Our Christmas....

We had a great Christmas this year. We were so lucky that Andy had three days off in a row to be with us.

We started out on Christmas Eve having a party (thanks to my friend Lauralee for being so organized) at the church with friends. We invited all of the people who don't have family here and we all brought food, we had quite the spread. Sarah brought sugar cookies, frosting, and sprinkles galore for the kids to decorate cookies and Holly organized the kids doing the Nativity. It was so fun, we just hung out, played games, and ate. After the party we came home opened our Christmas Eve jams and a movie and left cookies for Santa.





Thanks to my amazing husband, the kids had a wonderful Christmas morning. Andy wrapped every single gift (I have been a little out of order). We had a wonderful Christmas day. We opened gifts, played with toys, took mini naps, played more, eventually showered, went to a friends for a little gathering, put the kids to bed(rather, they put them sleves to bed) and then Andy and I stayed up late playing a little Monopoly the card game (thanks Devin and Andrea!)













All in all it was a great holiday. I love this time of year it brings so much joy to our lives. Thanks to everyone who helped make our Christmas so wonderful and for helping us feel so loved when we are so far away.

Oh, and we finally got some real snow!

And the mystery reader is....

Andy!!

Yesterday Andy got to be the mystery reader for Porter's kindergarten class, how exciting! Porter had no idea that he was going to be there although he had been asking if we were ever going to be the mystery reader, and we kept saying no.

How it works, Andy waited in the hallway while Mrs. Caputo gave the class a bunch of hints of who's parent it was, they guessed, and then Porter got to go into the hallway to check. He was so happy, but also doing his embarrassed face that I love so much. Porter got to sit up in a chair next to his dad, and then when it came time for the question answer session, Porter got to choose the kids that asked the questions, he held all the power.

Andy decided since he is a doctor to go with a doctor theme. He wore his doctor get-up, chose doctor books, and brought all of the kids a doctor hat. It was so cute to see the kids wearing their hats while Andy read Doctor Dan the Bandage Man.

Andy is such a great dad. I feel so lucky to be married to a man who loves his family so much.

Our Letter....

So this year I have recieved a number of Chirstmas letters via e-mail as an attachment and seen them on people's blogs. I think it is a little crazy, but I can understand. This year we did not send out our typical 50+ because we were trying to save a few bucks, so with that being said here is our letter and the picture that we sent with it.

OHIO COIL CHRISTMAS 2009
Bay Village is still our home and it is nice to still be here when we think about how the past four Christmas letters have come from four different states. This has been a tremendous year of growth since our last letter. Topping the list is Molly, our adopted Golden Retriever still in her toddler years. Little home projects have definitely turned our house into a home with pictures on the wall, a new sandbox in the backyard and our own personal toy warehouse in the basement.

Andy is halfway through his second year in his Emergency Medicine residency and loves to leave the house with his wife saying “I hope you get to stick something in someone or get blood on your Crocs.” He completed the most physically demanding test of his life with a time of 3 hours and 33 minutes in the Akron City marathon. The only thing evading him in Ohio is a 33 inch steelhead trout out of the Rocky River which is 15 minutes from his door.

Shay has a full plate by being the mother of three, volunteering to be Porter’s kindergarten head room parent, continuing to serve as a young women’s leader and being accepted to go back to college at Cleveland State for a degree in education. Shay has discovered her first green thumb, how tough it is to get a Young Women’s medallion by spending countless hours earning hers and how to deal with a tragic haircut from when you try to save a few bucks. She has also found a new favorite pastime by searching for her ancestry.

Porter is almost 6 years old and working on his sight words for Mrs. Caputo’s Kindergarten class that he has every afternoon and is very excited when he sees them in his Star Wars books from the library. One of his favorite new hobbies is the five year old version of Harlem Globetrotter dribbling that he is learning at his afterschool Bee Bouncer basketball class. He learned how to swim across the whole pool for his waterslide pass and ride a two wheel bike this past year, but he still has some work to do on his pulling out of the driveway before Dad will let him drive the car down the street.

Carlee is 4 years old and started preschool this year and had a hard time because most of the kids there don’t know how to “play like Porter.” Thank goodness that she has the ability to speak to anyone in any situation and has made a few good friends who live up to the standard that Porter has set. She loves anything pink or anything animal. Once again she spent a big chunk of her summer in a pink, full leg cast thanks to the trampoline (Big Sigh!) She was able to make it for the last session of swimming lessons at the Bay Village pool where she learned how to pick up the whistle from the pool bottom.

Tessa will be 17 months old by Christmas time and finally has beautiful golden curls covering her perfect deep blue eyed head. She has become the Coil mascot with her deep infectious laugh that regularly rolls throughout the house. She loves to shake her diaper bum to Boom Boom Pow by the Black Eyed Peas. She gives the sweetest hugs and open mouthed kisses ever. She is learning to become a veterinarian by checking Molly’s tonsils daily and her favorite pastimes are blow drying her hair and brushing her teeth with everyone else’s toothbrushes. She has truly become the love of our lives.
We wish you a merry Christmas and can’t wait for you to visit us in Ohio.
Follow us at www.andyshayplus3.blogspot.com



Here are more pics from that day....









