Vining's an Eternal Family

UPDATES TO COME....

2011-04-18T00:21:00.004-07:00

SO there are lots of updates to come and in the next few days! I have spent all day typing everything out, now I just have to add pictures to them all! I have fall, holidays, b-days, spring, and Harley to share all about. But here is a teaser... here are Eden's 5yr old pics and Emilyn's 6month old shots... I have to admit, I think they are pretty cute kids and I LOVE THEM BOTH. I want to just stare at Eden's eyes and eat Emilyn's chunky cheeks!

3 Months, Still Beautiful, & Still Growing!

2010-11-20T17:32:00.001-07:00

Ahhh!

2010-11-02T00:34:00.002-07:00

SO I can't believe how much time has gone by! My little man is all grown up, my little girl isn't so "new" anymore and we have been so busy that I can't believe the overwhelming task of blogging it all! Well, someday soon I'll get pics together and their stories written, so I can share our fun with everyone! But for now, a quick update... Went to Michigan and visited the family, it was so great and really enjoyed it! Did a few fall activities including the Desert Botanical Garden Fall Fest, trick or treating and fall parties, Grammy came out to visit again, Emilyn's blessing is this weekend, winterizing our yard, plus our normal day to day things! Ahhh! I need a vacation from life! Needless to say, I am exhausted, but everyone is doing great! I can't believe how big my kids are getting, this includes a little guy who isn't so little anymore! I bought 6 pairs of pants in the back to school sales in august... well, NONE of them fit anymore! They were a little big when I got them and now, well not anymore! New socks, pants, shoes, and hopefully these will last throughout the winter!~ Eden is growing up so fast!
Well, hope all is well for everyone and that you are enjoying your fall!
We'll post soon!

Family Portraits, by Lauren Vining

2010-10-27T01:39:00.001-07:00

I'd like to share my Walgreens Photo Center photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.

Grammy's Visit

2010-09-12T21:28:00.001-07:00

LOVE, HUMOR, & ENDURANCE

2010-09-12T21:25:00.002-07:00

Endurance comes from our little Emilyn... WOW does she have a voice, an opinion, & an addiction to her mommy! I am learning how long my endurance with patiance & tolerance can hold out. Emilyn has a very very strong addiction to me and if anyone else holds her, forget it, she will let you know that you are not her mom! Also, she wants me to hold her and feed her ALL the time, I can almost never put her down... but that's ok! I am not complaining, I love her and I love the cuddling. We are really enjoying her sweet little spirit in our home and in our lives, she is a huge blessing to us and we've waited some time to have her. So we are not complaining, just keep in mind we are not getting any sleep either!

Lots of Firsts

2010-09-12T21:23:00.001-07:00

the first 3 weeks... so sweet!

Baby Pics

2010-09-12T21:21:00.001-07:00

Here are a few pics from our Baby Photo Session with Emilyn when she was 6 days old...

Emilyn Grace Vining, August 20, 2010

2010-08-24T12:23:00.008-07:00

Emilyn Grace Vining Born August 20, 2010 at 9:00pm. She was 7lbs 14oz, 21in, and scored an 8.5 on the APGAR. She came fast, naturally, and is healthy!

Little Miss Emmy is 4 days old in this picture, and cute as a button!

So, how'd it all happen? Friday morning I woke up at 2 not feeling well, felt a few contractions, but after an hour was able to go back to sleep. Then woke up at 5am and said, nope, these are real contractions and they are not going a way! So after counting them... I was having contractions about 2-3 min apart and lasting about 70 sec. Knowing that I was already at a 5cm and that I was having a lung test later that morning, I thought I should still call my doctor and ask what he wanted me to do. So, he had me go get monitored and another exam just over by St. Joe's Hospital and sure enough I was a 6 and my contractions were consistent enough to keep in the hospital, so we left and went Scottsdale to check in! Knowing I wasn't going to be able to eat, we stopped by Taco Bell... nothing new there! Needless to say, got checked in, was set up in a laboring room, got all situated & all the contractions went away! But I was already checked in, I was already at a 6 pushing 7, so they had to keep me! My doctor had also scheduled to have me induced the next morning so, they said it was his call. Well, he was in surgery with another patient that afternoon, so he said just to wait until he was out and then he'd come up and see what he'd do. So, he got up to the hospital at 6pm, broke my water, started me on pitocin at 6:30pm, upped it every 30 min (which was horribly painful), then at 8pm, I was checked and they said I was an 8 but could stretch to a 10cm, at that point I was really looking forward to some pain killers, like the narcotics they put in the IV not an epidural... but the new nurse said it was too late for that. I was never told there was a time limit on that, I was mad, I really wanted to take the edge off and was told I could, then for no real reason I couldn't anymore? But needless to say I went on laboring and Shaun kept on and on about getting the epidural, and I finally said to knock it off, I didn't want it and to leave it alone. At 8:30pm they upped the pitocin again, and I said I wanted to push, I could feel her trying to come out, and again the nurse said no, I was still at an 8. So then I said, fine give me the epidural, if I can't push now, then I am done with this all, give me the epi... yet again, I was too late, I couldn't get it, I said that was a CROCK, she had said I could get it up to an 8 and that's where I was, so give it! She then told me, that I didn't have enough saline/ IV fluid in me to be able to get the epidural... so I wasn't allowed. UHhh, then I said again I was feeling like her head was right there and I felt the urge and need to push... again she said no, but that she'd call my doctor. So, sure enough I decided to push anyway, the oncall doctor said he'd be there just in case my doctor didn't show up in time, and so he stood there waiting, the nurse then said my doctor was on his way, and I was standing up pushing against the bed! At 8:45pm, my doctor walked in and said I was ready and she was already coming, so I kept on pushing per his requests and she was born right at 9:00pm!

After all the clean up, after birth stuff, and such that needed to happen, we tried to call as many family members as possible since it was super late in Michigan and getting late in Arizona... so we looked crazy calling people so fast, but it was important to let everyone know Emilyn was here! We were moved down to our recovery room and did the first bath and got to bond! Here are a few pics from the 20th...

So the next morning we started getting lots and lots of visitors! Aunts, grandparents, friends and the BIG BROTHER all came to welcome the newest little arrival to our family! It was great and so nice to have so many come to see her.

Then on the 22nd, Sunday morning, we were on our way to being discharged and the pediatrician decided that Emilyn couldn't leave, she had a small case of Jaundice. They were too concerned about it, but she needed light therapy to treat it, so that it didn't get worse. It was kind of hard to hear that she had something, small but still, wrong with her. She was such a fight to get here, I thought that everything would be fine once she got here. But in the grand scem of things, this was nothing and not a big deal, it was just a little saddening to me. So, she underwent the "Billi-Light". She wasn't allowed to come out but for a few things and for a short while, so we couldn't hold her, I couldn't nurse her, she was naked under the light and lonely for 18 hours! So, it made it hard for me with my milk coming in, but none the less, we got through it and Monday the 23rd she was released to go home! Here are some pics of her first pair of shades and our release!

Finally HOME! So, we finally made it home on Monday and got a few little pics of getting out of the car for the first time, the big brother holding his new little sister, and she is in love with her little lamb bouncer! One of the treatments we have to do in order to help her jaundice is to take her out into the sun, let me tell you how hot it is! So, we went to the mailboxes, we went to the 'lake', and showed her off to the neighbors... the nurses also said to keep her in front of the windows or doors and let the natural light in to help her too. Well, we have UV Protected glass with tint, so that doesn't work too well, but we still try!

So, now we are onto the day to day life; laundry, errands, household responsibilities, etc! I am still a little shocked as to what to do and how to manage 2 kids, but I am starting to get the hang of it. Shaun is taking some time off of work, so it is nice to have him home, but he still is busy and has things he has to do, so, I am getting a small dose of how to and what to do with a newborn and a 4 year old! Life is great though and I feel very blessed to have what we do, I am so happy that we have our little Emilyn Grace! She is such a sweetie and so good!

We welcome this little one with open arms and hearts!

This Month and Our Little Miss...

2010-08-17T23:50:00.011-07:00

Well this month has been crazy! Eden started preschool, he has been in many mom & tot classes and various sports, but not an official school just for him. SO this was a big step in growing up for him. He got a monogrammed Yoda backpack, which he is rather proud of, he got his few supplies, and put his name on them all, he worked on a new bedtime and routine to prepare for the big day, he met his teacher, and then he decided he was no longer a "monkey" anymore, now that he was going off to school he is a big boy, "just a boy mommy" was his exact words! He has been in school now for 2 weeks and is loving it! They are just starting in on curriculum this week, last week was a feeler as to where the class was and what they already knew. So, now we are learning all about "Cass" and her "C" words. He has homework even!

Here are some pics from his 1st day of school, I know I am biased, but he is SO HANDSOME!

These are just random pics, but Eden has been having fun with some girlfriends lately... the girls have a little pool in the backyard and they asked if Eden wanted to join in on the fun, so he slipped on some pink goggles and some of the girls' jean shorts and off he was! They looked like they had a blast!

Also with this new month, we have had a few other new things happen. Shaun was performing so well at work, that they invited him to this summit in North Scottsdale! He got to invite me, so I went along for all the wonderful amenities too! He listened to a motivational speaker Friday morning, got a free round of golf on GCU, got $50 in resort restaurant food vouchers and so we enjoyed appetizers and breakfast in bed/ room service on GCU, I had a pre-natal massage at the spa, and then we enjoyed the lazy river and various pools all day, we walked the beautiful grounds both in the evening & day, and then we enjoyed a nice dinner for two at their Resturante Tuscany! We kind of rolled our anniversary celebration into this weekend get-a-way too, it was so nice! Eden stayed with his Grandpa & GrandVona on Friday night and then they dropped him back at our house so his cousin Tayler could watch him on Saturday. He LOVES his cousin Tayler too, she plays with him as if she is his age, so he eats it up! Plus she is a strong swimmer, so we felt comfortable letting her take him out to the pool too, and they went swimming for 3hours! He loved every min of it! Of course it was a nice break for us to just be a couple before the baby comes, but we found ourselves talking about how cute Eden is, and how he'd love the kids stuff at the resort; it's funny how my life really is all about my little family, even though we are adults and had the opportunity to just be us, we are so in love with our son and all that he is, he still became apart of our get-a-way!

Anyway, here are some pics of the GCU Summit/ our early anniversary/ JW Marriott Resort... I really liked the landscape, I think they did an amazing job!

Also, this month we have a baby on the way! Yes, our little miss is supposed to grace us with her presence this month! SO, what does that mean at this point... well, I have had my regular check ups, everything is on target and going well. She is growing great and is a chunk! Plus, from my internal perspective, she is strong as heck too! She truly is doing swan lake in my stomach, we have a dancer on the way! Also, as for me, the momma, I am doing great. Low but normal blood pressure, no extreme weight gain (unlike Eden), I'm only up 12-15lbs total, little to no swelling (which is great), no pregnancy diabetes, and no Group B. My only issues are that I have a pinched nerve in my low back, but I go to the chiropractor weekly and the adjustments work miracles on making the pain go away. I also have stress fractures in my left foot, which nothing can be done about that except keep off my foot and keep it wrapped up in an Ace Bandage. We worked really hard for 2 years, lost 3 along the way, all to get pregnant with this little one, so I am trying really hard not to complain, not to take this for granted, and to really appreciate all that there is to pregnancy. I think so far I've been pretty good about it, I am not giving into cravings, I am really restricted on what I can eat, only because the little one is SO PICKY! I do still get sick ALL the time and I have had to go on heartburn meds because of how picky she is, but I don't mind, so long as she is safe and healthy!

With all that being said, last week some ladies from church decided to throw me a little shower. I was honored that they did, and we were so blessed with such wonderful and kind gifts too! It was a fun night! But it is also the night I started in on some major contractions! By my regular weekly thursday morning check up, I was dilated to a 2! Then over the weekend, it kept on... never close enough to go into the hospital, but they just kept on... so by Sunday night I thought I might really be going in on Monday. Sure enough Monday morning came and the Dr said he wanted me to go in and get checked again... I was at a 4 and 100% effaced! PROGRESS! He then did a procedure to help induce me a little more, and gave me some guidelines as to when and if I should go in. Well, per his comments, we went in a few nights ago, I hadn't progressed any and in fact the triage nurse wasn't too excited about me being there are basically told me I wasn't in labor, although my doctor said I had been in stage 1 for 5 days! So, it was a wasted trip, I was sent home. Basically, I have been in labor and contracting for 7 days now, and my body is ready and waiting for the big show to happen. But our little miss, won't get into my hips so I can push her out! SO since she's not engaged, nothing will make her come out until she's ready... which knowing Eden and how stubborn he was/is, I'm doomed to keep her in there forever! My Dr said she'll be out within the week, the nurse said a few more days, I had an ultrasound Wednesday and it showed that our little one is on the move into my hips... all her vitals were great, movements were wonderful, and she is measuring to be about 7 to7 1/2lbs... I really just want to hold and cuddle her. I have been getting to know her little personality now for months, and I'd like to just kiss her and cuddle her! I also would like somewhat reclaim my body, I'm not going to lie, I am getting a little sick of being sick from it all. I am not a picky eater and yet I have been for 9 months, I'd like to eat some real food besides taco bell bean burritos! I think Eden is a little fed up with me always saying I can't bend down and do things with him... can you please help mommy? I also think he's heard so much hype about her coming and being his sister that he's kind of just wanting her here too! Shaun is so excited that he is telling me what people at work share with him to tell me, like inducing ideas, to hang in there, etc... basically I think it's all he talks about! Poor guy also has his class/school work, scouts, young men, work, and helping me all on his plate so I think that he'd like a little relief too. I still have 2 weeks until an official due date, but it seems as though my body is ready now and she's just hanging out for now. So we'll see what happens!

We are so blessed to have such a great little family and are so excited to make it a little bigger, we just can't wait to meet her and hope that everything goes safely with the delivery. That's it for now... we'll keep everyone posted as to what our little one's outcome is, and hopefully soon!
the little Vinings

AZ Sea Life w/ Cousin R...

2010-08-17T23:49:00.000-07:00

Eden was so excited when I told him that his cousin and aunt were going to join us for lunch and then go to the new aquarium! He was counting the days down, he was asking every morning if today was the day, he was just so excited! So, the day finally came and we joined up for a yummy lunch at paradise bakery, then cousin R wanted to ride the marry go round, so, we did! Then, we went off to the new aquarium and had a look around. It is kind of unfortunate that both our cameras were being temperamental in there, we couldn't get a good shot of the boys! They were in ahhh over it, so excited about all the animal and sea life... Eden was having a hard time containing his excitement and kept running off, but he enjoyed himself. Then, we made it to the indoor play place and the boys thought that was just as cool! It's funny, the play place is a glorified McD's jungle gym, and yet that was as cool as all the sea life! Needless to say, they two boys were like peas in a pod! There is a year and half difference in the boys ages, but they play so well and enjoy each other so much, you'd never know it! As the two Laurens/ mommys got to see the excitement on our boys faces, it was also nice to get a few min of talk time in too!

YM Havasupai Campout 2010

2010-08-17T23:39:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the pictures that Shaun was able to get on his Scouting/ YM Camp Out! The guys had been preparing for this very rough trip for months... they went hiking almost every week to prepare physically for it, they talked about how to load and pack the right equipment for it, and they worked on some survival skills too! Needless to say Monday July 12th came and they loaded everything up and drove off to the Grand Canyon! They got there pretty late in the day since the drive was long, so they camped at the top of the ridge. The next day the woke up, loaded up, and hiked 10 miles down into the canyon. They were exhausted from the sounds of it, and it was HOT too. So, then for the next couple of days they had fun finding the various falls, swimming, cliff jumping, playing games, etc. Keep in mind, through all this fun they had to hike ALL their food in, prepare every meal, & stay hydrated in 110 degree weather! They slept in a mattress pad and a sheet, they were surrounded by scorpions, and getting lots of sun! So, it wasn't all fun and games! Then on friday they hiked out and UP 10 miles with all their gear and trash! Lots of work for 12-30yr old guys! Some of the YM were struggling on the way out at the top, so Shaun and another leader had to hike down another 1-2miles to help the boys up the switchbacks, meaning they did an extra 2-4miles! It was a long trip Shaun said, but he loved it and thought it was one of the coolest places he's ever been too and is ALL excited about making me do this in 2 years! HAHAHAHA, that's funny! I love camping, I love the outdoors, but me hike 20 miles w/ a HEAVY PACK... I would DIE! You might catch me on a horse, and make the horse carry my pack too...

I am so proud of all the work Shaun put into this trip and preparing his young men, I think that this is going to be something they will be proud of doing when they are older and will really appreciate the experience!

MUD BOWL 2010!

2010-07-18T11:39:00.001-07:00

My first experience with the whole mud bowl thing this year was a lot of fun! Shaun grew up having this yearly at the various local families homes from church, and so this was old hat to him... but it was new to Eden and I and lots of fun! I really enjoyed taking pics and watching EVERYONE else get covered in mud! The young men and women are supposed to come together and play football and have mud fights, well there weren't so many girls... but the young men really enjoyed themselves! Plus all their leaders were out there as well having fun... Shaun was absolutely covered in mud and his pockets were full of it, his hair, everything! Needless to say, like father like son, so was Eden! He thought it was the greatest evening ever! He found a couple of other little kids and they had a blast playing in it, and Eden did get a little brave and tried to join in the football game a few times! It was so much fun, hot, very hot, but still lots of fun!

On the way home, Shaun had to take all the boys home, so he lined his car with towels to prevent mud stains, then when he and Eden got home... I stood in the yard hosing them off before they could even come into the house! One of the veteran moms, said just through away the clothes, it doesn't matter what laundry detergent you use, you will never get this mess cleaned! Well, I thought I might give it a try first, so I continued to hose off their clothes in the yard, then threw them straight into my NEW washer, put 2 scoops of oxyclean... plus tide and ran it on my "sanitary" cycle... sure enough, whites were white again and no mud! YEAH! Sorry I had to mention the washer because I am so excited about it and how totally awesome it is and it only keeps impressing me every time!

Anyway, here are a few pics from the MUD BOWL... Ohh look at the final outcome of Eden, he has a mud mustache and looks EXACTLY like Shaun! It's cute!

Vining Cousin Sleep Over!

2010-07-18T11:31:00.001-07:00

We had so much fun this year at the "Vining Cousin Sleep Over"! We went swimming, we watched movies, we played games, we made fun treats and crafts, we had a talent show, we had a lot of silliness, and everyone had a great time! It was a lot of fun to see everyone come together, the older cousins helped the little ones, the middle ones had fun just being kids, and Shaun and I really enjoyed getting to see all their little personalities! And BOY DO THEY HAVE PERSONALITIES! It was so much fun and I am glad we are able to host them all! It seems like the kids, some teenagers, get to really bond and become so much closer as friends, as well as, having a tighter knit family unit! It was a lot of work to prepare for, but it is so worth it!

This year Eden got to have his cousin Ryan join in the overnight and he loved it! Those two were hooked at the hip the whole time! Although Ryan is a year and half younger than Eden, now that the baby stage is out-grown, they are closer buddies and it is funny to watch them be boys together! Also, since some of the girls are getting older and are now officially teenagers, they were fun to watch with the whole event too. They were like little mommies to the little ones, which was so helpful, but they also were having their own little conversations and giggling pretty good for just the two of them! It made me think of what I was doing in the 8th grade... boys... clothes... music...make up... I was a little curious on what they were talking about, sure enough all of the above!

Here are a few pics from the event! I simply can't wait until next year's cousin sleep over, it's going to be so much fun!

