Shillig 4 Family

I just love that my kids know their Sellers cousins.  We are so grateful that we have some family up here even if it is extended cousins.  Kayla lived with us before she married Josh so we know them well as it is, and now we are all up in DFW living life.  We try and get together every other month or so and it's refreshing to have family hangouts.  I always have to do the "math" with cousins so this is how it goes. Ivan & Carolyn (brother and sister) Monica & Amy (1st cousins) Kayla & Caroline (2nd cousins) OUR KIDS (3rd cousins) We always have fun no matter what.  This time we played London Bridges, mafia, and had a burrito bar.  They also wanted to say goodbye to Priscilla since she goes home to Chile on Sunday.         (our kids also had a little impromptu sleepover so needless to say they were excited b/c that NEVER happens)

Ada Eleanor Doyle Born: 1/9/19 in Beaumont, TX I had been at the temple with Aimi Lark earlier that evening and while there I sat and watched our daughter and remembered how my mother-in-law dropped everything and drove 5 hours to be with us when I went into labor with my first born daughter.  I couldn't shake the feeling that I should be there for my sister-in-law, Jen and brother Beau when they had their first born daughter.  When I walked out of the temple I had a text from Jen that said, "pray for me, this is really bad" or something along those lines.  I got home and told Jake and he told me to go, he said, "you don't need sleep anyway, you should be there."  I changed quickly, threw some things in the car and headed out.  I got in around 2am.  We walked, talked, and breathed through it all.  Beau said to Jen he was so glad his family was coming.  Brody and Kaley came in from Louisiana as well.  I had never been at a birth besid...

My cousin, Marianne, sent me this quote and said that it described me and it made me smile.  I appreciate knowing I have friends who understand and "get me." Church is now 2 hours vs 3 hours & Aimi Lark is in young women & everyone else is in senior primary.  It's so fun to see them flourish in their church "career" and I am embracing each new stage and change (because there are so many lately).

We had a great day!  We slept in, my mother-in-law made Swedish Pancakes (crepes) again since I missed them working the day before, and when we realized it was way too wet and cold to play sports we headed to the movies!  My mother-in-law LOVES the movies (and the popcorn and soda just as much).  It was the perfect way to enjoy their last full day with us in Texas.      

For Christmas the kids got packs of fireworks (or what we thought were fireworks) and we were so excited for NYE to use them.  It turns out they were poppers and confetti!  We let them shoot them off in the house and they had the BEST time!  We first hit up Pie Five so everyone could make their own custom pizzas, it was the perfect laid back night!  And just about everyone made it til midnight, even if they did the countdown and kisses from bed.  Til next year!

Jake's Mom loves to visit her children and see where they live and where they go to church.  She likes to know they are safe and picture where they are when she hears stories they tell and when she prays for them.  So I knew when they announced their visit that they would be coming for church.  Grammie Lark showed Aimi Lark how the hymn book has references and you can learn more about each song with the footnotes and headers.  I love that Solomon still has his chubby "baby" hands.  I know that it is short lived (like open mouth baby kisses) so I am trying to soak it up.  My father-in-law is used to cooking on Sundays at the Farm.  He stepped right in (along with everyone else) to lighten my burden.  I have a hard time sometimes delegating and think that it is easier to do it all myself, but I am always grateful because like he said, "many hands make light work."  Not to mention he got my stove PERFECTLY clean!  W...

She was the most joyous and happy girl as soon as we hit the grounds.  She skipped around in glee and I was full of joy!  She loved the nativity & it's easy to see why, it's BEAUTIFUL!  As always in California it was a bit chilly so Aimi Lark wore Daddy's jacket and I thought it was the sweetest thing as we walked up to the temple to see more.  My favorite part of the Temple is always the wording on the outside, "The House of the Lord, Holiness to the Lord" so we took a picture of that, too.  As we were leaving we took one last photo.  I had such a sacred experience with these two in the temple.  I am so grateful for Aimi Lark's desire to go to San Diego to the temple.  It has started a tradition in our family that I want to have forever.  It's such a special experience to go on "dates" with each of my children.  I am so lucky and blessed to be their mother and his wife.  I felt whole in the temple & that wa...