Summer Time

I can't seem to keep my blog updated on a regular basis, Im not sure what my disfunction is, but its slightly annoying to me. I love reading other bloggers, and get a little disappointed when they dont update theirs regularly, but yet I dont hold up on my own end of the deal. I went with a red, white and blue theme to get me through the summer just in case I dont get on here to update at least the background is relevant - hahahah. It says 4th of July, but truthfully it represents summer all the way, starting with Memorial Day, in the middle is Independance Day, and wrap up summer with Labor Day.

Personally, I feel we should honor and respect these colors every day of our lives. I am so blessed and grateful to the men and women who have served and continue to serve and protect our great nation.

Sorry hit a tangent there for a moment.......

Anyways, we have moved beyond winter here in Michigan, but Summer is taking its time to arrive. Spring has been soooooo rainy, Im pretty much done with rain and cold, and for some reason, mother nature is not getting the hint. We do have leaves on the trees again, and many animals have returned from hibernation, so the earth looks alive again.....winter can be so dreary.

Baseball season has started, Justin and Jake are in the Pee Wee division on the Baltimore Orioles. Opening day is this Saturday, and we are hoping for sunny skies and warmer temps. They will walk in a parade in the morning and then their first game is in the afternoon. Joey just got done with swimming lessons, and is playing t-ball through the Cabrini program since he does not meet age eligibility for the RBA. He doesnt start t-ball for another few weeks, but we will be busy at the baseball diamonds this summer. Madison is wrapping up her dance class, and has her recital on June 18th which I am sooo excited to see. She is doing a tap dance to Mony Mony, and the little sneak previews I've seen, are absolutely adorable. Its amazing to me how much joy you can get out of things seeing it through your childrens eyes. She absolutely loves dance, and i love watching her. Next year she will be doing tap and ballet which is pretty exciting.

I keep telling all of my kids that I dont want them to get any older, its not working, but I'll keep trying. They are all at such great ages, and they still like me, so thats an added bonus. Im only 5 short years away from a teenager, and it freaks me out. I try not to live in the future and savor every minute in the "NOW" but I can't help but think about it once in a while.

We are in for a busy summmer, and I say this all the time, i'll try to keep this updated, but no promises. Maybe i'll shoot for a weekly update.....i'll put a reminder in my phone, that might work. Here are a few random pictures until then, and ill try to be more specific to events and not so general so the pictures are a little more coordinated........

Here are the boys enjoying a drink in the back of the van after our day at the Village to see Thomas the Train!!



Madison - Enough Said, but I sure love this little girl!!



Picnic on the Front Lawn.....taking advantage of one of the very few nice spring days!!!

A Little Early

I might be early in posting about Spring, being that we are in the dead of winter up here in Michigan, but it cant hurt, right!!?!? There are parts of winter I love, and would totally miss if I weren't here in Michigan, but the problem is, I dont want them to last for as long as they do up here. One month is enough for me, then it can warm up and the snow can go away!! :) So, I'm channeling spring through my BLOG.

I keep thinking I would love to move somewhere warm, I have Arizona on my brain right now, but Texas would be good too. The good thing about Texas is the fact that AT&T is down there, so maybe we would have transfer rights. However, if we move, there are a lot of other people that need to be moving along with us....otherwise it will never happen, but a girl can dream right!!!

I definitely think i have the winter blues right now....everything i have to look forward too happens in the spring and summer!! So hopefully that will at least get me through the next few months.

We have been so lucky this winter, and aside from a couple coughs, and a round of ear infections, we have been a pretty healthy bunch, the last few winters have been brutal flu seasons, so I am SUPER greatful for that!!! *Knock on Wood*

The kids have so much energy, and if it werent for sub-zero temps, i'd be sending them out the door, so instead we are trying to find creative ways to entertain four kids indoors. My suggestion of sitting down for a good book doesnt seem to be the fan favorite amongst the Shupe kids, so instead we have been having bey blade tournaments, attempting to beat LEGO Harry Potter on the Wii, and the boys love playing their DS games, and Madison loves to play with her dolls. Then of course they love to wrestle each other and run through the house.....this will get old at some point, right???

