Tis the Season!

Well I realize it has been a few months since my last post!  Allot has been going on here at the Shea House, some good, some not so good things but for the most part wonderful things!  The kids and I have been spending allot of great quality time together that I cherish more than ever!  The 4 of us have had such great times together, it's just the best feeling and they keep me grounded! Thank god for UNCONDITIONAL love!!! :-)

So lets see, in mid October my good friends Dawn, Stacie and Marrie all came down for a weekend visit!  It was such a great weekend, one I will truly cherish forever!  Nothing like great friends to lift your spirits!  Next came Halloween and we had 2 ninja's and a fairy princess! :-) I took the kids to a Trunk or Treat at Max's School earlier and then Zach took the kids trick or treating the neighborhood later that evening!  That way they got to spend time with both mom and dad.  It worked out great and the kids had a ball! :-)  Then Jackson and Max both had birthday's in November and we celebrated by having their birthday party at the Brookville/Timberlake Fire Station!  They had such a great time!  There must have been about 20 kids all running around a firestation, jumping on and off of the trucks and turning on and off lights!  I was able to get a great picture of a bunch of the kids on the front of the Truck, with the fireman (my friend Jason).

We are now looking forward to the Holiday's!  My sister Sara and her husband Dave will be here next week for Thanksgiving!  I am so excited to have them both here for the weekend!  Then on the 17th of December the kids and I are flying up to MI to spend Christmas with my family!  I am so excited, and really in much need of it this year! :-) After that, the kids will spend a week down in Florida with their dad and Grandma at their annual beach house visit!  I know they will end the year on a great note! :-)  As for me, well bring on 2011!  Happy Holiday's!!! :-)

The smell of Fall is in the Air! :-)

Hey Everyone!  Well the leaves are starting to change, the weather has been absolutely beautiful and the kids have been doing great with their new school schedules!  All in all I would have to say life has been pretty good around here lately!  Jackson has been loving Kindergarten and all the new friends he has made so far this year!  He is such a social kid (hmmmmmm....wonder where he gets that??? :-) His teacher has sent lots of nice notes home with him, saying how good he is in class and what a kind and respectful kid he is!  As a parent, that's all you can really hope for! :-) Just this week it was Grandparents day at School and since Grandma Billie is in MI and Grandma O was out of town, Aunt Jet filled in as Jackson's Grandma for the day!  They got to have a special lunch together and Aunt Jet said she really enjoyed meeting some of Jackson's friends!  Thank you so much for filling in on such a special day at Jack's school Aunt Jet!

Well, Jackson wasn't the only one starting a new school this year!  Max started his class with Mrs. Cole and Mrs. Moon on Tuesday's and Thursday's at St. Andrew!  He is loving it!  Such a proud BIG boy and he's fully potty trained!!! YAY!!!! :-)  He is such a "bright" light and so full of love!  On Tuesday's Daddy is taking him and picking him up for some good one on one time.  Always good for the kids to have both parents involved.  This has also given me a chance to have some great one on one time with Lola!  She is growing up so fast and is just a doll baby!  Her hair is growing, she keeps getting taller and taller and talking more and more!  I can't believe she isn't a "baby" anymore!  :-)

I have also started my Anatomy and Physiology class, and let me tell you it's a tough one!  But to be totally honest, I am really enjoying being back in school and looking to my future!  I really hope to get in to the dental program in 2012!  :-)  I have a few more classes to take between now and then but I think I will be ready! :-)  I am also working really hard at my photography, hoping that will grow more and more now that I have the beautiful and talented Jocelyn Edin working on my new name a logo for the business!  I am really excited about sharing this with all of you in a few weeks, so stay tuned! :-)

In other news I would like to share is I have found a wonderful "church" that I have started attending and really enjoy it!  I say "church" because this is like no other church I have ever attended and for those who know me really well, you know I am not your average church person!  I have always had a "spiritual" side to me but have always questioned allot of religious things!  Well here, it's so different and when I walk in I feel a sense of spirituality!  That's what I have always wanted to feel and never really did until now!  Not to mention, the music is unbelievable and the kids LOVED going to the kids church!  I think it is a good fit for us at this time in our lives!  So I tell you this and ask that you continue to pray for the kids and I as we are still transitioning into our new lives, but know that we are moving forward and loving every minute of it! :-)

