One year

I can't believe it's already been a year. Time goes by so quickly. And that is just it. Time will go on. Days turn to weeks, then months, then years and before we know it a lifetime will be behind us. We blink and we miss memories. We wait to long for something good to come along and we miss something better. We dwell in the past we dwindle the present. I think for Linda the past brought heartache and the future seemed out of reach. Her present was something she couldn't reach out and grasp without feeling the overwhelming cloud of depression that hung over her. It still breaks my heart that we are here one year later mourning her death. It also breaks my heart that time will go on and that she won't be a part of it.

My Mom wrote, "A year ago today my life was changed forever with the death of my sister. Remember the ones you love today. Tell them, show them. Be kind to the stranger. Be gentle with the downhearted and reach out to those in need. Maybe if we all do this, we can comfort those with broken hearts."

I believe that life is but a moment in the grand scheme of things. I believe that there is something beautiful and fulfilling beyond this adventure on earth and it is something that moves me and comforts me at the end of the day. So let us celebrate Linda's life and not her death. Let's look forward to the future and let this time heal our hearts. May the knowledge we have give us hope and the support of family and friends give us comfort. I hope this year can bring good opportunities, great blessings and the chance to be a little better!

Our Girls

I feel bad that I have not been as good as I should be about posting about my little girls. However I vow to be better. They are both so sweet and so cute everyday. So for now let's look at Miss "Tennie Pack" and Queen Kaylee all that they have been up to!

Kennady

Kennday is 18 months old. She says EVERYTHING and is such a copy cat of Kaylee. If Sissy does it, so does Kennie. When you use to ask her what her name was she would say, "Tennie Pack." Of course only a few weeks later it has become Kennie. She is getting so big! She is such a good little girl. She sleeps so well with her buzz and Pooh. She is obsessed with Buzz Lightyear. She puts up her arm and says, "and beyond." She loves giving "Tisses" and is such a good helper.

Kaylee

Kaylee is 3 years old. She is dramatic and funny and keeps us on our toes. She will say things that no 3 year old should know how to say and 99% of the time she uses the right context. She amazes us everyday. She loves to tell us constantly that she is a big girl and when we tell people she is little, meaning her size, she does not like that and quickly corrects us on how big she is. We now try to say "petite." She helps with her sister and is always worried when she is crying or upset. She is a sponge and picks up EVERYTHING. She says the most amazingly sweet and sincere prayers and helps us to remember the kind of people to be. She has a beautiful voice and even sings with vibrato. It is so darling.

Now for some funny stories

S: Kaylee don't do that please.

K: Mom stop trying to boss me.

Kaylee saying evening prayer a while back.

"Thank you for grandma being here and having her own bed and being a good 'sample. Thank your for Marky being a good 'sample and not calling me dude."

S: You doing good Kay?

K: You betcha!

Kaylee: "What in the world."

Kaylee was looking at her dad's stubbly face one night.

K: "Dad, shave these off. These are so scratchy."

Sh: "I'll shave in the morning."

K: "No. You don't want to wake up with theses cheekies. My cheeks are smooth."

K: A girl hit me and I cried.

S: Did you do anything.

K: No, it wasn't my fault.

S: Ok

A few minutes later...

K: Well it was my fault. I took her toy.

Kaylee was wearing a blue dress. My mom told her how pretty it was and how it matched her eyes. Kaylee put her hands on her hips, looked at her and said, "What do you know about it." Sassy!!!

Kennady was in her car seat and all the sudden she started yelling, "mom I stuck. I stuck."

I was having a hard day and I was anxiously waiting for Shane to get home and when he wasn't home yet I said to myself, "Where is your dad? I am going to kill him." Kaylee immediately put her hands over her face and started to cry, "don't kill my dad. I love him."

Kaylee was laying with me and her dad came in to bring her her stuffed animals she sleeps with. After he left she rolls over and looks and me and says, "I love my dad. He's so thoughtful." hahah WHAT?!?

We don't like our neighbors dogs. They bark all the time. Apparently Kennady caught on to this and one day when they were barking Kennady yelled, "Ut up Doggie. E Quiet." oopsies!

One day Kaylee was on the phone with her boyfriend Derek, from Swan Princess. She was saying things like "why are you so obsessed with me," and "Why do I call you everyday? Cause I'm your girlfriend." When she asked her dad if he wanted to talk to Derek, Shane got on her little phone and told him to stay away because Kaylee can't have boyfriends. Kaylee hurried and grabbed the phone and said, "I am so sorry. That was my dad. I am so sorry." Uh she's 3! Later we asked her what her and Derek talk about.

K: We just marry each other and kiss.

S: You can't kiss. You're a little girl.

K: We love each other. We won't kiss just go on a date. When I'm bigger we'll kiss.

Oh boy!!! No more TV :)

My oh my, It's July!!

