Is he not PRECIOUS?!

I finally finally got a picture of my sweet boy smiling. Isn't it a gem? It only took 8 shots but I GOT IT!

Friends in low places?

I have been feeling really lonely lately. I am not sure why, its silly because I have a wonderful husband (who is by far my best friend in this WHOLE world), and I do have great friends. I just can't seem to get out of my "lonely state". My dad gave me a beautiful blessing before we came back from Christmas and he promised me I would find friends. And I am telling you I am discovering friendships I never thought I would in a million years. There is something about a new friendship that is exciting but scary. So thankful for new beginnings!

Embarrassing 2010

So I have 2 stories to share and they are both embarrassing but I have to either laugh or cry about them so I am choosing to laugh.

STORY #1
I was driving to a neighbors house and was turning into her driveway. ICE + Me going a little too fast= ending up in a mini snow bank and hitting her garbage can. Oh thank goodness 2 girls helped push me out. I think every year I have to get STUCK in somebody's drive way. I keep think her neighbor caught it on video and it will end up on YOU tube. OH well. At least I didn't hit anybody!

STORY #2
We were having a lazy Saturday and by lazy I mean I was wearing my night gown ALL DAY... well I did get dress about 5pm but it was cozy and I was cold... Anyway... My night gown is a bit short... and I heard a knock at the door. ASSUMING it was my sister in law because she left a few things here and she said she was going to stop by and pick them up I opened the door with out thinking. COME to find out it was a member of our Bishopric wife! Who I totally look up to and adore. UGH! I WAS SO MORTIFIED! Here I am with this mini night gown on and slippers, greasy gross hair, glasses on, no make up. WHAT A SIGHT!

What do these things have in common????

GRADUATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!









5 year ANNIVERSARY!









IRAQ





THEY ARE ALL REASONS WHY TROY AND I ARE GOING ON A CRUISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YES WE DONT HAVE THE MONEY and NO WE DONT CARE. That sounds kind of harsh... But here is the thing... Troy was told he would never graduate from high school let alone COLLEGE because of CAPD. This may be our last hurrah vacation ever (ok we dont want to think negatively but lets get real... he is going to IRAQ) And I know 5 years doesn't seem like that big of a deal but MAN 5 years is 5 years baby!

3 months HINKS VS CHAND

My boys really do look a lot a like. BUT they have complete opposite personalities.

Chandler has little hair and its RED! Hinckley had LOTS OF HAIR and its was more blondish.
Chandler is very calm and content. Hinckley was VERY fussy and NEVER content.
Chandler is a great sleeper. Hinckley was not
Chandler RARELY sleep in his car seat. Hinckley loved to sleep in his car seat (the only time he would sleep unless we stopped)

Even though they are both differnt I LOVE THEM THE SAME! Gosh... I am a lucky girl

Even though its cold outside these babes keep me WARM!

I have been so blessed to be a mother. I love my children. They are so beautiful and perfect in every way. They keep me busy but I would trade that FOR NOTHING IN THIS WORLD!

25 degrees= No coats?

(Not my kid but you better believe this is what they look like when we go outside!)


Here is a vent post. SORRY! But I just can't handle it any more. I can NOT believe how many kids and even SOME BABIES who do not have coats or hats on outside. Are you just aching for sickness? Even on facebook I have seen pictures of babies who have no clothes on yes they are inside but its still drafty and cold in a house even if the heater is 75 degrees. I know this sounds bad but majority of the time I keep Chandler in his NICE WARM FLEECE JAMMIES. You want to know why? Because socks always fall off of him and his hands get cold if he is wearing clothes. So PJ's it is my friends because they are warm. AND ITS FREEZING OUTSIDE. Ok I feel better now. BUNDLE UP YOUR KIDS!

Carter Family Love

I have been very blessed to have a family accept me into their own even though I may be a bit different! Even though we have our differences, I am so thankful that they love my family. I have learned so much from this family too.

Don:



He has a very kind heart and would do ANYTHING for his children. Many times he has bailed us out of situations beyond our control. I think he would be perfectly content eating rice and beans to make sure his kids had everything they wanted. I LOVE HIS SENSE OF HUMOR. I think its my favorite thing about him. Most Cherished Memory: Hands down putting the Christmas Reunion together

Kathy:


She loves, loves, loves her grandchildren. She always finds the perfect gifts for them that they love! She is awesome at her job and has made a big impact on some of those children's lives. I think her laugh is my favorite thing about her. Anything and everything makes her laugh. Thats one thing I have learned from her, laugh and make the situation better! Most Cherished Memory: Hands down putting the Christmas Reunion together

Travis:


I have not been around Travis a lot compared to the other 2 siblings. However, this past Christmas was so much fun! He knows anything and everything about technology. I think he may just be the favorite Uncle just because he has all the cool technology games. He will be the fun house for sure! Most Cherished Memory: Teaching Hinckley how to use Rock band

April:



She has a great capacity for love and charity. She is the mother hen. Her care and concern for everybody's well being is probably her best attribute. She is incredibly smart and is a very hard worker. She loves her family there is no doubt about it. She knows how to find a good deal and smart shop! Most Cherished Memory: Spending some quality time with her at Nana's Memorial

Kristin:



I dont even know where to start with this girl. She has saved my bacon so many times! It has been so much fun to have her so close. I have LOVED seeing her grow up. She is a smart girl, spunky and fun! She always knows how to have a good time and brightens the room wherever she goes! Most Cherished Memory: Her spending Chandlers first night with me!

