Hello 2019

It seems that some sort of stomach virus has hit the youngest member of our family. This means a few things:
1. Andrew is living his best life. The worst of the virus was yesterday, so today he is missing school, doesn't have to share the internet signal, and is watching YouTube. Honestly, I don't know how life could get any better!?!
2. I am able to catch up with a few chores around the house...and by chores I mean updating this blog.
3. My prayer life has never been better. "Please Lord, don't let me get this stomach virus."

Here is an update from what I can remember. I'm not taking as many pictures these days because I'm trying to be "present" at events so I can't rely on just my photos...here goes...

Right before school started back we decided to do an impromptu trip to the beach. My people love the beach for about 3 days and then they grow weary of it. So we left on a Wednesday and came back on Saturday...right in time for school. We staying on an actual island so we had to take most of our food in to avoid paying "island" prices. We did buy 3 pounds of shrimp. We had shrimp gumbo, shrimp tacos, shrimp fettuccine alfredo. By day three I was beginning to feel like Forrest Gump, but man we love some shrimp.
We basically woke up each morning, went down to the beach all day, and then had dinner in the condo where we ate some form of shrimp. One night we ate out. That was $125 well spent. Gulp.

School started shortly after we got back. Sniff. Sniff.  We have 10th, 7th, and 3rd graders running around here. Seriously, I blinked.

This was Dash the day they went back to school. I don't think he moved the entire day. It's hard working keeping boys safe ALL SUMMER LONG!!!

In August I met up with my childhood friends for a weekend at the lake. Since this year was a pretty epic year where we all turned 40, we felt like a celebration was in order...and celebrate we did. We talked and laughed and ate cake and talked and laughed and cried a little and reminiscenced and had the best time ever. Man, I love these girls.

In October we had my birthday and Andrew's birthday. We celebrated by going to Incredible Pizza with a few family members. It was the best party ever.

 When your great grandmother, Mun, gets to come to your 9th birthday party you know it's a good birthday!

Speaking of 40...this now happens more often than I care to admit.

October was a big month. We also went to Utah to hike at Zion National Park. My parents went along with us. It was really a fun trip. On my actual birthday we were hiking the Narrows, which is one of my favorite places on God's green earth. The morning of my birthday we went to Kanab Creek Bakery. I had the best croissant and iced coffee I've ever had. In fact, that iced coffee was so good I ordered a second one. I dream about that coffee almost daily. Said all that to say, if you are ever in Kanab, Utah you should go to the Kanab Creek Bakery. Have an iced coffee and a croissant for me!

Our church hosted a Mother Son Nerf War for kids. They had the gym open with thousands of Nerf bullets available. Liz and the cousins joined us. We ran around and laughed and shot each other with Nerf guns. It was a blast. When it was all over we were supposed to put on our game face for a photo. Andrew and I didn't quite know what to do with ourselves. 

Sweet Jack has had 17,000 basketball tournaments...not regular season games. Tournaments. It seems like every tournament they have they come in second place. So consequently, every picture I have from tournaments they look furious. Make no mistake. They are furious. We still got pictures though. 

We had a quiet Thanksgiving without a single picture. It was glorious. Just imagine a family sitting around a table eating turkey and dressing. Yep, that's us. 

After Thanksgiving (and the above mentioned basketball tournament) we had our annual cutting of the Christmas tree. It dawned on me while we were cutting that down that Clayton has two more Christmas trees to cut down with us before he graduates. Yikes. 

Once we got the tree we headed into Christmas like a boss. But first, there was an issue with a squirrel in my attic. We had to call in the big guns. Pun intended. My brother came to town for business and we put him to work. I could not resist snapping a picture as he put his very life on the line to do battle with the squirrel that took up residence in my attic. Please note, I was standing in the chair in the corner of the room while snapping this picture. I was there for moral support and nothing more. 

Jeffrey did not have any luck so he left a pellet gun with us, the city dwellers. One beautiful Saturday morning Fred and I chased the squirrel all around our house. I'm sure our neighbors got quite the treat watching us from their windows. In fact, our neighbor directly across the street from us came outside and asked if we were okay and if she needed to call 911. I assured her we were okay, but I'm sure seeing us running, yelling at each other, and one of us having a gun did look a little unsettling. Ha!

 It's Christmas so Clayton had a choir concert. As usual he was behind the director so I could barely see him, but that's okay. I still snapped a picture.

 Team Stephiner, as we call ourselves, had a company Christmas party at P.O, Press in Collierville. It was really good, but it was the longest meal I've ever sat through in my life. We got there at 6:00 and didn't leave until 9:30. Way past my bedtime!

