Another year has almost gone.

It seems like I remember always hearing "old people" say that time just keeps going by faster. I had no clue what they were talking about and thought they were WEIRD. I am officially one of those people now. Time seems to be going by faster. And faster. Sometimes so much is going on, I wonder if I will remember it all. Will I remember the little things the girls do that make me giggle? Will I remember how it felt to hold their hand when they were so small? Will I remember how much grief the teenage years are bringing me so I make sure to warn my daughters "paybacks are a pain"? Will I remember that I wasn't always a perfect parent and tried to learn from my mistakes? I sure hope so. But along with being ADD (i have diagnosed myself because I know I am scatterbrained), I feel like we had a lot going on for a few years.

And know that Katelyn has officially linked us in the "old" category (we didn't even get to be middle-aged), I just keep thinking that time IS really going by faster. And when it goes by too fast, do we really enjoy it all? I would like to hope so but I wish I did more. Maybe that is something I will look forward to this next year. I have already slowed down, but now I need to enjoy it a little more. Take a deep breath.... and take lots of pictures for when the Memory Loss really kicks in more. Ha Ha

As a family, we have already had a Christmas party that went really well and starting over the next week, we will have many more. Hope to be posting some pics soon. Both the girls got their hair cut!

Where did time go?

Jessica and Geoff saying their vows!

And it's official! Mr. and Mrs. Jefferies The last time I blogged, my beautiful sister was getting ready to get married. My laptop is not working right now, which is a poor excuse to not keep this updated. So I will do my best over the next week to post some new blogs.

Jessica and Geoff's wedding was absolutely beautiful! She was the most beautiful bride, the weather was great and they were surrounded by a countless amount of family and friends that were so happy to share in their joy. What an amazing day! Unfortunately I didn't take too many photos. The photographer has much better ones, including ones with me and my very best friend...the one I get to call my sister, Jessica! Hopefully I can get a hold of some of the family pics to put on here someday. Until then, enjoy!

Katelyn with Grandpa Richard (Dick). He was grandma Hamel's best friend for 40 years! Always been a part of our family and always will be.

Three of us bridesmaids...and yes, I am crying! (tears of joy) =]

Katelyn adores her Aunt Jessica and thought she was a beautiful bride. They both look awesome standing next to each other.

Jessica and Geoff dancing to their first dance as husband and wife. She looks so happy! =]

Katelyn, Meagan, and Me (and my five chins!!) I hate how I was leaning back but love this pic. These two girls are my world! So precious.

Unfortunately, our Grandpa Tyler lost his battle to cancer three days after my sister's wedding. This was my mom's dad. He did make it to Jessica's wedding. We didn't know or expect that it would be our last photo opportunity or that it would be the last time my mom saw her dad. I went over to his house the day after the wedding. My girls always seemed to be a "pick me up" for him. He got a good laugh out of Meagan who was his "western" buddy. And he thought the world of Katelyn. If you scroll back to last summer's blogs, you can see a completely different man. Cancer took a toll on his body but he stayed strong until the end. This loss has been hard on his wife Sandy, hard on my mom because they were getting so close to making peace. And hard on me, because I have to be strong for other people, yet miss him too. Here are some pics at my sister's wedding.

My dad, Grandpa, and Uncle JT

Grandpa, Sandy, Jessica, Geoff, Mom

Sandy is his wife. They weren't married for very long. Less than a year actually. But they were together almost 5. He was pretty healthy when they met but little did she now the battle she would have to help him fight. And we only wish they had met a long time ago. She was a breath of fresh air for him. They went on trips, cruises, brought him to grandkids' games, family dinners. She encouraged him to be more involved with family and to do family things. And she was also trying to mend the bridge between grandpa and my mom. She put a smile on his face. God Bless her.

I will update more this week...I promise. But for now, I will leave you with this last photo taken of my mom and Grandpa at Jessica's wedding. I hope as he looks down, he realizes how much he was loved by a lot of people. May he rest in peace.

I'm so Proud

OK....my little sister is getting married in less than 2 months! And I am so stinken excited. Can you tell? And I am also so proud of her.

