Swimming Upstream In Life

Dear Cameron...

2012-01-24T09:19:00.016-06:00

Dear Cameron,

It is so hard for me to believe that today you are now 8 years old. My eyes well up with tears, happy ones, when I think about what you mean to me in my life. Daddy and I wished upon every star in the sky, prayed many prayers, and crossed fingers and toes so that we could have you come into our lives. And let me tell you, Mister, it was a lot of work to get you! But what a joy you have always been.

My wish for you will always be to try your hardest in everything you do, never let anyone crush the creative and imaginative spirit you have, and to always be a friend to everyone.

And remember what we heard on Sunday at church.

When we don't put God first, the rest is destined to fail.

Very smart words to remember, buddy.

Never, ever be afraid to share your faith with anyone.

Because..."I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13

Happy Birthday, Cameron! We love you very, very much!

Love, Mom

Stop following me!...

2012-01-21T10:01:00.003-06:00

Yes, this is something that I heard our delightful 4 year old say to her siblings, but it's also something screaming from my mind as I have more and more followers on ...

PINTEREST!!

And, I have no idea what I am doing on it.

HELP!!

This morning I had a little time so I was searching for craft ideas for Molly's first grade Valentine's party. Get this, some how I am the Mom in charge of the party. What??!! Crazy.

I found some really cute ideas on Pinterest, thought I pinned them, and now they are not under my pins. What am I doing wrong? If I can't "pin" an idea how can I make suggestions for the party of the year?

There are some adorable, clever and handy ideas on Pinterest. But, the majority of them will mean nothing to me if I can't remember what they looked like. I wish more had step by step directions, too. Is this too much to ask for the craft novice?

Any suggestions on how to better utilize Pinterest would be greatly appreciated.

Until then...stop following me!! (Just kidding...it's kind of flattering, right?)

Gettting off the roller coaster ride...

2012-01-08T16:10:00.004-06:00

Were there holidays recently? Hmmmmm, they seem like forever ago.

We had Christmas for the first time in Illinois. We didn't travel any farther than Peoria, and that was to go to the mall. We had a house full but it was nice to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day worshipping in our own church. Both services were great and special. The kids sang at the Christmas Eve service and that made it even nicer. Not having any traditions really since we never have been home on Christmas we went with a family favorite for dinner...ham loaf! It rocked, if I may say so.

The biggest hurdle of the last month has been 3 hospital stays for my Dad. Once early December for pneumonia, mid December for GI issues and then again on New Year's Day for pneumonia again. The doctors think that he never got over the first pneumonia. After a week of IV antibiotics I really hope that they got it this time. My Dad seems much better. Tired, but really good. But after 13 nights in the hospital in a month I feel like we've all had enough. But, it's amazing how when you turn your worries and concerns over to God some, not all, but some of the anxiety can be comforted. I am really, really trying to be diligent to turn to God not only when I feel like I need something but also to give him praise for the day, the sunshine, the snow or rain, the little blessings in life. Like my family. Like my husband.

In case you didn't already know this, I have a true candidate for the best husband of the world. I know that many of us feel this way about our man, but Mr. Shook is not a man of just words but also action. He has stepped in to help us when we need it most. He was there for my parents when they needed us most. My Mom thanked him for something he did this week for her and he told her to not even think twice, that she is his family. That means more to me than you can imagine.

I thank God every day that he brought Mr. Shook into my life. It isn't a fancy story, he didn't sweep me off my feet, but he won my heart and it will belong to him always.

I pray that our girl's will be as lucky as their Mama someday. There are a lot of frogs out in that pond.

Luckily, mine is a prince.

An interesting conversation...

2011-12-15T18:19:00.003-06:00

At our school they encourage at home to do a reading website called Raz-Kids. Molly is REALLY, REALLY into Raz-Kids. There are times where we have to peel her away from the computer. Tonight Molly read a book entitled "Riding with Rosa Parks." Here's the conversation that Cameron and Molly had about the book...

Molly was explaining that back, long ago, there were people with brown faces and people with blond faces. The people with brown faces had to sit in the back of the bus. Rosa Parks sat in the front of the bus but she had a brown face. The bus driver said she had to sit in the back of the bus. Rosa Parks said NO!! (In a very loud, stern voice). She got arrested from the police. At the end of the story the brown faces can sit in the front thanks to Rosa Parks.

Cameron then explained to Molly that the person who got the laws changed about people with brown faces was Martin Luther King, Jr.

This conversation brought a smile to my face. Wow. My kiddos are really learning something.

Tis the season...

2011-12-13T16:54:00.007-06:00

Holy cow! What happened to November and most of December??!! I have been a bad, bad blogger. Lots has been going on so here's a brief photo recap...

One cute Indian that went to 4 year old preschool, the Lincoln Elementary Christmas program at school, and Molly and Haeleigh as Isabella and Candice from Phineas and Ferb at the TazWood Dance Company performance. Hopefully as we wrap up our Christmas activities (ours seemed to come early this season) we will have time to put into words a few thoughts. Until then, happy holiday celebrating all!!

Pumpkin Patch Party...

2011-10-22T18:43:00.006-05:00

Today was our church's Pumpkin Patch Party. The kids had a fantastic time. We dug deep into the closets to come up with costumes this year. We have so many costumes I thought this might be the year to recycle something. I didn't think I could stomach another trip to one of those scary, creepy Halloween stores that is really a closed Big Lots 10 other months of the year.

Here's a few photos to share...one soccer player (with added stitches for effect), one Unicorn girl (your guess is as good as mine what a unicorn girl is) and one butterfly.

Other big news that has happened is that someone lost their second tooth...

Yes, someone lost their second tooth before their brother lost his second tooth. Those things happen, right?

Also, I got the neatest gift from my Prayer Partner at church. I was tickled to receive it and I think it will be a great decorating piece.

1%...

2011-10-20T09:14:00.008-05:00

Did you know that only 1% of the population of the world will ever run a marathon? And guess what?...

My guy did and finished!!

26.2, baby!

I am so very proud of Mr. Shook for training, running and completing his first marathon. We drove to Columbus, Ohio last Friday, spent time with some friends, Mr. Shook ran a simple 26.2 miles and then we drove back 6 hours. I can't believe I'm saying this, but it was actually kind of fun. We were able to see Mr. Shook 3 times on the course and cheer him on. I think that it gave him the boost that he needed. (Or at least he better say it did!)

I will be the first to admit that I was very nervous about Mr. Shook's idea to do this. In fact, I cried when we dropped him off at the start. I think the majority of the world knows how hard it is to run a marathon. Many people try it unprepared. Even though I didn't think Mr. Shook was unprepared I was still worried. There were also some tears of joy when we saw him finish. I was very, very glad when he was done and I was so proud of his efforts. Actually, I teared up a few times seeing complete strangers finish. It was one of those emotional kind of experiences. I saw a man finish the Columbus marathon for the 36th straight year! And he was no spring chicken.

The kids did great waiting, the weather was perfect and they were their Daddy's biggest cheerleaders. And, it was my birthday! Isn't that how every loving wife spends her special day...cheering on her husband in his first marathon?

And, we LOVE Columbus! If we had the opportunity to ever move back to Ohio I think that's where I would want to be. Such a great city!

And as always...GO BUCKS!!

Another year of preschool...

2011-09-10T20:20:00.009-05:00

Amanda started preschool last Wednesday. She was SUPER excited, never blinked an eye and had a great first day. Day two was just as good, too. Amanda goes three mornings a week to the same preschool she attended last year. It's called Fantasyland Preschool and I can't help but chuckle when I tell out of town friends where she goes to school. Does anyone from Ashland think that Fantasyland was the same name as an "adult" bar outside of Mansfield??!!

Here's some photo's of my baby.

Sigh.

She is really growing up...

We also did our annual trip to the local corn maze on Labor Day. The weather couldn't have been more perfect and we brought along some friends this time...

Miss Molly lost her first tooth, too, over Labor Day. This has been a long time coming. This poor tooth held on for dear life until it could hold no more!

Home, Sweet, Home...

2011-08-27T11:15:00.004-05:00

We're home, we've had a good night's sleep. Things are well!

And, our sister is more than willing to bring us dolls and toys!

We brought Amanda home yesterday around 4. Her labs, urine output, the ability to have a #2 and her willingness to drink and eat a little allowed us to come home a day early. She is currently still with a catheter, which we will haven taken out on Monday in the urologist's office. Our experience couldn't have been any better. Fortunately/Unfortunately, we were recognized as repeat visitor's to the Children's Hospital and that made things really nice. There were quite a few, "you look familiar" statements and it was nice and reassuring. Our doctor rocks, too! He gave us the VIP treatment which means he treated us like he has for 230 other cases of the same surgery and things appear to be healing well. We had a few friends who work in the hospital check in with us and that helped out so much. It's nice to know that other's are keeping an eye out for you. Even when the patient is 4!

We truly appreciate all the prayers and positive thoughts that were sent our way. Our doctor commented on how calm we seemed before the surgery and I'm so glad that it appeared that way from the outside. My insides were churning!

I also have to give props to our girl.

I don't know if I can put into words how proud I was of her when she walked to the operating room. She never looked back. I think that speaks volumes about several things. I think Mr. Shook and I did a decent job preparing her for what was going to happen, I think the staff at the hospital has an unique way of putting everyone at ease and making them feel safe, and I think that it shows the power of our God and the Holy Spirit that enveloped their arms around our girl. It took my breath away and dried all my tears.

Again, I say Thank You, Thank You, Thank You for praying for Amanda.

I believe in the power of prayer.

Miss Amanda...

2011-08-24T11:47:00.005-05:00

I love this face.

I love this little girl.

She is just like her Mother in so many ways.

I really love her.

For all that's good in sports...

2011-08-23T14:37:00.005-05:00

We often hear about all the bad in the world. Places like the evening news dramatize it and make it bigger than it really is. The same thing happens in the sports world. We hear about the abuses of drugs, performance enhancing drugs, alcohol, cheating, scamming, lying. The talk radio, the news, the ESPN's of the world eat this kind of story up.

But, I have to admit. There is nothing like a feel good sports story. I am a sucker for ALL of them. I love a golfer walking down the 18th green with the possibility of winning his first major. I love the Cinderella story of a small division one school winning in the NCAA basketball tournament. I love the stories of the hard work, the blood, sweat and tears that athletes have put in to one moment every four years in the Olympics. I love it all!

Even better is seeing moments like this in person. I still remember seeing Mark McGuire hit one of his 70 home runs in 1998 and the Cleveland fans going crazy in awe. I remember the feeling in 1995 of sitting at Jacobs Field for the start of an American League Championship Series game and Oral Hershiser walking to the pitchers mound from the bullpen. It was so cool. The stadium was electric.

You don't get to experience those feelings very often. They are very rare. It's really neat when something very special happens at a sporting event. Even when it's on a small scale. This past Saturday, my son, Cameron, scored his first soccer goal. Ever. It was very, very special. I tried to be laid back about it, like it happens all the time. But, on the inside I was beaming. And it isn't so much that he scored the goal. Yes, that made me very happy. But it was how proud I am of him really, really trying to score a goal and then succeeding. His drive to improve at soccer has really come a long way and we couldn't be prouder. I don't expect the next Pele here but trying his best is awesome. And, the parents around us were very excited for Cameron, too. It was really nice of them to be supportive for us.

It made the soccer field feel electric if only for a second.
And that is why I love sports.

Ready or not, here we are....

2011-08-16T10:02:00.004-05:00

First and Second grade!!!

We had a fun summer but now it's time to hit the books!

Happy School Year!!!

Things to celebrate, things to remember...

2011-08-10T11:51:00.007-05:00

Things I choose today to celebrate...

- that school starts in one week

- that I have what I feel are really nice kids who are learning so much but also are respectful, kind and nice to their teachers and friends

- that the weather is cooler and that there is an abundance of sunshine toda

- that my friends Brad and Staci have received really positive news regarding Brad's illness. This is a huge joy!!

- that very soon Mr. Shook and I will be celebrating living in Morton for 3 years. I'm still not "from here", but I am here.

- that Mr. Shook had successful outpatient surgery yesterday, was a real trooper, and that I didn't pass out when I looked at the incision last night. It is a decent size for just having local anesthetic.

- that Mr. Shook is a super supportive husband and friend and allowed us to travel to Ohio for the second time in a week. I really needed to do that. Thank you, Mike!!

Things that I am remembering...

- yesterday my Grandfather died one year ago. When we went to the cemetery to visit him when we were home a few weeks ago it made me realize even more that I don't live in Seville anymore.

- my friends Tracy and Pat and their family at the passing of Tracy's father, Jay. Both Tracy and Pat said really beautiful things about Jay under some intense emotions and I am so proud of both of them. I know you will have no regrets sharing with all of us.

- These words:

There's a peace I've come to know

Though my heart and flesh may fail

There's an anchor for my soul

I can say "It is well"

Jesus has overcome

And the grave is overwhelmed

The victory is won

He is risen from the dead

And I will rise when He calls my name

No more sorrow, no more pain

I will rise on eagles' wings

Before my God fall on my knees

And rise

I will rise

There's a day that's drawing near

When this darkness breaks to light

And the shadows disappear

And my faith shall be my eyes

Jesus has overcome

And the grave is overwhelmed

The victory is won

He is risen from the dead

And I will rise when He calls my name

No more sorrow, no more pain

I will rise on eagles' wings

Before my God fall on my knees

And rise

I will rise

And I hear the voice of many angles sing,

"Worthy is the Lamb"

And I hear the cry of every longing heart,

"Worthy is the Lamb"

And I will rise when He calls my name

No more sorrow, no more pain

I will rise on eagles' wings

Before my God fall on my knees

And rise

I will rise

-Chris Tomlin

Who I am today...

2011-08-01T11:06:00.007-05:00

I get chills when ironic things happen in life.

