Child's point of view

You know those signs that people hold up on the street to get you to buy their products? Well today we were taking Allie and Brenton to piano, and on the way there we saw a man dressed in a banana suit.

Draycin: Mom look that is a banana pizza guy! He wants you to eat his pizza with bananas on it cause people like bananas on their pizza!

Brenton: No Draycin... he is a banana because they probably are selling fruit, and today they have bananas. He is probably wearing that because they want you to buy their bananas.

Draycin: No it's banana pizza!

Brenton: Probably fruit!

Well we never could figure out what the banana man was for, but I found it interesting what the boys thought about it! Banana fruit pizza....probably!

-Shari

My Life lately....

OK so I have a little confession to make.... I LOVE FOOD! especially chocolate!! I find it interesting that of all the weaknesses we as humans have, that mine is food. I have No will power!! Seriously... right now I am scarfing mini candy bars from the giant Halloween candy bag that I swore I would not open until Halloween!!
Every morning I look in the mirror and think wow! you really need to lay of the chocolate so that shirt doesn't squeeze the circulation from your arms. I am so weak! Then, because of the guilt I am constantly jogging around the house and breaking out in jumping jacks. Draycin is always asking me what I am doing. I tell him I am exercising, and he tells me to stop. Really... can't I just have someone who is on my side?!
I eat and eat and eat until I feel sick. I am going to end up as the new year blimp if something doesn't change. the thing is that I have been like this for years!! How do you change a habit that is almost 20? I really need some good practical, and preferably simple advice. Even a simple exercise regimen would be awesome! Please feel free to laugh, cry and then leave some advice... really!

-Shari

Long awaited post of the California Anniversary trip in August!!

Josh and I went on a really fun anniversary trip to California with My sis Karlie and her husband Paul, and My Brother Chace and his Lovely wife Julie. We left the kids at home with my parents and had so much fun for the 5 days that we were gone!!It was a road trip, and this was the first thing we saw as we climbed into Paul and Karlie's van! See the clever yellow wire holding up the laptop so we could watch movies? That was Pauls doing!We drove all day and finally stopped in Vegas where my mom had arranged for us to stay in one of her Trend West resorts! It was a really nice place! Thanks mom!Chace and Goolie!!!Us!I am so proud of this picture! I took it and it turned out awesome!Paul and Karlie! Ooohh!We all decided to go when Karlie won a trip to Disney Land and Invited us to go along with her! it happened to be around all of our wedding anniversaries.Chace and Julie's anniversary was August 5th which was the exact day we left! how fun!!Sweethearts!Honey Bunnies!Sweetie Pies!The Men! ha ha haha!!!The only thing that we went to see was the Bilagio fountains! They were beautiful!! We stayed long enough to see two water shows!We were all getting tired and still wanted to go swim at the resort so we left after the show ended.The swimming pool at the resort was so nice, and way fun! They had a lazy river, and we went wading on tubes for about an hour. we were splashing and dumping each other and causing quite a ruckus so I am sure that every one was glad when we decided to go play some water volleyball in the other pool! We played boys against girls and had a great time! it wasn't really easy but we all got a good work out I'm sure! We finished by sitting in the hot tub until the pool closed. we all showered did laundry and went to bed to wake up at 5 in the morning so we could drive the rest of the way to Disney Land. I couldn't help but take this picture of Josh, especially since he was the first one to zonk out! Arriving at Disney Land the first ride was rode was the swamp ride??? I have no Idea what it was called, but it was cool. I hadn't been on this ride since I was 12 years old! A picture of some of the cool things we saw during that ride!Can I just say that I totally LOVE Disney land and all the rides and princesses and characters!?!! No matter how old I get I still get excited about it! IT is just such a fun place that I don't know how you couldn't love it!!We rode on the Buzz Lightyear ride and shot at things with our Lazar guns. of course Josh beat me, but let me tell you on the toy story ride over in California adventure we were dang close, and that was a way better ride!!I totally loved the Star Wars simulator ride, and it seemed to me that I was the only one who didn't get sick on any of the rides when we were there! Correct me if I'm wrong.Chace, Julie, me and Karlie!Funny thing about this picture was that I was standing way behind so he looks big and I Look little!This is the Screamin roller coaster that we rode on 5 times! it goes from 0-60 in like 3 seconds. It was way Awesome and one of the funnest roller coasters I have ever been on!This is the picture of me, Karlie and Chace riding the roller coaster. Of course I knew where the camera was so I had to be crazy for the picture! Me and Josh in front of the Mickey mouse Farris wheel in California adventure!!We had to get Ice cream!and we had to pose all weird in front of the fake backdrop!Chace actually couldn't help but pretend like he was a ice cream eating giant trying to go to the movies!The Holly Wood tower of terror was one of the only rides that I held my breath on the majority of the time, and I felt like I was going to pass out when it finally stopped dropping us!My silly husband!Paul and HAPPY Karlie on the Indiana Jones ride!Indiana Jones is one of my favorite rides!The second day in California We went to Universal Studios! I am soooo glad that we went there!! IT was a blast and we got to see and do pretty much everything they had! This is Josh and I in front of the Jurassic park ride, that I of course bought a poncho for so that my hair would stay beautiful!!Can you see why?? just look at that splash! everyone was making fun of me, but I was happy because They all looked like they had been swimming in their clothes, and I was dry! Plus my bangs are oh-so important! hahahah!Josh with Alex the Lion!The set they used while filming The Grinch!This was one of the sets used in the movie War of the Worlds. They actually bought a perfectly good plane had it delivered and cut it open and ripped it to pieces for 1 scene in the movie! Can you imagine how much money that cost???Josh and the Incredible Hulk!Jason Bourn! Josh looks just as happy as I do...Strange.The animal show they did there was fantastic! All the animals that they use in the movies are sooooo cute! This monkey was darling and you could tell that he really loved his trainer! after he was done showing us what he could do he kept hugging and patting and kissing this guy! it was so cute!Spins a web any size, catches thieves just like flies! Watch out... here comes the Spider Man!!!The scary white shark that only my brother would still put his head in for a picture! too bad I didn't get that picture!Me and my sweetie in front of the Universal studios fountains!We went out on the strip next to Universal Studios to look at all the cool shops and get some dinner!We ended up eating at the Hard Rock Cafe. It was Crazy LOUD and had weird lighting, but the food was really good! We ate with Chace and Julie, and got a really good Nacho appetizer! Then Josh and I shared a huge bacon cheese burger and fries! Yum!!A very bad shot of me in front of the restaurant.They had this cute Star Wars show at Disney Land the next morning that we watched for a few minutes!This is the outside of it's a small world. I know that everyone thinks this is a boring ride, but it is actually very neat! I really enjoyed it and I took like a hundred pictures, but I only posted a few!You should see all the cool stuff they have built throughout this little gondola style boat ride!Josh is trying to remove the sword from the stone, and although his muscles are rippeling it would not budge!We took this specifically for Draycin! He just Loves Cars!!This is in front of the Bear country log flume ride where everyone got their wish and I was the only one that got soaked! I covered my bangs though... so they still looked fabulous! ha ha ha!!I just Love this picture of us on the Holly Wood Tower of Terror! Karlie- Laughing, Me-SCREAMING!! Josh-smiling, and Chace waving to the cameras. was I the only one who knew what was coming???The last day at Disney Land we rode all the rides we wanted, and stayed to watch a parade and the show at the castle! It was a lot of fun! I especially liked when they had Tinker Bell fly over the castle with the fire works!!Here is a glimpse of mickey at the parade when they were dancing and singing!!