July 4th 2010

2010-07-04T23:36:00.002-07:00

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY! Yeah, I am so happy for the freedoms that we enjoy here and proud to be an American! I am so grateful to those who have served and are serving to protect us and whom have preserved our nation & it's liberties. Thank you to all the vets, active military, all their families, also although we may not always agree, to our politicians who uphold the laws and constitution of this great nation!I thought about even my own family and friends that have served in protecting our nation, and I am just so grateful to them for all their sacrifices! I am also grateful to the second line of the Declaration of Independence... "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776

This year we had a REALLY relaxed holiday weekend. I am SO pregnant, SO hot, and pretty uncomfortable that I just didn't have the energy to do anything big. Plus, I am really quite restricted by the doctor anyway... so no big deal! We did a little pick up around the house and some shopping on Saturday. Getting a few things for baby, got a twin mattress for Eden's trundle bed so when Grammy comes to visit in September they can share a bunk, and bought a few things for the birth. Then Sunday we had church, a yummy dinner, went to a classic car show/ fireworks show, and did some sparklers in the backyard! Keep in mind they are very illegal here in AZ, but thanks to Grammy, we had some to do! Really, thanks! Shaun gets the day off tomorrow too, so we are going to continue to have a family only day. Some swimming, some movies, some relaxing... needless to say NO WORKING! Next week Shaun is going on an extreme hike/ cam pout with his scouts to the Havasupai Falls. So, I am a single, prego mom all next week! So, we are trying to do as much family stuff as we can, when he gets back, I may not be in the same condition to be able to do anything.

SO here's a few pics from our Independence Day Celebration!
Little touches to bring on the festivities....

Some yummy foods...

Some festivities...

Happy Independence Day!

Vining Family Campout...2010

2010-06-27T13:08:00.012-07:00

Well, this year was an interesting year for the Vining Family Campout. There were some who really wanted to do a luxury cabin rental, some who wanted to camp, and then me who wasn't supposed to do anything according to the OB. So, finally it was all worked out and camping it was! We went to the Rim, we had close camping arrangements, but it was fine. All the families were able to make it up, no one got seriously hurt, and everyone enjoyed themselves. Some did a hike, some went to Woods Canyon Lake, some played games & had little adventures, others chopped wood, cooked, and set up. The kids really enjoyed getting together and playing with one another, the adults enjoyed catching up, and I just tried not to pop! Since I wasn't able to do much, Shaun really took care of Eden, the others were really helpful in setting us up and tearing us down too. I just sat, layed, and tried to walk. I feel like I complained a lot, or am now, but I really was uncomfortable up there. It wasn't the camping or the conditions, it was the elevation! I simply inflated like a balloon at its max and was just waiting to get a small leak to relieve the pressure or just pop! There was no position that was comfortable, but I tried... I was there... I did what I could. And I did not pop, unfortunately.
The kids enjoyed a pinata on Saturday from GrandVona... it was a lot of fun, I took pics as they all got a whack at it, it was fun for the little ones who weren't sure as to what was going on, and the big kids who just wanted that candy, and finally watching it slowly break down, who wanted to so badly finalize it and just get that darn candy!
It seemed as though a few were egging people on at the lake to take a swim, I was so willing to! The side of the lake we were on had a ton of loose fishing line and potential hooks, which was fine with me, but I had tennis shoes on not my crocs... so I didn't want to go barefoot. Then Vona kept saying I wasn't allowed to go in, me of all of us shouldn't go in. The thing is, it felt as warm as Goguac Lake... I thought it was nice, I really would have gone, I had towels in the back of the car too... but everyone seemed to be packing up and heading out, so I didn't get to go. BUMMER! The one thing I think I might have enjoyed because of the weightless aspect of swimming and I wasn't completely prepared for it, Shaun even said to me that he thought I would go in and that it wasn't too much of a dare for me, & so he was surprised that I didn't get in.
Eden sure was pushing my limits with the fire this year, he didn't understand why the big kids got to put sticks in and play with it, and he couldn't. He also pushed my limits on his level of sass to us... he just kept on talking back and acting like he could do whatever he wanted to, again, he saw all the big kids being able to do things he wasn't allowed to do. It was kind of frustrating, but that's his age, that's what he is doing now, testing limits! But Eden certainly enjoyed hanging out with his cousin Ryan. He was obsessed with him. They are about a year and a half apart, but that didn't seem to slow either one of them down. They were off doing stuff together, playing, roaming, etc... if you could find one you'd find the other! It was so cute and fun to see their little man bonding.
That was about it, Eden really enjoys camping and thinks its the greatest thing on the earth to do, which makes us happy because we both love to go camping! Thanks to scouting for Shaun, and my dad for me, we love it; so I am so happy that our son thinks it great too! I am so happy that we are expecting our little one, but I think this summer would have been a fun one to really get Eden out in the woods and enjoy more camping. I just can't do it this year, and so I feel bad knowing how much he enjoys it. He loves setting up the equipment, the hands of things to do, the roaming and exploring, etc.
Here are a few pics of the pinata and kids having fun...

Here are all the Nieces and Nephews...

A Few Extras...

Shaun Finally Gets to SHOOT

2010-06-27T12:46:00.005-07:00

This is a silly post, but Shaun has grown up around guns, he is always sharing stories with me about how he got to go shooting with his cousin Kim or his uncle Calvin... or the BIG gun stories come from brother Lewis and all the crazy stuff he has to shoot with. Shaun has a respect for them, not an obsession. He loves the idea of going out shooting targets, I love the idea of him going hunting and getting us meat! But for anyone who knows Shaun, hunting will never happen, he faints at the sight of blood!

Anyway, Shaun had been saving up little by little to invest in some decent guns. First he bought a Remington 12 Gage Shot Gun, then he bought a Winchester Riffle, next he bought a safe and a few accessories for his small collection. Now he is saving up for a hand gun. He doesn't want a big collection, but I think he likes the idea of protecting us, shooting targets, and being able to talk with the scouting guys about it. I am ok with it, so long as they are hidden, our kids don't know about it nor have access to them, and when they are old enough they learn safety like Shaun did.
Anyway, Shaun FINALLY got to go shooting! It wasn't for very long b/c game & fish showed up, they didn't do or say anything, but they were watching and it made me nervous! On our way home from camping Shaun and our nephew decided to pull off the side of the road and take a few targets out. I had Eden & our niece in the car watching a movie with headsets on, and I took my camera out with the big lense and grabbed a few pics. I was also the look out too, which only made me & the baby more nervous! She was kicking and flipping up a storm, my heart was racing, but the guys had a blast, and the kids were none the wiser!

I am glad Shaun got to finally shoot his shot gun, but sad he didn't get more time. He was really careful and you could tell really enjoyed himself! Here are a few pics... I didn't get to see the targets all destroyed, but evidently there wasn't much left to see.

Father's Day

2010-06-27T12:09:00.004-07:00

Every year I sit back and look at how wonderful my husband is, how sweet of a man he is, and what I can do to make a day special to him as a father. I think about what foods he likes, what hobbies he has, what traditions he enjoys, etc. It also makes me think and reflect on my own dad and what he meant to me. I miss my dad a lot, there were some hard times, some sad times, but there were also a lot of good. He was my childhood hero, like any dad should be to their kids, I wanted to marry someone just like him when I was little, and I wanted to always hold onto those silly memories of things we did together. Now that I am an adult, I am a parent, and I see my son living a happy go lucky life, it just reminds me of all those same feelings I had as a kid towards my dad.
So as father's day comes and goes, as it does every year, I look to my childhood and fond memories of my dad, as to what we should do with Shaun. Some years his family has gotten together, sometimes it's been just been the little Vining Family eating with the Elder Vining Family (please don't take offence to that... I mean it in a respectful way, not that you are old, but wiser), But there have been the few years where it has just been us. This was one of those years, it was just the three of us! It is kind of nice, just to be with the father of our little family, to spend our focus on just him!
So this year, I made him one of his favorite meals... Scalloped Potatoes, Grilled Pineapple, Grilled Rib eye Steak, & a Strawberry Pretzel Jello! He loved it! Also, I made him a Cinnamon Swirl Bread & a Banana Bread for breakfast! Lastly, he got to sleep in, and had no church meetings... got to open a few presents and relax, well until he had to do a homework assignment at 9-12pm! He didn't want anything to celebrate his fatherhood, but Eden wanted to give him a shirt... Eden said his daddy didn't have any of his (Eden's) favorite colored shirts, so he needed an ORANGE one. Then I knew Shaun had been wanting a book, Fablehaven, the last one, so we picked that up for him too. Lastly, Shaun really wants a truck (not going to happen anytime soon, but he can dream), so he has a little savings account that he puts a little away at a time towards his truck, so, we gave him a little boost towards his truck! He said he really enjoyed the day and really was grateful for all that we did. I should have had Eden make him something, or do something more special for him... I remember doing that for my dad, but I just didn't have the energy to pull something together, and with the house repairs I couldn't get to half my crafting things anyway. I feel bad, but there are many more years to come of painted rocks, macaroni ties, & hand prints to come!
Lastly, Shaun is a very humble man, he doesn't ask for much, he doesn't claim much for himself, he isn't selfish, he isn't mean or hard, he is a kind, caring, loving man, whom loves his family, his son & his wife adore him, & he is our rock. He leads us & guides us towards the righteous path in our faith, he protects us from harm, he looks out for us, & he sometimes carries us through hard times. He is a very strong, loving man that I can not imagine my life with out him in it. Our children are blessed to have him as a father, as a friend, & as a guide/ teacher in their little lives. I am so glad that I married my best friend, my hero, my prince in shining armor, and I know that our children will and do feel the same about their dad!

Happy Father's Day Shaun, with all our hearts and love!

Baby Shower & Baby News

2010-05-30T14:11:00.000-07:00

Well, we have had it confirmed that it is a GIRL, and we are very excited about that! I think it is so neat to have one of each, Eden is so excited to have a little sister. He talks to her, to says she wants and needs things (like a lot of toys that he really wants, but he occasionally will pick out something really girly and pink and say she told him she wants it, it's cute!), he listens to my belly and says he hears her "swimming in there like water," and overall will tell anyone who will listen that he has a baby sister and he will blurt out her name! WHICH IS A SECRET! So don't even try to get it out of him, you won't understand it, but he calls her by name, and it cracks me up every time!

We did do a family portrait session w/ our friend this early April too. We went over to the Vining's home & took pics around the yard and in Shaun's aunt's drive too. It was a lot of fun and we got some great pics of Eden, us as a family, just the two love birds, and our future little one too! So here is a sampling of those pics...

The baby appts are going well, she is on target for everything, her organs are growing and developing well; but this last time she was facing my back, so they couldn't get a great image on her heart and the valves. But that isn't to say that there is anything wrong, just that they couldn't check on it. So they did an Echo Cardiogram on her just to check up on the heart, and all was well. It is strong and everything is doing what it is supposed to be doing, which this test was very normal and very safe for the baby! I will still get another ultra sound because they want to monitor her growth rate and make sure she is still on target, but that's ok with me... more pics of her, more info on her health, more is fine with me! Many of you know that I don't want to give birth in the hospital again because I want to have a natural birth and in the hospital they just don't really let you do that and they really push the drugs here. So, of course I was super excited to be taken off the "high risk" status weeks ago, and was looking forward to having midwives and delivering at home... but that isn't going to work out this time! I am kind of bummed, but it is going to be good still. I am actually switching to a different OB, and we've talked about my feelings of doing it naturally, but if something happens and needs to be done for medical reasons I am ok with that too! So long as we can try for natural, I am good! I kind of like this new doctor too, he is an old stern german man, like in his 70's... but he is traditional, which I like... he kind of reminds me of grandpa Sickle! Also, we've toured Scottsdale Shea Hospital and I love it! Shaun loves it! And this new doctor delivers there too! So I am super super excited about this new combo, even though it is at a hospital.

We don't have any really great pics of the little one now, but we should have some in the next month or two from the additional ultra sound. So we will share those as they come in and happen! She is camera shy, well her face is atleast... she doesn't mind showing her girly parts to us!

My mom and auntie did a shower for me at the house this month too! It was so nice and went really well! Everything was super yummy and really pretty! We were blessed to have so many wonderful friends and family who could attend the event, as well as many wonderful gifts and we are so thankful for everything! We got lots of compliments on the baby room and all our home improvements too. We are set on clothes now, that's forsure... but one other thing is forsure, she is going to be the cutest little baby in all her fun hair things, and little outfits! Here are some pics of the shower and the day's events...

Spring in the Desert!

2010-04-14T12:23:00.014-07:00

Well we have been so busy lately! It is fashion season, so I am super busy with all the shows here in the valley. Plus we have been busy with Garden School, Craft Group, Eden's Karate, and keeping up on doctor's appts, Shaun's Schooling, Scouting, Easter, and Operation Baby Move. As usual, Eden loves getting out in the yard and helping with yard work and pool work. He loves seeing all the natural things that occur too, like spider webs, birds nests, bugs, worms, seeds turning into plants, etc. He loves asking how and why, and he loves seeing changes occur in nature. He really is very concerned with nature and how it works, I think it is great, although some things like the spiders, I am not to happy about! Here a few random pics from our spring...

Eden also got to go to his first Father's & Son's Campout this year~! We had made a sort of rule that our little guy couldn't go until he was potty trained. I thought that would be old enough for him to understand what was really going on at the campout, old enough to participate in some of the events, and he'd be easier to tend to for Shaun. So last year we were in the mists of the great potty training lesson, so this year he got to actually go! Shaun's dad also went along with the guys and since Shaun is the Young Men's Pres... he also got to accompany a few of his young men who's father's choice was not to go up to camp. So, it was a big event for Shaun, but all & all they had fun. Of Course, I knew that I would never get Shaun to take pics for me while they were up there, so I took some of the prep work and them leaving! Eden was so proud to have gotten his own big boy sleeping bag (take a look, it's lighting mcqueen) he was also super excited to have gotten a new tent, one that is just for he & daddy! So they practiced setting it up in the family room before hand... also they got to take the NEW SUV up to camp too! It was a fun to watch them get ready for their big campout...

We had a really nice Easter celebrating with both sides of the family this spring too! We first had a lunch/ brunch with the Zaccagni Sisters and family. They had an egg hunt, lots of yummy foods, and lots of great company too! Then we went over the Crook Family to have a really yummy traditional dinner and egg hunt with Shaun's side! The cousins all had fun looking for eggs, getting lots of candy, and did a really nice job on explaining the meaning and purpose of Easter! So here are some pics from the days events...

We did a lot of yard work this season too! We emptied the pool and scrubbed it down... that was a job! Then we trimmed up all the plants, and finally had out patio put in the back and had it all stamped too! Ohh it looks great! We still have a few other things planned for the yard, but maybe next year we will attack those projects!
We also have been working on Operation Baby Move, and what is that? Well, our office/ guest room has been renovated to a nursery! So there is a bay window, a walk in closet, and a very spacious room under the mess of this room. So, the office has been moved to our room, just the comp and filing cabinets; the book cases to the family room behind the couch; our dresser has been emptied and reorganized into our closet and now in the little ones room; also some of the furniture will stay, but now Eden's room is the TV & tech stuff, and her room/ walk in closet is the toy space. It is all finally put together and done! It was a lot of remodeling throughout our whole home to make the changes but to tell you the truth it looks like everything was ment to be where it has been moved and makes the house look more put together. It is kind of funny that it worked out that way.

Because of all the house work and remodeling we did, we also cleaned out a lot of junk too! So we had a garage sale! We cleared out a lot of the garage, and made some decent money from it too! I was so excited to be able to just be done with some things, it's like you know it is nice things but at the same time you'd like to refresh or just clear out your stuff! Well that's what we did! So here are some pics of all the changes we've been working on and the unveiling of the new room!

There has just been a lot of spring time work in our home this season getting ready for baby, summer, and just cleaning up our home. We are very blessed to have what we do and are grateful for our home. This has just been a great reminder of that!

We also had a wonderful mother's day this spring! Eden & Shaun made me breakfast in bed... then we went off to church where I got a giant candy bar from the priesthood, & Eden got to say the prayer in Primary! Then, when we got home, shaun made us a picnic on our patio... it was a nice day, & so it was really pleasant! We watched a movie together and I was given a day of pampering! It was so wonderful to have my guys and the reason I am a mommy celebrated this year! I am so so so grateful for my little monkey, he is so sweet and so kind. He makes me laugh and he makes was feel so proud of him & all his acheivments! I am so proud to be Eden's mom! I am also really grateful that my husband has a deep respect for my job as a mom, he knows how hard it can be and how frustrating it can get. But he also knows all the effort I put into my job and he truly made me feel like I am a special mom because of those efforts! I am so so so grateful for my guys... and next year we'll have our little girl to throw in that mix too!

Panama City & Disney World!

2010-04-14T12:02:00.009-07:00

So at the end of February we went to off to Florida to visit Nana Pat, it was a lot of fun! We stayed for about 5 days with her and really got to explore Panama City! Shaun, of course, was put to work on some yard projects & I decided to put my best effort in fixing up the master bath! We did go out to the beach a couple of times, but it was really windy and cold. Also, we got to check out some fun boutiques and fun beach shoppes! Of course since we had just heard about having a girl, and it was pretty strong and confidently stated, I was having fun looking and buying, little things for our little girl too! Nana Pat had us try some new restaurants, some were not so great, but we did really enjoy J. Micheal's, the Shrimp Boat, and a few others. PLUS I LOVE SEAFOOD! So, I ate everything fresh and local as possible! It was really great!

Here are a few pics of our adventures with Nana Pat...

Then EARLY one morning we headed off to Orlando, dropped the car off and went onto Disney! It was so much fun! We had gotten such a great deal that included our room at the Pop Century Resort in Disney, a food & dining plan (so all our meals were prepaid), our 7 day park hopper passes, & we had a $300 gift card for the park waiting for us in our room too for the park! We also got discounts for downtown Disney shops & restaurants, arcade passes, and of course all our transportation was included too! It was a really amazing deal! So, we did Magic Kingdom on Monday and Tuesday, then Animal Kingdom on Wednesday, Hollywood Studios on Thursday, Epcot on Friday, then Saturday we did Magic Kingdom again, with the evening at Epcot, and on Sunday we did a few shows at Hollywood Studios in the morning and the afternoon at Magic Kingdom with our plane ride home that night! It was full of fun rides, great shows, fireworks, parades, LOTS of YUMMY FOOD, LOTS of WALKING, and GREAT MEMORIES! Eden was so into the whole thing, he loved all the character meet & greets, in fact he wanted to meet all the princesses too, because "they are beautiful"! He would freeze up around them, it was so darn cute! Also, he rode almost every ride! He wasn't afraid of anything, he want to ride roller coasters, but since he still wasn't tall enough for some of them, he and I would do special things together while Shaun would go ride. I couldn't ride the same ones, since I am prego, so it worked out well. Although I did get to ride a lot of things, so I didn't feel like I was missing out on too much!

So here are some pics of the parks and fun things we did...

Anyway, it was so much fun and we really did enjoy ourselves a lot, and I am so glad that we got to have such a fun family vacation before I was too prego. We really loved it and all can't wait to be able to go again! Although, that will be in several years!

Welcome Little Girl Vining!

2010-02-23T21:44:00.001-07:00

So today I had an ultrasound & found out a lot of info...
1. We are NOT having twins, we are only having one. The baby didn't sustain itself, which is ok & normal.
2. The baby is developing normal & is very healthy! We had a lot of screening done today at it totally fine and great! (which means I may not have to stay with this specialist, yeah!)
3. We are due 8/2010 I am not setting a date in stone, I don't want to be agonizing when it passes like last time or feel like people are waiting on me to have the baby. SO we are simply stating it is in the begining half of September!
4. Lastly, it is still early to say, but at this point the baby's gender is starting to develop and this new ultrasound place stated that they can see how and where the skin is forming down there... so sometimes you can start to see a V (girl) or a mound (boy), so the doctor said he got a good view and says GIRL! We won't know with positivity until April, but for now enjoy our little 3month old little baby girl vining!

Mr. Seville, I am ready for my close up... Beautiful Face!

Just layn' around! Head to the mid left, belly in center, and legs floating in space.

It is kind of hard to see, but in the mid upper part of the picture you can see the hand waiving to you and all 5 fingers! Her hand in going for her little mouth, which is the bright while in the center of the image!

Now we are all caught up!

2010-02-21T22:16:00.000-07:00

More of 2010!

2010-02-21T22:15:00.000-07:00

Some Updated Pics of 2010!

2010-02-21T22:13:00.000-07:00

Eden the 4 year old!

2010-02-17T00:39:00.000-07:00

Vining News!

