Happy 2nd Birthday Shelby!

Happy Birthday Sweetie! I can't believe that you are 2 already. I swear it wasn't that long ago you were my baby! You bring so much joy and laughter to my life- I don't know what I would do without you. You are so smart and do things that amaze me every day! Right now you LOVE: milk, goldfish crackers, movies at home, playing with Gabe, and screaming! You love dogs, horses, and our pet fish, Surprise. You like to be silly and you love to hold hands with Gabe! It is really cute! I love you Shels!

She was so serious, the smiles were few and far between. She looks so grown up to me! Where has the time gone?!

Opening a present with Grandpa's help!

Mommy got her a bike for her birthday! She loves it!

She started getting silly- my dad was making faces at her and she started making them back!

For our family get together these are the Giant Cupcake cakes that I made!

Shelby is starting to want to potty train! The only problem is, she will only go if she is standing up! Yes, it makes a huge mess! She "cracks" me up! ( I know cheesy, but funny!) I just want to squeeze her!

Spring Fever!

Wow! I didn't realize how long it had been since I posted anything! Things have been super crazy lately! School has kept me way busy this spring, precalc, geoscience, and a geoscience lab. Its been way too much fun! My mom is nearing the end of her chemo (we hope!) I tried dating, which was super scary and I might try again soon! (Serisously- it's scary out there!) I just got out of the hospital with pancreatitis, shelby has had a bout of pnuemonia, and gabe just started some serious speech therapy. Like I said we have been busy! Shelby just pooped on the potty tonight for the first time too! Yay!
I went to a Timeout for Women last fall with a really good friend, and it was amazing. (Thanks again for taking me to that!)I bought this book there that is called "A Mother's Book of Secrets". I love it! One of the things talked about was having a family motto. I really like this idea and have been racking my brain trying to find one that suits our family. I finally found it! Part of it did not come from me, but was on the bottom of an email, and part of it I changed a little. So here is the brand spankin' new Clinger Family Motto:

live simply, speak kindly, care deeply, love generously, serve often

I am so excited about this! I don't know what it is, but I feel it is important for our little family! I think if I did these things a lot more, the spirit would be in our home more, and its presence would be felt stronger. Another thing mentioned in this book was a repentance bench. They had one in their home and they used it when their kids would get in a fight, both of them would have to sit on the bench and think about their role in the fight, and then they would apologize. I like the idea of having them think about what they did, instead of what the other person had done. When my kids get a little older, I might implement that too! Too often I think we try to blame the other person instead of taking responsibility for our own actions- we see it all over society these days. It's kinda crazy out there! I am hoping that I can do my part to make our lives a little better!