The Sloan Family

Pizza NIght

2011-02-24T09:41:00.000-08:00

We have started a tradition of making pizza on Saturday nights. It's so much fun. Dad and the boys are in charge of making/rolling out the dough. They are quite the little chefs. They each have their own technique; Shep is slow and steady and Marshall is quick and intense. We like to turn on the Italian station on Pandora and jam out while we are cooking. This is a glimpse into our kitchen on any given Saturday night.

Lucy Boo

2010-12-21T16:28:00.001-08:00

Isn't she totally adorable!!!

Lucy is it the best baby, we all just ohh and ahh over her.

Lucy is now over two months old and she is so sweet. My best friend Andee Durrant McDonald took these pictures, aren't they gorgeous?!?! She has brought so much joy to our family already. She has started to give us little smiles, and she scrunches up her nose...I just melt. Marshall gave her the best nickname; Boo Boo which has turned into Lucy Boo. Kids really come up with the best nicknames. Last Sunday I was very blessed to sit in one of the best sacrament meeting christmas programs ever. I was seriously in pure heaven rocking Lucy while listening to the beautiful music. Christmas is such a fun time to have a newborn.

It's a Girl!!!

2010-10-25T07:45:00.000-07:00

Woman love to share their personal sagas of giving birth and I am no exception. Please pardon my indulgence.

It was October, 9th and Mama Sloan was very pregnant with our little mystery baby, and very anxious to deliver. I went on a long walk in the morning, stepping up and down curbs, took evening primrose, and ate lots of pineapple...still no action. So, we decided to enjoy the fall weather and go for a hike near Hiese Hot Springs. By the next morning I was especially anxious to go into labor because 10-10-10 would be the best birthday ever. So, I took it up a notch and went for a run, it felt fast to me but I am sure it looked more like a shuffle. Still no action.

I was scheduled for an induction on Monday morning at 5:00. I really don't like inductions because they take away your mobility, but when you live far away from family and have two kids you do what you have to do. I have been preparing most of the summer to attempt another natural childbirth, after two failed attempts with Lamaze/Bradley methods I studied Hypnobabies. I am just not made for pain, remind me next time to just get the epidural and enjoy the ride. The hypnobabies worked beautifully during mild contractions, I got several naps during the day (although the soothing voice on the CD's would tell me I wasn't sleeping, I was just in a deep state of hypnosis). But, when the pain intensified (after my water broke) it was a total joke, I could not concentrate enough to do crap (pardon my crass language, it's just the truth). I tried to tough it out, but once again I got to a point that it was just too discouraging; only at a four after hours of intense laboring. So, I was reduced to begging for the epidural. It took about 40 minutes for my wish to be granted, I was a bit of a mess during this time. It was not a pretty sight, lots of "dammit this hurts"...and hyperventilating and screaming "owe, owe, owie!" I got the epidural at 8 p.m. and they checked me right after and I was at a 9. I delivered at 8:45.

As the baby came out Aram announced to me that it was a girl. We were both so happy that we both shed some tears as we held our beautiful Lucy Jean. She was so beautiful. I treasure that moment when they placed her in my arms for the first time, it was such a sweet, tender time. She was 6 Ib. 9 oz, 20 inches tall, and very healthy.

Over the last few weeks we have been taking it really easy and just enjoying getting to know Lucy. She has a very sweet temperment and sleeps a lot. The boys are totally loving her, and will be awesome protectors of their little sis. Marshall has already given her a nickname, Boo Boo. I think it's a good one seeing that she was born in October.

Baby Countdown

2010-09-30T07:56:00.001-07:00

We are down to the wire at our house, in less than than two weeks life will forever change by adding another child to our family. We can't wait to see what this little baby will be, boy or girl, and what he/she will bring to our family with it's unique personality.

I remember when we were about to have both Sheppard and Marshall how it was so hard to imagine our family life with another person. Now I can't imagine life without them. I feel the same way right now in anticipation of this new little one. It's hard to imagine the changes that are just around the corner. I can't wait to see the changes and challenges that will come.

First, What in the heck is this BABY!!! Now that I am at this point in the pregnancy I am so glad we didn't find out the sex, the anticipation for that revelation make it very exciting.

Next, what will he/she look like? What will we name it? What will it's personality be like, will she be like Shep or Marshall, me or Aram or totally unique? Will it be a good baby, how will I cope with postpartum?

There are of course the scary questions that you try and avoid thinking about...will the labor go well? Is the baby healthy and strong? With any of these type of thoughts come the realization that if something is wrong we will deal with it and in the end no matter what everything will work out for the best.

Then come the questions of how this baby will change the family. I can't wait to see Marshall become an older brother, and Sheppard further develop in this role. If it's a girl it will be fun to see how Aram is with her, and if I feel differently towards her than my boys.

Life has been a bit of a whirlwind over the last 6 months with the new job, trying to sell the house, then renting the house, living in a hotel, then living in a cheapy student apartment, trying to buy a short sale and the uncertainty that came with it, buying a new house and moving all while being pregnant. But, I am sooooo grateful we are now settled and ready for this new stage in our life. I know life will only get crazier two weeks from now, but I just feel so happy to be settled and have a nest for my little chicks.

Holy Cow I Have Cute Kids

2010-09-30T07:32:00.000-07:00

Marshall is absolutely in love with cows. If you ask him what his favorite animal is he'll tell you it's a cow (how many kid's favorite animal is a cow??? wierd, but cute). When I ask him what he dreamt about last night he'll always respond "Cows." So, you can imagine his excitement when we pass a field of cows while driving.

One day as we were passing one such field of cows he exclaims with pure joy "Holy Cow, it's cows!" over and over again. Sheppard jumped on Marshall's and quickly corrected him, "Marshall it's not Holy Cow, it's Holy Ghost." Marshall must have misunderstood and starts exclaiming "Holy Goats, it's Cows."

Oopsy-Daisy

2010-08-24T09:09:00.000-07:00

Two words you never want to hear when your wife is cutting your hair, "Oh crap." I have been cutting Aram's hair for almost 8 years now, I think I have gotten pretty good at it over the years. I guess I got a little casual because on this last Do I was just chatting away, and then I realized the attachment had fallen off...it was too late he already had a nearly bald strip in the back. It doesn't help when your wife is just about in hysterics, laughing and screaming "Oh no, oh no, oh no" as she hops around the room. I hope that Aram will look at these pictures some day and find them as hysterical as I do!
We tried to cover it up with a hat...didn't work.

Our Ironman Dad

2010-08-24T08:56:00.000-07:00

The Fan Club

The boys and I followed Dad around the town from one leg of the race to another. They were great little cheerleaders!
The Run

This was the very last stretch and Aram looked super strong.

At first, when he got off his bike and started running he was barely at

a shuffle because he was a bit stiff from the ride.
The Bike

Aram's bike is way retro-old. He told me he was a bit frustrated when a husky girl passed him on the bike because of his lack of gears, a piece of humble pie never hurt anyone.
The Swim

This part of the race was the hardest to watch, I just kept thinking "that is soooo long to swim."
Doesn't he look enthusiastic?

Flathead Lake

2010-08-20T17:12:00.000-07:00

This year we tried a "You Pick" cherry orchard. Marshall was loving life, he ate more than he picked. We made some yummy cherry jam with our pickins.
Hanging out in the hammock with cousins, Lachlan and Joette.
Marshall would disappear often only to be found in Grandma's garden, working hard at making a mighty good mess.
Wild ride to Wild Horse Island. It was pouring rain on our way there, but it cleared up and ended up being a great day of hiking, and swimming.

Our Grandpa Rocks!

2010-08-20T09:19:00.000-07:00

We are so proud of our groovy Papa Dude. He is in a band called the "Shamrockers", they play folksy Irish music; some traditional and some original songs. On our visit to Montana this summer we were "Lucky" enough to see our Papa Dude jam out at The Columbia Falls Fair.

