Shillig 4 Family

I am feeling hopeful as I begin to plan out our year. I am trying to budget our finances,  plan my school schedule,  think about family adventures,  and Daddy's work schedule(s). I feel like this is OUR year. I am so excited about life. This is our first full year post law school/the bar it feels like. I feel like I am working hard to find our groove in this new year. I have a planner ordered,  finances scheduled,  and can't wait to see what all this planning brings us in the new year. I am so happy that I can continue to blog and hope to keep things more up to date. Here is to a Happy New 2016 for each of us! (Carlsbad, CA) We have a new tradition on our hands, New Year's Eve on the beach. It was incredible!

My Grandma Sellers. She was my mother's mother's mother. She was my Great Grandma. I went to the flea market with her, had sleepovers, learned to crochet and love animals. I would pull off the ends of her aloe vera plant to squeeze out the gel and she would get so upset at me. She was so loving to my Uncle Ralph (her son) who had the mind of a child his entire life and still does. I would let her pop my aunt bites with a needle while sitting in her lap in her chair. I stole money from her when I was a child and she loved me all the same. She would make me hot chocolate and I'd swish it around and make my teeth feel funny. The first time I saw eight-track tapes was at her house buried under a million boxes of Avon. She sold Avon and had quite a full house of treasures, some might call it hoarding. She always found room for me at her house. She would let me share her big bed with her and called it a pillar (pillow) case. She had a tattoo of her husband's name...

 Daddy told the kids years and years ago that when they turned 9 they could have a party where they pass out invites and have friends come.  Aimi Lark requested a "Doc McStuffins" party.  This is from a TV show on Disney channel she loves.  We don't have cable TV so it's not often she gets to watch it, but I love that she wants to be a doctor when she grows up.  I also love that this show is considered too "juvenile" for many her age, but we don't rush through childhoods around here.  We embrace them!  We bought her gift while we were in Mexico for the Tijuana, Mexico temple open house.  The Costco there had a great toy selection.  I ordered some decorations that were so cheap on Amazon and I made lots of Doc themed treats with my sister-in-law, Elliana.  Even though her birthday is the day after Christmas and so we had her party that day as well we had a great turn-out of friends and family.  I was in charge of food ...

We have had one heck of a year! We are happy, healthy, and grateful. I am excited to see what 2016 brings. I hope we can all continue to count our many blessings.

Mom & Dad We were apart earlier this year when we were behind wrapping up life in Florida and he came to California in February to start work.  In April I tagged along on a work trip to my favorite US city, Washington, DC.  Jake had never been so it was a joy to see it together.  We also saw Beau and Jen while we were there.  We have found ourselves taking less dates since moving to California.  When he is in town we stick together as a family.  These years have been coined, "the hotel years" as we always try to stick together when he's in country.  We love his perks and points for hotels and airfare.  We are hoping to save up for a big trip as a whole family next year. This year we also got to take our "3rd Honeymoon"  in August and traveled to China, Inner Mongolia, Singapore & Indonesia.  I am so happy that we are on this journey through life together.  We both know each other so well and it means so much.  I ...