Glamour Girls

We did a little make-up today just for fun...the girls ate it up...posing for the camera and hamming it up. Then tonight the gals were goofing around for me before bed.

Parkview's graphic designer's sense of humor may be the only thing that stayed dry through the Flood of '08.

Big Day for Big E

Eden's first "real" haircut! She picked out the style and is soooo pleased with it!
Here she is...

Shenanigans in the She-Van Again

We like to be crazy ridin' around with the windows down!

Hi, My Name is Shadley, and I am a Stroller-aholic.

So the other day the girls and I were out and about and I flung open my trusty almost-6-year-old Graco Metrolite stroller...and I noticed the bar that connects the handle to the frame was completely broken through. UUUUGG! So now, I have to buy a new one right? ;) This is a dangerous place for me to be. One of temptation and addiction...I am a stroller-aholic.

If you know me, you know that my love affair with strollers goes back to before Eden was born...I had to have the perfect one and I was on a mission to find it. I finally came across one that was labeled "Ideal for Petite Moms" and, being under 5' I was sold! (It also had great safety features and was very easy to use- but the kicker was that it weighed only 11 pounds!) I loved that travel system (Stroller #1). Then, when I was babysitting a little boy the same age as my daughter, I purchased a Cosco double stroller (garage sale style) to be able to take walks around the neighborhood (#2). When Eden was a few months old we bought a pack-n-play at BRU and got a free umbrella stroller (#3). A nice lady from our church offered Dan an older model jogging stroller one day, so he brought it home to me (#4). Then when we found out about Elly I sold the Cosco (which didn't have an infant seat capability) and bought a Graco Euro double stroller (#5) from Once Upon A Child. This worked great until Eden got a little heavier...so I bought a double jogger (#6). I did give my Graco double away to my sister-in-law who was having a baby, and traded the old jogger to my neighbor for some yard toys. So that brings us to today...I typically use my Metrolite at the mall or when we got on short trips since it is light and easy to use. It also has the cup holders in both parent and child areas so that is a must for the Target Stroll with Diet Coke/Apple Juicebox excursions that are a solely resonsible for my sanity. And now, my precious Metrolite is broken. Even Dan can't fix it, so you know it's bad.

I have been looking on craigslist for a replacement but I think we have settled on waiting until the baby's referral comes to see how old he or she might be. Then we can better determine if we need another travel system or if our current car seat status will work. Though I have seen this beauty and I am intrigued...

It has a seat for baby and a sit or stand riding option for tired toddlers. I like this idea! Must.....have.......stroller!!!!

Dan and His Mandate

My husband is seriously crackin' me up latetly. We have a running joke over who is funnier- he or I. This week, he is winning.

Here is a snippet of my hilarious hubby's antics.

Today we were talking about baby names again (long story--names might be changing) and I said, "What about Eris?...is that too much like Heiress? Like Paris?" Dan said, "Yeah, that's hot."

And this was an email conversation we had earlier today:

Dan: Greg has invited me on a "man-date" to Guitar Center in CR so we can play through a bunch of acoustics and find what I am looking for...then we can try to find it cheap online. So maybe some evening he and I could do that. We can talk and find a good time...maybe even Sunday afternoon though...you and Kinsey could go to the mall or something.

Shadley: why don't we get a sitter and have a double date for dinner and then you guys can go to CR and we can go to Gordmans or a coffee shop or something.
Dan: great thinking! Though I do have a beard...which means I am manly....and I should probably be calling the shots around here.

And my personal fave, since I have been having issues lately with my breathing, Dan has been saying I have "Comedy Induced Asthma."

Happy Birthday LuSqueal

Tiel looking VERY ornery...

Tiel and Uncle Mike won the Look Alike contest ;)

Tiel and Nia when Nia was little...T might be mad that I posted this pic of her looking a little unkempt...who uses the word unkempt anymore? Maybe I am just trying to change the subject...
Gotta love the dimples on that birthday girl. She is a beaut. Thanks, T, for being the big sister that constantly reminds me how annoyingly psychotic I am. Have a good birthday!! Hope we didn't give you the Rote!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TIEL! WE LOVE YOU!