Thanks again to Andrea for taking such great pics and making great memories.

It's a double....

My morning started out with one of these!!!!!!

I have never seen a double yolk in my whole 28 years of life. I think I have heard that is a sign of good luck, well that is what I am going to let myself think, I could use it right now, actually couldn't everyone in the world use some good luck. I know this sounds greedy, but if good luck could bring me anything, I would want it to bring me a winning lottery ticket. I know that the right thing to say would be that I hope it would bring me health and happiness, but seriously winning the lottery would be amazing!! Andy and I always talk about the things we would do with that kind of money whenever we see the 79 million dollar lottery sign, it makes for some good and interesting conversation.

I earned it.....

A few weeks ago I earned and received my Young Women's medallion. I worked so hard for so long, it is a little weird now that it is all said and done.

For those who are unfamiliar with the Young Women Personal Progress program, let me share a few things. The Personal Progress program is designed so that we can better learn and apply the teachings of Jesus Christ in our lives, prepare us to go to the temple, and to strengthen families. The program has 8 Young Women values that help us to know more fully who we are. It teaches us to make commitments and to carry them out.

In order for a leader to receive the medallion they have to serve in the Young Women program for one year, complete the three required value experiences in each of the 8 values, and complete 3 ten hour value projects. The three projects I completed were to create and grow a garden, start family history, and I also read the Book of Mormon. Doing these three projects really opened my eyes to things that I never thought that I could do.

I never thought I could grow a garden, but I did.
I always thought I had no family history, but I have so much, it is a little overwhelming and very exciting.
I never thought I had it in me to rad the Book of Mormon cover to cover, but I did.

Being in the Young Women has blessed my life in such a huge way. I serve with great women, work with amazing young girls, and share special moments and memories that I am grateful to be a part of.

I have a testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I have a testimony that I am a daughter of God and that I have come to this earth with great purpose. I have a testimony that families can be together forever if we are doing the things that we should be doing. I have a testimony of service, prayer, tithing, and reading scriptures. Doing these things have changed my life and helped make me the person who I am today.

Fresh Cut....

On Friday morning we went with some friends to cut down our Christmas tree. It has been a tradition of ours since we got married to cut down our own tree the day after Thanksgiving. It was so cold when we got there and I was not prepared for that, I am in winter denial. The place that we went to was so cool, equipped with a tractor ride out to the tree farm and free hot chocolate. After walking to the end of the field we found our tree. We are trying something new this year and got a softer fluffier tree which I am still debating if I like or not, the ornaments weigh the branches down. I am so happy that we went and got our tree, it really helps it feel like Christmas time and the kids are so excited!


Carlee and Ellie on the tractor ride.


our tree


Dave and Andy showing how strong they are


the finished product, we finally have our tree in front of the window (oh and another droopy star.)

The K Family....

This morning I had the fun opportunity of taking my friends family photos. I have written about this family before, they are awesome and I am so greateful that they are in our lives. To see even more of their family click here.

Kim really likes B&W, and I like color, so I had to add one of my favorite color ones.

The Leaf Sucker Truck....

Last year was our first fall in Ohio and as the leaves started to fall on the ground I started thinking that everyone in this state was nuts. The more the leaves would fall, the more piles of leaves we started to see on the curb (or as they call it here the "tree lawn"). Andy and I had many discussions about what the reasons could be. The one day we say it, the leaf sucker truck. A giant truck with a huge sucker hose comes around and sucks up every ones leaves. It is pretty amazing. I am so used to Utah, where you rake one time, put them in a garbage bag and you are done with it. Not here, here we have raked 4 times already and we still have more leaves to rake. I love the idea of the leaf sucker truck. It encourages people to keep their yards clean and they compost the leaves somehow and recycle them, brilliant if you ask me. So, needless to say, the kids and I are a little obsessed and stand at the front window when the truck comes to our house. It is very entertaining. On this particular day the truck had a malfunction and leaves were flying everywhere, it was snowing leaves, making us even more excited for the upcoming season.

The big messes are always quiet....

Yesterday Tessa was having one of her more clingy days since she only had about a 30 minute nap. We had a busy morning followed up with taking Porter to school, going back to the school to be in the library (I am the checkout person when Porter's class goes in), back home for a quick nap, and then back to the school to pick up Porter. I had to make dinner at some point so I finally just had to set her down and let her figure something out. While I was making dinner and on the phone with a friend, I realized how quiet Tessa was being and thought it was so great....until I turned around. See for yourself.

A few weeks ago I bought that huge box of hot chocolate from Costco, how can you go wrong with all of that for 5 dollars? Anyway, Tessa loves to open the pantry and see what she can get her hands on, she definetly hit the jackpot. I laughed so hard when I saw what she was doing then turned around to finish making dinner. I did not take the packet away, she was too happy and she was going to get a bath anyway.

