THE BIG 27

HAPPY 27th BIRTHDAY NIKKI!!!! Okay, I wish that I could say that this was my original idea, but it's not. Two years ago on my 25th birthday Nikki wrote a blog about the 25 things she liked about me and now I get to return the favor +2 !!! So I hope that you're out on the town with Brenden and Collin having a wonderful birthday!

(Just as a note, I stole a few pictures from her blog. Don't judge. This one above is one of my favorite because it looks like she should be on the cover of Lancome (she's on the right). And in no particular order...

1 Nikki always says that when we met I came up and gave her a big hug. What she doesn't know is that I'm sure that I was a lot more nervous than she was; I mean, we're talking about the oldest brother's girlfriend--there was serious pressure involved! I had to coach myself out of my room. I went down stairs and said hello and gave her a hug. I knew instantly that she was different from all the rest because she didn't try to impress 'the little sisters' she was just very genuine, well spoken, and put together. I realized right away that Brenden better not let go of her.

2 Speaking of put together...Nikki always looks classy! (of course, I can understand this because I think it's kind of a pre-requisite to standing next to Brenden. He always looks classy. Or maybe just by standing by him it transcends over? Hmmmm.) No seriously, she does. Please note the gorgeous picture below...in a corn field, with a baby...yep, still gorgeous, still classy! I need lessons (and I'm sure all of my blog readers ((all 4 of you)) would agree!)

3 While Brenden and Nikki were dating we decided to hike the Grand Canyon to Havasupi. It was a really hard hike! I don't know if Nikki is 100lbs, but I think her pack weighed just as much as she did (see photo below). Everyone else had hiked it before so we knew what to expect and how far it was and she just kept smiling! I know it wasn't easy for her (not that it was easy for me either) but I really was impressed that she was so enthusiastic about giving her all in something that she found intimidating.

4 She is always up for an adventure!

5 Nikki is both interesting and fun to talk to! When she first came up to the house I was so inspired by her boldness (at least it was bold for me). She was not shy at all and would start up conversations with everyone. This was so unusual and impressive to me. I love talking to her--speaking of which...it's time.

6 We’ve all met people who know everything and just like to listen to themselves…this is the opposite of Nikki. She is a fabulous listener and makes you feel like she has been waiting all day to hear what you say…

7 AND she is willing to learn from other people. She is very open-minded and that’s a great quality!

8 Another thing I admire about Nikki is her enthusiastic testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Nikki was baptized into the church about a year before she met Brenden (I'm guestimating here). She learned about the church through a co-worker. First of all, I completely admire anyone who is converted to the church because it means two things: 1. that they are willing to learn from someone else and 2. they are searching for truth. (Speaking of this I just read a biography by John A. Widtsoe of his mother life, he said, "...truth is neither comprehended nor accepted unless the man desires to know the truth and values it above all else.") Anyway, if you've ever spoken to Nikki about the gospel, you will see that she just glows!

9 Okay, this one is not really one of mine, but I heard it from at least three people and I live in Alaska, so that will tell you how impressive this is. Nikki gave a fireside to the youth of the Taylor Stake and from what I understand it was absolutely incredible. “You could have heard a pin drop in there.” “She did the most incredible job.” “I’m so glad my son was there.” She is a great speaker.

10 Also, talk about determination, if Nikki wants to do something, she figures out how. For instance, she was the first Saline to have a blog and not only that, she figured out how to design her own blog page. She also sat down and made her own wedding video--which I might add is better than a lot that I have seen.

11 Which brings me to her creativity...which if you haven't seen her blog, you need to! On thing that stands out is that she created a scavanger hunt for Brenden’s 30^th birthday that took him all over the valley to places that represented moments and accomplishments in his lilfe! It was unreal! She also loves to scrapbook and design and well, be creative....

12 Which reminds me of her calling. This girl magnifies her calling. Nikki takes all of her callings so very seriously...let's face it, some don't. She made these frames for a Young Women in Excellence night and personalized each one to the girl it was for. (see photo above)...need I say more? No, really, I can tell by the way that she talks about her young women that she really, truly loves them, which is what all callings are really about.

