to introduce you to monkey face…  He visits often, and he is so stinking adorable, in my opinion.  And since this is my blog, my opinion does matter…  I’m a proud mother, what can I say!

The husband thought it would be funny to take a picture of the little mans train collection.

The sad part, this isn’t even all of them!

Cheers to it being Friday!  Hope you too are enjoying a long weekend!

xoxo, Shanna



Happy One Year Blogiversary

I can’t believe it has been a year since I first wrote this post…  My how things have changed…  My daughter turned a year old, my son is now three, and the husband & I celebrated our six year anniversary.  Along the way, I have developed some health problems that have taken toll on my family, what fun!

When I started this blog I didn’t know what I really wanted out of it.  I knew I wanted to document the milestones of my babies, but I have also met some awesome people, and I’m thankful for that.

So, without getting all mushy, I just wanted to say THANK YOU to everyone that reads my blog!  I enjoy reading your comments, and seeing your point of view.  I hope you will continue to be apart of this journey.

Happy One Year Blogiversary!  Cheers to another year!

xoxo, Shanna

A wonderful Christmas...

I can't believe Christmas has come and gone…  Christmas Eve, we took the kids outside to leave Reindeer food, to start the process, and make new traditions.  It was fun, Ash just run around the neighborhood, and the little man thought we were really feeding reindeer. 

I’ve learned being a parent; you have to be pretty creative, and come up with come backs to questions pretty fast.  But it was fun, they enjoyed it, and so did I.

Christmas morning they were sweet, and let us sleep in until after 8:00.  And since Mr. & Mrs. Claus didn’t go to bed until after midnight, it was definitely a treat for us.  The little man is at the age now where he gets it, and it was so fun and exciting to see his face come Christmas morning.  But Ash didn’t skip a beat.  She made a mad dash into the living room to see all the goodies while bubba was a little taken back with everything he saw.  Santa was good, but Santa is always good!

After enjoying the gifts that Santa left, we had Christmas with my family.  And it was the never-ending gifts of trains for the little man.  Every box he opened had trains and more trains.  He was so excited he couldn't stand himself.  I remember what it was like on Christmas morning when I was a kid, and the excitement that took over my body.  I want that for my babies so bad...

The husband out did himself with Christmas dinner, it was
very good.  Everyone enjoyed the meal, and the company.  With this being our first year having Christmas at our house, I think we pulled it off.  And my Nana did really well, and that in itself was the best Christmas present.  She has had a rough week, so her being about to be here, and be herself was amazing.

After we did Christmas at our house, we had to rush to the
other side of town to have Christmas with the in-laws.  And that is always an adventure.  A house full of seven kids that are tired by this point…  Yeah nothing but yelling, fighting, and making the adults want to the pull their hair out.  But we made it.  We did try to get picture of the kids, and as usual this is the turn out...

For me, it was a perfect Christmas, just getting to be with family is all you need.  Even if it is chaotic, what family isn’t?  My children got more stuff than they need, but they have been on cloud nine all day playing with everything.

I will say I’m tired, and it has been a lazy day, today.  We have all stayed in our pajamas today, which is fine with me.  I do have to return to work tomorrow, so hopefully I will be able to get some rest to tonight, because I need it.

Hope each and every one of you, had a very Merry Christmas, and it was magical.

I can’t believe in seven days it will be the New Year.  I need to start working on my goals.  This is our first year we are going to  write down our goals together, but I think it is something we need to do.  Do you write goals together as a family for the New Year?

xoxo, Shanna

Merry Christmas...

Just wanted to say Merry Christmas!  Hope whatever your plans might be, that it is filled with family and the magic of the season!  

We have a busy day today & tomorrow, and no matter how chaotic it might be, it will be filled with family, magic and much love!

From our house to yours, I wish you a very Merry Christmas!

Love, Shanna

Santa Claus come...

I have a little one that is ready for Santa…

This morning the first words out of his mouth were “Santa Claus come”!

No sweet angel, not yet.

I’m excited to see their faces come Christmas morning.  I think my little man & sweet angel might be a little overwhelmed by all the presents we Santa has for them.

  I guess I have found my Christmas/Holiday cheer!

I'm finally pretty much done with my/our shopping...  Now, I have to find the energy to get all the gifts wrapped.

Happy Holidays!  

xoxo, Shanna

Someone was in train heaven...

