Good by 2015, Hello 2016

      

             2015 started off rocky for us, but as the year progressed... so did we. We have been in Utah now for 1 year. I can say over and over how much we miss the South, but we are just now starting to really like Utah. It's December 31st. and we have seen a lot of snow... and right now the temperature outside is 5 deg.  For some reason, Tennessee had a "Spring" Christmas... 70 deg. weather, storms and tornadoes...  I am glad all of our friends back home were safe.

           Devin has an amazing job that I am sure anyone would love.  He works for 

Bored Shorts TV... or as many people know them as  Kid History. You know, The funny YouTube guys...  I say Devin plays all day, the truth is he works his butt off!  Not much playing.  He's pretty much the back bone of CVX with filling spaces for vendors and making sure booths are filled up. 

      I had the blessing of my Aunts, cousin, daughter, son and hubby going to the Temple and doing my moms work. It was an amazing feeling.  My daughter, Parris was able to do my moms baptism. It was so wonderful to witness this blessing.  Loved the time with my family that day.   My mom is missed every day. 

           Logan had the opportunity to sing at General Conference in October. Six children from our ward were chosen.  It took a couple of months getting the kids from our area all together for practice. It was beautiful listing to. It was so sweet seeing all the children from our area sitting on the stand  with the Profit,  Apostles and area authorities. Listing to them sing brought chills to me and they sounded like angels.

     Jacob started track and Cross Country and loved it. He can not wait until the new season.  Parris is in Dance and loving that. She is so happy when she's dancing.  Elizabeth got go see he friend Alana and be a flower girl in Tanja's wedding and Ethan... that little man turned 5, is excited to start school in 2016 and spent 3 days in the hospital this past year for an awful virus as well as having his tonsils, adenoids taken out and Tubes put in...  

         My Photography business has picked up and at times I could not keep up. I have been very blessed with all the families who have contacted me for sessions. 2016 is going to be a great year for my business.  We also have a family Vlog on Summit and Vine on YouTube. If you have not seen it, stop by and take a look. We are going to start making that channel grow. After all, my husband now works for one of the biggest YouTube Channels now.... :) 

   https://www.facebook.com/shannonyoungbloodphotography/


  https://www.facebook.com/TheYoungbloodLife/?ref=hl

Teen Fashion.?

   So, our daughter will be 14 next month.  Time flies and children grow up way to quick.  I remember when Parris was wanting to wear dresses every day, would wear the cute outfits I picked out for her. I could buy her anything and she would think it was the best thing she had! 

.... So, what happened?  She went from hugs and kisses, tea parties, coloring time and playing with dolls. Now, she is taking French,  studying Math Honors, being the 8th grader she is and not the little doll playing girl.  She's growing up to fast....

   Did I mention that with the age she is in comes. { Wait for it } 

D. R. A. M. A

   Yup, not only has her style of clothing changed, but so has her attitude.  I feel like I am on a roller coaster, sometimes, daily. But... maybe I need to *try* to "understand" where she's coming from.  Because we know, I have never been her age, and I get nothing she says. 

   Anyway, back to style, and how much her style has changed... not attitude.   When did high top Converse come back?  I have never liked them... but it seems like EVERY teen girl is wearing them. Parris went to see her best friend in Tennessee.... knowing I would not buy them, she bought them.  No big deal...   Next, what is up with EVERYONE wearing flannel again, I really thought that went out too. Nope, apparently, it's all the rage!  I don't get it! 

   She still wears what I call " cute clothes " You know, adorable sandals, skinny jeans, dresses with denim jackets...  I guess I am just venting on the two I mentioned. 

    I don't tell my daughter what to wear, ( well, maybe for picture days I do ) but this look wishes my "little girl" with no care in the world, wearing what ever I picked out, would come back.   Until then, I will let her have her style, dress how she feels and every now and then give my opinion. 

4 year old play with Play Doh...

My son, Ethan wanted to make his own Youtube video for Play Doh...

