Making our lists......

Mark and I have been married 10 years.  For 10 years I have told myself I was going to mail out a Christmas card/letter.  Some years I have gotten really close, like I even bought cards and typed up a letter.   This year....I thought about it a couple times, and then I would chuckle and think "yea, right Katie". Ha!  (at least I have come to terms with this) 

So....here is our version of the "Christmas card." :)

When thinking back over the last year, it has been a whirlwind. We started the year finding our footing in a new town, in a small rental house and ended it feeling much more settled in our new home.

 Mark often gives me a hard time about my "lists."  He will watch me write something down that I have already done, just so I can check it off.  However, we have all had to rely on lists this year, to keep us organized and on track with the 'to-dos'.

Our sweet Daisy dog is slowing down. At  the top of her "to-do" list was sleep!  She has also been a good listener to Owen and Nora as they have loved reading stories to her.  We love our time with Daisy and are trying to enjoy all the moments with her.

On the top of Emmett's 'to-do' list this year was learning all about "Thomas the Train" and trying to do everything that big brother and sister can do.   He knows all the names of the "choo choo's" and LOVES to talk about them. Much to his siblings dismay he also loves to watch the show as much as Mommy will let him. It has been so fun to watch him grow and be able to communicate with all of us.  He definitely has a lot to say and is not afraid to let Owen and Nora know what he thinks about things!

Nora's 'to-do' list is filled with all sorts of art projects.  She is so creative and it is fun to see her little mind work.   A few months back we were in the car driving home from Omaha, I handed her an empty box that I found in the back of the car while I was packing it.  By the time we pulled into the drive-way an hour later she had 3 or 4 ideas of what she could turn the box into.  She decided on a guitar and I was surprised at how well it turned out!  I never would have thought to create that.   Although her art is wonderful, we are working on a balance between creativity and cleanliness, as her artwork and supplies have taken over much of our basement!

If Owen had his way, his 'to-do' list would ONLY include bug searching, Pokémon, playing ball, and watching "How to Train Your Dragon", however, I have added to his list this year since we are homeschooling.  We are having a great year, and he is always happy when he is able to cross off  'Math, Reading, and Language Arts' from his list so he can get to more exciting things! He has taken a liking to tennis, and after taking a short break the last 6 weeks, he is eager to start back up after the first of the year.

Mark has settled into his job as a Rehab Director/PT at Corning Hospital.  He enjoys that every day is a little bit different, but has also come to understand that he needs to carry around a little notebook to keep track of all of the 'to-do's'  that go along with his many responsibilities.  When he isn't at work, his 'to-do'  list at home is also quite long.   We moved into our new home last April and  realized there were many things to knock out right away.  After getting the inside of our house in good shape,  he moved outside. His major project this past summer/fall was building retaining walls in the front and back of the house.  I am thankful for his ability to do this and all the hard work he put in!  Up next is working to finish the basement and then next spring we hope to add a deck out back. 

My 'to-do' list is usually filled with really exciting things, like laundry, dishes, cleaning, grocery shopping, and meal planning. (ha!)  Although our days

can be a lot of the same, they are never boring and I am so very grateful to be home with the kids and checking off these 'to-do's".

One thing I have crossed off my 'to-do' list this year is my teaching job with VIPKID. (Teaching English online to Chinese students)  As much as I loved the kids and teaching these classes, it just was no longer a good fit for us with Mark's work schedule and our desire to spend time together on the weekends.  One thing I have added to my 'to-do' list this year is many new sewing projects!  I have really enjoyed branching out and making new things.  I joked with Mark that sewing is really like therapy for me!  I grab a cup of hot tea, lock myself in the basement, turn on some worship music and work away.  It is so peaceful. :) 

We are so thankful for all the people who were by our sides during this big transition the last 18 months.  We are also extremely grateful for all the wonderful people God has blessed us with in our move to Stanton.  We pray you all have a blessed year in 2019! 

Love,

Mark, Katie, Owen, Nora, Emmett, and Daisy.

Look who is TWO!!

