Thanksgiving

This year we spent Thanksgiving at the cabin. My parents are moving to Boise so this might be the last year we spend it there. I have so many great memories at the cabin and it breaks my heart to know we might not have it next year :) But I am so happy for my parents and their new adventure.

Dinner was FABULOUS! But, what do you expect with Betty Crocker as your mom! The tradition of cutting Christmas trees the day after Thanksgiving is one of my favorites. Here are some pictures of our great weekend.

Linkin taking his first ride. The weather was beautiful. Usually we are all bundled up in our snow gear!
Link and I enjoying the beautiful views from the deck. GOSH I LOVE THE CABIN!

My cute family and our tree. This year I am so much to be thankful for but I really can't express how thankful I am for my family. I am so blessed with a wonderful hubby and beautiful son. GOSH I'M ONE LUCKY GIRL!
Our tree before we cut it down. Usually JJ and I spend hours walking around looking for the perfect tree. This year we must have had help because this was the first tree we came to and we both fell in love with it. Thanks Linkin, I think it was you.
Linkin enjoying the big TONKA TRUCK!!! Like father like son :)

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. I AM SO EXCITED FOR CHRISTMAS. Even though Linkin will never remember I am still so gitty to play Santa this year.

Caribbean Cruisin!!!

Before we found out we were prego with little Link we planned a cruise to the Caribbean. Once we found out Link was on his way we decided to keep the cruise booked due to the fact that he would be 4 months old by the time we left and I'm sure we could use a little vacay :) Well... I don't think either one of us realized how much the little man was going to change our lives. It's amazing how much you can love a little bug :) Leaving Link for 8 days was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. Our plane left at 7:00 am, I was thinking this would be perfect because Link would still be asleep so it would make the whole goodbye a little easier. BOY WAS I WRONG! Linkin woke up right as we pulled up to the airport. JJ and I were both blubbering idiots!!! Thanks to amazing family, Linkin was fine and was spoiled rotten the entire time we were gone.
This is Linkin the night before we left! He was in the funniest mood. Laughing and Giggling all over the place!

This is how our trip played out!!
We flew into Miami on Saturday to be greeted by horrible winds due to hurricane Ida!!! We were all a little worried but by the time we boarded the ship on Saturday the hurricane was reduced to a tropical storm and we ended up only having really bad seas the first day.
Here we are boarding the ship. 7 days of cruisin here we come!!
We had such a fun group! There was over 100 of us all together but about 20 really close family and friends. We spent every night on the ship either in the karaoke bar or dancin it up in the club onboard!

1st Port - Grand Cayman
In Grand Cayman we took a boat out to stingray city. The water was the was unbelievable color and it is the weirdest feeling to be way out in the ocean and standing in 3 feet of water. After playing with the stingrays we went snorkeling on the reef and headed back to the Ship. Here are some pics of the stingrays.
All those shadows in the water are huge stingrays. It was a little scary to have these huge animals swim between your legs.
French kiss a stingray and you get good luck for life. YUCK!!

2nd Port - Honduras
At this port we took a little boat out to the most amazing island to do some snorkeling and see all the animals. This island was a refuge for animals and it was so cool to get up and close with sea lions, monkeys, and much more. Here are some pics of the monkeys.
This is George. He kept reaching his arms out for hugs and would make kissing sounds until you kissed him :)
This monkey loved JJ.
It rained almost the entire day but this is still one of my favorite stops. The snorkeling was unreal and that was with overcast skies. I can't image how gorgeous it would have been with the sun shining.
Notice the standing water on the ground. Lots, Lots, Lots of rain!
More kisses from George.

3rd Port - Belize
At this port we went cave tubing. I am so mad we didn't have a waterproof camera. We didn't get many photos because we were on tubes and didn't want to ruin our camera. Cave tubing was SOOO much fun. We all got headlights and linked up on inter-tubes and floated down a river in the middle of a jungle and went in and out of caves. It was awesome, a little scary in the caves because it was so dark and your not sure what was under you...yikes... and it was freezing in the caves! However, I can't complain because it was an amazing experience. After, our guides fed us lunch and it was SOO YUMMY!


