Bekah's Baptism

February 4th was a very special day that we won't forget anytime soon. 

Our sweet baby girl made the decision to get baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She was so lucky to have her amazing daddy be the Priesthood holder who was able to perform these blessings for her.

Her grandma's were both able to come, so it was really special for her...and for the rest of us!

 I have the absolute BEST friends on the planet who drove out to support us on this fun weekend. Sara, Carissa, Jaime, Cathy and April-you rock. Literally. Love each and every one of your cute faces.

 Right before the dunk we were able to get a couple pics with Bekah and her daddy. Obligatory.

And how cute are these friends of hers who drove out with their mommies to be a part of this special day? I know this just made it such an incredible experience for her and she loves these friends as much as I love their moms. Ann, Theo, Raegan, Phoebe and Ellie...thanks for being exactly the kinds of friends that I have always wanted for my daughter, she is so lucky.

My life as a fairytale

Once upon a time there lived a handsome prince. He was handsome and charming...but he was lonely.

One day while working on his mode of transportation he saw a fair maiden and thought...

Hubba Hubba!

So he began to court her. He took her out on romantic dates and even sang to her.

The maiden thought he was just so charming, he always did just what she wished.

It didn't matter that he didn't have a lot of money.

He was poor. Poor and Perfect.

Daily Something September 21, 2011: Wonder Woman

Daily Something;
Today I felt like Wonder Woman. I'm not sure what got into me but I was able to get so much accomplished today.
I got the house all vacuumed, I organized closets, I took pictures of a project I did a couple days ago, I painted and put together a book shelf, I did my homework, I helped the kids with their homework, I organized Oliver's room, I cleaned the kitchen, I sold a bike, I made some Fall decorations and I sewed some pajamas for the kids.
On top of all of that I still fed the kids three meals, gave two of them baths, read stories, talked to my mom and sister on the phone, checked my email, looked at blogs and danced around with my kids.
I wasn't on speed or anything.
I wonder if someone spiked my chocolate milk at breakfast?

Daily Something September 17; Story Boards

Daily Something
I am working on my children's book.
Actively working on it.
I have storyboards lined up on my bedroom wall, the writing is done...I think.
The illustrations, well at least I have an idea of the direction I want to go.
It's a lot of work, but I am excited.
My goal is to have it all done and sent to the publishers before November so that it will be ready for the holidays.
This is something that I have always wanted to do, and the idea for this book has been in my head almost the whole time we've been married.
Chad actually came up with the first line, and then I ran with it.
I have tweaked the text over and over throughout the years, and I think I am finally pleased with it.
Fingers crossed that I actually meet my deadline.
Yay!

Emalii

I never did post a picture of Bekah's very hairy guinea pig Emalii-so I'm doing it now. Bekah loves this little fur ball. The little pig is quite squeaky, but other than that very forgiving with the kids and their need to carry her around and pet her 24-7. She even lets Porter hold her without freaking out too much. I don't think she's all that cute, but she is the easiest pet I've ever had to take care of-even more so than fish-and the kids get something they can actually play with. So I would recommend one if you are wondering what kind of pet to get your kid-and don't want to commit to a dog or a cat. Although I just got a pet myself that I will post pictures of in the next day or two, and she is way cuter than the guinea, and just as easy, in fact they share a cage....

Mama got a brand new coat...

My mom sent me this coat for my birthday, and I love it!

Whenever my mom buys us clothes she makes us do a "fashion show" always has always will I guess.

The first thing she says after I tell her thank you for the wonderful happiness wrapped in beautiful wrapping paper, she tells me to send a picture of me in the coat...

It just so happened that I had a professional (5 year old) photographer on hand, so I had to strike a pose!

So I decided to take the magazine shot...giving her the full effect of the "fashion show."

Thanks mom, it really is a fun coat! :)

Mirror Mirror On My Wall

I Love it!

My mom's friend Brandon made it especially for me for Christmas with the colors and design I wanted.

You must see it in real life.

My address is....

And it was a thing of perfection...

My dream is to have that tree that looks like something out of a magazine-with matching ornaments, all the branches at perfect intervals down the trunk-all symetrical like....

But then I wouldn't have these memories....

My kids all gathered around our cut down tree, finding ornaments from years past...
The baby placing the star on top of the tree...You know he really didn't put the star on top right? Chad put it on top, and I took a picture of him taking it off-he is destructo-baby after all-but it looks like he did do something to contribute besides pulling the ornaments off and breaking a couple huh?

Then of course, if we had the magazine tree, I wouldn't get to come back in after the kids lost interest and space out all the ornaments that were placed in 3 large clumps around the bottom of the tree.And where's the fun in that?

I have a feeling that until the kids are grown, and maybe even after that, my dream of the magazine tree is out of the question-but that doesn't mean we don't always have the perfect tree.