     About the time I found out I was pregnant with Emmett,  Mark and I were settling into our roles as parent's.   We still were learning more each day from our kids than we were probably teaching them, but we felt like we had a handle on the major "do's"  and "don't" of parenthood. We had routines, our kids were sleeping in their own beds, all night long. Healthy meals were being served. Our weekends were spent going to parks, or attending local events around town.  It had become easier to go places with Nora out of the "baby stage."

Then Emmett came along as our surprise blessing.......and all that we thought we knew went flying out the window.

His arrival was a crazy story in itself!   Then he gave us a run for our money as a newborn.  After weeks and weeks of screaming, crying, not sleeping and feeling all around miserable we learned he had MSPI.  (not especially fun with a 2 and 4 year old home full time) It took us quite awhile to get his tummy issues under control, and about that time we found out that he needed a helmet for his head that was fairly flat on one side in particular.   I joked with Mark that he was sure giving us a lot of "firsts" for being our third child.

The past two years with Emmett have certainly been a wild ride.   He has caused more than one 'near heart attack' for this Mama with his adventurous spirit.  I have loved watching him grow into such a sweet little boy.  He loves hugging on his big brother (and sister too).  He is very curious about "Sissy's" long hair and has been known to pull it a time or two.  Emmett's favorite things to do right now, are lining up cars or trucks in a row, or building with Duplos. He is a big fan of trains and will even have a view of the trains that go by our town from his new bedroom!

God knew just what He was doing when He blessed us with Emmett.  He is the best addition to our family and we love him so much!

Happy Birthday to our wild, funny, and happy little guy!

And just like that....she is 4!

Nora was by far my easiest delivery and definitely the easiest baby.  She was sleeping through the night at 8 weeks old and really only cried when she was tired, hungry, or needed her pants changed.  She was particular about how she took her bottle though. It had to be a certain temperature, and the room couldn't be too bright, or too noisy. (Challenging with big brother Owen running around).  Some things don't change.  She is still a great sleeper, and still VERY particular about what she eats and how she eats it.  It's a bit hard to keep up with at times.  A few of her preferences: No melted cheese, except on pizza.  Cereal WITH a spoon, but absolutely NO milk.  No hamburger in any form (even if I try to sneak it in a casserole), but she will eat chicken all day long.  She definitely keeps me on my toes. 

Nora is the sunshine in our family.  She is always happy, and assumes the best of everyone.  She is grateful, even for the littlest things.  The other day I gave her a lip gloss that I didn't want anymore....she responded in typical Nora fashion with, "Oh Mom!  Just what I ALWAYS WANTED!!  Thank you so much!!" 

    In January we started doing a homeschool DVD art curriculum once a week on Friday's.  Each day she asks if its "art project day".  She loves the lessons, and has really surprised me with how well she can do them independently.  However, this has shown me a whole new side of her.  We have always known she is a bit stubborn at times, or "determined" as I like to call it. This has come out in full force during these lesson.  We watch the teacher "Mrs. V."  explain the lesson and then head out to the kitchen to get started.  For the most part, I just help her get her supplies out and then work on dishes or laundry near by as she does her thing.  There have been several times that she has needed help, but she refuses to ask for it.  I can see her little brain trying to figure out how to do it on her own with a look of determination on her face.  When I offer, she flat out refuses, saying "I CAN do it myself."

 Nora loves all things sparkly and fancy.  She likes to create her own outfits (much to my dismay. ) Her favorite clothes are ones that sparkle or anything Lularoe. She lives in boots, her favorites being her pink cowboy boots.  Even in the summer you will see her walking around with shorts and cowboy boots.

  She does NOT like to be sick, and does not get sick often, but when she is she gets down right angry about it.  When this last round of stomach stuff hit our house we had just gotten done learning about germs.  In between trips to the bathroom with a bowl she would cry and say "Those naughty germs!  I am so mad at them.  Why did they do this to me?!" 

The last four years with Nora have flown by and have been so full of life, laughter and fun! I am beyond thankful God chose me to be her Mama.   I love you so much little ladybug!!

Happy birthday to our Nora Bear!

Our baby is SIX!!