We just got back from visiting Mr. Shook's parents in Ohio and I went through our mail last night. I often don't read the church newsletter first thing but I decided to sit down with it for a minute. The opening letter from our pastor really hit home to me. He shares with us his experience returning to the first church he pastored in Kentucky many years ago. He talks about how the people there molded him to be the Pastor he is today. How forgiving they were for his lack of experience (although I guarantee Pastor Paul put his practice to very good use there and the congregation wasn't disappointed). He shared how many of the faces were the same as they were when he first arrived there and how he recognized quite a few of them.

Yesterday we worshipped in our "home" church. I feel the very same way there as our Pastor did in Kentucky. Many of the faces are the same, the people are very familiar to me and these are the people who molded me into the woman I am today. Mr. Shook and I take very seriously the part of a Methodist baptism that says the congregation will help you to raise your child with Christian love. All 3 of our children were baptized in that church in Ohio and even though we don't attend there anymore I know that they pray for us, love us and support us with Christian love. So many of the faces are the same and it makes me sad when I hear of one of those very familiar faces not being around anymore. The people who we have known for over 30 years are like a breath of fresh air to me. Comfort, familiarity and promise.

You see, it's after going back and visiting what I would originally call "home" that I now realize that I am who I am and I am where I am suppose to be in life. I know this with my whole heart. I always need to work on the who I am part but I believe that God brought us to Central Illinois for a reason. I never really felt like Michigan was home to us but I think that I am now, more than ever, in my home.

And, it's scary and exhilarating all in the same breath. And it often gives me chills.

Summer 2011...

2011-07-25T23:18:00.009-05:00

Oh boy, Oh boy, it's summertime...which means I have been a bad blogger. Here's a slice of what we've been up to...

Trips to Lego Discovery Center in Schaumberg, American Girl in Chicago and the John Hancock Building. We met family there and the kids enjoyed time with their cousins...

Then a trip to Six Flags...I'm not sure who was the bigger kid there...

It's been a fun summer with trips to the pool, trips to watch Mr. Shook run, Vacation Bible School, bike riding, just having a good time. Have you been having fun, too? With this SUPER hot weather it's been really warm but we won't complain because soon enough is cold, windy and s-n-o-w!

Playing Devil's Advocate...

2011-06-16T08:55:00.009-05:00

I hope you had a chance to read my blog yesterday. If not, go back and read it first and then proceed...

Have you ever gotten one of those phone calls that caught you off guard, that took your breath away for a second. You feel like your head is spinning, or like your under water and you haven't surfaced for air yet?

Well, I have.

Monday, June 16, 2008.

Not a day I would really like to relive, but in retrospect, a day that was eye opening and a day that really made us put our trust in the Lord.

You see, Mr. Shook had returned to work after a week long vacation where we did all kinds of fun things in Ohio and threw my parents a 40th wedding anniversary party. It was fun and made all kinds of great memories. Never in our wildest dreams did we think that our world would be turned upside down by 3 pm. His employer starting informing people that effective immediately that they were laid off.

Done.

A big don't let the door hit you on the way out feeling.

Oh, and by the way, your benefits end today, too.

Even better.

Mike gave me the call as I had just dropped Cameron and Molly off for Vacation Bible School at a friend's church. I was in the car. I had to pull over.

I am comfortable feeling that you know how things turned out. It was a bit of a stressful summer but it also was a great summer where we spent lots of time together as a family. Mr. Shook received a severance package so we weren't destitute. We just had to make a lot of decisions and I don't know that we really second guess any of them.

There really isn't one person or company to blame for what happened. It was a very rough time for the auto industry. Mr. Shook's company filed for bankruptcy and things started to go sour quickly. They probably weren't getting paid for the parts that they were supplying the Big 3 and therefore the little man suffers.

So, if you read my blog yesterday and then have read what I wrote today you will not be surprised to know that I support jobs. And maybe that's what this indoor water park will provide that is really the end result we all should be caring about. From the planning, the building, the running and maintaining, all this will bring jobs. It will create more jobs to keep the traffic in order, it will create more jobs to keep the community still safe, it will create more jobs to support the other new business that will be a direct result of an indoor water park.

And creating more jobs cannot be considered a bad thing. Especially when our country is suffering economically. Maybe we should be very glad that a company like Bass Pro Shops picked central Illinois to open a new store. And maybe we should be glad for the ripple effect that this new mega business will create. Remember to all my Mom friends...the word Target in East Peoria has been thrown around. I've seen many of you salivate, me included! And that means more JOBS!!!

I don't know how I feel about the prospect of this water park. One friend doesn't think that it will ever happen so we don't need to worry about it. Just some food for thought.

And, I am very happy where I am today, 3 years later. I don't wish that kind of phone call on anyone, but thanks for always being a very hard worker, Mr. Shook, and providing for your family. As Father's Day approaches I hope you know how much we appreciate you. And how much we Love You!!

Bragging rights...

2011-06-15T11:20:00.016-05:00

Wow, have I really slacked a bit on the old blogging. I just feel busy all the time yet there are so many things I want to say. Today I thought I'd share some bragging rights...

Hey Mortonites...do we live in a really great town or what??!!

I have moved a couple of times and let me tell you, this town is pretty great!

I loved where we lived in Michigan, but thank the good Lord above we didn't have to send our kids to school there. Mr. Shook and I plead ignorance on our house/neighborhood/location choice when we moved to Michigan and a bad decision like that will affect how you decide future plans for your family. I don't think I know anyone from my Michigan Peeps that sends their children to public school there. It's just not what you do.

Bring it forward to 2011 and I am loving not only the Morton Public Schools but the whole stinking town...

Things that I love:

1.) Morton Public Library

It is fantastic and its summer reading program is so fun for the kids. I love how it encourages even beginning readers to excel. We already have our invites to the summer pool party and I believe when Molly met the goal on Monday she was number 210. And school has only been out a month today. I love the Friday Brown Bag series where you can go and have fun and learn at the same time. Two weeks ago the library sponsored Peoria Area Fencers and it was really neat to see. This week it is Mad Science. Something new all the time.

2.) Morton Park District.

What awesome programs that they offer, especially in the summer. My new favorite thing that they do is update the programs, their availability and the daily status of them in inclement weather on Facebook. Brilliant if you ask me.

3.) Our church

The kids and I are really excited for Vacation Bible School to start on the 26th. It is always a good time and the kids learn so much. I can't wait to hear the new songs that go with the curriculum. We appreciate all the hard work that goes in to its success!

4.) Morton Youth Baseball Association

Cameron is liking his coach-pitch league this year. Who wouldn't when their Dad is the coach! But I have been really impressed with Molly's team. When I signed her up for Boys t-ball I really thought that it was the right move and it totally has been. Although she is the only girl in the whole league (!!) her coaches have not treated her any differently and have played her like they would any boy. We are so thankful for that and it has really made her time playing very fun. I will be sure to post some pictures soon. We have found out that our girl is not afraid of much and we applaud that. Molly has 2 more games this season and I know she will miss it when it's over. I also appreciate how well the Youth Baseball Association is ran and I love how up to date they are with technology. Getting text info is a life saver for me!

5.) I love having familiar faces

It is hard to go anywhere in this area and not see somebody you know. We saw Cameron's teacher at 7 am last Saturday running the Tremont Turkey Festival, I see someone almost every time I go to Wal-Mart or Kroger (even if you don't want to!), you always run into someone you know at Dairy Queen, and I know most of my neighbors. Even if we don't do things socially with neidghbors, they still know about our comings and goings. The library and pool are hot spots for seeing friends, too.

And here's what my whole point is about my loving my town. Yes, there is actually a point...

The Morton Economic Development Council requested the Village Board to approve spending $22,000 to do a study on bringing an indoor water park to our town. It is estimated that 1 million visitors will be attracted to our area with the new Bass Pro Shop being built in neighboring East Peoria. While I am all about the number of jobs that the new Bass store will bring to the area I'm not so sure how I feel about an indoor water park. We can make a pros and cons list until the cows come home, but I am really only seeing the cons right now.

- more crime

- more traffic

- more people

Of a town of 17,000 do we really want more crime, traffic and people?

The proposal says that in addition to a water park there could be bowling alley lanes, a miniature golf course, a movie theatre, go karts, batting cages...the list goes on.

Sometimes bigger isn't always better. Some times less is actually more.

I would love to hear the thoughts (pros and cons) of others. What do you think?

Am I missing a great opportunity for regional growth in our area? Do you think there will be less crime, traffic and people?

Now excuse me while I take a huge plunge from my soap box.

Happy Birthday, Baby...

2011-06-08T13:39:00.007-05:00

My Baby is FOUR!!!

How did that happen??

Four years ago we received this special blessing...

and now we have this...

A big grown up FOUR!!

And no matter how much you might frustrate your Daddy and me you give the best hugs we have ever had! You are ours and we wouldn't have it any other way.

We love you, Amanda!!

First grade is over!!!...

2011-05-25T20:40:00.009-05:00

Here's a picture from the first day of First Grade for Cameron...

And here's a picture from today, the last day of First Grade!!!

Cameron had an awesome first grade year and he learned SO much. He is looking forward to starting summer reading at the library, building some Lego's on rainy days and playing outside. We are sooooo proud of how well he did in school.

Keep up the good work next year, dude!!

And a growth spurt or two this summer wouldn't hurt either.

A face only his mother could love!!!

I love this boy!

Kindergarten is over!!!...

2011-05-24T21:04:00.007-05:00

This is a picture from our first day of Kindergarten.

This is a picture from today, our last day of Kindergarten!!!

Dear Molly,

You turned 6 years old last week and we could not be prouder of the young lady that you are becoming. You try so hard to be independent, you try so hard with your school work, you try so hard at all that you do. Please keep up the hard work and your diligence. You look so much like Daddy yet remind me of myself so much. We are so blessed to have you in our family. We will always love you!!!

P.S. I sometimes think that you might be the only one to take care of us when we are old. Remember that we liked you best!! (just kidding, Cameron and Amanda!!)

Love,

Mom (and Dad)

P.P.S.S. You will be awesome in First Grade!!!

More Kindergarten pictures...

Earning $$...

2011-05-23T12:55:00.003-05:00

We had a really fun weekend doing some birthday celebrating...Molly and Mike...pictures to come soon as Molly really is having a week long birthday celebration. I'll tell you, she really knows how to do it at 6!!

Wednesday ends our school year here. Both Cameron and Molly have expressed a desire to have a few chores in order to earn some allowance. I think it is a great idea I'm just not sure how to execute it. What have you done for your kids in order for them to earn an allowance? Some of the jobs that I am picturing are things like making their beds, emptying the dishwasher, wiping down their bathroom. Things that are pretty easy but also things that will take more than just 5 minutes. How have you established how much you give your child for an allowance and what do you allow them to spend it on? I struggle with what they should be allowed to buy and what Mike and I should be providing them. They really don't want for much but I don't allow them to get things every time we go to the store. No can do.

Please share with me your ideas and practices...a little hard labor goes a long way, right?

Funny facts...

2011-05-12T09:36:00.000-05:00

Is it just me, or do many of us have difficulty sometimes channeling our children's inner interests? Of course, Mr. Shook wants young son to love sports, excel at sports, be a potential major leaguer or NBA super star. Young son has several things against him to achieve in these areas but we won't dwell on that. After all, he is 7.

But, finding one's niche in life can be challenging. It is a well known fact that young son loves, I mean LOVES, his Legos. He can build them into the picture with the directions or he can create a whole new ship/plane/attack fighter, you name it.

But young son seems to have a new interest. I swear it began with the introduction this year to not only money, but coins, who's on them and more importantly who's on the green stuff. So Cameron has taken his interest a bit farther and is fascinated with our United States President's. Lucky us, we found a fun facts book about the US President's at the Book Fair last week. Lucky us, Cameron has a Grandfather who majored in history in college and a Mother who minored in history in college. Score! (Although I can admit that I am a bit rusty on some of the facts. Thank god for Wikipedia. I feel like Michael Scott.)

Soooooo, Oh my.

We have taken the ball and ran with it.

There might be some memorizing going on, too.

After all, it seems very important to know that Charles Fairbanks was Vice President for Theodore Roosevelt.

Or that George Washington's dentures were made out of ivory and animal teeth. But, there is a debate that they were actually wooden. Did you know that??

What ever Cameron's interest lie in we hope to be able to foster them and help him to learn as much as he would like. In the mean time we will probably have all of the President's memorized in order very soon.

And, I was informed by young son that all he needs to complete his money collection is an Andrew Jackson.

A poem for me...

2011-05-08T17:31:00.008-05:00

My Mom

by Cameron Shook

My Mom is as pretty as a princess.

My Mom smiles when I am cute.

My Mom takes me to the movies.

My Mom cooks the best chicken sticks.

My Mom is the best at cooking.

Happy Mother's Day Love, Cameron

Dude, this works every time. I love it!

Happy Mother's Day to everyone!!

Prince of the Pond...

2011-05-06T21:34:00.009-05:00

Well, it was my Prince's Prince of the Pond week. One might ask, what is that?? You might call it Star of the Week in your neck of the woods but here in our first grade class you are...

Prince of the Pond!

Or Princess if you are a chick.

Here are a few photos from it...

Mr. Tree Frog needed to go some where with you and you needed to take a picture or two of your trip. Cameron was more concerned that everyone see in the one picture that he got to be the CATCHER!! rather than anything about the frog...

Thank you to Baked Blessings for the super cool frog cookies. They were the biggest hit! And tasted delicious as well.

Today was the school picnic and it was fun to get to eat outside on a beautiful (finally!) day. Thank you to our cool Dad for picking up Subway (Mr. Prince's request) and getting there in a timely manner. Impressive, Mr. Shook!

Signs...

2011-04-21T09:38:00.007-05:00

Signs that spring might actually be happening...

