Happy Holidays!

Well man does it feel good to be home!

We had a great Christmas and are looking forward to the year.

My Brother and Sister are home for the holidays and it has been

great to see and visit with them.

We wish you all a Happy New Year and hope you had a great Christmas!

FREEZING!!

We are in Dickinson, ND.
We have been here for 2 weeks now. I know one thing is for sure....It's COLD!
The forcast is predicting -1 the high for Monday and a -34 with the wind chill...Yikes!
It is nice country over here though.
After church on Sunday we went for a short drive and saw over 50 head of deer.
I haven't had till fill my tank once since we've been here because everything is so close.
Dickinson is a town of about 17,000 people.
I will get some pics up soon.
I just wanted to update since I haven't had a computer since we've been here and finally had a chance to use one.
Love to all!

MATT IS COMING HOME!

Wow! It's like christmas eve as a little kid! I am so excited. Matt will be home in like 6 hours!

The kids are so excited too!

It's HERE!!

So I have started a new business with a good friend of mine, So Posh Signs - Home Decor and more. We have been busy little bees working to get enough stuff ready for our first ever craft bazaar and it's here. Thursday-Saturday we will have shop set up at Freedom Storage in Caldwell on the corner of KCID and Hwy 20/21. We are excited about what we have put together and invite you all to come and join us anytime from 9-6.
Hope to see you there!

Big Family Adventure!

Well with Matt working in North Dakota the kids and I find our selves feeling a little lost and lonely! So after 9 weeks (with one week being home to bless Shad)of no Dad we are excited to announce that he will be home in time for Thanksgiving. Work is still going well in N.D. so he will stay as long as he can pour but plans to leave day before Thanksgiving. This will give us 4 days together and then we are all off! The kids and I will be finding a new home in N.D. We will be keeping our home in Caldwell but plan to be gone as long as we have work keeping Matt busy. Can't tell you much else because we don't really know as of yet but we are excited to get back to a daddy routine.

He did it!

Gabe did it! He finally decided all on his own to take his training wheels

off and start riding his bike "like a big kid." And boy did he take off.

I knew it would be a breeze once he decided to do it because his training

wheels are so bent that they haven't actually been touching the ground in

months! And sure enough...The first time, with no help, he was off!

BMX watch out!

Pics coming soon!

Look how big Shad is getting...

4 Days Old...

12 days old...

Halloween...

This is how excited Shad was at Gabe birthday Party...

Nov. 4...First Smile on Cue!

Too Perfect! Nov. 5

Nov. 14 What a Chunk!

This is a shout out to a great Husband, Dad, Provider and

Best Friend. We love you and miss you tons!

See you at Thanksgiving!

Gabe's Birthday!!

GABE turned 4 years old...Oct. 31! Holy Cow...(as Gabe would say)
We can't believe how big he is getting.

To help us celebrate we invited a few boys from the neighborhood
and of course his Aunt's Emma and Chloe.
The big Sword Fight was the hit of the party.

Yeah...I am crazy! A Sword Fight?

We also played pin the tale on the donkey and

Gabe won!

Gabe...My Big Helper!

The other day I asked Gabe to help me by unloading the dish washer. I can't say I really expected much...I was more or less just trying to keep him busy.

He was so thrilled to do what I had asked and I think felt really important that I was letting him do it all on his own. About 15 min. later he came running into my room with the biggest smile on his face. "Mom come and see!" I know from experience if he actually wants me to come and look then he really did his best. Sure enough the dish washer was completely unloaded and all the dishes put in the right cupboards and are you ready for this...he even sorted the silverware!

I was so happy and in the midst of praising him when he stopped me. He looked at me with the most serious face and then with his hand motioning, said "Next time you need something, Mom, you just ask me!"

What would I do with out you Gabe!?!

Shad's Blessing!

Well, it was last minute and thrown together but, our family and friends made it anyway!

Shad was blessed on Sunday, October 26th. Matt was only home for 1 week and as such we had to take advantage of our time with him.

Enjoy these pictures. It was a great day!

p.s. Kathy made Shad outfit...She is wonderful!

Man life is crazy! I am so happy and anxious to announce that Matt will be home in 1 week. Sunday the 19th...YEAH! It's funny how we have these times when we are able to realize what is really important in life. And to me it is my husband. I don't mind mowing the lawn or taking out the garbage. I don't miss him doing stuff around the house I just miss HIM! He is anxious to come home and see the kids. Especially Shad considering he has only really seen him for a week of his life and Shad will be almost 6 weeks by the time Matt gets home. Lucky for us there is still plently of time to spend together. We will be leaving on the 19th to go camping.

Gabe has been begging to go camping all year. We went once but promised him we would go for his birthday. Luckily our trailer has heat...brrrrr!

A friend of mine, Denise and I are starting a business, So Posh Signs. We will be making and selling vinyl signs, magnet boards and more. I am so excited! I will have a blog ready by the end of the week. Feel free to check it out. Although it might be bare as we are just getting started.

I just want to thank all of you for your kindness and thoughtfulness during my time of need. I have had so many kind offers...Some of you took my kids so I could go somewhere to get something done or just took my kids to give me a break. No matter what you did... I am very greatful for you and your efforts. I know your lives are all busy and crazy too. I have great friends and a wonderful Family. I love you guys!

Look how they've grown...

So I was just going through some old pictures and it is really crazy how fast these sweet little babies grow...Here is a recap from just 3 years ago.


Handsome...

Lookin' a little bald!