Eight Years

EiGhT years ago today, I married my best friend...

...and that is the corniest thing I ever did write. And yet, if it wasn't so darn true, I would erase it immediately and gag a little bit for the thought of saying something so cliche' and utterly gushy.

Chad still makes me smile, laugh, tingly and all together too happy.

 

I think that after 8 years of wedded bliss,

• if you still think your spouse is the best looking person to ever walk the planet earth,
• if you still call each other for no other reason than to hear their voice and remind them how much you love them,
• if you never fight, and rarely even get annoyed with them,
• if you still want to spend time with them, over your fabulous and funny friends any day of the week,
• if you still get all weak in the knees after one kiss from them,
• if you count down the minutes until they get home from wherever they are at the moment,
• if you still laugh at their jokes and melt at their singing,
• and if you are still as much in love as the day you got married, but a whole bunch more....

Then I am certain that it is the forever kind of love, the kind of love in the movies, the kind of love in vampire falls in love with mortal books, the kind of love that every little girl (and romantic little boys) dreams about finding.

 

And now that is the corniest (yet truest) thing I have ever written!

I love you Chaddy poo punkin bum!

Forever...and ever.

World Card Making Day

I don't really celebrate it or anything...usually.

It just so happenend that I needed some new cards, it was General Conference Sunday and I could just lock myself in my room, listen to conference and craft away.

Here are a few sets I made.

I like to make cards in bulk-but never do the EXACT same thing on any card. I have a lot of family that I send cards out to-I don't like to have to remember if I already sent them or a one of their siblings the exact same card-this way I don't have to.

Preggers in The Tulips

I like this picture, kind of rare for a pregnant lady to like a candid picture taken of her huh? Chad has the photography skills! I was pregnant with Porter, and we went to the Tulip Festival one last time before we moved from Portland. This was one of our favorite things to see each year.

Spelunkin'

This last Friday, Chad was able to hang out with us for a bit, so we went to the lava beds and went cave exploring. The kids had a ton of fun with their flashlights and being able to go at their own pace and really explore, it was a fun afternoon.
Here they are going down into the depths of one of the caves... ...and here they are in the depths...speaking of depths,look at how blue my McDreamy's eyes are...he is so adorable in every way.

Here they all are right before we were going into a cave, I don't remember why the kids were making frowny faces, just being silly I guess.

We would have stayed longer, but we had to get going to go feed the horses that Chad was taking care of for the day, we will definately have to go back again. It was a good time for all of the kids-and that my friends is a rare, rare thing these days.

We were in Portland this last weekend for a couple days. On Friday we took Zachary to Harry Potter for his birthday and then we went on a little trip to Target. 2 things- First: I miss and love you Target! You smell like dreams! (Only a select few might get that reference....) Second: Has anyone else seen the recent installment of Harry Potter, a little dark for a PG rating no? Is it just me?Then that night my mom took all of us to a nickel arcade and Bekah and Ryeleigh cleaned out the place. Ryeleigh won the jackpot on that ticket thing they have at all the Chuck E Cheese type places. Then Bekah has a hidden talent I never knew about...she rocks at the claw! She was able to win herself 3 stuffed animals and a ball. She is a rock star! Then we all went and saw Monsters vs Aliens in their cheap theatre. That was a funny movie, and none of us had seen it yet-so that was a bonus. Saturday morning we took the kids to the airport and it was bittersweet. It's always sad to see them go, but they were really excited to get home to see their mom, and pretty soon their new baby sister, she will be born any day now.Then Chad and Tyler went to the movie (again) while my mom, Tabitha, the kids and I went to IKEA. Yeah! Always the highlight for me. This time there was a damper on my high though. Topher was so excited about going in the play area, and since he is 3 and potty trained and all, I was all for letting him go play so I could enjoy my shopping that much more. Well I get him and Bekah all signed in, they are all excited and then the lady has him stand against this ruler. Then she tells me he is too short. What is there some dangerous kind of ride in there? Nope-them is just the rules. Topher is short for his age-heck he is short for a 2 year olds age. I thought it was completely discriminatory that just because he is short he can't play. So then I had to bring both of them with me, which was fine, they did fine, but they were upset, and I could have had a lot more fun shopping with them actually happy about being there. Anyway so that's my IKEA rant. I still heart you IKEA and your fantastic prices on all the wonderful goodness you supply...but please don't discriminate against short kids. It's not their fault-it's in their genes!That night we had a salmon bbq with some of my moms friends and had a lot of fun conversation, and then I had to get to work on school stuff. I'm in the last week of my first two classes! Time flies doesn't it?Sunday we made our way to the rhododendron gardens before we headed out to feed the ducks and the geese. That is where all these pictures are from.It was really beautiful and being able to spend a little extra time with my family was great.One thing Chad and I realized though while we were there is, there is no place like home. One time our home was Portland, and we loved it there, and still hold a special place for it in our hearts-the zoo, OMSI, IKEA, all the beautiful Targets, all the fun shopping, Sunny Hans, all the other fun and wonderful restaurants, and our friends and family that are there. We know though, that Klamath Falls is where we are supposed to be, at least right now. We love it, and wouldn't trade all of our wide open spaces for the nicest house in the little crammed in neighborhood, that used to be the neighborhood of our dreams. Funny how perspective changes, depending on where you are in your lives, huh?