4th Port - Cozumel
After all of our hard playing we decided we needed some good beach time. We spend all day at an incredible beach, eating chips and salsa under huts, kayaking, and much more.
After a great day on the beach we enjoyed a beautiful sunset before getting back on the ship. The sun does my mind and body good!!
Then back on the boat for one more day at sea before heading home! We have so many fun pictures and it is just too hard to post them all so here is just a few of our fun on the ship.


We had such a blast and I am so lucky to have such an amazing husband to travel with. I can't get enough of him and enjoy every second we get to spend together. However, I am so happy to be home with my little bug!

Well I have decided I am the worst blogger and I apologize. After working all day all I want to do is spend time with my two boys. Lots has happened over the last month so lets catch up.

I left Linkin for the first time at the end of September to head to Lake Powell. We had such a blast but leaving Link was soooo hard! I have decided Lake Powell is the best place on earth and I think I need to go every year now to complete the summer. The weather was gorgeous and the company was wonderful.
I love Fall! Not as much as summer but I still love it. We have been having so much fun this year at Tyree and Turell's foot fall games. Link loves to be outside and I love dressing him for fall!
I can't believe my little man is almost 4 months old. He is so stinkin cute and I just can't get enough. Having a baby has been the most unreal experience. WAY EASIER than I had ever imagined. The only hard part about it is having to go back to work. Why in the world would anyone want to be away from this little guy for a second let alone a full day at work :) Life is treating us well and JJ and I feel so blessed to have little Link in our lives.

JJ blessed Linkin last week and it was such an amazing experience. Linkin was able to wear the same outfit my dad wore when he was blessed. He looked so sweet and I loved that he was able to fit into something so special. JJ did such an amazing job, as I sat there and listened to the amazing blessing I was overwelmed with emotions. I am going to get cheesy for a sec. sorry :) I am so lucky to be married to the most incredible perosn I know. He loves me and Link so much and would do anything to make sure we are taken care of. To hear him bless Link with so many wonderful blessings was the neatest experience. I was a very proud mommma :). Jage is such a great dad and I love watching him with Linkin. When we both get home from our days at work Link is usually taking his late afternoon nap and we both find ouselves pushing and shoving up the stairs to get to Link first when he wakes up. HAHA!!! I just love our little family!!


Linkin has the cutest personality and is at such a fun age. I love his little giggles!! I can't believe how big he gets every day.
Well before we found out we were prego with Link we planned a cruise to the Caribbean! Well we leave in 2.5 weeks and I can't believe it is finally here. However, now that it is here I am not ready to go. I can't image being away from Link for 8 days :( JJ keeps telling me "he will be fine" and I know he will but the thought still makes me tear up. That little guy has me wrapped around his finger!

Till next time I hope all my friends and family are doing well. LOVE YOU ALL!!

What Happened?

I'm sitting here tonight and I can't believe how fast the time has gone by. Link will be 8 weeks old on Friday and I can't believe I start work on Monday :(

This last month has been such a blast... lets recap! Right before the baby came we found out that the company JJ worked for was closing its doors. This news caused much stress but it has been the biggest blessing. JJ and I have had so much fun the past month enjoying our beautiful baby boy together. JJ now has the opportunity to use his many talents to be his own boss again (JJ was not built to work for someone). JJ is one of the most talented people I know and I am so happy that he can finally do something he loves!

This month started out with Emily and Bobby coming to visit from Hawaii. To celebrate we spent three days enjoying beautiful Pineview, Linkin fell in love with the boat and enjoyed every second.

It was so nice to have Emily and Bobby here.

Next: Before Linkin was born we had planned on spending a week up on the Snake River once the little guy got here. Our best friends the LUGO'S live right on the river and it is truly heaven on earth. JJ and I spent every morning reading on the deck and spent everyday with great company. Every time I go to Idaho I feel recharged on life. The Lugo's have such an amazing outlook on life and it is so contagious. I love the lifestyle in Idaho and hope to end up there someday. While we were there we decided to head up to Boise to visit my dad also. My dad recently bought Scotts Lawn Service in Boise. He commutes up there weekly and I am so happy for him. This has been a long time coming and he really deserves it.

