Happy Thanksgiving 2009!

What a wonderful Thanksgiving! We are SO thankful that all the kids were here to share in our celebration, as well as my mom and brother, Chad! A friend of Mike's even stopped by too!

I'm usually so nervous about entertaining/throwing a party. I worry myself needlessly about how the event will go. Will everyone have a good time? Will the food turn out o.k.? Etc. Etc... But I have to say even though we had twice the number of people as usual, everything went really well. The food was really good-yummy turkey & stuffing, Mike! Everyone seemed to enjoy the side dishes I prepared. And we had a wonderful time sharing the day together. Later that night my dad called and we talked for at least an hour~it really was the perfect ending to a wonderful day(thanks dad-can't wait to see you at Christmas!)

I have much to be thankful for this year, & I am reminded of all my blessings especially on this day!


While waiting for our guests to arrive, Katelyn creates another use for our laundry basket!!

Elton and Katelyn are great pals!

H'oeuvres anyone??

Dining table ready for 12!!

My brother Chad, mom, and me

Chad and mom

Katelyn loves her oldest brother, Shane! (His wife Gina looking on)

Snuggling with brother Michael!

Ready to eat!! Bring on the turkey!

What a SOOPER idea!

Katelyn's been sick for the past week and a half with croup. She's been fever-free for several days now, but still has the barking cough. It's been quite the ordeal! Today I took her to the doctor for a follow-up appointment & he confirmed that she was not contagious & could be at school or out & about. I needed to hear him say that because when other people hear her cough, they look at me like I'm crazy. I hear their thoughts, "What are you doing here with that poor sick baby. She should be home in bed!!" Well, the truth is she has missed four days of school and church, but we are both so stir-crazy that we (I!) just needed to get out of the house.

So this afternoon I decided we'd go to the new King Soopers(136th & Zuni) and get our groceries for Thanksgiving. I love this store because they have child-size shopping carts & Katelyn is thrilled every time we go-(I haven't seen these carts anywhere else.) I think it makes Katelyn feel so "grown-up" to push her own cart of groceries through the store. On every aisle other shoppers remark about how cute it is(until today when she'd cough-and I'd get the stink eye!)

Katelyn sick with croup had fevers of 103.9-104.3. It was so scary!

Little Miss Independent!

Of course her "dog", Nona, had to come in the store with her. She takes "him" EVERYWHERE we go!

Glad you're feeling a little better sweetie!

It started with "Twilight"...

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY PEEPS!!

Friday, November 20th was the one-year anniversary of our Mom's-Night-Out & it just happened to be the day of the NEW MOON premiere. Not really a coinsidence if you consider we've been planning for this night since we saw "Twilight" a year ago. See "Twilight" started it all...

Last fall after reading the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer, my neighborhood friends & I decided to go to the premiere of the "Twilight" movie together. I'm not even sure we were calling it a "Mom's-Night-Out" yet. I think we were still sizing one another up & waiting to see if there'd be chemistry, or if we'd enjoy hanging out together away from our kids. We had all known each other for a while, but it stemmed from meeting at the park with our kids. We didn't REALLY know each other YET. We didn't know then how our friendships would evolve and grow or how close we would all become. But, man, did things ever change. Over the course of the last year and meeting once a month for a MNO, we have become the closest of friends. I didn't know the night of the "Twilight" premiere a year ago that I would feel close enough to these women to share the deepest most private aspects of my life. But I do. We do.

In case you're unaware, I'm a little obsessed with the "Twilight" series, specifically the main male character Edward Cullen. I've been looking forward to the NEW MOON premiere since Tera told me a year ago at the "Twilight" premiere that they were going to make a movie of the 2nd book, NEW MOON. And since my birthday also happens to fall in the same month as the NEW MOON premiere, my friends seized the opportunity to celebrate my 40th birthday(AGAIN, I might add!!). All I can say is I have the best peeps in the world. We had a blast! November 20, 2009 was one of the best nights of my life!