Although we've had enough rain, cold and frost to make me doubt!

A picture of our church annual All Daughter's Lunch!

Here's to warmer, sunnier and more pleasant weather! But, April Showers bring May flowers. What do May flowers bring??

Will you celebrate with me??...

2011-04-13T13:20:00.006-05:00

It's beginning to get really beautiful in Central Illinois. I have bulbs blooming, trees are flowering and some are beginning to bud as well. It does wonders for one's soul. But, today I have reason to celebrate. In fact I think it deserves capital letters... CELEBRATE!!! My good friend Heidi is doing really, really well and has received a clean bill of health. They are not using the "R" word for her cancer but they are unable to see any of that nasty disease on her last CAT scan which is FANTASTIC news!! I am thrilled for her, Michael and Sierra. I am thrilled for myself, honestly. She has been on my mind a lot. She deserves good news. Her last few months have been very rough. So, as we approach the day that Jesus rode into town on a carpet of palms I will celebrate the little victories in life. Easter is one of my favorite holidays. I absolutely love the deep meaning behind Easter. I love the re-birth of Easter. And this year I am truly celebrating!!

So, what have I been up to?...

2011-04-06T11:47:00.015-05:00

So I bet your thinking, what has she been up to lately?

OK, maybe not, but there have been some new things going on.

I'm all about order (although I don't think I can come up with 10 things to have a countdown) so I'll list them for you.

In no particular order...

1.) The official baseball season has started in Morton. Cameron, who is coached by the handsome Dad's of Mr. Shook and Mr. Majors, is on the CLEVELAND INDIANS!! I feel confident that we are the only family on the team happy that Mike had to arm wrestle other coaches for the distinguished honor of being the Indians.

The arm wrestling is alleged.

Miss Molly is on the fierce River Cats t-ball team and her first practice was rained (or more like winded, since were in Central Illinois) out on Monday. Major disappointment. Molly is the only girl on her team. I feel sure that she will be able to hold her own. The red baseball cleats will definitely help!

2.) Both girls are winding down their dance lessons and the dreaded, I mean, cherished recital will be here before we know it. The theme of the recital is movies and Molly is dancing to an adorable friends song from a Tinkerbell movie. It makes me get teary every time I hear it. Amanda is dancing to the theme from Annie. It is SO cute. And the best part is now she can sing the song. Little did any of my kids know that the song is from a movie. Note to self, rent Annie.

3.) I have re-joined the working world in a small capacity. I found, what appears, to be the perfect job working 2 days a week. I am working for a stamp and sign company that has been around since 1875. I work alone on the days I work and it has been an interesting experience. It's super quiet, but thank goodness for computers, my new Nook color and my ability to text. Thank goodness also for unlimited texting at the Shook household...

4.) Happily Mr. Shook and I celebrated 13 years of marriage on Monday. We had an AWESOME dinner out on Saturday that we enjoyed thoroughly. I highly recommend the chunky mango chutney scallops at Jonah's in East Peoria. Divine! I am one lucky girl that my life crossed paths with Mr. Shook back in about 1994. He is the yin to my crazy yang. His kiddos and myself adore him and I look forward to many, many years of fun times with him.

5.) Running season has started again...no, not for me! I am a running widow on Tuesday and Thursday evenings working up to the Steamboat race in Peoria in June. Between now and then there will be a half marathon that we will attend in Champaign as well as some other 5k's. I think this is the year for me to think about doing some of the walks that they offer at the races. After all, I need to keep up with Mr. Shook, right?

6.) Spring break is FINALLY approaching. My kiddos have off the week before Easter and the Ohio Grandparents are coming for a visit. The kids are very excited and it will be nice to have some company. Mr. Shook might actually take off a day of vacation and I have lots of ideas how to spend the day. Maybe a Chi town run? Hint, hint...

The funny things kids say...

2011-03-29T19:46:00.003-05:00

Last night Mr. Shook went to the library with Cameron. Mike owed a fine and Cameron found a 25 cent Knock, Knock Joke book he couldn't live without. So, 95 cents later (after the fine) we have had non-stop knock, knock jokes. Yikes. We might have to work on his delivery before we go public with them...

But, Cameron can say the darnedest things. Here are two things he said at dinner tonight...

We have had an on going battle with our kindergartner about putting foreign (bodily) objects in our mouth. Nose picking and now eye gunk. It makes me want to throw up in my mouth. Yuck. It's beyond gross and we know it. Anyway, we were explaining to her that not only is it yucky and germy, but also socially not acceptable. We really don't want her to get made fun of, although it might be very effective if she did. Mr. Shook concocted a story about a girl who picked her nose in kindergarten and then got made fun of and eventually had to move because of it. This girl had a name, Sue Williams, and the kids wanted to know details about her. I felt the hole getting bigger and bigger. Mr. Shook said that we wouldn't want to have to move because someone we know can't stop picking her nose. And then her thoughtful brother pipes in and says, "well only Molly would have to move." Nice.

Cameron loves updating us on the absences from his class at school. Today he told us about a boy that has been out since last Friday. Today they wrote him cards. I asked him if something happened to him. He said yes - I think he had his testicles removed. Ummmm...do you mean tonsils??

Happy St. Patrick's Day...

2011-03-17T18:34:00.004-05:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day from the Shook's!

Hope you have the luck of the Irish!!

And...Go Buckeye's!!!

Let's be honest...

2011-03-08T19:50:00.005-06:00

Let's be honest...

Do you really care what I ate for dinner tonight? No.

Do you really care that it's a tradition here in the Shook household. No, probably not.

Do you really care that I am giving up soda for Lent. Definitely not.

So let's be honest...

I am so sad tonight.

I don't want to get up from this computer to go give my children showers. I don't want to do anything. I am just going to be sad. But, I thank God every day that I can do things like showers. Even if I hate it.

My friend Heidi, who I've blogged about before, is putting up the fight of her life. And I live about 400 miles from her and can't do a thing. No, that's not true. I can do something, I can pray.

Heidi just finished her (hopefully!!) last chemotherapy treatment last week. And is now sick as a dog. And I can't even imagine. Since her second to last chemo treatment she spent almost 2 weeks in the hospital with a pulmonary embolism that was very, very painful. And scary. And now she is home, throwing up, tired and just worn out. But she is going to beat this stupid, cruel disease. She's just not going to kick it she's going to squash it to a pulp.

But, I'm still sad. On February 15th Heidi celebrated her 40th birthday. Her Mom told me today that on her birthday she got up, put on her wig, did her make up and put on real clothes. Heidi's daughter, Sierra who is 7, came home and was so happy. She told her teacher the next day at school that her Mommy looked so beautiful on her birthday.

Heidi, you look beautiful every day and it is as much on the inside as it is on the out. I wish I was closer so we could look at Pottery Barn catalogues and talk about your awesome sense of decorating. I wish we could eat hummus and chips and drink a lot of Coke. Screw Lent. :)

Because, after all, this is really what I should be blogging about. This is really what matters to me today.

Fat Tuesday...

2011-03-08T19:11:00.010-06:00

Wow, has it really been almost a month since I last had a blog post?? I sure act like my life has been busy or something.

Today is Fat Tuesday.

Please tell me that you know what I'm talking about or hopefully you even partake. I'm sure this just isn't another one of those awesome Ohio ideas. This is nationwide, right??

It's been a tradition in my family to always eat pancakes on this day. Mr. Shook was happy to partake in this particular tradition. We do it well.

Here are some pictures from our cinnamon rolls and chocolate chip pancake extravaganza...

Then we have our youngest on the flooring having a small tantrum because our sister wanted the pink cup...who's day is it, Amanda? Remember the post on our "day" calendar?

Here's everyone enjoying a Fat Tuesday yumm-o dinner!

Now down to the real business. What are you giving up for Lent? It's something Mr. Shook and I always do. I have to usually pick something that I really have been abusing. I knew exactly what I need to give up. I drank my last Polar Pop/Large Soda of the day today. This one will be hard but I know that is the point. After all, nothing significant about Easter is easy. I don't think there was one minute not hard about Jesus dying on the cross for me. What a truly painful way to die. The weight of the world on his shoulders.

Thank you, Jesus, for your sacrifice.

You took away the sins of the world.

I think I would make a great president...

2011-02-16T20:53:00.005-06:00

OK, this isn't the kind of post you might be thinking it is. I, personally, don't think that I would make a great president...OK, maybe I would (ha ha!) but this is a post by my boy who wrote this in his first grade class today. They have been studying about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln since they both have birthday's in February.

Here is Cameron's writing essay...again understand his spelling errors...

I think I would make a great President.

I am a good leader.

I would make the laws like no fighting and being bad.

I will save the corunry from bad guys.

Being president would be fun!

The other night Mike was helping Cameron do a puzzle of national monuments and buildings. Cameron pointed to the White House and said, "Is that where President Obama lives?"

Wow.

He really is learning!

100's day...

2011-02-02T12:17:00.012-06:00

Monday was a big deal in the life of a first grader and kindergartner.

It was 100's day!!!

That means that it was the 100th day of school. Cameron had to make a hat with 100 of something on it...

Additional view...

Molly had to take 100 of something food related to share with a class snack mix. We choose fruit loops!!

Cameron brought home a book that he had made in honor of the day.

I thought it was worth sharing...please understand some of our first grade spelling errors :)

My 100 Book

by Cameron

I wish that I had 100...brothers.

I would not want 100...sisthers.

I could eat 100...meat balls.

I could never eat 100...green beans.

I can lift 100...girls.

If I had $100 I would buy...a nurf gun.

On the first day of school I couldn't....read chapter books.

But on the 100th day of school I can...read chapter books.

I think not being able to eat 100 green beans is a direct shout out to Uncle Mark! Dudes have to stick together.

One fine day...

2011-01-24T15:42:00.011-06:00

Not all that long ago, unless you are now seven, a beautiful baby boy was granted to Michael Robert and Mary Beth Shook. I can remember a lot of the details like they were yesterday. We were so green! I remember Cameron fussing as they wheeled me in a wheelchair from labor and delivery to my room at the hospital. As he was fussing we were discussing the ways to calm him. I remember us deciding that making shhhh-shhhh-shhhh sounds would be what we should try. What??!! I also clearly remember being discharged and Mr. Shook going to the parking garage to get the car. I sat in a chair in my lovely room a puddle of tears. I pulled myself together only to start the waterworks again as I gingerly got in to the back seat of the car. (Now be honest, how many of you rode in the backseat with your newborns? We all did. Not for very long at this house, though.) I was completely overwhelmed and couldn't believe that the nurse didn't hop right in with us and come home to personally take care of the new baby. We had NO idea what we were doing. Two college educated people had no business taking this on! But, low and behold it worked out just fine and I think we did and are still doing a pretty good job.

Look at this cutie...

To this cutie...

to this bigger cutie...

to the 7 year old that we all know and love...

It sure was one fine day when you arrived, Cameron. Happy birthday to you!! We love you very, very much!

A new blog to check out...

2011-01-18T19:02:00.008-06:00

Hey Morton friends and those who are just lovers of reading blogs...
I have a new blog for you to check out...

http://www.acalltothefatherless.blogspot.com/

It's a new friends journey through the process of adoption from Ethiopia. Her writing is awesome and I think their story will be an awesome one to follow. So, check out Erin and her blog. I think you'll be glad you did!

Food war...

2011-01-17T21:54:00.004-06:00

Eek. What happened to me? Not that I think many of you were concerned, but I am still here. I just was uninspired/too busy/running around with like a chicken with my head cut off to blog. All kinds of ideas have swirled around in this "pretty little head of mine" (direct Mr. Shook quote) but I haven't taken the time to listen to them.

Yes. We had the holidays.
No. They didn't go as planned. What does, really?

But tonight we had a food war. I will preface the story by saying this RARELY happens here. So when it does maybe I'm thrown for more of a loop than I expect.

Today I made crock pot macaroni and cheese. I will also step in and say that it was not one of my 5 star meals. I'll even say it wasn't 4 stars. 3 stars might still be a stretch. But, it was a meal. I will also say that I knew in it's anticipation that it might not be good. I will consider myself pre-warned. But, I still had to try it. It was a meal that tasted better than it looked. Have you ever had one of those? Unless your Martha Stewart, I really hope you can go along with me here. Can you relate??

Needless to say I was anticipating a few turned up noses here. I thought maybe we should have a plan B but Mr. Shook said No. Everyone will try it.

Ok I said...and waited for the groans. I might even say that there has been a time or two where our youngest will say something looks yucky. Yucky??!! What could one possibly mean?? Ha ha.

We have been instilling the courtesy bite idea for a while. It usually works and then they realize, hey that isn't so bad (i.e. meatloaf). But, our dearest, oldest child wasn't falling for the courtesy bite tonight. No can do. Without giving the nitty gritty details, because after all, you've all been there, right?, we held our ground and made him try it. I think he was even more upset after his 2 sisters stabbed him in the back and said that it was good. After all aren't siblings suppose to stick together??!! The food war has begun and it wasn't pretty. There may or may not have been a tear or two, there may or may not have been a threat or two, there may or may not have been a bite the side of my cheek so I don't burst out laughing at how ridiculous you are acting Mr. almost 7 year old moment. Ugh. Maybe not our best parenting moment but then again was is our best parenting moment I ask you.

Unless your name is Carter Jones and you eat EVERYTHING!! I hope you can related in just a tiny way to our food war. These are the moments that will give us really good family memories, right?

And because I'm completely JEALOUS of the Jones' and their stellar eating boy is the only reason I can use him as an example. xoxo

Just so you know....

2010-12-14T15:56:00.003-06:00

I am totally making a Part 2 to my "Funny things people say at a very large retail giant store..." Mr. Shook doesn't love that I used the "K" word but I'm pretty sure I've protected the innocent. I already have some additions of new stories that will catch your funny bone AGAIN!!