School is in session!!! :-)

So it has been a busy few days around here!  Jackson started Kindergarten on Monday and it was a success!  He was soooooo excited about going to the big school, that he woke up earlier than he needed and ready in plenty of time before the bus arrived!  We all saw him off to his first day of Kindergarten!  The bus arrived at 7:15 and our neighbors Connie, Billy, Zach, Max and I all waved good-bye to Jackson as he got on the bus!!!  He was so cute, waved Bye Mom, Bye Dad and then got on and said-Hey Mom! My friend from school is on the bus! Yay!!! :-)  He sat right next to his friend and off they went! :-)  His teacher is Mrs. Bourne and I love her!  I think he is in great hands and really is going to have a terrific year!

In other news, Max is doing very well being potty trained!  He has only had a few little accidents but for the most part is pretty potty trained, yippee!!!! :-)  Now mom only has one baby in diapers!!! :-) Max will start pre-school next week and goes on Tuesday and Thursday mornings!  He is really excited about staring school as well, but is a bit sad that he can not ride the bus yet! :-(  I keep telling him, his time will come! :-)

I have also recently started school.  It has been 10 long years, but I am taking Anatomy and Physiology on Tuesday and Thursday Evenings.  I am hoping to get into the Dental Hygienist program.  I have about 3 or so more classes to take before I can apply to the 2012 program! I was pretty impressed with how much I knew already and I am hoping I can keep it up!  It seems like it will be pretty tough and will definitely keep me studying!!!

Well, here are a few pictures for now!  I hope everyone has enjoyed their summer, I know I am really looking forward to Fall and the start of a brand new year!  2010 has really been one for the record books! :-)

Summer Fun!

Summer has been going by so fast....where has the time gone!  In just 3 weeks Jackson will be starting Kindergarten and it feels like he just graduated Pre-School!!! :-)

So, this summer has been filled with all kinds of excitement! I had a new playset put in the backyard for the kids, thanks to the help of Grandma Patty.  They love it and are outside from sun up til sun down this days.   The kids were in their glory a couple weeks ago when Kurt and his kids were all here for a visit.  The kids have all gotten so big and played great together!  It was a great visit and I myself, traveled to Savannah to visit Sara and Dave for the weekend.  It was great, and a well needed break!  I loved Savannah and really can't wait to go back, it was so beautiful but really hot this time of year.

This past week Katie and I took the kids to VA Beach for some fun in the sun!  The kids enjoyed the beach and hanging at the pool.  I can't believe I have lived here in VA for over 6 years and never been to VA beach!  We will definitely be heading back next summer!   Next weekend I am heading to MI for a few days to celebrate Wayne's 60th Birthday and catch up with some dear friends!  It sure seems like I have traveled allot this summer, but it has helped me to get some much needed breaks.

The last few months have been very busy emotionally as well.  Zach and my divorce will be final in September and I have to be honest, I am looking forward to the next chapter in my life.  I have registered for College this fall and I am excited and scared to death all at the same time!  It has been 10 long years since I have been in school, but I am up for the challenge!  I hope to get into the Dental Hygienist Program.  ;-)  That is my goal for now!  I have also been working on my photography and building a website.  It all takes so much time, and that is something that I really do not have allot of these days with 3 little ones!  But I do my best and try to work on things while kids are napping or when Katie is here to help!  Thank God for our Katie!!

Well, I think that is about it for now!  I'll be sure to post pictures of Jackson's first day along with Max's first day. He will be starting pre-school this year and he goes 2 days a week!  I can't believe how fast my babies are growing!  Here are a few pictures for now!  Thank you to all of you who have been so supportive of me and the kids through this crazy time in our lives!!  Love you all!

