Simply Shanni

A Little DIY

2011-05-17T14:13:00.000-05:00

Old set up (entertainment center from hubby's bachelor days)

Second entertainment center.

Set up lasted about a week before we changed it.

Construction phase.

New tv. Putting it in flush with the wall.

PS3 & DVR mounted in wall also.

Final product. Love It. Thanks babe!

(All photos crappy cell quality. Sorry about that, it's all I have)

Happy Mother's Day!

2011-05-08T20:50:00.000-05:00

Ah, my last Mother's Day to just one babe...

Ace told me he had a "Happy Mother's Day Surprise" for me

:::GASP:::

FOR ME!?

The new diaper bag I have been wanting for Baby Skylar!!

LOVE IT!!

♥

Painting Blue or Pink?

2011-05-05T21:34:00.000-05:00

March 8, 2011

The day we found out the sex of "Baby #2"

↑(CHECK OUT THAT BUMP!!)↑

The moment of truth!

Hello baby.... boy? girl? ;)

And the verdict is...

...

!!!It's a GIRL!!!

Just what we were hoping for!

(♫♪Up in my ute just workin on her fitness ♪♫)

28 Weeks 4 Days

2011-05-05T17:50:00.000-05:00

28 Weeks 4 Days

Figured it was about time to update you all with a belly picture

Telling The Family

2011-02-16T10:14:00.000-06:00

Remember how I told you all that we were expecting?

Well, we didn't tell our families until over a month later!!

We filled everyone in on Christmas day.

I was almost 9 weeks.

((Check the shirts))

It took some longer than others to figure it out but it was an exciting day as everyone finally caught on.

My parents couldn't be more thrilled. They thought we had decided not to have any more.

Caleb comes from a family of 9 kids. So it seems like someone is always pregnant.

Not huge news to them, though they are still excited.

Friends were all pretty stoked and surprised to hear.

All in all, it was a great day!

And we couldn't be happier!

We can't wait to meet you, Nugget!

Cupid Ain't Got Nothin On Me!

2011-02-13T12:55:00.000-06:00

I'm just going to repost last years Valentine's Day post.

I was a V-Day genius!

This year, eh, not so much. So let's just relive the year that trumps them all!!

(Originally posted Feb. 17th, 2010)

So I have been bragging on my AWESOME Valentines Day surprise long enough.. so here are the details..

It started off as an idea in my genius little mind where it then blossomed into a full fledged PLAN!

Let me set the stage..

I had told Muscles that I had a surprise planned for him for Saturday night, and that I wouldn't tell him where we were going or what we were doing until we were in the car on our way there.

Ace was taking his afternoon nap in preparation to go to his Aunt Sissy's and play and spend the night =)

I took a shower and started complaining that I didn't know what to wear and that I have no clothes to wear and that my hair and makeup weren't cooperating as planned. (I'll clue you in on a secret.. it was all an act lol)

I told Muscles that I was running behind schedule and asked if he would take Ace to Aunt Sissy's without me and by the time he got back I should be ready to go (he he hee). So he gets Ace ready and they leave. As soon as he shuts to door, I drop my robe, throw on the clothes I had picked out days prior (lol) let my hair down and ran around the house strategically placing my clues. Then I used the car key I had taken off his key chain and stole his car. I made a few stops along the way purchasing a few things.. ((wink wink))

Then went to the secret destination and waited with one of these..

I'll tell the rest of the story with pictures..

Taped to the garage door was the first clue..

Close Up

[["Now I lay me down to bed.

Where at night you rest your head.

(On your side is where I hide)."]]

(The next clue was under the covers on his pillow)

Close Up

[["Here dishes go once unclean.

Into the big & white shiny thing.

((Hidden there is the next clue to be seen.))"]]

(The next clue was in the dishwasher)

[["Scrub a dub dub..

..a place for hanky & panky..

Your next clue is where..

..a person becomes un-skanky!"]]

(The next clue was written on the shower wall with Ace's bath crayons)

[["Down the steps 1,2,3..