Summer Review

2010-08-20T08:49:00.000-07:00

Marshall got potty trained!!! Sheppard was a great helper, showing him the ropes of how to pass the time while "working things out."
The boys at Jackson Lake, with the Tetons in the background. We made a trip with Lou Lou and Pampa, the lake was a little too chilly to swim but the boys had a great time throwing rocks and going on little adventures.
Row, Row, Row your Boat. Lou Lou took the boys out on a ride in the raft. We felt very spoiled having Grandma and Grandpa all to ourselves.
Sheppard and Pampa on a hike at Jenny Lake.
One of our local favorites, Big Jud's Burgers. Our whole family can split this one hamburger.

Yellowstone Trip #2

2010-07-17T10:01:00.000-07:00

On this day-trip we had many adventures along the way.

Marshall has this small obsession with throwing rocks into water, usually this is a fun and simple way to pass an afternoon, not so in Yellowstone. See at Yellowstone you spend your day hiking and looking at pools of water, and there are millions of rocks to choose from along the way, but there is also a $1000 fine..try explaining this to a very determined 2 year old whose favorite pass-time is throwing rocks in water. We stopped to watch some Buffalo by a river and Marshall had was in heaven throwing his rock. To get him to get back in the car Aram gave him a rock for our next spot. Our next spot was a hike to hot pots. I tried to get Marshall to give me his rock, he wouldn't. I tried to get him to throw it in the trees, he wouldn't. Once we got to the hot pot I tried prying the rock from his little hands, he's got a very firm grip. When he saw his chance he chucked the rock, but luckily it ricqoched off the fence. I swept up the rock before Marshall could get it. This was the beginning of a very long tantrum. As we continued on the hike we passed a small stream I gave the rock back to Marshall and told him to throw it in the water. "NO, big water." He wasn't going to settle for a measly stream when there were bigger fish to fry. So we were back to square one, trying to get the rock from Marshall before Marshall got the rock into a hot pot. Once again luck was on our side...if you call being on a hike with a tantrum throwing two year old luck, the hot pots were too far off for him to make it and so he catapulted the rock over the fence and fell short. He was pretty upset that it didn't make it into the water and set off to find another rock. At which point we decided to carry back to the car.

The next Sigfred and Roy???

2010-07-16T09:56:00.000-07:00

We have made many trips to the Tauphaus Zoo in the short time we have been living in Idaho. From these pictures you would think that the boys were totally crazy about the Tigers, it's not true don't let them fool you. On our first visit in May I was holding Marshall as we were watching the Tiger, then he let out a very mean, hungry growl, it made me jump. I don't know if it was my jumpiness or the actually roaring but now Marshall has a major aversion to Tigers. Every time we go to the zoo now he freaks out when he know we are getting close to the Tiger cage.

Yellowstone Trip #1

2010-07-16T09:42:00.000-07:00

Aram's parents were so kind to come and watch the kids while we did some house hunting in Idaho Falls. On Sunday we decided to make a trip through Yellowstone and down through the Tetons and back again. It was super cold, it was like we went back to February. It was difficult to coax the boys out of the car to see the Buffalos and mud pots. I especially enjoyed out picnic in the snow. I don't think the boys saw much on the hikes because the wouldn't take their blankets off their heads. I haven't been to Yellowstone for years, and it was like the first time for me, I got giddy when I saw the hot pots bubbling over and the Old Faithful.

An Update

2010-06-24T13:03:00.000-07:00

Here's a quick update on life since last I wrote, so much has happened to us in the last five months that it seems overwhelming to blog about it. But I will do a quick synopsis and then start blogging fresh from here on out.

-We found out we were pregnant, a total surprise baby. We are super excited but had to make some changes in plans we had made (changing my registration for the Ogden Marathon from a full to a half.)

-Had a miscarriage scare when I was about two months along. Much to our relief it was pain caused most likely by a cyst. And baby was fine!!!

-We made a trip to St. George to see G.G. and Papa Don and our Auntie Brady. We had a great time hiking, swimming, and catching up.

-Sheppard turned 4 years old in March. I can't believe how old he is getting. We went to Chuck E. Cheeses for his birthday with our little family. And, in true Sheppard fashion he freaked out about the animatronics and all the noise (kids), but once he realized there were video games there he snapped out of his fit.

-In April Aram started to look for a new job. There were a number of factors involved with this decision, some of which were he really wanted to get back into the food industry (it's much more regulated than the vitamin industry which is a big bonus when you are interested in Quality), his company continued to take things from employees despite record profits, health insurance was a big one and no raises company wide for two years. Aram loved who he worked with and made some great friends there, but he felt it was time to move on. As we began looking for new jobs we worked through food industry recruiters. Many of the jobs he was applying/interviewing for were East/West coast. So, we were really excited when he got an interview with Basic American Foods in Idaho. He landed the job, Quality Assurance Manager, and here we are 6 weeks later living in a hotel (short term) in Rexburg, Idaho. So far he is really impressed with the company and is excited about their commitment to producing a quality product, and really likes his job so far.

-We worked hard getting our house ready to put up for sale...it's officially on the market for a screaming deal. So we are crossing our fingers that we can get our house sold so we can move on with a house in Idaho.

-We have been house hunting in Idaho Falls...which is super fun trying to find a place that is a good fit for our family/lifestyle.

-All four of the girls in my family were pregnant. The day before mother's day we had a girl's day at my parent's house. My sister Lindsee was on bedrest at 29 weeks because she had toxemia, and my sister Kelsie was about 37 weeks along and seemed to be a bit miserable. We let them relax and we were just hanging out, we decided to take our blood pressure just for fun (what we pregnant girls do for fun). Lindsee's blood pressure was through the roof, and I am sure all her crazy sisters made it go 20 points higher. She ended up having to deliver her baby that night. Baby Elli is our miracle baby, she was about 2 1/2 pounds. She still is in the NICU a month later but she is progressing really well. The day after Elli was born Kelsie went into labor and had cute little Cormac. It was a crazy mother's day weekend. We went from four prego sisters to two in two days.

-Sheppard finished his first year of preschool. We sure had a great time doing our co-op with Ephraim, Walter and Neal and their fabulous Mommies (teachers). We will miss you next year.

-Papa Dude and Gramma Judy came to help us on our house browsing trip. We did a road trip up through Yellowstone, down to the Tetons and through Jackson and back; it was a long, memorable day. I will never forget our picnic in the snow, or Marshall's reaction when he first saw a hot pot (he just giggled and thought it was hilarious.) The boys had a great time with their grandma and grandpa.

-We are currently staying in a hotel in Rexburg. We will rent an apartment for the remainder of the summer once our temp housing is done and hopefully by then we will be able to buy/move into a house in Idaho Falls. But, for now we are enjoying our food allowance, the pool, not having to make our beds. To be honest I feel a little bit guilty, it's like we are on a perpetual vacation. But, I am trying to put the guilt aside and really enjoy this time I have with the boys, without all the distractions of home life. I really have the sweetest boys in the world, as of late Marshall has been calling me "Mama" and it just about melts my heart along with his constant hugs and loves.

I know I missed a million little moments that really make up the fibers of our life during the last five months. But, those are the high/low lights, and I will try and do better about recording the small moments.

Role Reversal Bedtime

2010-01-17T20:29:00.000-08:00

We have changed to 1:00 o'clock church (oh joyous). Due to this, Marshall's schedule is thrown totally out of whack. Today he didn't get a nap, so we put him down early for bed. About a half hour later Shep accidentally woke him up. So Marshall's mind and body were acting like he had taken a nap. After several attempts at trying to put him back in his bed we then asked him if he wanted to sleep with Shep. He snuggled up to him, and kept saying "Shep's a baby" and rubbed his back and head, and gave him lots of kisses. He then went on to cover his older brother in pillows. I thought he might eventually fall asleep but soon I heard the noises of a lively farm. Marshall was up and about "mooing" his little heart out playing with the Little People's Farm.

