Shillig 4 Family

Amazing party. Amazing food. Amazing guests. Amazing gifts. Absolutely AMAZING.  Thanks to Pandora we had some AMAZING dancing from the birthday girl.  Delaney got an AMAZING Barbie getting married set.  She was playing with all the people and said to Jake that they were having a meeting and pointed to our FHE assignment board on the wall, SO CUTE! She loves to dance and sing and makes the best facial expressions when she does. She is great at playing pretend.  She's normally the teacher or the mother or any other "in charge" role and the little kids eat it up. She will be a little cheerleader in the Fall.  I think that suits her to a T. She still sucks on her two fingers when she's tired. She is ever so sweet to Joby, like a little mother.  I want to remember that he was crying on the way back from the lake and she just kindly reached over and touched his cheek as he sat  beside her, it was so natural. Happy Birthday to my favorite sister!

Delaney, Joby, and Beau leave for Texas in the morning.  Beau will be spending some time with his Dad and friends before he comes back here to ship for the Navy.  Delaney and Joby will spend the school year with their Dad. Brody and my Mom will be moving into their own apartment.  My Mom took a teaching job here after LOTS of work transferring her degree and certification.  We are so excited for her and Brody. Our Bishop moving means Jake will be released from his Bishopric calling at church.  When he found this out and with all the other surrounding variables he decided it would be a great idea for our core family to stay together and go with him to his Army officer training he has in San Antonio, TX for the next couple-few months. So if you live anywhere along I-10 between here and San Antonio we'd love to see you on our trek through the South. Now to get our things in order.  On the list today is getting our maintenance on the van, fixing some sc...

Mali su does like to cuddle. These girls say they're best friends.   That's just what I want to hear.

Solomon discovered he could "talk" today during nap time.  His nap was cut short when the sound of daddy clearing his throat scared him half to death.  I also must mention that at 3 months and 22 days old Solomon weighs 20.2lbs. Malachi MUST cuddle with Jake when he wakes up Or He's Mega cranky. Aimi lark is also a cuddler but Mali su could take it or leave it. My siblings leave in two days for a school year at their dad's,  we'll miss them.

How I love you. I love the sound of my "machines" working away while I catch up on a few things. The dryer drying, the washer washing, and the dishwasher sanitizing.  Let's not forget the vacuum vacuuming that put Solomon right to sleep. I don't think I'll nap today (like I usually do), but instead I'll make beds with some freshly cleaned linens. I need to make a dessert, the Elders are coming over for dinner tonight. Tonight is Jake's last night of class for the Summer semester.  He has finals next week. We have lots happening in the next few weeks so everyone stay tuned, I'll reveal as more information becomes available. Happy Wednesday Y'all!

I'm not one who normally takes pictures of flowers and scenery (unless my kids are standing in front of them). Lately though I am obsessed with our clouds here in Orlando.   They are puffy and pretty.  The sun setting in those clouds makes me smile and helps me stop to see the beauty all around.   Florida is full of so much life.  Animals,  plants, water, and more. I need to stop and take in the beauty all around a little more often.

Playing tag and ring around the rosy. It's the best. Run off that energy little ones, run it off.

 I took a quick cell phone picture of the current Bishopric in the hall-way today amidst all the chaos after church. Katie made sure some of us got one with Morgan, the Bishop's wife.   (L-R) Dawn Korzen, Sharelle Rich, Katie Meadows, Morgan Saunooke, Me, and Janice Pokipala.   Us three on the right are married to the three men in the top picture. Our Bishop (Saunooke) is moving with his family to Idaho. No word on what the reorganization of the Bishopric will be. I love our ward and the opportunity we've had to learn so much from all those we attend church with.

So I'm at the gym, just finished a killer "kickboxing" style workout.  We're in the "cool-down" part and on comes the song "Every thing's gonna be alright" (Alicia Keys) and I have to fight the urge to cry.  Why you may ask?  Well I left for the gym that morning frustrated with Jake for encouraging me to go.  I wasn't mad because he said I should go, I was just upset because I feel like I'm always being pulled this direction or that, trying to keep everyone happy and keep up with every one's schedules.  It's my personality.  I am way too much of a people pleaser.  I feel this overwhelming need to take care of everyone and keep everyone happy.  I feel like I am continually falling short.      But like the song says, "I don't worry 'cause Every thing's gonna be alright" My garden died.  I didn't water it.  I guess I thought the occasional rain was enough?  I have a really hard time with ho...

 My Mom took Delaney to Disney on a little Mother/Daughter date for Delaney's upcoming 7th birthday.  They all had a blast!

 Here in Orlando whenever we are driving I almost always see Elders biking down the road.  You know the ones, young guys, backpacks, white shirts/ties, bicycles, big smiles on their faces?  Yeah, those guys.  Jake told me there are so many because we're right in the heart of a city.  We have lots of convert baptisms in our ward and I love attending and the children love to be able to watch.  I had the most touching experience last week when we took the kids on Saturday morning.  Delaney asked me what baptism was and I got to share a little with her via whisper in the middle of it all.  It was sweet.  I am so grateful for my testimony and grateful for the path that my life has taken and is taking.  These pictures were from last night's baptism.  Loved that the sun was in every one's eyes, made for a funny photo.

Tonight it was amazing thanks to beau teaching a fantastic lesson on baptism. His testimony brought tears to my eyes, and his too if I'm not mistaken. Thank you to my family for a great evening together,  ending with a somewhat painful game of London bridges.

 almost 20lb baby in the tub.

 Joby is an "eye closer" in pictures so that was his attempt to keep them open, silly boy.  My sister Delaney turns 7 on July 30th and  Joby turned 5 April 30th of this year.

Malachi loves our new grass and sticks.  The other kids love chalk. I just sat in my beach chair while Solomon hung out in his stroller and we watched the kids play. Our neighbor is from India.  There is a bit of a language barrier but we try and communicate here and there.  She just took Solomon out of my arms this day.  It made me happy, I felt like there was finally a little more of a comfort level there for her.  She and the others that live there are a little stand-off-ish normally. We put the chalk away and brought out the riding toys. Mali Su hurt her toe and Solomon fell asleep on my shoulder so we headed inside. We hydrated and colored. I put some tunes on and danced and sang.  The kids found it quite funny.  Malachi mimicked me.  I loved his "microphone" that he was doing like me. Look at these budding artists!  Aimi Lark drew Rapunzel's long hair and Delaney wrote a nice long note on the back of that pretty picture. An exercise ba...