Silly Toddler - Aunika Marie

Well, having a toddler is something else. When they start to talk and communicate you are amazed at what they say and do. When we first starting seeing if Aunika could talk we would prompt her what to say. She proceeded to, as any good child would, to repeat what we said. Now she is getting to the point where she does not need prompting and she tells us things, and just talks to herself all the time.

We were all decorating the Christmas tree, when Aunika was carrying something. She dropped part of what she was carrying and immediately said "whoops". Brett and I looked at each other in laughter and amazement that she knew to respond to dropping something by saying whoops! How do they know what to say? Either it was instinct or she has seen or heard one of us say whoops when we have dropped something. I say it is a good thing we don't use foul language around here otherwise that word could have been something else.

She has also developed a favorite word. She goes around the house calling people and things we do "silly" and fake laughing after that... you have to see it to really understand how this one word can be over used!!

Shaq on Physics

I find this quote by Shaq rather funny...maybe it is because I am a science geek!

"When you understand the laws of physics like I do, the laws of physics state that a body in motion stays in motion," Shaq said. "So when you have two objects that meet in the air, the smaller object is gonna fall much harder at the same rate of speed. I've never been the type of player to take anybody out. I was going for the ball, little guy ran into a brick wall, and you know, he fell, and he added a little bit to the end. The referees looked at how he fell I think. But it's nothing I'm worried about, I've never been that type of player. If you understand physics like that, anytime you come in there out of control like that and you run into a brick wall, you're going to get that effect."

"I know I was going for the ball. I've played 17 years, I'm not a dirty player. I don't get dunked on. Little guy tried to come in my house, I wanted to block the shot, and he fell. If you apply the laws of physics, you know why he fell the way he fell. Period."

So You Think You Can Sing!

For years I thought that I could sing so/so. When I met my husband Brett, he and his entire family can sing very well. They sing for church events, for musicals, and for family get togethers. When Brett was no longer trying to impress me he got serious and told me I was off tune all the time. I came to realize that what I was hearing - I thought sounded good because I don't have an ear that can tell if things are in tune or out. That is not a good quality to have if you are going to be apart of a musical family.

Things are so bad, that for entertainment, my friends and family ask me to sing solos, so that they can all laugh at me. They say it is funny because I try so hard. You may say "how sad", but I really don't mind because I can not tell if I am out of tune or in tune! Plus, I love to make people laugh.

The point of this is that I have always thought I can sing and in reality I can not! So where is that going to leave our children? Will they be able to sing or not?

My daughter Aunika has discovered that she can sing, by allowing her to continue her voice for a while - including one or two words her or there!

Keep in mind she is 21 months old (not quite 2 yet). This weekend we went to the Great grandparents and at church Aunika would try to sing along with the songs. Of course there are only a few words that do come out, so everyone can definitely her singing. The part that makes this funny is when there was special music (one person singing a solo) she thinks that she can still sing. So during the special music she was trying to sing along with the soloist. It was a bit embarrassing for us, because she is loud and you don't want to take the attention away from the song that is being sung. How do you tell a 2 year old when they can and cannot sing when they don't understand? You got me!

My brother-in-law Kelan tells me that Aunika has my singing voice! Right now I don't know, but I pray that she will be able to develop an ear that can tune her voice. Because, when you have her walking around the house for hours pretending to sing songs at the top of her voice, your head begins to ache! Besides the fact that it is pain to the ears, it is so cute, to hear her try to sing songs.

Hidden present!

My oldest girl is two months from turning two. So we have been slowly introducing potty training to her. She knows it is a big girl potty and she has gone 2 (twice) in the potty. But not in a row, and it really doesn't seem to click for her yet.

One thing I have noticed it that she knows when she has to go number 2 (poopy). If only I could catch her before she goes. If I pay close enough attention: you can notice that she will go and find somewhere that is very quiet. Now we all like to go to the bathroom where it is quiet and no one can here us - so I can understand why she does that. Then she will do her dirty job and run and tell mommy "stinky, poopies" and pat her butt! She wants me to go change her diaper.