This was the outcome.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe5C1hPHGqw

Mini Family Reunion

It's been way to long since I have seen A LOT of my family. Tonight,  we had dinner at my Aunt Robins house.   A few of my aunts and uncles came. ( I thought one one was going to be at Robins)
My Aunt Anna-Lisa and her family, My uncle Tim and Paul, my Aunt Catie and a few of her family showed up. It was great!  Tons and Tons of little cousins running around.
My kids were meeting cousins they have never met, Great Aunts and Uncles ....

I was always VERY close to Robin and Anna-Lisa when I was little. My biggest memory was with my aunt Robin, She was swinging me in the bathroom when I was little.  I also remember the time I started to wear make up. I was at my grandmas house, in the bathroom with both Robin and Anna-Lisa watching them both get ready for some place they were going, watching them  put makeup on... I would sneak into their makeup Caboodle when they left the house and try to do my make up like they don't know if they ever knew that. For some reason I always remember PM Dawn or John Sacada would  be playing.... or White Lion.  I've always looked up to them...   It's so nice to live so close to them again.

Glad for these " Little Dinner " gatherings that happen.  So grateful to be living so close to both my family and Devins family.

Yes, I have a large famly.

      Are people so quick to judge?
      I have a large family. My husband, Devin and I have 5 children... they are pretty much stepping stones.  I am not from a large family and never really put any thought into how many children I would have. I never did think I would have 5, maybe 3... but never 5. Am I sorry I had 5 kids, NO! in fact, if I could have had 1 or 2 more I would have.....  but I was advised not not have any more if I wanted to watch them grow up...
      My husband is from a large family. He is #6 of 7 children.  I guess I am kinda jealous he has so many siblings.  I am the oldest of 3. My mom had us all 10 years apart. I am now 30 something... and my sister, the youngest of the 3 of us is in her teens... come to think of it, she just started to drive! WOW! Time flies!   We use to joke around with my mom... When my sister was 10, Devin and I asked my mom if she had any news to tell us " hey mom, are you expecting?" .  :) 
   
    I am always asked "You must like to babysit" , "Are they ALL yours" , "Ever hear of birth control"  *"Why so many"  or my favorite "wow, you can have your own basketball team" !
    We are blessed with our beautiful children.  Yes, like all children, they fight, yell, have moments of  he said/she said. I think I hear that about 20 times a day.  Still.. I would not trade it for anything.
     Anyway, back to people being quick to judge.
     A while back, I had a lady stop me with my kids in the parking lot at Target and  said to me " Are they ALL yours, if so.. why?"  I said "yes, they are all mine, but this isn't all of them, I locked 2 in the closet at home and the other I forgot where I dropped him off at"  She looked at me outraged and I just said " your mom must not have loved you when you were little!"   HARSH, I know maybe I should not have said that... but is it really anyone's business how many kids my husband and I have?  Maybe she was having a bad day... maybe she just didn't like kids or maybe she was just jealous.. who knows.

 

I have  a lot of things I need to work on I am not a perfect mom, my family is not perfect.. I have my flaws.  But I do have some pretty amazing children and a husband who love me.  It does not matter what other people think of my family. I should not let it bother me.  My family makes me laugh, smile, gives me the occasional headache where I wish I could go into my bathroom and let Calgon take me away... but the truth is nothing makes me happier.   They are all honor students,  love going to Church and when needed, they have one another back if someone else is picking on them.

I love my big family... even if the lady at Target does not approve.

    

3 Year old takes ALS Ice bucket challenge

My 3 year old has been watching a lot of the ALS Ice bucket videos on line with me.  Today he asked me if he could do the challenge.  I told him he would have to have ice water poured on top of his head.. he said "Ok, Let's do it"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK83wTKhGB4






What an awesome little man!

Please watch and share! If a 3 year old can do it, so can you!

Share and donate to ALS.

Floppy Floppy Joes