Soon the swing set will reveal itself from under the snow, and the sun will peak through the clouds again, and the birds will come back, and we can go outside to ride bikes, play catch, and run, run, run. My kids sooooo need to run!!! Where do they get this energy, I wish they could pass some on to me. So, here's to hoping Spring will knock on our door VERY soon!!

In the meantime, we are thankful for our house and our furnace, hot chocolate, and our super warm fireplace. Although the gas bill isnt so fun - ha!!

Christmas Time!!

Oh how I love Christmas time!!

Let me count the ways:
1. Shopping
2. Christmas Music (non-stop every day)
3. The hustle and bustle at the malls
4. The joy and excitement in the kids
5. Christmas Plays
6. Wrapping (sometimes)
7. The joy of giving
8. Celebrating our Savior's birthday
9. Family, Family, and More Family time
10. Good food
11. Baking (or enjoying other peoples baking)
12. Time off
13. Snow (only on christmas day, then i want it to go away)
14. Christmas Jammies
15. The trees and lights
16. Christmas Nouggat Candies
17. Candy Canes
18. The excitement of what a new year will bring!!

Ok, i think i've made my point!!!

Christmas Eve we will spend at my parents, my mom will be making us a wonderful dinner and we sit around and enjoy each others company, play games, and of course open presents!!

Christmas Morning everyone comes over and joins us for the kids to open their presents. We exchange gifts with Josh's side of the family that morning, and have a wonderful Christmas morning breakfast. We stay in comfy jammies all day, turn on the fireplace, and watch christmas movies and football all day long!!! Its such a great tradition and I love every minute of it!!! We dont let our family leave, or we try not to let htem leave because we want to spend all day with them. Later on in the evening we have ham and turkey and cheesy potatoes and all kinds of yummy food. The kids get to play with all their new stuff, and its just good fun. Last year we had a nerf gun fight, but that wont be happening this year, we asked Santa to skip the nerf guns this year!!! As fun as it was, those darts get everywhere, not to mention you have to watch every corner you turn, you never know when one is coming at your head. And most of the time its coming from Josh and not the kids.....hmmmm!!

Anyways, to all of you out there that read my blog when I post on it once every 8 months, I hope you have a wonderful and blessed Christmas. Enjoy yourselves and whatever you are doing this holiday, and I hope that Santa brings all that you need, and I wish everyone a wonderful new year! May 2011 bring lots of good things to everyone!!!

Love always,
Sara

Day 2: The meaning behind your blog name

Well I'm not super creative when it comes to blogging, so I think its pretty self explanatory....

Shupe Family of 6 = 6 people in our little Shupe family!!

:)

At least it was an easy post - ahahah!!!

30 Days, Day 1

So I totally copied this from Nikki's blog, but it seems fun. I'm a little late though cuz it was supposed to start December 1st I guess. Oh well, better late than never I hope. Maybe it will keep me blogging more often....we'll see!

30 Days
Day 1: Recent picture of you and 15 random facts about yourself
Day 2: The meaning behind your blog name
Day 3: A picture of you and your friends
Day 4: A habit you have that you wished you didn't
Day 5: A picture of somewhere you've been
Day 6: Favorite superhero and why
Day 7: A picture of someone/something that has had the biggest impact on you
Day 8: Short term goals for this month and why
Day 9: Something you're proud of in the past few days
Day 10: Songs you listen to when you're sad, happy, mad, hyped up, bored
Day 11: Another picture of you and your friends
Day 12: How you found out about blogger and why you have one
Day 13: A letter to someone
Day 14: A picture of you and your family
Day 15: Put your ipod on shuffle-first 10 songs that play
Day 16: Another picture of yourself
Day 17: Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why
Day 18: Plans/Dreams/Goals that you have
Day 19: Nicknames you have and why you have them
Day 20: Someone you love
Day 21: A picture of something that makes you happy
Day 22: What makes you different from everyone else
Day 23: Something you crave a lot
Day 24: Your last five facebook status'
Days 25: What I would find in your bag
Day 26: What you think about your friends
Day 27: Why are you doing this 30 day challenge
Day 28: A picture of you last year and one from today, how have you changed since then
Day 29: In the past month what have you learned
Day 30: Your favorite song
I dont really like pictures of me, so here are some recent ones of the kids....