So tell me this when will is click that she will tell me before she goes poopy, because I am sure sick of changing poopy diapers, especially when there are two girls to be changing. It seems like sometimes all I do right now is change poopy diapers!

creeper book A.K.A "facebook"

My husband Brett likes to call facebook "creeper book"! Which is funny to me, because it can be used as a tool to know what is going on in everyones lives that you know and don't know. What I find just absolutely amazing about facebook is that people either don't use their brains when using this Internet application or they just don't care about the influence and image that they can portray of themselves to others.

Recently I have noticed some very disturbing pictures of people that I know on facebook. Placed by themselves onto their pages. So what? Why do I care? Is it any of my business?

Here is the deal:
1) Now having daughters, I have seen pics of young girls parting, drinking, and dressing inappropriately.
2) These girls claim to be followers of Christ.
3) Everyone has parents, and is there no shame, if your parents saw these pics, and how would you feel if you saw what was going on with your child? Would you care, because in some way your child is a reflection of you and your family and what and who you represent.
4) What is your purpose in life? To party and have fun? Is that what you really think?
5) Can you only imagine who has seen these pictures (young girls) they know: young girls who look up to them or who did look up to them at one point.

Here is the second deal: (pictures of grown women - married women claiming to be followers of Christ) out partying.
1) I am not saying that you can not drink alcohol. Drinking is not sin - Drukeness is....
2) But when a grown - married woman places pictures of facebook for all to see of her partying
3) What does this say to your husband?
4) What does this say to other believers in Christ
5) Are we putting on an image that will reflect Christ and reflect his Glory?
6) What if you kids see these? They too probably have partying pics on facebook!

Facebook can be a great tool to communicate and share information with others. With use of discretion and purpose it is a great thing. It also can be a tool to destroy your reputation with believers and non-believers.

If your purpose in life is to bring glory to our God and savior Jesus Christ, then we should be doing that is all walks of life.

I am also saying too that I too am not perfect and I do not always make the right decisions or say/do the right things. I just wanted to share my opinion of good uses and bad uses of facebook.

So if you read this...do you think about what your life reflects? On facebook, e-mail, at home?

Been A While....Now a mom of two

Well, I know it has been sometime for the readers to hear from me. I started a daycare and then I had a baby... so sorry for the long wait.

Who knew (but God) that someday I would be a mother of two Girls! Yes that is right two girls. I grew up with mostly boys around and so did my husband, so for us to enter the world of having two girls; it is a whole new adventure.

At first I was excited about having one girl, and now that we have two I am absolutely thrilled, nervous, excited, and concerned all in one. To think of the future of our little girls and what the Lord has planned for their lives. Friends, love, school, each other, and family... who knows what to expect. I do know that my husband will definitely begin to see that girls are very different from guys - that is when the hormones and emotions and sappy movies come into play!

Enough about that right now. Here are some pics of our beautiful and fun loving girls.

Empty Me

American Idol star, Chris Sligh has released a single called "Empty Me". I would just like to share a bit of my heart, and send this out to my readers. The lyrics to this song speak to me, and are my prayer to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Empty me Lord and fill me with You. Pride and selfishness is something that I struggle with and too many times I find myself acting out my life for ME and NOT for the LORD. So if you find that you are in the same situation, I hope that the words of this song can speak to you too.

To listen to this song and others by Chris go to: www.myspace.com/chrissligh

I've had just enough of the spotlight when it burns bright
To see how it gets in the blood.
And I've tasted my share of the sweet life and the wild ride
And found a little is not quite enough.
I know how I can stray
And how fast my heart could change.

Empty me of the selfishness inside
Every vain ambition and the poison of my pride
And any foolish thing my heart holds to
Lord empty me of me so I can be filled with you.

