mErrY ChRisTmaS fRoM the sHu's

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

WICKED...is coming to town!

And I have tickets!!!! I am beside myself with pure HAPPINESS! This is the most AMAZING broadway show...ever. If you havn't seen it, do!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our BABY GIRL!

Our sweet Jocelyn's birthday is today and we couldn't be happier that she is a part of our family. What a joy she has been. Bringing life into perspective. There is nothing like a baby to let you know what is really important. No matter what we are going through we can just look at our little Jocie and know that life is good and that we have been blessed! Thank you Jocelyn for your sweet smile, feisty attitude, and slobbery kisses.

WE LOVE YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Love, Daddy, Mommy, and Sonic X

HaLloWeEn...We loVe YoU!

So since my awesome scrapblog will not work and I don't have time to mess with it any more. And I know you all are so anxiously awaiting to see how Christian's SWEET Sonic the Hedgehog costume turned out. I thought I'd just post the pictures. After 3 all day shopping trips to D.I. , Savers, Partyland, Dance clothing sores, fabric stores, and many, many ebay bids later this is what we came up with. Partake and Enjoy!

So can this kid get any cuter? He makes a stinkin' cute sonic. I guess sonic sticks his tongue out like this to 'tease' the bad guys. He's a 'true Sonic through and through! A Shout out to Mama Shu for making the shirt for Sonic costume. Thank you for making Christian's dream come true. :)

Now for this next picture...Christian has the cutest little legs EVER, and put them in blue tights and you get the cutest Sonic legs EVER. :) (Instead of calling them tights we called them his 'Sonic Legs' no need to give the kid a complex). I asked him how he liked is 'sonic legs' and he said "Good, but they're kinda skinny." Then later he asked why Sonic has such skinny legs? My response, "Because he runs so fast." (of course.;))

Christian wasn't the only superstar @ the Shu house. We also had this gorgeous baby girl, who got all dressed up as a Cheetah.

Happy Halloween

Did that HONESTLY just happen to me?

So I was taking a 'quick' little 'harmless' trip to Wal Mart with the kids on Saturday. Or so I thought it would be quick and harmless. This is my story, picture this: Jocelyn in the front of the cart, Christian in the back. (Which is unusual because he NEVER wants to be in the cart, but he was claiming he was tired.) Groceries carefully manipulated around him so as not to get smashed. I was rounding the corner between by the baby stuff own my way to get my last item and get out of there when all of a sudden Christian started throwing up EVERYWHERE! All over him, all over the groceries (that I had yet to buy) and all over Walmart's floor. Beautiful! Was this honestly happening to me? I just stood there stunned not knowing what to do as I see other Mom's walking by with pure sympathy on there faces mixed with gratitude that it was NOT happening to them. I quickly pulled myself together, comforted Christian, looked for a Walmart worker to let them know they might want to clean up their floor. And then spent the next 20 minutes or so crammed in the WalMart bathroom washing the throw-up off of my child and groceries. While people were coming in and out with looks of confusion turning to disgust. So that is my story, I can't believe that actually happened to me. It should be something you only see on a movie. But, hey I made it through it, I survived! I guess I am stronger then I thought. Oh, and in case you were wondering if I bought the groceries, yah, I did. But don't worry after rinsing them off I went through the self check out so I could spare the poor minimum wage WalMart employee from having to touch my vomit smelling food.

So if that did not happen to you today consider it a GREAT DAY.

Survey says...

Ahley sent this to me through email, but I thought I'd share it on my blog too. You can NEVER know too much about me, right. ;)

Place an X by all the things you've done. Answer the 27 questions at the end. This is for your entire life!

