Mandy's Birthday

It was my sister, Mandy's golden birthday yesterday, and I guess the sentimental side got the best of me yesterday or I was just bored at work, but I wrote her a letter (don't birthdays stink as you age) and everything that was said in this letter comes straight from my heart, infact I made Mandy read this with me there even though she did not want to so that she knew I said all of this not only because it was her birthday but because she means the world to me! After reading this letter, I can say that I was touched not just because I got to see her reaction from what was said but also because at that time my sister leaned over and gave me a hug! Now, I am not saying that my sister and I don't say the words "I love you" to each other, but do we really say it with meaning or in that matter does anybody? When she leaned over and gave me that hug, I felt that she cared! Like I say in the letter below, she really is an inspiration to have in my life! I love you Mandy!!







Mandy,



Well first let me say Happy Birthday! Happy Golden Birthday at that! Wow 27 you old woman! Looking back in life I would have never thought that we would be where we are now, both you and I and everyone else in our family has been through and conquered a lot of things! We have all had our hard times, but like you always say “God pulls you through” and I can agree and say that even though I hate going through tough times like that he does pull you through it and I become stronger!

Let’s go back through memory lane for a little bit…..remember growing up at Pennington Lane and all the childish things we did, like make our supper for the evening be “pickles” those yellow little flowers! How did we not get sick from eating all of those? Or the 10 kids that were famous for their Snickerdoodles or the homemade pizza? Wow, how did we eat anything that came from that house? Or going over to Lucy Quinn’s house and being so naïve to not know exactly what was happening there. Or what about playing Nintendo and you beating the ever living crud out of us because you didn’t play as well as you wanted to, although I think still to this day if someone was next to you while playing that, you would beat the crud out of them! We had some good times in Blue Springs but wow, am I glad that we now live in Kearney!! Although, Kellie and I did not want to leave (remember Kellie banging her head against the wall, and then mom giving her a beer to calm down) I would never take anything back. I am so glad that you made that decision to get out of Blue Springs for fear of maybe getting beat up or something, cause we all know you are the chicken of all chickens!! Now, going through High School I can say were not our greatest of times and that is what I mean by saying that I never thought we would be where we are at right now. I remember admiring the fact that you were so happy to be in Kearney while Kellie and I had such a hard time adjusting and thinking, “I wish that I could have the personality that she has, it seems so easy for her to get along with everyone and get friends” Although, I hate to admit it……..you have some people out there that have admiration for you and also think, I wish I could have the personality of Mandy Shanks! I won’t bring up the real memories that I have of you while living in Kearney because we all know that we all three girls made some mistakes, but now we have learnt from those! All I can say wrapped up together is that even though we had some rough times, even better ones have followed! I have told you as well as some other people that I am very blessed with everything that I have, and that includes the things that surround me. You and your family are such wonderful people and positive people to have in someone’s life. I have always said, if I could strive to be anyone it would be my sister, she has made some big accomplishments in her life and she also likes to go out and have a good time! If I could map out my marriage and plan it just the way that I want it (which we all know does not happen) it would be to have a marriage like my sister. Even though there have been struggles and battles to fight along the way, look at you guys! You love each other so much!! I know that we are talking about you being that it is your birthday and everything, but the other day when I called to see if Chad would come over while Steve was here, I realized how important that you guys are to me and how lucky I am. He was so concerned and I could hear it in his voice. He doesn’t have to be like that, and just any brother-in-law isn’t, but Chad sincerely cares! And then for you to come over and not only comfort me and smoke ciggys with me, but also start cleaning my house was great! You didn’t know that day and you will never know how much that meant! I think after you left, I just wanted to cry more, not because of my problems but because I was so touched by it all!

All in all, I am very lucky to have you in my life, I could not ask God for a better sister, and not only a sister but now what I would consider a best friend! You are my real hero and please never forget that. I love you so much! Happy Birthday!


Love,

Stacie

About a year ago our family started having a dinner every Monday night, this has become something that I think everyone looks forward to! I can say that I would always like to keep this tradition going and I think that it is a good thing for any family! Although, I would have to say that our family can be a little disfunctional sometimes and we can have topics of conversation at the dinner table that most people would not normally have, we always have a good time and I can say all in all it has brought all of us much closer to each other.

Thank you mom for all the work that you put into this so we can all be together at least once a week!

Paddy Cake!

This was Addy and I last night, we were playing paddy cake and she didn't want to play it right, she was hystrically laughing before we got the camera out and then of course by the time we got it out she was laughing just a little but it ended up being cute anyway.

Jesse James Dance

These pictures did not turn out great because the lighting was not very good, but this was at the dance last night which was alot of fun! It is always fun to go to because you get to see people that you haven't seen in forever. This man tried to teach me how to swing dance but he did nothing but make me sick!

Mud Volley Ball!

So, mud volley ball was this weekend at the festival, and to say the least we were not very good at all!! We lost both games pretty bad which wasn't too bad because I needed a nap and so that is what I did right after a SHOWER! Even though we did not win, we had alot of fun! These are girls that all work at the hair salon Kellie works for but unfortunatley Kellie did not get to play because she just went to the doctor and found out that she has pnemonia. These pictures just show where my daughter gets her clumsiness from! Go Deja Do Divas!!

"Little Miss Jesse James"

Addy was in the "Little Miss Jesse James" contest this weekend at our festival. Although she did not place and was very upset, I told her that we would just try again next year! She did a really good job though and I thought that she looked really cute! She got to ride in the parade afterwards and just loved it! Here are some pictures of her dressed up.

