Ok, so with a shock I realize that I have not written in here since October of last year. That is horrible on my part. Wow, how time flies when you’re having fun…. Well I thought I would start this new entry with a very short and severely edited list of events leading up until now to let you all in on what I have been up to.

November- Yes the glorious month that holds my Birthday. I turned 20. I went to Chicago with Nikki and Miranda. We walked, got Garrets, went to the art museum, and then ended the day at my favorite restaurant, The Italian Village. It was great! I had birthday fun with my families too, but I honestly cannot remember what all we did. I know I got an awesome cake with a Barbie on it… Let’s see, oh yeah Isabella turned 1 this month.

December- Well this month held Christmas. Need I say more? Favorite presents this year were an IPOD Nano, a John Wayne Calendar, and Pictures framed in red of Italy. I spent most of this month packing all my stuff out of my house. I decided that I wanted to start saving money so I figured I could rent my house for awhile and live with Jenny in her house. I got to say; moving from that house broke my heart. Who knew that you could love a place so much? My assistant manager, Brent is renting my house from me through the summer.

January- New Years Day!!!! This year was so awesome. Nikki and Miranda came to my family’s annual New Year Bash. It was so great to have them there. The next morning we all rocked out to High School Musical movies. So much fun! Umm, class started again this month. Yuck! Yes, I still hate school…

February- Ah, the month of birthdays. Dad and AnnaMarie hit it off first. Dad turned 48 and AnnaMarie turned 13. I was so proud of my little teenybopper. We went roller skating. Let me tell you, I completely forgot how hard it is to roller skate. Roller blades are definitely much easier. Lincoln (although I do not know his real birthday) celebrated turning 7 this month. I figured he could borrow our 16^th president’s birthday seeing they share the same name. Thomas turned the big 5-0 this month. A huge part was had at a bowling alley, twas fun. This is also the month of my favorite holiday, Valentine’s Day. I was still not completely done unpacking my stuff at jenny’s house, so I did not decorate this year, but I did for once get all my valentines mailed in time. Points for me!

March- The thing that sticks out the most for me in March is the founding of my new favorite church. Jenny had started to go to church in Polo with her boyfriend, but when they broke up she still wanted to go, but had no one to go with. So she brought me along. I love that church. It is so cute! The people are fantastic and have all the character that can only be found in small churches. There is the busybodys of the church (always in everyone else’s business), the loving older couples that bring joy to you because of their warmth, and, poetically, a song leader who I don’t think has ever found the right pitch yet. I just love it. To top it all off, the pastor is fantastic. I finally found a church that helps me grow. Jeremy (the pastor) does a great job of challenging his congregation to grow in the Lord. Plus I now have a regular Bible study and movie night through the church. It has been a huge blessing! I also had a close family friend die this month. His name was Mr. Washnikki (sp?). He was a great guy and loved horses. I still miss him.

April- Well my cousin Amy got married. Uncle Cory had a heart attack. That was no fun. I have a new cousin (Shelly and Jason gave birth to Aiden). He is so cute! Johnick turned 10 this month. We had a birthday party for him. The theme this year was Spiderman, lots of fun! Today is the last day of April so I guess this brings me to the present.

Right now I have a week until finals and I cannot wait till it is finally over. After finals I will have officially finished two years of college and have my associate’s degree. I think I am going to sell my house. It breaks my heart to do it, but I think I want to go to UIC. This would mean that I would be moving back to the burbs and it would just be easier to sell my house then try to rent it from far away. But who knows? So yeah I might be moving back and going to college in the city to finish my degree. I am going to take this summer off. I really need the brake. For awhile I was planning on going into missionary work. God has laid it on my heart to finish school first. That part sucks to me. But I know God’s way is always the best way. It makes me look forward to what else he has planned for my life. There is a camp that is around the Polo church called Rock River Christian Camp and Jeremy has asked me if I would be a counselor for the girls. I am so excited about that. It was a huge God- send. Here I had my heart on being a missionary somewhere far, and here was God telling me I could do it right here until He’s ready for me to do more. My father in heaven sure does take care of me!

Miranda and Nikki have been amazing this year. I have depended on them so much and they have been there through it all. Last weekend we all saw a movie that apparently stars me in it. LOL. It was really sad how many similarities (27 Dresses) well anyway they made me laugh and feel happy about staying here this summer. Angel is getting married this summer too. I am going to try to fly out for the wedding. I can’t wait. I am just so happy for her! Wow I have written a lot. I always have intentions of keeping up in this thing, but alas it never happens. So until next time, Thanks for reading and love you all!

Shannon <3

 OK so lets see...

Mom and Tom got married in April, that was fun. Nikki and Miranda came and we all looked great in our dresses. I officially have a step dad and three step brothers. With May came finals and the end to my first year at college. I did OK as far as grades go, but boy was that semester hell. Johnick started Little League and he is completely adorable in his uniform. At his first game I wore a shirt that said "JOhnicks Biggest Fan" and waved signs. I was quite imbarressing to him, lol. hmmm...ummm...June happened. I started summer school, yuck. A pretty uneventful month. The 30th I went to summerfest in Millwakee with Vannessa. We saw Lifehouse in concert there. That was awesome. Which brings me to July. The month of Birthdays. Adam's was first. Me and miranda went shopping together for it. We ended up buying him and outfit at hollister that the manican was wearing, lol. Jenny moved out last week, as did Kyle from my dads house. Currently I am very angry with Kyle for the way he did it and I havn't really talked to him since. I am just not sure what to say to him. His birthday was on the 10th. I didn't even call him because I did not want to yell at him on his birthday. Oh I skipped the f4th of July! Well My whole family (dad's side) went to washington DC for the week and I stayed back to watch the houses and the animals. On the 4th I went to the contaldo's and played baseball and watched fireworks. That was fun. hmmm...Last weekend I went to the Cary Grove Festival with miranda and my Mom's side of the family. That was really fun. Me and miranda went on the swings and the ferris wheel and got red lips from italian ice. fun fun.

Um, I guess that brings me to this weekend (nothing happened during the week but work and school). Friday I went to nikki and chris's softball game with miranda. They lost, but only by one point. Then Saturday I drove back to go to work. Me and Jenny went over to Kenny and Dawns house for dinner and stayed up till 1 in the morning talking. Theen sunday morning (miranda's Birthday) I drove back and me, miranda, nikki, and kathrine went to brookfield zoo. I love the giraffs, they are so the best. Then me and miranda went to Cory's house to visit with her family. We found this really cool ringtone that only kids and dogs can hear. Really it's true! We were asking all the waitresses their ages and if they could hear it (I bet they really hated us). umm, we watched a movie with cory (blade 3) and then went back and went to sleep.Today is actually nikki's birthday but she is at six flags with her family. I had to drive back for school so that is where I currently sit. Wow I think that's everything!

On future events.... Mom and tom are currently looking for a new house. Me and miranda and probably jenny are taking a road trip to new jersey to see a graduation of this guy miranda is seeing (from us coast guard). Mom's 50th birthday is next weekend, Jenny's is on the 31st (she's turning 25). and well I get a few weeks off of school before the fall semester starts and then I am back to the same ol, same ol. So that is the catch up entry, maybe my next one will be more about life in general. lol

Toodaloo everybody!