(x) Skipped school
() Gone on a blind date
() Watched someone die
() Been to Canada
(x ) Been to Mexico
(x ) Been to Florida
(x) Been on a plane
(x) Been lost
() Used a GPS
(x ) Been on the opposite side of the country
( x) Gone to Washington, DC
(x ) Swam in the ocean
(x) Cried yourself to sleep
(x) Played cops and robber
(x) Recently colored with crayons:
(x ) Sang Karaoke
(x ) Paid for a meal with coins only
(x) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't
(x) Made prank phone calls
( ) Exercised today
() Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
(x) Caught a snowflake on your tongue:
(x ) Danced in the rain
(x) Used a Palm Pilot:
(x) Written a letter to Santa Claus:
(x) Been kissed under the mistletoe
( ) Shaken a movie stars hand
(x) Watched the sunrise with someone you care about
(x) Blown bubbles
(x ) Gone ice-skating:
(x) Watched a sonogram
() Been skinny dipping outdoors
(x) Gone to the drive-in movies

1. Any nickname? Hotmama
2. Sisters name? Tiffney, Jennifer, Angie, Bristina, Angela, Kaisha, Kristen, Heather, Aubrey
3. Favorite drink? Water, Grape Juice, or Dr. Pepper(when I am feeling like a rebel)
4. Tattoo? No
5. Body Piercings: Just my ears
6. How much do you love your job? Love it like NO other! Being a stay at home mom is the BEST!
7. Birthplace: Payson, UT
8. Favorite vacation spot? Florida, best trip EVER! But taking Christian to Disneyland was pretty awesome too.
9. Ever been to Africa? No
10. Ever eaten cookies for dinner? no, but for breakfast, yes
11. Ever been on TV? Yes, when the Olympics were here I was on Good Morning America...ha, GOOD times
12. Ever steal any traffic signs? no
13. Ever been in a car accident? Yes, two, they sucked.
14. Drive a 2-door or 4-door vehicle? 4 door
15. Favorite salad dressing? Ranch is a great classic or I love Asian Toasted Seasme
16. Favorite number? 8
17. Favorite movie? Oh, this is too hard, I have alot of favorites, but my most recent...Enchanted.
18. Favorite holiday? Christmas
19. Favorite dessert? Ice cream, every single kind...I LOVE it!
20. Favorite day of the week? Friday
21. Favorite brand of body wash? Bath and body works...sweet pea
22. Favorite Toothpaste? colgate total
23. Favorite smell? The smell of rain or freshly cute grass mmmmmm
24. What do you do to relax? Take a nice HOT bath
25. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? 10 years and 10 kids later...insane. Kidding. Um, lets see how about 3 more kids, living happy and content and still madly in love with my husband. I hope to have some new hobbies, and talents. Like: digital scrapbooking, tennis, rock climbing, a master with Photoshop, and some mad skills of doing little girl's hair. ( I am worried that my poor little Jocie will never have cute hair done. I don't know haw to do hair!)

My Dear, Poor Deer

The husband went a hunting this past week and he came home a whole new man. That's right he is officially a 'hunter'. He actually SHOT a poor little deer. He was a virgin in deer killing before now. And to tell you the truth I kinda liked it that way. I liked that he would just go hunting for bonding time with his Dad and some peace and quite of the mountains. But none the less he did it, and at first I was really sad when I saw the deer (which is REALLY weird because my Dad is a HUGE hunter and I've seen lots of dead deer before.) Then I saw this picture he took after he shot it and I have to admit, I find it a little sexy. My man...the hunter. Going out and providing our dinner by shooting it! Honey, you are AMAZING! Thanks for providing us some yummy roasts for the next year. :) Sorry Deer but you are going to taste so good. Thanks for letting the hubby shoot you. I promise you will NOT go to waste.

Obama's Bad Luck

This made my day.  Which is REALLY HARD to have happen lately.  Honey, sorry to pollute our cute and happy blog with politics.  If anything it's entertaining.  Love, Jed. 

What are the odds?

