the weekend hike

It was a Saturday morning, the temperature was a lovely 70 degrees, the kids were excited, dressed, and hydrated--a perfect morning for a hike at the White Tanks.

Umm...I was not there. In fact, I had Ethan with me and we were out running errands and getting Dan's school books (and starting to catch a really mean cold) and honestly, I don't even remember what all we were doing, but one thing is for sure, we were not hiking. Cuz that's just not how I roll. It ain't my thang.

Nope, Dan took Sean and Cameron all in the sake of cub scouts to complete a few requirements with several other scouts, siblings, and parents from the ward. From what I heard, there were no major injuries, hardly any squabling, and not one child was left behind. Somehow, I have lost the pictures that Danny took with my camera (that never happens, I'm honestly perplexed) but fortunately Sean also took his camera, so I've got a couple of decent pictures.

The boys had a great time and Dan was glad to have something fun to do with the boys. In fact, he called it "Daddy and the boys' Day of Fun." ;) Someone's a bit jealous that he missed out last week.

amie's life in a parallel universe

I recently babysat a couple daughters of a friend of mine, Lindsay, who's newborn baby is in the cardiothoracic ICU due to a heart valve anomoly. We're praying for her and hope all ends up well and that little Taylor will not need open heart surgery.

But back here at the home front, these two little girls combined with the two little girls I already babysit, provided for a much different sight around here than I am used to!

Here's a little snippet of Life with the Girls.

a baby story - tag!

Normally, when I read these long tags, I just skim over the details--after all, it takes a good few minutes to read them. Plus, when they make their way around the internet, everyone you know is tagging everyone else you know, and once you've read one, you've read them all.

However, I never get tired of baby/birthing stories. They're all so different. I cry each time I watch "A Baby Story" on Lifetime. Is that show still on? I had free cable for about 3 months several years ago so it's been a while.

Anyway, that being said, unless you're a family member, feel free to skip the following information about my former incubations. =)

1. Where were you when you first found out you were pregnant?
1st: At home in my bathroom.
2nd: At home in my bathroom.
3rd: At home in my bathroom.


2. Who was with you?
1st: I was with Danny.
2nd: I was with Danny.
3rd: I was with Danny.

3. What was your first reaction?
1st: Excited and scared
2nd: Excited
3rd: Excited

4.What was your husband's reaction?
1st: Excited and scared
2nd: Excited but worried about finances
3rd: Ditto (none of our babies really made sense financially to come when they did, but when is it EVER a good time financially to have a kid?)

5. Who was the first person you told?
1st: I told my friend Stacy, my maid-of-honor first
2nd: I think my boss guessed first
3rd: Danny told our friend Carol and I told our friend Carla

6. Were the pregnancies planned?
1st: yep
2nd: yep
3rd: yep

7. Was everyone happy for you?
1st: yep
2nd: yep
3rd: yep--unless otherwise they just kept it to themselves

8. What was the sex?
1st: Boy
2nd: Boy
3rd: Boy

9. What was the nursery theme/colors?
1st: Blue jean denim teddy bears
2nd: Blue and green Winnie the Pooh
3rd: Did we have a theme? leftover Winnie the Pooh stuff

10. Did anyone throw a shower for you?
1st: 2 at work, 1 from MIL and Mom, and 1 from our brand new ward
2nd: nope
3rd: a mini one at work (I still loved it)


11. Did you get any outfits you wouldn't use?
1st: Sure, we regifted those
2nd: I didn't get a lot for him, I'm sure we used them all
3rd: Didn't need any, but I used what we received gratefully

12. How much weight did you gain?
1st: 40 lbs
2nd: 37 lbs
3rd: 17 lbs

13. Did you get stretch marks?
1st: oh yeah
2nd: heck yeah
3rd: could it get any more stretchy or marky by the 3rd time?

14. Did you crave anything crazy?
1st: potato salad
2nd: green onions and apple crisp (not together)
3rd: brownies, brownies, brownies {all the things I craved with all 3 boys I still LOVE LOVE LOVE}

15. Who or what got on your nerves the most?
1st: honestly I don't remember
2nd: probably my 1st born
3rd: probably my 1st and 2nd born! (oh, and anyone who gave me any advice EVER)

16. Where were you when you went into labor?
1st: Mine are boring, I was induced with Sean, but was in mild labor by the time I got to my appt. Complications, heart rate dropped, demerol knocked me out, ended up doing emergency c-section
2nd: Planned c-section. LOVE IT!
3rd: Ditto!

17. Did you have any complications?
1st: just during labor, ended in c-section
2nd: nope
3rd: nope

18. Did your water break?
1st: water broke just a bit on it's own the morning of my induction, then the nurses broke the rest for me--the most painful experience out of all three labor and deliveries!
2nd: nope
3rd: nope

19. Who drove you to the hospital?
1st: Dan
2nd: Dan
3rd: Dan

20. Did you go early or late?
1st: 4 days late
2nd: 2.5 weeks early
3rd: 2.5 weeks early

21. Who was in the room?
all three: just Dan

22. Did you video tape it?
Nope, hospital wouldn't allow it, but I would have loved it

23. Did you have any pain medication?
1st: demerol (which I highly regret, because I can't remember any of Sean's delivery) and epidural
2nd: epidural or spinal, I forget which is which
3rd: ditto

24. Did you have a c-section or natural?
c-section! Love it!

25. What was your reaction to the birth?
Oh, everything you'd expect! Happy, thrilled, scared, relieved, excited, weepy, everything!

