BURNING UP the Track!!!!

No, seriously! That is the backpack that Adee had to have for preschool. I tried to sway her to the princess ones, Tinkerbell, even Dora.... not having it, she wanted red car (as she calls him) from Cars. She would not let me take her picture until I got a picture of her backpack first. As I was taking the picture I had to laugh because I had the thought that "Burning up the Track" could be the subtitle to the documentary of Adee's life. Adelynn Butler : Burning up the Track. :> This girl has no slow speed. Everything is 100%. (Maybe 110%) She is so sure of herself that she cannot understand why everyone that she talks to does not want to be her best friend. I used to try to contain her chatting with people but then I realized that it was really a good thing - go ahead Ad., be who you are and let the other people adjust. I have to admire that! :> I am proud of her for being so secure with who she is, at almost four she is SOOOO independent and confident. When I dropped her off at school she asked me if she could go play, I said yes, she gave me a quick hug and said see ya later - that was that, no crying here - for Adee anyway. :> When I came back to pick her up her teacher told me that she is a Montessori teacher's dream, so creative and ready to learn. That's our girl!
Sam also had a big day!!!!! :> 31 years for him! I broke down and bought him a Wii, which I may regret. He did work up quite the sweat last night playing it - not me. I am in shape! :> (right!) I think he had a good day, and he deserves it. He had to frost his own cake (help me frost it) because I hate to admit it, but it was the first three layer cake I have ever made, those 9X13's are soooo much easier. It was a yummy cake (thanks Ashlee S. for the recipe) and I even got a few pics of the masterpiece.
As far as Shep is concerned, life is good. He is loving new food and figuring out how to walk despite his parents lack of help. :> We have alot going on in the next few weeks, so expect updates - maybe MONTHLY since I am so slow these days! :> I'm not sure WHY I am so behind on everything, but I am! Love you all, Sam and Ash.

Summer Fun!

It seems like summer is flying by! We went to Boise for a bit and then to Downata with my family overnight, it was tooo short! All the kids loved it and Adee was a daredevil as usual. She came out of the big tube face first on her tummy, backwards on her back and everything in-between. She was not intimidated at all. I decided not to go down the black hole because I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to get her to NOT go. I think the smores cooking took a close second to the swimming and the kids and I definitely wanted to stay another night, not to sure about the rest of the campers. :> We will have to make another trip before summer is over, Sam and I both have really good memories of being at Downata, so it is nice to be able to take our kids there also.
Shep is standing up now and walking while holding things, he may beat Adee's walking time of 10 months, and I am not sure how I feel about that. :> He also got to have lunch with his gal pal, which we all enjoyed. Hope you are all having a great summer! Ash.

Happy 4th of July!

We hope everyone had a great weekend. We had fun, no fireworks for us because Shep hates loud noises and I assume that fireworks are the loudest loud noise you can get, so we spared him. Which, I was bummed about because I really like fireworks, and the 4th of July for that matter. We went to a parade, and they had the flags presented by the soldiers, and I have to admit that I got a little teary eyed. I know, not a big shocker to those of you that know me because ALOT of things make me teary eyed. :> I do appreciate all the sacrifices that have been made for our country and our freedom's, we are truly a nation under God and I think we tend to take that for granted. I have to say that it really makes me angry when I see all the media and clips of people making fun of President Bush. Not because I think he is the greatest president or anything, but because he IS the President of our country none the less. How does it look when we are tearing him to shreds in our OWN country? Sorry, just venting, it really does bother me though, we should respect him because of the position he holds, even if we do not agree with all of his decisions. ANYWAY.. :> I am grateful for the country that I live in and for all of those that have fought and still fight for our freedom. We love and appreciate you. THANK YOU!
Now that I have vented. :> Updates..... Shep is crawling, sitting up, screaming VERY high pitched when he wants something or does not like what he has, eating like a horse, and shooting up teeth left and right (which he is NOT a fan of). He loves his big sister and she makes him laugh all the time. Adee is getting MORE feisty everyday and making me wonder what the H... I am going to do when she gets to be a teenager........ it's all you Sam!!!! She was in her room the other day and I walked in to see her with her 4-wheeler helmet on, a lei, socks on her hands and a CD in her mouth - she said she was dressing up to make me laugh. (yes, see pic..) She is a funny and STRONG - WILLED little girl. She is taking swimming lessons and the other mom asked me how many lessons she has been in because she is not afraid of the water at all - I laughed and told her none, she is not afraid of ANYTHING. Please Shep, be more cautious. Gotta love em! Hope all is great for everyone and that you are all enjoying your summer. Ash.

Beauty Treatment Tag!

I have been tagged by Ashlee Stone and I LOVE these things I LOVE to hear about good products. Yeah!!!!

MY FOUNDATION: Don’t do foundation, I always look like I am dead if I have to wear it, it is bad news for me.

MY BLUSH: No blush, can’t apply that either. :>

MY DAY CREAM: Skin Food by Weleda, mixed with Kiss My Face by Jason

MY LIPSTICK: chapstick - burt’s bees - they also have some great glosses that moisturize well.

MY ESSENTIAL BEAUTY PRODUCT: two brush mascara by Elizabeth Arden

MY FAVORITE PRODUCT: Really like True Cosmetics under eye concealer, it has a brightner in it.

MY PERFUME: Lots, but my favorite is Jasmine essential oil mixed into my lotion.

MY NAILS: short because of massage.

