All I Can Say

“You can shed tears that she is gone,
or you can smile because she has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that she'll come back,
or you can open your eyes and see all she's left.
Your heart can be empty because you can't see her,
or you can be full of the love you shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember her only that she is gone,
or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind,
be empty and turn your back.
Or you can do what she'd want:
smile, open your eyes, love and go on.”

In Loving Memory of:
Nikki Sharese, Jaime Lynae, and Terri Ann (Mom)
We love and miss you so!

Peace, Love, and CookieDough

Sleepy Time

I love snuggling my boy when he's asleep. It happens SOOO very rarely. He usually doesn't fall asleep in my arms.. and if he does, its because we're at church and had no place to lay him down. But I cherish every second of being able to hold him close and snuggle my boy.

Peace, Love, and CookieDough.

(Photo courtesy of Rebekah Sheppard)

AWESOME Weekend, and Not Just Because it Started On Thursday

Got off work at 2 on Thursday
I'm never able to predict when a day will be cut short, so its always nice every once in a while to be surprised and get off early! It gives me some time to relax and run errands!

Spent time with the In-Laws
INCLUDING TK's Grandma Sheppard who just flew in from Montana. It was her first time ever meeting Aiden. I love introducing him to knew people (and by "introduce" I know you know that I really mean "show off". I'm just so dang proud of my son!! He pretty much rocks!)

Had dinner and movie with Carly and Jake
Carly and Jake are stinking awesome! I always love hanging out with em! AAAANNNNDDD I got to see "Weekend at Bernie's" for the very first time. GOOD movie and the ENTIRE night was just full of laughs!! I love it :)

Had Friday off and so did TK
Its rare that either of us get a day off rather than the usual, and other than Sunday, we almost NEVER get the SAME day off. I always love being able to lounge around being lazy in the mornings of a day off at home with the family.

Picked Ben up from the airport after his 2 year mission!
As I've mentioned before, Ben has been in Nebraska (lucky butt) for the last 2 years on a mission for the LDS church. I met him briefly before he left, but other than a hanging out for few hours, I don't really know the kid. I can't wait to be able to get to know him! So far, he's hilarious and I can ALWAYS use some more laughs.

Watched Janel ROCK in her school musical
She has an awesome voice, by far the best at her school. Its great to be able to watch her perform!! If only her stupid choral directer wasn't so, well, stupid. He figured since she has the best pipes she would be the one that could deal with the broken microphone. yes. this makes sense. the only girl that can actually sing (but ROCKS the show) should be the one that you can't hear as well as the ones that have their microphones turned way up. seriously woulda been ok NOT hearing 1 or 2 of the other girls...

Had Yiselle and Mindy over
Ok if we're being honest, they came for Ben.. well.. and Aiden but he was already asleep. But I don't care their reason, it was great to see them! And although I was WAYYYY too tired and probably should NOT have been ANYWHERE NEAR company... it was fun... regardless of how stupid I was.

AND IT'S ONLY SATURDAY MORNING!!!!!!!!
I've still got Katie's baby shower this afternoon, hanging at the mall this evening, church tomorrow and Ben's open house. SHALL BE AWESOME :)

I love my life.

Peace, Love, and CookieDough.

My Brother

Today, TK's brother returned from his mission. Gone 2 years, serving the Lord in the Omaha, Nebraska Mission. All week TK has been so above and beyond exicted to have him home. I chuckled every time he would randomly get all giddy and state, "BENJAMIN COMES HOME IN ___ DAYS!!!"

I just smiled and thought how cute it was that he loved his brother so much.

But today, when we were getting ready to go to the airport and stuff, memories of the day that MY brother came home from HIS mission flooded my head. Being so excited, counting down the days till he got home since the day he LEFT, and practically doing a little dance waiting impatiently outside the airport security checkpoint.

I love my brother. Our relationship grew so much closer the few months before his mission and I hated that he wasn't home anymore. He helped me escape from the house when life wasn't going so great and he helped me escape my thoughts of discontent. He taught me how to shrug things off and let things go. He rescued me and I didn't like that he wasn't there to rescue me.

I knew he was doing the Lord's work and that that was far more important than chasing thunderstorms with me in the middle of the night, but I was sad nonetheless. I was SO thrilled when he came home. My brother is amazing. He doesn't always talk that much, (I mean, honestly how could he?! Shauna and I are his sisters) but I love that guy more than I could ever tell anyone. I know that he always has my back (despite what he says.. after all.. he is a stinker sometimes). I could trust him with anything and know that he'd stand by me through whatever crap I could get into. He was such an inspiration to me. His emails (although we didn't exchange as much as we probably should have on his mission... i kinda suck at keeping in touch...) got me through more than I think he ever knew. They gave me strength. I always hated knowing that I was disappointing him when I did something I shouldn't. How my brother saw me was very important to me and saved me.

I love my brother. I love him and miss him so much. I hate that it still feels like he's on his mission seeing as how the distance makes it so that I only get to see him about once a year. But I know that no matter what, he's here for me, being a wonderful example.

Peace, Love, and CookieDough.

When He Grows Up...

So here I am, just barely starting to figure out what I'M going to be doing now that I'm all grown up... and I can't help but wonder what Aiden will be. What he will do and who he will become! The possibilities are endless and while, of course, it is completely up to him, i still enjoy thinking about the little boy that I am raising and what kind of man he will be.

He is so full of possibility right now. He could be an accountant, or an actor, or a lawyer, or a truck driver, or a nerd, or an athlete, or anything he could possibly imagine!! The possibilities are endless. I just hope that I can give him every opportunity possible. I don't want to shelter him from any chance he might have at happiness.

I can't wait to see how he grows and who he becomes. Its gunna be an awesome ride!!

Peace, Love, and CookieDough!

Swing Life Away

As the weather has be BEAUTIFUL!!! I took Aiden to a park that ACTUALLY had some swings!! (Apparently they are a hazzard and so lots of parks are taking them down and the new ones are just leaving them out.. bummer, I KNOW!) So I put him in and he was IMMEDIATELY LOVING it!!!

I can't wait to spend the summer drinkin in this kid of ours!! There are so many more firsts yet to be had!! And I am so grateful to live in such a beautiful place that allows us to be out at the park since February and even a few days in JANUARY!! Such gorgeous weather, such a wonderful family, and such a happy life!!

Peace, Love, and CookieDough.

Tie Dye and Tube Socks

Its a BEAUTIFUL Sunday afternoon, we are running late for church and have no time to get Aiden ready, but its ok cuz he's a baby and no body really cares WHAT he's wearing.. plus, he's freaking adorable and can literally pull ANYTHING off. Anywho. So we take him to church in his pajamas but all week the little booger has had a slight issue with erupting THROUGH his diaper. And of course, at church, after a very rushed morning, he chooses its a good time to explode.

So I take him to the mother's lounge and take care of his diaper... but there's no way I can put his PJ's back on him now!!

In the diaper bag is simply a green tie-dye onzie in which his father HATES--EVEN BETTER (evil grin). So I take the kid back to the meeting where I get an evil stare from TK and an eye roll as he is so disappointed in our child's ensemble.

Welp, at least he's dry!! And what a perfect outfit to celebrate the warm sunshine!! And the tube socks? Well they just looked AWESOME!

Peace, Love, and CookieDough