Plan B failed, onto plan C. Aram laid down with Marsh in our bed. After about five minutes of cooperating Marshall thought of a new plan. He thought to turn this into bedtime for Daddy. He tucked him in, gave him kisses and went on to follow our routine with him. He said "SHHH, stay here..." then went to the door and said "I going to shut da door", he opened and shut the door about four times and repeated this several times. On his last time he said, "Stay there, love you, shut da door." That was the end of it, Aram was officially tucked in by his two year old son.

So, here I am at 9:50 p.m. writing on my much neglected blog with the small sounds of two year old gabbing to himself as he lie in his bed. I must note he originally went to bed at 6:00. If he is true to his nap schedule he should fall asleep at about 11:30 tonight (bedtime is about 5 hours after naptime).

Nursury Rhymes

2010-01-17T20:17:00.000-08:00

We have been learning nursury rhymes in preschool for the last couple of weeks. Shep loves to retell them to me. He has his own versions of the old classics.

Shep:"This Little Piggy went to the market, this little stayed home, this little piggy had roast pee, this little piggy had none..."-I don't know about you, but roast pee sound pretty nasty to me.

These next ones come from a nursury rhyme book we were reading, I would read part of each rhyme and he would finish them. He was looking at the pictures to find the right words, this is what he came up with.

Me: "It's raining, it's pouring, the old man is..."

Shep: "Laying in his bed."

Me: "Rub-a-dub-dub, Three men in a..."

Shep: "Bucket"

Me: "Little Miss..."

Shep: "Muffin"

Me: "Sat on a..."

Shep: "Tuffer"

I don't think he quite gets the rhyming thing yet.

Hay Jumping

2009-09-29T18:39:00.000-07:00

On Saturday we went up to American Heritage West Museum in Wellesville (near Logan). They were having their Fall Celebration, we had a great time with the kids. They really got into the hay jumping. Marshall is a total crazy man, he just went right up to the tallest bail and tried to jump off, luckily Aram had his hand. You gotta watch that kid like a hawk!

Fabulous Friends-Fabulous Fridays

2009-09-29T18:27:00.000-07:00

We have been having so much fun lately with Bode, Raini and Patrice. We decided that every friday we would have a new adventure. We started out with a bang at Pineview Reservoir. We had the beach all the ourselves and you couldn't have asked for a better day. Marshall was so Marshall, when he wasn't wondering off chasing the birds he just plopped down in sand and laid there for long periods of time. Bode and Shep had good times playing duck, duck goose, having races down the beach, playing horses on their noodles and playing football with their mommies.

Next, we went on a hike to Wheeler Creek and ended the day at the Dinosaur Park. Hiking with kids is all about the journey, not the destination.

And, just last week we went up to Patrice's cabin with Grandma Knudsen and Grandma Lu Lu. It's so neat that we now have three generations of friends: Robin and Linda, Patrice and Karri, Shep and Bode and Raini and Marshall. We had a great time hiking around, throwing big rocks in the river, jumping on the tramp, monkeying around on the playground, and eating lots of yummy food.

More adventures to come!

Chef Shep

2009-09-29T18:19:00.000-07:00

Reading the instructions.

Making the cake, with Daddy's help.
The best things in life are all the sweeter

if you have someone to share them with!

This is the whole reason to make a cake...

licking the bowl.

There aren't many things Shep likes to do more than make a cake. He suggests that we do it nearly every day. He actually has become a very proficient cook, I just have to get the ingredients out and supervise and he'll do the rest. Delicious!

New Family Tradition

2009-09-29T17:57:00.000-07:00

In the neighborhood I grew up in there was a man named Martin Peterson (some of you may know him, great guy). I remember driving past his house every Saturday and no fail he was out in his driveway with his two youngest sons washing his car; rain, shine, snow, or sleet. When I was a teenager I recall passing them and thinking to myself, "What a drag." How time and perspective changes things! Now, here I am ten years later starting the same family tradition. I can see the value in it for the boys and for the car. Right now, I'm not so sure they are learning much except that water and dish soap make lots of bubbles and as you can see Marshall has an affinity for bubbles.

Shep's First Day of School

2009-09-29T17:37:00.000-07:00

We are embarking upon a new stage in life, school! We are starting simple and small. I am doing a home preschool with Shep and two other boys and their moms. It's working out great. The moms take turns teaching so it works out that I teach about one week a month.

We decided that all the moms would attend the first day to help the kids get used to it. It was kind of a nightmare. They were all very distraught that we were making them sit and listen instead of letting them go about their usual ways and play with toys. Shep was really good for about ten minutes then he just stood up and stated "I'm done.", and started walking off, like it was that simple. Since then, things have really improved. The boys are hilarious, and are total boys. Sometimes I have to remind myself that this is their first ever school experience and just to have fun with it. I have to remind myself of this as I am talking about the letter of the day, and the boys are fixated on saying "poop" and laughing their brains out. "Focus...Focus."

On the first day I taught I was teaching about our bodies.

Me: "Neal, what's a part of your body?"

Neal: "MY NOSE"-Neal is very exuberant and everything is a cheer, he said this with gusto and he jumped up and down, waving a fist in the air.

Me: "Ephraim, what's a part of your body?"

Ephraim: (think James Earl Jones, this kid has the deepest voice you've ever heard a 3 year old have) "My Eyes."

Me: "Shep, how about you?"

Shep: "My tiger!" Then he planted his two feet and swung one arm across his chest...this is my own child and he is a total mystery to me????

Closing Circle-

Me: "What did we learn about today?"

Neal: He looks up at me with the sweetest face and simply says "Jesus."

This kid's smart, he has learned that you can never go wrong with that answer.

I am looking forward to my many adventures with this rowdy bunch of boys, they have a way of making me laugh.

Montana Moments

2009-09-09T14:54:00.000-07:00

Grandpa Tom and Grandma Carol are Rob's parents. They live in Kalispelle and we always try and make a visit to them when we up that way. I love this picture, Shep and Grandpa have twinner faces.
Amy and Bryan came up to Montana with us. It was so fun to show off the beauty to people who I knew would appreciate it. We went to Glacier Park for a day. We got cherries on our way up and ate about a million, oh man I felt sick afterwards but they were sooooo good. We had intentions to do 3 hikes. But, after one of hauling the kids we were spent. The hike we went on was gorgeous and the kids got to get with feet of some mountain goats, and some big horn sheep joined us for lunch.

Donuts and early morning hike to Kerr Dam. So yummy!

Shep's first time tubing. He loved it. One of the cutest things he did on our visit was "waterski". He held onto a rope behind the paddle boat and we dragged him around the bay, he held on forever always with a smile on his face because he thought he was "waterskiing".

Provident Living

2009-09-09T14:44:00.000-07:00

We have a plum tree in our backyard and last year I attempted to can them whole. If you are a canner, never do plums whole, they were disgusting. So, this year we were on the lookout for something we could do with our millions of plums. Aram was a total stud and willingly made us plum chutney and canned it. There's nothing like a morning of canning and grinding wheat that slashes my idyllic dreams of living off the land. It always sounds more fun than it actually is.

You may think you know first-aid

2009-09-08T15:11:00.000-07:00

When I was in high school I got my lifeguard license and was well certified in first-aid. Since then I have considered myself well prepared. But for some reason, all knowledge and sense leaves you when your 19 month old sticks his hand in a open can of tomatoes and his fingers are wedged between the can and the lid. Blood was everywhere, I just held Marshall and called Aram. "What should I do, Marshall is bleeding bad?" Hello woman, how about pressure? This all happened on the 24th of July and our Urgent Care was closed for the holiday-what? Aren't those places made specifically for holidays? So we took him to two other clinics before he could get stitches. He was so brave. He held totally still and was infactuated with what the doctor was doing to his finger. He got seven stitches on his little finger. He had to where a sock on his hand for over a week. But, he loved it. Everytime it feel off he brang it to me to put it back on again. And, he wore it for an extra week just because he liked it. Funny kid. Funny mom-you think you could keep your wits about you when something like this happens, hopefully this is the last time something like this happens, but I have a hunch (knowing my inquisitive, and fearless Marshall) that it is the first of many incidents.