 Jack had his Christmas dance at school. He said he didn't want to go, but at the last minute he told me he was going with a "friend" and she was wearing navy, so he needed a navy sweater. What?? I had so many questions, but as you can see he made it to the dance with a navy sweater.

 Then the boys had the youth Christmas party. Dress for the party was fancy this year so fancy we were. Jack tried to wear sweatpants to the party, but we wouldn't allow it. He felt certain Clayton would win so he didn't really even see the point of trying. Fred photo bombed this one.

 Oh, I forgot to mention that Jack was nominated by his class for the Snowflake Court. Apparently this is a big deal, but since he didn't tell us until he was walking out the door, I got these pictures from a friend. Does he not look huge by this sweet girl from his class?!?

 We had Christmas, which means there were three generations sitting on the couch on their phones. I'm so proud.

 I've mentioned basketball tournaments, but don't let me forget that our soccer coach threw in a Christmas soccer tournament. Sounds like a good idea to me. We didn't have anything else going on, right?? Currently, Clayton is conditioning for soccer which will start in March. He starts conditioning for soccer in October.

I have no pictures from Christmas day either, but I do have Christmas Eve breakfast at Cracker Barrel. We think this year was our 20th year to eat at Cracker Barrel for breakfast on Christmas Eve. After breakfast we shopped with the boys so they could buy gifts for one another. That really is one of my favorite things that we do. They always have a good time shopping for each other. 

 This year I let each boy pick a dessert for Christmas. I did not have to ask Fred. I knew he wanted my grandmother's homemade boiled custard. And it did not disappoint. Here I am lovingly stirring it for the necessary 21 minutes. Clayton picked Chocolate Chess Pie with whipped cream and Andes Mints. Jack picked Peanut Butter Pie, and Andrew picked Lofthouse cookies. You know, "the cookies that you buy at the store that are perfectly round and really soft." (Andrew's words.) I'm going to try not to let it hurt my feelings that I told him to pick his favorite dessert that I make and he chose store bought cookies. I'm gonna try.

 Grandma Beulah gave Jack this quilt. It was made by Fred Shackelford Sr's wife. She started it and then Grandma Beulah's mother finished it. Beulah said that Jack was the first and only baby to lay on it and she wanted him to have it. What a priceless treasure. Jack now possesses a quilt made by his  great, great grandmothers. Beulah thinks that Big Mama (that's what they called Fred's wife) started it in the 60's.

In typical Grandma Beulah style, she even had the picture of the first time Jack was on the quilt. I mean, precious. 

Our boys get three gifts at Christmas. We really don't do that much, but we always give some sort of experience. This year we let each boy pick an activity and a restaurant. 

Jack picked Mexican and climbing at High Point Climbing. 

Andrew picked Incredible Pizza with his cousins. 

Clayton picked the Spider Man movie and OEC, which is a Japanese restaurant in Bartlett. 

Clayton and I got to spend a little quality time together at Campbell Clinic. His knee has been bothering him. Thankfully, the doctor said it's a very common problem and gave us a few exercises to do. He also told me not to buy any new pants for Clayton because he has a year and a half of growth left. Oh dear...

I went shopping for a black dress the other day and came home with this. I think sweatpants and a sweatshirt are the new black dress. 

Well, there you have it. A little update. Hopefully in 2019 I'll be better at updating, If I'm not, just know that we are at a basketball or soccer game, practice, or tournament. And if we're not there, we're in the car going to or from one of those places. 

It's been so long...too long, really

Today is the first day I think I've sat down to do anything but study in a while. (More on that later.) I've been steadily taking pictures, but not loading them here...which is really a shame. I started this family blog to keep a record of all sorts of things, mainly this family. The days and years just seem to fly by and here I sit 5 months later without any sort of update. Whoops. We'll blame it on life. I don't even know where to begin, so I'll start with photos from my phone. Where else would I start?!?

The big boys went on a ski trip with our church. I'm proud to report they both returned injury free and in one piece. I'm also proud to report that one morning they showed up for breakfast dressed alike in their ski trip sweatshirts. I laughed pretty hard for 6:15 in the morning.

 Jack did come down with strep throat, but honestly, what winter season is complete without Jack being sick?!? I convinced him to get the shot. He took one for the team. The joke was on me though because penicillin shots are now about $200. No joke.
PS-Jack no longer fits on the tables at the doctor's office.
I got the flu this winter. There are no pictures of that. It was terrible. I hope I never get it again. Ever and ever. Amen.

 Jack "finished" basketball season and received the award for most improved on his team. I use air quotes on the word finished because we haven't really stopped. We just went from practices and games to scrimmage and games. Basketball is a year round sport...or so I've been told.