Glenn has a new take on Barack Obama -- he actually feels bad for the guy. See, he's been looking at him all wrong. Obama is just a victim here. The people he's hanging out with all just happen to hate America -- what are the odds? Glenn lists off the miraculous string of 'bad luck' that Obama has had pop up during the campaign trail. Read the transcript

For it only comes around once a year

AND IT'S ALL MINE! Yep, that's right it was my birthday yesterday. 27 and lovin' it! I'm not one that cares about getting older. The older I get, the wiser I get, the calmer I get, the happier I get, the more understanding of others I get, I love more, hate less, strive harder to do my best, and push myself to do new things. I am so glad I have learned the things I have in these past 27 years and wouldn't give it up or trade with anyone for anything. How thankful I am to have had a birthday. To have a husband who made me a delicious breakfast complete with a centerpiece of gorgeous flowers. How thankful I am for a 3 year old to sing me 'Happy Birthday' all day long. How thankful I am for a baby girl to giggle and laugh with. How thankful I am for a girls lunch with great conversation. How thankful I am for yummy cupcakes made with love by some totally, awesome Young Women. How thankful I am for a HUSBAND, who suffered through 'Pride and Prejudice' simply because I wanted to watch it, yet again, and not only watched it with me but gave me a massage during it too. How thankful I am to be 1 year older! Oh yah, and all those presents didn't hurt the day either. How thankful I am for people in my life who have such good taste and know just what I wanted for my birthday!! How thankful I am for MY SUPPORT GROUP! I love you guys!

Sleeping like a baby

Why is it that kids can sleep in the craziest, most uncomfortable positions? Well our little Jocie is the mastermind of uncomfortable sleeping positions...

Oh, and just in case you were wondering she is still a toothless wonder at 10 months old (a baby in our ward that is a week younger then her has 8 teeth). And this girl is quite the meat eater. She is hating baby food and loves anything that should require teeth to eat.

Brett Dennen! WOW! Where have you been hiding?

So I have to say I love my Husband. For more then one reason but one I want to touch on right now is this, he has amazing taste in music (not to mention women;) he's always finding really cool, new people for me to listen to. Brett Dennen is the newest one he as shown me. And I love him! Not only for the music but the lyrics are so GOOD, and amazingly meaningful. This is my new favorite song. 'The one who will love you the most'. It starts out good , but ends even better. I guess I was needing this in my life right now. So thank you Jed for your taste in music, and for being the one who loves me the most even with all my many, great imperfections. And thank you Brett Dennen for making me realize that I am the one that needs to love me the most. YOU ROCK!

Song lyrics | The One Who Loves You The Most lyrics

FLASHBACK!

So I got to thinking about all the great shows I use to watch as a kid after a friend posted on her sight about the 'Smurfs' and whatever happened to them. I dido that as the 'Smurfs' was a cartoon that I indulged in on more then one ocassion. So I thought it would be fun to do a 'Flashback' once a week to highlight some of my childhood all time favs. I know there will be more then one of you out there that will be able to relate. :) So PAUSE the music, HANG ON to your chair, and BEWARE I am a child of the 80's!

I was laughing so hard when I came upon this one on YouTube. It is truly a classic, and 'Truly Outrageous' Partake and Enjoy.

JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS!

Living in our Sonic Lives. Part 2

Yep, we are still being Sonic-fied by Christian. It is progressing quite nicely with new names, and a few new members to our family. Don't worry we are all still our original characters; Good guy, Squirrel, Red guy, and Pink guy. But he has learned their "real" names and we now go by those. Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Rosy. Recently I did have a scare of being fired as Tails (aka Squirrel, which I prefer). Tails somewhat morphed into an imaginary friend with Christian's/Sonic's other imaginary friend, Shadow.

Christian: "Mom, is Tails in the car with us?"

Me: "Ya, I'm right here."

Christian: "No, your not Tails."

Me: "But I want to be Tails."

Christian: "It's okay, you can be Mom."

Don't worry I have received my Tails status back after about a week of competing with an imaginary friend for the title.

I Do have to say I am starting to get somewhat perturbed with this Sonic character as I am now hearing many comments like these ones. "Mom, Sonic doesn't take naps." "Sonic doesn't go to time-outs." "Sonic doesn't eat this kind of food." and just yesterday we had this conversation.

Me: "Christian put your underwear on."