Onward and Upward! :-)

So it has been a trying couple of months to say the least but I have to say, I am feeling a bit more at piece about our family situation. Things may not always go as we have planned, as I am finding out the hard way but it doesn't necessarily mean it's always a bad thing. I believe that everything happens for reasons and there is something much greater out there for my children and I!

This past week, I traveled to MI with all three kids and my wonderful babysitter Katie! Katie has become part of our family, and I truly thank god for her coming into our lives! She is a true blessing! The 11 hour drive was great. The kids are born travelers and with each having their very own goody bags we were good to go! :-) We left early Saturday morning, about 4:30 a.m. and arrived at my moms about 3:30 in the afternoon! The kids were so excited to see Grandma Billie and Papa Wayne! Not to mention Gee Gee as well! I think between her and my mom, both were overwhelmed with joy to see all of us together! A little later my sister Sally and Audrey made it over along with Uncle Mike, Aunt Sara, Uncle Dave and Great Aunt Joyce and Uncle Ron. It was a great way to end a long day of travel! Plus this was the first time my mom had all of her grandchildren together for her to see! :-) From there we headed over to my Aunt Kim's for a couple days so the kids could play with her and see their cousins Wyeth and Mckenna! It really was a great week, filled with lots of family and friends! I was able to get out a couple nights to spend some much needed girl time with great friends and my sisters! I missed out on a few of you, but plan on returning in August to catch up with those I missed! :-)

We are now getting into the heat of Summer here in VA. The kids and I have been spending allot of time at the pool and Katie helps me out a couple days a week. I have also launched a Fan Page on Facebook for my photography under Heather Shea Photography and I have a new blog as well for my photography business. The address is http://heather-sheaphotography.blogspot.com/

I am really getting excited about doing more photo shoots for people! I love taking photos and capturing real, raw moments! I am also hard at work, getting my stuff together to go back to school in the fall. I need to get some general studies out of the way, but once that is done I am applying to the Dental Hygienist Program. I'm hoping to be able to apply by next spring, so wish me luck! :-)

Thank you to all my wonderful family and friends who have been so supportive of me and my kids through this very difficult time. I feel I have been given a second chance at a new me, and I am taking full advantage of it! I am truly lucky to have the beautiful children I do and for the marriage I once had. Now it's time for a new beginning, and I am so looking forward to the possibilities!

Here are a few photos of our vacation! Enjoy!

A little cake, allot of fun, a little host who turned one!

I can hardly believe that Lola is turning one this Wednesday! This year has been filled with lots of joy and lots of sorrow! What a difference a year can make, right?! This past weekend we celebrated Lola's 1st Birthday with family and friends! It was a beautiful day filled with swimming and laughing! :-) Lola is very independent and has a smile that melts your heart! She still isn't walking on her own but I don't think it will be too much longer now before she gets up and takes off! :-)

I'll post more soon on the family, but for now here are some photos from the party! Enjoy! :-)

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

This is probably one of the hardest posts I have had to write. When they say, "Life is a journey" they mean it! Life is full of beautiful moments and sad moments, and this has been a very sad time in our lives. For those of you who don't know what's going on with us, I am finally able to share with you that Zach has asked me for a divorce. I wish I had an explanation for this sudden move on his part, but I do not. He can't even explain it to me. He feels that he can no longer try to be the husband I need or want. He feels that in 20 years we will not have anything in common and it's best if we go our separate ways now. Now, this being said I am far from perfect. I admit my faults and it takes two people to make a marriage work. But the two people who made that commitment to one another have to be willing to do the work. I have asked to seek counseling together and this has been rejected over and over again. I myself am in counseling and I am working on myself so I can be the best mother to my three beautiful children, they are what matter most to me! I do not want this to reflect poorly on Zach. He is entitled to his feelings and his beliefs. I have loved him since the day I met him and I love him now. We share 3 beautiful kids together and for that I am forever grateful to him. Please continue to pray for our family, as we are faced with some very real and difficult times ahead.