Just a few photos to share...

Bodie has been a very nice little boy this year Santa!

Avery at her preschool Christmas program! She did so good! I wish I would have video tape her singing the songs. She was just so stinkin' cute!

Rowdy opening his Transformer from Santa! I love that I got his expression in this photo! He was also squealing in excitement that Santa came through. Now if mom can only figure out how to "transform" this toy into all of the things it is supposed to transform into. It says it is for 5 years and up...but this 35 year old was struggling to understand the instructions.

Huh?

As I was making dinner for the kids I asked Rowdy if he wanted some of "Mama's Juice"? and it dawned on me that we have many words in our house that to the outsider would not mean a thing and would require some translation:

Mama's Juice = Crystal Light
Dada's Cereal = Toasted Almond Crunch
Squishy eggs = Hard Boiled Eggs
Other Cup = Any tippy cup. This is one Avery made up when she was learning to talk and express her opinion. When she didn't want a regular big kid cup she would say "No, other cup"
Man-note = Rowdy came up with this for sandwich. I spelled it fanatically so you would know how to say it.
Mekeykey = Christmas Tree
Hervy = Volkwagen bug it is how Avery pronounced Herbie
Give me a Ma = Give me a kiss
Nangy = Naked
Cozy = Blanket


I know there is more but I can't think of them right now.

We also have about 20 different names for our pets besides their real names. I'll share those another time.

What words do you have in your family that need to be translated for outsiders?

Christmas!

Taste testing the cupcakes we brought to the ward Christmas party.

Rowdy was the star in the Nativity.
I love this time of year!

Gettin' the Tree

We picked the most beautiful day last Saturday to get our tree.

The tree farm we go to has a tractor that looks like a train...that was the best part for the kids.

Bodie was awake when we were looking for the perfect tree.

Random

Farm Hand! Rowdy was heading out to help Ron feed the cows.

Bodie hanging out in his swing while I was doing dishes.

Avery eating frosting from the gingerbread house they decorated.

Mrs. Claus

We went to visit my Mom at the Greens Show. She has a booth there every year with a friend of hers. My Mom is a decorative painter and she is so talented. She has been painting since I was in the fourth grade. She also teaches classes.Watching the train go around the Christmas tree. This is Rowdy's favorite part of visiting Grandma at her art show (besides seeing grandma).
Doesn't my Mom kind of look like Mrs. Claus?

This is how Bodie spent most of the trip. I am getting braver and braver about nursing in public with each child. I would have never done that with Rowdy. At this point I don't care about who I offend, my child has to eat and I am getting better about being discrete.

Tradition!

When I was a kid my mom hung an advent calendar every year. I remember exactly what it looked like. It had little pockets for the candy and I loved getting a little candy cane from it each day. Anyways, I saw a really cute one on another blog and got inspired to make one for Rowdy and Avery, even though December has already started. They helped me put it together. One of the first things out of Avery's mouth this morning was "Can we have a piece of candy off the candy chart" We don't have our tree up yet but we have candy on the wall.

Who are my readers?

I was reading another blog and the writer asked all of her readers who don't comment to come out of hiding and comment on her blog. Some of my readers comment frequently and I gotta say I love comments on my blog. But it was reveled to me today that I might have readers who visit frequently but don't comment. Hi Kimo and Rebeka!!!! In the world of blogging you are known as a lurker. I am asking you to 'delurk" yourself. I am so curious to know who you are. Comment on this post and let me know who you are.

If you have a blog too I would love to lurk on yours too! And if you don't have a blog please start one so I can start! Actually this is kind of a scary post because I just might be surprised as to see who has been checkin' up on the Shinkle Family...that is if people are willing to comment. Go ahead I double dog dare you! This blogging thing is kind of weird because you really don't know who is reading about your little ol' life. In fact the other day I did a search on the web with a few key words from my blog and sure enough my blog was listed first in line on the search results....that is a little scary.

Anyways as the title of the blog that inspired me to do this said...Delurk You Lilylivered Lurkers!

My favorite thing right now...

is the "watch instantly" feature on my netflicks membership. I can watch movies and back episodes of tv shows on my PC anytime I want. Can I just say I want to lock myself in my office/craftroom and order up some shows and scrapbook all day. Too bad my kitchen is full of dirty dishes from the weekend and the laundry needs some attention today. Lets see chores or scrapbooking? I think we can all eat of paper today and I'm sure the kids have at least one more day of clean clothes.

Blessing Day!

Thank you sooooo much Kymberly for making this sweet little blessing outfit for Bodie. It was so special and everyone love it. I started to tear up when I put it on him. Thank you for such a thoughtful sweet gift.

The blessing was so nice. We had the family over to our house to bless Bodie. Maryanne and Rogers son Kitiona was blessed earlier at church. Anyways, I am exhausted because we have had family coming and going since Thanksgiving. We had an awesome day on Thanksgiving...good food, good friends and family and fun!

