Where's my mind it was here a minute ago!

Birthday shout outs to Hayden!

Oh my goodness March 30, 2008 was a lucky day for our family! Hayden is our little Curious George. I love all his antics and that he's such a little tender heart. I was thinking this week about the Sunday that Hayden fell down my stairs and Kellye was screaming for me to catch him; I've always felt so bad that I couldn't get there in time. He's such a cute boy; he has this shy smile and a big belly like his Fat Grandpa! I miss both Hayden & Tate; miss hearing about their everyday life. I miss camping with Tate under the covers of my bed and playing Punch Pillows. I love that he remembers those things when I see him and that he's taught them to Hayden. I love to hear Hayden's little deep voice saying "I ya you Gramma Sandy"! I love that he looks like a Shea! Yay!! I love (oh so sad) that he's a nummie; it makes him even more Shea. Happy Birthday little one, I love you!

Casey is 15! He's only been part of our family for 4 years but he seems to have grown so much in that time. I remember my first gift to him was a card game; and now I just give him money 'cause what do you get that they want? Casey has a huge heart; he's very loving and kind to his littler cousins. He always takes the time when he's with Doug & Becky to say hi to each of them when they come over. Saturday we went roller skating at Classic. We had Casey, Jennah, Gavin, Kaylee, Aaron, Tiffany, Tabitha & Jaden and Casey was "to cool for school" to skate but he did some sly bouncing with Rick. I think he had fun; we had bbq and cake after. Casey asked if he was my oldest grandson and I said yes without even thinking that Christian is going to be 20 this year! Sorry Chris! Happy birthday Casey, I love you!!

Birthday shout outs!

Birthday shout outs! Sage was 14 on March 19th; he's Aaron's second son, mom is the beautiful Cybil. Sage I believe is the typical teenager; he likes his friends, video games; his dog; zombies, reading and probably music but I'm not positive about that. He works hard at being a good student; he's got a great heart and is the most incredible soccer goalie ever! He seems to put his heart into everything he does. I love him, can't wait to see him, planning activities for him and sister Lily in July; we intend to wear them out. I love you Porter Sage Shea!

April 8th was Grandma Shea's birthday and even though she lives in heaven I love her and thought about her all day yesterday. You couldn't go wrong patterning your life after her; she is beautiful, polite, gracious, a wonderful cook, loving mother, daughter of God, faithful & supportive wife, the most daring woman I've ever personally met. She'd still give you a go on a roller coaster even when she was in her early 70's. Unfortunately Alzheimer's robbed her of her elderly years; she loved to find a good book for children; she'd study the faces in the book to make sure they matched the moods in the written words and ALWAYS bought stuffed animals on their facial expressions and personalities. That's our Grandma! She loved to garden, her yard was always the prettiest on the block; not that she was out there really doing; but she inspired Grandpa to make it so. Grandpa loved a great party and because Grandma loved him she'd make it the best. There are pictures of luau's, bbq's, 4th of July, Christmas & birthday parties galore. Grandma loved a beautiful home and was a great hand at design and she could make a bouquet fit for a king out of anything you could imagine. I miss those days of Sunday roast, sweet pickles with your sandwich at lunch, goulash, curry, round steak stew (this one I've passed on to the kids), chocolate chip cookies; freezers full of cookies for Christmas, water fights serious, she was the best and you never turn your back on a Grandma with a hose! Setting the table; we'd actually discuss this because she wanted it to be perfect and one of the the many things that linger still are you use the right tool for the right job. Dessert forks are not used for dinner forks; pickle forks are used instead of fingers, casserols dishes are for casseroles. She was always up for a good laugh, she loved babies, flowers, music, Christmas, brass anything, the color mauve, pearls and her family above all. It took us awhile; but we made it and I love her still!

More April birthday's to come: Uncle Dee, Aaron and me!