Justin

Jacob

Joey

And last, but not least, Madison!!!

15 Random Facts(Thoughts) About Myself

1. I totally have the best family and friends in the world, everyone thinks they do, but I really do!!

2. I LOVE CHRISTMAS (Lights, Trees, Songs, Presents, Family, Cookies, Jesus, EVERYTHING)!!

3. I am afraid of scary movies and someone could get hurt if you attempt to scare me.

4. I love to scrapbook, wish I had more time to do it!

5. I really do like my job, and I am so grateful for it!

6. I have a bad temper when I get really mad and frustrated.

7. There is nothing better in life than living life through a child's eyes!!

8. I have a mild shopping problem.

9. I love technology

10. Cant wait to someday take an ultimate disney vacation

11. I love Dave Ramsey

12. I love to laugh!

13. I hate making lunches and doing laundry

14. Wish I could sing.

15. Loves to dance when no one is watching!!

Whew....October 22nd, Already!!?!?!

Wow! What a quick fall this has been, as we are just about headed into November, which I have no complaints about, because its my FAVORITE time of the year.

So, Justin and Jacob started 1st grade. They are just getting so big. The homework for first graders is NOOOO joke. Within the first two weeks, they were doing spelling tests and math tests. Mom and Dad were not quite ready for all of that business. So every night we sit down and we read, we write, we spell, we do math, and whatever other fun things those teachers can send home!!! They both seem to enjoy it, although they do say its a lot of work!! They have great teachers, both of them are MSU fans, so the boys have a lot of bad influence while they are at school.

Maddie and Joey are in 3yr old and 4yr old preschool. They seem to really enjoy it, although Madison is learning that at school, she is not so much the princess like she is at home. She has managed to rule the roost at home, and I think her and Miss Pam are butting heads a bit. But its a big adjustment, she is only 2 still. Joey also goes to speech 2x a week which he LOVES. Its him, the teacher, and another little boy, and he really seems to love it! Only a couple weeks in and he was talkign so much better, we have missed speech over the summer.

I lost my camera so I am not able to post any new pictures at the moment, but stay tuned, hopefully the camera will show up!!

Josh went out of town the beginning of October for work for about 2.5 weeks. Always puts our household into a little bit of chaos, but we all managed, and all survived which is GOOD!!

We are going to a trunk or treat tonight, Cabela's and Greenfield Village tomorrow, and Sunday we have Jake's last football game, and Justin has a birthday party. Whew...should be busy. But this makes me realize how much I need to find my camera!!!

Random Thoughts

My kids are everything to ME

1st Grade Homework is no joke

I'm a new Aunt to Miss Olivia Ann Shupe

I have the most amazing family

Im pretty sure i suffer from ADD

I have the most amazing team at work

I love my Woshy

Its been forever since I've updated my blog and I have a new goal to keep it updated

I'm addicted to facebook and my iPhone

I cry when I'm stressed, its how I cope

I am a Gleek through and through

I love arts and crafts

Wish I could somehow squeeze more into a day

Also wish i could have 3 clones, one to go to work, one that could be home with my kids, one to clean my house and cook

I love daisies

I look forward to my evening TV

I am very easily scared, and probably qualify as having a panic attack when i am scared

I love being with people at all times of the day and sharing life with them

i love the holidays

i love life!!