What better place to go see so many trains than your eyes can believe, than North Park!?!  I honestly didn’t think it was possible for someone to have more trains than us… 



But I was wrong, they outnumbered us by ONE!

While I was getting put under, to be stabbed in the back, the kiddos got to have fun looking at the trains.  This adorable little boy was in serious train heaven!

Who could blame him...  Just looking at the pictures I can tell it was a site to see!

Happy rainy Monday!  The rain I was glad was gone, has found its way back!

Goodnight sweet angels!

xoxo, Shanna

Sometimes it just is...

Sometimes it just is, if you know what I mean…  I have found the hardest part of parenting for me, is when both kids are sick, and so is mama….  Or they are full of energy and mama is sick…

Right now as usual, it seems to be common theme in our parts, both kids are sick and so was mama the night before.  Come yesterday morning, I could barely lift my head. And even though the kids are sick, it is different than when the adults are sick.  The needy part isn’t different I guess, but I give my kids medicine, and it’s as if they just ate a bowl of sugar.  Of course I’m not going to let them suffer, and run a fever…  But why on earth does the medicine give them the energy of 20 kids!?!

This is what I was thinking yesterday, as I could barely lift my head from the couch, and I had two little ones full of energy.  All I wanted was their energy, and to feel better after being up (yet another) night!

Thankful me for (but not soon enough), the Aunt and Uncle (as always) came to my rescue, and took care of the kids while I got to just close my eyes for about an hour.  On a good night I get maybe 3-4 hours of sleep, but lately, I haven’t even been getting that!

Yesterday was a big day; it was my Nana’s first Christmas party at the nursing home.  So, no matter how bad I felt, I knew it was extremely important for her and our family for me to find at least a little energy to get me through it.  So I did, we went, and the kids got to see Nana AND Santa Claus!  Can’t say it was a joyous afternoon with Santa, but at least they did get to see him, and actual got to spend time with him, without being just a number at the mall, if you know what I mean.  I think we ended up with about half of his bag of candy canes...

Someone was more interested in the iPhone, than Santa...

Who is the crazy person touching me, Dar!?!  I will not let go of you, make him stop, pretty please...

But leave it to the great grandparents, to get her to take a picture with Santa...

It was really a nice afternoon, I’m glad I didn’t end up staying home (as that was my first thought).  I would have regretted not being there for my Nana and family.  This has been a big and emotional year for our family, with us putting her in the nursing home, and I have tried hard to make sure at least once week I either go see her, or invite my grandparents to our house to visit.  So no matter how bad I felt, I put it aside (like always), to do the right thing and not miss a special day.  My Nana (and I'm sure my Papa too), were very happy to have the entire family together for a few hours.

The sad part for me yesterday, was learning how many people don’t come and see their parents or grandparents in the nursing home, especially at this time of year.  That is just unreal to me.  As our family has always been close, and see’s each other all the time.  I talk to my Aunt sometimes 4-5 times a day on the phone, and before all this started happening with my Nana, I would talk to her at least twice a day.   When Sue told me this yesterday, it just broke my heart, to know that some of these ladies are all by themselves!  Their family should really be ashamed of themselves.  One son came all the way in for the weekend from LA, I would say if he could make it, the rest of them should have been able too.  Yes, I’m bitter about this.  It’s the holidays; it’s the time for family to be together.   I know it is hard seeing the person you love inside the home, I do it pretty much each week, but at least we are still able to be together.  And at the end, that is what is important!

I do have a lot to do today, we need to get our shop on, and get Christmas shopping done!  I have treatment tomorrow (thank you lord), and I will be down and out for a few days...  This is kinda the last day for me to really try to get most of it done.  Wish me luck!

Hope you and your familys have had a nice weekend.  The sun finally has been out for a few days, and I needed the sun in my life.  When it rains for too many days in a row, I start to get really blue.  So happiness is here today, hopefully.

xoxo, Shanna

Where has my Holiday cheer gone...

Okay, I seriously need to find my Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays mojo, if you know what I mean. 



 I have two beautiful children that need to enjoy the magic of Christmas as I did as a little girl, and right now, I suck in this department.

So, I’ve been listening to Christmas music trying to find the spirit.  But so much is going on in other parts of my life that it is making it hard.  My husband and children are fine, that part of my life is great, just other parts aren’t.  It is very stressful right now.