MY FEET: should be covered with socks at all times (as Sam says :>)

MY HANDS: Dr. Hauschka Rose Hand Therapy

THREE PRODUCTS TO TAKE ON A DESERT ISLAND: burt’s bees lip balm, lavender essential oil, my mascara.

WOMEN I ADMIRE FOR THERE BEAUTY: I have to say Angelina Jolie, she is pretty hot in her recent movie clips. ;>

WOMEN WITH THE BEST SENSE OF STYLE: I always loved the way Meg Ryan was dressed in her older movies. (Post plastic surgery, not so much.)

MY ULTIMATE DREAM: Ditto Ashlee, feeling comfortable in a swimsuit, that would be VERY nice.

I TAG: Tessa, Alicia, Misty, Tracy, Jessica, Melody, Tiff and Summer. (told ya, I LOVE new products!! :>)

ODE to Big Sam

Since it is Father's Day I figure it is the perfect time to thank Big Sam for all he does. Sam is a great father and husband. He really takes the time to help me out and to take care of the kids. I know I am so lucky to have him. On Friday Alicia, Tessa and I went down to SLC for the night (thanks Leasha and Tess, I needed your company SOOO much - LOVED IT!!) and Sam played mommy. Keep in mind Shep is breast feed and not a fan of anything OTHER than the breast. :> I was worried, and Sam joked alot with me which stressed me out more, but before we left he said don't worry - we will be just fine, and I knew they would. Sam is so good at helping me out and letting me take a break without making me feel guilty for doing it. He has always taken the time to listen to me and TRY to understand my feelings and ME in general, which, is no easy task, believe me. He is also so great with the kids. No one can make them laugh like he does, makes me jealous. I am so grateful that I found him and that he decided to put up with me, I know I can be alot. ;> Sam has always had this way about him that calms me down, and I have noticed he can do the same with the Adee and Shep, it is so neat. He is the best thing that has ever happened to me, I love him with all my heart. Here's to you Big Sam, you really are the best guy I know (besides my dad. :>) Lovingly, T-Bone. (Sam's choice, not mine. :>)

Update.

Shep is doing alot better. The Dr. said he looked good on Tuesday, so I guess it was just some nasty bug, lovely. We hope it is the first and last time we get it on our house. :> Thank you all for your comments. They really helped me feel better and not like the crazy over protective mother that I thought I was being! I really appreciate it, honestly! We hope everyone is doing great! Thanks again! Sam and Ash.

Worst vacation EVER!!!!!!!

Warning, if you are looking for an uplifting post, this is not it! :> Sam had a week of vacation and we were planning (mostly he) on getting the fence up and doing some fun things with the kids. Plans change. Adee got sick the first of the week, and she is a strong little bugger and pulled through it, but when Shep caught it it was a different story. I noticed on Saturday that he was a little warm and not so happy, but figured he was teething. I stayed home from church with him on Sunday and by Sunday night his temp was 104. I called my Dr. and he said to just keep an eye on him. I was sitting with him in the chair and just had a bad feeling that things were really not so good, so I called my Dr. again and he said to take him into the emergency room. Seriously, what a joke an EMERGENCY room is!!! We got there at 9:30 and were not seen until about 12:30, of course by that time Shep is tired and has sooo had it, but they want to start an IV and take blood and urine samples. Obviously Sam knew what Shep was in for because when they came in to start the IV he said "I am out of here." I looked at him and said no way, you are the nurse you will stay. For about the next 25 minutes I stood in the hall and listened to Shep scream his little lungs out, it was the worst thing ever. Come to find out, the first time they tried to get in on his right arm they went through the vein (nursing degree) and then had to go to the left arm. That was only the beginning of Shep's fun vacation - he had to have his temp read rectally and tylenol administered that way too! At about 2:30 a PA comes in and says that Shep's white blood cell count is at 32,000 and the normal rate is between 6-10,000 and that he was calling our Dr. to see what he wanted to do. Ten minutes later he comes back in and listens to his lungs, Sam asks if the chest x-rays were okay and he said he did not see anything on them, then walks out. Back in after talking to our Dr. to inform us that Shep is being admitted and that he has pneumonia. WHAT???? So up to the 4X4 room with the metal cage that they call a crib. This is getting long, isn't it??? :> I will get to the point - Shep basically screamed for the next two nights as they poked and prodded him and stuck things you know where. Honestly, I was so mad at times that I wanted to beat the crap out of people. He kept looking at me like "Why are you letting them do this to me???" I HATE feeling helpless and seeing your child sick and not being able to make it stop is the most helpless feeling in the world. I am so glad that Sam was there with me, we shared a fold down chair (really comfy) for the majority of the stay, and I guess got to spend some really close time together. :> Shep ended up not having pneumonia (thanks PA) our Dr. said he did not see anything on the chest xrays that would even point to that and he even let the GOOD nurse (Sam) check them out himself. They are not sure what he caught, but the antibiotics and fluids seemed to help, we have to take him back in on Tuesday to make sure everything is okay. As I sat in the hospital I thought I don't know how parents are able to cope with kids that have serious illnesses because I don't think I could. Two days of sitting and doing nothing was enough to do me in, I can't imagine something constant. I am so glad we are out of that hospital and at home, and yet again I am reminded that children are little miracles and should not be taken for granted. I am so happy to see Shep smile after all the crying that it brings tears to my eyes, I know, corney, but true. Hopefully I don't need anymore "reminders" for a LOOOONNNNNGGGGGGGGGG time.