Shayne's Boys

Saturday, Feb. 13th was Senior night at Skyview High School. Normally, I wouldn't post pics of senior night, but this one was different...especially for Shayne.

These are Shayne's boys. These three boys were freshman the year Shayne started coaching at Skyview. He was their C-team coach. He was their first high school coach, and they were his first group of basketball boys. He then moved up to be their JV coach...and even though they are all playing Varsity this year...he's still their "coach". Skyview has, unfortunately, had 3 different head coaches in 4 years. But...Shayne has been part of the coaching staff for all four of those years, so he's been the one consistent thing for those boys. As a result...these boys love Shayne, and Shayne loves them.

For Senior night, they recognized these three boys, and they each wrote up a little diddy about their basketball experiences. Shayne was mentioned in every single one of those boys' write up. The head coach this year, also asked Shayne to write up a little something about these boys, b/c he knew how much he loved these boys. It was pretty cool to hear it all that night.

Shayne was pretty choked up during the whole thing, and had been dreading this night for the entire season. This might be shocking to some of you, but it just shows you how much he loves coaching and how much time and emotion he puts into these boys.

I got choked up too, b/c these group of boys are pretty dang amazing. Cameron (blond in the middle) always makes sure to come out and play ball with The Bug while he's doing his pre-game warm up, and always gives "five" whenever he sees us. Joe (shortest, far right) is The Bug's unofficial "godfather". Seriously...demanded to be the godfather, even though we explained we don't have those in the LDS church. He stops by our house to just chat, and hangs out with The Bug as well. We are good friends with his family as well. Chad (tallest, far left) has always been the quiet polite one, with wicked elbows under the basket.

Anyway...a really good group of kids. We are sad to see them go, but know they will do great things.

The last two pics are of The Bug playing with the head coaches little boy, Eli. I don't get to watch much of the game, but I'm entertained by The Bug interacting with the people around us. He's pretty much the most adorable toddler you've ever seen at a basketball game. The purple "Jordan" outfit might help, but still...adorable!

Brush Teeth

Last Sunday I was attempting to get ready for church but The Bug wanted some attention. So, I grabbed him and put him in the sink to chill for a bit. He promptly grabbed dad's toothbrush (I obviously thought grabbing dad's was better than mom's), and then just chilled in the sink. I told Shayne to grab the camera and while Shayne was taking some pics...he managed to turn on the water and soak his pants. Shocking huh? You think we would have pulled him out of the sink BEFORE he turned on the water, but when you have photo opportunities like that you have to take them. :)

In one of the pics he's signing "Brush Teeth". His version of it anyway. :)

Notice the hair cut? Ya...a little short.

He had these beautiful curls that I was loving, but they were getting a little long. So, we decided to cut it. Shayne thought he needed a much shorter haircut and put a #7 guard on instead of a #8, like normal. I am not a big fan. Our poor child has a big head as it is...now with this short hair cut it looks ginormous!

Shayne thinks it looks great...but have you seen Shayne's hair? Ya...me neither! :)

I'm just grateful for the saying, "The only difference between a good haircut and a bad haircut is two weeks."

Fun Pics

These are just some fun pics from the first part of February.

I just love the first picture. It shows such a sweet expression and is indicative of our Bug's sweet personality (most of the time anyway).

The second shows how much he loves his daddy. Seriously...gets so excited to see his daddy. He was getting tired and was about ready for a nap. So, while Shayne was checking his email, The Bug decided he wanted to hang out with dad. So, that's what they did...just hung out. I love little moments like that.

The last pics are The Bug with his first bowl and spatula of brownie batter. I'm not normally one to let him have a lot of sugar. It's my weakness (insert: addiction), so I'm trying really hard for him to not be quite so dependent on sugar. However...this is one thing you can't deprive your children of--right? He was in seventh heaven. LOVED the chocolate brownie batter...as evidence from the batter all over his face.

The one thing that made me feel better about all the sugar, is he's not very adept at using the spatula to get the batter out of the bowl, so he pretty much only got what was on the spatula. He loved the whole "idea" of having the bowl though.