In fact, today starts the big 15/20/30% scratch off sale so the crazys will be out! Stay tuned!

Funny things people tell you in the retail world...

2010-12-11T21:38:00.005-06:00

Believe me when I say I may have heard it all being out in the (scary) retail world. I thought I might include a few of my faves since I really need to lighten my bloggy world.

Side note: Nothing I say provokes these comments. I am innocent. Allegedly.

Me: What cute girls you have. Are they twins?
Mom: Nope. They are 10 months apart.
Me: Vision jaw hitting the ground: Oh.
Mom: Our oldest we adopted and then I found out I was pregnant.
Me: Oh OK! Doesn't God have a funny sense of humor (as I'm thinking shouldn't she have told me the details first!!)

Me: Would you be interested in opening a credit card? I am able to offer you 15% off of your purchases today.
Customer: I would NEVER get approved. When my last loser of a husband left me I had to file bankruptcy and I got stuck with all the bills. My credit sucks.
Me: Oh, OK. Do you have another form of payment?

Co-worker: Well, I hope that I can buy some Christmas gifts for my kids this year.
Me: I know, things can get really tough around the holidays.
Co-worker: Oh, well not because of the money. I'm just hoping that I'm not in jail in 2 weeks.
Me: Oh. (Silence.)
Co-worker: Well, you know, I got a DUI last spring and I was on probation.
Me: Oh. (Silence.) Ummm, did you do something that violated your probation?
Co-worker: I gave a dirty dump a few weeks ago.
Me: Oh. I'm not sure what that means.
Co-worker: Oh, well I was using and had to give a drug test and it came back positive. I thought for sure it had been enough time. It had been at least 3 or 4 days since I had last used.
Me: (Imagine jaw scraping the floor.) Oh. I guess that could be a problem.

Same co-worker (she's quite infamous at Kohl's but for some reason is friendly to me.): I need to write a check for what I'm buying. The address is wrong, the account number is wrong, the bank has changed names but the checks always go through.
Me: Oh. (Thinking...I hope I don't get fired for this.)

One phone call...

2010-12-09T12:17:00.005-06:00

I don't think that it's intuition that made me call my friend, Heidi, today. I just had an overwhelming feeling to give her a call. We hadn't spoke in several months, probably before school started. She's just one of those friends that I love to keep in contact with. She is another of those friends that even if you don't speak for months you can pick up the conversation in one breath. We do it really, really well, too! Heidi lived 2 doors down from me in Michigan and we met just days before Molly was born. We have been great friends since.

So I called her. And my breath was taken away.

She let me know that since our last conversation she had felt some womanly changes in herself and decided to pursue it with her gynecologist. Little did she know that the outcome would be ovarian cancer. I was floored. I was instantly sad. Life is not fair always. Heidi had surgery in October and recently finished her first round of chemo. Her prognosis is very good but she was still diagnosed with stage 3 cancer.

I wish for my friend God's comforting touch, God's healing power and a lifetime of joys. Please, if you feel inclined, say a prayer today for Heidi, her husband Michael and their 7 year old daughter, Sierra. Heidi rocks it as a Mom and it is truly her calling. Sierra is a wonderful little girl.

I also say to Heidi to kick this disease in it's ass.

You are an inspiration, my friend.

God is my fiernd...

2010-12-07T10:21:00.006-06:00

Some days one might wonder how good of a job that they might be doing on this whole parenting thing. Highs, lows, good days, bad days...we experience them all. Today in the car I noticed this on a notebook of Cameron's. Excuse his spelling errors.

God is my fiernd.
I love daddy.
I love mommy
I love God.
I love Jeues.

I am thankful for a partner who wants to raise our children learning to fall in love with Jesus. I am thankful for a caring church community who is helping us to raise our children to learn about God. I am thankful for a son who feels confident about his beliefs to write them in notebooks. I hope he always puts God and Jesus first.

How lucky am I.

Girlfriends...

2010-11-20T09:08:00.003-06:00

I am trying a first . A whole blog post on my phone. I have time to kill as I am on the train headed to the windy city to see my dearest friends in the world, Tami, Tracy and Julie. We use to do spa dates when I was in Cleveland and they are all in Columbus. But now I have moved some 350 odd miles away and we have all grown up. Between us we have 11 kids ranging from 12 to 18 months. We all have been married over 10 years. We all were at each others weddings. I was in 2 of theirs. One of us survived cancer and then went on to achieve her Phd. One of us is a teacher and the other owns a business with her husband. We all survived MANY heartbreaks during the college days and we all were sorority sisters. Pi, Pi, A Dee Pi! We are all really good wives and mothers. We are all really good friends. We all have new friends but one thing will never change. Even when we are apart, for long stretches of time, we will always be friends. My wish for you is that you ALWAYS have a friend like that.

Living with no regrets...

2010-11-03T10:08:00.006-05:00

Do you try to live life with no regrets? Do you try to do things "right" the first time. I know that I do, but not always very successfully. I have gotten upset at Mr. Shook or my children at times when it really didn't matter all that much. I have said something that didn't come out the way that I meant it. I have allowed myself to not be spontaneous and then been disappointed in my reaction. But, I think it's learning from these regrets that makes me a better friend, wife and mother.

Lately I have been having some regrets on the last few months of my Grandpa's life. I know it's the way life works out - I lived 480 miles away from him, I have 3 kids under 7, my husband is busy at work and we couldn't get to Ohio nearly as often as we should have...you catch my drift. I hope that Grandpa knew how much we all loved him. I think he did but I wish I could have had one last chance to tell him. I wish I could have hugged him one last time. I wish I could have heard Bether once last time.

Mr. Shook, my brother, my sister-in-law and myself are moving my parents to Illinois after Thanksgiving. It really feels like a whole chapter of my life is going to end. We have been Buckeye's for a very long time! I know that I will still have many reasons to go there and visit but things will be different. I guess it will eventually be like driving past an old house you use to live in. It's always a part of you but it becomes less and less of a memory over time. That can be said about the house on Pleasant Street but that could also be due to how scary it looks now!

If you are reading this it's probably because you are a friend or you are my family. Thank you to each and every one of you for appreciating my quirks, my sometimes weird sense of humor and for just appreciating me.

Because you are important to me and I say that with no regrets.

Simplicity...

2010-10-24T21:24:00.005-05:00

Now a days we are all about the games that light up, make sounds, have awesome graphics and are portable. We can take them anywhere. We have some of those and they are really quite handy. Great, superb for long car rides.

But, lately we have found that the simplest of games are once again really fun.

One of Cameron's math games a few weeks ago was an old-fashioned game of War where you had to add together the two cards to see who won the war. It was great addition practice and also a way to learn a new game. It's something simple like War that has had Cameron and Molly playing for hours. They even got Papa Choo in on the fun. A 3 way War.

Back to the basics...and fun learning!

40 and 2 days...

2010-10-18T15:14:00.007-05:00

I don't really feel any different at 40 and 2 days. Everything is pretty much about the same. I had a good weekend of birthday stuff. I got the tears out early on Saturday morning and enjoyed the rest of the day.

Here are a few highlights...

Flowers...

A friend of my family who still lives in Erie, PA was able to find my birth announcement from when I was 4 days old. Back in the day (how old does that make me sound!)they use to print in the newspaper when babies were born at local hospitals. If you look carefully you can see that a baby girl was born to Allan W. Hall and Pamela McMurray Hall. It was really neat to see this in print...

Mr. Shook took me to a really yummy dinner with great company. We had a wonderful time. Look what was on the menu...

I have a mani/pedi coming my way that I look forward to redeeming. I got the best hugs from my small people and lots of kisses. I am a lucky girl!

Crazy animals...

2010-10-13T08:51:00.003-05:00

The other day I was rushing around (typical) and was trying not to be late to leave (double typical) and I needed everyone to get dressed. I had laid out all the kiddos clothes on our bed and they were getting changed. I was doing the same myself. I walked out of our bathroom with my shirt on but not my pants. Here's the conversation that took place:

Amanda - "Mommy, I like your zebra underwear."

Cameron - "Those aren't zebra underwear, their cheetah."

Time to go back to the basic beige.

Lists...part one...

2010-10-11T21:27:00.012-05:00

I love lists. I love to compile ideas. And, I love blogs. It is a really, really small bloggy world out there. My Aunt got me hooked on a blog that is written by a college friend of someone my Aunt used to work with. I have followed it for quite a while. I have it as a link on my own blog. Then, a childhood/college friend of mine emailed me and said that he knew the author of the blog. Her name is Stacey and she is best friends and was maid of honor at his wedding. So, in other words, Stacey went to high school and is best friends with Red's wife. And even more ironic is that my Aunt knows Red also but we didn't know the connection until Red told me. And to think that Stacey and I were at the same wedding reception and we didn't even know each other. But, Mr. Shook and I were having fun with the Rogowski's and that might explain a lot...

Anywho, not at all the point of my post.

Stacey at www.anymommyouthere.blogspot.com compiled a list and I'm going to copy it. Anymommy stole the idea from another blog so I'm just doing the same...

It's about books.

Books I've read more than 3 times: To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

Author that blows me away with brilliance: Khaled Hosseini (The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns) Both of these books blew me away. Beautifully written and completely transported me into the story. Amazing.

Authors I choose time and time again: Jodi Picoult, Anita Shreve

I'm Currently Reading: Unbinding Your Heart by Martha Reese (Bonus points from Amy??)

Best books I've read this year: I honestly haven't read that much but I did have some serious thinking after reading Keeping Faith by Jodi Picout. I recommend for some faith searching.

Could not finish classic: I really struggled with The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. Somebody please assure me that this one is worth sticking out.

Could not finish modern: The Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Best book I've ever read: Wow. Hard to pick just one or two. I am a huge lover of The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. Unbelievable story from start to finish. I also loved Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding. I love the sarcasm of British humor.

Guilty Pleasure: Jane Green. She writes chick books that are pretty fluffy but hold my attention.

Book that tons of people loved that I hated: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. Hated it. Couldn't relate. Hate it even more that Oprah loved it.

Ok, your turn. I want to add to my must read list. Give me a suggestion, please. I know that I will find more time to do something that I absolutely love to do...READ!!

It's October...

2010-10-04T14:09:00.006-05:00

and that means our girl is a "Calendar Girl" this month.

Remember this...

It's hard for us to believe that it's been a year since the Children's Hospital of Illinois calendar was unveiled and it's been 14 months since the picture was taken. Molly has been doing wonderful since then and she just looks so much healthier. I know it doesn't sound like a lot but Molly had lost 4 pounds by February 2009 and it took months and months to put it back on. Her color wasn't all that good and she seem to look really thin to us. She's still a skinny minny but that is more genetic than sickly now. She probably has only gained a pound since she gained back the weight but it's a healthy pound and we know it's her metabolism kicking in. Kindergarten has been wonderful and she is learning so much. We hope you celebrate with us the joy of the wonderful children featured in the calendar. It is an awesome fundraiser and we look forward to seeing the calendar for 2011.

Happy October!

Young Jedi...

2010-09-30T15:56:00.005-05:00

Cameron was lucky enough to participate in a Jedi Training during Pumpkin Festival.

I now present to you Padawan Cameron Shook...

Jedi training was the perfect thing for our young Star Wars FANATIC. It was a two thumbs up experience!

May The Force Be With You!

Poetry...

2010-09-28T19:20:00.005-05:00

I had to share Cameron's poetry that he wrote. He was home from school today and bored so he started writing.

There was a young boy named Cameron and
there was a good princess named Molly.
There was a queen named Beth and
there was an old king named Mike.

There was a clown named Max and an old clown
named Dax. He can climb Max. Max can't come
he has to do balls. Dax had nine balls.
There was a baby named Mya. She went shopping
for some diapers.

We're over our pumpkin hangover...finally...

2010-09-26T20:55:00.009-05:00

What an exciting and exhausting 4 days we had with Pumpkin Festival here in town. I might have to break my days in to several posts so I can share all the great photos. Unfortunately, our girl was not Miss Pumpkin Princess but Molly still had a great time with the whole experience. Molly's confidence is so remarkable to me. She isn't afraid of going up on stage in front of a large group of people. I thought I might need to put my head between my knees for her but she did awesome. The biggest treat was that she got her picture on the front page of the Peoria Journal Star the morning after the pageant. It was very exciting and caused quite a cool buzz.

Here is our pumpkin princess...

And then here's our pumpkin princess doing what she really wanted to do...

We love the rides!! (Their Mom, not so much!)

What have you been up to?...

2010-09-15T09:34:00.012-05:00

What have you been up to lately? Here's what we've been doing...

Mr. Shook has run a few races, one in Manito, IL and one in Delavan, IL and the kids did a fun run in Delavan. And, Mr. Shook ran his third half marathon this past Sunday in Peoria and finished in under 2 hours, which was his goal. Yea!

We did our annual corn maze here in town and the kids had a blast doing it. I highly recommend it if you want some fun on a beautiful day...

And we figured out all the clues...can you??

Molly is doing a kindergarten aged soccer clinic which she is really enjoying...

Tonight is the beginning of PUMPKIN FESTIVAL!!! Can you feel the excitement?? Molly is performing in the Miss Pumpkin Princess Pageant tonight so that should be cute and fun. Pictures to follow...

More new things...

2010-09-08T21:23:00.006-05:00

I can't believe the weekend came and went but it is official that we have lived in Morton, Illinois 2 years. Mr. Shook had his 2 year CAT anniversary back in August so here we are. I have told many people that I really think it takes just about 2 years to get familiar, have an identity and make friends in a new place. It can be a really hard thing to do. You really have to be able to put yourself out there. I can do it, I just don't want to have to do it too many more times. I am pretty happy here.

With that said, our little 3 year old experiences new things all the time. This week was 2 big ones!

Our first day at preschool...

and our first ballet lesson...