Blue Magoos, Ant Farm Harvest and days gone by

Life is funny; just when you get all warm & comfy, you get hit on the head with reality! I savor the days gone by; I realize that the best part of my life is over with Rick's death; not to say that life is over; it certainly isn't; but the comfortable day to day living and planning for events; even those made up! The Ant Farm Harvest began the day that I met Elder Shea. We'd been to the Stake Farm picking up rocks and Elder Shea flexed his muscles and picked up a huge rock, held it over his head and had red fire ants streaming down his arms biting him repeatedly. He I'm sure was miserable! A few days later I received a bouquet of red roses with a note that stated how much he'd enjoyed the "Ant Farm Harvest". Our own holiday; anticipated like a birthday; celebrated with gusto; souveniers are all I have left; and the date March 27 stays in my mental calendar.

Blue Magoos began as a way to honor our children's achievements and funny things that had happened in their lives that we wanted to remember. Each of them were given a Blue Magoo (I don't know which of them coined the name) filled with candy and we had an awards ceremony on Oscar Night. It went on for years. Rick was so creative and funny, my contribution was the memories or a word here and there. It was so much fun; I don't think the kids thought it was anything special but they put up with us because they love us; the sad part is that I've failed miserably trying to keep this alive. Not that they haven't done many, many miraculous and wonderfully funny things but I can't remember anymore. I would have given Tom a Blue Magoo for getting a gold medal in a sailboat racee that nearly killed him; I would have honored Aaron for the caring father and son that he is; I would have given Kellye a medal for bravery for taking law school and a move to Florida with hardly any complaining. I would have given Doug & Becky the award for the most events to personally happen to anyone in a year; moving to a new home with a mother-in-law, endowments, sealing, callings etc. Ricky would have had the tear-jerker award for the most difficult break-up of the year because we all loved Patsi. Bethany would get the step-mother of the year award for being the puppy mom. Jordan would get the Matlock award for being a lawyer in the South; Tiffany would get the Vegan award for healthiness. All of these are good I just couldn't put them in a funny format. Brain Dead.

Oh the sweet memories; they flow and then the tears start so it's better to only go there once in awhile. I love my family; I unabashedly love them. I want them to have everything; I don't want them to suffer pain or anguish; and I think they want the same for me. We need to start some new traditions; we need to endure and have a darn good time doing it. Faith in Christ is living like you know what's going to happen tomorrow and your down with it.

I'm so grateful for the blessings I've received in this life; I'm grateful for the opportunities and experiences I've been given up to now. I hope to have many more; I know they will join a host of other wonderful, happy, painful, thought provoking, hilarious other experiences. When you think about it; I've had a great life! I'm positive of a few things; that I have a Heavenly Father who's listens to my prayers and then for whatever reason continues to preserve me for something only he knows; I have a Savior who knowing all there was to know about me; gave His life that I might get through mine; that gave me the promis of a resurrection and eternal life that I can have an eternal life. That the smartest most wonderful decision I've ever made was to be a wife and then a mother it's been the most rewarding and heartbreaking experience I've ever had. And because of the first two I'm ready for the next part of my life with little fear.

50 Questions you've never been asked; stolen from Becky's blog

1. What color is your toothbrush?
Pink & white

2. Name three people who made you smile today:
Becky, Jordan & Julie

3. What were you doing at 8 this morning?
Driving up I15 to SLC

4. What were you doing 45 mins ago?
Executing employees. The beatings will stop with the attitude's change!!

5. What's your favorite candy bar?
Mounds

6. Haveyou ever been in a fist fight?
Yes, once in a dream I beat the stuffing out of Satan who was dressed in a tux with a black cape with red lining.

7. What is the last thing you said aloud?
Thanks, Gloria

8. What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
Hello.....all of them!

9. What was the last thing you had to drink?
Diet Coke

10. Do you like your wallet?
Yes

11. What was the last thing you ate?
Potato chips while desperately craving a muffin.

12 Have you bought any new clothing items this week?
No, saving for a computer.

13. The last sporting event you watched?
The UofU game w/BYU on channel 2 News, it was a blip about the U's coach telling off some reporter. Those of us that are U fans need to be taken seriously, people don't get it. See #4.