Have I mentioned I love toddlers?!

Saying Prayers

Folding his arms to say a prayer

It amazes me every day how observant toddlers are, and how quickly they learn new things. I had tried to show him how to fold his arms when a prayer was being said a few months ago, but he had no desire nor attention span to do it. Then, on New Year's Day when we were at Swanson's for dinner, we were getting ready to say a prayer and while I'm holding him he just all of the sudden folds his arms! It was so funny.

Anyway...now he LOVES to say prayers. He folds his arms for prayers in church, and at home. In fact, we have to say the "food" prayer about 3 or 4 times for each meal. Sometimes after we've said the first prayer and he wants to say another one, he'll fold his arms and start this little mumble sound like he's praying. It is the cutest thing ever. If you say "prayer" he immediately folds his arms for prayer...and he'll leave them folded until he hears the word "amen".

The other thing he's been doing for about 1 1/2 months now, is saying "Jesus" when he sees a picture of him. I can't describe what it sounds like, but it is unmistakably the word "Jesus". And...he can look at any picture of Him and know it's Jesus. Seriously, I'm amazed.

I would love to take credit for all of this, but I can't. He pretty much came to Shayne and I like this.

Really, he did. We are so lucky. :)

The other pics are of him loving a pair of my gloves. He was very into them for about a week. He would ask to put them on, and then walk around for about half an hour playing with them on. Sometimes he would find my beanie and put that on too. So, here's this little munchkin walking around with my pink beanie and lime green gloves. Pretty comical.

I love toddlers!!

Snow Shovel

Did I mention we start our child slave labor early? Does it count as slave labor when they LOVE it?! Every time we go outside he eventually finds the snow shovel. He starts on the deck, but as he gets close to the steps he drops the shovel, and it slides down the stairs. He then manages to get down on his hands and knees so he can navigate the steps in his snow pants, snow boots, and thick coat. These pics were from Feb. 6th, and he's gotten even better with the snow shovel since then. :)

Seriously...this kids cheeks are rosy red from the cold, but he threw a fit when I finally decided to take him in.

I can only hope and pray he likes shoveling snow this much when he's 12!! :)

My Valentine

"I have now been married "five" years. I know what it is to live entirely for and with what I love best on earth. I hold myself supremely blessed - blessed beyond what language can express; because I am my husband's life as fully as he is mine. No woman was ever nearer to her mate than I am; ever more absolutely bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh. I know no weariness of my "Shayne's" society; he knows none of mine, any more than we each do of the pulsation of the heart that beats in our separate bosoms; consequently, we are ever together. To be together is for us to be at once as free as in solitude, as gay as in company. We talk, I believe, all day long; to talk to each other is but a more animated and an audible thinking. All my confidence is bestowed on him; all his confidence is devoted to me; we are precisely suited in character; perfect concord is the result."

~Jane Eyre~
Written By: Charlotte Bronte

Our Reality

Conversation during church on Sunday with Shayne after watching one of our friends with their baby:

Me: "Look how cute he is. He is getting so big, huh? Ours is getting too big...we need another one. I want another baby. I think we should have another one." (Keep in mind I'm being facetious, b/c I know we would be pregnant right now if we could.)

Shayne: "Ya...if only it was that easy for us. Just want one, start 'trying', and get one. Wouldn't that be nice."

While there are some perks to being completely infertile, i.e. you never have to worry about your method of birth control, it still sucks.

We are BOTH hungry for a baby, but our reality is we are pretty much destined to starve.

The only thing saving us from complete baby malnutrition is our current Bug, and the fact Doc is part of our life.

So...while our reality kinda sucks...

We thank our Heavenly Father every day for His tender mercies.

Late Night Conversations

One of my most favorite things are my late night conversations with Shayne. We always have the intention of going to bed earlier than normal for us, but end up talking in bed until it's way too late.

Last night was a late night.

It was the perfect reminder why I'm so happy to spend forever with Shayne.

He's my best friend...in the whole wide world...that's why.