Here comes the tile

This is the accent tile that goes about every 10 or so tiles.

This is how far he got and it took around 4 hours. It is slow and tedious work.

Close up of the deep end tile that is done.

Cliff worked on finishing the plumbing today and started on the tile. We can't wait to see the finished product!

Happy Anniversary

14 years down and an eternity to go!

Chris and I had a nice dinner at The Cheesecake Factory and a great time reminiscing about the good 'ol days. The time sure does fly by. Two things that I can say for sure, I can't imagine being as happy with anyone else and I love him more today than yesterday.

President Gordon B. Hinckley

I know that President Hinckley was a prophet of God. I know that he lead and guided The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints by divine inspiration. I know that he was inspired to tell us things so that, if we were obedient, would help keep us on the straight and narrow path.

I was truly saddened when I hear the news of his passing for selfish reasons. I will miss hearing his voice and truly enjoying his sense of humor. However, I know that he is with his wife now and very happy. I know that he missed her so very much.

He became the prophet not long after I was baptized and he served so valiantly for so many years. I never met him in person, never stood by his side physically, but I feel that I have been at his feet spiritually many, many times. I know that he is happy and healthy at this moment. I know that I will see him again if I am valiant.

I literally cried this morning when my mother told me of him passing away. I am crying as I type this blog. I know that his life has touched so many people, mine included. May I live my life according to his counsel.

You can click on 'click' to read an article about his passing.

Dinner with Michelle and Will

Mich and Will after dinner.

Aren't they cute?

I finally got to meet Will. Michelle has been dating him since July and just last night, I got to meet him. We were supposed to meet halfway between St. Augustine (where Michelle lives) and Sorrento (where we live). So, we decided on Daytona Beach at Longhorn Steakhouse. 7:00 p.m. was the time we decided on. Meaning of course that we would have to leave here no later than 6 to be there on time. Well, Chris was on the phone with clients until 6:45 so were were 45 minutes late. Luckily, they were very sweet and agreed to wait for us. The whole hour drive Chris was making phone calls while I drove like a mad woman. But... we did make it and had a GREAT time!

Afternoon and hair

Mom came over today for lunch. She brought Kerstyn a Strawberry Shortcake sleeping bag that was mine when I was her age. It has to be around 25 years old. I'm not sure I want her to even touch it. But, thanks mom, for bringing it. She also brought Aislinn a Boyd's bear that is almost as big as Aislinn is. Too cute!

We had lunch at Chili's and despite Aislinn's attempts to mess it up, we still had a good time. She always leaves too soon and I miss her as soon as she pulls out of the driveway. :(

At 4, I had a hair appointment with Allison to cover up all of my gray. It's getting so bad with gray that she didn't even charge me and told me that she needed me to come back next week for her to do the color again. She's getting afraid that I will need permanent color as opposed to semi-permanent. But, the permanent color is much harder on my hair and for the first time in a long time, my hair is getting close to being almost healthy. Don't you think I am too young to have so much gray hair? I sure do.

Back to it

Yesterday the kids went back to school after having Friday and Monday off. We enjoyed our trip to Tallahassee even though I had a TERRIBLE meltdown on Sunday. You know, the kind that you wish you could forget, but are sure you NEVER will. Anyway, so sorry to Chris' family for having to endure that.

So on to better news. We have hit the ground running with going back to school and doing homework. I have gone to the gym both yesterday and today. Tonight entails getting Kerstyn to her Activity Days/Faith in God activity and Brennan to Boy Scouts. (It sounds so weird to say Boy Scouts instead of Cub Scouts.) Tomorrow I work in the office from 9 until noon and then Brennan and Kerstyn go back for piano lessons.

Hey, here's a question for you. We're 'thinking' about getting a dog. We have been 'thinking' about it for years. So, we're 'thinking' again. What do YOU think?

Not fair!

Please check Janet's Blog to see what is so unfair! I would LOVE to meet and interact with Mitt Romney! Not to mention the fact that I would love my children to be face to face with the next President of the United States! GO MITT!

And yes, to answer Janet's question about if it is 'obvious' that they are members. I believe that if our family was there interacting with him he would of asked us the same thing. I do think that we tend to 'know' each other. Do you?

By the way, we just got in from Tallahassee. We went up Friday and came back today. It was nice to see family and friends in our old ward. We need to try to go back more than once a year though.

Piano lessons

Brennan and Kerstyn started piano lessons tonight with Bobbyn Lowder. She is an excellent teacher and the kids are really excited to be taking lessons. We'll see how long their excitement lasts. However, piano lessons, unlike playing baseball, will be something that we continue. I don't mean that all of the kids have to be virtuosos, but they all need to know how to play the piano. We'll see...

Two days in a row

I just can't believe it!

I took this standing on the lanai. That is the kiddie pool with an umbrella hole and a pipe where you can do a fountain. Everything looks so different with the mounds of dirt gone. We've had those mounds for so long that I didn't remember how it looked flat.

I took this standing at corner of the lanai. You can see the swim out area and the bench under the hot tub. There will be a waterfall from the hot tub to the pool. Out from the swim out will be the slide.

This is the hot tub. In the upper center of the picture is where there will be glass blocks and the waterfall.

