What this Blog is All About - Our Life

We have started a blog. Why? To share our lives with the many family and friends who don't live near us. Seems over the years everyone has scattered. (Or rather, we have scattered) Shane's Family in Idaho and Ginger's Family in Wisconsin. There are also the wide range of friends, all over the country, we have made through TurningLeaf seminars. We thought this would be a nice place to keep the world informed of our lives. (Those who dare, anyway!)

Past 8 Months... Saving it all UP!



Ok, to keep in alignment with my previous posts, it’s probably time for an update. J

I am trying to remember all the events that have gone on this year, so far. Most good but a few sad.. Please forgive me if I forget something important.
FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT!!!! Our dear friend ZAC and his buddies returned home from Iraq just in time for Christmas. We were so excited and happy, not only for him but for his wife Brylee and the entire Nixon family. We really missed him and it was a tear filled reunion as Shane and I waited with family and friends at the airport here in Cedar City. It has been so awesome to have him back home safe and sound!!!!
Shane’s family had another lose in early February with his Mom’s Sister passing of cancer. It really has been a hard few years for the family. I was thankful I was able to meet her several times over the last few years and she is missed by the entire family!!!
My Dad and Step Mom came for a visit in late February. It was so awesome! He was here for his birthday and we just loved every minute of it. Shane took time off for his visit. We went to the parade of homes in St George, snowmobiling and a trip out to The Best Friends Animal Sanctuary to find a Dog to rescue. It was so wonderful for both of them to be here as we found our dog Copper. I have to say it’s one of the best visits I have ever had with my Dad and Sue and I can’t wait for them to come back soon!


We went back a few days after their visit and picked up our newest family member, Copper. I was torn about getting a Dog. I was worried we would not have enough time to take care of him and that our schedules would leave him home alone too much. BUT, something else shifted this year for us… Shane’s work Schedule. If you read the last post I put up, you can be reminded how much I was struggling with it. Shane has since been shifted to a set schedule that runs Thursday morning to Monday afternoons. He has off on Tuesday’s and Wednesdays. No more shifting back and forth. He is home every night and I couldn’t be happier about it. The only drawback has been that Shane has to get up at 3am on the days he works but it is still better than before and he no longer has overnight runs. I tend to work from home on Tuesday’s which has been so nice! (I work for a pretty awesome company!). I also tend to work a lot on Saturdays so it makes up for any time off I take with Shane during the week. It’s been a blessing and we are not complaining.

In April we took a trip back to Wisconsin for my Niece Addie’s 1st birthday party and also to meet my Sister’s newest addition Jason Jr. along with my good friend Laura’s new baby boy Jude. We were so happy to get back to see as many as we could. There is never enough time on those trips and although I LOVE them, I always feel a little sad that I can’t get everyone in. I wish more than anything I could invent a teleport! J

Shane and I are plugging away at giving our back yard a much needed facelift.  Most follow us on Facebook and have seen my constant pictures. (Yes, I know between Copper and our Yard, I post a little too often.  BUT don’t judge too hard, our biggest Facebook fans are my parents who wish we lived closer.  I like to give them a taste of our everyday life.  So until my Dad starts texting and upgrades his phone to get pictures… Facebook will have to do! LOL)
Our friends Aaron and Jessi have come to stay with us a few times now this year.  The second visit came in June and Aaron so kindly helped Shane install a sprinkler system into our dirt pile.  By then, we already had our patio poured and our block wall was in the process of being put up.  Since then, we have brought in 4 loads of dirt and have maybe 2 more to go?  It will all depend on if we decide to get the garden area filled this year or next.  We are hoping to lay the Grass no later than September.  The yard projects we have decided to put on hold are the decorative concrete path leading to the fire pit and the fire pit area itself.  I am getting A LOT of ideas on Pinterest so it should be fun to see what we actually go with in the end. We purchased some patio furniture and have been enjoying it A LOT!  I love coming home and sitting on the back porch and enjoying our mountain view.

In May I made my first attempt at the Insanity program sold by Beachbody.  I made it 30 days and I am pretty proud of myself.  I have found since I started that program I have been more active and have really started to enjoy working out.  I plan to go back to the Insanity program and finish out the remaining 30 days this winter sometime. Like most things I jumped in head first without realizing how difficult the 2nd half of the program would be.  I have also purchased p90x which I have been excited to get back into as well.  Regardless of what program I am doing at any given time, it has been fun to stay active.  Most recently I have been training for a ½ marathon in November.  Some coworkers got me motivated and it has grown into a group of more than 20 people who have committed to either running or walking the Snow Canyon 5K or Half Marathon.  We are hoping in the process to raise a few dollars for the TurningLeaf Foundation.  If you are feeling so inclined to help us get a jump start on the fundraising, please follow the link and donate a few dollars for the cause.   I would get on my knees and beg but I am trying to keep them healthy for the run. LOL.  We won’t hit the fundraising hard for a few more months but would love to get a start on it now.  J  Here is the link, just click on this… share the love! 
I am planning to write a blog down the road about how TurningLeaf has changed my life and why I am such a big supporter of it, especially now that it has a Foundation side to help those who have financial issues.  I will keep that post for another time, since this is already getting long. J
June marked the one year anniversary of HTC Trucking which is a trucking company Shane’s parents have started after Shane’s grandfather past away.  It has been a dream of Shane’s to see his parents do this and we have been blessed to be a part of it.  It has meant A LOT of extra hours by both is parents and Shane but it will be worth every minute, as it will be setting up a great future for the family.  Currently they have 3 trucks and are looking to add a 4th truck this fall.  Eventually Shane is planning to shift over to HTC full time but it will be a few years down the road.  For now, it has been fulfilling to be working on it part time and to see it grow so much in just this 1st year. 
We just returned Tuesday from Shane’s family reunion in Yellowstone Park… which also happens to be held the same weekend as my family reunion every year. (I was so sad to have missed it) BUT, this year was extra special for Shane’s parents because it was their turn to plan all the food and the location of the reunion. We didn’t feel it was even an option to not go, since it only happens every 9 years.  There are 9 siblings in his Dad’s family and they all take turns putting on the “party” each year.  We spent a lot of time cooking but JUST as much time visiting and enjoying everyone.  I personally really enjoyed it, and especially the time we got to spend with Shane’s Sister and Brother in law.  We don’t get to see them nearly as often as we would like and it was so fun to laugh and share stories!  Aaron, Jessi and the Girls also came along and it seriously feels like they are a part of the family. We are so happy they came and enjoyed the time everyone had together! 
Shane and I took a few days after the reunion to drive through the park and head down to Jackson Hole.  We had lots of fun while we toured the town and stayed at the Ski Resort.  Who knew a ski resort could be so much fun in the “off” season!  We spent our last night relaxing at a beautiful lodge in Bear Lake, UT.  I loved every minute!!
The next adventure is a trip back to Wisconsin this next week.  I am running in the Dirty Girl Mud Run with my Sister-In-Law while also visiting family.  I have been pretty excited for this run because it will be the first official event of many (I hope).  Seems to me, these types of events keep things fun for staying in shape.  Staying active is a new life goal of mine… I haven’t been perfect at it, but progress for sure!
Well, like always this has gotten really long.  Wish I was better about keeping it updated but I guess, as Shane has said, we are too busy living life. LOL.  Love you all and hope all is well with all our family and friends!