We started the evening with dinner at Red Robin. Christa had to join us a little late since her husband had to work(f-n-e!;-) But we had a good time talking and eating!! After Christa arrived, we headed for the theater to wait. See part of the fun is sitting and waiting with all the teenagers! Although I doubt any of them were nearly as obnoxious as I was while opening my gifts. You see my friends went all out with the NEW MOON gifts. Cara gave me the NEW MOON CD & a life-size poster of my Edward; Tera gave me an Edward Cullen keychain & jewelry box, & some "Sweethearts" candy with who else but my Edward on the box; Christa gave me a red t-shirt that reads: "I Freakin Love Edward Cullen!" (and yes of course I put it on over my other shirt!)& Christa also gave me the Vanity Fair magazine with R. Patt's pictures-HOT!!! We're talkin SMOKIN HOT!!!; and Sarah, clever Sarah, gave me an Edward doll, and a picture of, well, you have to see this for yourself...

~Look closely~

My peeps...

Sarah & Cara

You're the best, Christa!!

YUM!!! (I'm sure the candy's good too!)

My Edward doll!! (I know what you're thinking, Tera!!)

Christa had time to down a Margarita before we headed to the theater-YOU ROCK GIRL!!

Me & Sarah!

The five of us waiting for the theater doors to open!

Me & Tera(she wants me!) HA!

The four of us (before Christa made it to Red Robin!)


You can imagine the excited frenzy when the theater doors finally opened, but you won't believe what my friends did when we were all settled in the last row at the very top of the theater. So there I am waiting for Tera & Christa to come back from the concession stand when Cara spies them and tells Sarah to come with her. When they reach the other two, Tera, VERY loudly asks the oh you know 4-500 other people in the theater for their attention. Which they(we)all give her. She has four children, and believe me you give Tera your attention when she asks for it!!HA! Anyay, she asks if everyone would join her in singing "happy birthday" to her good friend in the last row who is celebrating her 40th birthday! And the entire theater sings to me! I was absolutely blown away!!!!! Tera, you ROCK!!

So, the movie?? Well, I thought NEW MOON was absolutely awesome! Seriously it was SOO good-I can't wait to see it again and again...The biggest surprise of the movie?? UM, JACOB BLACK!! OH, YUM!!! Let's be clear I'm team Edward, right! But OMGosh, Taylor Lautner is HOT in this movie. I mean illegally HOT!!! And the boy(he's only 17!!) can seriously act-he MADE me fall for him!! I was SO impressed by everything in this movie from the acting to the special effects to the music-you name it!!! 10 STARS!!!

But even though the movie was amazing, none of it would have been nearly as good if it weren't for my friends. Cause let's be honest, that's what this is really all about. It's about the bonds we share. The friendships. I am a better person because of these women. They inspire me, encourage me, support me, and love me, and they make me laugh-OMGosh do we laugh!!! I am truly blessed to call them my friends & I am grateful, you'll never know how much. Thanks for the best 40th month-long birthday celebration anyone could ever have!!

After the movie we headed to my house to just relax & spend some time together. We were all on such a high from the movie we didn't want the evening to end! UM we ended up talking until 3 AM~Seriously! We had the best time just talking and hanging out! Sarah spent the night so she didn't have to make the long drive home to Conifer. Sarah & I had coffee together the next, I mean later, that morning!

I'm already counting the minutes until our next Mom's-Night-Out in December. When we can all be together again to share our lives. Happy anniversary peeps-I love you guys!

P.S. Check out my clicker for ECLIPSE!!

Kindergarten Thanksgiving Celebration

Today Katelyn's class had their Thanksgiving celebration. The children were told they could dress as a turkey, pilgrim, or Native American & Katelyn was a Native American. Her costume was actually a gift from Anna from her travels to Ethiopia where she did nursing work, but I think it looks "Indian" enough. Katelyn made her own headband.

Here Katelyn stands in front of a real life-size teepee at her school.

Since they've been discussing the food pyramid in class, the children were asked to bring in food for a balanced Thanksgiving feast. They had turkey & ham, candied squash & green bean casserole, cornbread muffins, fresh fruit, cheese, & apple juice.

Katelyn's class sharing in their Thanksgiving feast.

Miss Charlotte invited a real Native American friend, a Lakota Sioux from South Dakota, to come and talk to the kids about Native American traditions. As you can see he was dressed in full costume.

Our new friend sang a traditional song beating his drum and we all danced in a circle around the room. I was blown away. What a wonderful authentic experience for our children!

In addition to the festivities, there was time to do some schoolwork. Here Katelyn is counting the one's for their 56th day of school. (ie. 5 ten's & 6 one's) The Kindergarteners are counting up to the 100th day of school when they will plan a party for their whole class. They are very excited to be in charge of this special project.

Miss Sherry is also teaching the children to tell time.