2010-02-09T00:32:00.003-07:00

Well, it's been a hard time for me this past year with posting things to the blog... as you can tell! I guess I have had a hard time doing it because it was a really heard year for me. Although many great and wonderful things happened, it had even more downs than ups. We didn't do our Christmas letter this year for the same reason, I just couldn't come up with something nice to say about the year for us. I know that sounds so bad and so awful to admit that I couldn't be positive about anything, but it really was the reality for me.
2009 started off like any other year, with all the hoopla of the holidays, football games, and get togethers. Eden got into some sports, trying his hand at many different types until he found some favorites. Of course I totally overbook myself and had him in something everyday of the week, different groups, activities, sports, lessons, etc. I was truly a taxi cab! We did get to go on some nice trips, we did Disneyland and LA for a long weekend, we did Michigan twice, spring and fall, we headed up the Vining family camp out to Woods Canyon Lake, we got to go see Nana Pat in Panama City Fl, and then did two days in New Orleans at the end of that trip, and we got to go to Sedona & Prescott for a couple of day trips. We also managed to pay off all our credit cards, save up some money, and we learned to live on less, that was a really hard lesson but it was so worth it and we are still working on the living on less thing, but we are working on it and that is the important part!
Shaun, of course, continued with schooling he is almost done with his BA, and is now thinking about a double major which would only be another year maybe a year and a half, but I KNOW he will be happier with the second major. Also, he continued to serve in his calling of Young Men's President faithfully, as well as Assistant Scout Master too. He and his dad got a regular pickle ball game and practice in through out the year and still continue to do so. All around Shaun was simply BUSY!
Now that the new year has come in, Eden turns 4 this Saturday the 13th! I can't believe he is that old! He is now in Sunbeams at church and loves it, although I am sure he is a lot to handle in class!!!! Also, he loves and has stepped up to a much more demanding school for Karate. He loves it! He is going to be starting back up with swim this month, as well, and he dabbled in tumbling and did really well, but I just don't have time for it! He also is still in his craft group, and garden school, which he loves! He is such a big boy now, he really can communicate very well, he is into so many characters, although he really doesn't know what or who they are, he is sooo funny, and he just will bust out singing and dancing randomly in the house which makes us laugh too! It is sad to say, but he is still rather small for his age, but he just burns more than he intakes, and he does come from a family of smaller people (present company NOT included). So the doctor isn't too worried about it, but it does make some things harder for him. Like most of his friends have big boy bikes and know how to ride them with training wheels at this point. Eden JUST finally was able to reach his pedals of his Radio Flyer Tric, which we are so proud of! He is doing it just fine and goes up and down the sidewalk like a pro! Plus he has figured out his scouter and is finally able to see over the bars to be able to steer and push all at the same time! He loves that too!
So you ask yourself where is all the sad news and the reason for no letter this year? Well, this past summer my grandmother's health was slipping and fast. Of course there is nothing that I can do, since I am so far away, but it was hard to hear about it, and to be losing the connection with her because of it. Then ultimately this past fall, she did pass away. I am glad she didn't have to suffer for years like she had experienced this fall, but I really miss her. I really miss her love and talking with her. It was apart of my everyday life to call her, and I can't seem to take her number out of my phone yet. Although I was so far away, she was so close to me, so that was a really hard thing to go through this year. Also, I got pregnant in January of last year, was starting to show in our Disney Trip pics and then I miscarried in the beginning of March at about 6 weeks. Then somehow I got pregnant again right after that at the end of March and miscarried at the end of May at about 8 weeks. This time I had felt different and thought things were going better, but my hormones just weren't strong enough to sustain the pregnancy. Then we went to July where I got pregnant again for a 3rd time, was starting to show at our camp out, and although the baby didn't continue past 6 weeks, pregnancy did through 13-14 weeks. So I finally miscarried right during Shaun's 30th B-day and my Grandma's funeral. It just put a damper on the birthday, and made it a little harder to deal with the loss at that time. Then, the very next month I got pregnant again!
Only this time I didn't know, I went to get a second opinion, and that particular doctor put me on a medicine that ended up sustaining the pregnancy. Although that wasn't her intention, it still did the trick! So over the holidays, I was really hormonal thinking one thing was going to be happening, when in fact it was the opposite. So it made for a rough patch for us, still. Then at the first of the year I felt extremely prego, and the doctor's office wasn't really responding to me, so I went back to my original one, whom confirmed the pregnancy, got me stabilized right away and then we found out there were two! So, pregnant with twins.... yeah but not for sure about it yet. So what doesn't that all mean? Well the first ultrasound was too early to see a defiant image on baby two, but my measurements, my hormones all showed for 2. But we did get an image on baby one that has a STRONG heartbeat and all is well with that little one! So, what can happen is the second one shows up in the next ultrasound and we are having twins, or the second one couldn't sustain itself, and dissolves and gets absorbed back into the body. I am just happy about one, but two would be amazing too! After being pregnant for an entire year, I will finally have something to show for it, all the crazy hormones will come to an end at some point soon, Eden is going to be a big brother, and we are going to be blessed with a little one in our lives again! We tried so hard over the last year, and it was so hard losing three, it was hard to feel the changes in my body and then not have anything but the feeling of loss and emptiness from them. It was an eye opener to see people who really cared about me and check on me throughout the year and the losses, but those whom I thought were close didn't, or those who thought their comments were funny were hurtful. I can't tell you how many times people would tell me Eden needed a sibling, or tell me I need to get on the ball with another one. That hurts when you are trying so hard and you, the doctors, your body, whatever just aren't working together or aren't ready for it. But some of the people in my church that came up to me and confided in their stories of miscarriages and losses, it meant so much to me that they understood how hard that was to go through. How hard it was to lose a baby no matter how far along you are, it is still a loss and when you physically go through those changes it is felt more than anything.
I have always known about the struggles people go through to have children, my life has been centered around that. I was adopted into a family who wasn't able to have their own, so I have first hand knowledge of that. I remember kids in school picking on me and telling me that I wasn't wanted, that my mom threw me away. You know as a kindergartner, I was able to stand up and say no, I was wanted, my parents wait 10 years for me, I was not an accident! I have always known that I was loved and wanted. Now I am not saying that my life is perfect nor was my upbringing, we all are faced with challenges. But now as an adult trying to have my own family, I know the struggles of trying and not succeeding. I know the feeling of the loss of a baby, and I now know the feeling of gratitude when it finally happens! I am just coming to the end of my 3rd month now, which means one third of my pregnancy is over! YEAH! But with all the morning/ all day sickness, all the hormonal ups and downs, with the crazy food cravings, the acne, the swelling, the bloating, the not fitting in my clothes anymore, the exhaustion, the cramping, the heartburn... I TRULY EMBRACE IT ALL! I am grateful to be able to experience it, during the losses I became much much more grateful for Eden and being the miracle that he was. I feel like now, I am a stronger person from this. I feel like I have even more compassion for those who struggle with this part of their lives. But I have also learned the value of a good shoulder, and see some people now a little differently. I am not mad at anyone, and I am not judging anyone, but it has opened my eyes to be able to learn to just not care. People have to learn for themselves what is appropriate, what is kind, what is their own judgementalness, and that their comments and actions have an affect on people... but that it doesn't have to affect me or my family. That was something that I really had to learn, it sounds easy to do, but when you begin to feel like a failure, like you can't do what you were made to do, and your hormones are crazy during that time, man does that really hurt.
Anyway, there is triumph in the new year, and there is happiness moving forward in the new year, and we are excited to formally announce the world that we are expecting and just coming the end of the first trimester, so we'll be updating you on how many (probably this month)gender (probably end of March), and we'll let you know how things are going along the rest of the way! So, this does affect our summer since I'll be due the first part of September, but, hey it is worth taking a year off for a baby and to welcome a new little Vining into the world!

Of course more pics to come along with the new year, but at this time, I need to go to bed because I am teaching craft group tomorrow morning, and I have a full afternoon & evening too! Nothing new there, over booked as usual! Although if any of you are on facebook, I do update there all the time with mobile uploads. Just friend Shaun and I if you'd like.
Hope all is well with you and your families and hope to hear updates from you too!
the little Vinings (3+1 maybe+2 on the way!)

updated pics

2010-01-06T14:25:00.008-07:00

Sorry that this has taken SO LONG, but here is our end of summer, fall and some of our holiday! We have our New Orleans & Panama City Beach Trip, Our 5th Anniversary, Eden's Sports, Vining Family Campout, Mother Nature's Farm, Desert Botanical Garden Fall Festival, Michigan Fall Trip, Halloween, Shaun's Birthday, Christmas Traditions, Decorating our Ginger Bread Train, Mesa Temple Lights, Train Park Lights, Desert Botanical Garden Lumis, Cluff Christmas Eve, and Eden's tumble a thon! Of course I still have a few more to pull together, but all and all here is what the little Vinings have been up to the last half of 2009!

Shaun's 30th b-day & More...

2009-11-05T02:05:00.002-07:00

Well that's right, Shaun turned 30! It was great, he seemed to be having a hard time with this big one, but he it worked out well. He had a surprise guys night out at gameworks, then a surprise family dinner at our home, went out on an afternoon date with me, got a new toy (a boxing bag), some books, movies, shirts, and I think he loves his gift from Jim... a box of shells! Ahh, boys and their guns. Although his day was surrounded by the loss and sorrow of my grandma, he still had a great birthday! I do have pics coming soon!

Also, in our triping around this past month, we got to go to the Zoo Boo at Binder Park, Fall Festival at the DBG, Mother Nature's Farm, Karate, Swim Lessons, and Garden School started up again! We also went to the ward Trunk or Treat, Grammy & Dan came down to our home for Trick or Treating, with all the b-day celebrating it has been a month full of fun! While in Michigan, we also went to Fort Custer's Halloween Decore Festival, we also got to play with Shyla, and Shaun did yard work for Shan. We spent most of our time on the road, but it was still a good trip and I am glad that I got to go as a family! (pics to come soon too!)

Also, I have been practicing taking some family pics and portraits lately too. I did the Vinings & the Zweifels recently... I think the turned out pretty good, but I am still learning a lot about lighting, ISO, and my A setting. Anyway, I like playing around with it! (I'll post a few of those sessions too!)

Lastly, Pre-Mirror Make-Up has some upcoming events. One of which is this Saturday for the Art Inst of Phx for Scottsdale Fashion Week. Also, we have a wedding coming up next week, and the following week we are doing a business of the week at the SW Valley YMCA. And I am doing a joint effort with the Sage Paisley home decor at the YMCA. I am so excited and nervous about this feature. It is going to be great, but I really want to get my act together more on the sage paisley before going... anyway, lots of stuff going on. But it is all good stuff! We've had a hard enough month in October, so I am hoping for a better November! I was hoping and feeling like things were going differently this past month, but with the same end result, I miscarried again. I made it 13 weeks this time, although I loosed the baby a while before that. I was really getting my belly, I was just over a month maybe a month and a half at the Vining Family Campout and was really looking like it! I hate seeing the pics and then knowing that I am not anymore. Then we took our family portraits and I was REALLY trying to hide it... I think I did a pretty good job at it, but then I see some of the b-day pics and think holy crap I am fat! I mention this only because I have a really hard time knowing that I am going through something that so many do and yet I feel like I suffer in silence. Having a friend that cares, having someone call you up and sincerely ask you how you are doing, etc. that doesn't happen if you don't share. I have few friends whom have made a effort to let me know that they care and that they are thinking of me, and what a wonderful blessing it is to have someone care. What a wonderful blessing it is to have a friend to vent to, a friend to cry to, and a friend to boost you up. I really appreciate those whom have made that genuine effort to care, you have no idea how wonderful you are to me. I have not only loosed my three pregnancies this year, but I have seen the value of a true friendship and what a true friendship is all about. I have always been told that you are lucky if you can count all your friends one one hand, and I have learned that to be true. I know who I can really call on, and that means a lot to me, these people mean so much to me, and I just want to say thank you.

We are all ok, and doing well. We are pushing forward and looking towards brighter days. We are still enjoying life and still playing around, enjoying the festive things durring the seasons. Anyway, I'll get pics out soon. I hope all is well with everyone, and love spying on your blogs...

a beautiful full life...

2009-10-13T03:44:00.004-07:00

Helen Margret Robertson Sickle
January 9 1923- October 12 2009

What a beautiful life she lead, what a wonderful woman, mother wife, & grandmother. It was her time & she should not have had to suffer through the end, but now she is reunited with her love, George Charles, whom had been passed for 8 years now, her beloved two children Patrica Lynn and George Lawrence whom have been passed for 12 and 10 years now. Helen (grandma) has been welcomed back into her the loving arms of her family and into the loving embrace of Christ and our Heavenly Father. I know that I will miss her greatly, I will miss her funny laugh, her conversations about the good ol days, and the family, her sweet and kind heart, and her fudge brownies! She was a great cook, and loved preparing food for her family; it seemed to be the center of all our family get to gethers and seemed to always have a special affect on everyone. I know that grandma loved her cards, loved her needle point, and loved traveling. She was an amazing person and will be missed by her legacy of family.
goodbye g-ma, I truly do love you and hope you are no longer suffering, but rejoicing in the love that surrounds you now.

**We will be having a memorial service on Monday, October 19 @ 1:00pm at Potere-Modetz Funeral Home. The address is 339 Walnut Blvd, Rochester, MI 48307, With a service at 1:00pm. Contributions can be made to the Parkinson Foundation (envelopes are available at the funeral home).

Fond Memories...and Being Loving!

2009-10-06T19:10:00.007-07:00

I had a really hard day today with news about my Grandma Sickle. Well and and to tell you the truth, I have been having a hard time over the past few weeks, she is pretty much on her last leg of Parkinson's and it is just hard too face that truth. She was diagnosed a long time ago, and has done really well until this past summer. In fact, she has out done everyone's expectations. But this summer she started having problems with swallowing and has had a few episodes with choking. These have ultimately had to have her on a VERY strict diet, and has had to be moved to a nursing home. Since the last episode, it seems as though she is slipping a lot with her mental functions, and has been really struggling with keeping reality straight and has lossed a lot of weight.
I really love her and I will miss her so much if she goes anytime soon... I am really close to her. We talked every other day, she couldn't do the phone for very long, so we had 10 min calls. But I loved hearing about the family and history. I loved hearing her talk about when she a was a young mom and things she did with my dad and my aunt and uncle, it was just nice to have that wisdom, experience, and family to talk to. It was also fun to hear about the silly things I did as a kid and what my parents did to me, things I don't remember, but really appreciate! I just feel like I am losing more of my dad in losing her. That is I think the hard part for me. She has had a long, blessed life. She has had 3 children, 3 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, seen all her kids get married, two of her grand children get married, she has traveled all over the world, and then the US by RV. She has just been blessed with so much in her life!
But she is in pain now, so I don't want her to suffer and I don't want to be selfish in keeping her here. She will be with her husband (grandpa), my dad, (her son) my aunt pat, (her daughter) and most of her siblings so it would be a wonderful blessing for her to be with them all again. She shouldn't have to suffer here when there is so much good on the other side. It is just hard to think that I most likely won't see her again, that I won't be able to speak with her again (she can't do the phone anymore), and it is just sad on my end of losing her and the contact and love that we have with her. We did get to see her in May and had a nice lunch together. she was very feeble looking then. I remember leaving and saying how much I really love her and how much I enjoy her, but that I felt like this was really the last time to be with her. I got all teary, and just didn't want to leave that afternoon, I wanted to stay as long as I could. Shaun, of course, supportive and positive, said that of course we'll see her again. But today, and with the series of events going on with grandma, it just doesn't seem like it is going to be very long until she is gone. But the doctors said it could even be 6 months, 1 year or 3 years, they don't know. But that choking, infections, etc is what is going to be what takes her, not the Parkinson's. With all the more recent things, weightless, infections, choking, etc it most likely isn't going to be long, and she has a DNR, so... Sorry, I am crying and going on...
I had to make a hard decision today, and it consisted of trying to pull the little funds we have to go and see her now, or save up for if and when the funeral might be, and use the funds then. I just really love her, and feel bad that I won't be able to visit her until next spring with our normal springtime trip. I also don't want to have to remember her suffering, and that is where she is now. I want to remember all the good that we spoke of throughout this summer and our visit last spring. It has just been a hard choice for me today to make, but I did and it brings me to tears to put that kind of finality to it. Again, pure selfishness on my part...

Anyway, I just want my family and friends to know that I do love them, and that I look to them for strengh and guidance... and that they all mean a lot to me. I just want them to know that, because you never know when the last time you'll hear from one another is going to be... a lesson learned at a young age with the loss of my dad. And I just want you all to know that you are a dear to me. Day to day things get in the way too much, looking people up on blogs, facebook, e-mail, etc gets replaced from that personal touch, and sometimes knowing that people actual care is a good thing through actual contact. I just spoke about this in my visiting teaching last month with a sister. I know that people look like they are doing ok, but sometimes that is just an act (one of which I do very well!), but you know... how would you be a good "friend" (or visiting/ home teacher) if you never asked and really cared about how they are doing. I know even then we tend to give surface answers sometimes trying to carry on that act. But a renewed friendship of mine opened my eyes recently to this, I asked how people were doing in her family. I knew that she was close to them, and that they were having hard times when our friendship ended, so I thought I should ask her. She responded, "Do you really want to know? Is that what you really want to talk about?" That just hit me, like wow! I hope she knows that I care and yes, since they were important to her, and she is important to me... than yes I DO care! So I pondered this a lot, and yes... do my visiting/hometeachers really want to hear how we are doing, or do they want the surface/ act that I, so very often, put on? Do my friends actually ask me and really want to know? Do I ask them with the same conviction?!?!
So, I want people to know that I do care, and that they mean a lot to me in my life. I know that with out a doubt, this is not a question with my grandma though, she knows how much I love her and I made sure of that! Even on days that she couldn't really talk, I would simply say to her, "I know you can't talk, but I just want you to know how much we love you and that we miss you, I hope you feel better soon, we'll talk later." It kind of became redundant, but it holds true! I hope that right now in her time of need she really knows and remembers that she is so LOVED and that I miss her and with all my heart wish I could be there with her and tending to her. If I lived locally, she knows I would (I would her that all the time too!). Just tell people that you love them and tell them often! Tell people and listen with your heart not just your ears how people are doing! Be a good friend to someone, be caring, and don't look at your watch when you do. Life and opportunities come and go by fast, so take them as they come!

OK, we are not dead!

2009-10-06T02:12:00.003-07:00

Hahaha, I know that I haven't posted or done an update in a while... I love seeing what everyone else is up to, but I haven't had the time to upload all our pics and sort through them! We have been so crazy busy, what's new?!?! So, a quickie is all I am able to give you... Shaun is taking 2 classes this term and it is crazy when things are due! He is still doing Scouts and Young Men's President, and always trying to get that up and going! Plus he works, and tries to find time to play with Eden, usually that consists of showing Eden how to fix something, help with yard work, etc. I am amazed at how he gets it all done and still finds time to do a few fun things, like volleyball with the guys, pickelball with his dad, and even an art museum with me!

Eden, is in swim still. He just loves his teacher and loves diving down to get things off the bottom! E has also taken up Karate a couple days of the week! He is so darn cute in his little outfit and doing all his moves, I have to do a video of it sometime. Also, he is still doing his craft group... but we've bumped it up a notch with a letter and a number every week. That is fun because he comes home telling me all these silly things that he learns and keeps telling me he likes 6,7,8, and G,E,I,S... I have no idea what that all means, but he loves it! It is fun the rest of the week too, because he wants to play with all those toys that involve letters and numbers, finally! We also go out for out weekly outings like to the train park, zoo, etc. I am trying to expand our list of things to do though, because I feel like we do the same thing all the time! Also, E has taken up my dancing moves... well my desire to dance all the time. And his dad's desire to sing! All the time in the car he tells me he is dancing or I catch him singing, and whenever a movie or something on tv starts dancing, he wants us to join in or he learns the moves and copies it! I am not kidding he really copies it! I think I better be careful, he is going to be a ladies man... singing, dancing, acting (he is really a funny little guy too), smart, athletic, the list goes on!

