Wednesday, December 22, 2010

officially Christmas break

Today officially starts Christmas break for EVERYONE in the Power House.
Chris is WFH (working from home) tomorrow and then is off until the new year.

Now if only the weather gets cold enough that the home made ice skating rink they built in the back yard can freeze over!! We have been sledding 2 days in a row, and LOVING IT.

Last night, Ashlyn had her very first friend sleep over. She's had her "best friend cousin's" Malacky, Emma, and Taeya spend the night before, but never a friend. AND it was Kira's first friend sleep over as well. They were soooo cute, and soooo excited. We watched our family remake of Charlie Brown Christmas, had taco's, and the girls played in a strawberry shortcake pop up tent that Kira brought. They also enjoyed playing with dolly's in the bunk bed. They went to bed at 8:30 and at 10:30 I had to threatened to put them in separate beds if they didnt go to sleep. Finally they were asleep and slept until 8am. They had such a great time and they both said they can't wait to have another sleep over. Man, I can't believe how big she is getting, and how fast they are all growing up.

Well, I am tired, and off to dream land
Night all,
Shel

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Christmas 1863









Katey with Pastor Sarah

Our Church has been celebrating its history all year. They have been celebrating a "Rooted in the Past, Giving for the Future" theme. It's been pretty neat to be on the A/V team and watch it all unfold, and to learn so much about this church's past. Plus I work with some really cool people and we have a lot of fun.

Tonight our church had a "Remembrance" service. It was a Christmas eve service back in 1863, during Civil War Times. The characters portrayed in the service were true members of our church back then, and with the amount of research they put into it, it was as close to how true the service could be without actually being there.

We arrived to everyone dressed in fancy 1860's clothing and everyone looks soo darn cute. Katey is doing confirmation classes and her class got to help greet and hand out electric candles to everyone. The service was great and we sang 3 Christmas songs, and even learned about their history. We sang O Come All Ye Faithful, It Came upon the Midnight Clear, and Silent Night (to candles). We even got a really awesome serenade by our very own Pastor Jay, who is an Opera Singer, singing O Holy Night.. it was breath taking.

Even Chris and the kids enjoyed tonight's service, and Katey and I can't wait for the Christmas eve service which she and the rest of the confirmation class have small parts.

Well I am tired and am off to dream land.
Good night, All
Shel





Saturday, December 18, 2010

Christmas Break


Lucky for me, I am not on Christmas break for 2 weeks. The kids start their Christmas break on Tuesday, and Chris has the week between Christmas and New years off. LOVE IT !!

Tonight we had some friends over for some game and spirits ;)
It's so nice having friends with kids, who can come over, bring the kids, and EVERYONE has a great time. I am so glad they came over, I was really needing some adult fun time.

Ashlyn got invited to Mrs. Denise's house for a Christmas party. Mrs. Denise is Billy's mom, and she runs a home daycare. She watches Ashlyn before and after school until I can come pick her up. Ashlyn was so excited to be invited to a Christmas party with her friends. She had a BLAST, and Santa even showed up. Mrs. Denise def. spoils all of her kiddo's.

Well, I am off to dream land.
Nighty night all,
Shel

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Christmas Cheer

Hello Everyone,
So Chrishel.com is back, but what to do, what to say?
First off, the kids are doing great in school, and Chris is still loving his job. I now have a babysitting job, and watch 3 of the cutest kids. Dillon is in 3rd grade and I have him for an hour before he gets on the bus. Kira is in P.M Kindergarten, so we get to play all morning. I have brought Ashlyn a few time with me and they just love hanging out. And then there is Logan. He is about 10 weeks old and is a little snuggle bug. He is a very good baby and is very happy to be held and rocked. I only work from 7:30 till 12 so I still have my afternoons off to clean the house, cook, and play with Ashlyn. Things are going great.

We are very excited about Christmas, I mean who isn't right?
We went and cut down our real Christmas tree, as we do every year. We got it all lighted and decorated. We have our decorations out, and Ashlyn wont stop singing and dancing to Christmas music. She very much wants to buy Santa a Christmas present and wrap it for him. She is so caring about others and really has not asked for much for herself. She's just a sweet little angel girl. Katey and Brandon are looking forward to Christmas too and are def. in the Christmas spirit. We all cuddle up and watch Christmas cartoons, and we all talk about Santa and the reindeer and can't wait for the big day.

So far we have had some snow, but not tons. I hate the snow and could do without, but I do enjoy watching them play in it, and teach our dog Kody how to take down a snow man. It's quite funny to watch. I'll see about getting a video up ASAP.

Well, thats it for today. Gonna snuggle up next to the fire with some hot cocoa and watch some tv with the family.
Shel

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

chrishel

Chrishel.com is back in business.

I will update more tomorrow.