14. What is your favorite flavor of popcorn?
What a corny question.

15. What is the last person you sent a text to?
Aaron

16. Ever one camping?
I wish I had a nickel for everytime.....

17. Do you take vitamins daily?
Yessiree

18. Dou you go to church every Sunday?
Yep

19. Do you have a tan?
Not at present

20. Do you prefer Chines food over pizza?
I prefer every kind of food over pizza.

21. Do you drink soda with a straw?
Yes

22. What did your last text message say?
"you look like a secret agent"

23. What are you doing tomorrow?
The ward Easter Egg Hunt, cleaning, sewing

24. Do you drink coffee?
Nope

25. Look to your left what do you see?
A gorgeous picture of Ralph Lauren; am I the only woman in America who has Ralph Lauren as a pin-up? My Diet Coke, the Red Flags.

26. What color is your watch?
Silver & gold

27. What is your birthstone?
A girls best friend

28. Do you go in at a fast food place or just hit the drive thru?
Which ever is faster.

29.What is your favorite number?
8

30. Who's the last person you talked to on the phone?
A patient, can't tell you her name violation of HIPPA

31. How many states have you lived in?
4-California, Texas, Utah, New Mexico.

32. Biggest annoyance right now?
See #4

33. Last song you listened to?
Something on Kellye's blog don't know the name.

34. Can you say the alphabet backwards?
No, why would you want to?

35. Do you have a maid service clean your house?
No, I'd have to clean it before they came.

36. Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time?
Some thongs that once were Tom's.

37. Are you jealous of anyone?
I don't think so; but maybe someone who's nice and can take anything. See #4.

38. Is anyone jealous of you?
No that's a definate.

39. Do you love anyone?
Lots of them!

40. Do any of your friends have children?
Most of them

41. What do you usually do during the day?
Work; see #4

42. Do you hate anyone that you know right now?
No, but there are people I don't like.

43. Do you use the word "hello" daily?
Yes

44. What color is your car?
Black

45. Do you like cats?
Yes, but not as much as I used to.

46. Are you thinking about someone right now?
I think about my children & grandchildren all day.

47. Have you ever been to Six Flags?
Yes, many times. The old 6 Flags was the best; the new one is to roller-coasty!

48. How did you get your worst scar?
Umm, I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer and that pretty much says it all!

Love you guys!

Lela Mae Smith 10 Oct 1884

Last night Doug & Becky introduced me to the churches family history site. I had so much fun. The spirit of Isiah (sp) was so strong. Oddly enough while strolling through; I found an error......I think. Someone has my grandfather married to another woman other then my grandmother Lela Mae above. I was having fits and I bet she is too! Who is this woman Frances Huffman? Was he really married to her? Is this a mistake? I tried to hook it all up but being a novice at this I'm going to have to get some expert help. I had such a good time spending that little time with family who have passed on. I felt like I was defending my grandmother. I hope it all works out, it's odd that at 62 I'd be finding out my grandfather was married before. More to come!!

Kaylee's Birthday

First of all you have to know Kaylee; she's just turned 6 but she's going on 26. She told me as we dined at her favorite restaurant; the Panda; eating her favorite food; Orange Chicken that she was moving to New York City to live with her friends. I asked her which friends she was going to live with and she said she didn't know them yet; but they were going to hang out and maybe dance. No boys; boys are stupid except Gavin her brother.
Kaylee was born exactly one month after Rick died. He nicknamed her Shania Shea before he left us and Jenny & Rick named her Kaylee Paris Shea. She was such a band-aid in this teeny body and she was so cuddly & warm and she gave us the peace we were seeking that all was right in heaven and here on earth.
The only word to describe Kaylee is sassy. She's so independent; when I think that my dad missed being here with her; he would have loved the challenge and they would have had some great arguments. He loved to tease!! He and Kaylee would have been quite a match. When you think about it; he probably had some hand in her attitude before she got here. He said "honey if you're going down there; you need a little spice." Kaylee has a big hearty laugh, she loves princess everything; she wants to be a Brownie Scout when she's 8, she likes being glamorous and loves, loves, loves bling. She hates to read. Sounds like her dad Rick. Kaylee is so full of love for her brother Gavin who "will rescue me" and her sister Bella. She loves her mom and all things mother; babies, kitchens, puppies, dress-up, etc. Odd for a girl who's going to live in NYC with her girlfriends!! She can be the mom!! Kaylee is BRAVE! There's nothing she won't tackle except for staying overnight; she likes to be with her mom but she can give the what-for's to anyone and everyone. I think she let her teacher have it a few weeks ago or at least that's what she says. Poor teacher.
Kaylee is tiny still wearing a 5T but she's got a big heart and a big spirit and we all love her so much! Happy Birthday to our Kaylee!

