Happy April 1...

What a beautiful weekend!  It feels more like summer than spring.  Hope the sun is shining bright wherever you are! 

It has been another busy week!  I have pretty much passed out every night by 8:00!  Actually last night, I think we were all asleep before 8:00.  We had the family over yesterday to celebrate my nephew’s 5^th birthday…  Seriously, where does the time go!?!  Of course I was in heaven, I got to have cake, and more cake, and more cake!  Yes, I had 3 pieces of cake yesterday, and I enjoyed every bite! So don’t judge! Now I just wish I had more cake… 

The kiddos enjoyed playing outside, and playing with trains.   

  My little man is looking forward to next weekend.  He is excited about getting to color eggs.  He keeps asking me about green eggs!  So green eggs it will be I guess!  We will have another house full next weekend for Easter.
   

I sure do LOVE these two!  They are my world, and I hope one day, they truly understand how much they mean to me!  

Happy April 1, cheers to a beautiful day!  

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

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

One tired turkey...

I made it through Thanksgiving, barely, but I made it!  My family wasn’t even out of the house good, before I was climbing in my bed.  All I could think was, I had a small window to take a nap, before my little diva woke from her's.  Pretty sad, I know…  But I was up with two sick kiddos throwing up the night before, and it was after 1:00 in the morning before I got settled on the couch (after washing two different loads and having to handwash two blankies), to be woke up by the husband wanting to know why we were sleeping the couch…  Really, can we talk about it later!

***Waiting on family to arrive***

Our Thanksgiving was very nice!  My husband out did himself getting all the side dishes together.  I know he was beyond tired himself since he worked the night before and didn’t get home until 5:00 in the morning.  But he we pulled it off.  It might not have been with the same class of my Nana’s, but we were all together, and everyone left with full bellies .

***Sissy getting to sit at the kiddie table for the 1st time***

I truly have so much to be thankful for, and sometimes I (like most people) lose sight of what is important at times.  It’s easy to do when you're feeling sorry for yourself.  But at the end of the day, I’m always reminded, by two sweet babies, what is important.  I try not to take my blessings for granted, as I’m so thankful for them all.

Yesterday morning as I was getting the kiddos ready (half asleep), I was talking to them about all the things that we are thankful for.  I’m pretty I was talking to myself, and that they didn't understand one word I was saying, but hopefully one day they will.

Family traditions are very important to me, and always have been.  I’m trying my best to following the traditions that my Papa & Nana put in place, as family get togethers are now being held at our house.  As the food and company are the same, it is so different not have the holiday dinners at my Papa & Nana’s house.  But, I’m so very thankful that my Nana was able to be with us yesterday.

Hope everyone had a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving yesterday!  No Black Friday shopping for us…  I have a wedding I have to start getting ready for.  I just hope I can fit into the dress still, after all the food I have consumed.

Cheers to it being Friday!

xoxo, Shanna

Mama's boy...

I love this little boy so much!  He's my baby boy, and always will be.  And for now, he is a mama's boy...  It's kinda funny, in the mornings he won’t little daddy get his milk or help with anything.  He says, no daddy, no daddy… Over and over…  While daddy might not find it funny, I do.  And for the time being, I'm over the moon that my baby boy wants his mama.  

I know there is going to come a time, when this will change...  But for now, I'm going to hold onto him as tight as I can, and savor every moment.

Its okay, the little girl is all about her daddy, and wants little to do with me most of the time.  I guess that is how it goes.

My nephew’s 1^st birthday party was a success, everyone had a great time. 

 He is just too cute, he seriously makes me want to have another baby...  He reminds me a little of my baby boy, with his smile, and the way his face lights up when he smiles and laughs...

And thanks to my Aunt & Uncle for coming over, I was able to enjoy a much needed nap.  As usual I was up most of the night last night.  Hopefully my doctor will be able to do something about this on Monday when I go in for my treatment…

We are calling it an early night, both kiddos are already asleep.  I don't know what to do with the free time, watch a girl flick, have a glass of wine, or go to bed.  Since my eye lids are heavy, I guess going to bed will be what ends up happening.

Happy 1st Birthday  J! 

Goodnight sweet angels!

xoxo, Shanna

A traintastic party...

What a traintastic weekend we have had!  We celebrated my baby boy’s 3^rd birthday, and it was a wonderful day surrounded by family and friends!

I don’t know about you, but I always get EXTREMELY stressed out, when it comes to the birthday parties.  I want them to be so perfect, that I end up stressing myself and everyone else out.  And at the end of the day no matter what they're always perfect, due to the family and friends that come together to help us celebrate.  But until the actual day arrives, I always stress out about the decorations, food, and making sure I have enough in place for everyone to have a great time.  So yesterday, I was really stressed and I think it showed more than usual for whatever reason.

