5 Days and Counting!

Mason will be 5 in 5 days and he's VERY excited. He loves to plan random parties and invite all the neighborhood kids for swim parties, movie parties, etc. Unfortunately, I'm not that excited about hosting all of these parties, so even though he makes invitations and plans, we never really get them out. (My fault!!) Anyway, no excuses this time. This is his first friend party and he can't wait. In fact, with all the games he wants to play, we won't even have time to breathe, let alone open presents and have cake. Anyway, it's his day to shine, finally, and I'm excited for him.

I still am having a hard time realizing that he will be in kindergarten next year. I am just not old enough for this! (No snickering please!!) (By the way, just to age me a little bit...my first class of 1st graders are graduating this year! Augghh! How does that happen? At least I don't have any gray hairs to show for it! No comments please!!) I took Mason to our doctor's office on Saturday. They were having a "Kindergarten Fair" a.k.a. physicals and shots galore!!! Mason did NOT enjoy his 5 shots, but was a good sport (sort of) about the physical. But he did get to visit with a clown and get balloon animals for the whole family. Oh, and he got a pencil box full of goodies, a notebook, and a coloring book. So, at least it made a not-so-fun visit more endurable. Scottie asked if he could go to the next one! :-)

The rest of us are holding up fine even though we don't have birthdays to look forward to. (It's really okay with me!!) Scottie is into "Crazy Frog." Anyone who knows Scottie knows that "into" is another word for totally absorbed with. Yes, he's all or nothing like his dad (can be a very good quality!) and right now it's all Crazy Frog a.k.a. The Annoying Thing. (Believe me, that name fits!) Other than that he loves school and hates to miss. No it's not for the intellectual stimulus, it's for his friends and recess. Oh well, at least he's getting A's in those subjects. He is taking piano lessons from a friend of mine out in Cedar Fort and is taking karate and judo. Yes, it keeps us busy! But, he 's a good kid and is doing very well!

Tanna "McFanna" is also doing well! She is no longer a baby, but is so grown-up in her speech and interactions with us. She amazes me with the conversations we have. I have to remind myself that she is only 2 1/2 yrs. old! She is a doll and is very busy! This means she uses her creative energies well and we have to be very aware of where she is and what she is doing at all times. She loves to make a mess and is quite talented in that area! She loves to dance and sing and loves "High Schmusical." (High School Musical -- all of them!) Dave got her a Wii Sing-along game for High School Musical and she is so cute singing the songs! She wants to start dance soon, but we're trying to get her potty-trained or waiting until she's 3 - whichever comes first. I know she's got the rhythm, I just hope she's got the listening and staying with the group skills. We'll see! All in all, she's so fun to have and we love our girl!! (We're not sure we could handle another one, but we do love her!!)

So, that's the Shanks Family update in a nutshell. We're healthy, happy, and very blessed! Off to bed now, before it's 4 days and counting!!

Happy February from the Shanks!

Happy Valentines 2009!

Mason and Scottie - Brothers Forever!

Tanna - My Funny Valentine!

My cute Valentines!

A Nice Weekend!

I love 3 day weekends. I just wish they'd give me one more day to finish all the things I thought I was going to accomplish. Ho hum! I made a dent in the laundry pile, but it's still there. It never seems to go away. Dave started cleaning/ reorganizing our basement, so one corner of it looks GREAT now. We just have 3 corners and a middle to finish. Ho hum #2! He also put in a new kitchen faucet, which looks really nice. Mom will be glad to know it's not the one that looked like it had come out of a high school science room. I talked him out of that one and he made a really good choice on the one he installed. He also worked more on the "new" 4 Runner. I know I don't know anything about cars, but I figure that with the time he's put into it, that car should be in top running order. Yet he still goes out there and pops the hood and always has something he's working on. Either that or he's found out that's the only way to get away from his loud, energetic children and nagging wife! Anyway, he is very handy and capable and I'm very grateful for that.

Meanwhile, I entertained kids, did laundry, cleaned up messes and played the Wii for the first time. Yes, the world can end now. Dave suggested we get one and I was all for it. The kids have been playing a lot of games on the internet, but even with good filters, it still amazes us what can pop up. So, our hope is that the Wii can be a fun thing for the whole family that is a little safer than the unknown that can enter our home on the computer! No, I do not have time to play, but I did find out what a mean bowler and a lousy golfer I am. (Tanna golfs better than me!!) We also got the High School Musical Sing Along game (for Tanna and me) and we are a pretty good karaoke family. The kids are so fun to watch as they belt out the songs and shake their behinds in time to the music. I can't sing and dance at the same time, so I'm not as fun to watch! I've also realized I'm a much better backup/shower singer. Ah well, I guess I won't quit my day job. First graders aren't too picky -- good thing!

We were able to get out and go on a family walk yesterday and deliver cookies to our visiting/home teaching families. It was so nice to get out again and I'm ready for spring weather. The kids are getting stir crazy and I'm ready for bike riding weather again. It does mean another chasing after Tanna summer, but nonetheless I'm ready!

Eleven more days until Mason turns 5! I'm not ready for that! I don't enjoy seeing him get older. He's such a fun little boy and I will definitely miss these little years. I can't imagine him in kindergarten yet! It seems like they just grow up way too fast after they start school. Scottie will be in 4th grade next year and I'm sad about that one too! I wish I could keep them little -- even if they are handfuls! Scottie took a valentine to a girl in our ward and I just am not ready for all of this. I'm too young!!