I remember the moment I found out I was pregnant with Owen.  It was the night before Father's day in 2011.  I had big plans to wait until the next morning to surprise Mark with his very first father's day card and a onesie I had picked up awhile back in hopes of this very moment. Of course I could not wait and woke him up in the middle of the night shoving a card and box in his face. 

After struggling with endometriosis and having 2 surgeries, I didn't know what the future held for us and the family that we wanted so badly. I literally did not stop smiling for days. 

I knew from the very beginning I was carrying a little boy.  I was so excited to think about what he would be like and who he would look like.  When the ultrasound confirmed my prediction it hit me....I was going to be a boy Mom.  Yikes!  Growing up it was very much a girl house with my mom, sister, and me. And as excited as I was, the thought of a wild little man scared me a bit too.

Owen has brought so much joy, love, and NOISE to our family.  He has the kindest heart and feels things deeply.  When he is mad, he is MAD, but when he is happy, his excitement for life is infectious. When Owen puts his mind to something, he does not back down.   

I am so proud of the little boy he is growing into.  Just today, as I was recovering from the stomach bug that he and Nora were kind enough to share with me (ha) I said, "Oh no, who is going to take care of Mommy now that I am sick?"   He looked at me with his big blue eyes and said, "Don't worry Mommy, I will always take care of you."   And let me tell you, he did.  He read stories to Emmett.  Got breakfast for himself and the other two.  Let Daisy out to go to the bathroom, got her breakfast, brought me water, on and on. 

I just tucked him in for the last time as a 5 year old.  It seems like these years are flying by faster and faster.  I am so grateful for this little boy who gave me the best job I will every have.  Happy birthday Owen Otis Shearer.  We love you bunches and bunches, forever and always!

Designer Vs. Durable: What we want in our new house

      I will never forget one of the very first Shearer family gatherings we hosted at our first home on Clay Street.  I think it must have been for a birthday party.  Mark and I hadn't hosted much, and I am not even sure if we had any kids yet.   Towards the end of the day someone came upstairs and said that one of our dining room chairs had broken.  We went downstairs to find one of our chairs in PIECES!  At the time, neither one of us found it funny.  I can laugh about it now.  We also discovered a giant bottle of bubbles had been spilled on the carpet.  

     Now many years later and 3 kids in with this parenting business, we have come to realize that STUFF HAPPENS.   Chairs get broken, bubbles spill, toys get flushed down the toilet, and walls get colored on.  It doesn't mean you have bad kids or you aren't a good parent.  You can't be EVERY where at every minute and like I have written before, Emmett more than any of our other kids has taught us that. 

With all of this being said, Mark and I spent quite a bit of time talking about what we want in the house that we are building.  We have lived in many different homes, all different floor plans, ages, and styles.  We have come to realize what is important to us in the home that we are building.  Here is what we have come up with: 


1.  Safety (No worries here, we have a great builder that we trust)
2. Functional:  It was important for us to have a home that works for us now, with little kids, but will also be a good fit as our kids grow and our family changes.  We also wanted to make sure we have room for guests :)  
3. Durable:  Yes, as durable as you can make it!  Lol.  Our kids are hard on things, especially the boys.  They bang things, slam things, and run things into walls.  The hang on things, pull things, and spill things.   (We love them to pieces, but goodness! Are all boys like this?!)   For this reason we are not going to be putting in the fanciest of....... anything.  We have tried to get good quality for the things that are not easily replaceable, but everything else will have to wait until the kids get older. 

Mark's Wish List
1.  A big garage. - ✔
2.  A movie theater room. -✔

Katie's Wish List
1. A pantry- ✔
2. A sewing/craft/preschool space- ✔
3. MORE THAN ONE BATHROOM!! - ✔
4. An open kitchen dining area with an island.- ✔

At the end of the day, we realize that what the house looks like really isn't all that important to us.  We want our kids to feel comfortable and safe.  We want them to feel at home and we want to make amazing memories in this house.  We will try our best to take care of our home, but things are going to get broken, spilled, and worn.  That doesn't matter.  What matters is that we are going to have a space to share with others, and we are so excited for that!