I've seen just enough of the quick buys of the best lies
To know how prodigals can be drawn away.
I know how I can stray
And how fast my heart could change.

Empty me of the selfishness inside
Every vain ambition and the poison of my pride
And any foolish thing my heart holds to
Lord empty me of me so I can be filled with you.

Cause everything is a lesser thing
Compared to you, compared to you.
Cause everything is a lesser thing
Compared to you. So, I surrender all!

Empty me of the selfishness inside
Every vain ambition and the poison of my pride
Empty me of the selfishness inside
Every vain ambition and the poison of my pride
And any foolish thing my heart holds to
Lord empty me of me so I can be
Lord empty me of me so I can be filled with you.
Oh, filled with you.
Empty me.
www.onlylyrics.com

Raising Kids for True Greatness

I starting reading this book by Dr. Tim Kimmel. What is true greatness? That is the question that everyone asks themselves at one point or another in their lives. We all want to achieve true greatness. Is it success, wealth, power, or beauty? Do you know? What do you want for your child as you raise your child? We all have great influence on our children, and what will we place as important? Sports, education, looks, future job, their spouse, or will we influence them in the way of the Lord. Will we show them through our actions and words that true greatness can achieve eternity? I encourage you to check out this book if you have kids or are planning on having kids someday. Click on the title to see Dr. Tim Kimmel's books.

Overwhelmingly Blessed

I don't' know if it is possible to feel overwhelmed and blessed at the same time. That is exactly how I feel right now. There is a couple that we ref volleyball with who keep giving us stuff. That is stuff for our kids. It started out just with clothes, then a few toys, and now they gave us a toddler bed, highchair, and numerous other items that are very expensive. This is a blessing, for the daycare I am trying to start and for the next baby that is on the way (due in 2 months).

God sure has a way of working out your needs, and beyond your needs sometimes. There are so many items, I honestly don't know where we are going to put them all! Oh, I know what a bad thing to have right. It is not bad it is wonderful to have been given so much and have to find a place for it all.

May you find yourself as blessed as we have in the receiving of gifts from others.

Learning to brush the teeth

Aunika is so silly. Tonight we were brushing our teeth, which we have done many time. This time though it made me laugh so hard. She tried to spit into the sink inbetween her brushing! What makes this so funny is that she eats the water and toothpaste so there is nothing left for her to spit out!

If Favre can change his mind so can I

Well the buzz in our house is what is going to happen to Brett Favre? See I have family that are packer fans and I guess you could say I am too as long as Favre is playing for them. So I decided that if Brett Favre can change his mind on retirement I can change my mind on blogging. So here I am back again in such a short time! With much convincing by my husband ... I decided I will continue to blog, but don't expect one every day or even every other day.

So back to Favre. What do you guys think about the whole ordeal. I really wish he would have stayed at training camp and taken the field with the team, to force the Packers to give in and let him be traded to the Vikings (my husband's team). I then would not mind cheering very hard for the Vikings.

See when I met Brett (my husband) I was a packer fan he was a viking fan. I told him when we got married I might switch to the vikings. Then we got married...and well it was really hard to cheer for the vikings with Brett Favre still playing for the packers. So I did promise him that I would switch my loyalty to the purple and gold when Brett Favre retired and left the packers.

So here it is ... I now say to everyone who reads this ... I am officially a Vikings fan for the 2008-09 Football season. Go Vikings Go!

The End is Near

I started this blog in honor of my husband. I have concluded that I can not keep up with the fast pace needed in blogging. So to all my fans out there . . keep in touch with me by e-mail, I will miss you all so very much.

In Christ
Shannon

Importance of Family

Wow, it has been awhile since my last blog. I have been on "vacation" from blogging! My mother came to town to visit us and take care of Aunika and I. My family lives about 8 hours away from us. So when we get a chance to visit, our normal day to day lives get put on hold.