Near the grass is where I'll be!!

(It's not too hard.. check the backyard)"]]

(The next clue was out back by the porch)

[["Panties, skivies, boxers & thongs

In this drawer is where I belong"]]

(The next clue was in our underwear drawer)

[["You play with me, no not your meat.

But grab a controller before you take a seat."]]

(The next clue was hidden under the playstation controllers)

[["To be sweet and neat.

You lift me to tinkle so you don't sprinkle."]]

(The next clue was taped under the toilet seat)

[["You've come this far! Not much more to go!

Your next clue will be somewhere down below"]]

(The next clue was downstairs in the basement somewhere)

[[I left helpful hints along the way]]

(Please don't mind the messy state of the basement, it is under construction!)

[[More clues]]

[["So close.. yet so far.

Maybe by the bar?"]]

(Clue taped to the bar)

[["For food & sports this is the spot!

But tonight it's where things get HOT!"

(Picture of a buffalo with wings)

"Now get dressed and meet me there =)

..I'll be waiting there for you!"]]

So I left in a hurry and went and waited at the bar at Buffalo Wild Wings for him. I had our overnight bags packed.. some new toys, camera, redi whip, condoms, lingerie, and phone chargers (cause lets be practical! haha)

While on the ride there, I'm not gonna lie, I left like a secret agent! haha Feeling all sneaky and such!

I also decided to "up the ante" with this little move..

[[yes, I live dangerously & take pictures while driving]]

Then once I was sure he had found all the clues and was on his way I text him "You don't know me, I don't know you. If you play your cards right, we'll see where it goes tonight."

So in he walks, spots an attractive fair-game chicky at the bar, sits down and starts throwing his game. (And to be honest, if I were single I would have fallen for him all over again!) He told me he's just in town for a short while, as he was a pilot and professional motocross rider. I told him I was stripping to pay my way through college. We really hit it off! haha

We had a few drinks, ate some wings, played a few games, watched "Dear John", and then headed to a hotel for the night ;)

[[Elevator pic]]

To say we had an amazing Valentine's Day celebration would be an understatement!! =)

And now for a math equation..

+=

aka

A DAMN good time!!

♥

About The 3's

2011-02-11T09:29:00.000-06:00

3 Years 3 Months 3 Weeks & 3 Days Old

:::excuse me while I grab a paper bag and pull myself up off the floor:::

Like a weed

2011-02-09T09:32:00.000-06:00

Hungry Hungry Hippos
These days I'm not sure who is going through the bigger growth spurt
Ace or my ever expanding baby belly (and rear, and boobs, and pant size...)

Baby Belly (16 weeks)

I Hope

2011-02-07T19:23:00.000-06:00

I hope...

* I always remember to stay unique

* I stand out in a crowd

* 2011 is better than 2010

* Ace grows up to accomplish all this dreams

* I fall in love with Caleb time and time again

* I remember to be nicer

* To be the best Mommy for Ace & "Baby Houdini"

* I live to be 100!

* I never forget who I am & where I came from

* To be more forgiving

* To be an inspiration

* To leave my individual mark on this world

A Post about Pictures

2011-02-04T17:46:00.000-06:00

Everyone and there brother is a photographer. No, seriously. EVERYONE!

I am not claiming to be any type of an award winning photographer, I mean if everyone weren't an aspiring photographer I wouldn't be where I am today.

So I say, run with it! Pursue your passion! Shoot, shoot, and shoot some more! After all, practice makes perfect!

This passed year I decided to pursue my love of photography further and got a few paying gigs, mostly family but who's really paying attention here?

So I decided to show ya some of my favs.

Hope you enjoy!

Baby It's Cold Outside

2011-02-01T19:57:00.000-06:00

I'm not sure if it's just me but ever since I bought my iphone, about a year ago, I haven't been on my computer much.
I work on a computer all day at work so when I come home I'm excited to hang out with my family and not be on the computer. Therefore, I'm a horrible blogger!
I read many blogs on a daily basis. And I wish I were as witty and great at writing as many of them are.
Have you ever looked back at something you have written and thought, Man, I used to be so funny or clever. I know I have before. I'm not sure what it is, but I just don't have the witty snarky way of writing that I used to.

