Easter and more!

Easter morning was lots of fun and we always enjoy watching the kids hunt for their easter baskets. The only problem is that we all sat around WAY too long, and were a little late to church. Therefore, Danica in a pretty dress is the only picture we got of anyone looking there best. (and OH doesn't she look her best!)

This is the best easter dress picture we have. I truly am disappointed that I didn't get a picture of the rest of them all dressed up, but they are all adorable not matter what!

My last thought about Easter is just to say how grateful I am to my Savior who loved me enough to give his life for me, and then was resurrected so we all could live again! I could NEVER describe in words the love I have for my Savior, he truly guides and directs my life daily, and I don't know how on earth I could raise my children in a world of such chaos if I did not know that I can ALWAYS turn to Him! What a blessing He is in my life!

I know this is kind of hard to see, but this is my children's 1st picnic of the summer. They love to eat there lunch outside whenever possible, and Kaden was having to go look at birds for a Science project, so why not make it a picnic. Sure love these cute little adventurers!

Now, if you look really close to the little monster on the left, you will see that it's Paige. We got to attend her play at school today, and she did great! Danica said "YOU WERE AWESOME", and I agree with Danica. Paige had 2 parts, she was also a townsperson. She did so well.

This has been a very busy and somewhat overwhelming week for me as the relief society president, and as the mom. I sure am thankful for a loving husband,friends, family, counselors, and again, for my Savior, who ALL look after me, and keep me going even when it might be hard. Love to you all!

15 YEARS..........and counting!

Fifteen years ago today, I came out of the Idaho Falls temple as Mrs. Jody Shumway. There was flowers blooming, and a little snow over the top of them. I feel like in the past 15 years we have had more of the flower moments together, than moments of trudging through snow. I truly have been blessed with........... The man of my dreams.................

The Father of my dreams......................

The larger than life, BFF of my dreams....

And the all out most amazing companion I could ever ask for!

Jody, thank you for the past 15 years, and I'm so excited to see what eternity with you still has to offer me! I LOVE YOU FOREVER you sexy hunk of a man!

Good Laugh!

Something that many of you may NOT know about these 2 adorable faces, is that they both seem to think they need BOYFRIENDS! This morning Jody and I were eating breakfast when Ali asked if I wanted to see what her boyfriend Kyler had given her.................. I said sure, and asked her why she was getting something. All we could think of was Easter. As she was showing me her set of 3 yummy skittle smelling chapstick and lipgloss, I asked Paige if she still had the same boyfriend. To my surprise, the answer was NO. She had a recent break-up, but it was short lived. Ali informed me that she has a NEW boyfriend Mark, and he's a 4th grader. (An older man) I asked her if he had given her anything, and she told us that he gives her love notes. (she was already giggling about something) I asked what he wrote, and her answer made us ALL (including Paige) laugh. Here are the words of a 4th grader in love.......................


Roses are Red, Violets are Blue, When we're apart, My heart beats for YOU!


Hope you had a as good of a chuckle from it as we did!

Break Break Your Heart

This is how I feel today! I'm afraid that what follows is the ramblings of an overwhelmed mother.

My 2 year old is dancing around me singing that she's only going to break break my heart. Oh how I hope that is not the case! Kids can sometimes be trying, and today I had to have (yet another) conversation with my teenager about being responsible for his school work. I CANNOT WAIT FOR 7TH GRADE TO BE OVER! We have this last quarter to make it through, and A LOT of things due. Kaden has to do a plant collection for Science, but this is not just a go get a few plants and tell what they are kind of collection........you have to lamenate each one, and get several different phases in the plants life. I really still don't know all the details, but I think Kaden is going to opt for the plant research paper this time. Who has time to go driving around looking for plants that I don't even know?

We are also in the midst of ISAT testing for all of the kids. They seem to be doing well, but Paige did inform me last night at about 5 to 8:00 that she needed to go to bed at 6:00 so she could be really ALERT for her tests......................hmmmm how do I fix that one? Story of my life......always behind!

Okay, done venting for awhile. I really do have things under control MOST of the time. I think this is just the time of year when I get that burnt out feeling and can't wait for summer to be here. I'm counting down the Mondays!

Oh what a Tuesday!

