I love to make presents look pretty on the outside too. :)


I gave my Mom some stationary and Sharpie markers. We love Sharpies!


Mom's opening her gift from Tricia.


I love this beautiful coffee scoop that Trish gave Mom...(hint to Trish, my b-day's coming up soon!)


Here's Mom with the surprise Birthday Cake I got for her. It was a strawberry cheesecake icecream cake.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

Today is my Mom's Birthday!

Happy Birthday Mom! I love you so much! I'm so thankful that God gave me to you and Dad to raise. You have taught me so much and you have helped me become who I am.

You have always showed me love, even when I didn't always show it back. As a child, when I was disobediant you taught me right from wrong. You taught me by example to put others first. You showed me how to be a good friend. Your life showed me how to draw closer to God in hard times. You have displayed Awesome faith when others would have lost all hope.

You have always been a "fun" mom too. I have so many fun and silly memories of you both from long ago and from just days ago. I'm glad that we can have so much fun together.

You are always there for me. I love our coffee visits and just being able to talk to you and share my life with you. You lift me up when I'm down and you always point me to God whom my true joy comes from! You give me the best advice you can and you pray for me.

I love you so much and I hope you have a very happy birthday!

Love, Shea

Here are some pictures of my beautiful Mama!






Decorating Christmas cookies


My Mom loves to "clown" around. Here she is at Halloween.

Mom loves reading to the kids





Here she is reading again


Here she is playing "Guitar Hero"


Now she's trying the drums in "Rock Band"

Poor Clara

Poor Clara has been having such a hard time breathing lately. I took her to the Doctor on Wednesday and he put her on Veramyst and Zyrtec. She didn't sleep at all Wednesday night. She was up all night crying and throwing up and just having a hard time. I took her to the Doctor again yesterday. We were there for 4 hours and then Tim had to come there so I could be home when Ben and Emily came home from school. The Doctor gave Clara 3 breathing treatments while we were there. He also had chest x-rays done which looked good. He says it is just really bad allergies mainly. Yesterday, he added to the Veramyst and Zyrtec. Now she is also taking an Albuteral nebulizer breathing treatment every 4 hours, Advair, Singulair, Azithromycin (an antibiotic), and Prednisone (a steroid). We went to the Doctor again this morning for a check up and she's doing better. She slept all night last night which was really good.

Her Doctor is so nice. He didn't charge us at all for our visit yesterday. He even called last night before bed to check on her. I think she will be back to her normal health soon.

First Day of School

Yesterday was the first day of school. For Ben and Emily, it was their first day ever. Here are some pictures I took of them getting off to school and coming home on their first day. They all had a great day. Ben and Emily were really tired out when they got home, but they took a nice nap and slept really good last night. Today they were excited to go back to school!

Getting on the bus for their first bus ride. :)

Home from their first day, Benny is waiting for the bus driver to signal the ok to cross the street.

Christian Motorcyclist Association (CMA) Rally

Tim and I and the kids had so much fun at the 4 day rally! We enjoyed camping and cooking outdoors. We were so ministered to by the music and messages there! I really enjoyed meeting other members of our CMA chapter. We had a great time and can't wait until the next one!

Benny had so much fun riding his bike all day every day all over the campground.

Here are Clara and Ben riding their bikes.

Clara and Tim were competing against other motorcyclists to see who could scoop up the most "Roadkill". Clara got 5 stuffed animals. The winning pair got 9.


Here Clara and Ben are racing in a "Slow" race. The last one to the finish line wins; and their feet can't touch the ground.

Tim was racing in the "Slow" race for motorcycles. The last person to cross the finish line wins. They can't let their feet touch the ground. Tim would have won this round, but his bike stopped because he had forgotten to flip the fuel switch. :)



Here I am making breakfast.


Yummy pancakes and coffee


Tim and Benny having fun at the campfire


Allison is passing a s'more.