Summer Sum-up

2009-09-08T14:56:00.000-07:00

We have done lots of hiking, and lots of throwing rocks, Marshall seems to have an obsession!
We bought Shep his first real bike, but he does not want to ride it. I think I have damaged him for life, he has no clue how to peddle he just scoots on it because that's what he's been doing for so long on his other scooter-bike. This picture is from a 4th of July parade that the boys rode in.
We played with our cousins alot, I love my sisters.
Catching bugs in our backyard, Shep has been determined all summer to catch a butterfly.
We have done ALOT of slip 'n slidding down our hill this summer. We have fun with our neighbors Jake and Addy, and with all our friends during play groups.

Dysfunctional???

2009-09-08T14:31:00.000-07:00

You think your in-laws are crazy? Check out mine! Call us dysfunctional if you want. Aram's family is from Montana and how can I put this nicely, they are a little "hick-ish"

The Whole Clan

Their kids all look the same!

Isn't she a cutie?

The Boys. They look like a rough bunch, but they have the best hearts!

Really, my sister-in-law Mandy planned a red neck birthday party for her hubby. She asked us all to dress up. The fact that we got to dress up like white trash, everyone went to town. It was an awesome party, a great addition to our family reunion. My in-laws are actually all very decent, normal people, and I feel very lucky to have married into such a "functional" family.

Yours, Mine, and Ours

2009-05-04T20:58:00.000-07:00

We recently went to San Francisco on a trip with just Aram and I. It was so fun. Thanks to my sisters and mom who watched the boys while we were gone. While we were there we did a little of everything. We had a "yours, mine and ours" vacation. Chronicled below is the his/her version of the vacation. We followed Aram's passion (food) and hit all spots he researched and was dying to try. We followed my passion (the Theater) and went to see Wicked. And, we did alot of what we both love...exploring and finding adventures for ourselves.

The Muir Woods. I am in love with the Redwoods, they are the perfect tree. This place was so beautiful and serene.

Alacatraz Island. There is a lure about this place that takes you in and you can't resist it.

A Belgium spot we ate at before the play. Frijtz Fries-fries with funky sauces and yummy crepes.

On our first morning we got up bright and early and ran across the Golden Gate Bridge. Then explored the Golden Gate Bridge Park. Both were awesome and a must if you go to San Francisco.

Her Vacation

2009-05-04T20:47:00.001-07:00

Long story...Long
I have been dying to see Wicked for years now. There have been several times when I almost bought tickets, and then my frugality get the better of me and I decide against it. I did this when we lived in AZ, I did it when we went to LA with my family, and I did it when tickets went on sale for Salt Lake.

During conference Elder Hales gave a talk about being frugal, and how the most loving thing you can say to a spouse is, "we can't afford it." After that talk Aram said, "Well, that came at a bad time for your birthday." That was enough to drive me crazy. I racked my brain as to what he might be planning, and if I should be a good wife and discourage him from doing it, or be selfish and indulge myself. While I was thinking of all the possibilities I came up with the possibility that it might be Wicked Tickets. One night while we were pillow talking I guessed what it was...a gift certificate to a spa (really nice, but really not what I wanted). So, I just came out with it..."I would rather go to Wicked." So we started looking for tickets and couldn't find any less than $250 per ticket. So, I suggested we just get cheaper tickets in San Francisco and spend the rest on lodging and food.

Needless to say, Wicked was Divine. I loved it. And, Aram did too. He won't stop listening to the CD.

His Vacation

2009-05-04T20:21:00.000-07:00

The Famous Saigon Sandwiches, found in Little Saigon. We walked through some pretty shady parts of town to get this sandwich. It is the perfect blend of vietnamese and american. Chicken or Pork with cilantro, carrots, jalepenos, and a yummy sauce on a crusty white bread bun. MMMM.

The Farmer's Market at Embaradero on the pier on Saturday morning. We sampled all sorts of overpriced, organic goodies at this charming market. Who pays $7 for a dozen eggs...crazy. Small farmers have a nice set up there. They farm in Sonoma and keep their operations small and organic (which is costly) and they have the clientele for it in San Francisco and the surrounding cities. We got some yummy cheese curds, and some to-die-for almonds.

I fell in love with Little Italy, known as North Beach. It is the craziest thing, we walked through China Town and literally everyone on the street we were on was Chinese (we were walking their market, with the likes of dried squid and dried armidillo) and then we went up one street and no joke everyone was Italian. China Town and North Beach are right next to each other. I felt like I had just traveled the world and I only we a few blocks. As we strolled through North Beach we found a pastry shop, we got quite a few goodies and feel in love with the Almond cookies. I loved little Italy so much I made Aram take me back there for a nice dinner on our last night. You can't beat Italian made by Italians and served by Italians.

Aram found out that a must eat in San Fran is Dim Sum. Dim Sum is a chinese "snack", it is dumplings served with a variety of things in the middle. It's not just the food you must have, but the Dim Sum experience. We went to Golden Mountain in China Town. This restaurant was huge, full of round tables, bursting at the seams with Chinese people. We were a little out of place. But, that's how we wanted it...an authentic experience. Servers are swarming the room rolling around silver carts with trays of dim sum. They come to your table and ask if you want what they have. Many of the servers didn't speak english so we got a few gross ones, but overall Dim Sum was Yum. I recommend pork buns, anything with shrimp and crab, and the mango pudding.

Spring Pictures

2009-05-04T20:05:00.000-07:00

Best Buddies. Shep and his cousin Dylan adore one another, every time they see each other they have the same greeting...hitting their hand against their forehead and saying "ouch".

My favorite easter basket, ever.

Lunch at the Brick Oven with my sisters and mom, for old time sake. It sure was nice to be with them, they are all so amazing.

Dying eggs with Papa Dude and Gramma Judy. Marshall seems to have his own agenda.

Two things I've learned about Marshall that this picture illustrates well. First, he is fiercely independent especially when it comes to eating, exploring, and climbing. And second, he has the sweetest personality, but this boy WILL fight back. If I ever yell at him or Shep (who me???) he will get right in my face and yell back.

"We're Going to the Zoo, How About You?"

2009-05-04T19:48:00.000-07:00

Aram and I decided we have a new philosophy about taking Shep to nice/expensive/fun places; we are not paying for the experience and excitement there, we are paying for his reaction to it the day afterwards. Sheppard loves animals, he plays them all day and I'm sure he dreams about them all night. So, I assumed the the zoo would be pure paradise for him. I guessed wrong. Gramma and Papa took us to the zoo while they were here and Shep had a total meltdown. He freaked out completely, and wouldn't even pretend he liked it. You can see his distraught face on the Merry Go Round (which was our unsuccessful attempt to snap him out of his tissy fit). He finally calmed down a bit, and enjoyed it more towards the end of our time there. On the other hand, Marshall loved it and was in love with all the animals. This is the kicker...the next day Shep was talking about the zoo like it was the best thing on the planet. He told me about all the animals and what they did, "Gorilla was so funny, he played peek a boo", "Elephant ate the straw, that was so funny." Trust me, none of this was remotely funny to him while we were there, but something must have connected in his sweet little head that it should be funny. He has altered his memory of the zoo from a miserable, distraught experience to a great and funny day. Kids, go figure!

