Hank's First Field Trip

Hank had his first field trip of his preschool career today at the Thanksgiving Point Farm. This picture is Hank with his buddy Sawyer on our tractor ride. He has the cutest kids in his class but I think Sawyer and Parker are his favorites.

At first he was a little hesitant about feeding the goats, but he came around and loved them licking his hands. The kids seemed pretty unaware of the poor goat who pulled off his horn and was bleeding profusely. I was traumatized, but it looked like they had a vet on the scene to take care of it.

Hank's favorite part was riding the ponies. He waited so patiently for all the other kids to ride. He finally got his turn in the last group, but it was worth it because he got to ride the black one. We had such a fun time together today. It was nice to have a little one on one time with Hank and get to know the kids in his class. Hopefully he always wants me to come on field trips with him (because I've volunteered to go on all of them this year!!).

Happy Birthday Max!!

My sweet little angel baby Max turned one yesterday and I can't believe it! It was quite traumatic how he came into the world but he has been nothing but pure joy for me since. Before I had children it always amazed me how I would hear women talk about their horrible labor and delivery stories not to mention the morning sickness and fluid retention that came with pregnancy, and still they continued to have more children. Now that I'm a proud mother of two I get it. The throwing up for five months, the fifty pound weight gain, the stretch marks, the labor, the delivery, the unplanned c-section, and the freak infection and hospitalization for an additional 5 days was more than worth it and I would do it again in a second (maybe not in a second but in a year or so). I mean just look at that face...it's more than I can bare. He went to the doctor today and he is 31 1/4 inches (75%), 23 lbs (50%), and his head size is off the charts. Apparently I have big headed children, although I don't feel like they have big heads. Maybe I'm just oblivious because they are my kids and I don't see any imperfections. Dr. Weipert is the best by the way. He always makes me feel like my kids are exceptional. We were talking and Max was walking around and picked something up and chucked it. I thought nothing of it since he throws everything he touches but Dr. Weipert found this extraordinary. He said, "Just so you know, one year old's don't throw over hand. You've got a little athlete on your hands." Randy was pumped about that. I'm just glad he's healthy and developing on schedule. He is starting to talk a little, saying words like dad and no. He also says "yessssss" when he throws something extra far! I love this little kid and I can't imagine our family without him.

I was so excited for Max to open his presents when he woke up, too bad he wasn't as excited. Hank sure had fun playing with all the baby toys. Max was entertained by the present that cost five dollars of course.

Thanks for the presents dad!!

I realize he's only one and he doesn't have a clue that it's his birthday but I couldn't resist going all out for his party. I had to make cookies, cupcakes, party favors, and make sure everyone
ingested insane amounts of sugar.

It's amazing many people came for his one year birthday party. Max is so lucky to have four grandparents and eight great grandparents. Hopefully he will learn as much from his grandparents as I learned from mine.


This is a gross picture of me but I had to have a picture with the birthday boy.

I got a little carried away with the pictures of the cake eating, but it was too cute for words.

I don't know why I thought he would blow out the candle!

I'm so proud of how hesitant he was to get messy!!

I love this picture!! He is truly my child, savoring each sugary bite.

Oh, the sugar coma started setting in about now!

He loved getting in the tub after the cake so he could put on his new monkey pajamas!

Max was over his birthday by the time we took this picture!

Thank you to everyone who came to his party and for all the presents. For those of you that couldn't make it, you were missed but hopefully these pictures make you feel like you were there.

They're Home!!!

Finally they are home after four long days!! I'd like to say Hank ran and jumped into my arms and told me how much he loved and missed me but that's not exactly how it happened. Instead, he wouldn't let go of Randy and didn't want to say a word to me. Not to mention he hadn't taken a bath since Wednesday!!! I'm pretty sure he's never gone longer than two days without a bath his entire life. All I could think about was getting him in the tub. After a small meltdown, he came around and resumed his sweet Hank-like ways. They had such a wonderful time in Blanding with Grandpa Griff. Hank was in heaven riding 4-wheelers six hours a day, getting dirty, eating chips for breakfast, and jumping on the trampoline until it was time for bed. Randy didn't get much sleep at all. Hank was so excited he kept waking up and asking if it was morning yet. At the first sign of light he woke Randy up and said "that took forever"!

Hank had some quality bonding time with Grandpa Griff

This next picture says it all...he literally rides until he passes out, or his neck gets to tired from wearing his huge helmet (courtesy of mom).

Max and I are so happy to have our family back. We really missed them.

It's Just You and Me Kid!

Randy and Hank are on a 4-wheeling adventure in Blanding with Grandpa Griff and left me and Max home. I thought it would be such a nice break, only one kid....the possibilities!! It took me about an hour and I was ready for Hank and Randy to come home. There's only so much quiet time a girl can take. Max goes to bed around 7 so that leaves me a long evening. I was really looking forward to some quality alone time but soon realized I really don't like alone time. After surfing the web for a good two hours, catching up on all my tivoed shows, a yoga session, and now a post on my blog, I think I'm about ready to go to bed...alone! It's a good thing Randy doesn't travel much. I don't know how my mom did it when we were little and my dad was traveling a lot. Max and I went to Target tonight to do some birthday shopping and it wasn't the same without Hank saying "I want a toy" five thousand times. Max keeps looking around for someone, anyone other than me. He really loves his brother so much. It's good to have time apart so you really appreciate how much you cherish your loved ones. My family means the world to me and I can't wait until the other half is back and our home resumes it's normal chaos.