When I was entering college it was easy to say "so long family" and place distance between us. Now realizing that my family is not so close it becomes harder, and harder to deal with the distance. With the addition of Aunika to our family it seems that my heart grows weary and aches for us to be closer to my family. There is something about seeing the joy that Aunika brings to my parents and bothers that makes me wish we were closer.

Brett constantly reminds me that we could be further away from them, and I understand we could. But my heart longs to be closer and even to strengthen my relationship with my parents. I think this must be step in the direction of maturity.

Just like my heart longs to be closer to family, our hearts should long and ache to be closer to God. God is our one and only true heavenly father. He is the one who placed us with our families, who has blessed each situation to fit into His perfect plan. So I would like to thank God for the life he has given me in the past, present, and future. Through the struggles, pain, and joy. The book of Job is one that comes to mind when I think about what is important. Through the joy, pain, trials, burdens in his life; He knew always that God would be there and that God had a plan for him.

"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5b

"Dark Knight" the Batman movie

Well, I know my brother in law Kelan will not like this post, but here it goes. Kelan has seen the movie twice and liked it.....a lot. We just finished watching the "Dark Knight". I personally am not a fan of freaky characters in movies. The movie was OK, but I do not recommend it for children under 18! To top off the movie experience there were some interesting events that occurred at the movie theater. Half way through the movie my husband was getting splattered on by a leaky ceiling that eventually soaked part of his shirt and pants! I went to place my soda in the cup holder and the arm rest fell off the seat! While walking to our car Brett stub his toe. Needless to say the movie was not the main event for us this night. Have you ever had an interesting night like this? Do tell.

Can you Remember?

This question is for the husbands out there. Have you noticed that your wife misplaces everything? First, she lost her purse, then her keys, oh yeah where did she put her cell phone too? Studies have shown that there is a reason for that. Women who are pregnant or who have had children show an increase in short term memory loss. So for those who have not had children or who are not pregnant, sorry you can't use this excuse!

My husband always gets after me for having a hard time remembering where did I place things. See I have this habit of picking up things constantly and putting them in their place; but later I can't remember where that place was!

I really started noticing an increase in short term memory loss with the pregnancy of my 1st daughter. From there on it just seems to not have gotten better. Now that I am pregnant again, I am trying very hard to not forget things! Needless to say I still forget where I put my keys and cell phone on a daily basis.

This is a site for information on memory loss during pregnancy and afterward. It gives you some tips on how to regain your memory - so if this is a problem that you have, please by all means (at least for your husband) read up.

This next site is just some information from a study by CNN

Golf Ball Soup

Have you just ever wondered what goes on in a child's mind? Some time ago my husband became the primary daycare delivery man. That is he took our daughter Aunika to daycare everyday. I don't know exactly how is started, but he began to give her a golf ball to take along for the ride to daycare. Since that time every time she sees a golf ball or should I say "bolf ball" she will pick it up and carry it all around with her.

That has lead us to today! I caught Aunika coming out of the office with her arms full of golf balls. Where she then proceeded to place the golf balls into bowls. She would then mix the bowls and pretend to eat! We now have a chef who can make a mean golf ball soup! I wonder if she will realize that golf balls are for hitting, and not eating. Maybe she will live our mommy's dream of being on the LPGA.

Sports Center from a Wife's view

I don't know about any of you, but my husband is a sports fanatic. Here are my pros and cons of "sports center"

Pros:

• There is so much junk on TV that I'd rather have him watch sports center
• It gives me something to watch so that I can impress him with my knowledge of sports!
• It makes for some great conversations at dinner, while driving in the car, or whenever

Cons:

• He tunes out everything around him when sports center is on
• It takes his attention away from the kids and I
  

When it comes down to it, sports center is not so bad. I do support my husband and his sports watching hobby!

Why Now?

I've started a blog! obviously. The decision to begin blogging came about from my husband. He has a blog "saved from wrath" and so this is for him! Basically it will be about our family, motherhood, and where God fits into the picture of all this. Many blessings to you.