Both went well, at both she was slow to warm up and I have faith that at both it will go better next time. Luckily for Amanda she has a nice big sister who held her hand through most of her ballet class and did it with her. My heart was swelling at the sight.

Chicken Sticks? Chicken Sticks!

2010-09-07T10:22:00.003-05:00

I have gotten my boy over his anxiousness of buying his lunch at school. He did it 2 times last week and rocked it. He plans on buying about once a week and thought today's menu would suit him. I sent him on his way ready to purchase a yummy school lunch: corn dog, applesauce, oven fries, milk...perfect!

Today was Amanda's first day to be dropped off at preschool and the preschool teachers ask that you leave your cell phone in the car.

Wish everyone at Kohl's thought the same way...

In the time I dropped her off at school dearest husband had received a call at work from the school.

No corn dogs today.

What?? What!!

4 boys, mine included, felt that they just couldn't eat the chicken sticks offered today so they all came to the office and asked for a call home. Mr. Shook told the office that I would come to his rescue.

Does this sound weird, but I am so glad that I was able to do that for Cameron. How fortunate am I, that even in a trivial issue like no corn dogs, I can come through for my son. I really think this is what being a Mom is all about and I am ecstatic that I could do it.

Sounds silly, doesn't it?

I don't care, I'm thrilled!

And...he was so happy to see me!! Double bonus!

Musical chairs

2010-09-01T21:28:00.006-05:00

As it goes with the first few days of school you rarely stay in the seat that you were originally assigned. The teacher quickly figures out who can sit by who and who shouldn't sit by who. Talking and whispering are 2 of the things that can get your seat moved. Both Cameron and Molly's teachers did some rearranging after the first few days. Molly told me that the boy next to her got his seat moved because he kept kicking her...

or was it something else??

Today on the playground a new Mom I have met recently says to me I heard why Davey (names changed to protect the not so innocent) got his seat moved away from Molly. I said that I heard it was because he kept kicking her. She says that she heard it different from her son who sits across from Molly. Her son said it was because Davey kept trying to kiss Molly.

EXCUSE ME...IN HEAVEN'S NAME HE WAS DOING WHAT??!!

I then realized that maybe what I thought had been kicking was truly kissing and I had to laugh out loud. Seriously?? In kindergarten??

I asked my girl about it and she got so embarrassed. I'm afraid her reaction (imagine huge big blue eyes) made me realize that this could possibly be true.

Thank you, kind Kindergarten teacher, for protecting my girl. They only boy she better be kissing is her dear old Dad.

Watch it, Mr. 5 year old. I am on to you!

Oops I did it again...

2010-08-30T12:54:00.005-05:00

Note to self...do not make Mr. Shook mad.

He wasn't that pleased with my last post about America's Funniest Home Videos. The story isn't quite what really happened he says. Cameron was watching something else on the TV and that is the show that came on immediately afterwards. Mr. Shook just didn't change it. Truly, the whole thing was very innocent. Apparently I'm being accused of being a bit dramatic.

ME???

NO WAY, I SAY!

Mr. Shook wants me to let the whole bloggy world know that I watch bad TV, too. I think I may have admitted this before but I will share the following...

Mr. Shook doesn't not give one hoot who Ochocinco picks to be his real/not real girlfriend/lady/baby mama, he doesn't care if T.O gets an acting job instead of football, he isn't at all impressed with what girl "the situation" finds to join him in the Miami hot tub and he is equally disturbed that I knew the name Bentley was one of the babies born on Teen Mom. I think your probably catching his drift now.

I have the absolute best husband in the world and my kiddos have the absolutely best father in the whole wide world. He works hard for everything he provides for us and we love him so, so much. Mr. Shook was disappointed that I didn't share what our real world is about. Here are some pictures to show it...

We are in soccer mode here and it has been quite a learning experience. More about that later...

Something I detest...

2010-08-29T20:01:00.010-05:00

My blog post today is going along with my mood...grouchy. But I feel it necessary to vent just a tad.

Today I ran to the store to get a few things that I needed to prepare a healthy and well-balanced lunch for the cherished 1st grader in this house. 1st grader didn't go along but his 2 sisters did. Darling hubby was doing some work on his computer and he reported that the 1st grader said the dreaded words...I'm bored, I don't know what to play.

So what does darling husband do...introduces his son to corrupt TV, oh, I mean shows him America's Funniest Home Videos. I would rather gouge my eyeballs out with toothpicks that watch that show. Or any show where people are taped getting hurt and others find it funny.

Guess what...

IT ISN'T FUNNY!

I seriously don't get that show.

It isn't funny when a grown man falls and hurts his privates, it isn't funny when a cat falls off of something high and it isn't funny when a baby slips and falls when learning to walk.

NONE OF THAT IS FUNNY...to me.

With that said I will also never watch World's Worst Car Chases, World's Worst Tsunami's, Largest Earthquakes and their Disasters, Unsolved Mysteries, Deadliest Kidnapping Stories, I think your probably catching my drift.

I am not mad at my darling hubby but I wish he wouldn't have turned the innocent boy to the dark side. I know that there are worse things to see on TV but this is my one thing that I'm allowed to be a little weird about.

Actually, in case you didn't know already I do have more than just one thing I'm weird about but that is another post.

A really long one.

Adjustments...

2010-08-27T08:33:00.004-05:00

Today we will finish our second week of First grade and Kindergarten. We are still adjusting to getting up early (remember when I thought anything before 7 am was the middle of the night!), eating lunch at school, the longer day for first grade and all the rules and expectations.

Cameron still isn't eating the best at lunch but this is the second day that he has agreed to take a yogurt in his lunch and I feel a little better now. He rarely has drank any of his drink and I can't believe he's not thirsty. He says he's not and that he doesn't have much time. It seems like everything in first grade is rushed and he doesn't have much time. Maybe I have a pokey boy.

Kindergarten has been a breeze for my girl. I really think her introduction to school last year in her early childhood class has made her transition super easy. She is use to the routine, although Kindergarten is quite a lot less playing, and Molly already was familiar with the specials that they have. Gym, library, computers, music. Today those who have remained on green for the week will get to go to the treasure box. A huge deal and we will show our treasure soon!

Maybe the biggest adjustment has been for me. I'm trying to figure 1st grade out as much as my boy. I sometimes hate that he has to be the guinea pig for our family but he is pretty good about it. Today on the way to school Cameron informs me that some kids have been bringing a jacket to school because they are cold in class. I ask if he is cold in class. He tells me yes. I feel defeated. I really wish he would have said something BEFORE we were already on our way to school. I really wish I could read his mind and know before he even asks. I guess even the Mom's who really try hard don't know everything. There is still room for improvement!

Some kind of storage thingy...

2010-08-23T22:12:00.006-05:00

I really try and do my part in keeping my world a slight shade of green. I'm not great at it but I do put forth the effort. I am really struggling with how to handle Cameron's lunch differently and the be kind to the environment. I feel like I am using a ton of Ziploc baggies to make his lunch. He wants everything separate (not a fan of foods mixing yet) and therefore everything then has it's own baggie. I am envisioning a container I can use that has several compartments to keep things separate. Kind of like a divided plate with a snap on lid. Does anyone know if anything like this exists? Has to be able to fit in a lunch box, too. One of you clever Mom's will have an idea for me. And I already checked out Wal-Mart and they didn't have what I was looking for.

My poor boy comes home starving every day. He says he doesn't have a lot of time to eat. I'm guessing it's about 20 minutes. I hope that we can find a happy medium on lunches so that he eats enough/more and still enjoys it. This is all part of starting first grade, right?

Week one under our belts...

2010-08-20T15:22:00.004-05:00

We have made it through the first week of first grade and Kindergarten! Here are the traditional first day pictures...

Here are some of our highlights...

- Getting to eat at the peanut-free table with a new friend (Cameron)

- Getting to color (Molly)

- Getting to go in the boys bathroom for the tornado drill (Molly)

- Getting to go on the playground after lunch (Cameron)

- Meeting new friends (Both!)

I think this is going to be a good year. At least the first week has been great! Stay tuned...

Friday, August 13, 2010...

2010-08-16T00:19:00.016-05:00

All of us that knew my grandfather can think of many, many things that he was good at and enjoyed.

Woodworking, reading, gardening, farming, fixing just about anything, trivia, puzzles (especially Wheel of Fortune)...Grandpa was good at many things.

But the one thing that I kept coming back to was actually something he wasn't very good at. It was being alone.

For the past 4 years my grandpa has been very lonely. Yes, he had his 3 daughters very close to him but the love of his life had gone before him and that left him feeling very alone. You see, when you are married to your bride for 64 years, when you have given your heart and soul to someone, when you have raised a wonderful family together that might just happen.

There is a very popular set of verses from the bible that might sound familiar to you that represent my grandfather's love...

1 Corinthians Chapter 13 verses 4-13:

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. but where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled, where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. but the greatest of these is love."

If you don't mind please allow me one good minute to boast. I am standing before you to say that our family should be darn proud of ourselves. Mac and Eva McMurray raised 3 smart, competent, beautiful (inside and out) women who married strong, competent and supportive men who all know that with faith, hope and especially love you can raise children who are smart, competent and beautiful people. Thank you grandpa for always, always putting your family first. Pam, Michele and Kris can give countless examples of how you went without so that they always had. And I know that they have all done the same for their children. I am the woman, wife and the parent I am today because of the values that you taught all of us, Grandpa.

It use to break my heart to think that my Grandpa was so lonely but we all can be comforted today knowing that he isn't alone, isn't in any pain, and has been reunited with my Grandma.

I miss you Grandpa but I am so happy that you are now our angel.

Hello, Kindergarten parents...

2010-08-08T23:12:00.007-05:00

It's coming.

I know it's coming.

Or at least I assume it's coming.

Probably by Friday we will receive a voicemail from the Kindergarten teachers welcoming us to Lincoln school and then inviting us to bring our kindergartner and their school supplies to school on Monday. Kind of a drop them off, see the room, meet the teacher hour. And the reason I know this is because I am some what of a veteran Kindergarten parents. I did this same thing exactly one year ago.

It's a cute voicemail. The teachers introduce themselves and tell you how excited they are to start school. I should have it memorized since I just deleted Cameron's welcome message this afternoon. I just couldn't part with the voicemail. It made me tear up every time I heard it. And I just couldn't delete it until today because keeping it kept my boy a kindergartner all summer even though he's been a first grader since the end of May. This is definitely one of those "OH MOM!" moments.

So I will be prepared this year. I will not cry, I will hold it together. After all I am a season veteran.

But, my Molly only goes to kindergarten once.

August 6, 2009 to August 6, 2010...

2010-08-06T14:27:00.005-05:00

One year later!

It has been one year since Molly had her last set of stents removed from her ureters and she has been problem free! I have been looking forward to this day for quite a while. And I actually forgot about it until we went to do school registration yesterday which was the day Molly had the stents removed last year. I had to go look it up in my old calendar to verify. It is such a sigh of relief that one year later she hasn't had any infections, kidney issues or hospitalizations. Things have been really good for her!!

On another note I would like to ask for prayers for my Grandfather, Richard McMurray or Mac as he is more commonly known. He is very ill and in the hospital in Akron, Ohio. I am worried about him as he has multiple issues going on. The one the doctors are focusing on first is treating him for pneumonia. My Grandpa will be 90 in December so making him comfortable and helping him to breathe better are important right now. Any prayers are appreciated! I've been doing a lot myself.

27 days...

2010-08-02T22:41:00.005-05:00

We have had a first here.

This is really quite a stride for The Shook's.

27 days represents something for us in the month of July.

27 days of NOT EATING OUT OR EATING FAST FOOD!!

Unbelieveable.

But, really not that hard and I'm not sure I even really missed it. And I mean the fast food part. It's nice every once in a while to eat out. It can actually be fun. But we are really trying to do everything in moderation.

No running through McDonald's, no stopping at Jimmy John's or Subway. No LaGondola. Now I'm not going to say that every meal here was gormet, but I fixed 27 dinners. And some of them were pretty darn creative and yummy.

I rewarded the kids by making a trip to McDonald's on Friday with some friends. We actually ate inside, which we rarely do, and I have to say that I immediately remembered that I don't even really like McDonald's. Of course, the kids had a blast so I can see where a treat, every now and then, is actually a good thing. A sacrifice from their Mom!

Less eating out is also good for the wallet. It can get really expensive for us to eat out. For a family of 5, who's small people don't actually eat that much, we can't leave McDonald's without spending $20. That's kind of ridiculous when you think about it.

I think this is an experiment that we will continue for a while. It's a healthier choice, too!

What we are thankful for...

2010-07-29T22:24:00.007-05:00

I may have shared this before, but for our dinner grace we go around the table and share something that we are thankful for each day. Of course we start with the kiddo who's day it is and work our way around. Here's how tonight's went...

Molly: I am thankful for the last day of swimming lessons and that Big Abbey is coming over tomorrow.

Cameron: I am thankful for my health, Daddy's job, Mommy's job, the last day of swimming lessons and that Big Abbey is coming over tomorrow. Oooooooh, and this yummy dinner. (Bonus points for that one, Son.)

Amanda: I am thankful for going off the diving board tomorrow, church in the park and ring - around - the - rosy.

To be 3 and to be thankful for such fun and innocent things. Amanda gives the best what I'm thankful for's because we never know what she's going to say. She's thankful for church in the park a lot. And a good day at Sunday School (on a week day). We might be doing something right here!

But, I have no idea about the jumping off the diving board part. Not happening. I wasn't even planning on going to the pool!

And, to clarify, Big Abbey is one of our sweet baby-sitters who unfortunately got the name Big Abbey because Molly has a 5 year old friend she calls Little Abbey. Big Abbey is hardly big. All 75 pounds of her.

Sk8er Boi

2010-07-28T14:15:00.006-05:00

So today my 3 year old was running around singing...

