The day after

Okay, now that I look back on yesterday, the day was not that bad! I think that it was what to be expected for 5 young children on Christmas day. The Chem-Dry people got here at 9 this morning to clean the carpets so I headed over to Mom and Dad's for the day. We had a nice visit with them and we got to eat a nice meal for dinner with ham, dressing, rolls, mashed potatoes, etc. It was fun. Turin, Jenn, Vivian, April and BJ came over for a visit too which was very nice. It is always good to see them. I headed back home with the kids minus the missing sippie cup, around 7 and got home around 9. The youngest 3 were already asleep and Brennan and Kerstyn went right to bed. It was a nice continuation of Christmas.

Christmas Day 2006

Well, this day started off WAY TOO EARLY! The kids were up before 6 a.m. and I was NOT ready for that. They were very excited to see what Santa brought and what they got from Chris and I and their grandparents. The gifts from Santa included for Brennan, The game of Life Pirates of the Caribbean Edition, Kerstyn, a Game Boy and Bratz game, Lauklan, Zathura, the board game, Greyson, Imaginext dragon and Aislinn, a sit and spin! They were very happy except for the fact that Santa DID NOT bring Greyson a Zathura game too. Oops... The other gifts they got included quite a few small gifts in their stockings, and a few other things that they wanted. We had 5 happy faces! However, around 11 a.m., it was time for a needed nap that NOBODY would take, so... the rest of the day was fussing, laughing, playing and so on. Chris's Mom, step dad, sister Holly and Devin, and Karen and Krystal came around 1 for lunch and fun. It got even crazier. When I finally got the kids in bed, I told Chris that they day had been awful! Now that I look back on it, I believe that it was a great day for 5 kids, and a day to be expected for their parents. I wouldn't change that for the world.

Christmas Eve!

>Today has been great! We got up and went to church. It even started off great since I didn't have to make breakfast because Kenney had already done it. Yeah! Church was a little challenging. The kids were off their games and I had several teachers and staff not show today. However, primary went on and we survived. After arriving home, we straightened up and then Mom and Dad arrived around 3. The kids were just ecstatic! Dad played the game of Life with Chris, Brennan, Kerstyn and Lauklan. Greyson and Aislinn just did their own thing. Mom and I got to visit and that was nice. We were also treated this evening by the Lowders that came here Christmas caroling. It was a really nice treat. Now, we must try to get the kids to sleep so Santa can come. I am sure that tomorrow morning will be quite an event. I look forward to it. Enjoy the pictures from the visit today with Mom and Dad.

Horray for Christmas break!

I am so glad that today is the last day for the kids until January 8, 2007! I know that in a short amount of time, I will change that statement, however, right now it is true. I look forward to being able to not be so rushed in the mornings, not packing lunches, NO HOMEWORK (that is the best part)! Lauklan and Greyson had their Christmas play at their pre-school yesterday and Aislinn and I attended. They were in the chorus and I never heard them sing a single word. I don't think that the chorus ever did sing when they were supposed to, BUT, they were happy that I came.

This is fun!

This is our tree. It has had quite a long life. Mom and Dad bought it for Chris and I 12 years ago on our first Christmas as a married couple. I love it because of that, however, I wish in a way that it would just go ahead and FALL APART becuase I want to get a 9 foot pre-lit tree! But I just can't do that, since it has been such a part of our life so far, and it really doesn't have anything wrong with it. So, thank you tree, for your faithful service to the Shipley family, but you really don't have to be so faithful, do you?

Aislinn and Greyson think it is the best thing to take ALL of the ornaments that they can reach off the tree! All of the kids were so excited to have the tree up and to look at it. I remember when I was a child, I always slept next to the tree the first night that it was up. That magic seemed to fade after that and before we had children that realized what was going on (which was only about5 years or so). However, once the kids got old enough to be excited, this has been such a fun time of year. Well, except for the stresses of finding the right stuff. It was just magical to see Lauklan so excited and wanting to help with the tree. He asked about every 2 minutes since the time he woke up on Saturday when we were going to do it. We had told him on Wednesday that it would be done Saturday. I am sure that it seemed like an eternity to him even though we did it at about 4 p.m. This time of year brings back so many memories. It was always a time of family gathering, way too much food, and fun! I look forward to enjoying this time with Chris and the kids.

I think I did it!