And for me, well, Pre-Mirror is taking up a lot more time since it is fall fashion season, but that is a good thing! That means lots of charity events, lots of PR, and lots of fun! I've signed two new artists, had a few trainings, and we were lucky enough to be apart of the 98 KUPD Concert for marketing, and the upcoming Boots and Garters Event with the YMCA and Luke Air Force Base. Also, I have been working hard on making a ton of new items for the Sage Paisley... I am doing a photo shoot tomorrow, so yeah on that! Ohh and we are being featured as the business of the week (sage paisley and pre-mirror) at the YMCA in November, just in time for the holidays, so... that's keeping me busy too! Also, I got two new callings... I am doing the program for sacrament meeting, and I am the humanitarian aid specialist for the RS. Both are just up my alley, and I love them both, I can do what I want and on my own time which is nice! And when I am not working on two business, being mommy taxi for all of Eden's things or trying to be supportive wife... I am composting for my winter garden, cooking (which is fun, not a chore), actually prepping for the Christmas holiday season (I know it is early, but this year we are doing the gifts to every family rather than just one on shaun's side... so that always takes a lot more planing), and working on getting healthy.

For those who follow me on twitter or facebook, you might be wondering about the health stuff that I post. And for those who just don't know, we've been keeping some of it under wraps for a while too, but I have actually not been doing well. I have another lump in my breast. But this time it is on my left the other two have been on the right upper... and this is the left mid section. Also, we have been trying to get prego for over a year now, and in trying I've gone through menopause last winter, then two miscarriages last spring, both about 6-8 weeks along, and then this summer was full of trying to get my hormones under control. I recently had some testing done and everything, thus far, has come back normal... no cysts (I have PCOS), normal thyroid, normal pap, etc. But things aren't still normal in functioning yet. So I've been upped on meds, various treatments including now acupuncture, and seeing the doctors more often. I have really learned to appreciate my little Eden more, he never was an accident... he just wasn't in the plans for right when he came. But now I see him as a HUGE miracle, more than I ever have! I also can understand both the unplanned preg and the doesn't happen when you want it to things. I know that we are doing all the things we need to be doing, praying, tithing, fasting, charity, service, etc. As well as, we've made it very clear to my doctor that I am willing to go on certain meds to help make it happen faster, but I guess it isn't safe for me to do those at this point. Anyway, thus I am sleepy... and feeling sick all the time! I am always getting poked and prodded all the time too! The other thing is I was really emotionally struggling with everything last spring, and with hormones... ohh it makes it so much worse! But, now I feel more secure, more relaxed, more calm about it all, and I feel a lot more positive about the process. I have found a way in life that is working for me to stay calm and grounded, and if I just stick to it, I really do well emotionally. But when I don't, I can notice the change in me right away! I know that we would appreciate it if everyone would keep us in their prayers, we are going through some new changes yet again in my health and we/ I would really appreciate it!

All is well around here for us though, really... but we have had a lot of adventures, I will post those with pics later... but for now, this is kind of the run through of what has been going on at the CRAZY little Vining's house! Don't forget to keep up updated, we love to see everyone's fun things going on too!

Happy 5th Anniversary

2009-08-28T10:45:00.001-07:00

We said "yes" to eternity five years ago at 10:45am, and I love you more now than ever!

What I believe...

2009-08-21T16:48:00.000-07:00

It seems as though of the past 6 years since I have chosen to be a "Mormon" or a Latter Day Saint (LDS), I have had more and more confrontation of what I believe and and I have heard ALL the incorrect interpretations of what exactly I do believe in. Recently I was turned to this letter, the Wentworth Letter. I hadn't heard of it before nor knew what it was about, but as soon as a lesson had been taught on it in RS, I felt impressed to share it with everyone I know! Which isn't so impressing when someone has been raised in the church. But, for those of you who have not, this was written by a man who only had the education level of a _____ grader. So don't mind the spelling errors in the letter, some have been edited with citations. But he was also able to translate an ancient history of the people of the American Continent there were engraved upon old tablets. This is what later became the Book of Mormon. I will let the letter continue to explain and I hope that it touches your heart as much as it has mine.

March 1, 1842.—At the request of Mr. John Wentworth, editor and proprietor of the Chicago Democrat, I have written the following sketch of the rise, progress, persecution, and faith of the Latter-day Saints, of which I have the honor, under God, of being the founder. Mr. Wentworth says that he wishes to furnish Mr. Bastow [Barstow], a friend of his, who is writing the history of New Hampshire, with this document. As Mr. Bastow has taken the proper steps to obtain correct information, all that I shall ask at his hands is that he publish the account entire, ungarnished, and without misrepresentation.

I was born in the town of Sharon, Windsor County, Vermont, on the 23rd of December, a.d. 1805. When [I was] ten years old, my parents removed to Palmyra, New York, where we resided about four years, and from thence we removed to the town of Manchester. My father was a farmer and taught me the art of husbandry. When about fourteen years of age, I began to reflect upon the importance of being prepared for a future state, and upon inquiring [about] the plan of salvation, I [found] that there was a great clash in religious sentiment. If I went to one society they referred me to one plan, and another to another, each one pointing to his own particular creed as the summum bonum of perfection. Considering that all could not be right, and that God could not be the author of so much confusion, I determined to investigate the subject more fully, believing that if God had a church it would not be split up into factions, and that if He taught one society to worship one way, and administer in one set of ordinances, He would not teach another, principles which were diametrically opposed.

Believing the word of God, I had confidence in the declaration of James—“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” [James 1:5]. I retired to a secret place in a grove and began to call upon the Lord. While fervently engaged in supplication, my mind was taken away from the objects with which I was surrounded, and I was enwrapped in a heavenly vision and saw two glorious personages, who exactly resembled each other in features and likeness, surrounded with a brilliant light which eclipsed the sun at noonday. They told me that all religious denominations were believing in incorrect doctrines and that none of them was acknowledged of God as His Church and kingdom; and I was expressly commanded “to go not after them,” at the same time receiving a promise that the fullness of the gospel should at some future time be made known unto me.

On the evening [of] the 21st of September, a.d. 1823, while I was praying unto God and endeavoring to exercise faith in the precious promises of scripture, on a sudden a light like that of day, only of a far purer and more glorious appearance and brightness, burst into the room. Indeed the first sight was as though the house was filled with consuming fire. The appearance produced a shock that affected the whole body. In a moment a personage stood before me, surrounded with a glory yet greater than that with which I was already surrounded. This messenger proclaimed himself to be an angel of God, sent to bring the joyful tidings that the covenant which God made with ancient Israel was at hand to be fulfilled; that the preparatory work for the second coming of the Messiah was speedily to commence; that the time was at hand for the gospel in all its fulness to be preached in power unto all nations, that a people might be prepared for the millennial reign. I was informed that I was chosen to be an instrument in the hands of God to bring about some of His purposes in this glorious dispensation.

I was also informed concerning the aboriginal inhabitants of this country [America] and shown who they were, and from whence they came; a brief sketch of their origin, progress, civilization, laws, governments, of their righteousness and iniquity, and the blessings of God being finally withdrawn from them as a people, was [also] made known unto me; I was also told where were deposited some plates on which were engraven an abridgment of the records of the ancient prophets that had existed on this continent. The angel appeared to me three times the same night and unfolded the same things. After having received many visits from the angels of God, unfolding the majesty and glory of the events that should transpire in the last days, on the morning of the 22nd of September, a.d. 1827, the angel of the Lord delivered the records into my hands.

These records were engraven on plates which had the appearance of gold. Each plate was six inches wide and eight inches long, and not quite so thick as common tin. They were filled with engravings, in Egyptian characters, and bound together in a volume as the leaves of a book, with three rings running through the whole. The volume was something near six inches in thickness, a part of which was sealed. The characters on the unsealed part were small, and beautifully engraved. The whole book exhibited many marks of antiquity in its construction and much skill in the art of engraving. With the records was found a curious instrument, which the ancients called “Urim and Thummim,” which consisted of two transparent stones set in the rims of a bow fastened to a breastplate. Through the medium of the Urim and Thummim I translated the record by the gift and power of God.

In this important and interesting book the history of ancient America is unfolded, from its first settlement by a colony that came from the Tower of Babel at the confusion of languages to the beginning of the fifth century of the Christian era. We are informed by these records that America in ancient times has been inhabited by two distinct races of people. The first were called Jaredites and came directly from the Tower of Babel. The second race came directly from the city of Jerusalem about six hundred years before Christ. They were principally Israelites of the descendants of Joseph. The Jaredites were destroyed about the time that the Israelites came from Jerusalem, who succeeded them in the inheritance of the country. The principal nation of the second race fell in battle towards the close of the fourth century. The remnant are the Indians that now inhabit this country. This book also tells us that our Savior made His appearance upon this continent after His Resurrection; that He planted the gospel here in all its fulness, and richness, and power, and blessing; that they had apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, and evangelists—the same order, the same priesthood, the same ordinances, gifts, powers, and blessings, as were enjoyed on the eastern continent; that the people were cut off in consequence of their transgressions; that the last of their prophets who existed among them was commanded to write an abridgment of their prophecies, history, etc., and to hide it up in the earth; and that it should come forth and be united with the Bible for the accomplishment of the purposes of God in the last days. For a more particular account I would refer to the Book of Mormon, which can be purchased at Nauvoo, or from any of our traveling elders.

As soon as the news of this discovery was made known, false reports, misrepresentation, and slander flew, as on the wings of the wind, in every direction; the house was frequently beset by mobs and evil designing people. Several times I was shot at, and very narrowly escaped, and every device was made use of to get the plates away from me; but the power and blessing of God attended me, and several began to believe my testimony.

On the 6th of April 1830, the “Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” was first organized in the town of Fayette, Seneca County, state of New York. Some few were called and ordained by the spirit of revelation and prophecy and began to preach as the Spirit gave them utterance. And though weak, yet were they strengthened by the power of God; and many were brought to repentance, were immersed in the water, and were filled with the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. They saw visions and prophesied, devils were cast out, and the sick healed by the laying on of hands. From that time the work rolled forth with astonishing rapidity, and churches were formed in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri. In the last-named state a considerable settlement was formed in Jackson County. Numbers joined the Church, and we were increasing rapidly. We made large purchases of land; our farms teemed with plenty; and peace and happiness were enjoyed in our domestic circle and throughout our neighborhood. But as we could not associate with our neighbors (who were, many of them, of the basest of men, and had fled from the face of civilized society to the frontier country to escape the hand of justice) in their midnight revels, their Sabbath breaking, horse racing, and gambling, they commenced at first to ridicule, then to persecute, and finally an organized mob assembled and burned our houses, tarred and feathered and whipped many of our brethren, and finally, contrary to law, justice, and humanity, drove them from their habitations, who, houseless and homeless, had to wander on the bleak prairies till the children left the tracks of their blood on the prairie. This took place in the month of November, and they had no other covering but the canopy of heaven. In this inclement season of the year this proceeding was winked at by the government, and although we had warranty deeds for our land, and had violated no law, we could obtain no redress.

There were many sick who were thus inhumanly driven from their houses, and had to endure all this abuse and to seek homes where they could be found. The result was that a great many of them, being deprived of the comforts of life and the necessary attendances, died; many children were left orphans, wives [were left] widows, and husbands, widowers; our farms were taken possession of by the mob; many thousands of cattle, sheep, horses, and hogs were taken; and our household goods, store goods, and printing press and type were broken, taken, or otherwise destroyed.

Many of our brethren removed to Clay County, where they continued until 1836, three years; there was no violence offered but there were threatenings of violence. But in the summer of 1836 these threatenings began to assume a more serious form. From threats, public meetings were called, resolutions were passed, vengeance and destruction were threatened, and affairs again assumed a fearful attitude. Jackson County was a sufficient precedent, and as the authorities in that county did not interfere, they [the Clay County authorities] boasted that they would not [interfere] in this, which on application to the authorities, we found to be too true; and after much privation and loss of property, we were again driven from our homes.

We next settled in Caldwell and Daviess Counties, where we made large and extensive settlements, thinking to free ourselves from the power of oppression by settling in new counties with very few inhabitants in them. But here we were [also] not allowed to live in peace, but in 1838 we were again attacked by mobs, an exterminating order was issued by Governor Boggs, and under the sanction of law an organized banditti ranged through the country, robbed us of our cattle, sheep, hogs, etc., many of our people were murdered in cold blood, the chastity of our women was violated, and we were forced to sign away our property at the point of the sword. And after enduring every indignity that could be heaped upon us by an inhuman, ungodly band of marauders, from twelve to fifteen thousand souls, men, women, and children were driven from their own firesides, and from lands to which they had warrantee deeds—houseless, friendless, and homeless (in the depths of winter) to wander as exiles on the earth, or to seek an asylum in a more genial clime, and among a less barbarous people. Many sickened and died in consequence of the cold and hardships they had to endure. Many wives were left widows, and children [were left] orphans and destitute. It would take more time than is allotted me here to describe the injustice, the wrongs, the murders, the bloodshed, the theft, misery, and woe that have been caused by the barbarous, inhuman, and lawless proceedings of the state of Missouri.

In the situation before alluded to, we arrived in the state of Illinois in 1839, where we found a hospitable people and a friendly home, a people who were willing to be governed by the principles of law and humanity. We have commenced to build a city called “Nauvoo” in Hancock County. We number from six to eight thousand here, besides vast numbers in the county around and in almost every county of the state. We have a city charter granted us and [a] charter for a [military] legion, the troops of which now number 1,500. We have also a charter for a university, for an agricultural and manufacturing society; [we] have our own laws and administrators and possess all the privileges that other free and enlightened citizens enjoy.

Persecution has not stopped the progress of truth, but has only added fuel to the flame. It has spread with increasing rapidity. Proud of the cause which they have espoused and conscious of our innocence and of the truth of their system, amidst calumny and reproach, have the elders of this Church gone forth and planted the gospel in almost every state in the Union. It has penetrated our cities; it has spread over our villages and has caused thousands of our intelligent, noble, and patriotic citizens to obey its divine mandates and be governed by its sacred truths. It has also spread into England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, where, in the year 1840, a few of our missionaries were sent, and over five thousand joined the Standard of Truth; there are numbers now joining in every land.

Our missionaries are going forth to different nations, and in Germany, Palestine, New Holland, Australia, the East Indies, and other places, the Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear; till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.

The Articles of Faith
We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.

We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.

We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on [of] hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.

We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.

We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.

We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.

We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.

We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.

We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.

We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.

We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

Respectfully, etc.,
Joseph Smith

I love at the end of his letter he included the Articles of Faith. These are the very foundations to which we believe! I believe in Jesus Christ as my Savior, I believe in a kind loving Heavenly Father, I believe in an eternal life and that it can be spent with my family. I also believe that Joseph Smith did restore the Gospel back to this earth and has set the church up in the same manner as Christ did when He was on the earth. I believe that Christ still lives and that He is resurrected!
I know these things are true in my heart, and I hope that for those of you who aren't members and know me, that you know I came from a wonderful loving family and that over the years have suffered from great losses. I began to feel lost, I began to go down the wrong road in life and started to do all the wrong things and my heart was hard as a rock. But I can tell you this, I want to spend eternity with my family, I want to be saved by the redeeming grace of God, I want to always feel that comfort of Him in my life, and I need to have a soft, loving and kind heart. I know that these things are possible and I can feel its influences on my life daily. All of this is because of finding and returning to Christ. All of this is possible because "I know that My Redeemer Lives". I hope that you all can have that feeling in your lives.

Top Five Things...

2009-08-21T09:14:00.002-07:00

Top Five reasons I love Shaun...
5. He makes me laugh so hard that can't breathe and I am crying hysterically!
4. He doesn't always say the right thing at the right times, but he is always trying and showing the true colors of his heart!
3. He always tries and never gives up!
2. He is a humble hottie!
1. He always does what is right, no matter the situation!
Happpy 5th Anniversary!

"In my life I've loved you more"
-the Beatles sang by Dave Mathews' Band
Great lyrics haven't been sung any better!

There are places i'll remember
All my life though some have changed
Some forever not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places have their moments
With lovers and friends i still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life i've loved them all

But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When i think of love as something new
Though i know i'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know i'll often stop and think about them
In my life i love you more

Though i know i'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know i'll often stop and think about them
In my life i love you more
In my life i love you more

Loveology...

2009-08-18T09:03:00.000-07:00

let's go to the movies... ohh and we can do nothing at all...Loveology, Kissology, Forgivemeology, Study class!

I love these lyrics too! I love emo music and I love music that makes you think, I love music that can touch you deep in your heart, and this song does! Loveology by Regina Spektor... I'm not going to post the lyrics, but I just thought for a min. What is my Loveology? What is that the study of? How does it affect me and my life?

I LOVE My Husband- Shaun Kelly Vining
I LOVE being his wife & companion
I LOVE being the mother to his child
I LOVE sharing a home with him (not just in the litteral sence)
I LOVE being eternal to one another
I LOVE being able to grow in faith together
I LOVE growing as individuals together
I LOVE each year we are married more than the last
I LOVE planing our future together
I LOVE kissing SKV
I LOVE LOVING SKV WITH ALL MY HEART!

Happy 5th babe!

Quick Post...

2009-08-17T19:32:00.002-07:00

Just a really quick one, but Eden has moved up to EEL in swim! I am so happy for him. He has done so well these past 3 weeks, that he is now swimming without holding our hands... yeah he is truly an independent swimmer now! He can float on his back and is now starting to swim on his back too. He can float on his front, swim face down and go down for diving sticks. This past weekend, he started saying "Cannnnnn ALLLLL" So I asked if he wanted to learn how to do a cannon ball and he said he did, so daddy and I went all out and had a blast teaching him how to do it. HE LOVED IT! So today in his lesson with Miss Cindy, he had to show her and she was impressed! More so that he came up, got a breath, and swam to the side on his own! Anyway for those who don't know what an eel is, the YMCA has its level of swimmer labeled via fish names, and level 2 is called an eel. His teacher said that within the next two weeks she believes he'll actually move up one more level too. I guess he's been holding back a bit, and wasn't ready to let go, but now that he has, he is just going nuts with all his skills!

I am so proud of my little monkey, fish!

New Calling...

2009-08-16T12:54:00.001-07:00

Well it is that time of year where I always seem to get a new calling. I actually received this calling a while back, but it didn't actually involve me doing anything or very little. But it has since been revamped! I am so excited about it now and it is right up my alley too!

I am the Humanitarian Aid Specialist in the RS! OK, so what does that mean? It means that I can do whatever I and the RS Pres feels we have humanitarian aid for. So, ok that is really vauge, but it means that we can do a lot or a little, we can do big projects or small, whatever we want! So, knowing me, I want to do a little something all the time! We've come up with doing a donation box every Sunday for various drives through all the year. Right now we are doing a School Supplies Drive. Sept- Hygiene Supplies, October- Blanket Drive for a local shelter, Nov & Dec- Angel Tree (this is actually what our RS Pres does every year, so I'll help if she wants me to... but this is truly her baby), Jan- Hygiene Supplies, Feb- a service night, Mar- Food Drive, April & May- Medical Supplies, June- A local woman's group drive! Anyway, there are the next few things we are planing on, but I am so excited. I've put together a flyer of places you can volunteer at for people if they are interested in serving in other capacities, and I am having fun looking up local places to serve and what their needs are that we can help with! I just feel so good working on this~

Also, I have gotten yet another calling too! I am going to be doing the programs for scarement! YEAH! I know that it can be a lot of work, but I am so excited about doing it! For sometime now, various people in the ward have been kind of doing the calling and there isn't always complete info in the program either. (I'm not pointing fingers... I am just saying this in general) Every week I get excited about seeing it, I know that sounds dumb, but it just a little thing I enjoy looking at and actually look forward to doing everyweek. Anyway, now I am going to be the one doing it! YEAH! Of course me and my personality, I want to have all the info early and have them done way ahead of time, but we'll see how that works out since I am going to have to relie on so many others in putting all the info together. But, I am totally excited about doing it!

So, now having to balance the two callings...?!?!?! Well, since the RS Pres and I have worked out the whole year in humanitarian drives I'll just have to bee bringing the box, inventory of the items, and turning them in weekly/ monthly. And then have to print and fold the programs weekly, so that is going to be easy enough, well... I'll have to go to church with Shaun in the mornings now, so no more lateness and with fighting Eden by myself! Yeah I am super excited!