Grandma Time

2009-05-04T19:36:00.000-07:00

Shep and Marshall were so spoiled because Grandma Judy and Papa Dude came to visit in April and they didn't have to share them with anyone. Grandma and Shep really bonded; they made a tent, played "animals", sang lots of songs and played lots of games. It was really fun to have them come visit. While Shep and Grandma were busy playing, Aram and Papa Dude wired and sheet rocked our basement bathroom, and worked on the swing set in the backyard. They worked hard, and we played hard.

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Bedtime Stories

2009-03-27T17:35:00.000-07:00

Last night I was putting Shep to bed and instead of reading a story we made up several together. I would told the story and then stop and let Shep fill in the gaps. I was impressed with his creativity. This is one of the stories we made up together.

Pooh Story
"There once was a...POOH...and he went to...RABBITS...house. He knocked on the DOOR and he said..."WHERE'S MY HONEY?" and Rabbit said, let's go look for some. So, they saw a bee and followed him to the tree, they climbed the tree and looked inside the hole and saw...A TOILET!" (he's got potty on the mind, seeing that we've been potty training for over a month now.)
The story went on a little further, but I knew Shep was bored with it when he blurted out "AMEN".

I love three year olds!

Super, and Brave, Dad

2009-03-24T15:27:00.000-07:00

I have always known Aram is a fantastic dad, and he continues to reaffirm this to me in his excitement and willingness to do things for and with the boys. Last Saturday, I took my young women to the Draper Temple Open House, and it took most of the day. My sister Kelsie invited the boys to go to Disney on Ice, seeing that I was tied up, Aram gladly volunteered to take the boys. To add to the adventure he decided he wanted to take the Front Runner Train to Salt Lake. I was impressed at his courage. I probably would never dare do such a task by myself. He left at 12 and didn't get back until close to 7. Talk about a long day with no nap, no car, and no stroller (he insisted he didn't want to have it). As I waited for them to get home, my imagination went wild with the possible mishaps that could have happened. But, when the boys got home they were in good spirits, and Aram had a very positive outlook on the day. He said Disney on Ice was great, despite the fact that Sheppard freaked out because the loud music and crazy lights. He said the train ride down with it's newness and the boy's excitement made all the stress of the ride home worth it.

Aram said this is what Shep's face was like for the whole Disney On Ice show.

As the lights went down and the music came on, Shep was very alarmed. The picture shows he was a little frantic, it took a little while for him to calm down. But, by the time he got home and gave mommy the report he only said how great it was, he must have selective memory.

Waiting for the train.

Shep turns three!

2009-03-24T15:09:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that Sheppard is already three. We had a family party, and at Sheppard's request we had a "Panda Party", with all things Kung Fu. We made a stop at our local Asian Market and got lots of fun things for the party: chopsticks, bobo drinks, and fortune cookies. I made Shep his Panda cake, and the kids all learned a little Kung Fu thanks to Master Shi Fu (Aram).

Our little Sheppard boy is such a tender spirit. He is very sensitive to the needs of others, especially of Marshall. He is always looking after Marsh and plays so good with him...he has such great traits for being the oldest brother in our family. He is a ton of fun, with a wild imagination. He is constantly bringing me a puppet or stuff animal and instructing me that I am a Sheep, Bear, Monkey or whatever it is we are pretending to be in that moment. I really have to stretch my own imagination to figure out new ways to be creative with these animals. I can't wait for all the many adventures we have ahead of us for this next year, and to enjoy watching Sheppard learn and grow.

"Let's Build a Word"

2009-03-08T19:12:00.000-07:00

Those of you who have children that watch the PBS show "Word World" may appreciate this story.

Shep's birthday is coming up and he is so excited. About a month ago we were discussing what he wanted to do for his birthday and what kind of cake he wanted. He loves Kung Fu Panda and he decided he wanted a Panda Cake. Since then every time his birthday is mentioned he enthusiatically throws one arm in the air and yells "Panda". He's really got his heart set on that Panda cake. So, today while Aram was picking up after dinner, Sheppard opened the pantry and started getting out all the ingredients to make a cake. After he set the ingredients on the counter in an orderly manner he started his version of spelling "panda cake"..."A...G....I....P....G"...."Cake, Panda cake." For those of you who have not seen Word World, there are animals who build words from letters that look like objects in the world. Shep was building the word Panda Cake, with "letters" hoping it would turn into a cake. His cute Daddy ended up helping him build a real cake, it's his pre-birthday cake.

Big Boy

2009-03-08T19:07:00.000-07:00

Marshall is such a big boy. I don't remember Sheppard being so independent and "old" at this age. It probably has to do with having an older brother to imitate. Marshall wants to eat at the real table, with real silverware. He can play independently for hours "organizing" my cupboards, pushing cars around the edges of the railings, and crawling around barking like a dog. Shep thinks Marshall is his dog, and Marshall plays the part beautifully. He's got a very believable bark. He is also Shep's wrestling buddy which initially scared mommy, but I have since learned that Marsh can hold his own against his big bro.

Blue and Gold Banquet

2009-03-08T18:59:00.000-07:00

If any of you know Aram you know that being the center of attention and trying to be silly really isn't his cup of tea. Well, that is exactly what he is asked to do in his calling as Asst. Cub Scout Master. Some callings you may get because you are really talented in a certain area or some you may get to help you grow. This is definitely the latter for Aram. He is totally out of his element but he is a great sport. I think he does a fabulous job telling lame jokes and presenting awards in creative ways. And, you can't refuse a man in a uniform, right? I love Aram for his willingness to serve even though he may not enjoy what he considers public humiliation.

I Love Snow

2009-03-08T18:42:00.000-07:00

In case you were wondering I am wearing one of Shep's snow hats, I packed him two and forgot mine.

After living in Arizona for 18 months I have not been the biggest fan of winter. Especially those long and dreary February days of the inversion. But, I have to say I have had some pretty fabulous days of snowshoeing that makes me want to shout from the rooftops that "I love Snow". I love those days right after it snows and you get the clearest blue sky and the sun penetrates right to your soul and makes you feel so alive. It's the best!
On this hike we went up to Wheeler Creek in Ogden Canyon. I carried Marshall in the pack and Aram dragged Sheppard in the sled behind him. Shep was so relaxed, he zoned out and enjoyed the ride. I know we seem crazy but you've got to share the joys of your life with your kids, and not let them stop you from venturing out.

Schrute Farms

2009-01-09T13:18:00.000-08:00

For our anniversary Aram arranged for us to stay in the loft of a barn in the small town of Inkom, Idaho. He thought the boys would love it. Not only did the boys love it, but I did as well. It was really nice: full kitchen, master bed, loft with 3 beds, and a beautiful family room with a pot belly stove. Not too shabby for a barn. We also explored Lava Hot Springs. We checked out the pool on Friday night and the boys were in pure in heaven. Then on Saturday, we did the hot pools. I was in pure heaven. You can't beat sitting in an outdoor hot tub on a gorgeous clear blue day, with fresh snow. Thanks sweetie for planning this memorable getaway!

Classic!

2009-01-09T13:08:00.000-08:00

This is so classic Sheppard. Whenever he gets his blanket in hand he starts to suck on his own tongue. Hence, the funny face. Shep's blanket is a drug for him, it sedates him. Which makes it really nice to have on long drives, and for bedtime.

McQueen is King

2009-01-09T13:02:00.001-08:00

Shep had a very Merry, McQueen Christmas. He got a Mack truck, a Cars table, and lots of other things to "decorate" our house. His Grandma Lou Lou gave him some "Cars" stickers. He decided he wanted to wear these stickers all over his face. He was so pleased with himself, until he had to take them off (ouch).

I'll be Home for Christmas

2009-01-09T12:53:00.001-08:00

We got to go home for Christmas our beloved Montana. We had an awesome time with our family. We are so blessed to have such great parents, and siblings. Shep loved being with his cousins. He was literally his cousin Mason's shadow. He copied everything he did, and said. Mason had a sweatshirt on with a hoodie, so Shep tried to put on his hoodie, which was none existent. He pulled his shirt up over his head so he could be like Mason.