I now have to pick tile. I thought it would be easy since I knew that I wanted blue. But, of course there are too many to choose from and I don't have any idea how it will look when it is all done. Its like picking carpet from a 1/2 in. piece and having it in your whole house.

Pool update

Finally, something to blog about!!!

Spraying the concrete. Isn't that neat?

Finishing up. I'm glad that I didn't have to try to get out of there!

It took 3 concrete trucks and around 6 people a total of 8 hours to complete the job. But... Can you feel the love? I feel good... I think that I might even attempt cartwheels. What do you think?

Happy 11th birthday Brennan!

Brennan showing how old he is.

Posing before church.

We had a fun day together as a family. I think that Brennan had Happy Birthday sung to him around 10 times! He seemed to like that. We also enjoyed birthday cake along with a nice Sunday at church. Happy Birthday Brennan!

Shopping

I got to go shopping today all by myself! I left around 10:30 this morning and headed to Kohl's in Sanford. I had a really good time there buying 2 pairs of shoes and 3 outfits!

After Kohl's I went to Sam's and got a few things. I really wanted to get Brennan a birthday cake there, but they didn't have any made that I thought we would all enjoy.

Following my trip to Sanford, I headed to Chris's office to do a little work and order some invitations for a sleepover that we are having for Kerstyn on February 1 and 2 while the boys are at the Father and Son camp out. I hope they turn out as cute as they look on the computer.

Then, off to Publix for a birthday cake and some chicken tenders. I got Brennan an ice cream and regular cake. The ice cream is Cookies and Cream, (my favorite) Brennan's too, I hope and marble cake. I think we had the same cake last year, so hopefully he still likes it.

Overall, I had a relaxing day, all by myself while my wonderful husband took care of the kids. Yipee!!

No concrete

Monday at 8:30 a.m. they will be doing the concrete for the pool. Or so they promise...

I sure hope so. :( It was supposed to be done today, but of course, something happened and they couldn't. I mean it, our pool process has sure had more than its fair share of set-backs and problems!

Stargirl

I just finished reading Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli and I just loved it! It was a simple read, of course it should be for me since it is a Children's lit choice, but anyway, it was really good.

The story is about kids in high school and a girl that was previously home schooled shows up and is different. Different in every sense of the word. Well, if you remember high school, you know how well different does. It is a neat journey through high-schoolers minds and a well written novel. I highly recommend it.

Last meeting as a Cub Scout

Tonight is Brennan's last meeting as a Cub Scout. On Sunday, he will turn 11 and be a Boy Scout. I can't believe that I will have an 11 year old!

My favorite day of the week.

I have a favorite day of the week! (Besides Sunday, of course) It is Tuesday! Are you wondering why Tuesday is my second favorite day of the week? The answer is simple, Maria comes on Tuesday to clean the house. She leaves, and it looks great!

I love having clean sheets on my bed, but I really do NOT like to change the sheets. I guess that it's not one set that I don't like changing, but when you have to change 6 different beds, it gets quite tiring. But never fear, Maria is here!

I really do enjoy vacuuming, but I don't like to dust. I don't mind cleaning the bathrooms, but it is usually time intensive, and I don't seem to have as much time as I would like to be able to do those sorts of things.

So, you remember my post about having my house cleaned for Christmas. I will love this present all year long! YEA!!!

What a nice day!

Today, being the first Sunday of the new year, we got to go to church from 10 - 1 for the first time. We will have that schedule all of 2008. Wow, is all that I can say! What a difference that time makes when it comes to being able to have more of an opportunity to do visiting teaching, and quality time with the family. I do have to admit that I really liked not having to rush around in the morning on Sunday, which is how it was when we attended in the afternoon, but now we have to 'hustle'. But, I now feel like I can go do my visiting teaching, visit primary children, friends, or family on TOP of getting to go to church.


So, I was blessed with getting to visit with Debbie today. I have been her visiting teacher for years. She is my friend, was my co-worker for 2 years, Kerstyn's second grade teacher and my sister in the gospel. I always leave our conversations feeling uplifted and understood. That is a blessing in itself.

This picture was taken when Debbie was doing the classroom awards in May of 2007. I was there since Kerstyn was in her classroom. Doesn't she look cute? :)

Pool update?

Did you find yourself asking why you haven't seen pictures showing the progress of the swimming pool? Well, there there hasn't been any progress, that's why! It still looks like the picture that I took of it today. However, Cliff assures me that we will have concrete by the end of the week and then the pool will move along a LOT faster after this. Let's sure pray for that!

Glad to be back home

Aren't they cute?

We all went to the gym this morning and then to Cici's for lunch. I have had a great time with the children over the break. I am sad that on Monday, we will go back to school. It is nice to all be together. For the most part, I think the kids like it too. :)

Happy New Year!

We came home from Ft. Benning today. It took most of the day in the car, but the kids did great and the parents even did okay. For those of you that currently have small children, or those of you that remember, you know EXACTLY what I mean about surviving long road trips with small children.

I am looking forward to 2008. I have great hopes that it will be another prosperous year for the Shipley family. Heavenly Father has been so good to us. For that, I am deeply thankful.