Shel

Friday, August 27, 2010

school

Well school has started, and I now have all 3 in school.
Being a stay at home mom for the last 14 yrs I am now kinda stuck. I need to re-identify myself, and its been pretty depressing, yet wonderful all at the same time. It's great having time to myself, time to clean without interruption or someone messing up behind you, and its also nice to go grocery shopping all by yourself. It's just that feeling of not being needed that really sucks. I mean, I know they still need me, but its in a different way. But Ashlyn has been doing a really good job at still needing her Mama. She comes home and JUMPS off the bus and runs into my waiting arms. She cant wait to tell me about her day, and how much she thought of me. And when she falls or gets a splinter, all she wants is her Mama to make it all better. Even tonight, as we watched a movie, she wanted to snuggle up in MY arms. All she wanted was her Mommy. Katey and Brandon have pretty much been Daddy's kids, and its so amazing to have one be all mine. I think its been nice having Katey and Brandon be all about Daddy because I was the one who was home with them all day, and I got to witness everything while Chris went to work. So to see how much they loved him really warmed my heart. But Ashlyn, I think I really NEEDED her to be mine. I think I needed her to need me, because she was going to be my last. Its crazy watching them grow up right before your eyes. Its just a miracle all of it. How they form inside of you, and so fast. How they grow up right in front of your eyes, its all just amazing.

Next Thurs. my biggest baby girl turns 14. I can't believe that for the last 14yrs I have been a Mom, it has been my everything, and it has been the most wonderful, and challenging, and rewarding job I could have ever had. But now its time to let them grow up, and to become something myself. I really want to become a nurse. I think I have this need to take care of and help people. So this is what I want to do. I want to go back to school, and really dedicate myself to being the best student I can, and soon to becoming a very compassionate and loving nurse. I will start out slowly. With Ashlyn being in school, we just do not know how her little lungs are going to handle it. So I want to take 1 or 2 classes so if she gets sick, I wont get to far behind or have to drop anything. And she only goes to half day Kindergarten, so next year I could take more classes. This year its a see how it goes kinda year.
I hope to be blogging more, so check in often.. I'll try to post daily.. we'll see how that goes.
Lots of Love,
Shel

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

more geocaching

Hello,
We have been BUSY here at the Power House.
We have been out every day this week caching when Chris gets home from work. I just can't believe how much fun this is, and everyone is really enjoying it so much. I do have to say we have not been able to watch any of our shows this week as we have been gone searching. Today we found 4. I found 2 myself, and its a great feeling to find one. We actually found one today that had little trinkets inside. We took a Japanese coin, and left an American flag. Then as we were leaving a guy was outside his house and says.. "did you find it?" It was HIS cache and we got to chat for a few mins. He showed us his "travelbug" on the back of his car and how it works. It was really a great day. I am also excited that my sister Cassie and her family have started geocaching as well. Trysta found their very first one yesterday, and they found 2 more today. Way to go YAMAGUCHI FAMILY !! WAY TO GO TRYSTA !!

Chris and I are hoping to go to Yellowstone in Aug. with his parents, and I think that road trip may have just taken a different turn. I cant wait to geocache our way to Yellowstone. Well I think I may have food poisoning so I am off to bed, hopefully I will feel better tomorrow.
~Shel

Monday, April 26, 2010

Geocaching

We watched a show, The Forgotten, a few weeks back and there was an episode where they were Geo-caching to find clues. Its basically like a treasure hunt, but there is no beginning and no end. Its nationwide so you just put in your zip code or where ever you are vacationing and wallah, you can go searching for caches.

Well, Chris has been talking about this ever since, and we went and looked for one with Carol and Jim over the weekend and couldn't find it. We were bummed, but had a great time looking for the cache. Well we found some out by our house and tonight we went and found our very first geo-cache. And now we have a little bit of an idea of what we were looking for. We expected something much bigger, but what we found was a tiny, 1 inch container that you open and sign the log and put it back.


It was really cool to finally find one. And upon searching online for other containers, this looks like it could be a TON of tricky fun. If this is interesting to you.. go to www.geocaching.com put in your zip code, and search the google map, and post about your adventure.
~ Shel

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

walk the walk

Ok, I have been saying for a while now that I want to get in shape and loose the weight. Well, it is now time to walk the walk. I went on a 2 mile bike ride today, and am taking Ashlyn on a 1 mile walk later, then tonight I plan on doing 15 mins on the Gazelle. I know thats not a lot, but its a begining. I am so out of shape, and I have asthma. In 1 week I will up my distances and time. I will take it day by day, week by week, and I will try to update my progress.

Go Me,
Shel

Monday, February 8, 2010

Not Me Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.


