One Year and Counting......

July 3rd, 2011. Last post? January blah blah, 2011. Moved to Illinois? June 6th, 2010. Yep, over a year ago. Wow. Hard to believe. Have we really been gone from the Pacific Northwest that long? Well, let's reflect:

1. I have officially seen Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring in the Midwest (Fall is my FAVORITE!)

2. I have experienced Sadie's 10th birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, Spring Break and Isaac's 7th birthday without my closest family and friends (well, except we got to see some at Thanksgiving and X-mas!).

3. Courtney has now quit gymnastics (yes, I repeat, Courtney has now quit gymnastics). For those of you who know Courtney, you know what a surprise this is. Booger, we love and support you no matter what you do in life!

4. Sadie just passed the 2 year mark from her big cancer diagnosis.

5. I have started, and quit, another job.

6. Mark now has his Masters degree in Education

7. We've been back to Idaho once. Back to anywhere else? Not once.

8. We were in Virginia with Genesis for the 4th of July last year watching fireworks from a Cracker Barrel parking lot in Williamsburg. My country tis of thee.....

9. Liam Takashige was conceived, born and has now been alive for 3 months. And I have yet to meet him....

10. I've seen less movies in a theatre in the past year than I have during the first 3 months of 2010 in Idaho. Not quite the movie-going posse out here. Sniff. Barf.

So.....ya.....seems like it's been a year. Sometimes I smile and continue to love this adventure and journey. Sometimes I cry and wanna go back home. But either way, God's hanging with us and we're hangin with Him so all is well with our souls. We hope the same for all of you.

Isaac: Now 7 years old. Had a field day for his 7th birthday. Finished spring soccer and is now on to coach-pitch baseball. Wears a "cup" if you know what I mean (wink, wink). Looks like quite a man adjusting himself out there on the field. Makes a momma proud. Can often be found saying (when I tell him to stop playing with his cup), "Mom, I'm just digesting it!". Uh, son, do you mean "ADJUSTING" it? Yep, sure enough. Have to remind him that it is not cool to say, from the outfield, when an opponent swings yet another strike, "Foul Ball! Strike.....800." This creature still loves to read and can bust out about 70 pages in a half hour. Freakishly fast. Looking forward to homeschooling next year. Loves to play kickball in our new neighborhood.

Sadie: Working on next levels skills for gymnastics. Happy to have her old coach, Deb, back coaching her in her gym. Has insanely long hair considering she had none 18 months ago. Doesn't like to reflect on cancer (We let it go. Why pressure the kid?). Entering a phase in life where she is identifying the challenge in making the right decisions all on her own and not because mommy or daddy say do this or don't do that. A beautiful stage to watch her go through, albeit frustrating and scary too. At an age where holding really cool conversations with her about God is super fun. For instance, "Sadie if you could write God a letter right now asking him just one question, what would that question be?". "Oh that's easy, mom. I'd ask him why He made terrorists." Oh boy, THAT was nothing short of a 1 hour conversation on the choices that human beings make regardless of God or not. A big shout-out to the Uncle Andy for help on that one! Sadie also looking forward to homeschooling this year. I'm looking forward to locking her in a dungeon when she sasses. Which.....nowadays.....can be often.

Mark: Finished his one year teacher residency in June and graduated with his Masters Degree in Education at the end of June. No photos to show for it cause we left the camera in the car but I SWEAR he did. I almost read through Three Cups of Tea entirely during the blessed event to prove it. Can't find employment for the summer cause no one will hire a teacher for 8 weeks before they go back to school. Supposedly has a job confirmed at an elementary school in Chicago for next year. Thank you God! If we can get through the summer with out killing each other we'll be good to go. Thankfully, when new job gets going visits back West will come far more often! Whoot whoot!

