Happy Turkey Day!

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!

My baby girl's growing up!

Last night was Lauren's first night in her "big girl" bed. It was so cute. She did, however, want to spend a little time in the crib before settling in. I think she just wanted to jump. She also kept trying to get out of bed for a while and that got old....fast. She finally went down for the night and I snapped a few pictures. I just can't believe how fast she is growing up! A quick thanks to Ashley and Josh for giving us the bed!!!! It's perfect!

Released

Sunday I was released from my calling as ward Young Women's President. It was definitely a bittersweet thing for me. I was so nervous about trying to keep up with everything along with another baby, although I was put in just a few months before I had Lauren and everything worked out well. I will miss those girls terribly though. I also had the best presidency a girl could ask for and I am sad to lose that association with them. It was funny, I was teaching the lesson that day and it just happened to be about dealing with change. I think I needed it as much if not more than the girls did! I'm so grateful for the opportunity I had to serve in that calling and for the wonderful people I worked with. I'm also grateful for the chance I had to get to know those amazing young women. I think about when I was called and how nervous I was to work with them. I was so worried over absolutely nothing. They are great girls and I'm going to miss seeing them so often.

What a week!

Wow! What a week this has been. I can't believe how unbelievably fast time is flying...even with my swollen feet and big ole belly.

Last Thursday some amazing friends of mine threw me a baby shower. It was sooo much fun, and I feel quite a bit more prepared for this little one to join us. I got lots of cute outfits and blankets and LOOK at all those diapers! I think we're set for at least little while. Thank you so much Ashley, Kreanna, Denise, and everyone else who helped! Leslie also made an adorable cake but I didn't get a picture of it myself.
(Aren't these scrapbook pages adorable! LOVE having a head start on those! Thanks Kre!)

Who doesn't love a giveaway?!!

TipJunkie is hosting a mom-preneur Shop-A-Thon Giveaway!!! She is giving away 2 items every day for 12 days. Go check it out and maybe we can win something! I've been meaning to post this for a few days now so I could enter, all these giveaways are too fun! Good luck!

Ewwwww!

So...um...yeah....guess where I caught Lauren dunking MY toothbrush while I was in the shower? Guess I'll be buying a new one this morning! I guess I should be grateful I saw it and didn't use it???!!!

One month to go...although I'm HOPING for less!

See that little widget over there?!!! It says I have 30 days! I seriously can't believe it. However, with as tired as I have been the last couple of weeks, I have a feeling this month is going to DRAG on forever! I really can't complain too much...the heartburn has subsided for the most part, and when I sleep, I generally sleep pretty well. I just have NO energy...not one ounce. The house is a mess and I begged Todd to help me with dinner tonight because I knew I just didn't have it in me to do it by myself. Sad, very sad. It doesn't help that I'm coming down with a cold, and Todd's getting over what we're pretty sure is the flu. I'm SOOOOO glad I had my flu shot and am praying that I don't get what he had. It didn't look like much fun. We're hoping he will feel well tomorrow and be able to go back to work.

Our open house went very well on Saturday and a big THANK YOU to all of those who were able to attend. We had a great time doing it and yet we're SO glad it's over...time for a break!

Nothing really exciting going on around here lately. Just trying to keep up with the kids and the house AND stay sane! Hopefully I'll have some energy this week to start getting ready for this baby!

Kre-A-Shans

I've been a little busy lately...and here's why. My friend Kreanna and I have teamed up to share our love of scrapbooking/papercrafting with others and created a business called Kre-A-Shans. We've been working on several projects and are excited to tell you about a Holiday Open House at the Best Western here in town tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be several other businesses there including At Home America, Mary Kay, Cookie Lee, Scentsy, Pampered Chef, Avon, Tupperware, and Stampin' Up! So much holiday shopping in one stop! We hope you'll be able to join us....there will be door prize drawings every half hour, plus enter for chance at a grand prize basket worth about $300 filled with goodies from each business!


Here's a sampling of what Kreanna and I have been working on:

Christmas planners...


Coaster calendar kits...

Advent Calendar kits...

Tooth Fairy boxes...(these also have a really cute poem on the back)
If you can't make it, but see something you might be interested in...let me know!

Happy Birthday Dad/Papa!

So sorry we're a day late but we wanted to wish Todd's dad a Happy Birthday!!! I decided to ask Garrett what his favorite things about "Papa" were, here are his responses:

I LIKE Papa.
I like when he plays with me.
I like to help him fix the car.
I like to sing with him.
I LIKE his magic throat spray! (This is Kool-Aid in a spray bottle for those who don't know) :)
I like to go to his house.
I want him to go draw with me and go fishing with me.
I like to give him hugs.

I thought that was pretty dang cute. :)
We are so grateful to have you in our lives and hope you had a WONDERFUL birthday!
Love, Todd, Shana, Garrett, and Lauren

Our hunter and his bear

In my effort to stay caught up I'm finally getting around to posting about Halloween :) It was a CRAZY day, but the kids had a lot of fun. We decided to go trick or treating at all the businesses downtown before heading to the Trunk or Treat and carnival at the church. It was fun to see tons of people we knew, and to visit a few businesses I generally don't have the ambition to take my kids into. Then we rushed home to grab some pizza (eaten in the car on the way) and headed to the church. I had to get there a little early since the young women were in charge of a couple of carnival booths. Garrett got SO much candy, and Lauren looked in awe as everyone kept adding candy to her bucket. It was pretty cute. At the carnival they had a blast at the fishing pond, pumpkin bowling, and Lauren's personal favorite was the apple on a string booth. She ATTACKED that apple, I seriously wish I had that on tape. SO funny! She never did get a bite in while the apple was hanging on the string, but she had fun watching the other kids and trying. We came home and let them raid their stash for a bit before popping in a movie for them to watch and then finally off to bed. I was exhausted, and really felt it the next day too. Lauren and I took a LONG nap on Saturday while Todd and Garrett cleaned the garage and made a workout area in there. Then I got up and finally canned another batch of pie filling (only 7 quarts this time). It was my first time doing ANY canning by myself (OK, Todd helped with the apple peeler/corer/slicer part) and I was soooo nervous waiting for those things to seal...I even called my mom to ask her if she thought I processed them long enough. I had to leave so I couldn't check on them until later and was really anxious to see. They ALL sealed though, I'm so excited to finally have accomplished that task all by myself. I never thought I'd say this....but I'm so grateful to my mom for teaching me this skill. From the time I was very little I remember going out to the orchards for apples, pears, or peaches and then having the very daunting chore of helping can them all. I'm sure I complained every year too. I bet my mom's just waiting for the moment when she gets to hear my kids complain to me about having to help can...what goes around comes around, right?!

Lauren and baby Roger downtown...

Garrett with his stash. LOVING those ears :)
Do you see all that candy on the floor around her?! She was just taste testing everything.
Cheesin' it up!

Even the baby dressed up this year :) Don't mind the stain on my shirt...apparently I have forgotten how to drink out of a cup!