Ok, so I follow MckMama and she does this every Monday. Some of the stuff she puts on there is really funny. So here is how you do it. You write about some of the embarrassing stuff that you "did not do" this week. And you can read what everyone else "didnt do" back on MckMama's site. Its just a funny way to start of a monday.

Ok, I'll start my first ever "Not Me" Monday.
So, on Wed. night I was trying to be a really great wife and get all the laundry done. I did NOT forget I had a load of laundry in the wash and get up out of bed at 10pm and go running down the stairs in my socks to move the last load over.. Nope, not me. And when Not running down the stairs, because I have told my kids many many times how dangerous it is to run down the stairs, I did NOT slip and fall and fracture my elbow. NOPE that certainly was NOT me! And I def. dont have to wear a stupid sling for the next 2-3 weeks as a
constant visual that Mommy didnt listen to her own rules.

Every night right before bed Katey and Brandon always "come down with something". So on Thurs. I certainly did NOT yell at Brandon when right before bed he said he needed to throw up. I did NOT get frustrated and tell him that I was sick and tired of them pulling this every night before bed. I did not tell him to get his butt in -- When he started pukeing his head off. I did not stand there feeling like the worlds crappiest mom. Nope not me, Im sure I really just ran to him, rubbed his back and held his hand when he started not feeling well. Im certain I talked to him gently and calmly and asked if he needed a puke bucket. I positively didnt think he was lying and then watched him prove me wrong.. NOPE NOT ME!

See, that was easy.
Hope you enjoy your Monday.
Shel

Thursday, February 4, 2010

not a great day.

Yesterday I got a call from Brandon's school nurse. He bumped heads with another kid. He was ok but since it was a head injury they had to tell me. Then 10 mins later I get a call from Kathryn's nurse. She said her tummy hurt, she was nautious and wanted to come home. The nurse said she didnt look well at all, but didnt have a fever, but probably should go home. So Chris picked her up.

Fast forward till right before bed. Its now time for bed and as always right before bed the kids get headaches and tummy aches and blah blah. Bran starts saying I think Im gonna puke. I am in the middle of yelling at him saying.. " I am so tired of you guys being fine, then right before bed you dont feel good. You need to get into ---" At this point he starts barfing his head off. Yeah, great mom here. I felt like crap. So we get it all taken care of. Bran's in bed with a puke bucket, Katey's in bed with a puke bucket, and Ash is in bed no puke bucket.

I then go downstairs to move laundry over and FALL DOWN THE STAIRS. I came right down on my elbow and it hurt, BAD. I can move it slowly so its not a terrible break or anything. If I keep it bent and still I feel fine, but if I straighten it, move it, or even the sheet touches it, it hurts. So the nurse at my dr's office said it could be bruised or even a hairline fracture. I go in at 11. I didnt get much sleep last night because anytime I moved it hurt.

So here I sit, sore arm, and 2 sick kids home laying on the couch. Not a great start to my day.

Monday, February 1, 2010

stopped

Grr, I hate getting all dressed up, bundled up, and go out to the van and it WONT START.

Ashlyn's all dressed and ready for school, and we go out and it wont start. Now she's crying because she wants to go see her friends, she wants to go play at school, and the van wont start.

So, we are gonna play some of her new games, color, and maybe find some kind of project we can do together. Its so easy to get bummed and then not what to get up and do anything.

Tonight I am making a Salad for dinner, and Chili. I am going to cut up some fresh fruit (apples) as well. I plan on filling up on salad and fruit, and just having a small cup of chili instead of a huge bowl. Im also not making hot dogs to go with the chili.

A good friend of mine, Jeni Tacket is a dietician and she has started a blog about eating right, loosing weight and all that good stuff. Check out her blog... http://fitlifespot.com , you may find some interesting stuff there.

Ok, Im off to play with my munchkin,
Shel

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Life

Hello,

(Hey Candice, thanks for checking in.. YOU ROCK )

Sorry, I have not updated in forever.
I am in the process of reorganizing our lives. Dont get me wrong, our lives are GREAT! I am happy, I am in love, I have great children. But, I think we need to get a bit more organized. I have always been a spontaneous jump and do whatever kinda person. But I feel we need more structure. I have started with the house, and next is closets and going thru clothing. We are also going to be incorporating exercise into our daily schedules, and eating better. Im not happy with my weight, and I can continue with the "who cares, who am I impressing" kind of thinking, and start impressing MYSELF. But, I also think it would be cool to be "that wife", "that mom". I want to do more activities, and more game nights. I want to have an active family life because sitting on the couch, watching movies is nice, but I want long lasting memories. My kids are growing up way to fast. I have a 13yr old for crying out loud. In 5 years she will legally be able to move out. These years are slipping away way to fast. So I supose I can slip in some time for updating this site. I mean, why keep paying for a site if I never update it right?

Well anyway, I am rambling.
I will keep you posted on our progress.
Shel