I've been tagged by Allison. She is in my side bar. I was supposed to follow some specific directions but I just want to get the seven random things about me down. I am trying to make them different from the 100 things about me from a few months back.

1. The strangest thing happens to me when I accidentally hit my head really hard on something or stub my toe...a naughty word just comes flying out of my mouth. It's not the same word each time, it just happens and for that few moments when my toe or head is just aching in pain I actually feel the emotion RAGE!
2. When I am working on something I don't like to get interrupted. Sometimes I don't start projects because I am afraid I will get interrupted and not finish them. (this tag for example)
3. I love to make lists so I can check off what I have done. It is the only way I survived taking 18 credits in college one spring. Sometimes I will add something to the list after I have done it just so I can check it off. There is a to do list waiting for me right now as I sit here typing these words.
4. People have described me as outgoing, bubbly, friendly, confident and all those words. But most the time a feel totally antisocial.
5. I could put butter on something every meal I eat. Therefore, I just don't eat it. I tried not to write about weird food habits but this one just snuck in there.
6. I have dreams about being an Olympic gymnast.
7. I like to watch documentaries about murders and how they solve them. I usually end up watching them when Ron isn't here and I end up going to bed terrified and scared out of my mind that the boogy man is going to get me and the kids. I have watched way to many of them. Even if I haven't watched one for awhile I still get creeped out at night in this big ol' house by myself.
8. Here is a bonus one...I just spell checked this and I think I misspelled over 10 words. I am the worst speller. My friend Nicole loves this about me...don't you Nicole! : )

Counting my blessings...

because in the last couple days I have had the following challenges:

1. I actually got lost on the way home from Dallas last night. Very strange thing, I actually missed the turn to our house...it was really foggy. I actually drove so far that I left polk county...after much prayer and a stop at a fire station we made it home. Yikes!
2. This morning with in five minutes of being out of bed I had been pooped on, puked on and I stepped in a puddle of pee on the bathroom floor. Joy!
3. The upstairs bathroom door got locked today and I had to play locksmith to get it open so Avery could take her bath. Oh boy!
4. Some guy took off with my car keys at the gym yesterday and I was in a panic for a few minutes before he came back! (Our keys look the same and he grabbed mine accidentally)
5. There is a mouse in our house. We brought some boxes in from the garage and he was in one of the boxes. I saw him scamper across one of our floors and then he disappeared. Amber, don't tell anyone what I said when I saw him!
6. I am currently typing with one hand because Bodie was hungry. It's not that hard.
7. I had a dinner date with a friend the other night and it was supposed to be just us girls and someone with testostone showed up...I had a great time Amber thanks for coming!

Basically I feel like the walls are closing in on me and I have to find a way to dig myself out! I am counting my blessings because I have sooooo much to be grateful for and I need to stop taking everthing so seriously.

Silly!

I was trying to get them loaded in the car and they were running around like this...this is all before having any candy at all....Yikes.

I am proud to say I didn't have any Halloween candy on Halloween. I know myself too well. If I have 1, I'll have 10 or 20. Plus I have lost 10lbs of the pregnancy weight since my 6 week check up so I want to keep up the good work with that! I'm thinking about starting a blog to journal my fitness goals but I don't have time for this one right now let alone another one.

Happy Halloween!

Avery wore her costume so many times by the time Halloween night rolled around that we misplaced her cat ears. She still looked like a kitty though with her nose painted and her little tail. I told her at one point during the week that she was the cutest little black kitty and she said "No, Mama I a scary kitty cat!"
Yee Haw! Rowdy and his little calf Bodie Man! Bodie took the longest nap on the afternoon of Halloween. I think he was just so comfortable and warm in his little cow suit all he could do was sleep.
Rowdy, givin' ya the saddle up pardner cue!

Snap Shots!

This is our new tractor! Rowdy was so excited when Ron brought it home. He sat on it a played for over an hour! Kim, this is the photo that I took that is similiar the Kim on your blog.

We have ladybugs in our house. Lots of them. The are cute and all, but one night I counted about 100 of these little ladies on our kitchen ceiling. I could stand it for a few days and then I finally called the bug guy. He came an sprayed our house and there is not so many now. He said they are trying to come in and get warm. Well the are not invited!
This picture does not do this sun rise justice at all! But this is what I saw this morning as I loaded up the kids to take Rowdy to school. It was breathtaking! The sun was visibly round and glowing red! I am thankful I got to see it.

My Three Kids!

Just a quick one. I don't have much time to blog lately. But here are a few of the kiddos. We are watching Keiana and Katie this weekend because Auntie Maryanne is being induced tomorrow. So we will be busy this weekend.

How nice!

Sister has been here! This little brown bear is Rowdy's but apparently Avery thought that Bodie needed a little company because she tucked Baby Bear right next to Bodie. I walked into the room and this is how Bodie sat and the sweetest part was Avery was nowhere in sight.

