Shannon Is FOUR!!

My baby is officially 4! It for sure doesn't seem like I had her 4 years ago! She is growing up so fast!! Yesterday was her birthday and we just had a little party at the McDonalds here in town with the big toys. All her cousins got to come and some friends and neighbors! She got more Hannah Montana toys than she knows what to do with! A true Hannah Montana finatic! She also got some way cute outfits for the summer. I was busy cutting cake and talking to the adults so I didn't get a whole bunch of pictures. Jeff was video taping the whole thing though. Here are just a couple pics of Shannon, and the Amazing cake that my sister KayDe made for her! It turned out great, Thanks KayDe!!

Too Cold To Go Outside.....

So as most of you know and may have experienced yourselves, we woke up to SNOW this morning! So weird! But my girls had three girls spend the night last night who are also all sisters and good family friends of ours. I got up and made all the kids waffles and bacon this morning and afterwards they were trying to think of something fun that they could do inside cause they didn't want to go out in the snow. About five minutes later, I heard some rumbling noises and a lot of laughs. I went to see what they had decided to do, and as I turned the corner, my daughter came flying down the stairs in a sleeping bag towards my feet! They made a "slide" using slippery sleeping bags on the stairs and were taking turns launching themselves and eachother down the stairs. Here are some pictures that I managed to get in-between all the laughs.

Easter Pics....Finally!

I know it's a week late but I just got my camera to work so I could get the pics off of it. We just went to church in the morning and then did easter baskets from the "Easter Bunny". After that, we just went bowling as a family. It was a lot of fun!! Of course, Jeff was very competitive and felt good about beating his children! Just kidding, but we did have a lot of fun! Here are some pictures of the girls in their new dresses!

Shannon in the Easter dress that her "Mimi" sent her.

Samantha

Emily

Courtney....standing crooked! :)

The Newer New Job!

I know, it's been what?, almost 3 months since I've posted. Sorry. Well I started a new job on Monday. Yes, I know I just started a new job in December but I've learned a lot and decided to find something else that would benefit me a little more. My previous job was a lot of fun. I enjoyed the people I worked with but there were no benefits, no overtime, and a lot of other little things that just didn't seem too good. Well I had a working interview at another dentist office last week and one of the dental assistants that I was working with told me of this little office in Ephrata who needed an assistant NOW. She know the Dr. and called his wife at lunch that day. They set up an interview that evening, and hired me on the spot. She wanted me to start this passed Monday, 24th. I was totally extatic!! They offered me $6 more an hour than I was making at my other job. That's almost $500 more a month and I work a day less!!! Cant beat that! We only have patients on Mondays and Tuesdays. The Doctor lives in Federal Way and has another office over there. He only is here Mon-Tues and then goes back over the pass for Wed-Fri. I work Mon, Tues, and Wed. I'm by myself on Wednesdays just answering phones and scheduling appts. It's great. All together it is a better job. I'm really lucky to have it.

"Just Because I Love You"

I know, this card probably

doesn't make sense, but

keep reading and you'll

understand.

<------<------<------<------

Notice Shannon stanging in the back...very proud of what her Daddy had done.

So cute story to tell. Yesterday morning, Jeff called me from work at about 10:45 (he goes to work at 6) and begins to ask me if I am leaving the house at all today. I tell him that I have to take Emily to the Bowling Alley at 11:00 (she is on the High School Bowling Team) for their out of town game and then run to the bank and then home. He then proceeds to ask an exact time I'll be home and wanted to know if I'd be home the remainder of the day. Kind of odd, but oh well. When I question him, he tells me that he had ordered something from his motorcycle magazine (for his YZF 450...his dirtbike) and it would be here between 12-12:30. Hmmm, I start thinking to myself, the company NEVER gives him an exact time that his stuff will arrive....but whatever. We get off the phone. He then calls back at about 11:50 asking me if I was home. He told me that whatever was coming "for his bike" I would like too. Right there, I knew he was up to something. I asked him some more questions and he told me, "Okay, I got a new rear sprocket for my bike." YES....I was so happy for his new sprocket....!?!?! No, not really, but I know it was something else. He calls back for a 3rd time at 12:30...asking me if it had come yet...NOT YET!!! He now said they told him it would be here within the hour. So he's got me REALLY wondering what he's up too now. Sure enough, within the hour, there is a knock at my front door. I open it and there is a lady standing there with the most beautiful boquet of a dozen roses I've ever seen. I immediately took pictures with my phone and called him. He told me they were for no other reason other than "He loves Me." C'mon, you can't get better than that. I'm so greatful that Jeff is in my life! He truely is amazing!!