13 And speaking of love, I really appreciate how much Nikki loves her nephews! I love that she is so interested in them and that she'll sit down and do puzzles or play with them and really talk to them (even when they don't quite respond).

14 Nikki graduated from ASU with a degree of English, so it was no surprise that Nikki is very well read and loves to read…

15 Another thing I totally admire about Nikki is that she is not a waiter, she doesn’t wait for answers to fall out of the sky, if she is worried or curious about something she digs and asks and researches until she finds what she’s looking for—the mark of an intelligent person and a great mother!

16 …and she (with a small contribution from Brenden) gave Keagan and Kaleb someone to play with at Saline gatherings! Finally, a cousin, and a boy even! Wahoo!

17 Also Nikki has always made me feel like I am the best mom—and I really appreciate that she was my cheer squad! Now that she has Collin, I am sure that I will be calling her for advice!

18 And speaking of a motherhood, I could write about this all day. When she was pregnant with Collin, Nikki did everything she possibly could to make sure everything was going well in there for that little guy. She is one of the most researched pregnant woman I have ever met…

18 …AND she was determined to have a NATURAL birth because of all the research that she did she found the best natural birthing process that would be the most positive for the baby, learned everything about it, and stayed positive about the birthing process. (She will probably want me to say that her water broke and time ran out which required medical intervention; NEVERTHELESS, it didn’t phase her philosophy of natural birthing practice!)

19 From what I understand, there were also some nursing issues following the delivery that took a long time to resolve, and I just have to say “Kudos” for getting through that! (I realize that some people just don’t make milk) but it just shows how determined a mother she is to persevere and keep trying even when it could have been so much easier to stop.

20 Nikki is also frugal. She decorated Collin’s entire room with about $136.00—and it is so adorable, she even made him a rag quilt and modge podged his name for the wall.

21 Another thing is that I have never…nope never…seen her mad. Sometimes I get so mad (read hungry) that I won’t talk to people (yes, I’m ashamed), but I have never ever seen Nikki mad. One time when everyone was home her pajamas disappeared and all she did was raise her eyebrows. I envy this quality of keeping a positive attitude about all things!

22 Also, I really respect that she has not fallen victim to the “entitlement syndrome” of this generation (yes, that’s my own term). I tribute her dad, Ray, for the excellent parent that he was to Nikki to raise such a competent individual who thinks for herself and who thinks about others…

23 She does think about others! Nikki is very thoughtful and always aware of what’s going on in whatever situation she is in and goes out of her way to make others comfortable.

24 Nikki also appreciates the arts! Need I say more?

25 And almost finally, Nikki is one of the most entertaining writers I have ever met on a blog and I’m not kidding—its her knack and she needs her own column! At first, this was my personal opinion but I have met several people (who she may not even know) who have told me that they check and read her blog because it is so entertaining! If you need more proof just check out her blog sometime (link is on the left) and plan on spending a while catching up if you’ve missed any because you’ll be glued.

26 One thing I really, really appreciate most about Nikki is that she loves our family and she fits in so well! It might sound silly, but she has really impacted the cohesion of our family and she’s become one of us. What more can I say? Everybody loves being around Nikki!!!

27 So basically, I just wanted to let Nikki know that I really admire her (and her character), probably because I find that she and I think very much the same way and we share a lot of the same interests…and we share a family! I really miss being around Nikki and I’m so blessed that Brenden found her, and I hope that she has

The Most Fabulous (x 27) Birthday ever!

"sensational"

Alright. Lately one of my favorite things is taking the boys to the park and playing candid camera. I happened to capture this series of shots perfectly. Kaleb's expressions completely tell the story. Good thing I had a dry pair of shorts in the car. Whew.

9

Yep. That's the number.

Hours

The number of hours of good straight, uninterrupted sleep that I need to carry me through the day. For about 2 months, I have been on a roll. Waking up early! I love it. Lately, Beau seems like a taskmaster because we have so much to do yet for the move, and I just keep telling him that I would really like to get nine hours of sleep and that I'd really like to get to bed early so that, of coarse, I can rise early and then do whatever we need to.

