Shelby's World

Fun behind a boat

although it doesn't look like Samantha is having any fun:(

I think we can fix that with a little speed...

Much better:)

 

I am "Super" sad because I've lost my wife and the mother of my children.

Let me explain.

We know her as Super Jen and she's a pretty big deal to us.

She's always been more than a baby sitter; she's family.

See the resemblance!

I trust her with my own children more than anyone else.

She's been with us for a long time.

Since I'm kind of morbid and freaky, I've always thought that if I died early then I'd like her to step in and take my place.  

So I've encouraged her and Eric to spark a romance to be rekindled at a later date.

See what a cute couple they'd make?!

They don't let me talk about that anymore; they think it's creepy.

I just call it good planning.

I'd actually prefer her to be my wife instead.

When Eric leaves town she swoops in and co-parents and brings me Thai food.

That is just good for everybody!

Now she lives part of the year at Malibu surrounded by this...

So it's not like we feel sorry for her, we just feel sorry for ourselves.

We hope to go back and hang out with her in the trees again.

If she let's us.

She's practically a Canadian Mountie now.

I've also considered stuffing Piper and Sam into some teenagers duffle bag and sending them across the border. 

They've had a hard time adjusting to life without her.  They're tight.

Regardless, we'll see her stateside when she comes back to her real job; being Super everything to us.

Meanwhile I'm going to eat Thai food on her behalf.

 

 

No offense

My girls love to say this.

"no offense, but..."

normally I would stop them from completing the sentence,

"If you have to say, 'no offense', then you're probably about to offend someone."

I don't stop them anymore because they rarely say it in the right context.

and its good for a laugh,

"Mom, no offense, but it's raining."

"Mom, no offense, but I'm wearing these shoes today."

My favorite so far is from Piper, after we went through the check-out line at the store,

"Mom, no offense, but that guys name was "Brain!"

pause... I had a couple of options here.

I started with, "Why would I be offended at his name?"

"Cuz it's BRAIN!"

next route...

how was it spelled, Piper?

"B-R-I-A-N"

riiiiiigggghhhhtt....

 Piper, no offense, but you're osm.

 

Spring Cleaning

It was November 2008 when I lost the diamond from my wedding ring.

Wouldn't it be great if I replaced it with this one?!

Bad news~

It's not mine.

Good news~

it's my sisters and i can wear it when she visits.

3,650 days ago my life changed forever.

Samantha Scott arrived and I became a mother.

That baby is now a girl.

So in honor of Sam's 10th birthday,

I present the Top 10 Reasons why Sam is so spectacular!

10.  Eclectic taste in music:  Sam listens to music and jumps on her mini trampoline everyday.  You'll here The Sound of Music, Celtic Thunder, Justin Beiber, Joshua Bell, Michael Jackson, Elvis, The Nutcracker, Bon Jovi and Lady Gaga playing at any given time.

9. Very sentimental:  If you've given her a gift, of any size or value, she'll remember it, display it, and save it... forever.  Sometimes that's not always possible and a source of stress, but we work through it:) 

8. Generous:  She gives away her allowance to homeless people.  She likes to say, "God Bless You" when she hands them the money.

7. Thoughtful:  She starts making Christmas gifts the day after Thanksgiving.  She won't leave anyone out.

6. Dedicated:  She's in her third year of violin.  Sometimes she doesn't feel like practicing and we've asked her if she's tired of it.  She'll respond, "I'll NEVER stop playing the violin!"

5. She takes risks:  She's not a risk-taker by nature, but she'll go for it in her own time.  Jumping off a diving board, ropes course, recital, public speaking, etc.  She makes us proud.

4. She loves to be alone with us:  Sam gets down right giddy when Piper and Eli are out of the house at the same time.  She often wishes she could be an only child even though she loves her siblings.  These times feed her soul.

3. Honest:  Sam told a white lie about 3 years ago and it still plagues her.  When there is trouble in the neighborhood we go to her; the "informant", because we know we'll get the truth.

2. She is her father's daughter:  Sometimes I get cocky and think that I know what's best because I'm the mom.  I'm often wrong.  She is very similar to Eric~ slow decision maker, methodical, attention to detail, anxious and highly capable.  He is her anchor.  

1. She lives and loves deeply.  Sam takes her life, and everything in it, very seriously.  Sometimes it's too much and we get concerned, but mostly we find it endearing.  She has a bright future ahead of her.

We're madly in love with her.

No country for little boys.

I've always been the family barber.  

Super easy.

Exhibit A:

But now boy wants it long.

Exhibit B:

I like long.

Long is good.

But this long needed a little "shaping".

Can't use the buzzer for that.

Now I'm afraid it looks more like this~

That's a problem.

 

We are the Friesens, so this kind of thing is...

SNOW

BIG

DEAL!

especially if you end up here... :)

You might think that this 40 year old mother of three wouldn't do a snow angel in her swimsuit, but you'd be wrong.  There's just no photographic proof.  I have three witnesses that will testify under oath that I indeed made a snow angel.  They will also testify that I screamed, very loud.  

Good times at the Friesens.

Flock and Awe.

She passed away three years ago.

My Grandma Mimi.

Christmas with her was dreamy.

Its been my desire to recreate her tree for awhile now.

This is the year.

I think she would have liked it.

Silver.

Blue.

Flocked.

Osm.
 

Dear Thing 2 and Thing 3,

Sometimes you bicker.

Sometimes you taunt each other.

Eli, you tell me that Piper "is sooooo ignoring!"  (I know that you mean "annoying" but I can't correct you at the time because I'm too busy being the referee.  Plus it's kind of funny;)

Piper, you say, "I want a new brother!" 

Well I say, "You're both exasperating me!"

But then I found this...

So you really DO love each other and you're just fighting to exasperate me.

You guys are soooo sweet!

But remember this... if you exasperate me too much, then I will show this video to all of your friends.  

Don't mess with the mommy.

I will win every time.

Our Favorite Vet

Dad to me.

Papa to them.

Captain Jack to you.

Thank you isn't enough.

But thank you.

xxoo