Christmas was great. The highlight was after Shep opened his train, he threw his hands up in the air and said to the sky, "Thank you, thank you, thank you Santa!" I felt very appreciated.

Camara Catch-Up

2008-12-27T20:50:00.001-08:00

My camara broke about a month ago, so the whole blogging thing has been a slacker about the whole blogging thing. In the meantime, I borrowed my sister's camara, thanks Kelsie. But, I was still unable to retrieve my pics from my disk. I got a new camara for Christmas and I finally was able to get my pics off the card. So, here is a little catch up.

Marshall's birthday. I made him a doggy cake, he loves dogs.

The Nature Center
We enjoyed some beautiful fall walks at the Nature Center near our house.

Merry Christmas!!!

2008-12-13T09:54:00.001-08:00

The Three Wisemen

2008-12-13T09:33:00.000-08:00

We are going to Montana for Christmas so we decided to have "Chrstmas Eve", and "Christmas Day" early at our own house, so we wouldn't have to haul everything up there. Last night, we attempted our own reenactment of the Christmas story, starring Sheppard. Marshall wouldn't keep his headress on, it was a struggle to get this picture. Daddy was the narrator, mommy was Mary and Shep was everything else. I have to say, that he was an excellent Joseph. He took such great care with baby Jesus, I was touched by his love and tenderness. He was an excellent wiseman riding his "camel", the arm of the couch, to see the new baby Jesus. And, of course he did a great job as the Shepherd, a role he was born to play.

We wish you all a Merry Christmas, and hope during this time in our lives we can learn the lessons from the manger. May we be like the wisemen. These men were very educated and respected, yet they had the wisdom and humility to seek out the Christ child. May we be like Sheppard and Joseph and be tender and loving with those around us. May we be like the Shepherds in the fields and be willing to leave our fields (our hobbies, or interests) and take the time to to remember our Redeemer. We are so grateful for our Savior, Jesus Christ. And hope all of you, our friends and family have a very Merry Christmas and a great upcoming year.

The Cowboy and the Cow

2008-11-12T15:21:00.000-08:00

Shep and Marsh were the cutest little pair for halloween, a cowboy and a cow. When Shep first put on his outfit and saw himself in the mirror he made the best smile. He really liked the way he looked! Aram and I didn't want to miss out on the boys first trick or treating so we left the treats in a bowl on our front porch and went all together. It was great.

A Study in Motherhood

2008-10-26T19:08:00.000-07:00

Look at these two pictures closely. The are almost exactly the same, just a different day, clothes and location. These pictures capture so much of what motherhood is. Motherhood is trying to make your kids do something they don't want to do, like take a picture or eat their dinner. Motherhood is holding on to those kiddos and loving them despite their "moments". Motherhood is finding humor in every situation and trying to have a good attitude, like when your kid poops everywhere and you spend the rest of the day clorox wiping down your whole family room, or when he wakes up twice during the night when he's almost one, or when they dump whatever you give them to eat on the floor. Oh the joys of motherhood. But, really it is joyful. I am so grateful for my two wonderful boys, even if it is hard sometimes they bring so much happiness, laughter and joy to my life.

Dinosaur Park

2008-10-26T19:03:00.000-07:00

We have been enjoying all sorts of great fall weather at the Dinosaur Park. We meet Daddy there on his lunch break once a week. Last week our cute neighbors Jake and Addy came with us. Sheppard loves all the Dinos, he has an awesome roar.

Maple Bar Madness

2008-10-26T18:53:00.000-07:00

I have gotten into a terrible habit of buying Sheppard a maple bar every time we go to the grocery store. It all started as an attempt to get some peace so I could concentrate on the important things in life, like deciding which kind of peanut butter I should buy. I started with good intentions and good parenting, "if you are good, then..." but it has turned to madness. The kid thinks he is entitled to the maple bar despite any type of behavior. My grocery store has awesome carts with cars in the front, and Shep loves to cruise the store while stuffing his face with donuts. This last shopping trip I realized Marshall could sit in the car with Sheppard. This is what I ended up with after the shopping trip was over. Needless to say I think they really enjoyed that donut!

The Moose is Loose

2008-10-26T18:45:00.000-07:00

While growing up I would often hear a horrendous noise coming from afar. Whenever we heard this noise my mom would always say, "the Moose is Loose!" When my dad blows his nose, it almost sounds like he is blowing out his brains, he really does sound like a Moose, or what you think a Moose would sound like.
While at Grandma Lu Lu's a few weekends ago. Dylan and Shep found a very fun Moose hat, and we told them about how Pampa sounds like a Moose when he blows his nose. The boys did not forget this. A few hours later in Shep's broken english he mumbled "Pampa...nose...moose". So we asked Pampa to come show the boys how to really blow your nose like a man. They loved it! And, spent some time practicing their moose calls with Pampa.

A Great Opportunity

2008-10-07T08:18:00.001-07:00

I am not the type to sell things to my friends. But, there is something that I’d want to know about if I were thinking about buying a home. As you all know the housing market has been a bit crazy for the last few years...it went sky high (too high for many of us to afford a home) and now it’s taken a major downturn. Many of us wonder when is the right time to buy.

My dad was asked by one of his dear friends, owner of Liberty Homes, to help him in a very diffiicult situation. Because, the market did what it did, he is left with high inventory and lots, and no buyers. He is to the point that he will do anything to sell these homes. So, the point I am getting at is if you are going to buy a house within the next year now is the time, and Liberty Homes is a great option.

My dad is going to be giving workshops for homebuyers. During this workshop you will learn how to get a government incentive for homebuyers, $7500 (a no interest 15 year loan. And you will also learn of the many things Liberty Homes is doing to get you to buy their awesome homes. They are cutting thier prices 18-22% (basically, selling them at cost). The builder is also offering incentives with closing costs. You will also learn lots of other valuable things for new homebuyers.

If you are interested in attending one of these workshops you can either call my dad directly. His name is Kelly Sheppard, and his number is 331-8322. Or you can email me your info. and I’ll have him call you.

Another thing. If you end up buying a house from Liberty there is a $300-500 referral incentive that both you and I will recieve. And, if you know anyone who is the market to buy a home you can refer them and if they buy both of you will get $300-$500. This a an incentive where both the referrer and the referred are rewarded.

The reason why I am telling you all about this is I honestly think it’s an awesome deal and I’d want to know about it if I were buying a home in Salt Lake or Utah Valley. I suggest visiting their website libertyhomes.com, they have some really cute houses.

"Cow"ifornia

2008-09-14T20:25:00.000-07:00

We just spent a fabulous week at Newport Beach with the Sheppard side of the family. We spent lots of time at the beach lounging and playing in the water, we spent a day at Disneyland (which Shep surprisingly loved), and we did lots of bonding with the fam. While on the plane we told Shep we were going to California, he started pointing out the window and saying "Cowifornia...moo, moo, moo" I am afraid we didn't see any cows while we were there but I think that he wasn't too disappointed by what he found. He still calls it Cowifornia and adds a little moo everytime we talk about it.

Moondoggy and Gidget

2008-09-14T20:15:00.000-07:00

All growing up I was obsessed with Gidget movies. I wanted to be a girl surfer so bad, and I always had a good crush on Moondoggy (Gidget's surfer beau). This week my dreams came true. We rented surfboards for a day and taught ourselves how to surf. It was soooo fun!!! Aram made a great little Moondoggy, he caught on to surfing really well. It was a great day at the beach.