Here is a little glimpse into our day…

Just a few of the decorations, I hope Thomas the Tank Engine would be proud…

The kiddos having fun…

The little man enjoying his day…  But he gets so shy when it comes to everyone singing him Happy Birthday!  It’s so cute to watch him be so bashful…

And the day wouldn’t be complete without this adorable baby girl!

All in all, it was great day!  And thank you to everyone, that helped make his day perfect!

Baby boy, I hope you had a great time.  We love you so much!

Hope whatever your plans might be, for this beautiful fall Sunday, that you're having a traintastic time!  We are going to take it easy today, and play with all the wonderful gifts we received.  We have more train tracks than we know what to do with.  So our Sunday with be full of Thomas the Tank Engine, and a little Chuggington on the side.

Cheers to a wonderful and blessed weekend!

xoxo, Shanna

My little tigers...

Halloween 10/31/2009… 
 My sweet baby boy right before he turned a year old, on his first Halloween, and our first time at Boo at the Zoo.

Little did we know, we were pregnant (again) with the little lady.  We didn’t actually find out I was pregnant with the little lady until 12/03/09…

Halloween 10/30/2011… 
My sweet baby girl, at 15 ½ months.

I sure do love you two so much!  This past weekend was full of candy, popcorn, snow cones, games and lots of family time.

Goodnight sweet angels!

xoxo, Shanna

***Don’t forget to about the giveaway.  It is open until Friday 11/4/11***

Boo at the Zoo...

Have I mentioned that I LOVE Boo at the Zoo!?!  I pretty much wait the entire month of October for this.  All the little kids dressed up in adorable costumes, being with family, and the kids having a great time…  What’s not to love about it!

***daddy's little girl all the way***

As usual we tried for a group photo of the kiddos…

Not once, but twice…

Poor little C, the sun was right in her face.  If only the kiddos would listen, when we ask them to be still and look at the camera.  I mean we aren't asking for that much!

It was a perfect day to go to the zoo, the weather was just right…  Unfortunately we weren’t able to stay that long; the husband had to work, so we didn’t get to walk the entire zoo.  We played a few games, and A kept trying to take more than one prize...  She didn't understand that you only get ONE...

And I kid you not, this is the second year in a row that a random person has come up to us, and wanted their child to be in a picture with ours.  This time is was just A, because their costumes were just a like, just the other little girl was a bubblebee...  This is just weird to me, but how do you say no!?!

We did get to see a few animals along the way, but that was about it.  The little man was only interested in the monkeys any way.  It was kinda funny, this one monkey was swinging on a rope and flinging himself into the glass, he kept doing this over and over.  Everyone was getting a kick out of it, it was pretty funny.  I just kept thinking, doesn't that hurt!?!  I guess not!

I would have loved to have been able to come home and taken a nap, or at least been able to get off of my feet, but instead I have been doing laundry and trying to clean or pickup the house somewhat…  My least favorite things to do!

How have you spent your Saturday?  Tomorrow we will go to the Church Festival.  That should be a lot of fun; they will have a lot of activities for the little ones.

Cheers to it almost being bedtime, and to a wonderful day with family!

Goodnight sweet angels!

xoxo, Shanna

My little mess...

The past week has been a blur between being sick, and then running non-stop from one get together to another.  At this very moment, I feel as if I could just pass smooth out!  Then to top it all off, I ended up busting a ligament, and fracturing two of my toes.  And it is the opposite foot from the one that I have RSD in.  So, it’s been a little difficult to walk.  The doctor offered up a wheelchair, but I just couldn’t do it.  I have a nice long six weeks that I get to wear that wonderful ugly black shoe again.  It feels like just yesterday I said good-bye to that shoe, and it has found a way back into my life.  Also no physical therapy for six weeks, which my other doctor is going to love that.  I’m sure come Monday’s visit, I’m going to get a lecture as if I’m in high school again.  Right now, I just want the pain to go away; the doctor said it would take a couple of days to a week before the swelling and pain would calm down.  My luck it will take a week or longer.

Before all of this happened, we did join the family for a pumpkin painting party.  It was a nice get together.  I love this time of year, as traditions are taking place, and it seems like each weekend we are doing something fun.  I had warned my sister-in-law that my little lady paints everything in sight, including herself, but I don’t know if anyone believed me, until she took black paint to a white door…

right before the attack...

here she is leaving her mark...

oh ya, she got it all over her mouth...

Even though most of the paint ended up on her, she did actually get some on her pumpkin.  Daddy ended up having to give her a bath.  The little lady wanted to be held, and no one but mama would hold her due to how messy she was.  But she is such an adorable mess.  I can’t help but laugh every time I look at these photos.

see how clean everyone else is!?!  yeah, my little one is a true artist...

I am working on a fun project that will result in a giveaway.  I’m excited to share it with y’all, but I’m not quite finished yet.  I’m hoping to be done by this weekend, so keep a lookout for something fun, or I think it’s fun.  This is right up my alley! 

Goodnight sweet angels!

xoxo, Shanna