Christian: "Sonic doesn't wear underwear."

Me: "Oh, yes he does."

Christian: "No he doesn't"

Me: "Well, I guess you are not Sonic then because YOU wear underwear."

Christian.: "Um, I'll just hide them under my pants then."

Me: "That's a GREAT idea."

Even though he is trying to use his Sonic status to weasel his way out of practically everything. Every once in awhile I get to hear a comment like this. "Don't worry Mom, I'll be a Super Sweet Sonic." And I have to admit that it is pretty much hilarious to hear him call Jed Rosy, and even better that Jed answers to it with out flinching, like he was born with the name.

And yes like I said before,we have just recently added two new member to the Sonic Shu family tree. Introducing 'Cream and Cheese'. I have to admit that this was so confusing at first. When Christan started mentioning his friends Cream and Cheese. I thought that it was one person called Cream cheese. But then I noticed he was slipping a 'and' in the mix so I thought, GOOGLE them, one out of a million they have something to do with Sonic. And I was SO right.

Cream the Rabbit A courteous and gentle rabbit that can always be found with her close friend Cheese. Sometimes her curiosity lands the bunch in some risky situations, but her friends love her all the same.

Cheese the Chao A lovable Chao (what is a Choa?) who, although he cannot speak, can melt your heart. You can spot Cheese no matter where he is because of his unique red bow tie. Cheese can often be found with his close friend Cream.

P.S. If any of you have great ideas for a Sonic costume, do share. As you could probably guess what Sonic wants to be for Halloween. Even after much coaxing to be someone/thing else totally awesome. PLEASE HELP! Kid Sonic costumes are non-existent.

6 YEARS AND GOING STRONG!

So yah, today is our 6 year anniversary. What a great 6 years it has been. Jed thanks for being so super awesome! I love you tons, and tons. Thanks for always making me laugh my head off and being a SUPER dad! Wow, I'm so crazy in love with you! Dang, I'm one LUCKY girl!

CELEBRATE!

This year it was Jed's year to plan our Anniversary get away ( we trade off each year, and surprise the other one) and we went to, drum roll please...BEAR LAKE. It was both of our first times there. And it was so fun. Bear Lake has much to offer. We got couple massages, went to their Parade of homes (monster cabins!), played a little tennis (Jed is trying to teach me), went to dinner and a play with the Governor :), Went on a tour of Minnetonka cave, and tried to go Jet skiing but the weather would not permit, so yah, we had a fantastic time!

Bear Lake. I loved how there was farm land right up against the beach, how pretty.

We found our dream home there. This picture does NOT do it justice. Oh, and we could totally afford it at a mere 2.1 million dollars! But hey that's furnished. So worth it! In our dreams!

On our way up to Minnetoka cave.

Minnetonka Cave. It was so COLD in there and we were not planning on going here ( we were hoping to Jet ski instead). So Jed didn't have a jacket but we did have this awesome beach towel and don't worry he was wearing shorts too. It got down to 40 degrees. Burrrrr! The formation behind us is called the "three sisters". Water drips from the ceiling to make these formation. It is pretty incredible what water can do.

The depressing "white capes" that were preventing us from our water world of fun.

Dinner and a play at "Pickleville Playhouse" with the Governor. Well not exactly planned. We had no idea he was going to be there until we showed up for dinner and was told we could sit anywhere we wanted. Well, except for upstairs that's for V.I.P.'s only, guest of the Governor. Apparently we are not V.I.P. enough.

This was us waiting on Governor Hunstman to get there so we could eat. We started looking around noticing we were the only ones there under the age of 50 (except for the people that worked there). When the Governor and his BUS load of people got there, they yelled there yee-haws to announce dinner, (yes this was a western cook out) and said that we could come and get our food just as soon as the Governor got his first. Well the old bitter ladies next to us was not happy about that. "He's no better then us." was a comment coming from their table. But low and behold the cowboys came from up stairs (V.I.P. section) and excused us first, Governor Huntsman ate last. Bitter old lady, how ya feelin' now?