Ben

He has ALWAYS been the one to tease me. He has a great passion for animals. He LOVES animals and takes great care and concern for them. He loves his friends and loves to go out with them. He is the craziest dresser I have ever seen. He would rather shop at a thrift store than JcPenneys. He loves to joke and play pranks. He will keep you in stitches no matter what the situation is. He and I were the closest in age even though we are 5 years apart! Favorite memory: trying to tag along with his friends on Rock Chapel Road Most cherished memory: He took me to Columbine when we went to visit Denver because he knew how much the shooting affected me he had the WHOLE DAY planned just for me. Silly memory: When my dad was sick and we all flew home we couldn't find Ben ANYWHERE. Come to find out he was rolled up in a blanket in the living room.

Rob

He has always been my protector. He is very passionate in what he knows and believes. He loves doing wood work and building things. He just built his own house this past year! He is very much like my mom who has a big heart and will do anything for anybody and give anybody whatever they need or want. He is always thinking of new projects and can not stand still for one minute. He is good at his job and not matter what the task is he will complete it 110%. Favorite memory: Peanut butter milk shakes we have them every time we go to his house Most cherished memory: He would sleep in my bed until I would fall asleep when I was little because I was scared of the dark Silly memory: Catching Hinckley in the hot tub when Hinckley had his PJ's and diapers on.

Amy

Amy has probably been the closest sibling of mine for as long as I can remember. I have ALWAYS wanted to be like her. I wanted to dress like her, act like her, look like her, do everything she did. We look complete opposites. She is shorter, blond hair, different colored eyes, smaller build body wise, and different skin coloring. She is by far one of the most Christ-like people I know. She has a great work to do on this earth and she changes peoples lives everyday. LITERALLY in that school she is making this world a better place. Favorite memory: way too many to count. visiting her in Denver, St. George... one that tops the list is when I spent I think it was my 19 birthday in Boise. They made it the best ever! Hiking, cake and all sorts of fun! Most Cherished Memory: Sharing a room with her until she moved out of the house. Most silly memory: Going to NYC and getting on the Today Show and maybe making her wear a dress for my wedding!

David

David:

He eat, sleeps and drinks BYU football. He is the craziest fan I have EVER seen in my life. He dedicates his life to his family and work. He LOVES ice-cream and thinks its not a meal if it doesn't include it in the menu. He was much older than me so we were never close but that doesn't mean I dont have memories of him. My favorite memory of David is watching him teach his seminary students in Spanish Fork, Utah & going to Yellowstone. My most cherished memory of David is when my Dad was really sick and we all flew home he rocked my Hinckley to sleep and gave him so much attention (he missed his kids so much). Silly memory of him: He walked in on my roommate accidently in the bathroom at his house when we visited for conference.

Whats in a Family?

Since my oldest brother David had a brush with death just 2 weeks ago I have been thinking a lot about my family. And how very blessed I am to have them a part of my life. We are not very close siblings but when something happens you bet your bottom dollar we are there for each other. Well, some more than others but thats another story! Anyway... Here is a run down of my family

Mom and Dad Shumway

Dad:


I have learned so much from him and as I have gotten older I have come to understand more the things he was trying to teach me as a child. He has taught me hard work, dedication and obedience. No matter where we lived he learned everything he could about his surroundings. He loves nature, hiking, cooking on the bbq, BYU SPORTS, (though he wont admit it) HE IS AWESOME on the piano, he loves to try new things, he has the sense of adventure in him. He LOVES to fly and look for creatures in the desert. He isn't afraid of ANYTHING. He loves to work hard and has dedicated his life to the Lord. He has pretty cool stories from all over the world traveling. HIS NOT SO LOVES: complainers, silly neighborhood dogs, and lazy people HIS LOVES: flying, biking, ice-cream, and BYU football

Mom:

(she is a very supportive wife, this is her with her flying head set)

How do I even start? She has taught me so many things in life too! Lessons she will probably never understand or know she did. Her calling in life no doubt in my mind is to love. She loves and cares about everybody. She has the BIGGEST HEART and would do anything for anybody (except herself). As I have grown older I have come to the conclusion she is one of my best friends. I call her more than anybody else I know except for Troy. She is the BEST cook in the world and a great baker too! Every where we have lived people flock to her and love her. HER NOT SO LOVES: getting in a swim suit, when BYU football looses, and technology even though she does like to use it she doesn't know how, and being away from her parents. HER LOVES: family memories, doing things for other people, POPCORN, and her family

Spider bites or MRSA?!

When we were in Vegas one morning I woke up and found these hard pimple like things right under my behind.... I thought it was odd but maybe it was a spider bite? Then through out the day and next day a few more showed up. We called downstairs and they came up and did a good cleaning and inspection. As we got to Tucson they became VERY VERY painful and the swelling around it became HUGE. So Troy took me to the doctor and we got some antibiotics. Troy had to pop them and drain them. IT WAS INCREDIBLY painful. My niece who visited my parents around Thanksgiving time came with the same looking "bites". Very odd.
Well, my mom is visiting my other brother and his family and guess who shows up with these same looking bites? My sister in law and nephew. I believe this is the 2nd time they have shown up. So they went to the doctor and come to find out.....

ITS NOT SPIDER BITES ITS MRSA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is VERY contagious and is very HARD to get rid of it. If you are interested in knowing more about it here are some links.

Top 10 Tucson

10. Going to see a train exhibit at the Veterans Hospital




9. Grandpa giving Chandler his first taste of ice cream!







8. Catching up on sleep and loves and laughs








7. Picking fresh grapefruit, oranges, tangerines, and lemons and eating them 3 minutes later!





6. Going on a hike







5. House hunting just for fun



4. A fun date with Troy


(this picture has nothing to do with our date but I LOVE the pic!)
3. The desert museum















2. BISON WITCHES! YUM!




1. THE HOT TUB Chandlers first experience with it!