Mariah: Worked as an ESL Children's Program Coordinator for World Relief from Sept-May for the school year. Moved to Plainfield (about 3o minutes from our old apartment) and too far away from the job so resigned. Will be homeschooling children for the long haul and, therefore, can be found next year locked in a closet with a bottle of wine. Every day. Don't be surprised if I don't answer the phone. I'll be crying. Every day.

Bopsit and Cassie (the cats): Still alive. Dang it.

Love to all and enjoy the pics! We miss you!!!!!



Level 7 Illinois State Bar Champion! Whoot whoot!

No one ever gets to see Vault



Sadie's best buddy in Illinois, Airiana. Not to be mistaken for replacing her other BFF's all over the country! You are irreplaceable!


Easter 2011


Ike sliding into home during his 1st coach-pitch baseball game.

Made it to 2nd!
Getting ready for the 3-legged race at Isaac's 7th Birthday Field Day party

The infamous "egg on a spoon" race

And then there's the "spin around the bat 3 times" dizzy relay


Cake time with Friends


Isaac and Quinny (thanks for coming to visit us Kohlers! We love you!!!!)

Sadie and Pip (Gianni)

A farewell to the Williams mid-west adventure. Best buddies.

Wassup in Chi-town

Oh ya.....about that blogging thing. You know....the thing I said I'd do once per month now that we have moved to the boonies? Well....uh.....life happened. Sorry. I have now posted my QUARTERLY report on the Shafer family. Lots of stuff goin on here in the great state of Illinois including gymnastics meets, basketball for Isaac, frozen hair (-22 degrees!), visitors, Christmas in Canada, a week in Idaho, Christmas in the city and, yes, more lost teeth.

A quick history of the past few months: We spent Thanksgiving with the Kohlers who were in town from Wyoming. Had a great time. We spent Christmas in Ottowa, Ontario, CA with my sister, Kristin, nephew, Riley, brother Zac and extended family up there. It was fantastic! The 14 hour drive was a piece of cake, Ottawa was beautiful this time of year and I haven't been 80's dancing in....well.....a long time so it was WELL overdue. You haven't heard Paradise City until you've heard it WHILE watching me mosh-pit-head-bang to it in the middle of a club.....

Sadie has 3 gymnastics meets under her belt and is having a ball. The second meet in Michigan was met with....well....true Shafer style. After getting Sadie to the meet "late" when we thought we were early (these Illinoisans have NO idea how to run a gymnastics meet) :0) Sadie proceeded to leave her grips (what she needs to be able to compete on bars) back at Mike and Melyssa's house an hour away. Yep.....those of you who know us just laugh at this scenario. I, however, felt like quitting the sport altogether and I"m not even the one who is doing it! Nonetheless, Sadie was THRILLED to have her first 1st place medal in Illinois for floor at that meet and proceeded to take 1st on bars, 2nd on beam and 2nd all around at her meet his last weekend here in Illinois. Just in case you didn't get my annoying text that already told you that. Sadie is enjoying school but rather looking forward to homeschooling for the long haul after this year. This whole school thing really steals our freedom! :0)

Isaac has started basketball once a week for the next month and LOVES it. He will then move on to a month of galaxy soccer (pre-team) before beginning spring soccer with the local park district here in March. In addition to this Isaac has officially lost his 2 front teeth. Heartless are we who, immediately after getting them each pulled, while blood is dripping from his mouth, begin to say, "Hey Isaac! Say sausage....say sissy.....say Sally sells seashells by the seashore" just to get a kick out of the lisp.

We spent a week in Idaho this month visiting old friends (ahem....family) and had a blast! It was very hard to say goodbye but we are so grateful that Sadie got this wonderful surprise from God and Santa at Christmas time. To all who hosted us for one night, two nights, five hours and the like we are so thankful! To those who joined me for dinner and a girls night out.....THANK YOU! It was so wonderful to see every last one of you. We can't wait to come back in June for longer.

Now, enjoy some pictures of our life over the past few months and I'll post again.....well.......