Doom and Gloom

First, I apologize to my sister Sarah for this post. She always gives me crap for being the Debbie Downer of the family but I am feeling really worried tonight about the state of the world. I try to be an informed citizen by reading the paper every morning, watching the news and the View (that counts right), and I occasionally listen to CNN radio in the car. I really can't take it anymore. After the news that Lehman Brothers filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy today and the stock market is in total disarray, I'm feeling very uneasy. I knew the economy was in trouble and I am aware that several banks have been forced to close but I figured it would all work itself out. This is America right? The land of opportunity and prosperity. The comfort I once took in being an American is now slowly fading. Is it possible that this is all George Bush's fault? I suppose it's impossible that one administration could screw things up so badly in just eight short years. I'm pretty sure the next president won't have a magic wand to fix the economy, global warming, the health care crisis, and our various conflicts over seas. Especially if John McCain is elected and dies and then Sarah Palin is our president!! I don't think Obama is much better either. Is this really the best we have to offer as Americans?

Then the news turns to another issue totally out of our control, Hurricane Ike and it's devastation. I hate devastation! I hate hurricanes, tornado's, earthquakes, really any natural disaster. Of course it hit right near our oil reserves so up goes the gas prices again. Does it ever end? Maybe I need to just stick to my mindless reality t.v. and celebrity gossip and pretend like my kids are going to have a secure future. I'm feeling like taking all my money out of the bank and hiding it under my mattress along with a gun and my passport. At least Randy added Earthquake insurance to our policy so I don't have to worry about that. I apologize again for my scatterbrained post that jumps from economy to natural disasters. Don't even get me started on the pine beetles that are destroying our forests!!! My brain jumps from one issue to the next every five seconds can you tell? I need to do some yoga or something stat...maybe I'll just eat a package of chocolate chips. That always makes things better until I start thinking I'll get the "beetes" (aka diabetes) from my excessive sugar consumption! "It's the end of the world as we know it, it's the end of the world as we know it, it's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine". I really don't feel fine but thanks anyway REM.

He's Walking!!

I don't know what's more impressive...the fact that my little baby can walk or the fact that I figured out how to put video's on my blog. Max is already quite the performer. He even threw in blowing kisses at the end. He is so freaking cute I can hardly stand it!

One Day...

So while I haven't quite mastered this pose yet, I have been thinking about my yoga training and feeling like it's never going to happen. By the time my kids are older, we have enough money to pay for it, and I actually have time to do it I'm going to be freaking fifty years old! Why oh why didn't I do it before we started having kids? Oh well, can't dwell on that, I just need to be patient and the universe will bring it to me. I may be feeling this sense of urgency because everyone is starting back to school and I'm just sitting here letting my brain turn to mush from reality television and spongebob. I'm ready to expand my yoga knowledge. My brain needs it and my body needs it. Until then, I will perfect this pose to show everyone at the next family gathering!

Hank's First and Second Day of Preschool

This is Hank on his first and second day at Miss Molly's Bear Hollow Preschool. They had to wear their Bear Hollow shirt on the first day and of course that wasn't the amazing first day of school outfit I planned on him wearing. Hence the next picture of his second day in the correct outfit! I know I'm retarded but I've never had a kid in school before and I'm a bit excited. I'm also a bit nervous I'm going to do something wrong, forget an assignment, or what color of shirt he's suppose to wear, or pick him up on the wrong side of the street. Miss Molly runs a tight ship which I can appreciate but the brown noser in me is coming out in full force. I didn't realize my kissing up to teachers transcended into parenthood. Poor Hank, I'm really hope I'm not too hard on him but if he's not the smartest kid in his class so help me!!!

Broccoli

I don't think I've ever been more proud as a mother!!

Farewell to Rick and Amanda

We had a big farewell BBQ to send Rick and Amanda off to Portland with Rusty and Collette on Saturday. I may be biased but I'm pretty sure Randy and I host the best BBQ's ever! We love having everyone over and it's always a good time when the entire family gets together. Some highlights include our cartwheel/worm race, telephone, rapping in the kitchen, and of course the headstand contest between myself and my father-in-law. He really shocked me with his skills but in the end he was no match for the yoga master (that's me if you were wondering). Jenni has a sweet photo of it that I'm sure she will post on her blog. We made a valiant effort to get family pictures taken, however we all seem to be looking in a different direction in this shot.We all had cameras snapping at the same time so I'm hoping Jeri maybe got a better one. This one is a little better as far as all of us looking in the same general direction.

To Rick and Amanda... I already miss you both. You've played such a big role in my children's lives as well as mine. I wish nothing but the best for you and your new surroundings. I expect great things and I also expect you to remember your remaining family in Utah.

An extreme closeup of the two of us but still precious non the less.

My little bro Rick (as close to a little brother as I'll ever get) Don't Haiti!! I'm still pissed we didn't go to Boyz II Men before you left.