Birthday Girl!!

Only a month late!!!!  Paisley turned 3 years old on July 27.  She is so much fun!  She is a crazy, sassy, grumpy, loud, funny and goofy... rolled into one tiny package!  She makes every day such an adventure.  Poor girl had her birthday fall on a Sunday, so we didn't do anything too great.  Jaxton made us buy her a princess cake, so we invited Chandler, Mark and Tiff, and the Larsen's over for cake and ice cream (or else I would have ended up eating the whole cake all by myself)  It was a fun get together with friends!

 

We went out to eat for her birthday the next day... and Paisley wanted to go to Chili's to get corn... she is so strangely wonderful!  We had a great time celebrating with her.  This past year, she has really come out of her shell, and she is so fun (with everyone... not just us). 

 

Happy Birthday Pretty Pais!  We love you always and forever!

Lexi Girl Grammy

I have a lot to post about the weekend that Penny was blessed... but I don't have the pages finished (or started for that matter)  but I wanted to post this one.  We are missing a few grandkids... but we got in the ones we could.  Mom needed this.  These kids love her so much and we are all so lucky to have her!

Take a HIKE!

Kyle and I really have been lame when it comes to taking advantage of where we live.  We hope to not live here forever, and we decided recently we needed to experience more of what our area has to offer.  We thought an easy hike would be just the ticket!  We woke up early, ate a good breakfast, packed a lunch and headed out.  We had NO idea where we wanted to go so we just drove up Cedar Mountain.  We ended up at Blow Hard Trail Head (seriously... who named this place).  Jaxton and Paisley LOVED it!  It was a lot of fun!  Well, it was fun until Kyle's work started calling with an emergency.  Luckily for Kyle, it also started to lightly rain, so we headed home.  The kids were sad we had to cut it so short, so we did a different hike the following weekend.  They love "walking on the mountain".  We really do live somewhere that is surrounded by beauty.  We plan on seeing a lot more of it while we are here!

Happy Birthday America!

I'm really just doing a bit of catch up... I have been lazy about blogging and scrapbooking... Really, I have just been lazy!  We had a lot of fun on the 4th of July.  As much as I don't love living in a small town, they do go all out for holidays.  We started the day with the parade down Main Street.  We walked over and bought the kids some poppers to throw while we waited... the kids LOVED that!  We barbequed for dinner and then we drove over by the airport and watched fireworks.  We didn't buy any this year... everytime we do fireworks ourselves, someone (Jaxton) burns himself.  So we decided to just skip that altogether.  The fireworks were amazing!  I always get a little emotional on the 4th of July.  I really am proud to be an American.  The kids were adorable during the fireworks... Paisley would say "These are so beautiful" and Jaxton would say "Mom, the fireworks are so magical".  Kids really do make holidays better!  And of course, in typical Shannon fashion, everyone dressed up and of course pictures were involved! 

Just Keep Swimming

I really hate when I get behind and then try to catch up within a week!  It drives me crazy... yet here I am.  We signed Jaxton up for swimming lessons through the Aquatic Center.  He had a great time.  I didn't love the teacher... she was just ok.  He still can't swim, he has never been afraid of water, he has always been fearless... so now he is fearless with the misconception that he CAN swim.  Fantastic!  He is a fun kid.  He loved diving for the little eggs and kicking his legs like a "motorboat" but his favorite was when the kids got to jump in the pool from the side.  All of the kids in his class pretty much stepped off of the side to the teacher... but not Jaxton.  Arms out, legs up... that kid leaped.  It was so funny and I wouldn't expect anything else from him. 

We'll have to put him in more swimming lessons... but our schedules are full at the moment and basically adding more is just punishing myself!

Hot Wedding

Kyle's sister, Krista got married last weekend.  It was a HOT day (only like 98, but seriously, we are used to 80-83 so 98 was burning for us).  Kyle and I hadn't been in the Las Vegas Temple for a few years, so it was wonderful to go back.  The words that were spoken were beautiful and things that Kyle and I loved to hear as well.  It was a long weekend and I slept all day on Monday... but it was fun and we are really happy for them!

Big thanks to my mom for making my skirt.  I couldn't find anything I liked and I am so grateful for her and her willingness to help me (when she feels well). 

The kids are excited for a new uncle and Kyle and I are excited to get to know our new brother.  We are so thankful for the temple and the blessings that come from it!  Families really can be together forever! 

Late Anniversary Post

I was doing some scrapbooking and realized I never did our 5 year anniversary.  Oops!  So I will do it now... better late than never right? 
Kyle and I celebrated 5 years on March 28.  Looking back, it doesn't always feel like we have been married for 5 years.  And this past year has been rough.  We decided to take a small trip but didn't know where we wanted to go.  Kyle mentioned a theme park and I started looking some up.  Knotts Berry Farm was having a special that month and we figured "Hey, why not?"  Kyle had never been there and I hadn't been there since high school so I couldn't remember much of it.  We had so much fun being together.  I didn't love Knotts Berry Farm, it's no Disneyland but it was great.  I love the simple reminders of how much I love Kyle.  This trip was just what we needed.  We needed time away, to be together and to remember how we fell in love. 
Happy 5 years Kyle... I'm so happy I get forever with you!