Carly Simon...

2009-08-15T08:50:00.000-07:00

So in updating the blog, I went through project playlist looking newer music and I started finding all the old favs of mine. I came across a few that I just couldn't pass up, like this one!
Nobody does it better by Carly Simon...

Nobody does it better
Makes me feel sad for the rest
Nobody does it half as good as you
Baby, you're the best

I wasn't lookin' but somehow you found me
It tried to hide from your love light
But like heaven above me
The spy who loved me
Is keepin' all my secrets safe tonight

And nobody does it better
Though sometimes I wish someone could
Nobody does it quite the way you do
Why'd you have to be so good?

The way that you hold me
Whenever you hold me
There's some kind of magic inside you
That keeps me from runnin'
But just keep it comin'
How'd you learn to do the things you do?

Oh, and nobody does it better
Makes me feel sad for the rest
Nobody does it half as good as you
Baby, baby, darlin', you're the best

Baby you're the best
Darlin', you're the best
Baby you're the best

OK, so for those of you with your mind in the gutter... get it out! I can see where that could lead you, but this is a 70's song and it wasn't that dirty minded back then. Well... Ok for me "it" = love, compassion, romance, etc. not "it it".

Flaws and All, 5 years in the Making!

2009-08-13T03:12:00.003-07:00

So I have fallen in love with this song and it really does a great job at describing my love for Shaun, with my all my flaws. We are celebrating our 5th anniversary this month on the 28th and I know that isn't a really big one. But those first several years of marriage you are spending so much time getting to know one another, and fighting over stupid things. I have seen that over time our "disagreements" are more and more about our lives together and not seeing eye to eye on that sort of stuff rather than in early marital bliss... "fighting" over who said what, who is right, who's way is the better way. Point being, over time we have grown to be more accustom to one another's needs. We have grown to be on the same page and work towards a more common goal of being one, rather than on opposite teams.

Some say it has by so fast, I'd say some of that is true... and yet I think it has gone by pretty slow. That isn't a bad thing though, I'd say the "disagreements" have made it go by fast. But the better parts are always in slow motion, which I love. Going for a drive up north to get out of the hot, going camping, just hanging out in the yard, etc. I love the day to day little memories. I know that I don't come off as being someone who cherishes that sort of thing, but I do, greatly. I also know that I don't come off as being one who gets all mushy and romantic. I know that I come off as being really hard, stearn, and I think I look mad a lot too; but point being that it is all a HUGE front! Shaun is the only one who really sees that, he usually sees me put up a huge front to him when I am at my most vulnerable too. (a little secret about me, I cry over everything! I mean even a tissue commercial!) He used to try and fight it, but now he knows that is when I am in need the most of compassion rather than running away from me. I don't know why he puts up with my backwards emotions, I don't know why he takes all the nasty little comments when I have had a bad day, and I don't know why he feels that I am beautiful... but for some reason he does. And he tells me this all the time too!

So this is not really an ode to me, I swear, but I heard this song recently and I can't seem to get it out of my head... it pretty much says what I am trying to say here... it is by Beyonce Knowles and it is called "Flaws and All"
I'm a train wreck in the morning
I'm a b*tch in the afternoon
Every now and then without warning
I can be really mean towards you

I'm a puzzle yes indeed
Ever complex in every way
And all the pieces aren't even in the box
And yet you see the picture clear as day

I don't know why you love me
And that's why I love you
You catch me when I fall
Accept me, flaws and all
And that's why I love you
And that's why I love you
And that's why I love

I neglect you when I'm working
When I need attention I tend to nag
I'm a host of imperfection
And you see past all that

I'm a peasant by some standards
But in your eyes I'm a queen
You see potential in all my flaws
And that's exactly what I need

I don't know why you love me
And that's why I love you
You catch me when I fall
Accept me, flaws and all
And that's why I love you
And that's why I love you
And that's why I love you

I'm a train wreck in the morning
I'm a b*tch in the afternoon
Every now and then without warning
I can be really mean towards you

Don't know why you love me
And that's why I love you
Catch me when I fall
Accept me flaws and all
And that's why I love you

Shaun, that's why I love you!
Still more to post about our love story to come...

Our July!

2009-08-12T14:45:00.004-07:00

After June, what could be left to do? Well we continued with the movies, swim lessons, swim group, and craft days. Plus we celebrated the 4th with our own little celebration, we (the mommy and daddy) got to go on several movie dates, had lots of young mens things, Had lots of comp issues, and worked on preserving our childhoods!

What does half of that mean? Well, my mom has been sending me boxes upon boxes of old school work, report cards, pictures, etc. Plus Shaun has his stuff too! Shaun's mom was nice enough to keep all his stuff in a big binder and organized. My mom was nice enough to have it all sorted in minella folders. So it made it a lot easier to organize. But I wanted a scrapbook for myself, and I really wanted to 3 ring folder like Shauns of all my awards and newpaper clippings. So, I've been organizing, scaning, and organizing my childhood memories and accomplishments! Also, I'm working on scaning all of Shaun's pics too for our digital photo frame.

So why do I mention the comp issues? Well, try working on starting a business or preserving your childhood with a lap top or tower that doesn't want to work! What a headache! And how silly that both our Anti-spyware/ virus, stuff runs out at the same time too! Ohh, but I will not allow technology to win, I won, ohh yes I won that fight!

So, on the the "bang". 4th of July was a lot of fun! We just hung out in the pool most of the day; we swam, we played, we snacked, we had fun! Then Eden had made a "firecracker" so he ran the the yard and put on a little show for us. Then we had a BBQ of all the American favorites; baked beans, potato salad, fruit salad, pasta salad, grilled brats, burgers, pineapple, homemade shortcakes with stawberried, ice cream, and cool whip, just to name a few dishes I made up for the occasion! Then we watched Independance Day with Will Smith, and to top off the day, we went to the Goodyear City Fireworks! It was a long day, filled with great relaxing and fun memories.

And another "bang" for the month of July, we went to some of the big blockbuster movies... Harry Potter, Star Trek, Terminator Salvation, Up, Proposal, Ice Age 3,& Transformers. YOu have to understand... we decided that since we buy every movie (well not really), we wouldn't go to movies anymore...hahahaha! Yeah well, do you think that we could miss these on the big screen? NOT! So, we splurged BIG TIME! But it was fun and worth it!

Also Eden got his big boy pictures taken this month too! Frist studio pics, but he did a good job! Just got them back too, here is a sneak peak...

Last but not least, we are going out with a "bang" at the end of the month! We had an ALL COUSIN SLEEP OVER, it wass a back to school bash! I am was excited! I had been having fun preparing for it and Eden was getting very excited to have all his cousins over too! Well, we didn't get them all over, but we still had a blast! We made our own pizza, we had pancakes with whipped cream and strawberries, decorated our own cookies, went swimming, had a talent show, played, watched stewart little, and treasure planet, and they all slowly but surely started dropping off like flies around 1am. It was a lot of fun that is for sure!

All the while Shaun went to Zion's Camp with the young men of our ward! He had a blast and really enjoyed being up in the mountains. He said they were long days and the boys were a lot of work, but that it was a great experiance and that it was worth it! Although it was hard for Eden and I to not have him at home, it was really nice to have him return to us in one peice!

June was filled with fun!

2009-08-12T01:25:00.000-07:00

Yep, we had a very fun month in June, some of which I posted a while ago... but that was just the begining! We celebrated a great dad, Shaun... we did some home improvements (ok well not a lot and nothing major, but it was fun to jazz up a few things!), we had swim lessons, craft group, swim group, movie morning movie group, movies with cousins, we hosted a few dinner parties, had a baby blessing, and father's day dinner with the Vinings, we went to the dentist for the first time! Ok, so some of that doesn't sound to fun... but we had a blast in June! Lots of baby showers too!

So, lets start with the dentist trip. Eden didn't want to open up for the hygenist, but as soon as the Dr. came around he let him look and count his teeth. So, he still hasn't had an offical cleaning, but we'll try it again in 6 months! It wasn't a bad visit, it just wasn't productive at all. But what do you expect from a 3 year old little boy, I've learned to let him do what he wants rather than make him fear things later.

June is also the month to celebrate dads! So we did just that with a bang! We made daddy a few gifts, made him a special dinner, and had fun spending time together as a family!

This summer we decided to do Movie Mornings with Harkins again, it is a really good deal. $10 for 10 weeks of movies... He has seen most of them, but it is the experiance and getting out of the house that is fun! Plus we had a few friends join us, so Eden has had a blast sitting next to his little buddys and talking about the movie, sharring popcorn and candy, etc.

Then of course what is a summer without swim group?!?! This year I decided not to open it up to the whole ward. So I invited few moms this year, but it has been nice to not have huge gatherings and being constantly worried about watching to many kids. Although on the flip side it has been just one mom and I for a few weeks, since everyone is out of town. I look at it like we get our own little play date, and since we aren't anywhere special, we still get to cool off!

Then, of course, if that wasn't enough, we are still doing swim lessons! Although we are actually doing private lessons now! Eden loved his teacher so much, but he just wasn't paying attention with all those big kids in his class, so I thought a 30 min lesson two a week would force him to pay attention. It sure did! He is a fish, I'm not kidding you! He goes under the water, he jumps in, he monkey walks the wall, he does laps with kicking, scouping, and bobbing up and down for air. Plus, he dives for spiderman sticks and rings. He can now get three rings that are spaced out on the bottom in one breath! I am so proud of him! I love that he is loving it too! *disclaimer- he does all this while holding my hand! HEhehe, I don't know why he won't let go, he is doing it all on his own, he just wants to hold your hand for reassurance! It cracks both Shaun and I up, because we really aren't doing anything he is doing it all on his own, he just wants you there!

Also, we didn't stop our little mom hosted craft group for the summer, but we did have two moms step out. So, we decided to step it up a notch. We are all still taking turns hosting, which invovles a craft, snack and play time, but now we are doing a letter and number too! Eden is loving it even more. I know that he struggles to sit still, he is the 2nd youngest, so I do cut him a little slack. But he is really learning how to share with his friends, how to listen, how to follow directions, and now he is really wanting to know his letters and numbers because all his friends do. So I am so glad that I am apart of this group with him! I am now having fun pulling my lessons together for the times that I am hosting... it allows me to be a little more creative, and I learn more and more of what I should be doing with him on a more consistant bases. Also, I love how he is talking about the group, he tells me all about, and asks when it is going to be next... he is at the sweet stage of wanting to know everything he can! I also love the fact that I get 3 days a month to run errands with out him... I know that sounds bad, but it is so nice! I get things done so much faster, I actually can pay attention to what I am doing better, and then when I pick him up, I appreciate him more and focus just on him!

Lastly, Shaun has been SO busy with young mens and scouting this summer. It seems like there is something every weekend, plus the every week activity, plus all the meetings. Also Shaun has been really busy with his classes at Grand Canyon University. He is taking all his upper division classes which means they require a lot more work. She is having to post discussion questions and replies 2-3 a week plus having a pretty big paper every week. It is great that he can do it all from home, but he still isn't really "home" while doing his homework. But it all pays off when he gets those grades in as A's and B's! I am so proud of him and all his efforts. I do get on him a lot about spending time with us, his family, but I understand the great sacrifices he is making for his education, our church and his faith with his callings, as well as, working, and being a dad and husband! He has a full plate!

But for me, well, still not prego... but didn't miscarry again either, so that is always good news! Also, Pre-Mirror was just too crazy this past spring season with 5 fashion shows, 3 weddings, & 2 proms. I love it, but, it just made it too crazy to start my new businesses. I am still waiting on the state to approve some of by applications, but I've got my banking stuff, website, facebook stuff, and some other prepwork all settled. Now I am just waiting on the state, and working on my catalog for Sage Paisley, and I am working on some int. design lectures and some of my forms for le Bon Jardin & Maison (purchase orders, change orders, contracts, etc). I did have a consult job on a rental in June, and I am really looking forward to seeing how that works out! I am not going to be returning to school this fall, which is a good thing and a bummer. I really want to get my education done, but I really want to spend time on developing these businesses. I also, really feel that I need to be at home with Eden, but I also feel like I need to do school before more kids come into the picture. But with everything that Shaun is invovled in, and that I keep Eden really busy, I have decided to let them do their things, and someday it will be my turn.

Home Improvements...

2009-07-26T17:15:00.009-07:00

So what have we been working on?

Well, one this is putting the final "Lake" touches on Eden's room. He now has his "tent" roman window shade and stool, his "tree" frames, fish fish and net, etc. I just really like the whole room now!

Also, put the final touches on the "Primary Bath" room. Towels, ribbons, rugs, and knobs, oh my!

Lastly, this has been a LONG time coming, but we have handles and knobs in the kitchen now! YEAH! I bought the a year ago, and they finally got put on. But, the wait was worth it, they look so nice and I am SO glad to not have to keep putting my finger on the edges of doors to open them now! YEAH! It also looks so classy

Of course, I've been adding more red touches in the front room...

And my sister in law and I recently bought used rockers and re-cushioned and covered them! Mine is the family room, and I love it! It is so comfy and matches perfectly!

Then I had all this random leftover fabric so I made a bean bag for Eden. I had no pattern and it is really a crude looking one, but he loves it! And Lastly, I'm always adding and embellishing things to already existing things. So my newest one... "family" to the easal of my tile.

NEW DO...

2009-07-23T21:37:00.003-07:00

So I have been toying with the idea of cutting my hair off or not. I really like the more traditional and feminine long hair look. But I am not liking how it looks on me. I think that I look a lot heavier, it is making my face break out more, I am hotter in temperature, and well, I keep getting people that come up to me telling me that they like my hair short. So what is a girl to do... I also know that Shaun REALLY likes it short. I like it short too, but I feel like a boy, and no matter what you HAVE to do your hair daily when it is short... and well, I am just to busy or lazy sometimes. So, I went into my hair appointment not knowing how I was going to walk out... I knew that I was getting my blond done again, but the cut was a mystery! So, here is what happened...

Look at home long my hair is... I mean look at the black under layer in the front, it blends into the cape, I haven't had it this long since sophomore year in high school. So, I knew I was in for the color, but do I cut off all that length?

YEP! All my hair was cut OFF! This is just one of the piles of hair around the chair, look at home long some of those pieces are, WOW!

This is what the stylist came up with as a style for me... I don't like it! Plus she left the back sides long and heavy.

So when I got home, I did some more trimming, and this is what I came up with! I still think it is too long on top in the back, but we'll see in a week as so if I chop that off too!

June~ BBQ and a Wedding!

2009-06-17T05:10:00.002-07:00

Well even though May was a VERY busy month, June seems to follow suit! It seems as though we have something everyday. I should say Eden has something everyday. From private swim lessons twice a week, to movie camp, swim group, and craft group! Plus, the normal day to do things... and daddy is in school throughout the summer, plus we'd like to take a few little weekend things here and there, but I'm not sure how those will fit in. Anyway, we recently did go to one of Shaun's cousins' wedding. Greg Dorn was married to a really sweet young woman a couple of weeks ago. Plus Kiko and Char came in to celebrate the wedding too! (it was their 40th wedding anniversary on the same day!)It was a really pretty and very nice wedding, I am proud to say that I did the make-up for the bride, although she didn't need much she is already really pretty!

Then last week we had the Miers over for a BBQ and swim. It wasn't much, and I was so over done with things to do I wasn't really ready for them either! But, we did have a great time and it was super silly to watch Day and Eden playn' They were making Star Wars Commercails?!?! Well whatever it was, it was fun!

Month of May...

2009-06-17T02:35:00.006-07:00

Wow did May go by fast or what?!?! Well as you can tell I haven't been updating the blog as well as I should be, but it is truly because May was just to crazy! I couldn't keep up with all the pics and activities to be able to post. So now that things have calmed down it is time to show the world what the little Vinings have been up to!

So let's start with Garden Preschool... Eden had his spring session in April and May. He loved it! He are a few pics of his last day at school.

Then we went to the PHX Zoo with an old friend from Lakeview High. She recently moved out to the valley and so we met up and had lunch and a play date!

Next we ventured back east to Michigan! We drove straight through, 29 hours! But we did make a pit stop in Springfield Ill to take some flowers to Aunt Mary, Grandma and Grandpa, as well as Great Grandma and Great Grandpa, well the whole Zaccagni family! We did have to jump a fence since the cemetery was closed, but it was all good... so here are some pics from the road trip.

Then while we were in Michigan, we went to visit the Sickle side of the family... And my dad. Eden is so funny when we go see my dad too, he just gets all comfortable and jumps around on the stone plays, etc. But he doesn't do that to the other head stones, just my dads. (Maybe they met, and so Eden is close with him?!?! I don't know but it is kind of neat how comfortable he gets.)

Then we hung out at my mom's and did the lake thing...

I was so happy the my cousin Shann and her little one Shyla joined us on Mother's Day. It was Shann's first, but also that we got to catch up with them! Then we took some family pics on Mother's Day!

And of course what is a trip to Mich without catching at least one of our fav restaurants? So wewent to the Turkey Farm! Eden had a blast pretending to play video games, feeding the goats with dandilions, and watching the train go around this really old model set up that they have.

*as a side note, if you are wondering why I look SO Swollen or fat in all the Michigan pics?!?! Well, I actually was 6 weeks prego at the time, and I was REALLY holding in water with all the traveling and such. So if you hadn't picked up on the was, I did miscarry, again. I made it to almost 8 weeks this time. I am ok, I am just starting to get really bummed out, and you know that feeling of everytime to see something you want it just hurts a little that you can't have it? Well make that want a baby, now be mormon; everyone is either having a baby, prego with a baby, or just had a baby! I am not letting it get to me too badly, I am keeping my hopes up. So, hopefully, I'll get prego again, and things will go better the 3rd time around!

Also this month, we did a Crook Girls Sleep Over... It was a lot of fun! We did facials, nails, toes, watched movies, ate pizza, made cupcakes, went swimming (it was freezing), and laughed a lot! Also there was a talent portion to the evening. It actually started with Eden, he was dancing to "the boys are back" from HM3, it was so cute and so funny that the girls wanted to start showing off their moves too! Ohh and if you can't tell, look how pet hungery the girls are, they wouldn't let harley go all night long!

Ohh and we have a new neice! Emma Belle Zweifel! (I'm not sure how they spell her middle name, but you get the idea!) I don't have many pics, but she is super cute! Plus in June they blessed her, and she had the cutest little lace dress on! Mom and baby are doing well, so that is always a blessing too.

Then for Memorial Day we went up to Prescott for the day! It was just for a day trip, but we had a lot of fun! We stopped by the 'Rock Springs Cafe' for pie and lunch. Caught an art fair in downtown by whiskey row. Went to the governor's mansion, had dinner, browsed through some stores, and then went into the woods. Hahaha, no we went stolling by a lake and had fun skipping rocks, watching people fish, and just talking.

Lastly, I don't really have pics of these, but I did make-up for two weddings, a prom, and three fashion shows in the month of May! It was a really busy month for Pre-Mirror Make-Up Designs! So, I am glad that the spring fashion season is over with. It is a lot of fun but a lot of work! And now we are already mid June, yikes! Well that will have to be another post!

Our Disneyland Adventure!

2009-06-17T02:33:00.004-07:00

Wow we'll this has been a post waiting to happen for a while now, but it is finally here! We went to Cali in Feb to go to celebrate Eden and my birthday, as well as, Valentine's day. We had bought a package from our travel agent that included our hotel across the street from the parks, so we could walk across the street to the park! It was great and made our trip very easy. Also we had gotten a park hopper pass so that we could go from park to park. That actually worked out really well. On day one we went to Disneyland, then on day two we had a bit of rain but we were able to do a lot of California Adventure still. Then on Day three we meet up with our friends that happen to be there too, and share our kids so that we could do a few 'couple' rides while the kids got to play with one another, it was great! Plus we also got finish what we hadn't gotten to at Disneyland on that third day. Another part of our trip included early admission to the park one morning, and we also got to go to "Toon Town Morning Madness" one morning. That was fun because we tried so hard to see Mickey and other characters the whole time throught the park and it seemed like we'd always miss them or we'd be in line and get to be one or two people behind before they had to take off. But at the "Morning Madness" we got to actually hang out with all the characters and spend 'time' with them. They only let so many people in, so you get a really nice experiance.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy our pics as much as we enjoyed our trip!
Day One

Day Two

Day Three

Day Four (LA Architecture Tour... Ohh, and Eden pleaded to go to the temple, so we stoped by that too!)