We had an event at church and since Fred was out of town I hosted a precious group of high school girls. I never get the girls. I just love this group of girls. They make my heart so happy. 

 And then each school morning I get the opportunity to host, what I lovingly refer to as, the appling fraternity. I take a van load of middle school boys to school each morning. When I open up the doors it looks like the clowns at the circus getting out of my vehicle.

Life has been rough for Dash the Dog since we've been running and going so much. I'm just kidding. Life is never rough for Dash the Dog. He lives his best life every day...forgetting most days that he is, in fact, A DOG. 

All I can say on this is GROSS. Gross. My friend sent me a picture of her perfectly behaved dog. I tried to get a selfie with me and Dash. When I clicked the picture, this is what I got. {insert eyeroll}

With the dawn of a new season we had to do a little shopping. I really do mean a little shopping...as in...we shopped for maybe 2 hours. Some of us in the group were happier about it than others. 

And then there was Easter. Getting a picture that morning proved to be easier said than done. The pollen count must have been up. Regardless, those are some pretty cute boys. 

With all the sports going on around here we really haven't had much time for anything else. However, over spring break we were able to get away for a few days to Little Rock, Arkansas. We did a little indoor rock climbing and then we climbed a literal mountain. We really had the best time together. Five people in a hotel room...how could that not be fun?!?

In other news, my friend, Stephanie, and I started a new adventure. We started real estate classes. We went from 9 to 1 every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday for seven weeks. I'm happy to report that both of us passed our test and should be selling real estate pretty soon. 

 Since class was until 1 each day I had to pack a lunch. I haven't packed a lunch for myself in years. Years.

One of my favorite things to do in Memphis is to hike at Shelby Farms. There is a 6 mile path that I just love. Liz, Tori, and Sydney met me one morning for a hike. It was really fun. 

Speaking of fun, because of our cra.zee lives around here I've resorted to grocery shopping on Friday nights. Wild and crazy I tell you. Wild and crazy. 

 The big guys leave for school by 6:35 each morning, but mornings are really our sweetest times together as a family. This particular morning we had eggs and toast. I put honey on Andrew's toast and he told me it made him feel like he was at Mun and Janice's house when he ate toast with honey. If you know Mun and Janice then you know that's high praise for my breakfast to match to their house.

 Jack usually gets to breakfast first. He likes the middle piece of the banana bread. Ha!

I spend an inordinate amount of time waiting for pick ups at different sport practices. And let me tell you about the coaches in our life. They are wonderful, but they have ABSOLUTELY no concept of time. None. Practice is over at 5?? Nope. Just kidding. That was just a suggestion. 

I try to make the best of these days, especially when the weather is gorgeous. When you have to wait 30-45 minutes for practice to be over why not just make the best of it??

Clayton was inducted into the High School Beta Club (I think it was the Beta Club. When you have three children and everyone goes in different directions it's really hard to keep up.) We had a lovely night together. I am so proud to be his mom...not because he makes good grades, but because of the content of his character. He is quick to admit he's wrong. Quick to ask for forgiveness. Quick to learn. Honestly, if he wasn't my son I'd be jealous of the mom who called her his own. 

Andrew has been playing soccer. Some of his biggest fans even came to cheer him on. I think it's safe to say that nobody else had their 93 year old great grandmother at the soccer fields. 

 Did you know that if it's not raining when the soccer game begins and then it starts raining while you are playing that you just keep playing. Ask me how I know this?? The top of this picture is my umbrella. I sat huddled under that umbrella as it poured and those boys just kept playing. Thankfully Mun was not at this game because we must guard her hair at all costs.

Andrew had a program at church. He did such a good job. He even had a solo. I had my phone out and ready and I missed it. I totally missed recording the solo. 

Jack had field day this week. He won the football throw for the fourth year in a row and his team won tug of war. It really doesn't get much better for Jack. 

 Since Jack's school is so close to Fred's office he was able to swing by to watch Jack's class dominate in tug of war.

Then sweet Andrew had field day. He's not quiet the competitor that Jack is, but he has a good time. Andrew really has a good time no matter where he goes. 

 He was the anchor for his team in tug of war as well. He made Jack so proud.

Well, that's about all I have. If you're still reading at this point, you deserve a medal. I'm sure I've left a lot out. Just imagine daily soccer practice, basketball practices, soccer games, basketball games, real estate classes, homework, projects, church, grocery shopping, jobs, driving from thing to thing, keeping these ever growing boys in shoes and clothes, cooking, laundry, cleaning, and sleeping...and that about sums up our past few months. Hopefully I'll report back here sooner than I did the last time.