Anyway, enough woe is me ;)

Time to catch up you up on the life of Shanni

I'm 15 weeks pregnant now.

(I'm sucking in in both pictures. The left photo was taken first thing in the morning, before I pee'd. The right photo was after peeing. Baby Huidini can still hide in my pelvis when I have an empty bladder.)

5 more weeks until we find out what the sex is of "Baby Houdini". I think it's a girl, just a hunch I've had since the beginning. The hubby really wants a girl. And I guess if I'm being honest I do too. But I will be happy either way.

Anyway, my iphone is done updating now, so I'm off to enjoy some more time with the family!

I'll leave you with this picture...

I don't know how

But two imperfect people

created perfection!

This & That.. and That..

2010-12-06T15:11:00.001-06:00

My days consist of zzZZZZzzzzzZZZZzzzzzzz oh sorry, where was I? Oh right, these days my days all kind of blur together.

I . Am. So. TIRED!!

But I guess that's to be expected when you are pregnant. 7 weeks 1 day today.

Not to rub it in for those of you that are less fortunate, but I seem to skip the "morning" sickness that affects many. I didn't have it with Ace and I haven't seen it yet. :::knocks on wood::: Hope I didn't just jinx myself!

8 days until my first ultrasound. I scheduled it a little early so we can get a glimpse of the babe and make sure all seems well before we share the news with familiy on Christmas. They will all be so excited.

Things are sure changin round our house. We had a dirtbike track built. Well we can't expect Ace to be a pro without his own track, right? For now all I have are cellphone pictures, but I'll take some quality pictures soon of the finished track. We bought a new TV, finally upgraded from our dinosaur to a nice 47" LCD flat screen. Caleb is busy destroying the house installing it. We went above and beyond and decided to stick it in the wall to make it flush, and we did the same with the PS3 and DVR. I'll have to get some pictures of the final product. Caleb swears it will be finished soon since we are hosting Christmas this year, for hissake I hope he's right!

Speaking of DVR... ours is full of the same shows. Fantasy Factory, Nitro Circus, Real World's Cut throat Challenge.... what shows are there that you just couldn't live without? We are in need of some good shows. We have to get caught up on Dexter before we can start watching it on TV. With it being winter now and dark at 5 o'clock (how badly does that SUCK?!) we actually have down time but we don't have anything of substance to watch on the ole boob tube. Any suggestions?

So just a theory of mine, I think we may be having twins.. but only time will tell, well time and an ultrasound. Did I mention 8 days? Oh I did? Well too bad! I'm pretty excited!! Twins run on both sides of our family and it's already uncomfortable to button my jeans so it's just a theory I have that there may be two in there. Then again, it may be because I haven't pooped in 4 days. True story. Yes, you can send me sympathy gifts. I am accepting gift cards, money, and fiber. ;)

Eeeekkk!!

2010-11-22T15:06:00.000-06:00

Okay, so bear with me and my scatterbrain as I piece this post together..

I have news, big news, I want to share. But I'm not sure if I should.

I don't know.

I mean my family does not know about this blog, so why can't I share?

But what if someone DOES stumble upon it or something?

I want to share the big news because I want to rejoice but I don't know if I can.

..Just yet.

I dunno, maybe I should just do it. Then again, maybe I shouldn't.

UH.. the decisions, the choices, the predicament!!

THERE! THERE IT IS! The cat is out of the bag! haha

It's early to spread the news, and technically we aren't yet. We are waiting a few more weeks to tell family and friends. But it's all I can think about! And I mean if, God forbid, something were to happen it's not like I wouldn't share the information to help in the sorrow and healing. So I figure I'm okay in sharing. Even if it is early. I just hope none of my family reads this post. And if you do happen to, KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT! haha

I'm so excited!! And it feels good to tell someone =)

Zoom Zoom Zoom

2010-11-12T09:42:00.000-06:00

ATTENTION!! You better get your autographs now!!
..don't say I didn't tell ya!