He was a skater boy,

She said see you later boy.

This is what my life has come to. Anything, ANY SONG, played on Radio Disney is like crack to my kids. Remember my liquid crack was McDonald's Frappes. Well their crack is Radio Disney. We listen to it ALL THE TIME. And, it really isn't that bad.

They know a lot, and I mean A LOT of popular songs now. I challenge anyone to a kid version of Name That Tune. All 3 of them, but especially Molly, will smoke you. I would almost bet money. Another positive to the constant entertainment of Radio Disney is that our car satellite radio displays the name of the song and the artist. Cameron has learned to read almost every song name and who sings it from the display. If it's ever important to be able to read Demi Levato we have that covered.

It has also become a contest to see who can yell at the top of their lungs first the name of the song. "Today was a Fairytale by Taylor Swift. I said it first, I said it ha ha I said it first!" Imagine this almost every time a new song comes on.

It is very comical entertainment for Mike and I in the car and I have actually caught myself listening to it when no one under the age of 6 is in the car.

SCARY.

And in case you didn't know the lyrics at the beginning of this post it is a song entitled Sk8er Boi by Avril Lavigne. I said it first, I did!!!!! I know this song, you didn't!! Ha ha!

These things I know to be true...

2010-07-22T13:16:00.006-05:00

I have been compiling a mini-list of things that I now know to be very, very true. Here are a few...

- It's a good chance when your stomach hurts that you are in need of a 15 minute private water closet visit. Try it.

- Water really, really does quench your thirst.

- No matter how old you are you are always some ones child.

- Cheese that comes individually sliced in cellophane will never taste good nor will I really call it cheese.

- The cure for a bad day can really be a 32 ounce, crushed ice Coke.

- The above world solver does indeed account for 440 calories. That totally sucks.

- Giving your worries to God really does help.

- Stepping on a Lego smarts. The impression it makes on your foot will just piss you off.

- There is absolutely no way, and I mean no way, that I think I could live anywhere without air conditioning. Once you have it it's hard to go back. I'd probably have it in Alaska.

- I'm pretty sure that Twilight is overrated. No, I'm positive. But, with that said there is nothing like an excellent book that transports you to another time, another place where real thinking and emotions happen. Unfortunately, Twilight hasn't done that for me. But, I am pushing myself through Eclipse in case I haven't gotten to the really good part yet.

- My son is not playing flag football. (Let's see if Mr. Shook is reading like he tells me he is!)

What do you know to be absolutely true?

Our Angel...

2010-07-21T10:54:00.014-05:00

Yesterday my Grandmother would have been 90 years old. She died in 2006 and she lived a very good life. But, it wasn't without daily pain as she suffered from rheumatoid arthritis and that disease was very debilitating. My Grandma could hardly walk at the end without any assistance. It got to the point where she had to be taken care of around the clock in a care facility. The care givers were wonderful to both my Grandma and my Grandpa, who visited her every day. They were married 64 years and devoted to each other until the end. It is a great example for my whole family of enduring love.

At dinner last night I was explaining to Cameron and Molly that today my Grandma would have been 90 years old. I asked them if they knew anyone else that old. We talked about what a long life that would be.

Then the questions started.

My, had I opened a can of worms.

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad we opened them but the conversation went in a completely different direction that I imagined.

The kids don't remember my Grandma so I got out some pictures to show her to them. They thought it was funny that one of the pictures is my Grandma holding Cameron when he was just an infant. They were having a hard time understanding that this Grandma is the Mom to Grandma Choo (my Mom). Then the questions began with "where is Great-Grandma now?, why does Papa Mac (my Grandfather) live by himself?, does Great-Grandma have a rock on her head? (I'm pretty sure this means a tombstone), and what does Great-Grandma do in heaven?"

Oh my.

Of course, I did all of this solo while Mike was not home.

We talked about heaven, we decided that Great-Grandma is now our angel and she watches over us. I explained how my Grandpa takes care of himself but now lives in a smaller apartment where nice people help him (he lives in assisted living now). Molly cried and told me that she doesn't want to die and wants to live to be 100.

Sweetie, I hope you do to. You have a long life ahead of you.

I told her she had to become a Mommy first and I had to be a Grandma some day. We called all of her Grandparents and they all assured her they were doing just fine. She seemed much better after that but I'm sure little therapy will be in order. It was a healthy, beautiful conversation that made me cry, too. We try to be as honest as we can with our children. My parents always were when we were growing up and it made things less scary. I think some day, when necessary, we will have kids who can face some of these fears with confidence and not feel blind-sided.

It makes me sad to know that my Grandma never met, never held, never had a chance to make a blanket for my Amanda. There have been 3 more babies in our family also. Lily, Evan and Sadie. My Grandparents have 8 great grandchildren!! My Grandma would have loved all of them.

But, I feel reassured knowing we all have our own Angel...

Hunger Pangs...

2010-07-19T16:10:00.010-05:00

Believe it or not I have gone to the gym, consistently, 2 weeks in a row!

Can you hear Mr. Shook mumbling under his breath that he is glad that I have finally taken advantage of the membership he got us?

I have been very conscious about the food choices I have been making, too. Minus last Tuesday, with my Abigail circle girls, when someone had brought the very tempting brownies and I felt that I should really make sure that they were safe for everyone to eat. All be darn, they were!

Here are a few of what I have been picking for my hunger pangs. Don't give me the carrots, celery and other cut up veggies. Oh no, when I am needing something it has to be small and sweet.

This is a real treat. If you get to a Trader Joe's pick yourself one of these bars. Organic dark chocolate with raisins and pecans...heavenly! One square for me and then it goes back to the freezer. Yummo!

My middle child and I love both of these things. We love our "big raisins" and we split an orange. Helps your tummy and then helps the other end, too. We are all about being "regular." Plus it's another yummy treat from Trader Joe's. Pick some pitted prunes up on your next visit. Molly and I will tell you that they are the best!

When you need a little sweet and refreshing taste these bite size York Peppermint Patties to the trick. Can you see I have a dark chocolate theme here?

I am experimenting with other lo-cal snacks so more later...
Happy healthy snacking!

Waiting with your breath held, right?...

2010-07-16T13:27:00.014-05:00

I'm sure that all my bloggy friends have been holding their breath to receive an update on our potty situation. Well, guess what...?

SHE

COULD

CARE

LESS!

Surprised? I'm not.

This hasn't been nearly as successful as I might have hoped. In fact I would call it one big fat failure. What is a Mom to do about it? Drowned her sorrows in a Polar Pop? Don't tempt me!

I have decided that we might just have to give up our beloved spot at the preschool, we might have to accept that fact that we don't have a little Einstein on our hands, and I might have to admit that I am not the Super-Mom that you might have thought me to be. I had you fooled, right?

Instead we have been doing things like this...

Filling old water bottles with rocks, grass, ants, sticks...

Then have our brother practice his reading to his little sister while she just sits, and sits and sits some more...

Have a popsicle while sitting some more...

Build creative Lego creations and take all kinds of pictures of them (Mom's job)...

Making a royal wet mess in the back yard and loving it!...

If we go potty great, if not that's going to have to be OK, too. You see, I've decided that I do actually have a little Einstein on our hands because she is certainly smart enough to know that she can go potty. All the control is in the hands of one newly three year old. She IS pretty smart!

The pain has begun...

2010-07-10T13:02:00.006-05:00

I can't believe I am sharing this for the whole world, or at least my bloggy friends, to see...I am not one who usually wants to share the potential defeats in her life.

Here is what I am staring down today...

Do you know what these are for??

That's right...

IT'S POTTY TIME!!

Cutie created a potty chart this morning, of course wearing the sacred Ohio State Trickerleader outfit. (That's what cutie calls it!)

I don't have a really great feeling that we are going to be super successful so a little prayer might be helpful. Miss Amanda's brother and sister are breathing down her neck (and mine) to get this pain over with. I think they are feeling hostage to the stickers and Smarties. We are on our second Capri Sun so there has to be some pee in there, right? I have to go myself just talking about all the liquid! Dearest Daddy has promised Culver's to his little one if she successfully pees 2 times on the potty. For the love of all things yummy, please do it, Amanda!!

I'm not due for a highlight on the locks for 2 weeks. After this experience I may need it done soon!

Wish us luck!! And don't judge me if this isn't successful!

Northeast Ohio, home of the...

2010-07-08T17:34:00.003-05:00

LOSERS!!!

It's 5:35 central time, a little less than 2 1/2 hours away from The Decision (aka Lebron's announcement) and the more time passes the more angry I feel myself getting. I know, I know. His decision is not based on loyalty, it's based on the green stuff. It's based on how big his ego can be stroked. It's based on warmer freaking weather. All of us from NE Ohio all know this. But it still stinks. No, really it sucks! There I said it. How many times have we been down this road? Seriously.

Remember The Shot. Put a knife in my heart Michael Jordan.

Remember game 7 of the 1997 World Series? That one really hurt.

Remember The Fumble. Gosh, do I dislike John Elway still. 22 years later. Did Ernest Byner ever play another game for the Browns?

I remember heroes like Bernie Kosar, Orel Hershiser, Craig Ehlo, Omar Visquel, Jim Thome. Players who put their heart and sole into Cleveland only to come up short.

I'm not really that big of a Cavaliers fan. I don't really like to watch NBA games. But, I will always be die hard to Cleveland and it's a really hard city to be a fan for year after year. Please, PLEASE don't disappoint LBJ. I will officially have to not let my son be a fan of yours. I will never buy a Nike product with your likeness on it. I won't even drive through Bath and try to spy on your compound. It will be over.

Then on the other hand, if you shock the crap out of me I will first have to visit the bathroom, I'll probably cry and then be a fan for life. It's that simple.

Things to say, just seem so busy...

2010-07-05T23:08:00.014-05:00

I can't believe how long it's been since I updated my blog. You would think I had been busy or something! Between vacation, VBS, a little get-away for myself and Mr. Shook as well as the 4th of July things have been kind of hectic...

We had a great time visiting with both of our families in Ohio. The highlight of the week was probably our trip to Cedar Point. We all had a blast and Cameron is already saying, "when we got back next year..." . It was really fun! It's pretty much the same as I remember from the good old days (did you know I worked there a summer in college??!!) but a few things have changed. The biggest being my fear (which is new since 1991) of the rides that go too fast aka roller coasters. I went on the Iron Dragon and the good old Gemini and that about did me in. Mr. Shook reverted back to 1988 and rode quite a few of the big coasters. I think Mr. Shook had a blast! Thank you Regan and Cailin for needing an extra rider and letting Uncle Mike be that guy!

After we came back to Illinois our church's VBS started and what a week that was! Here's where I spent most of my time helping out...

This is Chadder...

and here is our map of God Sightings...

God sightings were ways that the kids shared things that they saw in the world that was evidence of God's presence. You can imagine some of the creative answers that I got! I showed a video to the preschool classes each night and then shared a little something about a bible verse or story. I was so glad to be able to help out even in a small capacity. Our vacation bible school rocks!

Here is Molly and her friend Abbey...

My pictures aren't very good from the end of the week program (too much kid movement!) but here is Cameron and Molly both singing their hearts out!...

We spent last night celebrating the 4th of July with some friends at the Peoria Cheifs game and then watching the Peoria fireworks from the stadium. Probably the best part of the whole night was the kids getting to run the bases after the game. What a fun time!...

What a great Daddy for running with our small fry, too! Hope everyone had a great 4th! I can't believe that summer is 1/2 over already!

Happy Father's Day...

2010-06-19T22:30:00.005-05:00

We are headed out in the morning to spend some time with both of our families in Ohio. We are spending a few nights with Mike's brother in Bowling Green and then a few nights with my family in Toledo. We are hitting all of the Northwest Ohio hot spots with the highlight being a day at Cedar Point! I'm excited to go and show it to the kids. It is soooo long ago that I spent a summer there working. What a summer!

Tomorrow is Father's Day and I hope all the Dad's out there have a wonderful day. I have to say that my kids hit the bonanza, the numero uno, the savior of all Dad's when they got Mike as their Daddy. I know that there are a lot of really great Dad's out there in the world, heck some of you reading this know of your own, but Mike is hands down first class when it comes to being a Dad. His children absolutely adore him and he gives it 110%. I know at the end of the day he can be really tired but he still puts his best foot forward for his kids.

Michael, we love you and hope you know how much we appreciate all you do for our family! You ROCK!

A huge thank you...

2010-06-18T14:24:00.009-05:00

A few weeks ago we had some friends over to celebrate Molly and Amanda's birthday's. It was a fun time and Mr. Shook and I decided instead of gifts we would like to try something different. We asked our friends to bring new and unopened craft and art supplies so we could donate them to the local Children's Hospital. It was a hit and we got so much great stuff. The kids and I dropped them off today...

We owe a huge thank you to The Sullivan's, The Majors', The Bair's, The Tewksbury's, The Hall's, The Grieder's and The Anderson's for helping us to make the donation such a success! We all help make a huge difference today!

It's hard for me to believe that a year ago today Molly was having her last surgery that corrected all the kidney and ureter problems that she had been having. Kind of ironic that I realized that as I was getting ready to drive to the hospital. These fun supplies will bring lots of smiles to some very sick and scared children. I think we will need to make this a yearly thing.

Thank you everyone!! Thank you friends!!

The new pool...

2010-06-12T12:26:00.005-05:00

We started swimming lessons this past week for Cameron and Molly. They both have done lessons with parent (Mike!) before in Michigan but we hadn't done any yet here in Morton. Last year when Molly had surgery in June we were not allowed to get in a pool until mid-August or in other words, after all the summer fun had passed. We are taking advantage of the new pool that opened up over Memorial Day here in town. It is very nice and will provide lots of fun!

While Cam and Molly are taking their lesson I am able to take Amanda in the kiddie part of the pool which has a fun water area. Here are some pictures from our last visit...