Gabe and his friend Mason Tolman..


Fun Day out...








Gabe Fishin'...








OH my gosh! She was so sweet, oops is so sweet :-)






Gabe is so little...






Hmmm...



Ahna Shaffer...6/10/06


Like 2 peas in a pod...







Specail moments...




In her first month...






Ahna is Precious!



Look at that puggy face...


Well besides making me want to cry I totally just had
a huge appreciation moment for the little everyday
moments that I often take for granted because life
gets crazy. I really love my family and what an amazing
man I married. Couldn't have done it with out him!

Okay, Okay...I am done with the mooshy stuff!

More Pics

Mommy thinks he is so YUMMY!

Great Grandma and Grandpa Graham...




Gabe Loves to hold his new baby brother!



Proud Brother and Sister!

Uncle Derik is soooo loved!

Shad Matthew Shaffer - has arrived!

Shad

Sept. 10, 2008 11:44 p.m.

7 lbs 6 oz. 20 1/2 inches

The perfect addition to our family!

Okay...Sorry this has taken so long but it is quite an adjustment especially with Matt leaving only days after.

But here are a few pictures of our little guy...I will post more later.

Baby Shower

Hello Friends and Family!
My dear friend Carrie Elordi is throwing me a baby shower...tomorrow, Thursday September 4th. I just wanted you all to know that you are invited as I am sure that she didn't know who all to send invites to.
It is at Chapalas Mexican Resturant on the Blvd. in Nampa at 7 Pm.
If you can make it please RSVP to Carrie @ 284-2365.
Love to all!
Brecca

Due Date...

So I had my doctors appointment yesturday and was dialated to a 1...
We set an induction date and time of September 11th @ Noon.
I seem to be working on every one else schedule...Matt will be leaving to
work in North Dakota and my mom is getting back from NY at 2:30 that
day and I want those two people...especially...there.
So we are on a countdown - 2 weeks and 6 days...It will go far too fast.

Roaring Springs

Chloe Ann...She enjoyed Sun bathing more than swimming...:-)
Our sweet little Ahna...It was bright outside.

We were able to go to Roaring Springs recently to celebrate my cousin Dallyn's Birthday. Here are some group shots of the event.

Gabe had been asking all summer to go...he was so thrilled to be there and especially with all of his cousins.

WHOA....Hold up!!

Okay so many changes since my last blog.
We found out last night that there are many advantages for us
to wait until after the new year to take out our loan to finish our
house. And after much thought and consideration we've decided
not to continue until, hopefully, March. Which was a bit of a let down
but at the same time an overwhelming amount of relief. This means
no moving this month, a home to come to after Shad is born, and a
chance to feel more financially secure...not going into the winter
with new debt.
So although disappointing Matt and I both see many advantages to
our current situation. Luckily we had not signed our house away yet,
that was scheduled to happen today...
So we will remain in our house until Spring...Yeah!

Update on US....

Well where do I start?
All is well on the home front. We are just a little over a month away from adding another member to our family (Sept. 10th) and are so excited. I never thought I would say this and mean it but my pregnancy has gone by way to fast! I am still trying to find out what happened to July. But along with all that excitement we have found renters for our house and will be moving out by Sept. 1st. or atleast hopefully before Shad joins the family. Where are we moving? This is the Headline....OUR CAMP TRAILER.... Am I crazy? Just maybe. But our plan is to live in that on our land until our house is done (hopefully end of November) to save money, do landscaping, yada yada yada. It hasn't happened yet folks so we'll see :-)
Wittney moved to Kansas Last Thursday for school and yes Witt, We miss ya!
Work is still work and owning your own business is still all kinds of stressful fun...especially in this market. But all is well and looks promising.
We were able to take Matts family to the Twin Falls temple this last weekend and that was fun.
I think that it probably put alot of myths to rest just being able to see the inside of the temple. So we hope that they enjoyed it as much as we did.
We are so crazy that I know I have missed birthdays, special occasions etc. for many of our loved ones...my apologies! We sure love you all and hope this finds you all doing well.

Family Pictures...

Randi Davies is our new photographer and I love her!

She is so creative and really captures the moment.

Check her out www.randidavies.com

Weekend Cont.

So beautiful this time of year.
My Grandma and Grandpa live with this view everyday! What a tuff life...:-) They worked hard for it.
Dad and Gabe...River bank while Gabe fished with a net...

The weekend wasn't just wedding stuff. We were able to spend some time at my grandparents house in Ririe.
Saturday Grandpa took Matt, Gabe and I up on the Snake River.
Gabe was so excited and felt so big.
Now how cute is he?!

Derek and McKenzie's Wedding Weekend

One of our friends was married this weekend in Pocatello. Matt was one of the groomsmen. It was such a cute wedding.
What a stud! I don't get to see my husband dressed up all that much especially considering his line of work...He cleans up really well!
Friends Derek and McKenzie Apel.

This is a video of the how the wedding began. I thought it was so Derek. The music that played during his entrace was Leader of the Pack. So it started out with the conversation of the girl..."I saw him in the candy store..." and then as it broke out into the song "Leader of the Pack" Derek rode a wheelie across the front of the audience with his groomsmen to follow all on dirt bikes and then they parked in the back and proceeded one by one up the isle. It was so cute and origional. And then the bridesmaids walked up the isle and the bride arrived at the wedding with her dad in a 56 Ford and her Dad walked with her up the isle. So them....What a fun wedding it was. Congrats Derek and McKenzie! We are so happy for the two of you!