I know that technically I am only the sister, but if any of you knew about our childhood, you would know that she is also "my baby" sister. We didn't have the typical childhood and my role was always to take care of her. And I have always completely spoiled her!

Anyway, she has been dating Geoff for quite awhile now. Right around 6 years. At first I thought he was really young. He is two years younger than her. But as time has gone by, he has really matured, became a responsible young man, and has learned to love my girls which was a big thing for me. He reminds me of my dad sometimes, which is maybe why Jess loves him so much.

He loves sports and the outdoors and when we go over to their house, he has no problem initiating a game of ball with the family outside. He'll be pitching while my girls are hitting and all the rest of us are basemen, with the exception of mom who also hits.

He makes Jessica happy. And the most important thing...he loves her. I know this by watching the way he looks at her. He adores her. And she loves him so much too. The way she talks about him, it's like they just started dating. It's just....admirable.

And they made sure to get their feet on the ground. Good jobs. Bought their first new home. Now get married. Maybe in a year or two...have some kids. She is doing everything in the right order, which is so not what I did LOL.

This weekend is her bridal shower. And I am so excited! Even though she has ruined a couple of my surprises Ha Ha. But I know that this will be the only time I will be doing this for her and I once again, can't help but spoil her.

I am so grateful to have such an awesome relationship with someone so wonderful. We are completely different but she is my Rock! And I am hers! We know that no matter what, we have each other's back and we support each other probably more than anyone else does. I am so happy and so proud of her. I can't wait for her wedding...God I hope I don't cry!

Fun in the Sun!

Before the sun went down.

We have had a few nice days and thought we would take advantage of the sun. Growing up, I lived in California and Florida and then up here and no matter what, I have never been very far from water. When I lived in Florida, I swore I wanted to grow up and be an oceanographer. Even on a bad day, it seems to be what can help calm me down. Just sitting by the water and listening to the waves come up, close your eyes and just relax. My girls love it too. Some of these were from last night when I took the girls for some fresh air. The others are from earlier in the week when we took the dogs to Duck Lake.

Katelyn

Meagan

Meagan and Katelyn (notice the mitt and ball in Meagan's hand=] )

Meagan and Katelyn

Just being goofy

Listening to the water like her mom.

I love it!

the beautiful sunset

I like the birds in this shot.

Here are the pics from us taking the dogs to Duck lake.

Shawn and the girls.

Without the bunny ears
Meagan throwing the "dummy" for the dogs. It was about 90 out this day, so quite refreshing for the dogs and the girls.

Awww!

Now I need to get my butt in gear and catch up on some scrapbooking!

Kids say the Darndest things!

For a quick giggle. Most of you know that between the rain and all our water in our yard, the mosquitoes are horrible. We have been bringing in fill sand and I just got some spray for our grass. Plus I bought some "dunks." I have two daycare kids that I take to school everyday and on the way, we roll the windows up and down trying to get them out. The other day Andrew and Derek are swatting away and it gets quiet. Derek all of a sudden says. "Ya know what...I only like vegetarian mosquitoes." I laughed so hard. Me too, Derek, me too!

Take me out to the ball game.

Meagan had her first T-Ball game of the season this last Sat. but I have been so busy, I haven't had time to upload pictures. She loves the game so much. And her cousin, Justice, is on the same team as her.

Meagan
Justice

Swing batter, batter, batter SWING!

Run!

Keep going...

Good job and yup, her pants are crooked

The day was just beautiful so we ended up at the driving range. I have never swung a "real" golf club before and after 3 swings, decided I would leave this up to Tiger Woods and my Meagan. She swings so much better than me. I would rather take pictures.

Swing!

Here goes Shawn with a swing.

This does not surprise me. I knew there would be a horse somewhere in this post.

I love my kids. They make me laugh.

