Chillin in Illin: 2011

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.

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