Ok, so I know my daughter looks a little seductive here, but that was really not the intent. This was this morning and I just thought that she looked so cute so I had to take pictures! I know....I know....I am addicted to this thing and I am on here way to much, but it is so much fun! Anyway, normally our mornings do not go this smooth and it is a fight to get her ready but this morning because I decided that I was going to wake her up earlier from now on was alot smoother, she actually got dressed and ready!

Jesse James Festival!

Tonight was the first night of the "Jesse James Festival" here in Kearney. The girls and I went out there with Kellie and Jason and they had a great time! It was 9 o clock by the time that we could finally drag them out of there. This weekend is when all the events go on so we have a very busy weekend! Addy is going to be in the "Little Miss Jesse James" contest on Saturday and gets to ride in the parade. She has got some new cowboy boots that she is very proud of! Kellie of course has to do a practice round to see what she is going to look like, so we had her dressed up the other night, and yes.....she is my daughter and I may be a little biast, but she looked stinkin CUTE!! I cannot wait for Saturday, if she wins first place then she gets a $50 savings bond, but really it is just about being involved in the community! Saturday afternoon Kellie and I are playing mud volley ball with all of the girls that she works with. They have a big tournament each year at the fair grounds and it is alot of fun. I have promised Addy that she can bring some play clothes so that she can play in the mud as well!

I will have lots of pictures after this weekend so be prepared!

Here are a couple of pictures from tonight at the carnival. The girls also got to experience thier first Funnel Cake tonight which they very much enjoyed (imagine that, kids liking something with sugar on top.....)

My House

For those of you that have not seen my home and this is mostly directed to Grandma Bayer and Aunt Missy because I have told Grandma forever that I would send pictures, here it is. Nothing special, very small but just the way that I want it


Front of my house
Back deck
Addy's Swingset

Living Room

Dining Room hutch, the bathroom is right behind
Dining room computer desk
Dining room out to the deck we just built
One couch in living room
Other couch in living room

My Favorite part of the house!

The Kitchen Addy's Room
Kellie and I's room, ignore the mess in the background
The Addy Collage in Kellie and I's room
This clock right here means the world to me, my Grandma gave this to Kellie and I for our house warming gift. This was in her house for as long as I can remember! It brings tears to my eyes whenever I look at it. I love you Grandma!

So that is my house! Notice that i did not take pictures of the laudry room or Kellie and I's room......There is a reason for that, bet you guys can't guess? That tends to be the messiest part of our home.

Grandma and Aunt Missy I hope you guys get to see this because like I have said I have been promising it for awhile. Love you guys!

My life!

OK, well I feel like I should go back and tell a litte information since all of these pictures are old and you will know nothing as to what they are about. My daughter is my world! I have ALWAYS loved her but I initially was not ready to have a child, I think everyone knows that this was not a planned thing! I can say though that within the last three months I have loved being a mom! My whole aspect on life has completely changed! I enjoy different things than I used to, she is my entertainment and I can say that although sometimes I am ready for a break (when her dad takes her) it is starting to get harder and harder. I miss her so much by the end of the weekend that I can barely wait to see her! Now, I will say that she is just like any other three year old and there is times that she can not be as well behaved as I would like and there are times that I may get frustrated (that is what I am talking about, with enjoying the breaks) but I can't imagine loving anyone more in the world!



I have to say, although some people may disagree that I have been very blessed in my life. Things have not always gone the way that I wanted to, but would that be life it it did? I went through four years of my life that I can say might have been the toughest ever. Loving someone that does not love you back the way that you want them to is very hard, and very heartbreaking! Those four years though have only made me stronger though and I thank God everyday that he placed that in my hands. besides I got a wonderful thing from the whole situation! So then my next obstacle in life was when I discovered that I had MS. Wow, what a surprise! I was only 21 when I found out, we have all been that age at one point and we all think that we are invincible. I thought that the past four years had been hard, I knew at that point I had a disease that I was going to have to fight the rest of my life! I can say that I was very lucky with the fact that I caught it so quick but it hasn't always mapped out exactly the way that I have wanted it to. I have made a couple switches of medicine and have had a few loops to jump through but all and all I am doing pretty good! Now, we just have the road ahead to face and I pray to God that it will be an easy one! So now comes the part about me being blessed, not only do I have a wonderful daughter but I have been very blessed to get a nice home. When I found out I had MS, I told my mom "Now that I know that I have this disease, I want a few things for myself, not that I think I am going to die, but I want to have a normal life and I want a house to plant flowers at and have a family" Although, I don't plant flowers and obviously don't have a family, (well actually I have the best family anyone could ask for but I wouldn't say that it is the All American Family, my twin sister, Addy and I)I still have been very lucky with having a nice house and everything that I need in it. I love my house and although it is something very small, I don't need anything big! I have been lucky and fortunate enough to have nice things like a nice truck and have the money to get the things that I want and that my daughter wants (or thinks that she needs!) Also, I have been lucky to have a job that supports me and and is understanding with my MS. So yes, thank you Lord for all that you have done for my Family and I!!

So now, it is time for some pictures, I won't go through explaining each one cause they are all pretty basic.

New to this!

Ok, so I am new to all of this blogging stuff, but I just can't help it, everyone has it! I am at work right now and so I can't post pictures but I will get on there tonight and get things going. Ahhhh......it is so nice being in the bloggers world!

Ok, so I am back now, and have added a few pictures! The first one would be two of my best friends in the world and I!

The next is my daughter and my niece on the other side, they are the best of friends, but fight like sisters!

The last is my daughter, Addy and I playing in the snow! I will post more sometime soon!