The Things I Make My Husband Do

2008-09-14T19:55:00.000-07:00

Aram fell in love with a young, spunky and sometimes cheesy 19 year old. Since that time six years ago, I wonder if he has wished he married someone a little less silly. He says that my spunkiness is one of the things he loves about me, but over the last six years he has gotten dragged into a lot of things he probably wouldn't choose to do on his own. One of which was very recently. On our trip to Newport Beach we attended a little Jazz concert by the pool. All of my siblings were egging me on to ask Aram to dance, so I did. While were were dancing Aram kept repeating "Everyone is staring at us." My only response was to explain to him that no one was looking at us because there was a much better act going on: the senior Floridian lovers who looked like they stepped right out of a movie. These people could actually dance, in fact they were little risque considering their age. I am glad Aram danced with me and continues to make me happy by going along with my cheesiness. Hey maybe forty years from now we can be the main attraction with a little hair dye, some high heels and penny loafers, and if Aram shrinks a bit.

Football Game

2008-09-02T20:17:00.000-07:00

Suiting Up

2008-09-02T20:03:00.000-07:00

We've upped the anty at our house. The nightly rough and tumble football scrimmage between Aram and Shep has officially added shoulder pads (dish towels stuffed into their shirts).

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There is a twinkle in Aram's eyes lately which could only mean one thing-- football season has officially started. And all the hopes and dreams of a undefeated seasons consume my sweet hubby. I tell Aram if he spent as much time studying his scriptures as he does reading Cougar Board and other BYU blogs he'd be a teaching CES classes by next year. In spite of his obsession with Bronco Mendenhall, one thing I do have to give credit to Aram for is being the best dad. He is so patient, sweet, and fun to be around. When I feel like I'm losing it, he always compensates for me. He and Shep play football nightly on our family room floor. Sheppy has the best moves, Aram says he'll be a great QB someday because he always gets rid of the ball before he's tackled. Our boys are so lucky to have such a fun dad who plays with them. I am so grateful for this blessing in my life. Oh, by the way GO COUGS!!!

Take a Hike

2008-08-31T19:53:00.001-07:00

What can I say I love the mountains!!! It's not the easiest thing to carry two little boys on hikes, but I cannot resist the call of the wild. Sometimes it just sounds so nice to sit in our family room and just watch TV all the time, but I know if I just make an extra effort to get us out of the house and into the outdoors we will feel so much better, and enjoy the change of scenery! Almost every Saturday this summer we have done something new and fun thanks to the Weber County RAMP program which funded fun free activities around the county every Saturday. So, we've checked out the Train Museum, the Treehouse Museum, the Nature Center, the farmer's market, ect... But, I realized summer is coming to a close and although we have had a very fun and busy summer we have not enjoyed the mountains nearly as much as we should. I must admit I have complained that the Ogden Area does not have as nice or as convenient hikes and amenities as the Salt Lake, but that's because I hadn't discovered them yet. So we have spent the last month exploring the area and found some great spots; Waterfall Canyon, Wheeler Creek, and Snowbasin (Green Pond). These pictures are actually from an old Salt Lake favorite-Donut Falls which we did with all my sisters and their kiddos.

Fun on Flathead

2008-07-17T09:58:00.000-07:00

The Happy Hippo

2008-07-17T09:51:00.000-07:00

Gramma Judy and Papa Dude were so sweet and watched the babies while they sent us on a fun adventure on The Happy Hippo. The Hippo is a amphibious vehicle that goes on land and water. We drove along Main St. Polson, then took a cruise on Flathead Lake. The Hippo then got out of the water and drove up a big hill and then sped down the hill into the water which was quite exhilerating. Everyone got super wet between the water fight and the big splash. Thanks mom and dad for a the fun memory.

More Slip 'n Slide

2008-07-17T09:46:00.000-07:00

Amy and Bryan were so sweet and came and visited us at our house with their new little bundle of joy, Baya Ramona. She is so beautiful and we are so happy to have another cousin to play with. The kids had a great time with the slip in slide, it was just as fun as going to a water park. Abby, Blakely and Shep would make trains and slide, they were so cute!

Slip Slidin' Away

2008-06-19T21:13:00.000-07:00

For our FHE activity this week, we broke out the slip 'n slide. At first, Shep was very nervous about it, but he soon warmed up and we had a total blast. I am sorry the video is sideways, I filmed it the long way and I can't figure out how to switch it (I'll never do that again).

Race Day

2008-06-19T21:07:00.000-07:00

I have been training to run the Bear Lake Half for the past 3-4 months. Last weekend was the big race. It was so beautiful, we ran on the road around the lake. It was so fun to do it with an old pal, Andee (Durrant) McDonald. I started my normal pace, got alot of adranaline in the middle and went pretty fast and got a kick out of passing people, but all the people I past, past me during the last 2 miles...I totally died at the end. I couldn't feel my legs, it was a mental game the last 3 miles, I just kept telling myself "just keep running" and amazingly enough I did. All in all it was a fun experience, but I am glad it's over.

Bed Time at Bear Lake

2008-06-19T21:03:00.000-07:00

We had a great time with our friends Andee and Rob McDonald at Rob's grandpa's cabin this past weekend. The boys had such a fun time together. Shep got real giggly before bedtime.

Shopping Cart Woes

2008-06-19T20:41:00.000-07:00

I went to TJ Maxx to get Aram a Father's Day gift and I left the store with a white shirt, a tickled funny bone, and a near heart-attack.

Shep likes to stand on the cart as I push it. I had just gotten in line and I looked down, and saw my son's very sweet innocent face peering straight up at me as he said "Stuck". As you can tell by the picture he got stuck in the bottom of the cart. I was so happy I had my camara on me.

As we were leaving I had a near heart attack. Marshall was in his car seat in the front part of the shopping cart. I hit a pole on the way out and the car seat went flying. I had Shep in one arm so I tried to catch the car seat with my other-an impossible feat. But, I knocked enough so it landed on the bottom instead of face down. Poor little Marshall. I seriously could not stop shaking for a half hour. You never can be too careful, I am so grateful he was ok.

Good Combination

2008-06-19T20:34:00.000-07:00

There are two things in life that I get a big kick out of, fun family activities, and anything free or cheap. When you combine these two things I am a happy camper! A few weeks ago I found out about a summer program Weber County is doing by funding Free family activities around the county every Saturday trying to get people to know what's around and what a great place we live in. So, the first Saturday it started we took advantage and did the Train Museum and the Car Museum at Union Station. It was so fun. Shep loved it. I don't know what it is about boys and trains but he seems to be starting an obsession with them.

2008-05-24T19:22:00.000-07:00

Changes

2008-05-23T16:38:00.000-07:00

I can't believe how fast Marshall is changing. I feel almost anxious that he is changing so fast, and I can't enjoy all that's happening. It seriously all happened over night. I feel like he was just a newborn and I blinked and now he is a very active, happy, 6 month old who loves to eat, laugh, play, and roll over. I can't believe how fast it all happens. I need to just enjoy it more, and live in the moments. I heard a quote from Mother Teresa that captures the essence of motherhood; "In this life we cannot always do great things. But, we can do small things with great love." That is my new motto.

Marathon Madness

2008-05-21T15:23:00.000-07:00

Aram is absolutely crazy. He ran another marathon (his fourth). He ran the Ogden Spring Runoff, and said the course was beautiful; it started up by Pineview Res., came down the canyon, and ended in downtown Ogden. I put the boys in the double jogger with a sign saying "Way 2 Go Dad!" on the front and watched him run the last mile, we ran beside him for a couple of blocks cheering him on. He did awesome, we are so proud of our Daddy.

Fun with Cousins

2008-05-21T14:47:00.000-07:00

Carston and Marshall, aren't they handsome little devils?

All the cousins at Lu Lu's house.

Shep playing in the water fountain at Thanksgiving Point Gardens.

Carston (Kelsie's cute 9 month old), Dylan (Lindsee's very busy and very adorable 2 1/2 year old) and Sheppy.