26. How big was the baby?
1st: 9 lbs 7 oz
2nd: 8 lbs 10 oz
3rd: 8 lbs

27. What was the baby's full name?
1st: Sean Daniel H
2nd: Cameron McKay H
3rd: Ethan Michael H

28. Did your husband cry?
Yep

29. When is the next one coming?
Unless Heavenly Father has another plan for us, not in this lifetime, buddy

30. If you could, would you do it all over again?
Do these past three? Absolutely! Do any more? No.

when the scrappy bug bites...forget the baking soda

...and scrap!

Feels good, too. =)





I made the following mini-album for Danny's step-mom from when she took care of our kids during our anniversary date last year. =)


I saw this on Lorie's blog and had to try it! I'm so happy I keep all my scraps--I made this totally out of old pink, red, and brown patterned paper scraps. The one from Pottery Barn is made out of material, but paper works just fine. I sewed the hearts almost closed, then I added cotton balls, then finished sewing. There is definitely a learning curve here--if I had to do it again, I'd use all cardstock or double sided patterned paper, and I'd make the hearts bigger. Stuffing and sewing those little hearts is tough.






I did these at a crop Saturday night.

a worm named ethan

gettin' by with a little help from my cameron

He is such an original kid--he really cracks me up. A funny story about Cam.

Saturday morning, we went yard sale-ing.  So Mommy doesn't have a nervous break down in strangers' driveways, we only allow one child at a time the chance to shop when we stop house to house.  We started with Cameron's turn.

The boys had each taken a dollar (thanks Grandma!) and had their money protected in their clenches.  I was off looking at purses (much to my husband's dismay..."You HAVE three already!" he'll yell at me!  "It's a quarter!" I'll yell back!  Plus, I like having different colored ones, different styles, etc.  And if I'm only paying a $1 for them, then who cares how many I have?  They make me happy and I can have a different one each month!)  Well, I saw Cam over by the clothing but didn't think much of it.  I was giving the evil eye to a woman who took a red leather purse right out from under my nose and didn't notice what he was doing.

I started to make my purchase (a backpack purse for $1, thankyouverymuch) and noticed that Cam had gone back to the van.  When I got back, I noticed he'd bought some shirts.  Adult sized shirts.  One, bright orange with a picture of  a witch on it and the words that read "I'm feeling witchy today." !! And the other, a nice, albeit way too big for him, Ghostbusters t-shirt.  He was pleased as pop.

Anyway, since we decided the orange 'witchy' one seemed a little fruity, we decided it would be his paint smock from now on.

Later in the day, as Danny was finishing up his shed that he has been building from scratch for the last year, he gained a little helper in Cameron who loves to help Dan do anything.  He's such a Daddy's boy.  Dan was just getting ready to apply paint over the screws and nail holes.

"Let me get my smock!" Cameron called, and ran into the house to get his brand new, very odd, quite large orange t-shirt.  He grabbed his safety goggles (for painting?) and got to work.

Can you see me in the reflection?  I'm not wearing any pants.

Just kidding.

There was a neighbor child over.

here baby, there momma, everywhere daddy daddy...

HAIR!

I've been saying since sometime last year (early Dec) that these boys o' mine seriously needed some hair cuttin' going on. I've always done it myself; never once taken them to a salon, and sometimes that works out well and sometimes it doesn't. But, like Danny's grandma says: "What's the difference between a good hair cut and a bad haircut? About 2 weeks." So I never stress it.

They're wiggly and they complain a lot, and we did these on Saturday which was really really warm on the back patio where the sheering was done, so, they are what they are.

They always look so much older after haircuts. And I'm always reminded about how large my younger sons heads are and how thankful I am that I didn't have to give birth to them.

Do you cut your kids' hair or have it professionally done?

toni, christine, and christine!!

 

It was a joint birthday party for my three best gal pals.  We dined last Saturday evening at the Buca de Beppo--fine italian eating in the Arrowhead area.  It was my first time there (actually, for most of us this was the case) so I wasn't prepared for the awesome ambience of this restaurant.  It is two stories, first of all, and as the hostess brings you in, she takes you through the kitchen and introduces you to staff and chefs and shows you where certain things are made.  Nice start.

Next, I was not prepared for the style of ordering--family style, that is.  You order a small serving (for 2-4 people) or a large serving (for 4-6 people) assuming that you'll share with others at your table.  Very cool.

Lastly, I was not prepared for all the nudity.  ;)  All over the walls, that is.  Some decco grecian style artwork, reminiscent of The David and such, but others, just flagrant nekkedness being flaunted here and there whilst we dined.  Even the bathroom was full of it.  Slightly inappropriate too.  We'd be in the middle of a conversation and all of a sudden have to stop to point out the strange buttcheeks suddenly visible over someone's shoulder.  (I told Danny this was not the place to show off his new tattoo, but he's just so darn excited about Yosemite Sam...)

Anyway, the food was great, the atmosphere was fun, and the friendship grand as always.  Afterwards we came back to our house for some ice cream treats.  (Thanks James!)

I do not have herpes, I just have a bad habit of biting on my lower lip.

 

There's my favorite little gal.

 

Baby Caden was perfect during the entire restaurant visit!  He had about 20 fussy minutes at my house, but otherwise, he was perfect this evening.

 

For some reason, my video came out really blurry (maybe the low lighting?), but I'm thinkin' the girls will be just fine with that.

 

 

I managed to get just about everybody stuffing face with cake.

 

Birthday girl #1:  Toni, AKA Dude.  =)

 

Birthday girl #2:  Chris, AKA #2

 

Birthday girl #3:  Christine, AKA CC.  Sorry not a great picture of you two--you were out changing a diaper when I was taking the other two posed shots.

 

And us.  =)

 

And no, I don't need another one of my own.