HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!

Halloween was a blast this year! Unfortunately my husband was in charge of the camera and didn't get all the pictures of everything I wanted, but he did get some dang cute ones though!
Here are some of my favs!

My daughter Penny with her best friend and cousin Rachel! Rachel is dressed as a fairy witch and Penny is a kitty Cat!

Penny, Rachel, and my sister Melissa's sister in law's daughter Sarah......

My nephew Adam as a vampire.......

My nephew Issac as a cow.......Me putting on my niece's makeup, Lydia was Mulan.......

My sisters, Melissa, Jessica, and I getting dessert ready for everyone.......

After a great dinner, made by my sister Jessica, of beef and veggie stew with homemade rolls and an hour or so of trick or treating, we enjoyed some yummy chocolate spiderweb cheesecake, made by me!

I also made these yummy Peanut butter cup cookies........BJ said they look like some little animal took a poo on top of the cookies, but then he said it was the best poo he ever tasted!!!!!

All in all I think we had a great time! It's so much more fun to celebrate holidays with your family and friends! I wish I had a picture of our little Hailey in her chicken costume, but as I said earlier, BJ was in charge of the camera and neglected to take one of her, I think he actually forgot she was there because she pretty much slept through all the fun! Oh well, I'll have to dress her up and take a picture when I get some time this week! Hope you all had a great holiday!!!

In Loving Memory of Scott Shimamoto........

So I know it has been a really long time since I have posted anything, but I can explain, my life has been totally crazy busy with moving, helping my husband start a new business, and taking care of my kids. I was all set to start blogging about all of these crazy great changes in my life, but then something very unexpected happen to our family. Last week my sister Melissa's husband did not come home from work. You see, my brother in law Scott works for a home builder here in Billings, MT and he had been helping work on a home that was located in Wyoming. On October 13, last Tuesday morning Scott and a plumber who had a small plane decided to fly to the home in Wyoming in which they were working on. They got to thier destination safely and finished what they had gone to do, but on the way home the small plane got caught in some nasty fog and the plane crashed............. Both Scott and the pilot plumber were killed on impact........

This was very sad day, my beautiful sister and her six beautiful children had, in a sense, lost their husband, father, and best friend. Scott was a wonderful man who worked so very hard for his family. He was dedicated to church, work, and most importantly to his wife and children. He loved his family with every fiber of his being and you could see that by how hard he worked to provide for them and just to spend time with them in general. It was not often that you would see Scott without at least one if not all his children by his side. He enjoyed them and loved to take them along on all his hunting and fishing adventures or even just to help him at work.

Scott was dedicated to service in every aspect of his life. He was always helping someone move, taking on an extra job to cover his family's expenses, and even helping me with my Chemistry homework when I just couldn't seem to get it. Scott was full of life and loved to joke around.....always looking at you with his crazy eyes knowing that he was driving you nuts wondering whether or not he was being serious.

My husband and I are very close to Melissa and Scott. BJ worked side by side with Scott for six months while he did an internship with the company Scott worked for, they got to be very close downing countless bags of sunflower seeds together. BJ has made sure that I know that he extremely enjoyed being with Scott, he always made work a little more entertaining.

Our heart aches for the Shimamoto family. We love them so very much and we feel honored to help Melissa and the kids with whatever they need. We could never replace Scott, but we sure hope to help lighten the load for Melissa and bring smiles to their children. We love those kids so much and we are looking forward to being a bigger part in their lives. My whole family and Scott's family as well as those from church and neighbors have all been giving their support and sharing their love for the Shimamotos in any way they know how. I hope that we can all always be a comfort and support.

I wrote this blog to let everyone know how much we all love and will miss Scott, but most importantly, I wanted my wonderful, beautiful sister to know how much I love her. Melissa, I love you sooo much and I have always looked up to you. I love to go to you for advice and guidance, I always have and I always will. You are such a rock of strength. I could never accomplish the things you do and have done. You are an awesome mother and you were such a great wife to Scott (BJ even wishes I could be a little more like you sometimes). Never stop believing in what you know is right. I know Scott will always be there right beside you and the kids whenever you need him, not physically of course, but he will be their watching over you guys with love. I can't tell you enough, I love you and I am always here for you, whatever you or your kids need!

Scotts Life Sketch, as presented at the funural.......

Scott Allen Shimamoto, 34, of Billings, Montana, passed away Tuesday, October 13, 2009, in a plane crash. He was born July 9, 1975, in Billings, Montana. He was the son of Sam Shimamoto and Susan K. Powell.

