Valentines Day! KISS

This valentines day we used the KISS method. Meaning Keep It Short & Simple. We actually had a great time doing it as well. Karen Garcia-Young and I got together and prepared a nice meal for our husbands at our house while the kids were being baby sat at her house. Which helped keep it simple for us. Then we dined by candlelight (although we forgot to turn down the house lights- the candles were still lit though). It was actually pretty romantic and then both couples changed to go play tennis. That was a lot of fun! Karen came out of the woodwork and surprised us all with her super slam, which also had her and Alex going over the fence to the ball quite a few times. I played it safe by only hitting the ball every once in a while. Brian tried helping me and by the end I knew it was something I wanted to continue working at. We had a great time and learned through their display of patience that our husbands really do love us. After working out our bodies we headed over to GY's and hopped in the hot tub. It was a great way to end the night! - Love was in the air!

Colby Loves Bubbles- Man made or otherwise!

I love those little moments when the littles get the giggles.

COLBY FINALLY FOLDS HIS ARMS!

Just thought we would like to share this "little" mile marker with you, Colby finally folded his arms by himself. We have been trying to get it to do it by example, doing it for him and telling him how. I guess he just decided today he wanted to do it. We were so happy and proud. He even did it while he was in his church clothes to boot. It doesn't get much more precious than that!

Jade and Cambrie had their end of the Indoor Season soccer party Mon. night. Somehow- when I was out of town, I got charged with helping with the party, and yet they already had planned and budgeted what we were doing. So what did they need me for? Helping to pull what THEY planned together. Wasn't really my idea of fun, but in the end I think the girls had fun and that's what counts! They had great coaches who really did care about the kids- I did get to make plaques for the coaches and that was fun! It was truly a learning experience for all. The girls learned alot (I think) And what an experience for Cambrie playing on an under 10 team- One of my favorite moments this season was when Cambrie got her nickname- "turtle" Her coaches thought it was great how she could always trap the ball against the wall and keep it away from the other team. They would call her "thier little ninja turtle" She was by far the smallest one on the team and the youngest one as well, but she played hard. Coach Mike loved to watch her play he said, because she would "shell up" and just go for it! - Jade did great on her team as well. She could take a hit and keep on coming. Coaches were impressed with what a tough chick she was! She took a ball to the stomach to the head and many times in various other places, but somehow she kept on keeping on. I was proud of them. When they apply themselves to something they always do well!

Jade's Turtle Habitat

Jade had to create a habitat for an animal of her choice for a school project. She choose a Sea Turtle. I was really proud of how she did it! She put most of it together while I was out of town! She is very creative. She dug up mud from the backyard on a rainy day and the poured sand over the top. (Sea Turtles like to lay in the mud and sand) Then she found a couple rocks and made her turtle and some other sea life out of clay. I loved that you can see it from the top and from a side view! I can't believe she is growing up so fast. My baby is doing school projects- wow!

Colby on the plane!

As I am sure most of you can relate, you would do just about anything to keep your kid quite on the airplane. Well I found a temporary fix for Colby on our trip home from Salt Lake. For Christmas Brian got me a new Ipod Nano- before we left, Brian had loaded a couple of the Baby Einstein videos on it, (Colby's current obsession) so I figured we would give it a try. It actually worked better than I thought it would. At first he would look at me and then at the screen and back at me like are you seeing this? It was great! What did we do before technology? Heaven forbid I have to figure out how entertain my children on my own. It didn't keep his attention the whole plane ride, but is sure helped!!

Dax and Colby getting along!!

It's funny to watch as Dax and Colby get older how they play with each other. One moment they are cute the next they are crying! As seen in the pictures. - (Check out the video below)

Check out this footage of Colby and Dax- Dax was teaching Colby how to push without using his hands- the belly bump- Boys will be Boys- right?!!!

My Neice Kaydin J. Kimball's Baby Blessing

Colby and I got to fly down to see Ryan and Janell bless baby Kaydin. Special thanks to Nana for making that possible. I was a great expereince to be there with so much familiy and friends. She is a beautiful baby, althouh don't be decieved by her fluff and stuff look. Those thighs are solid as a rock and just about as heavy. I always love spending time with family and especially for these neat occasions! Thanks again to Janell and Ryan for have such a beautiful baby girl and sharing her with all of us! - Jess

Colby want his sucker and Daddy's too!

