We've discussed at length how we want to handle our journaling/blogging/instagramming. There's a hard balance that has to happen when posting on social media. Keeping our kids safe, not just showing the happiest side of things, not just showing the negative things, not being worried about posting about the good/cheesy/wonderful things for fear of sounding fake or making other feel bad. I know it sounds like a lot, but it's something that we think about a lot. This month as we were talking about it, we decided to start a separate instagram account called the Peaden Journal that is just for us. We're not 100 percent sure how it's going to really work, but the idea is that when we want to post things but don't particularly want everyone to see it, or we want to post multiple pictures of the same thing, or we want to write more personal captions, or any number of other scenarios, we can post on The Peaden Journal. When we want to post something that will be visible to all of the people that follow us, we can post on our personal accounts. So far we really like it, although it's already make this Insta-November post a little more difficult (double pictures, having to pull pictures from 3 accounts, etc...). Most of all, we just want to capture our lives in a way that shows how much we love our family, love our Savior, love each other, and love our life together. Hopefully between this blog, and our three instagram accounts, we can capture that.
{11.9.16}
peadenjournal
This is us: David, Shantel, Lydia, and Austin (plus Baby
#3 coming in March!). We decided to start this private Instagram as a way to journal and record our thoughts and feelings, as well as posting all of the pictures that we want without feeling like we have to worry about other people seeing and reading. These are our thoughts and our pictures... for our family. Bring on the insta-overload!
#peadenfamilyjournal
Insta-November
{11.3.16}
To Lydia: You say "You got it" instead of okay or yes. The inflection changes depending if you are happy or sad and I love it so so much. You also say "I love you thirty much" like it's there biggest amount in the whole world and it melts my heart. You traded in the bulk of your candy for a Zuma toy (which was a parenting win by us) but you still insisted on sharing most of your remaining ten pieces with your brother or friends. Your giving heart is such an example to me and I admire your constant generosity and concern for others. To Austin: You ask me to "Lay with" you, which consists of me laying on the ground by your crib and holding your hand through the slats. You want to do everything your sister does and you pretty much succeed (you're losing your caution, which worries me!) You love candy and can sense the crinkling of a candy wrapper a mile away. But you're so cute when you ask for "more treat" it's hard to resist. My kids: You play together so well and love each other the most. I love you both and wish I could freeze time right now at this perfect little place we are at. #notperfectalwaysbutstillsoakingitin
{11.4.16}
{11.6.16}
insta-david
Voted. Shantel and I spent the evening discussing each candidate and issue, including having a lively debate on our position for President. In the end we feel good about our decisions and are grateful to live in such an amazing country and have the opportunity to vote.
{11.8.16}
{11.9.16}
peadenjournal (shantel)
David had to leave for work before any of the rest of us had woken up this morning. When we came downstairs I found a hearty made of Cheerios and a note tucked into the handle of the cupboard. I'm so grateful for the thoughtfulness and love that David shows to us. On a day when the world seems to be falling apart, (The 2016 elections were a nightmare and we're not waking up from it.) I'm grateful to know that in this home we can still teach and love and shape the world.
{11.11.16}
We've started doing reward field trips in combination with the at-home preschool Lydia is in. She has been working to earn a trip to the"Candy Factory" and today was the day! It was neat to see how the candy was made and the kids loved tasting the samples. After a rough bedtime last night I'm feeling like today is a huge payoff. 👊🍭🍬🙌🎉
{11.17.16}
Snow! The first snow of the season is so special when seen through the eyes of these little ones. (But still SO cold!)
{11.20.16}
peadenjournal (shantel)
I can't say enough how much I love attending Stake Conference in the Alpine Tabernacle. I love the architecture and the sense of worshipping with so many other saints who have gone before. (We sang The Spirit of God, and the Stake President mentioned the connection to bring in such a neat pioneer building and encouraged us to sing it loud and "really belt it out". It was incredibly powerful.) Elder Scott Runia and his wife was the presiding Seventy and he was amazing. There were wonderful messages of faith, encouragement, and God's love. I feel uplifted and determined to better show my love to God. As wonderful as it was... we still barely made it through the whole two hours with Lydia and Austin. let's just say there were a whole lot of Cheerios and a hefty amount of Halloween Candy consumed (and spilled).
#keystonehabits#hisday #thesabbathisadelight
{11.20.16}
David went to Stake Conference early to help usher cars in the parking lot. We met him there and throughout the whole conference I kept thinking about how lucky we were to have him. The last half hour was rough, kid-wise, but together we made it through (although David is the only one who managed to keep his shoes/socks on through the whole thing). There is no one I would rather parent/Stake Conference/do life with than him. Obviously life isn't perfect all the time, and misunderstandings happen... But he is so quick to forgive and so determined to love that the minor bumps we hit are easily forgotten. (Not stored in the trunk, dragging us down.) I love you David. You're my world and you make me want to be a better person.
#stakeconferencesurvivors#ijustreallylovehim
{11.24.16}
Happy Thanksgiving, from our grateful family to yours. 🍗🍰 and lots of ❤️❤️❤️.
peadenjournal(david)
Happy Thanksgiving! So grateful for Shantel, Lydia, Austin and baby on the way. These are the people who fill my life with joy. I'm grateful that I'll be able to tackle life's challenges with them.
{11.25.16}
peadenjournal(david)
One of my favorite traditions is black Friday shopping. This year we went with Wendy and Sam and also Kevin and Amy. We went out around 11 pm and shopped until after 1 am. Everyone found something to buy. It was so much fun. We love laughing and spending time with this group. Shantel and I bought a video camera baby monitor, a tool set bench and car track for Austin. The next day we got a couple of paw patrol pups for Lydia and roller skates.
{11.27.16}