Katelyn & her friend Sydney working on a 100-piece puzzle of the human body. I attemped to help the girls, but I have to tell you this was a very challenging puzzle to put together!

Katelyn and her class had a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration today! As her parents, we are very thankful for a wonderful school where she can learn and be challenged in so many wonderful ways!

The most amazing birthday!

Yesterday I turned 40. No, no it's true, you're too kind. I may only look 35, but alas, I am really 40. What's that you ask? Do I feel any different? Well, yes, actually I do. I didn't feel any difference when I turned 37 or 38 or even 39, but yes 40 feels different. I FEEL WHOLE!! It's almost like a feeling of relief. Like I've put those pesky 20's & 30's behind me and a new horizon stretches before me. For the first time in my life I feel comfortable in my own skin. I'm sure the weightloss has a lot to do with that. Even though I have more weight to lose, I am proud of me NOW. It doesn't mean I don't wish for longer hair, or nicer fingernails, or more weight gone. (Or how about no more zits-I mean come on, I'm 40. Seriously! Enough is enough already!) My life isn't perfect, I have struggles and worries; but I feel more empowered. It's like that movie "Fried Green Tomatoes" when Kathy Bates rams into the younger girl's car and says, "But I'm older & I have more insurance!"

My 20's were all about going to school, beginning my career, getting married, and my 30's were all about trying to have babies. Almost the second I woke up on Nov. 5th, I felt like I could close the chapter on having babies. I think this was GOD's birthday present to me. Just 1 year ago on Halloween, I went thru my 5th and final IVF cycle. Since I didn't become pregnant, I've spent this last year praying for peace and acceptance. And now I can honestly say that I'm moving forward.

I am more aware now than ever before of the blessings in my life: I am so in love with my daughter, she makes every day beautiful. I look at her each day & I know she is the LORD's greatest gift. I am getting my foot back in my teaching career & that has been exciting and challenging. I have a beautiful home & a hard-working husband. I have loving & supportive parents and extended family. I have my health. And I have the most incredible friends on the planet. Whether you are near or far, each one of you makes my journey easier & happier. I truly feel that none of my friendships were accidents, but pre-ordained. The LORD knew I would need angels here on earth, and HE sent each one of you to me. Whether we've been friends for 20+ years, or a year, or somewhere in between, I want you to know I cherish you & I thank GOD for our friendship every day.

So a couple weeks ago my friend Tera asked me what I was doing on my birthday. And I said, "Oh you know the usual and taking Katelyn to piano lessons, probably going out to dinner-the usual." She asked if I wanted to go to lunch on my birthday, and of course I said "sure." So after I picked Katelyn up from school we headed to her house thinking we'd all ride together to whatever restaurant she'd chosen. SURPRISE!!!! As I walked toward her kitchen, I could see all these balloons with the number 40 (appropriately) on them, and then all of a sudden shouts of "SURPRISE!!!" My friends had planned a surprise party for me-the first surprise party I've ever had!!! I was instantly overcome with emotion. To be honest, I'm still completely overwhelmed. Tera made the most delicious luncheon for all of us. We had such a nice time eating and visiting while the kids played. My friend Terry, who couldn't be at the party, made the most delicious carrot cake ever-her cakes are heavenly! I received wonderful gifts! It was just an amazing afternoon. And it was such a gorgeous day here on my birthday, that after the party ended, we spent the rest of the afternoon visiting at the park while our kids played. It was perfect.

Here are my wonderful friends:
Top Row from left: Me, Tera, Cara & Aubrielle, Christa & Chloe
Bottom Row from left: Melanie, Katie, Jennifer & Shea
(Katelyn took this picture-she did a great job, don't ya think!!!)
Thank you also to a few friends who couldn't make it: Amy, Terry, Treva, & Sarah


Tera actually put 40 candles on the cake!!


I LOVE presents!!!


Later that night, since Terry couldn't make it to the party, she and her family stopped by with more cake!! YUM!


Katelyn helped me blow out the candles.(I bet I know what she wished for!)


Perfect. I had the perfect birthday. In addition to the most amazing surprise birthday party, Mike & Katelyn gave me a beautiful necklace, I loved all the cards I received, I loved the phone calls from Jen, mom, and dad. I loved the e-cards & the comments on my Facebook page. Everyone made me feel so special on my birthday. I am humbled. I am grateful. I am blessed.
Love Always, Shell