Flashback Friday

"My" little man turned 18 months on the 26th! What a boy!!

Bunk Bed Update

The girls have been sleeping quite well in their new BBs. In fact, they are in there napping right now!


Here is a pic of the beds without the girls from earlier today- sorry I didn't make the beds...

And here they are posing with their new blankets from Deb!

Ice Skating Lessons!

Eden started ice skating lessons this week. She was always begging me to take her ice skating (but I can't due to my balance problems) so we thought this would be a great way to get her in there. She was one of the older ones (some were like 3!) but she loved it. They did very basic moves and learned how to be comfortable. She will go through August and we'll see if she has a future as the next Yamaguchi!

Surveying the footwear...

Elly was VERY excited.

Cute shoes!

Learning how to stay up!

Eden learned to stick her tush out for balance.

A little ice cream after the lesson...

Hello, Roto

Well is appears that Elly's crankiness and lack of decisiveness over whether she needs to go the bathroom or not is not just the terrible twos...she has Rotavirus. She was in some serious pain this morning- doubled over with cramps, so I took her in and she said it was Rota. Major bummer too because I was suppose to have Nia this morning, Marcus this evening, and Addy Thursday and Friday! So we disrupted about as many people's lives as we could with one swell foop. :)

On a brighter and less "urgent" note (heehehe), Kinsey came by today and brought the girls a present from their honorary grandma Deb. Two beautiful quilts! Kinsey's mom hears all about the girls from Kins, but has only met them once. The quilts are SO cute and match their room perfectly. I will take some pics and post them soon.

ANOTHER ONE!

Our agency referred another precious kidlet today! This family requested 0-4 years and they were referred a preschool-aged boy! Yay!!

Bonkin' Beds!

We are the proud new parents of a lovely set of bonkin' beds. We bought them off of Craigslist and we are pleased with them. Elly already learned that you can't jump on the bed :( The girls slept in them last night (well, Elly stayed for MOST of the night) and loved it. Their room is FULL now since the beds are so large and in charge. It is a twin over full which is nice and the people we bought them from threw in a dresser and mirror! Nice!

I will post pics later!

OUR ADOPTION CELEBRATION WILL BE HELD AT "THE SPOT" IN IOWA CITY!

Invitations will be sent shortly--now that we have a location!!

Monster Cookie Fun

Last week me and the girls made Monster Cookies! We had a good time...


Eden and Addy thought it was fun to close their eyes while I took the pictures...

Vertigo, Drama, and Mortality :)

This morning, we were all cleaning vigorously and I started to feel dizzy and knew an episode of vertigo was coming on. (For those of you curious about why, read here and here for more about my condition.) The girls and Dan are pretty use to it, since it has been happening for most of Eden's life and all of Elly's, but Elly is just old enough now to recognize other people's feelings. So I had a rather intense one where I ended up hitting the frig, the cabinet and the sink before eventually coming to a stop on the floor. Elly ran to me and pounced, concerned that Momma was sick. I was fine and after I got my bearings, I stood up. Elly said, "You're better! You're alive!" I, wanting to nip the drama over it in the bud, said, "I'm fine and I'm alive...I'm always alive." Meaning- vertigo won't kill me...and Eden pipes up and says, "Yeah, except for when you're dead."

Celebrate ADOPTION/ETHIOPIA PARTY

The rain may have washed away our building but our party will go on!!

FRIDAY JULY 25th 7-10pm
UPDATE: WE HAVE A VENUE!!
WE WILL BE HOLDING OUR ADOPTION CELEBRATION AT "THE SPOT" NEAR KMART IN IOWA CITY! THANKS TO DOUG FERN!!

Please mark your calendars and plan on coming for some great food, live music, video, and an art show and sale.

Learn about adoption, Ethiopia, and its beautiful people! Free will donation.

Bring Friends!!!

RSVP 665-6217 (optional)

Check Out My Garage Sale Score!

I was pumped to find this diaper bag, hardly used, for $3 at a really weird garage sale today! The reason it was weird - well because they were selling a million Moses baskets for $5 each...my sister and I both bought one of those too, despite not really needing them, because they are normally like $100 new...it was kind of odd and left us feeling like maybe we just did something illegal? Though I don't think there is a huge black market for Moses baskets...anyway I scored an awesome larger sized diaper bag. I have a thing for diaper bags and this one is awesome. It retails for 39.99 and I got it for a mere $3! Yay.