One of the fun things about the swimming lessons is the chance to jump off the diving board at the end. My girl needed a little coaxing but she did it! I got a few pictures from that...

We hope to enjoy more times at the cool pool!

Amanda Halle...

2010-06-07T23:14:00.006-05:00

Today my baby turned 3. It seems just like yesterday that Mike and I drove uneventfully to the hospital for Amanda to be born. When you have a scheduled c-section there isn't much drama to it. It was a typical c-section birth for a not so typical baby. She has always been a spit fire, opinionated, afraid of very little and attached to her Mommy and Daddy's side. Some of you may remember just a year ago when I tried to leave her in the nursery so I could help at our church's vacation bible school. Amanda wanted very little to do with that. I don't get very far out of her sight yet I have left her with several friends without any problems. I think there are a few of you out there that have warmed to her little heart.

I knew from an instant that I was pregnant with this little one. I could just tell in my heart. I dreamt that she was a little girl even before we were able to find out. I can't imagine our lives without this little girl. Even if she is giving me more gray hairs daily! You absolutely give the best hugs I have ever had!

I love you Miss Amanda!

Who couldn't love this adorable face??...

I know you were brought to us for a reason and I thank God every day for that. As I tell your sister all the time I hope you are always known for being a nice girl who is friends with everyone. That will get you very far in life.

Happy birthday, my little one!

What a start to summer!!...

2010-06-06T18:33:00.007-05:00

It has been one busy week here in Morton, IL!

It started on Tuesday with a garage sale at my house for us and my friend, Diane. The town we live in has the most interesting (strange!!) garage sale days. Tuesday afternoons and Wednesday mornings. We opened the doors at 1 on Tuesday and within the first 20 minutes I had made my first $100. Yes! Bye-bye Co-sleeper, sit and stand stroller, double stroller, booster chair, one single stroller, and lots of clothes! It feels good to have purged a little.

Thursday started a 3 day bonanza of Molly's dance recital. It is a fun, but exhausting, 3 days. Thursday is the rehearsal and Friday and Saturday evening are the performances. Here's a few pics from that...

On Sunday we had over some friends and their kiddos to celebrate the girl's birthday's. It was fun and the perfect reason to get out the slip and slide!

Then on Monday night we took the kids to a kid fun run at Proctor Hospital in Peoria. They have a quarter mile walking path that they allow the Illinois Valley Striders (Mr. Shook is a member) to use and host a run for kids. All 3 kiddos did it and it was a perfect way to celebrate Amanda's b-day!

We really have kicked off the summer good here! Hope you are enjoying lots of fun things at your house!

The start of summer fun...

2010-05-28T23:34:00.007-05:00

We spent today and last night in Chicago, one of our favorite places to visit. The kids absolutely love downtown and so do Mike and I. We had a really great time but I imagine if you were a fly on the wall (or a fly stuck in our mini van) it might look something like this...

Mom takes boy and 2 girls to the pediatrician to get a-ok to travel to the windy city. Boy had high fever through the night and is complaining of his throat hurting. Kind doctor says bad news is adno-virus and the good news is to get on the road!

After checking into super cool hotel it takes an hour and a half to travel 20 miles. Husband/father is anxious and constantly reminding Mom/wife to watch not only the car in front of us but several ahead...when they break, we break.

Dad/husband takes one 5 year old girl under his arm and races to CAT tent to get his t-shirt and race number. Mom/wife takes 6 and 2 year old into strange parking garage and now has to find Dad/husband amongst 20,000 random racers. No problem, right? Mother corralled her kiddos for the 30 minutes it took father/husband to run the 3 1/2 miles and considered it a success that no one threw up in front of them this year.

6 year old wakes up in the am not feeling so great and yaks up the Tylenol that his mother lovingly gives him. Then loving Mother feeds son breakfast at a McDonald's and son yaks that up in to a bag at the table. But, then 6 year old bursts into tears with thoughts of heading south to beloved home and the guilt alone causes parents to load the car and head to Michigan Avenue. Potty break before heading out where 5 year old pees on the back of pants (my girl doesn't have good aim) so loving mother heads to car in search of spare pants. Found and replaced.

6 year old is better but doesn't want to walk so he and his 5 year old sister share a stroller with minimal complaining. The loving parents push kids to the American Girl store and watch in awe as 2 girls eyes are as big as saucers. On the way we stopped along the sidewalk to put 3 coats on and then went 2 blocks and removed 2 of those coats...not as cold as 2 children originally thought...

Family heads to John Hancock building to peruse Northface store but one 5 year old has to go potty. Family of 5 takes 2 strollers, American girl purchases and 3 kids down an elevator the size of telephone booth to find potties. We all go and are back on our merry way back to Northface store. After 5 minutes one 5 year old has to go potty again. Repeat last step.

Family then goes in search of lunch. Lunch found at yummy Girodona's but only after we unload 2 strollers and collapse them. 3 sippy cups, one backpack, 4 jackets, 2 shopping bags all unloaded from strollers. Full tummy's and happy family. Another bathroom break before heading out.

Entered Shops of North Bridge in search of heaven on earth...Lego Store...but first changed diaper of 2 year old. Done. Moved on to Lego Store and enter paradise. One 5 year old has to go potty. Back to Nordstrom's in search of Ladies Lounge. Return to paradise. One 6 year old has to go potty. Dad's job...not sure where this happened, could have been into a trash can for all I know...back to paradise. Searched, and searched, and contemplated purchases. And looked some more. Lot of time in paradise...

I think you get the drift...lots of bathroom breaks and lots of coats on and off. We still had a blast and our boy was a trooper and hung in there. He didn't want to miss paradise for ANYTHING!!! As 6 year old is yaking into a McDonald's bag inconspicuously a man stops me to remind me to enjoy these days, they go by so fast he says. I hear this all the time and I'm sure its true it just doesn't always feel like I'm going to miss them. These days are often exhausting!

School's out for summer!!...

2010-05-25T16:01:00.009-05:00

I can't get the Alice Cooper song out of my head!!

Today was the kids last day of school...sigh. I think I'm ready for a different routine but I'm also not quite ready on things to do to keep them busy. In a few weeks our park district activities will start and that will take up some time each day. Swim lesson, t-ball, soccer, teddy bears camp, oh my!

Today was Laugh Olympics at the kids school. I helped at the kindergarten station and it was sidewalk chalk. To be honest with you the kids don't like it. BORING! 20 minutes of chalk time is more than enough! Here are a few pics from the fun day!

Check out these cute bug shirts that Molly's class made. The whole class wore them today!

Can you read the fine print?? That's right...my boy is going to FIRST GRADE!! Yahoo!

It was a great year!

This past Sunday we went to watch my niece's, Regan and Cailin, in their dance recital. Here are the 2 girls together. They are getting so old...which just makes me older, too...

Awesome job you two!

Michael Robert...

2010-05-21T11:21:00.009-05:00

Well, well, well...look who has a birthday today! I had a friend call and offer all kinds of prank gifts for Mike today but I had to remind her that paybacks are a you know what so I will be kind to the love of my life.

Michael, you are a wonderful husband and father and I know something or someone other than luck brought us together. You are the calm to my busy days, you are the sensible one when I say I have a "great idea", and you just love me the way that I am! Your children absolutely adore you, too.

Don't let life pass you by! Keep on taking interest in running and enjoy yourself. You have aged like a fine wine, baby!

And don't let any kids pass you in anymore races!!

Happy 40th, Mr. Shook!
xoxoxo

Molly Jessica...

2010-05-20T12:53:00.009-05:00

Can you believe it?? My first girl is 5 today!!!

From this...

to this...

Molly, you are a total joy in my life and I can't imagine not spending every day with you right now. You have spread your wings and become an independent, confident and kind girl. Always remember that it isn't important to be known as the smartest girl but to be known as the NICEST girl. That will get you much, much farther in life. Happy birthday #5!!! I share your excitement with you! Always...

And remember when days get hard you always have your number one partners in crime to watch your back...

Tasty Tuesday's...

2010-05-18T16:13:00.004-05:00

Believe it or not I have been requested to share a recipe. Even if the person didn't really want it I am very happy to share this recipe. It's a favorite of mine that my Mom makes and my Mom would be happy that someone else enjoyed it. I am not an exact girl when it comes to recipes so I will sound slightly like Rachel Ray on my measurements. Make the recipes work for the amount of people you are trying to serve, especially the amount of beef you use. My small people eat a bite or 2 of the meat so we don't need as much as a bigger family. I know Pinky can adapt for a larger crowd than I have!

Beef Tips and Noodles

I use 1 - 1 1/2 lbs of stew meat but you can use a roast and cut it into cubes.
1 can cream of mushroom soup - (use 2 cans if you use 2 lbs or more of meat)
1 can of water from the soup can (use 2 cans of water if you use 2 cans of soup)
1/2 of one onion or more based on your taste - I sometimes cheat and use frozen chopped onions.
dash of salt
dash of pepper
Maybe a tablespoon of beef bouillon granules

Stir all together and bake for 3 hours (use your lid) at 350 degrees. My Mom cooks hers in a heavy cast iron 2 quart dish but I use a Pyrex 2 quart dish.
Stir occasionally so it doesn't stick to the sides of your dish.

I cook egg noodles and then mix the noodles and the beef tips together and serve.

*Tips*
I use low sodium or fat free cream of mushroom soup to keep the fat down.
Like I said I use stew meat but my Mom never does and have her roast cut by the butcher.
This recipe works awesome at potlucks and my Mom takes if frequently to them. Always a hit! Enjoy!

The next step...

2010-05-16T12:53:00.008-05:00

This week has been full of things that are taking "The next step."

"The next step" is the slogan for our new fundraiser to bring down some financial debt at our church. About 21 months ago our church moved from its original location to a new church about 2 miles away. Our church now has to start paying on the loan they took out to build the new church. The amount can seem overwhelming at times but I have been impressed with the enthusiasm and the responsibility that the church leadership has taken to pay down this debt. We are already outgrowing our new building and there is a second phase to build education classrooms but we can't do that until we take care of our current financial debt. Today was the day that we pledge our giving for the new 3 years on this campaign. The church asked children to submit a picture that showed what they loved about the church and their picture would be considered for a bulletin cover. Cameron drew a picture of the church and his Sunday School class. It is very 6-ish looking but I allowed him total artistic expression on it and he did a great job! I just let him know that I was pretty sure that Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker do not attend our church...

Also this week Cameron had his Kindergarten program for the end of the year. It was soooo cute! Here are some pics of the big event!

Every child in the class had a line to memorize and Cameron did an awesome job speaking into the microphone. He talked loud and slow, just like we practiced. It is so hard to imagine that we only have 7 more days of kindergarten. First grade is breathing down my neck! My boy is much more ready that I am!

All the kindergarten things...

2010-05-11T19:46:00.003-05:00

Believe it or not it is time to get Molly ready for kindergarten which will start in the fall. The state of Illinois requires an eye exam, a dentist exam and kindergarten shots to start in August. This past week we did Molly's first eye exam. I wish I had a picture to post from it but she wanted to do the whole exam by herself so I enjoyed a few minutes quietly reading a People magazine. By the way, Bret Michael's thinks he'll be just fine. Anyhow...Molly didn't need glasses, yea!

Today we did Molly's kindergarten shots. I warned her before school that we would be going right after class was over. Like a typical Hall, she took the news like a champ and was so brave. Not one tear! Not one little tear. Awesome job, Toots!

Can you see the band-aid?? Barely...

August will be here before I know it...

Happy Mother's Day!...

2010-05-09T13:37:00.003-05:00

Some of my precious gifts...

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful Mom's out there in the world. I am so thankful and blessed to be Mom to Cameron, Molly and Amanda. I am the truly lucky one!

Enjoy!

Who's day is it?...

2010-05-07T18:04:00.008-05:00

I hope this is a problem in other households and not just ours.

The kids fight/disagree/bicker over things such as who gets to sit by Daddy at dinner, who takes their shower first, who's turn it is to pick a movie, etc. We copied an idea that Mike's brother's family uses and assigned a "day" to Cameron and Molly. Originally Cameron was odds and Molly was evens. Worked well and I could easily figure it out as long as I knew what day of the month is was. That can be trickier than you might think if you are a SAHM, right??

Well...small fry figured out how to get in the mix and wanted a day, too. We use to humor her and pretend to make it her day but this is one smart cookie we have on our hands. That didn't work for very long. Take note Mark and Emily...Michael Shook solved the problem.

Doesn't everyone have one of these?

You need a closer look, don't you?

Oh yes, it is a chart FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR!! Every 3 days it is their day again and boy do they remember now that we have a chart. Cameron is blue, Molly is pink and Amanda is red. It has made life a lot easier for me. I now go look at the handy, dandy chart and I know exactly who's turn it is to hand out the silverware. No more counting to 3's for me. That was tricky. Ha ha.

On the off chance that there are 31 days in the month guess who gets a day. Bingo, me. Well guess what...I'm going to cash in all of my days on Sunday and have a very good Mother's Day. Right, Mr. Shook??

Welcome to the jungle...

2010-05-02T20:14:00.011-05:00

Wow. This never crossed my mind this time last year. I plead ignorance.

WE HAVE WAY, WAY, WAY TOO MUCH LANDSCAPING IN OUR YARD.

WE HAVE WAY, WAY, WAY TOO MUCH LANDSCAPING AROUND OUR HOUSE.

IT COULD BE A JUNGLE.

I have muttered under my breath several times in the last week, "who's idea was it to buy this house?" Rhetorical question...I already know the answer.

Today was the last day for "free" yard waste dumping at the recycle location for our city. After today you have to bag it and pay to unload it. We were trimming like wild people this afternoon. We filled three garage cans full. If anyone from the city of Morton would stumble across this post I have a suggestion/request. The free period of dumping needs to be longer. 2 weeks is what they give you and not long enough in my jungle.