Feeling Splendiferous....

Today at our local Borders they were having a special Fancy Nancy story hour with crafts, games, and raffle. You were required to wear your best holiday dress in honor of the new Fancy Nancy Christmas book that just came out. We have been a fan of Fancy Nancy for a few years thanks to Aunt D. Fancy Nancy is so cute, funny, and extra girly, right up our ally. We don't have the new Christmas book yet but were lucky enough to have it read to us at the story hour today, very exciting!!

3 in a tub....

Last night all 3 kiddos were in the bath at the same time making things a little crazy and out of control. When Porter started Kindergarten we told him he had to take a shower or a bath by himself because he was getting older, but last night he just wanted to get in on the action, so I let him. It is amazing how much laughter can come from just sitting in a bunch of warm water with your siblings. I remember taking baths with my cousins and loving it. These photos are so going to be in their wedding videos one day.

Put another log on the fire....

Today was such a beautiful day, 60+ degree weather. I drove Summer from one end of Cleveland to the other, looking at the monster houses, eating lunch on the beach, laughing at the guy with his zipper down, hitting the mall, going grocery shopping, eating sloppy joes, singing Reel Big Fish, talking about old boyfriends, smiling about the amazing men we ended up marrying, and the night is just getting started....









The title is for you Dad.

Summer's at my door, literally!!!!!!

Yesterday afternoon while I was folding laundry there was a knock at my door. I looked out the front window and saw my friend Kim's van and just thought "oh, that's cool she is stopping by." I went to open the front door but could not see through the outer glass door because we still have a giant paper Frankenstein hanging on it, although I did notice another pair of feet wearing the exact same shoes I have, but a lot nicer looking and newer. Again I thought "oh, she must have brought Meghan by to visit too." (Meghan is her 15 yr. old daughter who often babysits for us).

I opened the Frankenstein and there was my best friend from high school, Summer, standing there saying Trick-or-Treat!!! I freaked out, shut the door, and started crying. All the while Kim is standing on the porch laughing at me.
I just could not believe it. I have not seen Summer in the longest time. I would have bet a million dollars she was not coming. Summer has 3 kids, a hubby that is working full time and going to school to get a masters degree, I know money is tight. Oh and not to mention she is here without her kids!

Summer has been a great friend for the past 12 years, she has been with me through a lot. It means so much to me that she would come here to visit me, she also came to see us when we lived in Maine.

I feel so loved right now. Lately we have had a lot of visitors of people who love us and care for us. I just want everyone to know how much that means to me. I know how tight money can be (hello Andy does not get paid hourly for is 80+ hours a week he does), I know how hard it is to miss work, school, and put your life on hold to travel, it is not easy. So again, I just need you all to know that your love and kindness means the world to me. You have helped me to feel cared about, loved, and not alone, when I am so far away from all of my family. It is because of you that I have gotten through some of my toughest days.

So now I am off to wake up Summer, I only have her for 2 more days, I need every minutes possible.

We have a walker....

I love this girl she is so cute, funny, smart, sassy, and amazingly sweet.

Boo....(not boob Mike....)

We had a great Halloween, it started out very scary when I had a haircut and left the salon crying because they chopped off my hair, and believe me when I say I took a pre-natal vitamin this morning hoping that it will help my hair to grow faster.
After the tears stopped and Andy returned home from morning football, we got our act together to prepare for our Halloween party. I made chili and frog eye salad which went great with all of the other pot luck items that people brought. It was a very spooky night with food, trick-or-treating, and friends.


The party kiddos, everyone looks so cute!!


The cutest baby witch ever!!


Daddy and his lttle girl.


Carlee the witch and Quidditch Harry Potter (I love his costume, I made it, thank you Lauralee for your guidance.)

Halloween Eve....

We had a wonderful Halloween eve at Porter's school for a parade and party, 60 degree weather, dinner at Martin's Deli (a bay secret) and Bay High's last football game of the season, which made it all the perfect fall day.

Porter's school party was fun, a little stressful because I was in charge, but rewarding in the end. I love seeing him in his element with all of his friends. One thing I noticed about his class is that all of the kids get along so well, and they talk so kindly to one another.


Porter in the parade.


Spider races


The whole class, the little girl in the snow white costume wants to marry Porter.


At the football game, poor "other team" they had no fans there.

Whack Man....

This morning as we were getting ready for church Porter and Carlee were spending sometime at the table coloring. After I got them set up with more paper I was walking back to the bathroom to do my hair, which really needs a haircut, when I heard Porter say "yes this is it, it worked!!" I had no idea what he was talking about, and because I was trying to hurry I just let it go. Two minutes later I was approached with "Whack Man", a character created by my very own son. Porter is so funny and creative. I love that he made the whole costume by himself, he surprises me with his brilliance every day.