On the top of every to do list I have had for the last 2 years has been.....start a blog, start a blog. It was one of my new year's resolutions for 2012. Myself not being a computer savvy person, I had no idea how to begin. Well here it is, my first blog post ever. I promise they will get prettier with time and the more I learn and just do it!
As this year comes to a close, I have isolated myself to complete this resolution the day before the year ends! But I couldn't think of a better first blog post than to be my year in a nut shell.
This year we have been through countless experiences that have made this year the BEST BY FAR of our lives.
I married the most incredible man for time and all eternity in the Las Vegas, NV Temple. WOW! That by far has made this year UNFORGETTABLE!
Willie is the most amazing person I have truly ever known. High School sweethearts, first loves, and with Heavenly Father's help, crossed paths again and fell in love... this time me with an addition, our Shayna.
I feel like the most blessed woman in the world to have been through the things I have been through and still be blessed with the greatest gift I could ever imagine, an eternal marriage and family with my best friend, my everything, my Hernan Guillermo Farias. Thanks to June 16, 2012 I am now Mrs. Shannon Leigh Farias. It still feels like a dream! Our wedding day has been surrounded by the most unbelievable experiences that make up our incredible year.
Here are a few of the major memories that have made this year
the best year of our lives!
January 14th:
Shayna Ann learned to walk
It was 6 weeks after her first birthday. I remember her first steps like it was yesterday. She actually took her first step going after a present on her 1st Birthday party Dec. 3, 2011 but after that no steps without holding on. An unbelievable sight that Willie and I will never forget. We were at his parents house and she walked from couch to couch, stumbling fast to get to the other couch so she did not fall. Completely remarkable how fast she had grown right in front of our eyes. She has always been such a long baby, I think the fact that she was so tall made it harder for her to walk! I hope all of our kids wait that long to walk. After she learned, there was no stopping her. She has been running, climbing, jumping anywhere and everywhere she so desires ever since.
February 11th:
I said YES to the DRESS
After one day and only 2 stores in St. George with my mom, I found my dress. It was another moment I will never forget, my mom and I both cried. I am absolutely obsessed with the queen empire neck and the back is to die for. My mom and I both knew it was the one. I never felt so beautiful until I wore it again all day on the actual day. I wore my temple dress to get married in though, so Willie saw this dress for the first time as I walked out of the women's dressing room in the temple to meet him to walk out the doors together!
March 8th:
My 24th Birthday
Willie made me this AWESOME bedroom nightstand. I walked into my room and found this piece of furniture fresh with wood smell sitting with a note that said something like "here is the first piece of many, building our lives together, I love you". It was by far the best birthday present ever and a total surprise. How he managed to build a piece of furniture without me knowing (since we spent every second together) was pretty mind-boggling, he was good. I love it! The matching one for his side has yet to be finished :)
April 7th:
Our engagement session with the amazing Sara Ursua
This was by far one of the FUNNEST days ever!!!!
May 4th:
My last tournament as the coach to my adorable 14s Club Vegas Girls
This job took up my nights twice a week and my Saturdays for tournaments a few times a month for the entire spring. I had a blast with this little team. I saw more growth in those girls then any other girls I had attempted to transform. Shayna had fun too, we could rarely bring her to tournaments because she was all over the place.
June 1st:
Shayna turned 18 months!
It is so crazy how much she has changed in just the 6 months from 1 year old to this picture. I seriously wish sometimes that time would stop for a few days! So in love with our adorable little girl. At 18 months she was obsessed with the song "No more monkeys jumping on the bed", loved to be outside, adored watching videos of herself, loved cottage cheese and is still crazy about learning new things.
June 14-15th:
My Bachelorette Party
My girls went off the chain for this one! I still haven't received all the pics from this eventful two days but it was a funnn time! We started the day the Mandalay Bay pool and all spent the night in a room there. Got nails done and pedis, spent the day at the pool! Was what I needed with my best friends before the big day! Thank you besties!!!
June 16th:
THE BEST DAY OF OUR LIVES
I am not going to say much about our amazing day because I plan on posting every part of the wedding in later posts!!! IT WAS THE MOST UNBELIEVABLE, PERFECT DAY!!!!!
June 16-23rd:
Our DREAM Honeymoon
This trip deserves an entire blog post in itself. I cannot describe the love I have for the Dominican Republic. Not only was it the most incredible experience to walk where Willie served for two years but that half of island itself is unbelievable. I love the Dominican people, the Dominican culture, the Dominican food, the Dominican children! A second trip in our lifetime is a must-do! By far the greatest start to our marriage I could have ever imagined. We feel so blessed that we were able to experience such a dream trip right from the beginning!
July 2nd:
Our Bridal Session
Another gorgeous session done by Sara Ursua Photography. Our first session with Shayna. BOY DO I LOVE all these pictures!
