So fun having Farah home for a month!

Farah with her best friends, Brianna and Claire 

Of course a little shopping at the outlets with Falyn and Charlotte 

Brianna, Farah, and Claire BFF

Pugslee missed her too...

No man or woman really knows what perfect love is until they have been married for quarter of a century.

The silver 25th anniversary is a milestone wedding anniversary. And rightly so! Spending a quarter of a century in love with one person is to be celebrated.

The City

Palace of Fine Arts

The table

Gifts

Shelly & Scott

 

December 18th will mark our Silver 25th Wedding Anniversary. We celebrated early, and all week. We stayed at the Hyatt House, ate dinner in Montclair Village in Oakland, walked the Temple grounds, enjoyed the music and Christmas lights. Ate the best pizza in the Bay Area, Zachary's. Paella in Monterey, and of course we watched "The Hobbit". Boarded the Hornblower for our anniversary dinner and cruise of the Bay. We listened to a live band play a mix of Christmas music, ballads, and current pop. We danced to "The Way You Look Tonight". We stood at the ship's bow and sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge, we watched shooting stars shoot across the black sky. Cruised by Jack London Square, and The Palace of Fine Arts, all adorned in Christmas lights.We love having a  December anniversary, because we feel like everyone is celebrating with us. Happy 25!  

I Got a New Car for Christmas! Zoom Zoom...

Ford Edge

Note the excellent cup holders :)

Of course, it's a Ford. GMC, no way, Toyota, never! Mercedes in my dreams... I get a new car once every 300,000 miles... so don't be jealous! I gotta say, I love my new car! It has a sun roof, moon roof, bun warmers, excellent cup holders. What's not to like? When I was in kindergarten kids who wore a new pair of shoes were sung to. I always wanted new shoes so the class would sing to me. I think my friends should sing the new car song to me, "Shelly has a new car, new car, new car, Shelly has a new car, she's driving today" or something like that...

I love you Donny!!!

Every Friday night at 8:00, I was in front of the TV watching The Donny and Marie Show from 1976-1979. I never missed a show. My bedroom was covered in Donny Osmond posters. I had all his albums, and even Donny and Marie Barbie dolls. Not only is he an amazing singer, but he is so handsome. Great hair, big teeth, big brown eyes... ah, dreamy! We were supposed to get married, guess he didn't get my letter. I've loved Donny since I was eight years old... and now, now he is my parents' neighbor. Yes neighbor! He's in their stake. They have his address, e-mail, and phone number. They are living my childhood dream! I can't wait to visit Donny, I mean my parents. ;)  And, they called it Puppy love...

O Holy Night - Josh Groban

♥ •Bless your heart Charlotte•♥

IUCharlotte had open heart surgery on November 21, 2012 at Valley Children's Hospital. The surgery was expected to last 7 hours, but it actually took 6 hours 17 minutes. Her surgeon walked out and spoke to us before Charlotte was wheeled out of the surgery room. He said, it was difficult to close the large membranous VSD (hole in her heart), but he did. He also closed a hole in the upper chamber of her heart, a Atrial septal defect (ASD) is a form of congenital heart defect that enables blood flow between two compartments of the heart called the left and right atria. In addition, an unroofed coronary sinus which was closed, and her superior vena cava was rerouted and "tied off". Surgeon said, the surgery was a success, and everything went well. When Charlotte came out of surgery she was hooked up to 13 different machines. It was breathtaking, and humbling to see our sweetheart look so helpless.  Falyn, Farah, Scott, and I each got to give her a kiss and tell her we love her. We thanked the Surgeon for mending her heart. Charlotte spent three days in PICU, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, and two days in recovery. We stayed at the hospital with Charlotte day and night. Taking shifts. Falyn and Farah stayed all night to morning and Scott and I stayed morning until night. We were so blessed to bring her home five days after surgery. We recognize the hand of the Lord and his blessings. Charlotte listened to Christmas carols this morning and kicked her legs to the music while eating breakfast. She is already crawling and even standing again. She is AMAZING!

George the Giraffe Visits Charlotte day 4 Hospital Stay

Visiting Farah

Shopping with Farah Bear in San Luis Obispo

Out to lunch in SLO

Last Friday Scott had to work in San Luis Obispo- so I went with! Yes, I had ulterior motives... a day with my girl Farah! We had so much fun- peppermint hot chocolates at Star Bucks, shopping in downtown San Luis Obispo. Trying the latest lip color at Sephora, enjoying the beach weather and sunshine. We met Scott at the Firestone Grill for lunch. It was a great day- just never long enough... :)