There is nothing like a ride on the Snake River. It is always glass and is so recharging. I didn't ride last year because I was prego so it was so nice to get out there this year. I LOVED EVERY SECOND!!!

This is Lori and Zach Lugo!!!! So dang cute!

THEN: We headed to the cabin for 5 days. JJ and Parker spent three days straight creating a huge circle driveway in the front of the cabin with rock walls and all. They worked so hard and the finished product is BEAUTIFUL. It snowed one of the days but they worked through the weather and did such a great job. Mean while my dad, mom, McKenzie, and myself laid beautiful hardwood floors inside. My parents have decided to sell the cabin because they plan to move to Boise and a cabin here in Utah just doesn't make a lot of sense. We have so many memories at the cabin and this trip was such a great one. It is crazy to think back at all the work we have put into the cabin. It has really paid off and I feel so blessed to have such a beautiful getaway.

Now: we are home and ready to get back to real life. Linkin had his two month appointment today and is doing great. I really can't believe how fast the last two months have gone by. The idea of leaving him to go to work makes me sick inside but I am so lucky to have such an amazing job. I work with such great people and am so blessed to be able to work from home two days a week.

Wow sorry for the long post. Lots has happened over the past month. I promise I will do better at updating. I hope all is well with my friends and family, I love you all.

CRAZY MONTH!!!

The last month has been CRAZY, but a lot of fun. I will post about it before I go back to work on Monday I PROMISE!!!

SLEEP.... what is that?

Sleep... I think I forgot how :) Little Link has decided he doesn't like to sleep. Any helpful hints to get the little guy to sleep better at night? He usually wakes up every 2 hours, if we could get that to every 4-5 that would be FANTASTIC :)

Well.. life has been super fun now that Linkin is here. I LOVE LOVE LOVE being able to spend so much time with my little man! I can't believe he is almost a month old. The idea of going back to work gives me anxiety but I am just going to enjoy every second I have with him now.

Little Link is getting so big. I can't believe how much he has changed in 3.5 weeks!! I just can't get enough of him :)

He is here!!!

Linkin Jeffrey Shaw

Born: July 3rd

2:49 pm

7lbs 13 Ounces

20" Long

JJ and I are so excited to welcome Linkin into the world. I am so happy to have him here safe and sound and I really can't believe he is finally here. I really thought the day would never come. JJ and I went to the hospital at 3:00 in the morning on the 2nd. I had been having contractions for days but they were finally consistent enough to go in. Well the great news was I was having contractions the only problem was I didn't want to dilate. The nurse had us walk the halls of the hospital for a while and when they checked me again they decided to send me home....DANG IT!

JJ and I walked in the house around 7:00 in the morning and crashed. I spend the rest of the day having the same contractions with no progression. I really though this little guy was never going to get here. Well..... at about 1:30 the morning of the 3rd my water broke! I whispered to JJ "Jage" and he jumped out of bed like the house was on fire. We packed the car up yet again and went on our way to the hospital.

For the most part my labor went very well. We had one scare with a 7 min. long contraction.... 7 min. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!! Linkin's heart rate dropped dramatically and they gave me a shot to stop contractions all together. This made my whole body shake. It scared the crap out of JJ and I but after that things went smooth and at 2:49 pm we welcomed Linkin into the world. I though he was going to go home as a John Doe but we finally decided on a name as we were being released form the hospital on the 5th. Thats right, I got to bring my beautiful baby boy home on my Birthday day. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!

Being a home is the best thing in the world. Aside from the little guy refusing to breast feed we are doing great! He is the most perfect thing in the world and I can't imagine life without him. It has been so fun to see JJ be a dad. He is such an amazing person and I love him beyond words. Here are some pictures of the little guy.

My two boys in the hospital, GOSH I'M LUCKY!!

Day 7: I can't believe how much he has changed already.