Sadie's 1st Chorus Concert--Dec. 2010

1st day of sledding! Isaac and Kyle

Christmas in Chicago---Absolutely Amazing!

Free Ice Skating in Millenium Park!

Isaac and his best buddy in Illinois--Kyle

Sadie and Coach Dan

New Pajama Night in Ottowa--Christmas Eve

Pirate cupcakes for Jesus cause....uh....Jesus was a pirate?



BFF's Reunited--Sadie & Courtney


Gymastics routine #47,243--You are ALL sighing relief that you did NOT have to
watch this one



TOO much fun with the Akers......



Idaho Gymnastics Buddies


Isaac and Drewby


Can anyone say LADIES MAN?
Airiana, Isaac and Kiana

Isaac and Aly




Isaac, Logan and Macie


"Hey, Isaac, can you say super sleuth?"



1st place on bars....sniff, sniff

School and Birthdays and Friends, Oh My!!!

Well it seems as though September just flew on by so, lucky you all, you get a combined September/October posting from Illinois! You don't have to hear me ramble on two months in a row. But I bet I can guarantee that I'll ramble two months worth of words atcha. I've been known to be a bit of a talker.

School is in full swing and now that Isaac reports on more than just what he ate for lunch, my heart is at ease. Both of the kids are loving school and we are really happy with it as parents as well. Isaac is now reading at a 14th grade level and will be going off to college as of next year. Wish him luck! He is in full swing with fall soccer and plays on a 1st grade boys team through the parks and rec department here in Naperville. He has made friends easily (shocker) and still has cheeks that any one of you could bbq for dinner. My favorite Isaac quote for the month came just two days ago when Cora and Anna were trying to describe summer church camp for next year. After 45 minutes of getting Ike pumped up to attend camp he said, quite honestly, "Ya! Mom, can I go by myself pleeeeaaasssee? Um. Wait a minute. Guys.....I don't know if I can read my bible for an hour though." You gotta love this kid.

Sadie is doing well in school and still enjoying gymnastics. She has chosen to be in the school chorus so once a week she goes to school an hour early for practice and will have 3 concerts throughout the year. She was also chosen to be an "ambassador" at her school so every Friday she gets to go to a 3rd grade classroom and help another student with school. She loves both of these new opportunities. Miraculously, the child WILL get to compete as a level 7 gymnast this year because and ONLY because of the support of all of you who sponsored her Tumble a Thon. Sadie was able to raise the entire $1300 she needed this year in order to be able to compete. Thank you so much from the bottom of her heart!!!!!

"Look Mom! I finally got my giants!"

A school field trip to Danada Farms Forest Preserve

Sadie's teacher, Ms. Swift, is in the green shirt

Sadie w/a good buddy from school, Niya

Sadie also turned 10 this month. Didn't know THAT could bring such stress. All she wanted was a scavenger hunt. That's it. Simple. Fun. No problem. Until I realized that meant I had to somewhat perform. I couldn't be the mom who had the dud of a scavenger hunt. But what the $%#^ IS a scavenger hunt? Are you supposed to be looking for something? Is there a prize at the end for everyone that we couldn't possibly afford? Will my clues be too easy? Will my clues be too hard? All of a sudden it was no longer about my daughter turning 10 it was about her mother going down into the Guinness Book of World Records for, notably, the coolest party ever. Nonetheless (and, no, it wasn't the coolest party ever but I think they had fun), I stayed up until 1 a.m. the night before writing clues because I don't succeed at ANYTHING without procrastinating. Eight girls crammed our house for a slumber party, we had fondue for dessert and all was quiet on the midwestern front.