Blog Update...

2009-06-09T20:33:00.002-07:00

I have not stopped blogging, I promise... I just haven't had the time to actually do stories and photos. I have the whole month of May, and now half of June to blog! It is on my to do list, I just need to get through some more events before I'll have the time to do get to it all!

Also, just as a quick announcement, Pre-Mirror Make-Up Designs got the exclusive again for 2009 with Phoenix Runway! I am so excited about it, we'll have a big event in September, so I'll keep you apprised on that as well!

Cousin Overnight

2009-04-29T19:29:00.002-07:00

Well a little while ago, we decided that we were going to celebrate this year for special days and birthdays by spending time with the cousins rather than do presents. So, we had Jathen and Brylee come stay the night with us. We decorated cupcakes, then made and shaped sugar cookies... and then decorated them too! We had pizza, pop, and watched Indiana Jones II (it was Brylee's pick), Bolt, and TinkerBell.

In the morning we ate pancakes with fruit and whip cream, donuts and OJ. Then we went to the farmer's market, then on the way to drop the kids off... I ran out of gas! I can't believe it, I had Shaun's car so I wasn't sure about the gas gauge. I was almost to their place but still on the highway (the 60 in fact) Ahhh, it was horrible, luckily Jon came and rescued us. He was so kind about it, and then took the kids home. I felt so dumb and so childish. I really did appreciate his help, but it was made me feel bad that it happened with his kids in the car! All in all, it was a fun overnight though!

Rain Rain Come Again!

2009-04-29T19:21:00.003-07:00

Hahaha, I loved that song growing up, but in Michigan it was always "go away, come again another day". But out here in Arizona, Eden and I like to sing it "come again, today and another day". Hehehe, so as you guessed it, IT RAINED! Well this was a week or two ago, but it rained so hard that we had a really cool waterfall off our roof! Eden wanted to try out his Lightening McQueen Boats and his Mickey Mouse Umbrella. SO as you can see he is also showing off his big boy undies too! Hehehe, he's an apple that hasn't fallen far from mommy's tree (my family knows how often as a kid I was dressed, and it wasn't a lot)

You know we don't really get to test those out here, he had a blast playing in the rain, I think kids here miss out on so much fun with the weather. But it is nice to have a glimpse of diverse weather rather than 30, 70, 40, 80 degree weather like Michigan has been having.

A Cactus and a Pepper!

2009-04-29T19:09:00.003-07:00

Well, Eden learned all about Grammy and Dan's favorite cactus today in Garden School. Yep, another one of our weekly activites is Desert Botanical Garden's Preschool called Seedlings. Today we learned all about the Saguaro.Eden's class always goes on a walk in the garden, then has learning pods, snack, a craft, and then reads a story about their lesson. So, this was today's craft

I can't beleive how proud Eden was of it. It isn't anything more special than any other project he's done, but he got to use the big boy scissors today, so that might be it! He cut, glued, and showed it off to all the teachers! He really loved it and was so proud of it, it was kind of funny actually!

Yep that's right... I have a Pepper! I am trying my hand at bell peppers in a pot, and so far I've gotten one! I am not sure what to do with it, since it is so small. But I am looking forward to some Shishkabobs later this summer!

Craft Group!

2009-04-29T19:05:00.002-07:00

YEAH for craft group... Eden has the privilage to be with some of his best buddies in this little craft group one day a week. We all rotate who hosts, and when we host we do a craft, a snack and free play. So this month, Eden has gotten to make a cool decorated pad of paper, finger paint bugs, Zoo foam puppets, and 5 little monkey puppets. Anyway, I never take pitcures... but this week I thought I should have some proof of one of our weekly outings!

He's done it!

2009-04-29T18:58:00.002-07:00

We are pooping on the toilet! For those of you who haven't ever had to potty train, let me tell you how big this is... I mean HUGE! No more diapers, no more poopy undies, no more hassels, ohhh the freedoms! No more diaper bag, YEAH!

So far we have one full week without a poopy mess, and he is doing it on his own! I don't even have to wipe a little booty! OHHH YEAH! Ohh, and by the way, we are also waking up every morning to go potty too, so I am thinking I am going to start in on undies at bedtime too!

OHHH the freedoms, the joy no more potty training!

~wait I spoke to soon, Eden has my phobia... he won't go anywhere but on his toliet at home! Ohh, well, I'll take that over poopy diapers and undies! He is getting better though about going in public!

Happy Adoption Day... to me!

2009-04-15T18:03:00.003-07:00

Well, some know that today is my adoption day. It is a day that I celebrate becoming a member of the Zaccagni-Sickle Family. The day that I offically belonged to Joyce and Larry. It has always been known to me that I was adopted it was always an open discussion in our home, and if I ever had questions, it was a great day to be able to talk about it. My parents always treated me to a dinner out, and something special that represented me for that year. My mom usually would take me to the Circus or Disney on Ice as an experiance type of gift, where as my dad would always buy me something that was significant like a charm of something I did that year, like a painting or trip that I went on. When my dad passed away it was kind of weird to celebrate with out him, but my mom tried her best to still make it special. Then when I moved away it was always odd, because I didn't have anyone to celebrate it with. Although my mom would send me something in the mail or have flowers delivered to still acknowledge it. So when I got married, I thought that I would have someone to celebrate it with again... well, my husband didn't get it. He thought that it was odd or would forget about it. So it took me having a few emotional breakdowns and a few years for him to get it, but he has. It isn't another birthday, it is just a little something... like a date night out.

I do know that since my mom has been a snow bird, she has been able to celebrate with me for the past two years! So this year we went to the Artichoke Grill at SCC. It is really nice... for $20 you get a gourmet 5 course meal. It is kind of predeterimined what is going to be served, but you do get some choices. My mom gave me a really neast red plant, and Shaun gave me a book on CD, one about being a better family, spiritually. I was so excited! Plus to not have Eden, and just have an adult night out... ohhh that was great! Thanks to my mother and father in law for taking him, it was a really nice night out!

Anyway, I am proud to be a Zaccagni, a Sickle, and now a Vining. So Happy Adoption Day to Me!

Happy Easter...

2009-04-12T21:42:00.008-07:00

WOW what a fun filled day we've had! First Eden went looking around the house for all the Easter Bunny's tracks and once he followed them he found his basket!

Then we had fun opening goodies from Grammy too!

Then we got ready for church...

Went to Auntie's and made hats and bonets...Went on an egg hunt...ate a yummy lunch and desserts...

Then headed off to GrandVona's and Pappa's...

Where we had an another egg hunt... (which Eden almost missed out on because he wouldn't eat his dinner, keep in mind we were forcing it because he also didn't eat his lunch, and he is trying to see how long we'll hold out until we cave in and that's not going to happen, so until then we are the very mean parents keeping him out of an egg hunt. He did get like 6 eggs, so he was fine... after he ate 4 bites~)

Then we had a baby Shower for Jon and Michelle...Played some silly and fun games...

and finally headed home! It was a really fun filled day! Although it is a little nuts trying to prepare for two get togethers, a holiday, a shower, and still live to tell about... But we are so blessed to have such wonderful family to share with that we don't want to miss out on anything! It was a great day and who could ask for anything more than sharing Easter with so many family!

Progress and Regression...

2009-04-12T21:39:00.002-07:00

Ok so on a positive note, Eden made major progress in his swimming lessons! I droped him off and just left him to his teacher... she said he did everything and didn't freak out, cry, etc! YEAH! He actually learned something! This is major progress!

And on the "regression" we have more accidents in the potty training this week and I am pulling my hair out! In fact, he had 2 today alone! AHHH ARRRRGGGGGG! I have tried even bribing with DVDS and toys, and it is still not working! Anyway, I am still trudging along with it!

What's up with MSU?

2009-04-07T00:07:00.002-07:00

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's about all I can say about that.

I am not even an MSU fan, infact I really could care less about them (you know I'm a UofM diehard fan). But come on, I wore the green and white, so did Eden, we went to Native New Yorker to watch the game, we ate the wings, we did the whole game ritual... and what did they do? SCREWED UP BIG TIME! Come on, a 20-30pt spread the whole game, really, I mean really? Then when it looks like not all is lost, a quick little come back, could it be?!?!?! NOPE! THEY CHOKE! the game ended with a 20pt spread! AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

Goes to show you, never cheer on the opposing team!

*ok, so I will totally admit that UofM sucks the last 15 years at B-Ball, but still... the loyalty lies with them... never again MSU, you've lost my faith in you completly!

Ginger Ale...

2009-04-06T13:11:00.003-07:00

Well it is an oldie but a goodie. Vernor's, the best pop ever! Ok, well it is an acquired taste, but us Michiganders love it! Since 1849 Vernor's has been a Michigan soda... YEAH! Anyway, lately I have been craving pop, so little to no calories, no caffeine, and little sugar but great taste have been on my mind in finding an ok pop to drink on an everyday basis. I limit myself to one can a day, but it is my indulgence. So, sure enough Vernors hits the bill! But not only that, I get this weekly e-mail from my Nateopath MD, and he says to help with allergies this season, eat or drink ginger. Can you believe it! YEAH for VERNOR'S ginger ale! Shaun thinks that I am looking for any excuse to drink it, which I am, but yeah for allergy suffers everywhere... drink more Vernor's!

Little Updates...

2009-04-06T12:38:00.007-07:00

Well, our little eggs hatched and we now have little birds! They are so tiny! We have had several types of birds hanging around our yard latley and around the area of the nest, so we haven't been sure what type of birds the eggs would be. But sure enough, they are finches! We are excited to see them take to flight, Eden has been watching and I think that he'll enjoy the next step they birds take!

Shaun FINALLY completed his Christmas puzzle. It is a really nice puzzle of George Washington on a horse over looking a town. It has consumed our front table from months, but it is finally done! I know that Shaun had a few set backs with it, Eden would knock peices on the floor, and a little friend of Eden's went in a started breaking up the whole thing (hehehe don't worry about it BF). His mommy tried to put most if it back together again for Shaun, which was really nice of her. Anyway, I know that Shaun is happy to have it done, and enjoyed working on it too.

A new look, so I'm growing my hair out, and have been for the last 9 months. So far it has been going ok, but I am at the sholder length and it is so heavy, thick, and has no shape! So, I needed my blonde retouched, so I asked Audry to give me some shape too. OK, so she didn't style it so great, but I have a shape now and bangs! To see a better pic of my hair look farther down at the Suns pics.

Also, We've decorated for Easter! Last night we had a nice family disscussion about the reason and purpose of Easter with Eden. It consisted of talking about Christ and His Atonement, Rebirth, and His final days journey. We then also talked about spring being a time for rebirth, and how the "bunny" came about. So, I stressed to Eden that we decorate like we do at Christmas to recognize Christ, rebirth of the Son and the season. So we have our little Easter tree, and all of our little bunny's out too!

We also had a little Easter Egg Hunt at our home on Saturday. Durring the Priesthood Session of General Conferance, the moms and kids came over and we had pizza, dirt dessert, trifle, punch, key lime aid, and tons of candy! I didn't take any pics, but it was a lot of fun. The kids all got to find 6 filled eggs and then what ever was left over they all got to go and find a bunch more! Plus we had a few other relay games too. It was short, but a fun little get together!

All pooped out, yep, that's all I can say about this! Eden was so excited from all his activites this weekend that he fell asleep like this! Hehehe, I think it is so funy how he just falls asleep anywhere and in any postition. It is so funny because I did the same thing as a kid. I have so many pictures of me sleeping in the most random places. I have me asleep on our boat in the middle of the lake, under lawn chairs covered in towels, in the upright postion on a park bench in Canada... on rides at Disney World. I just would fall asleep anywhere I was tierd. And does that ring true to Eden or what!?!?! He fell asleep in the park at Disney for his naps everyday, he has fallen asleep off road jeepn' with Dan everytime in his car seat, and even upside down hanging off the bed/ couch in the office. It cracks me up! The frustarting part of the whole thing... do you think he'd take a nap in his bed? Or even on an everyday basis? Nope, but I guess like mother like son!

We also attended another Suns Game! It wasn't a "big" game, but Dallas lost, and the Suns won against the kings... so there is still a little hope that the Suns make it to the playoffs. We had fun with our night out, Grammy and Dan watched Eden had pizza, watched a movie and colored eggs. We had our dinner before hand, but enjoyed a giant cookie at the game, and then hit up the g-gtore afterwards. WOW are we a fun couple... Anyway, we did have a fun time and we even had a little surprise guest sit in our section... Guess who?

Ohh and look who has started his first swim lesson... EDEN! Yeah, well I guess if you call it a swim lesson. Eden started off excited, then about five min into it, he decided, and I quote, "I don't want this pool" and "I don't want this teacher" and last but not least, "I don't want to swim, I go home". So as all the other kids played, kicked, floated, jumped, and scooped their little ice cream (the notion of free style), Eden was in a towel... playing with a rubber frog, and complaining or crying! Uhh, so the teacher is a really sweet lady... and she really tried to help him and get him involved, but it just wasn't working... so, he has his next lesson soon, and we are going to try for me to just drop him off and leave. This way he'll be forced to pay attention and not try his little cop out routine... ohh and can I just say, I love the Y! I am really enjoying working out, getting Eden involved, and enjoying the workout results!

Also, we had a really nice picnic lunch with daddy at work! Not anything big, but it sure was fun to get out of the house and meet daddy at a park right by his work and share in a picnic style lunch. I made homemade egg salad, brought carrot sticks and celery w/ p-nut butter, and cheese sticks. I was very excited about the egg salad because I picked fresh herbs from my garden to season it! Dill, parsley, basil, and celery, ummm, was it yummy! We felt special to be able to have such a nice lunch with daddy and we were glad that he joined us!

Yeah for Eden!

2009-04-02T23:05:00.005-07:00

So latley I've been going crazy with Eden. He is always bugging me about silly things, he is reverting back to baby, and is acting out big time. So, I've needed a little break, some sort of salvation from the longs days that I've had with him... not that we've been busy, but that daddy is so busy that I am having long days with the terror named Eden. Also, this week I've decided we are trying the potty thing again. He'll pee but refuses to poop, so I decided I'm done with this diaper thing. The whole reason why I gave up before was, because he was pooping in his pants and I got sick of cleaning them up. So, we are now back to the grind with the potty.

So this week he is back in garden school again. The spring session started back up, so we went to that too. And lastly, Eden got to play at the Y while mommy worked out. And you know, I found that he NEEDS to be engaged in things. When he isn't involved, this is when he acts out, but when he is in all these things we have better days. I think he takes after me, needs be constantly going! And with a three year old's energy, I can't keep up!

So, we've made a plan... between Craft Group, Garden School, Swim Lessons at the Y, Play Time at the Y (so mommy can work out 2 days a week); I think we are finally back to a schedule that keeps him entertained, but out of trouble! Which is good for me, because I am a little frustrated with the tantrums. This is week one back to the schedule thing, so I am really hoping that it continues to go a little better than last week.

Little update... still refuses to poop in the potty, even though he has his little potty now! UHHHGGG, what to do... I keep trying various things to bribe, encourage, etc... and so far still no luck!

Referring back...feeling left out

2009-03-29T22:56:00.003-07:00

I want to first say that I really appreciate all comments; advise, well wishes, etc. I just feel like maybe my words were not as eloquent as I would have liked them to be. And well, I am not wanting to beat a dead horse here either, but I feel like I need to just say this last thing. The thing that I really wanted to say and just don't think I did.

"None of us need one more person bashing or pointing out where we have failed or fallen short. Most of us are already well aware of the areas in which we are weak.What each of us does need is family, friends, employers, and brothers and sisters who support us, who have the patience to teach us, who believe in us, and who believe we're trying to do the best we can, in spite of our weaknesses. What ever happened to giving each other the benefit of the doubt? What ever happened to hoping that another person would succeed or achieve? What ever happened to rooting for each other?"

"Perhaps the greatest charity comes when we are kind to each other, when we don't or criticize someone else, when we simply give each other the benefit of the doubt or remain quiet. Charity is accepting someone's differences, weaknesses, and shortcomings, having patience with someone who has let us down; or rejecting the impulse to become to become offended when someone doesn't handle something the way we might have hoped. Charity is refusing to take advantage of another's weaknesses and being willing to forgive someone who has hurt us. Charity is expecting the best of each other." -Marwin J. Ashton

This is what it is all about, I've got the perspective , well not perfectly but close enough for now. I just wish that others could, as well as, focus on practicing it too. I want to make it known that I am not judging, not offended, and not harboring any ill feelings. It was just a little disappointing to me, and so by doing my part in being aware of it, making changes so that I don't hurt others, and being more conscience of my comments and actions.

I do wish everyone well, and I do wish, hope, and pray for everyone all the time!

Why do things happen to us...

2009-03-27T23:11:00.002-07:00

You know what gets me so frustrated? (you notice a pattern, could it be hormones?) There is this expectation that as Mormon women we are to just pop out babies willy nilly. Heaven forbid we try and plan things out, or sometimes not. Why does having a baby or a second or third have to be on everyone elses timeline? I am not saying that this just happens to me, I hear it all day long... (I'm sure I've contributed to this before for others, but now that I am facing it... yikes, lesson learned). "So when are you guys going to start trying again"... "ohh, you might be thinking about having another one, right"... etc. No matter how you word it, "why aren't you prego right now?" "what's wrong with you?" AHHH!!!!! I'm going nuts! You know what... when I am good and ready, when I feel like getting around to it, or how about I want some space between my kids so that I can heal... so that I can breathe... so that I won't pull my hair out more than I already do... or can I get anymore blunt by saying, it's none of your business! I am not on anyone's timeline but Heavenly Father's so leave it to Him, like I am!

OK, now that I have the angry answers out of my head... why do things happen to us like they do? I truly know and believe that Heavenly Father has a timeline for us and that it is in His will to do things when the timing and such is right. We weren't really planing on Eden right when we were blessed to have him. But we immediately acknowledged that he wasn't in our plans, but in His plans. So why would that change for baby #2? We have been trying for several, long months. Things haven't been going so well on a number of things and so the timing just hasn't been right. Doesn't mean we are defective Mormons for not poppn' a bunch of kids out. Also, I am only 26... do I really need to have 6 kids by now? There are a ton of ladies in our ward that waited before starting their families until 26. So I am on #2... it's ok, it's normal, and it's not up to anyone but us when and how our planing happens.

They other thing is that health plays a role in it too. And so does health insurance! Lastly, why is it that we make ourselves feel bad about not being prego when other's feel we should be? Then you start to feel this HUGE pressure, or you feel guilty, or even like your not a good mom because of it. Then when you really are trying and it isn't happening right off the bat, you feel defective! Like why can't I function normally, what is sooo wrong with me that I can't do a women's basic function of (girly vocab, beware men...) ovulate and menstruate? Then you feel even more guilt when you see everyone, and I mean everyone, prego but you. Or everyone with their new little babies... and you think, what have I done wrong but try and have prudent planing, and now that's biting me in the butt! I think we have like 6 prego ladies in our ward, 3-6 that have had babies in the last 6 months, and I am sure about 5 more that are thinking about trying again for another. Then you go to the store, park, zoo, etc and see another 100 prego ladies... it is like an epidemic!

And then it hits you, ok, the only reason you feel this way is because you want a baby sooo badly and you have been trying so hard to get one, that it is just a sensitive topic. But yet, now that you recognize that... does anyone ask you if you are trying? Nope. Now I've heard a few people tell me that because I am an only child, I'm probably done, right? WRONG! Because I am an only child with my mom and dad I am most defiantly NOT done, I wanted siblings... and I did grow up with two step sisters... Rachel and Heather, and even though we wanted to kill each other, we also loved one another so dearly, that I want that for my little family too! (well minus the killing part!)