'Tis The Season

Well we had a great Christmas. The Saturday before Christmas, my Grandma had a BIG dinner with all her kids and grandkids. It was great to see some cousins that I hadn't seen for a few years. After that I had a Drill Team get-together at my house with the other 9 seniors I graduated with and of course, what is a Drill Team Party without Kittrell. It was a lot of fun, it was the first time we had all gotten together since we had graduated. There was a lot of stories, farts, and A LOT of laughs!! Typical drill teamers! Then Sunday evening, we went to Jeff's cousins house in Ephrata. It was a lot of fun too. We just had some appetizer type snacks and played a long gift exchange game...you know the one where you can either choose a present or steal someone elses. It was a lot of fun, and we came home with some pretty funny gifts ranging from a pack of toilet seat covers, to 80 hour energy spray, to Christmas Boxers with a "naughty side" and a "nice side". We did presents at our house Christmas morning with the girls and let the girls' mom come over to watch them open their presents. They all enjoyed their gifts and got pretty much everything they asked for. To both Jeff's and my surprise, "Santa" left a Dora Jeep on the porch for Shannon...the kind she can get in and drive. I guess it was too big to fit down the chimmney. We still don't know who "played Santa" for her, but whoever it was....THANKS!!!! We just relaxed the remainder of the day, until about 5:30 when we drove to Othello to get together at Scott's house with all of my siblings. All 6 of us kids were able to get together again this year. It's definately not the same without Mom here physically, I know she is here spiritually, but we do our best to do what she would have wanted. We continue to draw names and get together one night to exchange them. We ended up staying until after midnight playing games and enjoying each other's company. I absolutely LOVE this Holiday Season simply for the reason you get to be around everyone you love and cherish!
So I'm getting better at this blog thing. Actually learning how to put pictures, and links. I've put an archive of pictures on here, hope everyone enjoys them. Hope everyone's holidays were great!!

My New Job

So those of you who know, I have been looking for a job for about 1 1/2 years now, and it seemed like it was never going to happen. However, I got a phone call on one of the jobs that I applied for recently and they wanted to hire me. The position was for a Dental Assistant position in Warden. Now, I know that I have no dental assistant experience or schooling, but hey are willing to train me from scratch. Can't beat that!! I'm totally pumped. My first day was Dec. 5. I've been there 3 weeks and absolutely LOVE it! I can see myself doing this for the rest of life. The older 3 girls are in school all day of course, so we just had to find someone for Shannon. Luckily, and I thank God everyday for her, my Grandma stepped in and offered to help. She takes Shannon for us Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Jeff has Thursday, Friday, and Saturday off and I have Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off. So we keep her Thursday and Friday. I know a lot of things would be easier if Mom was still here. Sometimes when I here good or bad news my first thought is "I should call mom." Even after 5 years. But if she can't be here, there is no one else I would rather have step in and help than her mother. Thank You Grandma!!

This was taken on Halloween this year at Grandmas house. The kids had a lot of fun trick-or-treating. Courtney and Emily decided to be old women with big butts. They looked hilarious! Samantha was an ER surgeon and Shannon was Little Red Riding Hood. Their cousins looked great too! Tristan was a Red Power Ranger, and Bodie, a shark! Courtney was a Bride, Megan a Vampire, and Hazel a Princess. And you can't forget Miles, the cow. :)

Merry Christmas

Hello everyone! I'm new to the whole "blog" thing, so bare with me. I wanted to be able to brag about my family like everyone else and what better way to do that than here. We have just been getting ready for the Holidays. Jeff and I went Christmas shopping on Black Friday and got a bunch of good deals. We decided to put all the presents in our closet and told all the girls, including Shannon, not to go in there and if they do, they will get in trouble. We left it at that. The other night, Jeff was telling the girls again not to go in there, so they don't see their presents. Shannon just looked at him and said, "It's okay Daddy, I already know what I'm getting. I saw a teddy bear in there for me!" She decided she was going to be the first to snoop.