After dinner they have a play and it was so much fun. The play we saw was called "Chuckwagon" They did such a great job. We were laughing our heads off the whole time. So if any of you have a chance to go to the "Pickleville Playhouse" DO IT!

Tagged forever ago from a long lost friend, Carly. So sorry Carly that I was a HUGE blog slacker this month and am just now getting around to it.

6 Thing that describe my life:

*Busy*

*Laughing*

*Striving*

*Family *
*Blessed*

and

*These 3 glorious people!*

Goodbye August...

Wow August is out of here and it was a huge success in the F-U-N department, but a downer on the B-L-O-G department. So lets say we play a little game of catch up.

Christian started school, and absolutely LOVES it!

This is not a picture of the actual first day of school. It is the second. As a mother I had in my mind what the first day of school was going to be like. Wake up, prepare a nutritious, mind developing breakfast, get dressed with plenty of time to have a mini photo shoot, then arriving to school with time to spare. A hug and a kiss goodbye and then off to start his first day. Then upon my arrival to pick him up he would jump up and run into my arms hugging me while telling me how much he missed me. That SO didn't happen! Our power went out that morning and we ate cereal, no time for pictures, and was almost 10 minutes late for school. I did get my hug goodbye though. But the pick-up was a slight tragedy. No little boy anxiously awaiting for my arrival. I got the glare and the " No Mom, I'm going to sit on the steps with the kids." So thinking I could save this moment I leaned down to give him a hug, and asked him how he liked school. But NO, he pushed me away and glared at me! Then I wanted to get a picture but he wouldn't let me. The only reason I got him to come with me was a bribe to go to Grandma's house. So not exactly what I had in mind, but when is life with kids what you have in mind? I love my little Christian and he really is a sweet boy. He constantly keeps me in check, and I thank him for it. I LOVE YOU bud! Thanks for giving me a life much, much more creative then my little mind could ever create.

We went to Jack Johnson!

So ya, I know this is not an exciting picture. But it's all I have. Jed told me that cameras were not allowed in the concert. So reluctantly I left it in the car. But then every other person and their dog had there cameras happily snapping away pictures. WHAT THE! Jed, you are in big trouble! So this is a oh so very exciting picture of us sitting in the car waiting in the parking lot after the concert with our really cool Jack Johnson shirts on. It was really fun to rock out to J.J. with some friends and family! Thanks again Mom, and Dad Shu for another fun concert.

Left our babies for a much needed, two day, anniversary get-a-way!

Can anywhere guess where this picture was taken?

More to come...

And of course PAYSON ONION DAYS!


Friday Night $1 Carnie rides!

The baby girl was fast asleep before we even got there.

Christian and his cousin Porter waiting in the forever long lines for the rides.

STILL WAITING!

SWEET, an actual ride.

Jed spent his time entertaining Jocie, while Mom stood in the lines.

So Goodbye August we shall miss you!

HELLo September...Bring on the RAIN!

The Labor Day Parade. What a downer as far as parades go. As soon as we got there it started raining, and then pouring! We got so wet! It is going to make for some great memories though. It all was pretty funny. The Pageant girls in their fancy dresses, drenched, and waving away. Baton twirling girls bawling, and everyone running to get the heck out of there.

The Fam "trying" to stay dry.

Jocelyn's pour head was getting so wet and we didn't have a hat, blanket or anything for her. But don't worry, I'm a Mom and am pretty much like Maguiver. So I made this beautiful bonnet out of...a diaper.

On the way back to the car Jed carried Christian, and Christian was so thankful to not have to walk in the "sloppy rain" anymore. So he kept hugging Jed as tight as he could and say, " I love you SO much Daddy!" He is so cute!

Back at the Park to get a Frozen Banana from our Cousin's booth. He was raising money for his Eagle Project. YUM, YUM!

Uncle Brad, Kyle, and Troy, the best Frozen banana salesmen ever.