Sheppard turns 2 !!!

2008-05-21T14:43:00.001-07:00

As you can see we had a rocking, good time at Shep's birthday party. We did all of Shep's favorite things, which mostly consisted of horse stuff. But, we did have a little dance party, Shep's Great Grandma Ruth even got her groove on!

Game night

2008-03-28T18:09:00.000-07:00

Hot Lips

2008-03-28T18:04:00.000-07:00

Sheppy loves, loves his little brother, and he shows this love by constantly kissing him. These are not just simple kisses, these are wet, open-mouthed kisses that leave a beautiful slobber mark on Marshall's forehead.

2008-02-11T11:15:00.000-08:00

Marshall and his cousin Kes were blessed on the same day. The Sloans came down from Montana and we had a great family gathering. Kes and Marshall look like they are really happy to have this picture taken!

The proud parents of Marshall Joseph, and Kes Elinor.

This picture has four generations. Shep's and Marshall's Great Grandparent Ruth and Don Whipperman just returned from their mission in Croatia a week before the blessing. They are so incredible, and are such great examples of serving the Lord.

Winter Fun

2008-02-11T11:07:00.000-08:00

Winter is sometimes a hard time to be a stay-at-home mom with a newborn. When it's snowing I can't go out, when it's not snowing it's freezing so it's hard to go out, and then Shep and Marshall got sick so that kept us in for quite awhile. For a family who likes to be outside alot, it's been an adjustment staying home so much. But, we went up to Midway with my (Karri's) family for a snowmobiling-snowshoeing day...it was an absolute blast and happened to be on the prettiest day of the winter-what great luck! We went on a snowshoeing adventure with our cute nieces Emma, and Blakely and looked for animal tracks. Shep and Aram had a great time sliding down a mountain of snow in the parking lot. It was the perfect day! It felt so good to be outside.

He's Sooooo Cute!

2008-01-24T15:57:00.000-08:00

Marshall is now two months old and is so cute. He's got a killer smile that melts his Mama's heart.

Big Project

2008-01-24T15:54:00.000-08:00

Note to self: When you see wet toilet paper under your bathroom vanity, something is wrong! I ignored it, and two months later we have a leaking ceiling, smooth. Aram has spent several hours (some not so pleasant than others) pulling down sheetrock, hanging sheetrock, mudding, and sanding. It's been a big mess, and Aram has been a big sport!

Future Cougar

2008-01-24T15:51:00.000-08:00

The shirt says it all "Look out Cougars, here I come."

Polar Plunge

2008-01-24T15:35:00.000-08:00

Crazy Cold!!! It's a Montana New Year's tradition to jump into Flathead Lake on the first day of the New Year. This year Papa Dude, Ryan, and Aram all braved the cold. I (Karri) was very grateful I had a doctor's note from my OB that excused me from my pride of proving how tough I am.

Christmas Joy

2008-01-24T15:17:00.001-08:00

Christmas was so fun this year because Shep is starting to "get it" and we had our new little bundle of joy (Marshall) to make the Christmas Holiday complete.

Shep loves to kiss his little brother. If you can see Shep has a horse ornament in his right hand. He actually broke this horse at the store, so we bought it...but, I must admit we were going to get it for him anyways. The tail broke off so Aram kept super glueing it back on but Shep kept on getting it off the tree and breaking it over and over again. So I decided it will be a tail-less horse to preserve the memory.
The chair Shep is sitting on is a true gift of love from his Daddy. We went shopping at Walmart at the beginning of December and Shep saw this chair and absolutly loved it. He lounged on it and wouldn't get off. There were other chairs there, like a spongebob and Dora chair but he wouldn't even give these chairs a chance, this kid knows 'class' when he sees it. It was way out of my price range for a little kid's chair, but we decided he could have some fun and sit on it, in the shopping cart while we strolled through Walmart. It was so cute how much Shep loved this chair, but I couldn't bring myself to spend his whole Christmas budget on a chair. But, a week before Christmas Aram said "Karri, I know what I want for Christmas...I want Shep to have the chair." So Aram went without this year so Shep could have his LZ-Boy. Don't worry Santa brang a really good stocking to Aram.

Great Friends=Great Time

2008-01-24T15:08:00.000-08:00

One of the greatest blessings in my life has been my dear friends. They are all such good people and inspire me to be better. It's kind of amazing when you think about it that I have known some of these people for 20 years now (namely Juliana). These are pictures of some of our best buddies at our Christmas party. Not everyone is in the picture, as some were coming and going at the time the pictures were taken.
It's fun to see the next generation...we are starting to have babies, and aren't they so cute. I think they all look like their daddies, with the exception of Tara and Jeff's little Kaitlin. She looks just like her mommy.

The Miracle of Life

2007-11-20T20:35:00.000-08:00

There aren't words to describe the feelings a mother has when they first place your baby in your arms. It's overwelming, it's joyful, it's tearful. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to be a mom again. Before we had Marshall I had some serious concerns. The first was that something would go wrong, and the second was that I wouldn't love him as much as I love Shep. I have learned my lesson concerning both things. I learned that some things are out of our control, no matter how much we worry about them. But, if we turn that concern over to the Lord we can feel peace. It doesn't mean everything will turn out how we want it all the time, tragedy does happen. It just means we can feel better and have peace in our life. Once I prayed my concerns to my Heavenly Father I felt like I turned it over to him and I literally felt a burden lift. The second thing I've learned is that love's capacity is evergrowing. Sure, I don't love Marshall the same as I love Shep, I love him differently. My love for him is young with experience, but deep with concern and charity. It is unconditional. And it will continue to grow as we experience life together.

Pride and Joy

2007-11-20T20:30:00.000-08:00

Introducing Marshall Joseph Sloan. Born November 17th, at McKay Dee Hospital at 5:18. He was 7 Ibs. 10 oz and 20 inches long. The labor went well. And mom and baby are healthy and happy.

Horsey Boy

2007-11-20T20:22:00.000-08:00

Shep got a new baby brother and a horse all in one week. Grandma Lu Lu thought Shep needed to get something special for being a big brother (to keep him busy while mom is feeding the new baby) He is in love with it. The horse actually brays and moves it's head. He was loving riding his horsey but then we put batteries in it and now he's scared of it. I think he'll get over, I hope he'll get over it.

The Story of the Sucker

2007-11-14T17:41:00.001-08:00

Shep was especially good while I ran some errands, so I gave him a sucker. This was no ordinary sucker; it was the most delicious, carmel apple sucker. He was unusually quiet in the backseat of the car because he was in sucker heaven. Then I heard a little whimper. Shep faced his first big dilema. Somehow the sucker had landed on the top of his head! He had to make the choice to pull his hair out and have his sucker. Or endure the heartache of having a sucker so close to his lips without the possiblity of eating it. He was torn. He would start to pull the sucker out, and then stop because the pain was too great. That's when he'd whimper. I think this story changes the phrase "You can't have cake and eat it, too" to "You can't have a sucker, and lick it, too!"

2007-11-14T09:47:00.000-08:00

Have you ever seen such a cute giraffe? I let Shep eat as much candy as he wanted on Halloween. I'll never do that again, he wouldn't eat real food for days afterwards. I thought I ruined him forever, but he is doing better now eating "good food". A few days before Halloween we went reverse trick-or-treating. Visiting neighbors and giving treats, instead of asking for them. He was so dang cute. He took the candy apple, walked up to the doors, knocked, and then handed them the treat. Sounds simple, but it was the cutest thing, ever. It's fun to see your kids do stuff like that.

Cowboy Up!

2007-11-14T09:39:00.000-08:00

This summer we got to go to Riki's parents farm in Idaho, and pretend we were cowboys for a weekend. It was great fun. Especially for Aram, who loves to wear cowboy hats (and I don't mind how he looks in them), and for Sheppy who is crazy about horses.