August 3rd:
THE BIG NEWS
The day I told Willie the news......I was so excited I peed on the stick and ran into him in tears! He knew by my face, we held each other and shared one of the happiest, unreal moments. We are going to have a BABY!!!! Yes, I took 3 tests :). I was that excited. We did not tell any family or friends until months later. We are totally those Mormon newlyweds that did not waste any time!!!
September 28th:
Shayna was sealed to us in the LV Temple
The second most important day of our lives next to our own sealing. We were sealed to our babygirl and her to our future children for time and all eternity. The greatest ordinance and belief in our religion is the sealing power giving us the knowledge that our earthly family is carried across the veil to reign together in heaven as one family. Nothing else in this life mattered more to Willie and I than being able to have this ordinance performed for our family. It has been the constant reassurance that no matter what happens in this life, we have our entire family together forever. The experience with Shayna in the temple was let me say....unforgettable!!!! If you are a temple recommend holder you would understand why. She was too young to understand what was going on, but old enough to know it was something different and special. It was so special for us. I cannot express the happiness I feel in knowing that she is with us forever. This knowledge has gotten us through some tough times this year and I am sure will be our constant backbone for the rest of our lives.
Aug-October:
Eldorado High School Head Volleyball Coach
I say to myself now, I must have been crazy for taking this position. I am probably the youngest head coach in Las Vegas High School Sports history. It was the most stressful, time consuming, hectic, nail biting experience but also was very rewarding. I walked into a broken program, 25 balls total and a group of girls who really were ready for something more. We put on a special breast cancer awareness game, a great senior night. We won our last conference match, in 5 games by 2 points! I will never forget that feeling. Like all my work was not for nothing! It took an entire season but they learned how to win. A special team I will always remember them, they were my first!
October 25th:
Willie's 26th Birthday and our baby #2 announcement to everyone
I posted on facebook...Look who is going to be a big sister? Happy Birthday Daddy, from your babies!!! We went to dinner with Willie's family, I got him some new kicks and we went to a FREE movie! A fun night (he spent all morning and most of night at work and school poor guy)!
November 28th:
It's a GIRL
We revealed the gender at Shayna's birthday party! Everyone thought we were having a boy! I cannot explain the emotion when we found out it was a girl. Willie swore it was a boy! The pregnancy had been so different for me than Shayna's. I was beginning to think it was a boy too, but we all had dreams of this beautiful little girl and I just knew. I cannot wait to meet her. I know she is going to be one special spirit. I am even more excited to see Shayna as a big sister! So many adventures await!
December 1st:
Shayna turned 2 years old!!!!
This day was absolutely perfect! When Shayna woke up we had the door covered in streamers for her to run through! She had no idea what to do! She went and got her stool and tried to climb over. We started the morning with a nice breakfast then she opened her gifts from mommy and daddy. I had everything mostly done the night before for her party so we just had to do some last minute setting up and it was BOUNCY BALL TIME! We had a ball themed party and got an awesome bounce house that was a total hit! SO many friends and family came! Our house was overwhelmed with gifts. I cannot believe she is 2 years old. It feels like yesterday I held her in my arms for the first time or nursed her for the first time. She has been the greatest blessing in mine and Willie's lives. We love her more than love can extend! She is full of so much love, spunk and personality. She loves to sing, she is such a performer. Some of her favorite songs and ours to hear her sing are "I am a Child of God" and "Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam". It is remarkable how she can already memorize songs! You are already mouthing word from word Toy Story and another one of your new favorites Frosty the Snowman. I am completely obsessed and so in love with you. I feel so blessed to be your mother. I cannot wait to see the growth and development the next year will bring you and our family!
December:
Our FIRST Christmas as a married couple and official family!
This Christmas was by far the most special! Willie and I have shared numerous Christmas' together as a couple, this one was insanely awesome! We got to decorate our first tree and check off our own Christmas Bucket List! It was also so special because Shayna is a year older and understanding more what is going on. She loved singing Christmas songs and was obsessed with the Baby Jesus of every Nativity.
We had a blast going to the Magical Forest, making a Gingerbread house, handing out goodies to friends, going to see Santa (Shayna loved until she sat on his lap), spending time with our loved ones, and most of all remembering the Birth of Christ. It was the perfect combination of both of our families Christmas traditions and we were able to make some of our own! An unforgettable one!
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That was our amazing year!
I cannot express how blessed I feel having experienced more in this year than some people ever get to in a lifetime.
I love my amazing husband and beautiful daughters so much!
I love my family, I love my in-laws. I am surrounded by so many wonderful people. This year has already met every expectation I could ever imagine!
I cannot wait to see what next year has in store for our family. I cannot wait to welcome our new addition and experience a newborn all over again.
I am extremely grateful for the gospel in our lives and for the temple. I have grown so much this year, spiritually, mentally, as a coach, as a teacher, as a mother, as a partner, as a friend and well...physically haha!
I truly am so grateful to Heavenly Father for blessing me with so much that sometimes I feel I do not deserve because it is all so great!
Goodbye 2012, thank you so much for being good to us! Hello 2013!
Our adventure is just beginning!