And to end this very LONG blog... "Christian's Quote of the Day"

Christian: "Mom, I don't like this Banana, but I LOVE Kyle, and Troy."

Living in our 'SONIC' lives. HUH?

For months now Christian has had a slight obsession with "the good guy game" as he calls it. It took us forever to figure out just what the 'good guy game' was. Come to find out it is the Sega game Sonic. He had played it at his cousins house and it was love at first sight. He has nick-named the whole family characters from this game. It started out where he would just mention to us which character we were. "Mom, you're Squirrel, and Jocelyn is the Red guy, and Daddy is the Pink guy, I'm the good guy." I respond with, "Uh, okay honey" but what I'm really thinking is "What the crap is he talking about? What is the good guy game and this Squirrel character better be freaking awesome." Anyways, that is were it 'started', it has progressed quite significantly. Now most days we are only referred to as these character names and we must also refer to each other with theses names as well. "Squirrel, Pink guy, I'm awake." "Mom, I want to call the pink guy" "Hi Pink guy, it's the Good guy, what you doing? I'm just playing with the Red guy." And if 'perhaps we forget' to use these nicknames he gets hostile. "Christian it's time to eat" "Mom, don't call me Christian, I'm the Good guy." "Oh sorry Good guy. It's time to eat." "It''s okay Squirrel, I still love you." He is so funny. Well I got to wondering what these characters actually looked like so I 'googled' them. This is what I found out.

This is Christian the 'Good guy', Sonic himself he is the main Character...of course. He can run faster then the speed of sound! A-ma-zing.
Our sweet, tender, smiley little Jocelyn is this scary guy who is referred to as 'Knuckles' on Sonic. Are those spikes on his hands? Uh oh well, there you have 'Red guy'

This amazing character is me his nickname is 'Tails' and is a FOX! He is the third most popular sonic character right after Sonic himself and Shadow. Anyways this is me aka 'Squirrel'

So lets see we've covered Christian, Jocelyn, and me so that only leaves Jed to be this gorgeous little minks. Rosy the Rascal is what she goes by in Sonic but around our house it's the 'Pink guy' Jeez Jed you're a hottie.

And recently we have added a 5th member to our family...Shadow the Good guy's side kick. Re-named the black guy and is Christian's, I mean, the 'Good guys' imaginary friend. They do everything together. We have to set a seat for him at the table, do his hair, and buckle him in the car. "Mom, this is Black guy, he's my best friend" and the Good guy just doesn't understand when others don't acknowledge the Black guy. "Mom, Jonah (Christian's real human friend) doesn't even know how to talk to the Black guy."

So there you have it we are just an ordinary family living in a Sonic life. We love you Good guy! Thanks for keeping our lives exciting and without the lack of laughter. You are our SUPER SONIC GOOD GUY!! Love, Red guy, Pink guy, and Squirrel.

CRAZY FUN!

As all you true Twi-hards out there know. 'Breaking Dawn' came out this last Saturday at 12:01 am. And there where parties galore. Well as I am a "true Twi-hard" of course I had to go to a 'Breaking Dawn' party. It was CRAZY! The ladies that put it on went ALL out, and when I say all out, I mean ALL OUT. They had it in there back yard and it was decked out in lights, of all kind. They had Bella's truck there, that she drives in the book. They did games and prizes and their prizes were crazy insane. They had t-shirts, bracelets, lanterns, the cutest bags and aprons, the 3 grand prize winners won homemade quilts that were so stinkin cute. We all came home with at least two prizes, they also made everyone a bookmark, CD, and a crazy little stain glass vampire ornament thing. ( You know it is going on my Christmas tree. :)) By the way everything was in red, black, and white...of course. It was so fun and crazy, and their cheesecake was so yummy. I hope you've all got your books and are either done reading or reading them now. It is very intense, and so good. Sad to see it end.

A BIG thanks goes out to my Dad, brother-in-law Johnny, and nephew Brady! They stood in line at Walmart and bought our books for us among all the screaming girls at 12:01. (Our party was still going). So thanks guys! You are the BEST!