'Rrrrrrrright,' is the look he always gives me as he rolls his eyes and hands me another dish to wash or put away. Well, last night, I proved my point! We took the boys upstairs to go to bed at about 8:30....just so happens that we both fell hard asleep, which is unusual for me and not for Beau. Anyway, I woke up wide awake at 5:20--yep, that's nine hours (okay, technically 8 hours and 50 minutes). 5:20! What did I do? Well, I read my scriptures, made muffins, washed all the dishes, cut all the vegetables for the omelets, boiled eggs for lunch, cleaned the kitchen, and weeded my garden (until I came running in for fear of burnt bran muffins.) And look, here I am at 7:20 writing on my BLOG! Something I haven't done for the last 2?3? months? Sheesh, pitiful I know.

Well, case in point, I need nine. Just about the time I finished the kitchen I got a text from my dad telling me he'd already planted and watered (probably a ten acre field). I need to make the point here that I am no where near being able to stand next to my grandparents, or my parents, not even close. I can say that I feel like I could stand in the same very giant room as them--which is a big improvement for me. I used to be LOVE to sleep in, and now I know why: I need nine hours. But I'm am loving this morning business, so even if I have to continue to crash at 8:30 I'll accept the title of party-pooper and you can enjoy my muffins and omelets in the morning!

Days

Nine is also the number of days I have to be moved from my house. Where you ask? Your guess is as good as mine. I don't know. All I know is that I have to have all my stuff out of here before its taken over by the coastie that keeps pounding on my door. ('coastie'--term used by locals for those stationed here in the US Coast Gaurd). I have to say that I'm okay with this move--odd, being that I know nothing yet, but I feel like one of the children of Israel and that the cloud has been removed from the tabernacle, which means--time to move camp. Honestly, in such a time as this I would feel most comfortable moving back home and "establishing" ourselves in somewhat stable conditions--and it may come to that sometime, but for right now I'm going to play the faith card and hope that where we go will be where Heavenly Father wants our family to be. For now though, I have 9 days left here and 9 days that we will be living in a bed and breakfast after that before the "actual move."

Months

I don't feel so bad though because I"m not the only one getting evicted. Nine is also the number of months that Nikki has been pregnant and I am awaiting the call or text any minute now about my new nephew!!! I just have to say that Brenden and Nikki are going to make the best parents in the entire world. Seriously. I wish I lived closer so I could watch everything they do. I am so excited and thrilled for them (and for Keagan and Kaleb who will finally have a Saline cousin)!

Nine is also the number of pictures I'm going to post....soon, because I just tried to post them and there was an error. ugh.

Friday is Bring Cookies to Dad at Work Day

THURSDAY:

2:45 a.m: The little furnace next to me is radiating so much heat that it wakes me up.  I take his temperature again.  104.8.  I run down stairs and mentally prepare myself for overloading my child's kidneys and liver with ANOTHER dose of ibuprofen or acetaminophen.  

3:30 : Finally the fever breaks. 

5:30 : Kaleb seems hungry and willing to eat and drink so I feed him some applesauce with cheese and water; satisfied, he and I dose back asleep.

8:00: Kaleb and Keagan are playing with the train set.  I know that I have only have a short window to nourish Kaleb before he will no longer have an appetite as the medication wears off. 

I taste the batter as the pan is going into the oven.  No sugar, I forgot the sugar.  Although muffins rank next to candy in Kaleb's mind, I am fairly confident that he wouldn't eat a whole wheat sugarfree blueberry muffin.  I dump each muffin wrappers back into the bowl. 

8:10: Right now is probably not an ideal time to be putting Kaleb in underwear, nevertheless, I'm not backing down.  I change his underwear, clean up the spill and set him on the toilet.

8:15 : I stir in the sugar. 

9:30: We've already gone through four pair of undies this morning.  I set Kaleb back on the toilet. 

10:30: I tell Keagan what I never wanted to hear myself say in all my days: "Go watch a movie." I hold Kaleb until his fever breaks again.

11:30: This is the second nice day we've had so far this year. I am determined not to spend it inside, despite my having to wade through toys and 'whatever' else is on the floor to get outside.   

