Happy B-Day Jeena & Happy Memorial Day!

We had a fun Memorial Day Weekend. We spent the day with Seth's Mom, Jeena and his sister Angie Brimhall and family. It was pouring rain when we got in the car to drive where we were going to picnic and hike, but when we got there it was all dry, so it worked out great.

We had a nice picnic lunch, and then we watched a demonstration of a real canal lock on the Ohio Canal. We also watched an educational video about the canals in Ohio and the history of Ohio. Jeena and I enjoyed it, I think everyone else mostly took a nap.
Then we went on a fun hike to Brandywine Falls. Hadley held my hand most of the way, and I was a happy camper. We sang some songs, and enjoyed the beauty of nature together.


I think being out in nature helped me to remember my ancestors and feel a little closer to them, It was a great Memorial Day activity. Jeena told us about how Robert, Seth's late father, loved to hike, and how they would often go hiking as a family in the mountains of Colorado where Seth grew up.
We always have fun together.
After we hiked, I did some laundry (our dryer is broken...) Jeff went to help some people in their ward, and Angie, Seth and the kids got together a nice barbeque dinner for us. We ate it outside, and it was delicious! We were so glad to be able to celebrate Jeena's Birthday with her (It was really the day after Memorial Day, but we celebrated early because we all had a day off). We are so lucky to have her living just a couple miles away with the Brimhall's.


Jeena is a wonderful example to us. She has a happy, loving spirit, and wants to share everything she has with others. She loves to teach others, and she has taught me so much already. I am lucky to have such a kind mother-in-law. I can tell how my husband got to be so wonderful. He has a great mom.
Happy Birthday Jeena! We love you!

Happy B-Day Jeff!

Our brother-in-law, Jeff Brimhall, had a birthday in May. I made an apple pie for him, and tried to write "Happy B-Day" in the crust. Apples are kind of lumpy, so maybe I'll try berry next time.


Jeff is the one responsible for making me drink a cup of apple cider vinegar to get initiated into the Wagner family so I could marry Seth. It was awful! But he was the first one who had to do it, so I guess he's trying to carry on the tradition.
I have evidence. It was terrible.Jeff is a wonderful example to us. He is a very hard worker, and tries to help everyone he can.

Jeff is basically a genius, and probably the most employable person I've met.



He is a wonderful dad and really loves his family. We're glad we live so close to the Brimhall's.




Jeff just finished taking his last 8 hour CFA exam on Saturday! I don't know what that stands for but it has something to do with finances, and it is really difficult (50% pass rate). Jeff would wake up at 4am to study just about every day. I think he is surely going to pass. Great job Jeff!

Martha's OSU Meet - Jesse Owen's Classic

In May, My younger sister Martha competed in a huge intercollegiate track and field meet at Ohio State University called the Jesse Owen's Classic. There were college and professional competitors from all over the country.


It was so fun to see Martha compete. She threw the hammer throw and shot put. We don't look very related, especially because Martha can squat 350 lbs, and bench press 180 lbs! (I am lucky if I can get a watermelon into my cart at the grocery store...) But we are both Shepard's at heart, and I hope that I have some of Martha's attributes, if not her great strength and athleticism.

Martha has the best sportsmanship I have ever seen. She is kind and considerate of everyone, and thinks of others before herself. Martha is the peacemaker in our family, and so we all kind of like her the best because she is so nice.


We have a very supportive family and are lucky to have a lot of family still living in Columbus, OH, the place where we were born. A lot of our family was able to make it: Aunts Diane, Candi, Laura, Linda, Uncle Scott, our cousins Josh, and Jason, second cousins Suade and Cohen, and my parents and 3 youngest siblings drove all the way from Chicago to come to the meet. (We were so sad Seth couldn't get off work). Thanks to all that came out for Martha's meet, and those who wanted to, but couldn't make it. We love you!


(Aunts Diane and Laura)
Hammer throw.
Martha threw mostly shotput in high school, and she broke tons of school and district records, competed at State all four years, and was the State Champion in shotput her senior year!


We Shepard's like to play the card game, Euker. Martha and Jacob both got initiated into the family by learning to play. Candi was coaching Martha, and they named themselves "Cantha;" then my Mom was their partner, so they became "Tecantha" apparently a Jaguar would be their mascot.


(Martha, Candi and my mom, Terri: Tecantha!)

My Aunt Diane and I played their team, so we became "Diamily," and our mascot was some type of bird. It was a hilarious game to say the least.

(Diane, Laura, Martha, Candi (Sorry I missed you in the pic, Aunt Linda!) Martha has just finished her freshmen year at Illinois State University.

(My two brothers, Trey and Jacob) How did they get so tall!?
(Me, Mom, Martha, and Ashley (We missed you Claire and Hannah!)
(Dad and me)
(Aunt Diane, Josh, and Uncle Scott)

I got videos of Martha throwing shotput and hammer-throw. When Martha had to throw the shotput, it was pouring rain, and so windy! It really was miserable, and as you can see, Martha had to throw in a puddle. She still did great though! We're proud of you Martha!

Hyrum Day and Hadley Day

We have 10 wonderful nieces and nephews, and we sure love each of them. They are all great kids, and a joy in our lives. We are even lucky enough to live a couple miles from 2 of them. Hadley and Hyrum Brimhall. We have so much fun spending time with them.

(I tried to take the pic when she was smiling, but I missed it)

For Hyrum's 5th Birthday last November, we had a Hyrum Day! We had the kids over for the entire day, and Hyrum decided what we got to do. For Hadley's 10th Birthday this May, we had a Hadley Day! Hadley decided our activities. These two special days were mostly comprised of playing at the park, cooking, eating, going to the library, doing crafts, eating, the kids feeding Scout (our cat) the the amount of treats of their birthday age (Scout didn't object), watching movies, playing games, Seth serenading us and all of us rolling on the floor with laughter, cooking and more eating! We even made pizza from scratch. The kids helped me put the toppings on after I made the crust. The pizza was so good! Hyrum even said "This pizza is so delicious, and it is so delicious because WE helped!" So true, Hyrum.














We love the words "Uncle Seth and Aunt Emily." Thanks Hyrum and Hadley for bringing us so much happiness. We love you!