Josh and I on the old train roller coaster. so cute!

I had to make everyone think I was scared, especially because Josh has that oh no... I just crapped my pants look on his face!!

Over all the trip was a total blast and I enjoyed it all!! I can't wait to get back there and take the kids someday!! Hope you enjoyed the pictures!!

-Shari

Sorry I left all of you hanging, but the power went out yesterday and I couldn't get to the computer to tell you that Josh KEPT his job!!!! Relief. The layoff was wider spread than what was originally said. It actually ended up being 550 people who lost their job. I pray that them and their families will be blessed and have the things that they need!!! There are already rumors of another layoff in April of next year. if this keeps up the plant will have to shut down all-together or they will end up having to hire people back on. Stress!! Sorry about the ranting. I feel truly blessed right now, and I hope that you will pray with me for those who are suffering.

-Shari

Tomorrow is the next big layoff for ATK. 450 people will be without a job. regardless of circumstance or need they do not have a choice. Hopefully everyone is blessed in many ways despite this loss. I am praying also that my husband and his family keep their jobs too!

-Shari

Third Time's the charm!

Happy 3rd Birthday my sweet little Draycin!!! We are so blessed to have you in our family, and we enjoy your fun and silly personality every day!! I remember the day that you were born like it was yesterday! They started me early in the morning around 8 am, and predicted that you would be born by noon. Well the day wore on and still no Draycin... I wasn't progressing like I should and you were starting to get distressed... so at 6pm the Dr. decided that we had better do a C-section. A quick blessing (and a hair net) and we were rolled into the operating room. I stayed awake so I could see you, and as they prepared to push you out you moved into the highest left corner of my ribs that you could! They had two pretty big people jump on my stomach to pop you out, and let me tell you that IT HURT! The first thing that came out was your little hand flipping the bird to everyone in the room (this is a firm testament of the way that you are today. Hahaha!) I could hear the Dr. laughing and talking about it. Then came the full out angry screaming!!! And it did my heart good because I knew you were alive and healthy!! It was 6:12 p.m. I was able to briefly look at you and see your face and then you were gone so that I could be sewn up. There is something to say about your first born child... it is amazing how fast you bond to that child. When I finally got to hold you I remember saying how cute you were and telling you that I loved you! Your little eyes staring right at mine, and I knew that you understood what I meant and that you felt the same way! The way that I could stop you from crying by just saying one word was amazing to me! Daddy and I have so enjoyed watching you grow and become yourself over the past few years. You are a fiery, silly, and very loving boy!! We are glad that you are ours!! This is Draycin by the spider man go cart at peach days a few weeks ago!Draycin riding his "motorcycle" this summer!One of his favorite things to do. get dirty! he is very good at it!!Cute little cowboy at the fair in 2008.Lagoon 2007. his first ride alone!!First birthday! such cute boys!!He would always stick his nose up in the air and smile really cheesy!! Soooo adorable!He was walking around with those keys in his mouth forever! about 11 months old.This is what we call the knee flap stage. oh how I miss those knee flaps!Draycin was always such a happy and loving baby! he just loves everyone and everything!!
With sissy and Brenton at Disney on Ice!

Draycin and Daddy first Christmas 2006!

First Halloween as a little pumpkin! 1 month old!

Handsome Draycin all ready for his first church meeting! 2 weeks old!

The Day that my precious little boy was born!! "Dacha" Draycin for being such a good boy!!

All our Love,

Mommy and Daddy

I Feel My Saviors Love!

I just wanted to take a minute and tell you that I care about you!! I have witnessed people with broken hearts, homeless, jobless, hungry, in despair, mourning, struggling, and without the Love they so desperately need. I hope that all will come to the realization that they are of worth and that Our Heavenly Father Loves all of us!!! He will always be there to comfort us and help us through anything...if we will only turn to him! I hope that everyone will know that I care for them!!!

-Shari