12:00 p.m: The boys and I have a fabulous time starting all of our flower seeds.  (Mostly Kaleb just likes to scoop up the dirt.)  I am so thrilled to be here for the summer, I start making big plans for my front porch and find hanging baskets and plant pots under the porches and around the  premises.  I start cleaning up the flower bed next to the front steps.  Keagan squeals with delight when we find the dark soil rich with worms. 

2:30: I realize that Kaleb is beyond tired, and I come in to rock him to sleep while Keagan is absorbed in a dinosaur puzzle.  

3:15: Mom calls. Her motherly instinct must have been telling her I was having a bad day. It was really great to talk to her.

3:45: I sneak back outside to finish cleaning the flower bed. 

4:00 My neighbor across the street yells, "You look ambitious. Did you guys decide to stay?" We'll at least be here for the summer I tell her. I'm relieved that she is keeping her distance because I haven't looked in the mirror today.  hmmm....

 

4:20: My next door neighbor sees me madly hacking at the stubborn grass with my hoe (believe me, I know how to wield a hoe) and she comes outside and asks me in an 'are you okay?' 'should I call the authories?' kind of voice "What are you doing?" 

"Hard work." I tell her.  I explain that I've done nothing but hold my son for three days.  We chat for a minute about our yards and then I say, "I'm sorry you have to see me like this, I just really needed to be outside today."  Then she says in all seriousness, "Oh, don't worry, when schools out, I don't think I'll shower for a month either." ....right.... 

 

4:30: When she's gone I come inside the house, look in the mirror and realize what she is talking about. I'm embarrassed to make eye contact with myself.  I fix my hair, and get back outside to FINISH THE JOB. ( I think that that is what I needed the most. The dishes are never done, the laundry is never done, the cooking is never done, the house is never clean... all of this is magnified when someone is not well. I wanted to get SOMETHING done!) I realize when the little 6 sq. ft. bed is clean that I miss getting my hands dirty like this. 

4:45: I think of all the lead paint dust that I'm probably inhaling as I sweep off the porch. Why do people ever paint wood porches?  I decide that it will be worth it in July when my front porch looks like the Garden of Eden. 

5:30: Kaleb's fever has spiked once again.  Medication.  Sponge bath.  Holding. 

6:15: We run to the grocery store for mozzarella. 

6:35: I decide that I better de-clutter the front room before Beau gets home.....we hear a diesel truck five blocks away... too late.

6:45: I jump in the shower and am throughly enjoying two minutes of QUIET hot water pouring over me.

6:47:  "Oh, Shaunalee, bad news. We didn't get the Supplemental Agreement.  We'll probabaly be gone by June."

6:47:10:  I am asking myself, "Why on the day that I tell my mother that we'll be here all summer?  Why on the day that I plant all of our flowers, clean out the flower beds, and plan my Garden of Eden? Why on the day that I buy a 36 pack of toilet paper???"

6:55: I cry the entire drive to Enrichment.  

7:10:  Enrichment is about simplifying.  I wonder how I could simplify any more?  She says, "Write on this paper what is most important to you."  Testimony, Family, Health.  "Okay, now write what is keeping  you from doing these things."  I think, This IS what I spend all my time doing and my life is STILL not simple.  

7:40: We sit around a table for dessert (there are only 10 of us) and listen to the broken heart of a mother and her trial in the fight for her daughters soul.  I can only imagine that keeping an easily-peer-influenced 14 year old daughter from having sex (even though ALL of her friends do it) is nothing short of a soul tormenting experience for a mother.   My heart sank as she told us how these kids aren't even dating, or in love, they just do it because "it's popular." 

8:55: I drive home and silently say a thankful prayer for my life of ease.  My sleepless nights over a fever are NOTHING compared to sleepless-nights over concern for my child's spiritual welfare. 

9:05: I hug and kiss my family.

FRIDAY:

4:30 a.m: I am awake checking Kaleb's temperature every minute.  The thermometer actually reads, 105 degrees.  Overload the kidney's once again. 

5:30 a.m: Kaleb is not only awake, he's hyper and happy so we get up.   It's Friday, officially, "Bring Daddy Cookies at Work Day." 

It's going to be a really good day!