Ace following his cousin around the field on their dirtbikes

Racer Ace cruising around

Sans training wheels!

Can you believe Ace could ride his bicycle without training wheels at 2 YEARS OLD!? Kid's a freak of nature!! =)

Hide yo kids, Hide yo wife!!

2010-11-10T08:54:00.000-06:00

Ahh, Halloween.. the one day a year freaks knock on your door and not only do you answer but you give them candy! How magical?!

So.. What did you dress up as for Halloween?

Weelll, obviousslyy...

I went as..

HELLS YAH, Antoine Mother Effin Dodson! haha

I have to say, it was a hit! We had a party to go to, that included a scavenger hunt (HILARIOUS!)and I was recognized for the diva I was! haha

Caleb went as one of the party hosts.. he's a marathon runner always running around town in his tiny little shorts so Caleb dressed as him! =)

...some of the items on the scavenger hunt...

[[Surfing on an ironing board]]

[[PEEPING Toms]]

[[Pictures with a burger king employee]]

[[Buying a vowel]]

[[Shots at a random bar around town]]

[[Crossing the road duckling style]]

[[Cleaning a public toilet]]

[[Faith healing a stranger]]

[[Running a fast food drive thru]]

Seriously, SO MUCH FUN!! We had a scavenger hunt last year also, and I've been on the winning team both years!! WHOOP WHOOP!

Check.. Check..

2010-11-07T20:08:00.000-06:00

Is this thing on? :::dusts keyboard off:::

Helloooo ladies!! So, let me say..

1.) Congrats Candice!! SO exciting!

2.) I need to find a cute free layout.. waiting for April Showers to put up their freebies. Anybody else have any suggestions?

3.) HOW ARE YOU!?

In the words of Eminem "It feels so good to be back!"

Since I haven't blogged in ooohhhh roughly... 6 months! I have lots to share!

I started my own photography business, true story! And it's doing really well! I'll share examples another time!

I have totally AWESOME halloween pictures to share! How was your halloween? What did you go as? Do anything fun/ out of the usual/ extraordinary?

I can share some vacation pictures as well.. again, another time!

Ace turned 3! GAAHH!! THREE!! That. is. INSANE!

Oh and guess what, I graduated!! WHOOP WHOOP! GO ME! And I have dropped down to working part time, what does that spell?! FREE TIME!! HOLLA!!

Translation: I may be able to actually find time to stick to this whole blogging thing!

For now, I shall leave you with these...

& I PROMISE I'll post again SOON!

xoxoxo

[[Can you guess what Ace got for his birthday??]]

Hi..

2010-11-05T14:28:00.000-05:00

Let's just cut to the chase...

I'm a HORRIBLE BLOGGER!!

I'll be the first to admit it!

And what's that? I don't even have a background anymore... hmmm that sucks! haha I'll have to get on that!

But I have decided to try this whole blogging thing again. Because I still stalk you on a daily basis, yes you and you! And here's the thing, I HATE when you go days without a post! I'm all.. what's going on? Where are you? haha! STALKER!!

But I have decided I want to try to pursue this more because I want you to grow to know me just as I have grown to know you. So what do you say? Give me another chance? :)

I DID IT!!!

2010-06-06T12:43:00.004-05:00

I ran my first 10k this morning!! Yay! So proud of myself for actually going out there and doing it! And finishing!!! :)

((excuse the quality of the photos, I took pictures of my camera's viewing screen with my cell and I'm posting from my cell))

I'll keep you my dirty little secret

2010-06-03T10:44:00.007-05:00

I have kept a secret from everyone..

..some plans I made..

& after almost chickening out I went though with the plans..

It may seem silly to many of you, because you are confident and adventurous women, but for me this was daring, scary, and intimidating.

