The Shumway Camp Out

Well, we actually did it! We went camping last weekend with Dal and Autumn and their family and a family from our ward. I was skeptical at first, having a 8 week old baby in all, but we had a BLAST!! We camped out at Water Wheel, which is 7 miles east of Payson, right along the bottom of the Verde River. We all had so much fun especially the kids since they were able to roam outside all day. We arrived on Friday night and got all the tents up before we started a fire. Kaden really didn't know what to think about it all. He had a hard time walking with all the uneven ground, but before long he was a natural. At home, Kaden is constantly at the pantry door wanting to eat so as soon as he found the bin with food,he felt right at home. The first night was FREEZING! I bundled up Jackson and he slept in a plastic storage bin. It was a perfect little bed, thanks to Autumn helping me set it up. Kaden was in his porta-crib with blankets over it. They didn't budge once all night.
In the morning we started a fire to stay warm and started breakfast. Alan made bacon and eggs for everyone and then we lounged around all morning. The river was about 25 feet from our camp site so the kids had fun playing in it and throwing rocks. Later in the day we took a hike up the river to check out a water fall, but it got pretty warm and Jackson was getting cranky so we headed back. Alan made stakes and potatoes for dinner! YUM. Alan is the best cook ever!!! After a few smores and a few Dr. peppers we all turned in for the night.
That night was much warmer and we all got some sleep. In the morning we packed up and headed home. We cant wait to go again in a couple of weeks!!!!!

Alan getting a bite to eat before all the fun begins.

The big boys of the camp!

The camping crew

Kaden and his cousin Summer are enjoying the sport of rock throwing.

"Hey if no one is going to feed me, then I'll get it myself!"

Baby Jackson was such a great little camper!

Kaden's favorite camping activity.....throwing rocks

Rise and shine little campers.

Jackson D

Jackson is growing so fast! He is only 7 weeks old and I have caught him cooing and he is starting to smile. The best is when babies cry and as soon as they hear your voice they start to calm. I love it!! He is such a good baby and is a good mix between Alan and I. For the last couple of nights he has slept 8 hours and hopefully will cut out the last feeding on his own. Then we are on our way to the 12-13 hour nights of sleep. YEAH!!! We will see. I owe it all to the best book in the world, " Be Baby Wise." I wont get started on how wonderful it is, but I encourage every mother to at least read it to see if it would work for them. I keep trying to remind myself that all the laundry, toys, and dishes can wait, cause are children are only this little once.

"AH CUZ"

Kaden and Jackson are so lucky to have their favorite cousins, Summer and Teegon, live right across the street. They have so much fun together and are so entertaining for us!!!!

"Mom I want to be a big boy!"

Every time we go to the park, Kaden loves to try to use the big boy toys. He is so cute when he tries and then looks at me for help.

Yesterday we blessed Jackson in our home ward out in Queen Creek. Wow, it seems like just yesterday we blessed Kaden and now I have another. Of course I forget to check if his blessing outfit needed to be cleaned , and sure enough there was spit up from Kaden all over the front. See Kaden had projectile spit-up til he was six months and thank goodness Jackson hasn't ever spit up. Just my luck!! With a little tooth brush scrub and some shout, you could barely notice the big yellow stains:).

My family fortunately was able to come and bring out Grandma Shumway for the very early meeting. We sure miss Bekah who is up at the Y and Danny who is serving a full time mission in California, who is by the way coming home in July!!!!! We also missed very much all the family in California who weren't able to make it out. It was awesome to have my brother Spencer, who received the Melchizedek Priesthood last week, stand in the circle. Very cool since he will be leaving on his mission soon. Also my father, brother-in-law Dal, and other brothers from the ward stood in. Alan gave the most beautiful blessing and the sweet little baby didn't even cry. For the most part, I was able to scribble down the blessing to put into his baby book. I bore my testimony that morning and expressed my love and gratitude to my Heavenly Father for blessing me with these two beautiful children and the comfort I have knowing we are sealed together as a family for eternity.We stayed and went to our classes which was fun to have my mother there and of course all the girls in the ward were goo-goo over Dallin. We all went to my house and BBQ chicken and finished with a family activity of watching the Master's golf tournament. BORING!!!! but besides the that, it was a wonderful day.

Here we go again!!!!

Well if you didn't know Alan has been testing through various fire departments for the last year. It is a very drawn out process and very draining. He got through to the second interview for Chandler back in November and they only picked 30 guys out of 100. Well obviously he didn't get picked, but that was ok.....on to the next department. Three weeks ago he tested with Tempe and today we got the letter asking for an interview!!! Yeah!!. We are at least moving in the right direction. So keep your fingers crossed....well keep you posted.

The New First Presidency

What a wonderful picture to look at! Sure is a wonderful thing having these men lead us in these latter days. Not having President Hinckley in conference brought tears to my eyes, but the work continues. I am excited to have President Monson as our current Prophet, Sear, and Revelator.

Future Ball Player

Kaden is 18 months old and I am constantly trying to find things to entertain him. My brother Dallin had an older tee ball set that Kaden was trying to use. The darn thing was so heavy and Dallin only had metal bats. Poor kid couldn't lift the bat. So I got this cute little ball set and he went to town...for about five minutes. Dang it.:)

Sweet Little Jackson

Jackson was born into our family on February 27, 2008. I originally went to the hospital to get induced -yes I do have an amazing Doctor- but I soon started to have contractions on my own. With in a couple of hours of the heavenly drugs, I gave about two pushes and Jackson was finally here. It was the best delivery ever and made me want to have another....well maybe not for awhile. When we made it home his older brother Kaden greeted him with a smack to the head. Well it wasn't that brutal but he was probable wondering who the intruder was. Now Kaden says, "Baby!" and kisses him on the head. Jackson is a wonderful baby and I enjoy every moment of motherhood.

I Love My Food

Kaden insisits that I not watch him while he eats. Now I know why!

I Ride, I Ride!!!

My brother and sister in-law live right across the street and own a little quad. Every single day right around 4'o'clock Kaden starts begging, "I ride, I ride". Alan isn't home yet and I'm usually tending to Jackson, so the alligator tears start and they don't stop until Alan walks in the door. This has been going on for about 3 weeks and I am about to go nuts. Kaden is so cute though and when he finally gets to go for a ride he jumps up and down and sprints to the door.

How it all got started...

Finally I have started this dang blog!!! It is very addicting and fun to learn how to use ! Well in a few words or so, I will catch everybody up on my life. I met my husband, Alan Shumway, thru a mutual friend in November of 2004. It was love at first sight, he proposed in May, and we were married in the San Diego Temple on August 14, 2005. He had a house in Gilbert that was rented out by a whole bunch of guys from the single s ward, so we bought a house way, way , way out in Queen Creek. We are still living out here and since then, we ahd our beautiful sons, Kaden 18 months old, and Jackson who is just 6 weeks new. Alan is a supervisor at a landscaping company and is currently testing through several fire departments. This process has been very frustrating, but....we wont give up. I have worked for Portable xray and ultrasound of AZ for 4 years as a xray tech and absolutely LOVE IT! I will go back to work sometime at the end of May. For right now I am loving every moment of motherhood. I don't mind going back to work since I have a killer shift 5 pm to midnight and Alan is an excellent father and loves to do his part. I couldn't be more thankful for my life.