Our Meagan

I didn't forget to blog her birthday...I was just so busy. Our Meagan is a hoot. She had her 8th birthday this last Friday, April 10th. It's one of those awesome, happy, sad days. If that makes any sense. I love birthdays. The memory of that day going into labor. The fact that I was high risk because of my delivery with Katelyn but willing to try again. Shawn and I went into the hospital to get a check on the monitor and see if they were going to admit us. We were supposed to be at Charity's house for Pop's (Shawn's dad's) birthday dinner. Obviously we were late. I told Charity to not tell them in case they didn't admit us. I didn't want them to get excited if we didn't stay. No sooner had they decided to admit us, and I was going around another corner (doing laps), Shawn's parents come busting through the doors. First phrase...."I knew you would be here." The next thing I knew, I had Shawn on one side of me and his dad on the other walking the halls and doing laps with me. It was funny. Sue was there too but was visiting a niece that had delivered a few hours before me. Then my mom and sister were called. We didn't call anyone else this time because last time I had over 20 people there. In case this went bad, like the last delivery, I didn't want to scare too many people. I had to have an epidural because of the procedure we were going to have to go through...and no...I will not give details here. Just that I didn't feel too much after that and decided I LOVE those things.

I was watching the clock and thinking there was no way that I was going to have this baby on Shawn's dad's birthday. Then at one point after 11:30, they told me that I was dialated to a 10. How the hell did that happen? Again...gotta love epidurals. The said at any point I would feel "the need" but to let them know so they could get the doctor. I told them to get him, she was coming out. It was a completely funny moment because I am so focused on the clock. I had my mom and sister telling me to "slow down, deep breaths, (fearing for a delivery repeat). And then I had Pops on the other side telling me to "Hurry up". I seriously started laughing. As I was waiting for the doctor to come in, the nurse is telling me to stop and I am still looking at the clock. There was no way I was stopping. And she arrived....11:59 p.m. Determination. I looked over at Pops and said, "Sorry I didn't have time to get you anything for your birthday. This is it." Sue laughed.

So Meagan's birthday is a great day. But it is also sad, because we miss her PaPaw. But she knows she shares this day with him. She had an eventful birthday this year. I took both the girls to the Frederik Meijer Butterfly garden. I had never been there before. It was some nice Mommy time.

"Butterfly Meagan"

The girls together
Meagan

One of the beautiful many butterflies

My mom and Jessica came over along with Sue and JT for a dinner at our house the day before. We colored Easter Eggs all together.

Meagan coloring her eggs.

Meagan with Aunt Jessica

Granny with Meagan

Grandma Robin, Uncle Geoff, and Katelyn

Shawn didn't have to work on Good Friday, so he started Meagan's B-Day with Katelyn at the gym. Then took the girls to the driving range to get their swing on. Thanks to PaPa Jon, Meagan has had her own set of clubs for about a year. You think it's nuts that an 8 year old loves to golf, but she loves it!
Then while Katelyn and I had an agenda, Shawn took Meagan to go ride horses. Yup...of course. We finished off the night with a local Hockey Game, where the Lumberjacks kicked butt. And then she got up the next morning to do some birthday shopping with Granny. She had a busy birthday.

Now it is that time of year for T-Ball to start up. And she is so excited.

Things about Meagan that you may not know:

• 
  
  She loves all animals, especially horses. I swear if she doesn't work with animals when she gets older, I don't know what she will do.


• 
  
  She has the funniest fake laugh ever.


• 
  
  She LOVES her big sister. Yes, they can nit-pick and fight, but when it comes down to it, she adores Katelyn


• 
  
  She doesn't like school and will often say her tummy hurts. If she only knew it gets worse.


• 
  
  She loves sports. Some of her favorites are golf, baseball, basketball, bowling, and of course riding. And we go to the football games. Will be going more now that Shawn is coaching again.


• 
  
  She rides the couch like she is riding a horse. Yup, with her harness and everything.


• 
  
  She is a total Daddy's girl.


• 
  
  She has recently gotten a DS and loves that thing! And loves to watch movies. Just hide the Patriot if she comes over. She loves it, we just think it's a little too much for her.


• 
  
  She loves to make "camps" to sleep in out in the living room.


• 
  
  She loves spending time one on one with family.


• 
  
  Meagan has the best hugs....literally will squeeze you to death.
  
  
  Ahhhh, I love this girl.