September and October were also busy months for seeing friends and family! Mariah's mom came for a week in September and although she couldn't possibly imagine making banana bread with chocolate chips in it like her crazy daughter does, we had a GREAT time seeing her! The kids were happy to have her walk them to school and show her off. Just last week we were able to spend some wonderful time with our wonderful friends Kelly and Amy. In town on business, and celebrating an anniversary, we actually found that Kelly and Amy showed Mark and I more of Chicago then we showed them! We had long talks and long walks coupled with a couple of trips to some really fun places. We visited the John Hancock building's 96th floor lounge (with an AMAZING view of the city, especially from the ladie's bathroom), the Red Head Piano Bar where we spent hours singing around a piano, one of Rick Bayless' Mexican restaurants called the Frontera Grill which, by the way, had the best Mexican food I have ever put into my mouth and, more than anything, just had some very valuable time with people very dear to our hearts. We thank God for that refreshment. Last but certainly not least, our best friends came to visit us again from Michigan. We visited the Aquarium and Planetarium in Chicago for the first time and mostly just enjoyed watching Gianni embrace his future career as a stunt man. I swear God made that kid out of rubber.

Frontera Grill

Red-Headed Amy in front of the Red-Head Piano Bar

Man, they are growing up fast!!!!!!

Mark is recovering from two weeks off of work b/c he is on a year round schedule. It was nice to be able to spend time together and have him get involved in the kids' daily schedules with school and such. He continues to love his job and where he is teaching although he would welcome the chance to teach closer to home at any time in the future.

I obtained a part time job near the end of September as a Children's Program Coordinator for World Reliefe, a refugee resettlement agency. I only work 10-12 hours per week and it is absolutely perfect with the children's schedule and my desire to be an "at home mom". It has helped financially and to God we are grateful for that. Should I attend graduate school at UIC next Fall, World Relief could also be an internship site for me and I have LOVED the thought of that since I was doing undergrad studies in Idaho six years ago!

Whew! I think that about covers it. With so much to say there is little time left over for humor. But hopefully you feel caught up on our life and, rest assured, we'd love to get caught up on all of yours. We hope fall is bringing you peace as the "mellow" time of year rolls around.

First Day of School!

Yep....it's official.....my kids have gone off to school. And by that I mean, I have sent them to the pack of wolves in serious hopes that they return alive some day and somewhat intact. Both were excited to start school until Sadie was asked by Jeremiah (cutest lil' brown boy you ever did see) on her second day if she wanted to be his girlfriend. She responded to the tune of, "No! I'm only 9!" When he proceeded to ask her if she was "ever gonna have kids" she further explained that she doesn't EVER want a boyfriend, at least not until she's 15 or so. When he then stated she was only his half friend she shrugged her shoulders and said, "okay, that's weird but whatever." Thankfully Jeremiah came to his senses the next morning and re-advised her that she was, in fact, his full friend which also made her say, "okay, whatever, I guess we're friends then." Um.......hmmmm......what do I even say to that? At least my kid can hold her own? Don't have to worry about planned parenthood yet? Well, thank goodness b/c I don't know that they would see my fourth grader to begin with. Sheesh.

Isaac, on the other hand, reports daily that he forgot to ask anyone if they wanted to play with him, can't remember the name of who he sat by at the lunch table and doesn't remember what he learned or if he has any homework. Mothers of boys.....is this NORMAL???? He's like a vault baby. I can't get anything out of this kid except that he liked the chocolate milk he drank in the lunchroom. Can he hold his own? I don't know! Does he want a girlfriend? I don't know! Is he planning on having kids? I don't know! And there is NO planned parenthood for boys!!!!

Homeschooling is looking better and better by the minute......where's my Lexapro?

He lost that second bottom tooth just yesterday

At least they knew SOMEONE! They had met Michelle a week before school and she and Sadie are in the same class. Isaac loves playing with Michelle's younger sister, Makayla.

Anyone know where my Lexapro is? I wasn't joking when I asked earlier. Suddenly I can't breathe. My children are about to enter a school with 725 other little varmants that I am convinced are planning on eating them alive.

Or maybe their just planning on marrying them early and having babies by the time their 20. Well, phew.....NOTHING TO PANICK ABOUT THEN!!!!!