And lastly, the big let down. So you've been on all the right meds, natural supplements, eating the right foods, (attention adult verbiage here too...) doing it like the doc tells you (aka all the time! And it is exhausting work!), and yet you're still not functioning and still no results. So, what's next, yep, the big let down, you find out you did function right for once, and you did get prego, and then you've lost it. Ohhh the let down! Without going into all the dirty details, it didn't stick, and so now we are back to square one. On the upside, I functioned! On the downside I am back to this crazy regimen of pills, sex, crazy hormones and fatigue!

I was able to put it all in perspective when it happened so it didn't really make me to sad. But then I started feeling bad about it, and I had a great talk with my sister in law who helped with think through some things that made me face it, made me and allowed me to feel sorrow for it, and then be able to move on from it. I really appreciate her and her kind words. I felt like I had no room to be sad or complain since I know women who have gone through so much worse than mine was. I also know that I don't have much room to complain since I haven't been trying for years for a baby like my mom and dad did. OK, so I put a little too much perspective on it, and I felt like I shouldn't feel sorrow for me and my situation. But a big thank you to my sister in law, who helped me see that I am not those people and those situations and that it is ok for me to still feel bad and still feel sorrow over it; I am human and I am allowed those feelings too.

SO, with that being said... I am ok, things are fine with Shaun and I (I am sure he'll tell you it's great! Men have it so easy when it comes to making babies), and we ARE still trying, we are leaving it in the Lord's hands. So if you find it in your heart to pray for us, that would be wonderful. We really do enjoy being parents and as much as Eden has been pushing my buttons lately, I still love him dearly and I make sure that he knows that everyday! And everyday, I think about how great of a big brother he is going to be one day, and how big of a helper he is going to be too. I think if I could hone that in with him now, I wouldn't be pulling my hair out, so much, ahh such is the life of a mom!

I don't really want to revisit this, but I thought that I would just get it out there so that friends and family could have some compassion and know of the situation. It happened at the beginning of this month, so for those of you who might have had an off activity or outing with me... this is why, please don't hold my awkward behavior against me. I am sure that we've all had times in our life where we don't feel the need to share with the world something so private.

New Calling...

2009-03-27T23:07:00.003-07:00

So, I was able to go about a month without a calling. But as does any good bishop would do, finds a need and fills it with those whom sees to a good fit. So what is my new calling? I am the "Humanitarian Specialist". I am mostly just going to quarterly meetings, taking notes, learning projects and then reporting it to our RS Pres. She'll then decide what and when we are doing everything, then enrichment puts it together, I'll show up to the activity and help, take the finished projects home, and turn them back in at the next quarterly meeting. Ahh HA, right up my alley right?!?! I think so, so wish me luck... I hope I'll do alright!

A good movie...

2009-03-25T13:00:00.002-07:00

Well Eden is sick, and I feel so sad for him. So we are enjoying lots of movies while we are at bay. Eden is addicted to Star Wars, what's new there? But he also really loves to add Jimmy Neutron in the mix, as well as, Mickey Mouse shows. But with Tuesday's DVD releases I went and picked up a new movie, I wasn't sure what it was... it had Kirk Cameron, it was PG, about a fireman love story. Well I just finished watching it and a little bit of cheese and with a few good tears and you've got yourself a really good movie. It was called "Fireproof". I highly recomend it... it's currently on sale at Walmart for $11, I'm not sure if it would be at a rental place or not, it is a Chirstian production. I really liked it, so I highly, highly recomend it to everyone!

A Little Bit of Teenager and a little bit of Twilight Mania Equals...

2009-03-22T22:05:00.005-07:00

Well, Friday Shaun and I felt light teenagers. We went and babysat our friend's kids at their home, so they could go to a play at Gammage. Shaun got to their house after they had left for their date because he had some stuff to do. Then he left before they got back... it kind of felt like we were teenagers and my boyfriend came over and he wasn't supposed to be there. It was a night full of sillyness with the boys, pixar movies and sorting our bills and reciepts.

When the night was over, Amber and I were off to Walmart for the midnight run of the Twlight release. We stood in line with some VERY interesting people. A few in movie attire, a few teenagers, some guys doing an errand for the love of their lives, well we'll leave it at that. After being at Walmart for like an hour or more, got back to the house was stayed up to watch the whole thing, including all the bonus features! So, when you tally that up, that means 5am...yep we went to bed at 5am. Ohh, and did you notice the "we", Yep, I have the best husband... he stayed up with me to watch the whole thing!

So when you mix a little bit of teenager behavior, some twlight, and getting stuff done together... you get a great Friday Night!

*ohh and now I've watched it 3 times this weekend! Plus to add the the wonderful husband that I have and his good weekend of good works, he did his hair like Edward for our date night! Hehehe, I am not a big Robert Pattenson fan, and I don't go crazy over him, but I do love his hair cut and style. It is so silly, but now that I have a son, and I'm so in love and attracted to my husband, I don't feel that I need a fantasy for Edward or other characters. But I now think of things like how to make my little Eden look handsome for girls to "ohhh" and "ahhh" over. Or what looks would be great for my hubby. It is silly, and no one ever believes that I don't have a crush over the charater, but the real reason I like the story and movie is because it is something I can enjoy that doesn't involve Shaun making fun of me, taking a ton of time away from Eden or home responsibilities (because I listen to them rather than read), and it is fun to get lost in a girly movie and book rather than a shoot 'em up, silly comic book character movies, or a cartoon. Anway, it is a great escape to experiance romance, and some cheese rather than these very serious things in life or in movies that we typically watch.

I leave for 5 mins and... happens!

2009-03-22T21:53:00.003-07:00

Yep, that's right, today was a funny and interesting day. I had planned on going visiting teaching after church and Shaun needed to work on his paper, as well as, he had a priesthood session tonight. So I was trying to get my teaching done between 3-4:30 so that Shaun could do what he had to. So, anyway, I knew Shaun was going to try and get a nap in while I was gone, Eden had Bolt on in the family room, so I took off. I came home and what did I find? Ohhh, the funniest thing ever! Eden had found the new box of water proof, "Cars" tattoo band-aids that were on our bathroom counter. He then cracked open the box, peeled half the box open, and stuck them all over daddy's face! Hehehehe, Daddy was out! He had no idea, so I woke him up and helped him peel them all off. Eden, later, picked up all of his mess, and giggled at the pictures of daddy. As I said, I was gone for 5 mins and look what happens...

1st swim of the year... sort of

2009-03-22T21:39:00.003-07:00

Yep, Saturday after a long day in the yard, helping daddy... Eden wanted to go for a swim. It's so funny to see him year after year with the pool. I remember the first year, or should I say he was months old, he was kind of indifferant about the whole thing. Then the next summer, he was a little too brave with the pool... he got knocked in the deep end by a big kid, he fell in two times, ohhh the scares we had that summer. Then last year, he was sooo timid about the whole thing. He wouldn't walk around the bench step without holding my hand. But by the end of the summer last year, he was jumping off the edge holding both my hands, but wouldn't let me let him go under.

So, our first experiance this year included arm floaties and a spiderman ring, walking all over the second step bench with no fear, and jumping off the side to me one handed... but really only on the second step so he was landing on his feet, not enough to go under. Anyway, it was great! He was brave but not too brave, I think this summer is going to be great for him and I think Eden is going to really enjoy the pool this year! Hey maybe I'll actually have a tan this year?!

Our Garden Update... And New Cohabitants

2009-03-19T20:14:00.003-07:00

Well, since it is spring time I thought I should really look at my garden, and see what it needs, who is doing well and what isn't, etc. Ohhh, did it need some tending to! I found out that my Zucchini has only been budding female, which is that actual part that you eat. But you need the male flower too, it has to pollinate the female part. So I bought a second plant to see if I can cross germinate. Also, my cucumber got a fungus, and so did my HUGE cilantro... so I replaced those too! Ahh, the joy and trials of having a garden, it is totally worth it though, so I am not giving up, just putting more time into it than ever before! I'm very very determined to make this work! So here are a few of it's progress...

Also, look what we have new cohabitants! A set of birds has decided to make a small, I should say tiny, little nest in my fake flower pot, it's right next to the sliding door in between the picture window. They built the nest in about 2 days, then the eggs showed up about a week later. Now they fly in and out every time we open the door. They don't like us hanging around the porch to much when they are in the nest or just coming back from getting their food. So it makes tending to my garden a little challenging. Anyway, it is fun to have Eden involved and see nature happen right in our yard!

Happy St. Patty Day!

2009-03-18T14:06:00.006-07:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day... the legend goes like this, Pious legend credits Patrick with banishing snakes from the island, though all evidence suggests that post-glacial Ireland never had snakes; one suggestion is that snakes referred to the serpent symbolism of the Druids of that time and place, as shown for instance on coins minted in Gaul, or that it could have referred to beliefs such as Pelagianism, symbolized as “serpents”. Legend also credits Patrick with teaching the Irish about the concept of the Trinity by showing people the shamrock, a 3-leaved clover, using it to highlight the Christian belief of 'three divine persons in the one God.

How great, a missonary, a servant of the Lord, and a story of triumph. I love the story of St. Patrick's Day. Eden has a great children's book that talks about the origination of the story, but also goes into the point that leprechans are not real, green beer and beads is not the point either. But that it is in honor of a great man. So we honored Patrick with green (the national color of Ireland) foods.

Well yesterday was a full day, we hosted craft group ran errands, had a business meeting, played some a t-ball, went on a family walk, and had a St. Patty's dinner and dessert! Ahh, what a mouth full?!?! Well for craft day we did a little picture frame, read the story of St. Patty's day, had green milk, and green shamrock cookies.

Then for dinner we had Chicken Floretine with bow tie pasta... (which has green spinach in it), we also ate steamed mixed veggies which had green beans, green peas, and we drank sparkling grape juice (which is from green grapes). Then we had Apple Turnovers for dessert. I was really looking forward to my grandma's sourkraut and meatballs, but Shaun said he didn't think he'd like that, so we went for greens rather than Irish food.

Over all, it was such a great day. And we wish everyone a very happy St. Patrick's Day!

Spring is in the air...

2009-03-17T21:26:00.003-07:00

Well I know that it is a long time coming for some, but yes spring is in the air! Well it is also a time for spring cleaning and catching up on stuff! So, as you can see, I am finally catching up on the last month's worth of blogging too! YIKES, is that a job????

So, here are the last few weeks...

Shaun and I had a great date night and went to a Suns Game! It was so much fun, our section won a few things during the game and we watched a guy do a granny shot from half court and win $77,777! It was pretty cool. Ohh, it was also the game that Shaq scored his season high 45 points! Although we weren't able to see Stoudamire or Nash play, it still was a fun game and we won too!
Then after the game, we had Trinity and Tayler over to have a girls night in. We watched Madagascar 2, made cookies, and then in the morning we went to PHX Market. It was so much fun, the girls were good, and I'm going to make it a tradition of it with all the nieces and nephews... Eden enjoyed it too!
Well, I don't have any pics of this, but Eden is in a craft group once a week. We rotate who hosts, and we each come up with the projects for the kids to do. It is a lot of fun. We have some open play time and then a snack. Eden really enjoys it, I feel bad though because we are always late, Eden does really struggle with sharing his own toys when it is our turn to host, and he's had a little problem with biting. But overall, it is a really good time had by all. I feel like we stress the group out a little bit, but we really do enjoy it! Eden has grown up a lot from it, it forces him to learn to share, play nice, learn crafts, engage with friends, etc. He really does loves it!

Also, we celebrated FAT TUESDAY, aka Mardi Gras! Is was not much of a celebration since we aren't Catholic, nor a bunch of drunk 20 year olds, but it was a family style celebration! We ate a little yummy dinner, but the biggest treat was desert. I made homemade crepes with Carmel apple filling and beingets with powder sugar (they are like donuts). It was fun playing with new recipes, sweet things, and then as a mom and son duo, we went and delivered them to friends.

The Arizona Senior Olympics were at the end of February, and of course, my mom and Dan both were in events. Dan played men's doubles and then they both played mixed doubles in Pickleball. And then my mom also did the 5K race walk. They were up against some really tough competition for the Pickleball portion, but mom took the bronze in her race walk. Now for those of you who don't know the race walk, it is those funny looking walkers that work 5 times harder than runners! Ohh it is crazy to watch! But we were so proud of my mom, we made cheer signs, brought snacks and drinks to keep her going, and yelled and cheered her on! Eden was really great, he had cheers just for his Grammy, "go grammy go" and "keep feet going grammy" It was super cute! Congrats Grammy for your accomplishment and your Bronze in the ASO!
Also, Eden was in the Seedlings program at DBG too. It was a six week mom and tot program. He would go and learn science themed pods and really enjoy it! They would have a lesson all about Jack Rabbits, they would read a story about it, they would go out into the garden and look for them, then they would go and see more little lessons and examples of how a Jack Rabbit eats, lives, etc. Then we'd have a snack based on rabbit food, and that looked like a rabbit; then we'd do an art project that was based on or around the Jack Rabbit. It was really comprehensive and fun! We had one lesson on Agave, Gila Top Minnow and Pup Fish, Hummingbirds, etc. It was so much fun. We are going to start the spring session soon, and I can't wait for it! Eden loves his teacher too, Miss Shannon is great and wonderful, so we can't wait to see her soon again too.

We went to the Desert Botanical Garden twice once with the Farnsworths, and then Searles

Also, we went to the Phoenix Zoo several times... with some friends (you know who you are, and we had a wonderful time with you, thanks for inviting us!) We liked it so much that we went back and got a membership, and went with the Farnsworths! And now we are planned to go with Bree and Jake in a few weeks! What fun is ahead of us?!?! Tons, that's what!

Then Aunt Jen came in from Texas and stayed with us for a few days. My mom and Aunt Sandy planned a bunch of activities for the long weekend. We had lunch at the farm, saw the DBG, Art Walk of Old Town Scottsdale, ate Sushi at RA, went to Sedona for a day, went to the PHX Farmer's Market, went to PHX Library, went to have a really nice dinner at Aunt Sandy's and then hosted a game night and dinner at our house. You know how it is when you host and have company, it is a lot of work to prepare for, but you really enjoy the time that you have with them while they're visiting, it was a blast! I really tried to play the role of Inn Keeper, Photographer, and Shoufour... I really wanted the Aunts and mom to have a great time and really enjoy their time together and of course I did too! Here are some pics from our adventures...

Happy Birthday Mommy!

2009-03-17T20:05:00.004-07:00

Yeap that's right... a two for one deal! So, my brithday kicked off with the sister's lunch in a week and a half before my b-day. The ladies got together and honored me with fun books, pots, cds, candy, and jewlery! All of which is a girls best friend! We ate at Claim Jumper, which is soooo yummy! Then at the Vining Family Dinner the next night, we sang, we ate, and we talked! Which is always fun.

Ohh, and to back track a little, look back to the posting of the Lion King, that was apart of my B-day celebrating from my mom. It was soo much fun!

Then we went off to Disneyland for some major celebrating! (i'll post that seperate) We had so much fun... and got back and said we have to do it again! Then I went through a whirl wind of real life stuff, I had to host mom and tot craft group that tuesday, plus garden school, plus un packing, etc. Ohh, it was a little crazy... but when the actual day came...

I had a park play date with Bree and Jake in the morning. I wanted to get out of the house, and just have fun...so we did! But Bree was so sweet and brought us both a little something and a couple of balloons! Then E and I went off to mail some stuff at the UPS store, stoped into Safeway, and decided to have a mom's fav kid lunch. So we bought mini pickels, capers, olives, cheese sticks, speghetti Os with cheese, and orange soda. I know that sounds weird... but I held back on the twinkes and the Hohos. We headed back to the house and as I unloaded the car I noticed something about my front door... I had been 'heart attacked' and had a 'drive by fruiting!' My friends Jill and Marinda decorated my door, front patio, and gave my a super yummy basket full of fruit, muffins, and a yummy drink! So that was our healthy part to our ohh so healthy lunch! hehehehe

Anyway after that E and I played, took it easy, tended to my veggies and herbs and got ready for our night out! So when Shaun got home we headed out to McGrath's Fish House for dinner with my mom and Dan. It was so nice, I got Osters on the half shell, YUMMY! Crab Legs, and then my mom came with a cake! I got to wear a funny hat while they all sang to me, and that was about it! Well, I can tell you this... Shaun treated me to a massage too, I like a deep tissue massage, and he really does a good job at getting the knots out, (I think he might have missed his calling in life, he could work for a pro sports team.) Anyway, it was a very nice b-day. I didn't get flowers on V-day, but I got my fav on my b-day, so I can't complain! Yellow Roses with the red edges, he remembered!

I was so gratefull for all the friends and family that remembered my on my special day this year. I was getting e-mails, phone calls, facebook messages, etc all day wishing me a happy b-day. It was so nice to have such an outreach from people. It really was the best b-day in a long, long time! I know that not every year is going to have Disney, but it was the outreach of friends and family that made it sooo special! So a big thanks to all of you who made my day so special!

Happy Birthday Eden!

2009-03-17T19:44:00.004-07:00

So Eden started of his birthday extravaganza with the Vining Family Dinner on a Sunday. Then that Monday morning he had a mom and tot park day at Trailside. We had George themed food, games, and music! It should have been a blast, but that just so happened to be the morning that Arctic cold, winds from a hurricane, and rain from ... well you get the picture, came in and made it pretty unbearable to have fun in. But I was determined to have his party, my house was not ready at all, and poor Eden all morning kept telling me he HAD to go to the park. So, he froze, but he was at the park!

Then after that, we went home and celebrated that night with Daddy! The little monkey that Eden is, unwrapped all his gifts in the afternoon. Keep in mind, I didn't know until I went in the front room and ALL his gifts were gone, I found them in a pile under the covered chair with the paper covering them. I was sooo mad, I had spent a good 2 hours getting it all ready too! So, I spent another 20 min re wrapping them all, so he could open them with his daddy. Urgh! But we had a nice dinner and at monkey cake and eyes (Eden really wanted the eyes for some silly reason) and it turned out to be a good night!

Then a couple of days later, we were off to Disneyland! That is another post, but on Friday the 13th of Feb, Eden officially turned 3! He got in to the park for free, he got a special button, he walked around all day saying, "happy birday EDEN" and, "isss Eden's birday doday"

Ohh, and Eden got to go to Bubba Gump Shrimp for his actual birthday. They sang to him, and made him really special, it was a great day for a big boy! Here he is as Forest Gump sitting on the park bench with his running shoes and a box of chocolate!

Last but not least, the following week, Eden got to have dinner with his Grammy at her place and she gave him a really special table and chairs for his room. He really likes it too!
Anyway, it was a very special birthday, and for all the friends and family that recognized my little boy (because that's what he is now), Eden and I just want to say thank you! He is so loved, and is so blessed to have such great friends and family who honored him for his special day! Thank you!

Golfing a toddler sport?

2009-03-17T19:40:00.001-07:00

Well, Eden's sports came to an end a couple of weeks ago. The sign up had posted that it was t-ball, soccor and basketball, but the coach swithed out the basketball for golf. Don't get me wrong I love golf, my whole family is made up of golfers, my husband loves it... but is it really toddler friendly? And the answer is...NO! Let's think about this, swinging a huge club over the head to club a ball at a small flag and then go run after it, while 20 other balls are flying your way! AHHH, it was a true run for your life kind of moment! Plus, you have stubborn Eden who now says, "I do it, no mommy, I do it" every few mins, so there is no sence of helping him at all.

Ohh well, C'est la Vie! I guess I can say he did give it his best, and he tried his little heart out. But I am not putting him back in for a while... cute pics though!