Tanna the Great is growing up too fast also! I was talking to her today and am still amazed that we have complete conversations with each other. She can and does say anything and amazes me with her ability to reason and her higher level thinking skills. Of course this doesn't manifest itself when she is coloring on the walls or dumping laundry detergent, but my hope is that she'll mature quickly in these areas as well! Today we were watching "amazing kids" on Oprah and one was a little 7 year old who was singing. She had a really pretty dress on and Tanna matter-of-factly said, "I think I'll wear that tomorrow!" I laughed! She really is concerned about what she wears and she LOVES dresses! She even got her dad to buy her some dresses while they were out one day and matching shoes! He just couldn't resist how excited she was about it all. Yes, Tanna is the best dressed girl playing out in the mud. And I'm becoming a mean stain removing laundry queen. (That is on the part that isn't still piled on our laundry room floor!!)

Well, my 3 day weekend is over and my To Do list gets to wait for my early morning and late night cleaning sessions -- or the next 3 day weekend For now I must get to bed and prepare for another day of 1st grade!

Happy Presidents' Day!

Isn't it great to live in a country where we have a president who is elected by the people? Yes, differences of opinion will always be there, but we have a choice and the majority will be heard. I'm also thankful for men and women who are dedicating their lives to public service. I don't see any reasons that would pull me into wanting to hold a public office, especially President of the United States. So, I'm grateful for individuals who will sacrifice much to make our country a better place to live!

Why Oh Why Can Jill Not Blog? (Sing to the tune of "Where Oh Where Can My Little Dog Be?)

Okay, so my new resolution to blog weekly is not really working out. Here it is 11:15 pm and I'm finally succumbing to the guilt and sitting down at the computer again. So, today I thought I'd give a glimpse into my crazy life and maybe get a little understanding from the diligent bloggers out there as to why I can't seem to do it!!

A Typical Day in the Life of Jill:

Wake up 6:00 am - Say, "Today's the day! I'm going to go down on the treadmill and start exercising again!" Then realize that I only got about 6 hours of sleep and press snooze and roll over.

6:10 am - Okay I really do need to get up! The house is quiet and it's all mine!! (That's motivation to get up right there!!)

Think about the exercise thing again, but realize that I have about 20 loads of laundry to catch up on and a dishwasher that needs to be emptied.

Shower, get ready, clean kitchen, transport dirty clothes, rotate clothes in washer to dryer, start a new load, and fold one batch. Take upstairs to put away later.

7:30 am Augghh! Where did time go?! Wake up Scottie or at least start the process. He's not exactly a morning person, so I try to make the process of getting him ready as smooth as possible.

8:00 am Augghh! It's time to go!!! Hurry, hurry, hurry!! Say for the millionth day in a row, "Scottie, we've got to get going we're running late again!" (I'm not exactly sure my kids even know what the word late means. I use it so often, that they probably think that this just means hey, we're on target. Proceed as usual!!)

8:15 am Dress Mason, since only Mom can do it -- or at least that's what he thinks!! -- and I'll have a guilty conscience the rest of the day if I don't fill this request.

8:25 am Off to school -- late -- auggh!!

8:40 am Arrive at school -- everyone congratulates me on making it to school another day!

9:00 am School starts and I won't bore you with the nitty gritty of a typical school day. Let's just say it's never boring and I am pretty good at multi-tasking!

3:30 pm Schools out! Get the last child out the door and prepare for tomorrow!

4:30ish pm Head home except for Mondays when I pick Scottie up from his piano lesson and Tuesdays when I race out with the kids to head to my school class. (Writing class with Brad Wilcox this semester.) Tuesdays I get home about 7:30 - 8 pm.

by 5 pm Home! And think about dinner. Depending on the evening's activities, we get a nicer meal or a rush meal.

Thursday - Get Scottie to Scouts at 5:30 - 6:30 pm.

Other days - 6 pm Call Scottie home from Dallen's house. Eat dinner.

6:35 pm Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays -- Boys go to Karate. Dave takes and stays with them I pick up since he has a class right after their class.

Take a few minutes to read mail, clean up a Tanna mess, clean up kitchen, go through Scottie's backpack, etc.

7:45 pm Pick up boys and do homework, showers, read books and work on getting to bed.

9:00ish pm Boys in bed on a good night. Tanna "the night owl" is still bouncing of the walls, and will be up for a while longer.

Clean kitchen and pick up rooms. Do homework and To Dos. Some night's I'm more productive than others.

Somewhere in here Tanna winds down and gets to bed. (I know - bad parenting, but she sleeps in and takes a nap. I guess I just count it as Mother/Daughter bonding time.)

11:30ish - Realize it's time for me to go to bed and think about the other 19 loads of laundry waiting to be done. Sigh, and fall asleep, ready to start again the next day!!

I know a completely organized person would be much more productive, but it seems there's always a new surprise from my 2 and 4 year olds that needs attention. (i.e. marker abstract art work on the walls, laundry soap dumped out all over the laundry room floor, and toys, toys, toys everywhere. Oh the 9 year old helps in that department too! We're working on getting them to help more and more, but it seems there's still plenty that needs my attention!)

We've been trying really hard to read a chapter out of the Family Book of Mormon each night and get some other reading in too! Of course, it all takes time!!!

I am grateful that Dave is such a good errand runner. He is good to run here and there and go shopping. That does help a lot! He works to maintain the house, but laundry is definitely not his forte -- hence the never ending laundry piles!!

So, by the end of a busy day, I have a hard time getting to the computer and sitting down to blog. Last week I had an extra evening of class and I was able to donate blood on a different evening. This week is class and 2 nights of parent/teacher conferences. So, I'm hoping for a less busy week next week with a little more time for all the to dos of life.

I do know that these are the days I will miss. I will look back and see how adorable my children were and how precious our time together was. So, I'm trying to keep my "busyness" in perspective and I'm trying to stop and smell a few roses along the way. So, although my house will never be pictured in a magazine, at least my kids will know that my time with them was always intended to be quality time!