Caleb has wanted to see me as a blonde for quite some time, but see, I feel almost defined by my hair. I always get compliments on my long hair, I have always had long straight hair.. always! It's.. ME!

Well, I decided to step out of my box, out of the comfort zone.. & try dying my hair..

Have a look.. what do you think??

((before))

((after))

This is actually not the color we were planning but I LOVE IT!! I make a good red head, no? haha

We went back through a few days later to add more blonde highlights to lighten it up and give it more dimension..

Most importantly Caleb LOVES it!! ♥

Now I am blonde & bronzed and ready to go on vacation!! This time next week we will be arriving in Florida for our 11 day vacation!! WHOOP WHOOP!!

So.. whatcha think?!

POOPED

2010-05-31T19:49:00.003-05:00

The kiddos on our way home..
I can say one thing for sure.. it has been a long & eventful weekend. I mean just look at those faces!
That is what being POOPED looks like!

The joys of being a woman..

2010-05-28T14:52:00.004-05:00

Yes that's right! I said the JOYS of being a woman! I know, we don't hear that enough! Yes, there are those 7 days a month where things can get a bit iffy and you want to rip out your insides, throw your lady bits in the trash and move on.. BUT think about it! A man doesn't get to feel the first flutters of a baby moving, they don't get to feel another being kick you from the inside, they don't get to birth a baby and the bond that goes so deep with that, they don't get to bleed for a week and NOT DIE! I'd say we're pretty marvelous creatures, no?!

Another plus?! MAKE UP! Got a pimple? Cover it up! Short lashes? MASCARA! Or even fake lashes! A man trys those things and starts to cross the "metrosexual line"!

See.. I have blonde lashes.. weird, I know. Blonde body hair & I'm a brunette. Whatev. I'm not complaining though! So what's the problem with this? I appear to have NO lashes sans mascara! Zip, Zero, NADA! So obviously I LOVE me some mascara! I have gone through all kinds! Cheap stuff, expensive stuff, walmart stuff, All of it! And let me tell you what.. I have found the BEST mascara!! Go ahead and pick a tube up the next time you're out (I get it from wally world [[walmart]]) and try to tell me it's not the best mascara you have EVER used!!

[[Side note.. I like the 'natural' look. I don't wear foundation and powder and all that (except for some special occasions) I pretty much throw some mascara on in the morning & go! So a good mascara is key, just gives me that UMPH!]]

Perhaps photos will help to sell you on the idea?

(That's 100% mascara! No curler, no extensions, just natural lashes with & without mascara)

See!! I told you it was AMA-ZA-ZING!!

What's that? Oh now you wanna know what mascara it is? Well it's mine all mine! MUAH AH AHHH!

Okay, okay, I'll tell you =)

L'oreal Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara

No, unfortunately they are not paying me to pimp out their product nor do I get it for free, but whatever.. It's tried and true & I wanted to share it with you =)

You're welcome!

P.S. 12 days til vacation! WHOOP!!

Ahh home sweet home how I have missed thee! Not to worry love, we will be reunited in just 12 short days!

P.P.S. Have a wonderful extended weekend!! Stay safe! & thank a veteran!

Pork Sausage.. Mmmm

2010-05-27T14:22:00.003-05:00

(We'll decifer that title later)
Allow me to introduce you to the new girls in town..

Helloooo boobies!!

Yah, totally getting ready to visit with Aunt Flo this month.. My rack looks great right?! In a few days they will return to deflated old bottles again but I'll flaunt em while I got em!! Haha

In other news.. This is my first post from my iPhone! Whoop! Hopefully it all turns out okay..

I'm a little depressed.. I found a new blog(ger) yesterday that I just adore (Alicia @ www.houseofclines.blogspot.com) but I read her whole blog in one day, maybe even one sitting.. Don't you judge me! I know you're just jealous that you didn't get paid 8 hours to read hilarious blogs all day! Yah, what now? :) But if you don't know Alicia already I HIGHLY recommend giving her blog a visit, HA-larious!!

