Thankful Sunday

"My beloved brothers and sisters, fear not. Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith." -President Thomas S. Monson

Today I have realized that I want my future to be bright...I want my faith to be strong. They played this talk at church today from President Monson. Be of Good Cheer, I want to be of good cheer. I want to be happy, I want to recognize my blessings and take action to cause good. I don't want to be part of spreading evil and ill...
I feel like I have been under a thumb and only allowed to move so far this way or that for the last 4 years, Adam's schooling has dictated what we can and can't do. Finally we are free to choose what we want to do where we want to go, how we want to be. I want to be as self-reliant as I can. I want to learn and grow. I am excited for having the chance to do these things...I am going to make a few goals. I am going to achieve them.
I have realized that my life is good, even under the thumb of Dental School it was good, and I don't think I recognized that enough. My Children are happy, and healthy. My husband loves me, I have a great family, I have a few great friends. I am blessed. I have a desire to continue to learn and grow, and to be the best Chantel I can be.

So today I am thankful for a Heavenly Father who knows me and my strengths and sees me for what I can be and knows the desires of my heart and helps me to feel his love.

Pictures.... Utah

I love how Phoebe has her hand on Allie's leg so cute!

Utah Cousins...Adrianna holding P. Katie, Allie, Luke & Tess

Baby Bee

All piled in my van below Allie and Katie, best cousins...

Hannah...
Isaac...
Lucas...
Allie...
Tess...
Katie...
Adrianna...

The Motley Crew...

Memorial Day in Aurora, UT (ps I am hiding behind holding P...)

The cutest baby Ever!

New Van...

We have a Van!!!! White, 2006 Toyota Sienna, Happy kids happy parents...
We have been cruising up and down Utah about 800 miles worth to be exact...hanging with family, BYU and IKEA tomorrow...I am thrilled!
Hope you are all well, love to you all!

Thankful Sunday...

I am thankful we will now have a fabulous place to live for a darn good price... Even though it was a bit more than I had really wanted to pay, ( but still in our budget, and really not much more than we pay now) When I started adding up all the things... Garage, pantry with big kitchen all the appliances, 3 roomy bedrooms, finished basement, hardwood floors on the main floor but carpeting upstairs, laundry room, 2 full bathrooms, a nice landscaped yard, Lots of lilac bushes that all smell so good! The window coverings come with it, a nice couch in the basement will probably be staying. Good location near a park, and our gym, I realized that we are totally blessed. And I will admit I am still not 100% invested and feel like I can't be till I am walking through the door with a box...(just in case, I can't handle the disappointment) But I think all the other places are inferior to this one, the one house I loved was Wonderful, but we would have had to buy appliances and a few other things...So I can't hardly believe how we have been blessed.
I am thankful of getting to Utah in 4hrs and 40 minutes instead of 3 days and a million of miles.
I am thankful that the kids did so well and enjoyed themselves on the flights.
It is rainy in Utah, I am not happy about that but it is refreshing the way rain smells here, instead of how it smells in NY. Rain in the dessert just smells better, and seems more lovely than in NY.
I am thankful for Memorial day, and for all the people who have and who are defending our country so we all can sleep safely at night without fear. I always want to go tell soldiers I see thank you but always feel like it would sound stupid, but I hope they know that as for me I am Grateful that they are willing to give to keep our country free, and our children safe.

Just to let you know...

We made it! The kids are in heaven at Grandpa & Grandma's house. They are having lots of fun checking out stuff... When we landed Allie started yelling Utah, Utah, Utah, Utah!!! Grandpa Grandpa Grandpa!!!!!
One other funny story, I had to go to the bathroom, and when I came out of the bathroom there was the flight attendant guy smoking a cigarette I was just standing there staring at him... there was smoke wafting up from the cigarette, My mouth must have dropped...the other flight attendant lady looks at me and says Oh it's fake and the guy attendant starts laughing and says Yeah it is fake... and hands it out to me... My heart had about stopped! It was fake... I told him he was brave, and the other lady was saying You are going to get us All in trouble! (kinda my thoughts too) He was just laughing, and says, Yeah I walked though the Flight Attendent lounge yesterday with it in my mouth.. hahahahaha... He was a Ham that guy... he kept offering to put a little vodka in my drink for me...
They also were very sweet with the kids and gave Phoebe a certificate for her first flight, with wings and all the information about the flight.... it was So cute!
The kids did very well and hardly made peeps... Luke woke from his nap and was a bit cranky but other than that, and Phoebe's hungry cry....It went well.

We are Off!

We shall be taking off later today to head out to Utah for our family vacation...
Good news... We found a place to live! And it is beautiful, and still in Allie's school district, close to our gym, and a Deal! We feel Blessed to have the chance to have a full finished basement for the Lovely and LONG Buffalo winters...And did I mention it has a Lovely Kitchen with a pantry??? Oh and a garage, Well I won't carry on...

We shall be leaving the likes of This.....

For something more like this....Have a fabulous Memorial Day Weekend! PS we will be back about the 12th of June, driving a Mini-van (cross your fingers!)