Flashback Friday

Lately we've been noticing how similar Eden's frame is to her Grandma Dian. Her legs are almost exactly the same shape- only a little more muscle-y (thanks to the Stanton genes). Also thanks to the Stanton genes, she has a little more booty. Not a bad thing if you ask me. It has served us Stantons well. :)

Edenisms, Part 22

Dan's leg is still pretty sore (well, Dan's whole body is still pretty sore) from the accident. The other night he was kneeling down to help the kids in the bath tub and he grimaced as he bent his knee. Eden, remembering Dan's knee surgery, said, "Daddy, are you gonna have to walk around on crotches again?"

Dan "Road Rash" Grimes

Dan had an unfortunate incident today on the way to work...he and the pavement had a little collision...he really is a good biker, it's just that the chain on his bike decided to give way at a most inopportune time...so here is my Beloved and his battle scars. Usually you can say "it looks worse than it is," but in this case, I believe the pictures don't do it justice. It was pretty nasty. He also scraped up his ankle, shoulder, chipped a tooth, and (we think) tore a muscle in his thigh. At least his boss drove up right as he hit the ground...he gave him a ride home and told him to get some TLC!

Quite Ellyquent, Part 11

"Mom! We got a sit-chee-AY-shun here!"

[Lifting my shirt to put the stethoscope on my tummy] "Very good, I didn't hee-you anysing. I hee-you zuh ticken hawks puke." No idea what that was about.

It is Well

...with our souls! THIS is the church:


Photos: Holly Carmichael

We met for Sunday Services in the auditorium of West High School. The building might be flooded, but the church is alive and well.

Why I Love MY Dad

1. He never calls me my name, but lovingly refers to me as "Bub."
2. He is passionate about helping young people turn out ok.
3. He will drop anything to help someone.
4. He still uses old-fashioned manners and calls people Mr. and Mrs.
5. He forgets to say good-bye when he hangs up the phone.
6. He likes to stay current on technology- we were the first ones we knew with a CD player!
7. He digs new music.
8. He's a kisser and a hugger and despite his tough exterior, he always tells us he loves us, maybe more than anyone else.
9. He is at his best outside, with animals and creation.
10. If you take his hat, he'll dunk you in the horse tank.
11. He ADORES his grandchildren- all four of them!
12. When I talk on the phone with him, he likes to tell me exactly what is happening on his TV show, as if I am watching RFTV (the sale barn channel).
13. He thinks I am really smart.
14. He is very generous with his time and his money.
15. He is extremely dedicated to his family.
16. He knows everything about softball and can talk about it for hours.
17. He is starting to look just like my grandpa and, from what I hear, his grandpa.
18. He loves his sister and brothers.
19. His favorite songs are "Cult of Personality" and "Open Letter to a Landlord" by Living Color (funk-metal band of the 80's) and anything by Stevie Nicks.
20. He can often be found filling up a giant refillable cup at the local Casey's.
21. He will stop for snacks anytime you want to on a roadtrip!
22. He drove me to my first interview in 6 years just so I made it there safely.
23. He likes things to fit in the refrigerator "just so."
24. If you take his razor, he'll find you.
25. If there is more than one blonde in a movie, you have to help him keep them straight.
26. He taught me proper form for any sport I was interested in (as long as that lasted).
27. He came to my concerts even though he didn't "get it."
28. He loves when I finish his sentences.
29. I got his giant shin muscle and his wit.
30. He tried to teach me how to drive- and that was no easy task! Thanks Dad!


Love ya Padre!

Happy Father's Day

To the Best Daddy in the Whole World

Thanks for being a diaper-changing-face-making

Leaf-pile-jumping

Kids-in-the-lap-book-reading

Snugli-wearing-guitar-playing

Halloween-costume-wearing

Nap-taking

Silly-songs-at-a-birthday-party-playing

Taking-good-care-of-us kind of dad.

We love you! We hit the Dad Lottery!

Eden and Elly