Scott grew up in Billings attending Beartooth Elementary, Castle Rock Middle School and Skyview High School. He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He served a mission for his church in Hong Kong from December 1995 to December 1997. On February 20, 1998, he married for time and all eternity, his sweetheart, Melissa Smith (daughter of State Representative Cary Smith and his wife Susan of Billings, Montana) in the Idaho Falls Temple.

Scott worked for Graybar Electric for a few years before moving to Provo, Utah, where he earned his degree in Construction Management from Brigham Young University, graduating with honors. Scott and his family briefly resided in Arizona after graduation, where he worked as a superintendent for Trend Homes. Then Scott and his family returned to live in Billings in 2006 where he worked for Wells Built Homes as a project manager.

Scott was easy to get along with, amusing people with his quick wit and humor. Scott was always willing to help anyone in need. He formed great relationships with the people that he worked with, work greatly respected his work ethic. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and working in his garden, but he especially enjoyed and spent most of his time with his wife and children. He was a wonderful daddy and devoted husband.

He is survived by his wife Melissa and their six children: Audrey, Jared, Lydia, Andrew, Rachel, and Ryan; his parents Susan (Bill) Powell and Sam (Joann) Shimamoto, siblings, Guy (Joy) Powell, Sheri Shimamoto, Reed (Jennifer) Shimamoto, Shellye (Steve) Burrows, Sheryn (Dereme) Budge, Stacy Wild, Steve (Megan) Shimamoto, Ben (Tasha) Powell, and Tim (Wynn) Powell; and several nieces and nephews.

Ballet Sisters

I got bored the other night while BJ was working late so i decided to dress the girls up and try my hand a photography.......enjoy!

So much news......BIG Post!!!!

Wow, so we have had lots happen in the past little while! First of all, Let me just give a big shout out to my hubby for Father's Day!!! I know it was a little while ago, but I wanted to make sure
that everyone knew how much I appreciate how great a father BJ is! He works so hard to provide for our little family! He would do anything for his little girls and always has! To show my appreciation for him, I got BJ some much needed summer clothes.....hope you liked them honey! You know I love you !

On the first of July BJ and I celebrated our 4 year anniversary by going out to dinner while his parents watched the girls!!!! Can you believe it?!!! We have been married for four whole years! So crazy how time passes by so quickly! You want to know something kinda funny? I can honestly say that I love BJ more now than the day we got married and my love for him grows deeper each day that passes! We have been through so many trials and clinging to each other through the tough times has really made us stronger as a couple. It is so crazy to think that in these past four years we have moved five times, we both graduated college, and we had two kids! We sure have been busy, and that isn't even the half of it! I am so glad I have someone to share my life with! I couldn't ask for a better husband! I am so excited for the years that lie ahead for us! You know, I don't really believe in soul mates, but I know I found someone who I can't live without and we both knew it from our first kiss! So, if anyone ever wants to know if they found "the one" think back to your first kiss.........was it the most incredible and strange but good feeling you have ever felt, even if it is was kinda awkward or bad timeing? If so, you probably have found your match! I also want to say that being married and having kids is not the easiest thing in the world, but it is sooooo worth it! What would my life be without my family? Maybe I would get more sleep, or maybe I would be a little less stressed out all the time, or maybe I would get to go out more often, but in the long run I don't think I would be truly as happy as I am now. I love my husband and my girls so much it hurts! I would do anything for them! So, BJ thank you for stepping into my life five years ago and and asking for my hand in marriage, I am so glad that I took that leap of faith and became yours forever!

I also wanted to wish everyone a very happy 4Th of July!!!!!! We had so much fun! We started out the day with a big breakfast of french toast, berries, whip cream, scrambled eggs, sausage, and orange juice at the church where BJ (because he is the scout master) helped out the boy scouts with a flag ceremony. Then we headed off to Laurel for a street parade that Penny absolutely loved! She had so much fun watching all the floats and eating all the candy and Popsicles they threw out to the crowd. After the parade was over we all enjoyed a nice big snow cone......even though Penny dumped the entire thing on the ground she still enjoyed sharing BJ's and mine! After a long nap for the kids and just enough time for me to make a cherry pie and a cherry cheesecake we headed off to my sister Melissa's house for a BBQ and games, then we headed home and just watched a few fireworks from outside on our deck, we were exhausted and we didn't really want to pack the girls up to go out to see the fireworks, maybe next year! It was all just so nice to be with family pretty much the whole week! I especially had fun hanging out with my brother Nathan and my sister in law Colette! They came up from Denver to hang out for the 4Th. Colette is six months prego with their first! So exciting! I am also so grateful they came because Colette does hair and she got all my nasty roots highlighted and I look so much better now! I don't have any pictures of me with my much improved hair because I am usually the one with the camera! I'll have to snap a few photos to post later! Well, I hope you all had a great 4Th of July! Thank You America! Let freedom ring!!!!