I think that I have purchased all the gifts that I need to for the kids. I did some online shopping yesterday and I went to Target today! I am so proud of myself, however, I think it was almost too easy. Did I miss something? Have I gotten the wrong stuff? No puppy for Kerstyn. Will that ruin the whole 'thing'? I sure hope not. We have had the opportunity this year to give quite a bit and we are grateful for that. I want our family to focus on the opportunity to help others and getting to spend time together, not just the gifts. We'll see if my grand plan works... hopefully it will.

Hustle and Bustle

I have not bought one, yes, that's right, not one gift this year. I did however, get my Christmas cards out promptly. I hope that I will be able to go out Saturday morning and purchase a few things from the grandparents and great-grandparents to put under our tree. Also, we have not even gotten our tree up yet. That is a Saturday chore also. It is so easy to get lost in the stresses of this season, but if I focus on the REAL reason for the season, it brings peace to my heart and joy. I am thankful for that.

Fun Days

This is what Aislinn found to be the GREATEST THING yesterday afternoon. She was pushed around the house in an empty diaper box until it broke to pieces. I wish that it was that easy to be amused in your 30's!

Today, it is so much fun to roll an almost flat soccer ball with your older brother, Greyson! I hope that they will be good buddies for, well, an eternity!






Don't we look like we are up to no good?

It's a crazy time of year!

Chris and I are supposed to be 3 places at once tonight. I'm not sure we're even going to make one of them. Greyson is running a low grade fever and Aislinn is a fusser pants! We are supposed to be at the Ward Christmas Party at 6 in Leesburg. The Dave Lowe Realty Christmas Open House in Mount Dora before 9 and Doug and Suzy's party in Sorrento at 7:30. Sound confusing? It sure does to me! You have to LOVE this time of year.

Update on the science project

We got the science project turned in. I forgot to take a picture of it before we sent it so I will take one when we get it back. That whole process was full of crazy events. Somehow, the solution leaked, or was spilled out of the 'control group' cup of crystals. The other cup, which we cooled in the refrigerator, never did anything! So, we did the best we could and turned it in. We'll see... Brennan, however, thought the whole thing was just the best thing! I wish I was still a kid!

Science Project

Okay, please help me remember this. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST WEEK to conduct the experiment to a science fair project. Here is what we got done tonight. We mixed the crystals and HOPE that they grow really, really fast! Brennan thinks that it is great. Maybe I should too. I am sure that I would if I had not waited until the last minute. Note the safety goggles and all. If you know Brennan, you know that he is very safety conscious. What a neat boy that I have, if I do say so myself.

Not going back to school

I will not be returning to teaching with Debbie this year. I do not have ESOL and they say that it was needed to get that position. So, I will continue doing what I am doing. Brennan put us all straight in the car today as to why I did not get the position. He stated, "Mommy did not get that job because Heavenly Father wants her at home taking care of us. She has enough to do. Daddy can do his job, and make all the money that we need so that we will all be fine!" I know he's right. Sometimes the kids know better than we do.

Do you remember these moments?

This is my first look at Aislinn. She was born June 16, 2005. I don't have any of the other kids on my computer since it was pre-digital camera for us. However, they all look the same. I can't even describe the feeling. I am crying just remembering it all. It can't be put into words, however, here are a few that come to mind. Amazing, beautiful, hope, fear, wonder, thanks, inspiration, courage... What a blessing! Not once, twice, or even three times, but FIVE! I am so thankful for my husband, my children and the rest of my family. Please know that I love you, all of you, and that you all give me strength! Here is one of my favorite quotes. Ponder it, and let me know what it means to you. "When all is said and done, this is what the gospel is about. The family is a creation of God. It is the basic creation. The way to strengthen the nation is to strengthen the homes of the people." – President Gordon B. Hinckley

Bear badge

Brennan earned his bear badge tonight. He will get his arrows in the January pack meeting. We are very proud of him. He will be 10 in January and start working on his Webelos then. It is always an accomplishment to earn each badge. He really enjoys it and we are glad.

Homework Time

The MOST stressful time of the weekdays are right after Brennan and Kerstyn get home from school. Brennan always has quite a bit of homework and it is a challenge to keep him focused on it. Kerstyn doesn't have too much work and even so, she loves it, so all I have to do is check it when she is done. I am sure that it is quite hard to concentrate since the younger 3 are playing hard while the older two are supposed to be working hard. See the pictures to illustrate the problem...