And they called it Puppy Love

Nevermind that I don't have pictures; just picture this in your mind.......9 Golden Retriever puppies all colors of blonde & strawberry blonde; cuddled together like a Celtic Knot. The puppies belong to Tom & Beth & Charlie and mom is Lucy, dad is Schroader. They have their eyes open and their noses have turned black; and they can walk. They are so adorable, you want to hold them all. What a stress reliever!! I was trying to lenghten out my stay just to hold another one! Like babies only a different kind of love; they have that puppy smell; like milk, mom, poop & pee but it's like Baby Magic on a baby it's so yummy. I want one; but do I have time to train and have it be like Lucy who is so mellow and cuddly? Tom says no; Beth says yeah, am I insane to want this with Bogie upstairs who's the jack-in-the-box of all dogs! I'll continue to visit & maybe I'll get brave. We all wish Kellye & Jordan were here because Kellye would be sitting in the box with the puppies with Tate on one knee & Hayden on the other! Like the rest of us; we're in puppy love!

This is usually my week to start back to being myself. You see, about the first of November I start getting sad and missing my husband Rick and for the last 6 years I've put myself into "protective mode". It's an ok place but there are no highs or lows and no tears unless forced. After Rick's birthday on February 2, Groundhog Day, I usually start to perk up. Not so 2010. I had a great day on Tuesday, had some funny things happen that only you as family members would understand; but then by Tuesday night my beautiful children were calling to see if I was okay and I still was so they told me about their blogs and facebook posts & that I should read them. I of course will right away but my home computer is not working correctly so I waited until Wednesday when I could use my work computer. Bad idea. I need to tell you about my children; they are 5 of the most creative, talented and humorous people on the planet. They are also the most loving, tender-hearted, reminiscent, memory filled group who keep me going on a daily basis. So I was excited to read all that new stuff. Even driving into work on Wednesday I was feeling great; it's a feeling I get that reminds me of going to the beach, so I was ready! Well, I read all of these beautiful thoughts and broke into tears and have been HORRIBLE since. I bite off heads, chew them up and spit them out at the drop of a syllable. I wish I had a sarcastic font; I would have used it the rest of the week.

Now here I am; its Friday and things are starting to settle down; isn't it funny how work goes on but fun has to end? I'll recover over the weekend but I'm surprised that I'm still that vulnerable. This morning I finished the Book of Mormon for the 5th time. Honestly I cannot live without reading the BOM everyday. I've tried; life is horrible without it's many messages; calls to repentence; lessons, etc. Last year I was taken with Mormon calling us "peaceable followers of Christ", this year it came late but oh so powerful; Ether chapter 12 is a talk that Moroni gives on weaknesses and faith. It has one of Kellye's favorite scriptures in it, so whenever I read it I think of her. But this time after reading I asked to have my weaknesses revealed. Which is where I was on Wed morning. Obviously I have much to learn but isn't it nice that I still can?

Life would not be what it is without all of my children in it. They are the very breath of heaven to me and I love them beyond my ability to express it. Thank you for the millions of times you've said, looked, called, thought, helped, read, sent, carried, fought, loved, prayed, explained, made me smile or laugh or any other kind of other way you've loved me. You are the best people I know and I love you too!!