Happy Valentine's Day

2009-03-17T19:39:00.000-07:00

So the history of Valentine's Day...Saint Valentine was arrested and imprisoned upon being caught marrying Christian couples and otherwise aiding Christians who were at the time being persecuted by Claudius in Rome. Helping Christians at this time was considered a crime. Claudius took a liking to this prisoner -- until Valentinus tried to convert the Emperor -- whereupon this priest was condemned to death. He was beaten with clubs and stoned; when that didn't finish him, he was beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate."And so celebrated on February 14 by many people throughout the world. In the West, it is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other by sending Valentine's cards, presenting flowers, or offering confectionery. The holiday is named after two among the numerous Early Christian martyrs named Valentine. The day became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished. The day is most closely associated with the mutual exchange of love notes in the form of "valentines". Modern Valentine symbols include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid

And so what did we do? Well, Eden and I made some special homemade Valentines for Grandmas, wrote out ones to friends and delivered them with a fun kitty sucker, and took ones to our neigbors with some chocolates; all before the big day. But as far as on V-day, we were in Disney, so we did the park all day. Nothing big over that, but we did have a little celebration in our room. Eden had a little bag from Grammy, and one from us. He had so much fun opening up his little candies, and his cards. Plus he got some fun stickers, coloring books, and cars. Shaun claimed he wasn't in his element so he didn't really do anything, he did get me a card. And then I of course said I wasn't going to do anything, but I did. When we got home there was a bunch of stuff on our door, and it looked like our neighbors gave us some stuff too! Anyway, it was just another day for us, but it was still nice to be on vaction.

A Call for Help...

2009-02-04T21:58:00.005-07:00

Hey everyone, I know I ask or remind you all that I have two businesses... But I am asking for one more bit of advice and help! With the way the economy has been lately, I am really kicking it up a notch to get some new business stirred up. I am not asking for any help that would even cost you a dime!

Just if you could "subscribe" or become a follower to my two business blogs and, or add a link to your sidebar with all your other fav sites. This would help me branch out and network even more. When your friends and family click on your blogs they'll see mine, or if someone clicks on your profile people can see the blogs that you follow and mine will come up. I know that some of you are private blogs, but those who are invited to view your private blogs can still link to mine. I know that I tend to check out the sites that people have on their blogs just because I know they like and prefer that particular site. So not only does it refer me to that website but that they are giving a good reference to it as well. I have found lots of great websites, products, and found great ideas this way.

This is a free way for me to network more and reach a broader base of business. I have three make-up artists, including myself, with Pre-Mirror Make-Up Designs and they are really talented. So you, a friend, or a friend of a friend might have a upcoming event that might need make-up and I'd love to get a verbal, or silent blog referral from any of you. If your contacts mention their connection to you or your blog, I have always had and will continue to have a discount for you and your future services for that referral. The way that works with Pre-Mirror Make Up Designs is refer up to 5 friends and get 10% off/referral for any service! So that's up to a 50% off discount for a single service for you. And then you can start collecting referrals all over again for more discounts for your future appointments. I love when people can work to mutually benefit one another and this would benefit us both!

I am also still Designing, Consulting, and Staging so if you, a friend, or a friend of a friend needs or is looking for some advice, this would be a great way for me to be able to stir up some new business with Le Bon Jardin & Maison, Interior and Exteriors by Lauren Sickle-Vining. Networking along this manor can maybe even help me meet some new contacts that are also in the business of design, contracting, local artists, etc. I am also looking to start selling home decor and fancy home storage items. I am still in the planning stage at this point, but it is yet another thing that someone might be interested in.

You never know what people might be looking into, thinking about, or pondering; so by having friends, family, and random blog stalkers (like myself) follow my businesses, I hope it might help those who are seeking out services. Hey they might just stumble upon me! I love that with the online life and the blogging world you never know who you'll meet and what kind of connections you can make! I would really appreciate any support you might be able to give me and my businesses.

Here are the links to both sites and their e-mails
http://pre-mirrormake-updesigns.blogspot.com/
premirrormakeupdesigns@gmail.com

http://interiordesignbylsv.blogspot.com/
InteriorDesignsbyLSV@gmail.com

Also, both businesses use the same phone number, which is 602-481-1932

Lastly, if you have a business, of course I would add you to my personal blog, as well as, my business ones too. I have done that for a few of my other friends in business and of course would extend the same kindness in networking with you as you for me! Thank you so much for everyone's support and kindness! Good luck in all your endeavors!

Shoppn' and Toys...

2009-02-04T16:10:00.002-07:00

Eden has been such a good boy lately, and we've been making a ton of errands to get ready for our trip next week. So, I really would like to reward his for his good behavior, but at the same time... every store we go into he wants a toy! Ohhh boy, you know I used to be able to distract him and let him play with a toy while we shopped and then pretend to ring it up, and then he'd forget about it. Then when he started to realize that he didn't have the toy, I would say at the check out line, "ohh it is in the bag". Yeah well that only worked for a few months. Now he thinks mommy is a big fat liar! The toys are never in the bag after we check out. So over the last month or so, when we check out, I've let him get a small toy, usually from the $1 section and that makes him pretty happy. Well that starts a whole new pattern, that everytime we go to the store you get a toy! Yikes! Make that a "double yikes!". So, over the last 2 weeks or so, I've given in to some bigger toys and let him play with them from store to store, sometimes that works and yet sometimes he still feels intitled to get one at every store. As soon as he goes to sleep though, I take the new toy away, and hide it. Why, you might ask... because he has a birthday and we always do a little something for Valentine's day. So, I know he likes the toy, I know he wants the toy... why not hide it, and gift it back to him?!?!

Well, since we are going to Disney for his birthday he doesn't need a lot of gifts, and I've already covered the ones from Great Grandma, my dad, and us... So, now what excuse do I have not to buy the toys at the store? And I am running out of money and space to keep this up! So, today, we were at Target, of course, and he wanted a Handy Manny Tool thing?! The tools sing and dance, so of course we HAVE to have it, because our tools don't do that. Well, I let him play with it the whole time I was at the store, I tried to pull a fast one on him by telling the lady to "pretend" ring it up, and then act like she is bagging it. Well the young girl puts it in his sight rather than hide it below and act like it is in the bag, so he starts in and starts getting more and more upset, yelling and screaming for the "tools". I begin to really try to explain to him that his birthday is coming up, and maybe one of his Grandmas will buy it for him. Or maybe mommy and daddy will get it for him. But that he has a ton of presents coming soon for his birthday and that he needs to wait. Yeah right, mommmy! I am not a 2 soon to be 3 year old, so of course, I don't get the fact that he wants it right now and that the world will stop turning and he will die if he doesn't have the darn tools right now!

Ahh, what to do? Let everyone in the store look at me like I am beating my child to death? Or cave in? Or try to explain it again to him... birthday= presents= toys and maybe tools! Well, the explaination didn't cut it the first time, nor the second, nor the third, or fourth! So did I cave in? Nope, but it totally broke my heart with all the pleading, and then the looks from the other shoppers and employees, ohh I want to yell, "give me a break, he wants a toy that he doesn't need, he's not out of control, I am not beating him, he is just not handleing it well. Just ignore him!"

I know all moms have to face this at some point, I know that my son isn't the only one who wants all the toys in the world. But there has got to be someway of helping a 2/3 year old that they can't always have what they want without all the fuss and tantrum stuff. Any seasoned moms got any ideas? I am willing to take any advice on the subject!

p.s this is the culprit of today's tantrum! It was pretty cool, I have to admit that much!

Bath time with a big boy...

2009-02-03T22:19:00.002-07:00

So recently we have decided that Eden isn't our little baby nor is he really a toddler, he is entering into big boy stage now. Ohh, it is breaking my heart to say that! My little baby Eden, then monkey Eden, is now a big boy Eden. He will be turning 3 next week and he is all boy now. He goes pee in the potty, he is talking up a storm, although there are a lot of words you can't understand, and he likes to do big boy activites. He likes to watch little einstine now not baby einstien. And he likes the super heros and actions figures too! He even makes all the sound affects to his toys. The only thing I can tell you about Eden still being my little monkey, is when ever something bad, scary, or something hurts, he still comes running to mommy for hugs and kisses. It made me sad and happy when he was watching the begining of Monster Inc, he ran under the desk to hide because he said it was too scary, then I asked him if he wanted to sit with me until the scary part was over and he said yeah. Ohh, it made me so happy that he still needed his mommy!

Anyway, because Eden is growing up, we have started to become more conerned and more consistant with his routines. He brushes his teeth all by himself, he is pretty close to dressing all by himself (undressing has never been an issue, he's got that one down), he is now bathing by himself (well no longer taking showers with us), and he is in two preschool classes now where is does his own thing with little help from mom. He is in his sports, with help from daddy, and he says his prayers by himself (with a little help from time to time), and he tells you what he wants to do and who with. He has his little group of friends, and he asks for them by name to do specific activites with them, like take Bradley to the choo choo train park, or that he wants to have Henderson over to play with him. It is so cute to see him get all excited about daily life experiances too, he has such a great outlook on life, and he is starting to really crack us up at some of the things he says and does. Keep in mind he does them on purpose too, he loves to get you to laugh!

Anyway, I took these pics the other day because I don't have a lot of bath time pics, and now I am not sure what to do with them... so here is to Eden the big boy!

Happy Birthday Dan...

2009-02-03T22:14:00.002-07:00

Well Dan had a birthday this past weekend, and he didn't want to make a big deal of it, but my mom did. So, we went to Rustler's Roost to have dinner. It was a lot of fun, although Eden didn't want to sit still at all. Anyway, here are a few pics from our night out...

We hope that Dan enjoys his bdays out west and hopes that he enjoyed this one. Although his actually bday was on super bowl sunday... and we lost so he was bummed out. But Hope it was memorable!
We love you Dan!

Well the Cards lost, but the Steelers Won!

2009-02-03T00:13:00.003-07:00

Ok, so I shouldn't be too happy about the loss in super bowl 43. But I do have to represent the Sickle and Robertson family since I am loyal to the family too. My grandma and grandpa were born and raised, married, and still have all their extended family in Penn. So, I have to love and support my family and cheer for both teams. And I did, I even wore a super bowl shirt that had both helmets on it! But none the less, we hosted a little party at our home in honor of the big game and Arizona Cards. We had some friends and our parents come over. It was Dan's b-day so we also celebrated his day too! He said he would have liked for the Cards to win on his day, but unfortunately that didn't happen. So he settled for some loser cupcakes! hahaha, well they weren't losing when we ate them, so I guess they weren't losers then.

Anyway, can't go wrong with brats, burgers, boston baked beans, potato salad, fruit salad, chips and dips, various other appetizers, and all the red and white decore you can have! We had balloons, flowers, plates, napkins, football banners, penates, shirts and clappers for the kids! It was a really fun night, and I was glad to see all the male bonding at the end of the game... it was funny to see all the guys yelling at the tv, standing up in excitement, and discussing bad calls that were made. It brought me back to my childhood when my family and family friends would all get together to watch games and seeing all the dads get into it while the moms hung out in the kitchen... Although during our game it seemed even the moms were a little more into the game. Anyway, it was a great time and we are so blessed to have been able to spend a fun evening with so many great people! Thanks to all who came and thanks to all who brought and shared such yummy food!

p.s. Amber said her fruit salad dressing was vanilla yogurt! It was so yummy!

the Zoo and Train Park... all in a days work!

2009-02-02T23:24:00.003-07:00

Well, we are so lucky to have such great friends, last week we were asked if we would like to go to the Phx Zoo with a couple of friends! What a great and super nice invite, right? Well, they weren't just inviting us to go, they also have a pass that would allow for us to get in free! That was super nice of them! So, since we had already planned on going to the train park later that day, we invited them to join us for a picnic and a ride at the park as a thank you. It was so much fun! We saw just a few of the exhibits at the zoo, but it was just enough. We were able to leave before too many tantrums took place, and by that I mean my son didn't totally freak out and kill the fun. By the time we got to the train park it was just in time to eat, which is always a challenge for Eden. Then we rode the train and "merry go round" that's what the girls called it.

It was so much fun and we really enjoyed the invite and the company! I was shocked that after all that fun, Eden still didn't want to take a nap! We have somehow lost nap time recently. If he takes one, well I'm up until 12 midnight, and if he doesn't I can get him to bed around 10pm. But keep in mind, he sleeps in until 9:30-10am for me too. So, I guess I's like to sleep in and forgo the naps!

Anyway, the day was great, but I totally see a difference between boys and girls. Being that both the little girls now have little brothers, their moms are noticing the changes between the kids and their personalities too. But what I noticed was the little girls were so well behaved and listened to their moms, followed close behind, and were more intimidated by activites. Were as Eden ran around, wasn't listening to me because he wanted to experiance everything, and wanted a very upclose experiance with the animals... germs are not an issue with Eden, and neither is getting a little dirty. Things that little girls are very quick to tell you are gross. It was fun and it was great to see how two little girls, the same age, are so much fun to play with and yet so different in personalities.

I know that I have made the oberservations before, but there really is a differance within the genders that are within their DNA. I don't know what it is, but little girls just know how to pick up a doll and play mommy naturally, and boys know how to make sound affects and drive, fly, and crash into things naturally. I don't know why or how, they just do. When Shaun and I first got married I used to think about how his sisters raise their kids what looks like it works and what doesn't. I used to think, man Britts kids are all over the place (she has 3 boys 1 girl and one more little girl on the way). I could never understand why her boys were all over, had so much engergy, and couldn't really listen and sit still. Meanwhile, Lori's kids were well mannored, were always listening to their mom or dad, and just overall calm and well behaved. Not that I ever thought that Britt was a bad mom, I just thought she let her kids kind of run free, while Lori had a tight leash on hers. HAHAHAHA that's not it at all, Britt has had the privilage to having boys! There is nothing she can do to change the little boy DNA to have ever made them these calm little angels, boys are doomed from the start to be distructive. But now that she's had a girl and now that Lori has had a boy... I see them both talk about the differances between their kids and how they've had to change up their parenting to accomidate the newest gender in their home. I know, with out a doubt, that both moms are great. I look to them both for inspiration on what to do as a parent. I know that both of Shaun's sisters are wonderful to their kids, and that their kids are so great too; they're all very smart, fun loving kids. Ahh, well, so, I can't wait to see if I ever have a little girl, she'll be soo grossed out by her older brother, Eden, for sure! And then I'll have to change up everything I do now as a mom, ohh the joys of parenting, it is never ending!

Anyway, the day was great, the parenting lessons are never ending, and the little boy monkey was pleased to spend the day with a bunch of cute girls! thanks to our friends whom invited us out for the day!

SUPER BOWL 43... Cards vs. Steelers

2009-01-31T22:37:00.002-07:00

Well, game day is here! For us this year it is a little more exciting, this is the first time that the AZ Cards have ever gone to the Super Bowl. Plus my whole Sickle family is based out of Penn. So I have always kind of had a specail love for the Steelers. But, I could really careless which one wins, I am just excited that both teams have made it and that they both have had great seasons!

So Go Cards, and Go Steelers!

ohhh, I'll be posting pics later, we are going to be having some friends family joining us for dinner and the game, so I am sure we'll have a good time and have great pics to post!

Well it is that time of year again... Groundhog Day!

2009-01-31T22:27:00.003-07:00

What is groundhog day? Who is Punxsutawney Phil? Why do we look to this silly groundhog to tell us if there will be 6 more weeks of winter? Well if you live in the northern states, this is a very important day to you. If you have lived through a very cold, wet winter, you don't want another 6 weeks. But if you live in the south... I guess it is just another day to you. I think it is fun to be apart of the day... so who is Phil? According to Wikipedia... "Punxsutawney Phil, the "seer of seers and prognosticator of prognosticators,"[1] is a groundhog resident of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, USA. On February 2, (Groundhog Day) of each year, the town of Punxsutawney celebrates the beloved groundhog with a festive atmosphere of music and food. During the ceremony, which begins well before the winter sunrise, Phil emerges from his temporary home on Gobbler's Knob, located in a rural area about 2 mi (3.2 km) east of town. According to the tradition, if Phil sees his shadow and returns to his hole, the United States will have six more weeks of winter. If Phil does not see his shadow, spring will arrive early. The date of Phil's prognostication is known as Groundhog Day in the United States and Canada. During the rest of the year, Phil lives in the town library with his "wife" Phyllis."

And for his predictions, how right is Phil?
[edit] Past predictions
Year Prediction
2008 6 more weeks of winter
2007 Early spring
2000-06 6 more weeks of winter
1999 Early spring
1998 6 more weeks of winter
1997 Early spring
1996 6 more weeks of winter
1995 Early spring
1991-94 6 more weeks of winter
1990 Early spring
1989 6 more weeks of winter
1988 Early spring
1987 6 more weeks of winter
1986 Early spring
1984-85 6 more weeks of winter
1983 Early spring
1976-82 6 more weeks of winter
1975 Early spring
1971-74 6 more weeks of winter
1970 Early spring
1951-69 6 more weeks of winter
1950 Early spring
1944-49 6 more weeks of winter
1943 No appearance (WWII)
1942 Partial shadow
1935-41 6 more weeks of winter
1934 Early spring
1903-33 6 more weeks of winter
1902 Early spring
1901 6 more weeks of winter
1900 6 more weeks of winter
1898 6 more weeks of winter
1890 Early spring
1887-88 6 more weeks of winter
According to Phil's "Inner Circle", he has been 100% right!

Well, hope you all have a happy groundhog's day on Feb 2nd 2009

Lion King!

2009-01-26T20:24:00.003-07:00

So one of my all time fav Disney movies is the Lion King. It came out when I was in 5th or 6th grade. My dad took me to see it like 5 times in the theater, plus I did a sign lang/ lyrical dance to it in the 6th grade talent show. Plus, I love cats... well any breed of them, I can relate to losing my dad, I love the music, I love the whole thing! So, this year the Broadway production came to ASU Gamage. It was a little to pricy for us to go just as a date, and we've already worked out my b-day idea, but my mom came through! She offered to buy us tickets to go see it and she'd watch Eden for us too!

So this past Saturday, we went out to eat at Macaroni Grill, one of my favs! Then we went to the show. You aren't allowed to take pics durring the production, so I only got three for the whole night. But there is one of us on our way to dinner, one of us in front of the billboard, and one in our seats. I loved it! It was so cool to see how the people really mimic the animal's nature that they play. I bought the program, and it has a lot of really cool pics of the entire play... due to CR, I can't scan it, but it is just like taking the pics myself, but way better than I could have ever done. I really really enjoyed myself a lot and I couldn't have had a better gift from my mom this year. It was perfect, and the night was fun. We got back from the date and were totally exhusted though, between the early morning of sports practice with Eden and the late show, man, we are acting like old people! I can't go all day like I used to, and I am not even 26 yet! hehehe, I know most of my friends and all of my family are older than I, so I can kid about being young!

Well, that's it for now, but I really want to say thank you to my mom for the great night out! I really enjoyed it, and was glad to add another play to my list. Thanks!

2, 4, 6, 8, who do we appreciate? EDEN! EDEN! EDEN!

2009-01-26T19:23:00.006-07:00

So this year and very soon, Eden is turning 3. That means he can start sports, preschool, and lots of other fun things! So at the first of this year, he started in Itty Bitty. The first two weeks was soccor, and now he is t-ball. Here are some pics of the budding sports star!

Also, for Christmas Eden got a camera from his grammy. He has been busy taking pictures and having fun with sneaking up on us to take our pics. As you can imagine a 2 almost 3 year has a short view on life... so a lot of his pictures are of our stomachs and chests. And as a mom, these are my best angles of course, NOT! Anyway, he really loves this camera, so I told him we could put some of his pics on the blog too. So peridically, I guess, I'll add a few of "Eden's point of view". I hope you don't get to grossed out by some of them... for warning, he always wants to take pics when we are still in P.J.'s, yikes!

Buzz Lightyear

The View when you are jumping on the bed...

Mommy and Daddy watching a movie

GrandVona and Grandpa over for dinner on Christmas Day for Dinner

Mommy Getting Ready for Farmer's Market

Britt was in town!

2009-01-14T02:36:00.004-07:00

So, after all was said and done, Britt came into town from ATL! So we had a little family dinner and babyshower for her on thursday, then had a yummy adults only dinner at my fav place, Macayos! (thanks mom for watching Eden for us!) Then we had a nice sister's lunch in, although I made Shaun go, to the California Pizza Kitchen on saturday. It was a short short trip for her, but I am glad that she was able to come in. I know that everyone really misses her, and I know that Shaun wished she lived closer to be able to hangout more. But when we went to visit them, and when they've come into town, it has always been a really nice treat to spend time with Britt (and family)! Anyway, here are a few pics from her visit...

p.s. family, I have pic cds for you from the holidays and Britt's trip in, so I'll get them all to you this week! I hope you enjoy them!