Another jungle we encountered this weekend was the Illinois Marathon at the University of Illinois in Champaign. Mike ran the 1/2 marathon on Saturday. There were a lot of people running and watching but it was really fun. Mike finished 13.1 miles in 2 hours and 20 minutes. This course was hard and the heat came out at about mile 8. Mike hung in there and the finish line was at the 50 yard line in the football stadium.

Pictures of finishing, the 50 yard line and mile 9 1/2 high fives...

After the race Mike said, and I quote, "no matter what I ever say, do not let me run a marathon. Even if I think I can do it tell me it's a stupid idea." Now it's documented. Don't do it, honey. The 1/2 is way cooler!

Fancy Faces...

2010-04-27T20:00:00.009-05:00

Can I just say that the kids school does absolutely fabulous things all the time! This past Friday was Fine Arts day and they had the chance to get their faces painted by the Zoo Lady. She's pretty famous in this neck of the woods. If you mention face painting everyone knows the Zoo Lady. Here were our choices...

A Scary Lizard

And a beautiful butterfly

Brother and sisterly love

Mike went on Friday night and ran the National Guard Freedom 5K and I didn't make the kids wash off the face paint before we went. They received lots of compliments on their cool looks!

Counting the days away...

2010-04-26T09:03:00.015-05:00

After spring break I decided to come up with a way to help the kids understand how many days of school were left. When we started the process there were 45 (including Saturday's and Sunday's). We made a simple paper chain to count the days down.

We hung the chain on one of the french doors so we can rip one off every night before bed.

Did you know that as of yesterday there are only 30 days left!! The end of school will be bittersweet for me. I am looking forward to it but I also know that it means a lot more together time and we will need to find some things to keep us busy!

On Saturday Cameron had his first t-ball game. He is playing through the Morton Youth Baseball Association and is on the Sand Gnats team. The Sand Gnats are a real minor league team in Savannah, Georgia. We play against other teams called the Mudcats, Timber Rattlers, Muck Dogs, you get the idea. Very cool names for these boys! God bless the coaches who are teaching beginning baseball to 5 and 6 year olds. Patience! Here is our boy at his first game...

Cameron's absolute favorite part of the game was the inning where he got to be the catcher. Since it is t-ball the catcher is more of a helper to the coach who is putting the ball on the "t" and of course is responsible for all the plays at home. Since they don't keep track of outs or runs the plays at home are minimal. But, Cameron still LOVED IT!!!

Springtime fun with safety...

2010-04-20T13:44:00.010-05:00

In case you may need Amanda to cut down a tree or use a sharp tool she is ready...

I have no idea why she INSISTED on wearing the safety goggles for our walk but as with many things she does I just go along with it. I tell you, no rules with this child!

On Saturday Mr. Shook ran a 4 mile Race for the Heart run at Eureka Lake. Let me just say his supporters were FREEZING!! But, we tried not to complain...can you see the cold in Molly's face??!!

Here is our favorite guy running by to the finish...

Can I also say that Mr. Shook has a little secret to share. At this time last year he was the heaviest he had ever been. Since he started taking up this interest in running and has eliminated all soda from his diet he has lost 16 pounds!! We are so proud of you! You rock!

Interesting note...tribute to Mark and his Falcons with the BG shirt. The guy sitting next to us at the post race lunch (i.e. free hot dogs!) was a Bowling Green grad and also was wearing a BG shirt. How ironic! Small world from the Buckeye state!

A week from Saturday Mike is doing his next 1/2 marathon in Champaign. Stay tuned for the pics!

A week in review...

2010-04-16T09:46:00.004-05:00

All I can say today is TGIF!! It has been a busy week here.

On Tuesday morning I decided to go with my intuition and have Molly's shoulder/collarbone/ribs looked at again at the pediatrician's office. Three times on Monday she burst into tears over different things regarding the continued pain. Under no circumstances could we pick Molly up under the arms. Instant tears. So I thought it best to take her back into the doctor's office. After a 2nd set of x-rays it showed that her collarbone is indeed fractured. There isn't anything you do for it other than not allow her to swing from the ceiling, wrestle with her brother or get it bumped. We'll do our best, Doctor!

On Wednesday we had Amanda's one year VCUG test at the hospital. VCUG stands for Voiding Cystourethrogram. They insert a catheter into the bladder, run dye up to your kidneys and x-ray the dye coming out as you void. Easier said than done! This tests for kidney reflux and Amanda's results were the same as last year. Not any better, not any worse. We were given some options by our great doctor and we decided to continue the antibiotic for another year and see what happens then. I told him that to me this is like a scab with a band-aid on it. It's not quite healed and ripping the band-aid off exposes me to all the feelings I had last year with Molly. Sorry. Not quite ready to go there. And we are so lucky that our doctor totally supports (and understands) our decision.

Tomorrow we head to Eureka, Illinois for Mike to run in a 4 mile race. I say head to Eureka like it's across the state. I just used mapquest and Eureka is a whole 18 miles. We haven't been to Eureka yet so it seems farther than that! Maybe this time I will remember my camera. We have quite the runner in our house now. Maybe it will be contagious. Or maybe not.

There are 2 bathrooms in the Wal-Mart...

2010-04-12T13:59:00.004-05:00

Did you know that there are 2 bathrooms in the Wal-Mart here in Morton? I bet there are 2 in your Wal-Mart in where ever, USA. The reason I know this is because I have kids. It never fails that we hit either of the 2 bathrooms at any given visit. Sometimes we have even visited both!

Today we had a productive morning. I got up early (I won't admit the time because some smarty pants will email and say that it wasn't early, but it was early for me!!) and got the kids ready so we could attend the Moms In Touch meeting this morning. Are you familiar with it? It was only my 2nd meeting but you go and a leader reads scripture and then it is an open time to pray out loud for your children, their classmates, their school, the administration at the school, everyone associated with the school. We even prayed for the crossing guard today...Rhonda. It lasts about 30 - 40 minutes and I leave feeling positive about our community, the parents at the school and our kids futures.

After that I hit the gym. Not my favorite thing to do but it felt good to go. The kids don't mind playing with some friends there and they got in some good coloring time, too.

That's when we hit Wal-Mart. I have a goal to start a project to give the kids a concept about how much time is left for the school year. But that's an upcoming post...
Cameron announces 1/2 way through the store that he has to go potty. Great. We hike to the back of the store because I like the family restroom much better. A gentleman is cleaning the bathrooms but says we can use the Family one. Thank god!! I'm just not ready to send Cam in alone yet. We all go in, I beg them not to touch anything, ANYTHING!!, and Cameron starts his process. He starts giggling and announces that when he got dressed this morning he must have forgotten to take off his old undies before he put on new ones because he is wearing 2 pairs! We laughed and laughed about it. My clueless boy can be really, really funny. And maybe he is a future boy scout? Always be prepared!

A week late...

2010-04-11T22:11:00.004-05:00

I have been trying for a few days to post some oldie but goodie pictures. Very frustrating...I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong, but they won't scan at a normal size. I bet Mr. Shook could help me but I haven't completely given up on getting the pictures up on my blog.

If you could see them it would have been pictures from a special day 12 years ago on April 4, 1998. Last Sunday Mr. Shook and I celebrated 12 years of marriage. 12 years!! Pat on the back to us, if I may say so. We are so different that those pictures would show. We were relatively young, skinnier and had so much love. We still have the love it's just a seasoned love that grows stronger all the time. Yes, there are days where we drive each other nuts (yesterday afternoon to be exact) but I love my guy every day with the same amount of love I did that special April 4th.

It is a bit of a bittersweet day. We were married on my Grandparents anniversary and this year would have been their 68th anniversary. I know that my Grandfather misses his bride and that breaks my heart. They had a very, very special love. I love both of them very much.

I know a few of you were there in person 12 years ago to help us celebrate our wedding day. I hope the pictures in your mind are good memories like we have, too. Someday I'll figure out how to share them. Until then, you'll have to take my word on what a beautiful day it was!

Back by popular demand...

2010-04-01T21:54:00.007-05:00

For Mr. Shook's stalker...

And more because I love this man, too...

Thanks for being the best, Mr. Shook!

More carnival...

2010-03-30T09:45:00.007-05:00

Here are some more pictures from the very fun school carnival. Besides the cake walk, where we won 2 cakes!, the kids loved the face painting. For 30 minutes I got to be the sparkle lady. The face painting was in Cam's Kindergarten class and I was a parent volunteer for a half hour. One Mom called me the Fairy Godmother. I think that is an appropriate title! I got to put puffs of glitter on the drying face paint. This artist does an amazing job!

And one more of our loot...

It is going to be a beautiful weather week here. We hope you are enjoying many, many rays of sunshine, too!

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!...

2010-03-29T16:18:00.009-05:00

Time for the results of my giveaway...

I had a very sophisticated system for selecting the winner...

I had a trusty helper...

And some results...

Congratulations to Lisa and Life in Progress (aka Nicole) who were the big winners. I swear that Cameron picked who got which gift card from behind my back but it couldn't have worked out more perfectly! Thank you all for the wonderful comments. It really made my week! Although it appears that Mr. Shook now has a stalker/fan of his own. What a lucky guy!

We were also a big winner at the Lincoln School carnival Friday night. Molly won the "Road Trip" basket and here are our winnings...

What a great way to get introduced to the fun of the school carnival. There are so many cool things in the bag/cooler. I was ecstatic to get the large size LL Bean Bag. It will be perfect for traveling! The Culver's gift card will be a hit, too! We already look forward to get years carnival...only about 360 days away!

Hello, is there anybody out there?...

2010-03-23T18:03:00.005-05:00

I can't believe I missed my one year anniversary blogging. I missed it!!!

Sometimes every day life just gets in the way. Mr. Shook probably needed some laundry done or a little person had strep/pink eye/runny nose. I missed my March 2nd anniversary. Then I got to wondering is anyone even reading this? I suppose it doesn't really matter because I am trying to document events in my life and maybe that isn't always good reading. But in case there is a stray reader or 2 I am doing a giveaway.

A GIVEAWAY!!!

Leave me a comment on this post and your name will go into a drawing for one of these...

I know a few crack/iced coffee/frappaccino lovers and a few organizer/stylish/who doesn't love Kohl's people so those are the 2 gift cards I got. A free $10 to love!

When you leave me a post I need to know some how who you are. You can use code as long as this SAHM/ditzy/possibly in need of a highlight to hide some recently spotted grays is able to catch on.

I will draw for the gift cards on Sunday so you have until then to leave me a post. I am so excited!!! I have had a good time blogging this past year. Thanks for being a follower!!

High expectations...

2010-03-15T12:53:00.004-05:00

Well, it has happened again.

Cameron brought home a yellow slip from school.

Apparently we got a case of the giggles during a movie in the library. The librarian asked them to stop and they couldn't. I think about 5 boys had to move their number in class. It's kind of hard for me to be angry about this when it was laughing. I know that there are times to be serious but Cameron certainly didn't instigate the giggling. Cameron is not a natural leader. He probably started and just couldn't stop. I suggested in the future to maybe move his seat if something like this happened again. Of course, as the Mom, I had to bring down the iron fist on discipline. I told him no Wii or DS over the weekend. He spent some time in his room after school on Friday. We thought about our actions (or at least I encouraged him to do so). I then went up to talk to him about it. Tears were welling up in our eyes. I told him that we needed to make good choices at school. That even if something was really, really funny it might not be the right time to laugh so much about it. And then I told him that I would have to talk to Daddy about our potential trip to visit the Lego store in Chicago in May.

Side note - Mike had told Cameron that he could pick out a Lego kit if he doesn't move his number the rest of the year. Remember when he had to move it on birthday treat day??

Cameron's weepy eyes got as big as saucers and he burst into tears. (I know what your thinking, effective parenting, right?) I told Cameron that Daddy has very big expectations for him. And Cameron says through the tears, "What does that mean??"

So much for my good parenting. I have expectations that a 6 year old can't quite understand. Then I felt really bad. I told him to just really try and make good choices at school.

I'm having a hard time being really upset over this. This really doesn't seem all that bad. I have had the giggles before and sometimes they just feel really good.

The Picnic...

2010-03-11T15:34:00.015-06:00

The Picnic

We have a banana.
We have a carrot.
We have a pizza.
We have a hot dog.
We have a cake.
We have a picnic. Yum!

by Cameron Shook

Illustrator:

Portrait of Daddy (note how tall and skinny he is!)

Take me away...

2010-03-10T15:24:00.005-06:00

I have really gotten into reading with Cameron. It is so exciting to watch new words form in that little mind. We have been practicing beginner reader books. We have been going to the library once a week and picking out new titles to bring home. It has also renewed my love of reading. I use to read a lot but in the past few years I have found it more and more challenging to find the time to read. Lately I have been reading before bed which I really call "me" time. I was asked by a college friend to join an on-line reading group she set up for Stay at Home Mom's on Facebook. Last month was our first read and we read an excellent book. The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls. It was the second time I have read it and it remind me why I loved it so much the first time. The new book I'm now reading is by a favorite author, Jodi Picoult. It is titled Handle with Care. I would recommend this read, too.

Here are my 5 favorite books I've read:

1.) To Kill a Mockingbird

2.) A Thousand Splendid Suns

3.) The Glass Castle

4.) Bridget Jones' Diary

5.) My Sister's Keeper

This list could be much, much longer! Share with me a favorite read of yours. I need to add some new titles to my list. Books just take me away to a place where I can think, and dream and wish. I'm not a big fan of books that have been turned into movies. Always disappointing and they always butcher the story. I often don't like to see movies that have been books I read. I like keeping the original story in my mind unchanged.

Here are some of our reads...

Nothing like a little Dr. Seuss to start the day! Our favorite now is One fish, Two fish, Red fish, Blue fish. Read it again for a good smile!