Just a quick post!

This is what I see out of the back windows of the house. Those are PUMPKINS!!!! I love it! When I stand at my kitchen sink and do dishes this is what I see.

Rowdy, Kip (white) and Ned (brown).

Avery running around the yard in her leotard after being a guest at a friend's dance class. Don't you love the underwear sticking out of her leotard.

By the way...huge news on the Shinkle front! Avery is potty trained! Yes! I only have one in diapers! After weeks of having her in big girl pants and lots of #2 accidents she finally got the hang of it. This was after much struggle but once we started to offer Rowdy a "dum dum" lollypop after he went #2 (for some reason I feel weird typing poop on my blog) she figured it out. Now, I need to get them to understand that we are not going to have a lollypop for the rest of our lives after we go potty in the potty. I feel so triumphent we really have been at this a long time and I was about to give up because after all we do have newborn in the house and I thought it was too much for everyone. But I am glad we stuck with it because it has paid off! Way to go AVERY GIRL!

Oh Alice!

Well, I can't say that I have made up my mind about this yet. Thanks for all of your input you guys brought up some really good points. Actually, each of you brought up some of the same concerns I have. For example, I don't want to be here when they come to clean. Also, I would feel like I would have to clean before they showed up (you know I all the stuff on the floor so they could vacuum) I don't want someone to pick up after our family. It would just be nice to have help with things like Nicole mentioned, window sills and things I don't get to ever!

The main thing that is bugging me is if we hire someone clean...I would feel as though I am not doing my job and I have failed as a stay at home mom! That is not to say that cleaning the house and keeping it tidy is my only responsibility. I just feel like one of my major tasks that I should be doing is not getting done and we need to hire someone to do it because I can't hack it.

Also, I kind of feel like it would be an invasion of my privacy. I just don't know if I could handle a complete stranger coming into our house to clean. Can you really trust them. I would just feel invaded. On the flip side I don't want anyone I know to clean my house because good grief I don't wish our cleaning toilets upon anyone. (I know who cleans your house Amber and I am sorry but I couldn't do it).

Like I said the jury is still out. I think I might be interested in someone coming maybe once or twice a month for a good deep clean. I think I could handle that and it would have to be a cleaning crew to tackle this big house.

Thanks again for all of your help you guys. You are the best!

I need your opinion...

If your husband said to you..."What would you think about hiring someone to help around the house so you have more free time to be with the kids and such?" what would you say.

What I am interested in knowing from you is, would you hire someone to clean your house? I have my opinion about it and I am wondering what y'all think? Amber, I am pretty sure I know how you feel but please comment anyway. If you only read my blog but have my e-mail address send me an e-mail.

Self Portraits

Doing absolutely nothing but sitting on the couch being potatoes.

Stop Drop and Roll!

Just like a pro!
He didn't even have to show her where the horn was she just blew it on her own!

Hi-five for a job well done!

We went to the fire station for a field trip the other day with Avery's preschool. She must have been paying attention to the presentation by Chad the fire fighter because all she's been talking about since we got home is "If your clothes catch on fire you "STOP, DROP and ROLL" and cover your face" and then she does a perfect demonstration. She also has been talking about if your house is on fire or you smell smoke you "STAY LOW AND GO". I am so proud of her. She has also been singing all the songs she is learning at preschool to me when we drive around.

Another Special Grandma

If you can't tell Grandma Linda is holding Bodie while reading a book to Rowdy and Avery. They love their Grandma Linda so much. She reads to them everytime they go over there...and she does all the funny voices for the characters in the books too! This a cherished photo!

"Berry" Special Grandma

This is a picture of my mom and Avery after they had picked some raspberries from our garden. Grandma Mickie is one of Avery's favorite people. She loves to visit grandma and call her on the phone. When grandma stays with us Avery has to sleep with grandma...they call it a campout. My mom has been here off and on since the baby has been born and it has been very helpful.

Getting to know Bodie!

This little guy is so nice. He sleeps most of the time. He loves to snuggle on our shoulders and snooze away. I have decided there is nothing in the world that compares to holding a sleeping baby and taking a snooze yourself. He is really strong. When he is awake he likes to hold his head up and look around. He eats well and is letting me sleep for three hour stretches at night (not bad). Ron usually takes a shift every night when I have already fed him and he won't go back to sleep right away. He loves his daddy's big strong shoulders to rest on. When he is crying for someone to pick him up, and we can't get to him right away, he gives you the nicest little thank you sigh when you do finally get to him and he immediately stops crying. Most of the time it doesn't even seem like there is a baby in the house because he sleeps so much. I am looking forward to him having more awake time to play. Rowdy and Avery are doing well with him. The give him the perfect amount of attention...they don't smother him but they are not ignoring him either. Avery is usually the first one to respond to him when he cries and Rowdy always wants to hold him and give his little head a rub. We love you Bodie!!!