Any shizzle.. 3 day weekend coming up, WHOOP! I plan on using it to be as busy and stay as active as I can "just keep swimming, just keep swimming" mama is trying to get bikini ready! T-minus 13 days til our 11 day VACATION!! Are those Angels I hear singing?? Oh no, that's just my stomach growling... This lettuce and water diet isn't quite cutting it! Haha (kidding! Although, I totally wish I had that kind of self control.. Maybe just a smidge of an anorexic's will power! Curse you donuts and cookies! Why are you so delicious in my mouth?!) I'll post more on our vacation plans tomorrow..

For now I'm off to go for a run so maybe I'll look good enough to share some vacation pictures upon our return. Noone likes to look at a porker stuffed into a bikini lookin like a sausage! Wow, so many food references in that last sentence... Mmmmmmm.. No, no, must keep my eye on the prize!!

Happy 2nd 3rd Anniversary

2010-05-26T14:16:00.003-05:00

Yes... second 3rd wedding anniversary..

Got it?

No?

Good! haha

Muscles & I were married TWICE!

Our first (& what I consider to be our "real" anniversary) wedding was March 3, 2007. We had a small intimate ceremony at my inlaws house & I took his last name. Then we planned a larger ceremony for family & friends and were again married May 26, 2007 this time in a church.

Looking back.. what a waste of money! haha At the time it's what I wanted and noone could have told me otherwise! I wish we would have used the money to take a real honeymoon instead. What's that? Hindsight is 20/20? TRUE DAT!!

Oh well.. now I have twice as many anniversary's and that equals twice as many presents! WOO HOO!! & whats not to love about presents?! =)

So HAPPY 2nd 3rd ANNIVERSARY BABY!!

More in love now than ever!

♥

DE-LISH!!

2010-05-24T15:17:00.004-05:00

YUMMY YUMMY!!! :-)

We definately give this recipe our seal of approval!!

I found this recipe online a week or so ago. Decided to give it ago, and MAN O MAN! Manna from Heaven! ;)

It's just too good to keep to myself. You can thank me later.

Ingredients:

1 can Pillsbury Grands refrigerated biscuits (any variety)
1 pkg. taco seasoning mix
1 lb. lean ground beef
1 1/2 C. thick and chunky salsa
2/3 C. water
1 C.shredded Monterey Jack cheese or Mexican blend cheese
1C. sour cream (optional)
Heat oven to 375 degrees.

In medium skillet cook your ground beef and drain then add taco seasoning mix, water and 1/2 C. of the salsa. Cook until thickened.

Take the biscuits and press each one into a 6-in round.
((OK this is where i do it a little different from the recipe. I find it hard to press the biscuits into a large enough circle without tearing them apart of making holes in the dough. I usually press 2 biscuits together for me and the hubby's and then 1 for kids.))
Next fill each flattened biscuit with some of the taco mixture then add one tablespoon of cheese on top of the mixture.
Fold dough over filling and press to seal.
Take a fork and press the edges shut, you know what i mean right?
Place on greased cookie sheet.
Bake 9-14 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with remaining salsa, cheese and sour cream if desired.
ENJOY!!
((Photos courtesy of yours truly))

Since I had some rolls left over once all the taco melts were made I decided to get a little creative and whip up a dessert, so I put jelly, sugar, cinnamon & even fresh strawberries and cream cheese in a few "pockets" and they turned out delish! Ace was a HUGE fan of dessert =)

Pretty sure this meal will become a staple food in our weekly menu!

Bad bad blogger

2010-05-19T09:45:00.003-05:00

Yes I see that elephant in the room.. the elephant being my lack of blogging.. and since I have no excuses for that.. we'll press on..

Good News

I graduate TOMORROW!! Hells yah!!

T minus 22 days until we leave for vacation! WOO HOO!!

I figured out what I want to do "when I grow up" :-)

Ace is cuter than ever and growing like a weed

I have graduation practice tomorrow and tomorrow night is the ceremony.

I will post pictures soon :-)

For now I am going to go look for a new background/layout for this dreary blog