Sitting up...and other fun stuff...

Phoebe has started sitting up... she still falls over when she gets excited or leans to far... but it is still amazing!

The other two animals...

A Doctors Robes....and a few other things....

Well before we had to return the robes I made Adam do a photoshoot with me... (his favorite thing..haha)These are the beautiful flowers Adam and Allie got me for Mothers day... I love the color they are Lovely!

Also they got me some Marigolds

Where did I get this crazy kid????

Dang she is cute though!

Thanks to Amy...

We have one picture of Adam and I from Graduation! I need a back up battery!At least it is a good picture for the most part. Well we have been home for almost a week, with no responsibility, no agenda, no plans. We really haven't done a thing except cruise the Internet looking for a Toyota Sienna. Which we are both wishing we already had since we are going NUTS and wish we could just run over to Vermont or anywhere for the weekend to get out of Buffalo, especially with our good friends moving next Week it is depressing and I wish they wouldn't leave. I am always in denial when great people move out of town. I don't know what I am going to do anymore when it is my turn since I for sure thought right now would be my turn. We have still had no luck with housing. We looked at a house yesterday and the bedrooms were TINY, and the current renter smokes and has a dog. YUCK! The yard was amazing though. No dishwasher either Pooh! Hopefully we can find something soon...I just want to move and be out of here and have a yard, and something New to occupy my thoughts for a while, and for me to be excited about. Adam is going to talk to a lady he knows from school who had mentioned that she owned 2 homes...so I guess we will see what happens! Today will be Allie's Kindergarten screening. She is SO excited she thinks it is school, she asked me what time the bus was coming. No bus sweetie! Darn!
Did I tell you that Phoebe can roll over now? Both ways, except when she rolls from her back to belly she gets her arms stuck under here and gets so frustrated! She is a cute, sweet girl... She is pure sunshine! We are lucky to have her. She has also started eating rice cereal, (you may have noticed in the pictures below) She LOVES it!
The kids have been riding bikes all over the patio and the neighbors patios, Luke had gotten Very good at riding, and Allie scored a scooter at a swap we had with some church members. (Thanks Webbers!) Luke has also finally figured out how to climb OUT of his crib... Bad news, so last night we took of his front and made it a toddler bed, well lets just say there was NO WAY he was going to stay put and stayed up very late. finally we just put the side back on and pulled it up and hoped he didn't decide to jump. He was very mad but finally did go to sleep! What are we going to do with that boy!
Allie had lots of fun getting my mothers day presents with Daddy, she was very proud of herself. They got me Roses, marigolds, a new pitcher, and chocolate. It was a Fabulous present! The roses are such a pretty color! And I am excited to plant the Marigolds! (Luke has already tired a few times)
Allie is all about being outside, worms, ants, plants, dirt...she is my A typical Tomboy!

Well I guess that is a short update to keep you happy... and informed...We will be leaving for Utah on the 23rd and will return on the 9th (or there about since we may be driving a van home instead of flying)
Well wish us luck... and I do also want to say thanks to everyone who helped make Graduation a fabulous time for us...Those who were able to come to the picnic, thanks it was so fun, special thanks to the Fox family, Thank you Thank you thank you for helping us move that Foosball table to the basement. You guys are great! Thanks to everyone who offered to babysit, or did! Rachel Thanks so much! Alison E. watched them one night too, and poor girl Phoebe cried most of the night that time! Thanks to our family for coming and doing dishes, and letting us use you camera, and for watching the kids so we could go do dinners. Glad you were all a part of it!
Thanks mom for Adam's Guitar Hero, we have already gotten a TON of use out of it, and we all love it! Thanks again Everyone!

what's been going on?

Our family!
Poor PhoebeBut really he does love her!

Allie being photographer... and P. fell asleep out cold!

Milk Check! Cup Check!

Seriously a Milk man... in the trunk of his bike 3 milks!

P started eating cereal and LOVES It!

Me and my crazy kids!

Phoebe smelling/eating the lilacs! She loved them, and they smell so good!

Motley Crew...

Luke, Allie , Phoebe, Sofia, Milan

Thankful Sunday....Graduation!

Short Run down....Above the cute cookie I ordered for Adams party... Yummy! ( I did the tooth and DDS.)

Adam SUPER happy...

If I didn't feel like we were at Hogwarts enough....Dr S. put on her witches hat! She is so funny!

Below Adam being Hooded...
Adam N. Shepherd Magna Cum Laude, with a Minor in Pediatric and Community Dentistry.

We had FABULOUS seats, second row right next to the Graduates! So as Adam came off the stage we were able to get hugs and kisses! Below Adam's parentsThe Boys...Steve McKee, Adam, Dave Clegg, Joel Hamilton, Jesse Harker, Andrew Beautenmuller
Happy Docs!Adam's Biggest fan... Milan yelled, Congratulations Uncle Adam several times when they called Adam's name it was Awesome!Dinner with the Harkers! YEAH!!!