 

I need to find my happy pants, and be thankful.  I’m beyond blessed, and need to stop being so down in the dumps.  So let's pour me a glass of wine, and we will all be Merry, and maybe a little buzzed (I didn't just say that)!  This will be our first year having my family over for Christmas.  We have always gone to my Nana & Papa’s for Christmas.  And I think this is going to be a lot harder on me than I thought.  I thought I was going to be okay with doing this, and I am, but it is getting to be a little emotional for me.  But Christmas time is for the kids, and I've always LOVED Christmas.  My family always went out of their way, to make sure it was special.  And I do want that for my babies, so bad.  So this weekend, this mama needs to get busy.

Happy shopping and pulling it all together, to me!

xoxo, Shanna

17 months...

Life has been a little chaotic lately, and things keep slipping through the cracks…  I completing forgot to post my daughters 17 month old post…  I wouldn’t say I forgot, but in the process of the husband studying for his finals last week, it was kinda stressful in this house.

My sweet angel is now 17 months old, and I just need it to slow down.  Little one, you are so determined, and very strong willed!  I find those to be both very good qualities, but not when you are talking back to me…  Just letting you know.  I think you are the most precious little girl in world, and I'm over joyed to be your mother.  I love to watch you tease your brother, and see you run into your daddy’s arms like there is no better place on earth than in his arms.  I'm convinced you just like to drive me crazy, but that’s okay, I got this.  I’m the master at driving people crazy (ask your dad), so we are match made in heaven.  I love watching you dance around the house, it reminds me of me when I was a little girl.

Sorry mama was a few days late on getting this up, we will just blame dad, it's okay he is used to it... 

Happy 17 months, sweet precious angel of mine!  I adore you so much, and cherish every minute I have with you, even when we are yelling at one another.

We love you!

Goodnight sweet angels!

xoxo, Shanna

Old Pete...

Someone got to have a little daddy time, while sissy and mama were away…  Daddy took the little man to see "Old Pete".  As M call's the train.

This little man loves him some trains…  All he wants for Christmas is trains and more tracks!  Which I’m sure he will get, Santa is just good that way!

Looks like the little man enjoyed his afternoon with daddy last week!

Goodnight sweet angels!

xoxo, Shanna

Sometimes I miss...

Sometimes I miss you holding my hand… Sometimes I miss you giving me a kiss out of nowhere for no reason but just because you love me and you wanted to...  Sometimes I miss us going out to dinner and having long conversations over a glass of wine, with no stresses of life…  Sometimes I miss going on trips, and taking adventures together…

But then I look at these two, and realize where we are in our life is right where we are supposed to be…  Even if it does mean giving up some of the things I miss.  At the end, I still have you and you still have me, we are just playing different roles in our lives.

And I know one day, I will miss having these two little ones running through the house tearing everything apart, screaming mama & daddy, and driving us crazy at times!

Goodnight sweet angels!

xoxo, Shanna

Glad's it's Friday...

Glad's it's Friday, and you!?!

I’m here, I'm alive…  I have shingles, and to say the least it is pretty painful.  Every time I turn around it is something.  I could really use a break, NOW!  The best part about it all, I was always told that I had never had the chicken pox, so the doctor and I both were scratching our heads as to how I could have shingles.  Well come to find out, my mother now says I did have a really mild case of the chicken pox. 

 And no one wants to be around me, pretty sad…  I’m not contagious, unless you haven’t had the chicken pox.

We did get our Christmas tree up, and the kiddos have had a great time pulling it apart.  But at least it is up, now if we could just get the Christmas lights up outside, we would be doing good.  I have to say, I love having the Christmas tree up, I find it very relaxing.  Before we had kids, I would fall asleep in the living room almost every night.

***My little helpers***

***The little man doing his thing***

***Singing Jingle Bells***

***The finished product, but we still need a tree topper***

Not much to say, I’m tired, I itch, and I’m in a lot of pain.  Just hoping this will end soon vs. later.  The kiddos are looking forward to seeing their BeeBee & Dar tomorrow, and so am I!  All night, all I have heard is BeeBee Dar, Dar BeeBee, BeeBee  & Dar…  Tomorrow my little ones, tomorrow.

Happy Friday!  Glad to have some quiet time, glad to have two days off, and glad to be off my feet!  Hope whatever your plans are that you have a safe weekend!   

 

Goodnight sweet angels!

xoxo, Shanna