Yesterday was a very crazy day for us. Jody is out of town again, and so I was one driver down with 3 children to be in 3 different places, at just about the same time. I had to call in for back-up, and thank goodness for the BEST IN-LAWS ever! I asked Jancie on Sunday night if they would be willing to help me and she immediately got a notebook and pen, and asked what I needed them to do and when and where. Thank you grandpa and grandma for helping my crazy evening to go SO smooth. Now, Danica knowing that I had nothing to do yesterday decided to help herself to some "sugar". Problem is, it was flour, and it was in the recliner, and all over her. I cleaned up most of it before I thought about taking a picture, but she is proud none the less! How do you get upset with her when she has such PRIDE in her work? So, now for the Tuesday evening agenda! I was to have Ali to the high school in Preston for a dance performance by about 6:00, but she wouldn't actually perform until around 7:00. Tyce needed to be in Richmond, about 15 minutes away, at his first spring soccer game that started at 6:30, and Kaden needed to be at mutual in Riverdale, 10 minutes in the opposite direction of Preston than Richmond, for a service project, and to get an eagle project idea to start working on. We made a plan, which I am very good at doing.......ask Jody.........and away we went. I took Ali to the school and dropped her off with warnings of DO NOT LEAVE THE GYM, and STAY WITH SOMEONE YOU KNOW. Then Tyce and I went to his game. Janice met us there, because I was only able to watch the first 10 minutes, then had to get back to Ali's dance performance. This is Tyce getting warmed up for the big game. For some reason, they only have 5 kids on their team, and only the 3 boys showed up last night. The other team had 4, but only played 3. Does anyone want to tell me how you can truly play soccer with only 3 people?

Tyce is very good at soccer, and very fun to watch. I got to see him make 1 goal before I left, but he came home with 4 of their 5 or 6 goals (he can't remember which). There is however NO goalie in this league, so that helps too, but we were VERY proud of his goals! (Tyce is blue #14)

When I was just about to leave for Preston, Brad called Janice and told her that he had gotten Kaden to mutual. He had a meeting in town, so it worked out well, EXCEPT that Kaden got told he had to be there 30 minutes earlier than usual, so his wonderful grandpa left early for Kaden, and I'm sure ended up sitting in his car in town while he waited for his meeting. Thank you grandpa!

I made it to the high school about 4 dances before Ali performed. PHEW! She is doing ballroom this year, and has enjoyed it, but wants to go back to clogging next year. We are happy about that, because she' really good at clogging, BUT............

She was also VERY GOOD at ballroom. She did GREAT! She was swinging her hips, and moving her arms so pretty like. I have to admit, I was a very proud mom! (Ali is on the right)

Ali is the 2nd one from the right in this photo. She's twisting so cute, but doesn't it look like the girl behind her is doing bunny ears? Funny!

When Ali finished dancing, we watched several more dances waiting for Kaden to call and say he was ready for a ride. We finally picked him up on the way home just a little after 8:00, and happened to see Janice and Tyce on their way home as well. We never could have done it without our grandparent angels, and I sure love them for always keeping an eye on our family.

I also have to give lots of thanks to Paige who stayed home and tended Danica through the whole thing. She is absolutely the BEST babysitter, and Danica loves her. I would have been a basket case if I would have had to take Danica, so thanks to my sweet little Paige.

So, review of what we came away with yesterday, 1 flour mess cleaned up, 4 soccer goals, 1 ballroom dance done, and make-up still on her face to prove it, 1 service project, 1 eagle project idea, 3 angels that helped me, and 1 very tired but VERY BLESSED mom!

Daddy Daughter Date

Last Friday Ali and Paige had a Daddy Daughter Night planned. They were very excited to find out that Jody did NOT have school, and would be able to go, BUT with all the games they had planned they EACH needed their OWN DAD! Their leaders suggested that they might ask an uncle or grandpa to be a Dad for the night. Paige was quite excited about this suggestion, and came home begging to ask UNCLE MATT! Of course Matt being the GREAT uncle that he is agreed to go. Here is the Dad's and the Daughters...dressed up in their basketball outfits for the matching part of the night! This was my favorite picture of the night. My 2 cute girls just having a good time! Paige thought she was pretty sneaky.

Here's a picture of the dad's and daughters playing TWISTER! We are proud to announce that Ali was tied for first with our Bishop (who also had a daughter in attendance). Way To Go Ali!

All in all, this was a fun night for all, and I'm sure glad for these kind of opportunities for our kids.

In other news....We are on Spring Break this week, and Jody is in Philly, so it's me and the kids. We spent Sunday at my mom and dad's, and then Monday with Natalie, and we took the kids to see Tangled. It was as good as everyone has been saying, and we all had a great time. Now we are just home entertaining one another, and enjoying a week of NO HOMEWORK!