Brian got out a sucker for himself and one for Colby. You can't have a sucker around Colby with out him trying to take it away, and knowing this, Brian thought he would be safe if Colby had his own...... he was wrong. Brian gave Colby a white sucker, knowing that some of it would end up on him, and he took a red sucker for himself. When Colby saw that Brian had a sucker he decided he wanted both of them. After tasting both, he then decided he would keep the red one and let Brian have a few licks of the white. He wasn't really sure about sharing though. When Brian would get the sucker in his mouth, Colby wouldn't let go of the stick. He would allow Brian to suck on it for a few seconds, then start pulling on it again trying to get it back out of his mouth. Who has control here???


LOOK WHO WON OUT!!!!!!!!

Tyler and Hailey

We always laugh at the cute things that we catch Tyler and Hailey doing. Over the last few years they have become really cute little friends.- Evans came over and Hailey was on the stool playing on the computer. Tyler came in and jumped right up behind her.

First Ride of 2008

Brian, Ryan and Ben headed out for thier first ride in 2008- Boys and thier Toys!!!!

Colby gives fishy kisses!

I love when a child learns new things- Colby has done the fishy thing before, but this time I had a camera. He makes me laugh!

Happy Birthday Honey!

They girls wanted to sing you Happy Birthday! - Don't forget to pause the music on the right!

Video of our New Years Fireworks

We had a great time on New Years Eve with the Staceys', Popes' and Pinders'. The video is of the last firework we set off- "The Black Cat"- and that thing definately had nine lives! It seemed to just keep going and going! The beginning of the video is side ways- I forgot that it was on video not just on picture, but it turns upright and you can see Doug almost get tagged by one of the fireworks!! It was alot of fun and the kids loved the show!

Colby in a pot

By our front door we have a pot that "usually" has some fake greenery in it. One of Colby's favorite things to do is to take out the leaves and get in the pot himself. He thinks he's being sneaky, but there is nothing subtle about him. I often wonder what is going on in that little mind of his.

I Love My Rugrats!

You know those times when your kids look like complete rugrats, but totally cute. The faces only a mother could love! Well sure enough, I love them!

Sledding behind the 4-wheeler!

The amount of snow that came down while we were in Idaho was unbelievable! Instead of packing up to go sledding somewhere else, Brett and Brian pulled out the 4-wheeler and just hoooked the sled to the 4-wheeler and pulled the kids around the neighborhood. They had a blast and were almost frozen solid by the time they came back in.

SOCCER LIVE!

For those of you who haven't seen the girls play here are some rough cuts of one of their games. Jade wanted me to make sure and note that she had a hurt foot for her game so she was running a little funny. The song that the video is set to is Stronger- the kids like it because they think they are pretty tough stuff when they are playing. And actually they are pretty tough chicks- I've seen them get a ball to the face, the gut, the back, they've fallen down, but they always seem to get back up and keep on going!! Plus they do have a great coach who has a necessary cameo in the video. - Thanks Mike for caring about the girls! They are a lot of fun to watch!
Check out the size of the girls they are playing against. Toward the middle end of the video you see Cambrie running next to a girl who is almost double her size! Note that I did slow some stuff down, but I did not speed anything up- so they really can hustle when they want to!! Jade is #5 and Cambrie is #3
Make sure you stop the music down below in the red column so you can hear the videos music!!

You've got to love the Disney Channel

While the girls were watching Hannah Montana with their Dad, a Cheetah Girls video came on, suddenly they all jumped up and started dancing along. Who said TV wasn't interactive!
Make sure you stop the music down below in the red column so you can hear the videos music!!

Trimming The Christmas Tree

Our Christmas tree has never been one of fluff and stuff- which was awkward for me because growing up we always had a Charlie Brown kids tree, that we could do what ever we wanted with, and then my Mom had "Her Tree" which always had white lights and decorations that were practically perfect. So when Brian and I got married and only had one tree for obvious reasons, we had homemade ornaments and some that his Mom had given us, that were his when he was little. I thought we did it this way because we were starving students and couldn't afford anything else. It wasn't until later that I discovered that this is the kind of tree Brian wanted to have. He pointed out to me that this kind of tree had meaning and sentiment to it. This year I truly caught the feeling and meaning of our eclectic tree. As the kids pulled out the different ornaments that we have collected in years past, Brian would tell them the story of when or how or from who we got that particular ornament. They thought it was so cool that we still had ornaments that Brian had when he was a little boy. It was also neat to hear Brian tell the kids about his Grandma Stacey, because the glass ball ornaments we have used to be hers. They also learned that the candy canes represented the hooks of the Shepard's. It was a great opportunity to teach the kids about many things. Of course their favorite ornaments were the ones that had their names or pictures on them. I saw the pride they took in placing a piece of "their lives" on our "family tree". It was a fun activity that we all did together! Now although I love the look of the elegant trees, I look forward to trimming our tree again next year and being able remember family and friends and the good times we all have had together.