How in the world is it already July. The summer is flying by. We were excited to have Kylie and Daniel come into town for the 4th. We were able to spend some time together, BBQ and take family pictures. Unfortunately Kennady decided to be evil during the family pictures, but we looked like gap models so hopefully everyone can focus on that instead of Kennady screaming! We also busted out some ancient fireworks, pretty scary, and had an exclusive Pack Family firework show. The boys were hilarious lighting them. Kennie loved the "pops," however Aunt Alexa did not. haha. It was a lot of fun. We were sad to see Kylie and Dan go, but we had such a good time together!

This year the 4th of July was on Sunday so here the whole weekend seemed out of sorts with firework shows on Saturday and parades on Monday. We went to the Freedom Festival in Provo and watched about 10 minutes of the parade thanks to the heat and Miss Kennie. Luckily the park had crafts and activities so we checked that out before we left. Although the holiday was spread over the weekend and a bit crazy I was able to really think about how much I love the 4th of July. I thought of how as a kid it was one of the things I looked forward to. The parade, pancake breakfast, carnival at Hagan Park and fireworks at the middle school. I then thought about how much I truly love this country and how grateful I am for the amazing men and women who have gone before me to give me the freedoms I enjoy. I also love and respect the many soldiers who fight today for our same freedoms. I just finished a series about a family in World War II. How different it is to read the fear and sacrifice those people lived in during that time. Men and boys were drafted and people lost close to everything. How lucky are we to be in war time and live life normally. The news sometimes makes me weary, but for me I still love this country, love my freedoms and love the good American people who I know are out there! God Bless America!!!

Miss Kennady was NOT a happy camper

Modeling her Nemo face painting

Happy with a sucker!
Kaylee was SO happy to see Belle :)

June

The month of June was full of change. It started with coming home from our vacation and having Mom and Hayley gone. They had left before we went to San Diego, but coming home to them gone was weird for us. The girls had a hard time without Grandma here, but they knew she was trying hard to get there so that helped :) Luckily we didn't have to wait too long to see them again since they came up 2 weeks later to bring Annie up to BYU for a summer semester! We were lucky enough to have them watch our kids for our FIRST NIGHT AWAY! Yes you read right, Shane and I had never been away from the girls together before. So with my parents in town we headed up with some friends to East Canyon Resort. It was a lot of fun. We slept in, ate a lot of yummy food, played games and sports and didn't worry a second about naps, snacks and bedtimes. It was fun. Of course we missed our little ones, but we honestly loved the short weekend away. The girls had a blast with their grandma and grandpa, whom they adore, and now we just can't wait for another one :) Sadly in June we also said goodbye to some great friends, Magan and James, and sent them off to Houston with a nice going away party at Sean and Alexa's. It was great. We love you guys! We then ended the month with a rodeo with friends and as always had some fun days and cute girls in between. Yay for June!

Left the girls in wonderful hands!

The Fulton's schooled us in Shuffleboard!

We LOVE shuffle board!

Nice Shane!

Girls Night with Grandma!!

Ready to go. Rode on the bike...on the FREEWAY.

Scared. to. death.

Nothing like a good Rodeo! Us girls couldn't get over the poor animals being roped and pinned. However the MC was hilarious so we had a blast!

Happy Father's Day!!!

What makes a good Daddy?

Someone who is loving, kind, funny and goofy.

Someone who is a great horsie and an even better story teller.

Someone who fixes owies and makes the best pancakes.

Someone who plays with you and gives the best hugs.

Someone who is brave and lets you know how much they love you.

Shane is all these things and more. He is such a wonderful Dad! The girls love him so much and are so lucky to have him be the great daddy he is. I always grew up knowing one day I wanted kids and in that assuming that I would marry someone who would be good with kids and a good dad. That is not always the case. How grateful am I that I not only married someone who loved kids, but who is the world's greatest dad to them. He loves his little princesses with all his heart! Happy Father's Day! We love you SO much!

Of course we couldn't have a Father's Day post without saying how much we love and appreciate our Dad's. You are both awesome Grandpa's and awesome Dad's. We love you for all you have ever done for us and how you have always been there to show us the good people to be.

San Diego

As some of you may know we go to San Diego every May with my dad's family. It is something we look forward to all year long and something I have cherished since I was a little girl. It's a week of food, family, beach and pool. Can't get any better than that. We headed down to Pacific Beach after we visited Disneyland and the Stinsons, Kris, Rod, Chelsea, Brooke and the doggies :) We had a great time and got amazing tans :) This was the first year that us kids (Shara, Katie & Tacy) got out own condo. It was great having our own place! It was also the first year we visited Konos, an amazing little restaurant that serves unbelievable breakfast, and the first time at church to see someone famous, Mitt Romney!

The whole week was great and we are so grateful to my Grandparents who started the tradition over 26 years ago. It's weird to think that now is the time to start something like that in our own families. It was relaxing, enjoyable and we are so happy to get to let our little girls experience such great memories with their family. We love you so much Shepherd Family! Can't wait again until next year!

Our Condo, 508