Our latest family picture

Here is the picture that I picked for our Christmas cards and to make enlargements for family. It could be better, but for 7 people and an amateur in front of and behind the camera, this is what we got. I can't believe how big the kids are getting. Brennan will be 10 in January, Kerstyn was 8 last week, Lauklan is almost half way through 5, Greyson is a little over 3 and Aislinn is already 17 months! How did that happen?

Christmas lights

We got the rest of the Christmas lights on the house and turned on tonight. The kids and I were so excited. Chris is just glad that I won't be bugging him about in anymore. I plugged all of them(7 strands) together originally. Then within an hour, all but 1 section was off. So, I summoned Chris outside to remedy the problem. He said he would take care of it tomorrow, but I would not allow it since I had worked so feverishly getting them on the house to begin with. So, he began working on it (only because he loves me - those are HIS words). I read the box and it instructed to only put 3 sections together, not SEVEN, so it was quite probable that I had blown a fuse. (Already, I was asking?) He was working on it for around 10 minutes and asked politely, "How long do I have to do this before I can quit?" To which I replied, "As soon as you get it fixed." :) It is fixed, it looks beautiful and I am glad that Chris persevered until it was complete. I went outside and took a picture, but I obviously don't know how to do it correctly since the white lights look multi-colored. I'll keep trying and if I get it right, I'll post it later.

Baptism Day

Today went great! We had a nice group of family and friends at Kerstyn's baptism. She looked at me after she came out of the water and was changing her clothes and said, "I've been waiting my whole life for this"! How sweet and pure. She was so excited today, so happy.
Here are some pictures from the baptism.

Kerstyn

Today is Kerstyn's 8th birthday. She got to do several things today just the way that she wanted. First, she got to go to Publix and pick out her birthday cake. She wanted cookies and cream ice cream with chocolate cake. We have enjoyed eating that today. Second, she got to pick what she wanted for lunch. She wanted Chick-Fil-A, but Aislinn fell asleep on the way there so we went through the McDonald's drive thru and ate it at home. Third, and last, we went bowling as a family. We had a really good time. It has been fun focusing on Kerstyn today and I believe that she had fun too. Tomorrow is her baptism, which she is extremely excited about! We have just finished printing her program, I practiced bassoon today, made a few phone calls to those that I needed to remind, and I think we are ready. What an exciting event, to be baptized into Jesus' church. We are all excited too...

Thankful

Since Thanksgiving is just 2 days away, I am reflecting on the things of which I am thankful. I am thankful for my life, the opportunity to live here on Earth, to learn, to love, to laugh, to cry, to serve, and to just be me! Now these things sound quite simple, however, they are the basic parts of my life in which I am very thankful. I have been pondering the simple things lately and how I need to remember ALL of which I have to be thankful for.

I got to visit teach Debbie Carter on Sunday and when I was pondering the things that I would like to share with her, I turned and looked at this certain excerpt in the Ensign from a talk given by Kathleen H. Hughes, First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency. It read:

My mother died when I was a young mother. I still needed her counsel and advice. After her cancer was diagnosed, she lived only six weeks. Initially, my concern was for my father. I felt grateful that Mom had not suffered long and that her death had been a sweet experience for us. But a few weeks later Mother's Day and her birthday were coming, and I began to miss her terribly. I wanted her arms around me, and I wanted to know that she was all right. I wanted to tell her that I loved her and missed her.
One night as I was praying and crying (which I did often then), I felt comfort fill my body—suddenly and powerfully. The feeling restored me; it gave me peace. It did not last long physically, yet it was immensely comforting. I knew what it was—the Lord's love encircling me and granting me peace and strength. But just as important, that moment has remained in my memory as a sweet gift to unwrap and remember when life is difficult.

I quickly realized that this message was for me instead of for Debbie. However, I hope that Debbie got something out if it. It just points out to me AGAIN how Heavenly Father can and will comfort us. I am thankful for that.

I have had a hard time with my mother being diagnosed with cancer, and now having to undergo chemotherapy. However, I have spent much time in prayer about it and I have felt His love, I have felt that comfort, I have felt peace. It amazes me that I can receive those blessings, because He loves me. I know that, and for that, I am thankful.