Summer Stuff

Grandma and Grandpa Chaffin with all their grand kids (for now) Penny, Evan, Hailey, Elise, Elizabeth (Beno), and Ethan!

Me and Chere with our new little ones! I can't believe Hailey is only 8 weeks older than Evan!

Penny hanging out with the Tolley's kids!

Grandma Chaffin and Hailey!

Momma and Baby Hailey

Jessica's youngest Josiah (Jo Jo)

My sister Jessica, her son Isaac, and Penny!

Baby Hailey enjoying the sun!

Penny playing in the water!

BJ and Penny sharing a popsicle!

Natalie's daughter Lizzie's princess party!

Penny and Rachel (Ray Ray, my sister Melissa's daughter)

Penny (dressed as a fairy princess) dancing at the Princess Party

My sister Natalie entertaining the girls at the Princess Party

So, on my last blog all I did was complain about things, and I am thinking I should blog about something fun to show you all that even though some days are tough I still have a lot of fun with my girls! The summer so far has been so fun especially for my little Penny! She absolutely loves playing with all her many cousins and we sure have been around a lot of family! The week before last my sister Natalie, her husband Dan, and their four kids came up to Billings to visit everyone! The whole week they were here we had lots of BBQ dinners, played in the water at a splash park and in the back yard, went to a movie, and just had lots of fun hanging out together! One of the best parts of the week was how many birthdays we got to celebrate with cake and ice cream! One of the best parties was one that Natalie threw for her now four year old Lizzie. She had the cutest princess party ever! Penny loved it! The weekend of that same week BJ's sister Chere, her husband Dave, and there four kids came up for a quick visit and we also got to spend some good quality time with them! Penny sure loves her cousins! The summer is just going by so fast! Next week my brother Nathan and his prego wife are going to come up for the 4th of July weekend! So fun! Enjoy some pics I took! Sorry I think I got everyone in the family, but I did get a good share......we had twenty one grand kids I was trying to take pictures of!

Why isn't life fair?

So, I have been keeping a few emotions bottled up lately and I think it's time I blog about it so that I can let some of the anger go....................

I never knew how hard it was going to be to have a newborn and a two year old to take care of at the same time! Just when I think the day is going OK and I feel like I can handle everything the baby starts crying because she is hungry, Penny starts getting into something she is not supposed to, then someone poops their pants, then Penny is hungry and says she needs "food right now!!!!" and just as I am trying to feed Hailey a bottle and make a ham and cheese sandwich for Penny, someone else poops their pants and around and around the whining and crying goes until everyone is feed, changed, rocked to sleep, or playing with something they are not supposed to! For the life of me I do not understand how they both could need so many things at the same time!!!! I am exhausted and I am sick of changing a million poopy diapers all day! I am also sick of doing laundry! I can not tell you all how many loads of laundry I do a week! Penny refuses to keep a bib on when she is eating so she ends up with food everywhere after every meal and Hailey likes to spit up on everything, including me, so I have to wash my clothes and everything else way too much too! To add to all the crazy running around taking care of the kids I do all day I still have not lost these stubborn last 10 lbs I have gained with the pregnancy! I am so sick of wearing an elastic around my jeans! I should be a stick by now! There is so much more that I would like to complain about right now, but maybe I will save that for another blog!

As for now I am feeling a bit better I have let that all out! I just want you all to know that I love my kids more than my own life, but they sure drive me crazy some days! I am not the greatest mother in the world, but I am trying the best way I know how.........and I guess I am doing this all for the little things in life, like Hailey smiling at me and saying, "a goo" or when Penny comes over to me after I have had it for the day and I am crying out all my frustrations, and she says,"Mommy, what's the matter, I kiss it better?" Sometimes I get so caught up in the little things I don't see all the silly, fun, and adorable things my kids do like this.......

I was so frustrated with all I had to do one day that didn't notice how completely adorable Penny was being........good thing Auntie Michelle caught it for me on camera! I just need to learn to relax a little and enjoy each day as it comes......poopy diapers, spit up, and all!!!

Family Pics!

BJ's sister is a photographer and she came for a visit and took some pics of our little fam......here are just a few......more to come!!!!