The Farm Girls Wedding

If I wasn't a full time mom, and wanted to work outside the home, and travel and do all those things that I probably won't ever do, but have come to grips with...
I would be a wedding planner.
I would be darn good at it too.
I have done the flowers for a couple weddings, and helped do the flowers with my friends for lots of weddings, I have helped my mom cater weddings, and have helped with many a reception.
I really think that I would be an excellent wedding planner.
People would tell their friends about the wonderful lady who planned their wedding, and that wonderful lady would be me.
Ahhh to dream the impossible dream...

That dream is what keeps my mind reeling with a running log of ideas for weddings and parties.
The other day I was making a salad, and was thinking to myself...
"Self, these vegetables are so beautiful, I think they are more beautiful than flowers, don't you?"
And of course me being myself, answered, "Yes, yes they are."
That's when the farm girl's wedding was planned.
She will be so excited, this imaginary girl in my mind that will someday say "Oh great wedding planner, what wedding is right for me, a simple farm girl?", and I will tell her I have been planning her wedding for years...
The sweet farm girl bride will carry a beautiful bouquet of lettuce as she walks down the aisle of corn... The bridesmaids would have beautiful bouquets of carrots-you know the kind that chefs like Jamie Oliver always seems to have in abundance growing in his garden with the green stems...
The flower girls would throw brightly colored cabbage leaves in their wake....
The bride and groom would stand in front of the big red barn and pledge their love to one another while the sun sets, as the guests wipe their eyes at the beauty of it all, while sitting on bales of hay.
Later on at the reception held in the big barn...tables would be covered in white with small wooden baskets of beautiful fruit for the guests to sample at their leisure.
All of the food would be grown there on the farm and it would be fresh and delicious, and the guests would marvel that they had never been to a wedding that even came close to the magic of this one...
Then they would all wave their white hankies as the bride and groom ride off in their pumpkin carriage.
....and when my wedding dialogue starts colliding with a bedtime story with a fairy godmother, I realize, I should probably stick to being a mom for now.

How do I love thee Porter?

I can't even begin to count the ways!

Bekah's First Ballet Recital

Bekah had her first recital this past weekend, and she was beautiful! Both of her Grandma's were here to see it and a couple of her cousins too.She knows what she wants to be when she grows up now, and can't wait for next year. She was so cute about the whole thing. She took it so seriously. She was in a class of 4 and 5 year olds, this picture pretty much says it all. The rest of the class, cute little girls dancing an adorable dance in tutu's. Miss Bekah, serious ballerina.Every arm extension straight, every toe point perfection. Seriously, her being serious=too funny. She was expecting flowers, because "every ballerina gets flowers at the end of the show, don't you know?" Grandma Julie delivered perfectly with a dozen pink roses.

Her mom couldn't be prouder to be the mom of this perfect, beautiful little ballerina!

More pictures are on her blog, and the video is here on the family videos, if you care to watch, it's only a little over a minute long.

Splish Splash

Monday and Tuesday this week were absolute bliss! McDreamy was home on Monday for Memorial day and we spent the whole day relaxing and getting a few things done around the house, then we went to the Appah's for a yummy BBQ. He had to work on Monday night, but had Tuesday off, so after his 'nap' we were able to spend the rest of the day together. It is so rare that we have any real time together anymore, that we all just drink it up. It's just like Christmas for the Hewlett's when he is home.

We spent Tuesday afternoon playing in our friends, the Stewarts pool, with the Appahs. McDreamy was the photographer because he wouldn't get in the water.Above-Bekah aka Chicken little, and Topher aka crazy man. It still amazes me how different these two are and how I can love them exactly the same amount.

Below-Tyler posing for the camera. He's such a poser. I think he wants to be a model. He kept laying on the rocks in a very Abercrombie like pose. He thinks he's pretty hot stuff. He might hit me.

The kids had a blast, but the water was still a little too cold for us adults. I stayed in the (warm) hot tub for a little bit with Porter, but even that got to be too cold. I'm sure there will be many pictures of my kiddo's at this pool during the summer, so let's just call this Splish Splash Part 1.

(The sequel is coming soon with 2 more kids added to the mix! Zachary and Ryeleigh will be joining us for the summer in less than 2 weeks! YIPPEE! We are all so excited! Counting down the days...)

Enrolled

I know this is the same picture as last post, but I have very few pics of myself, and even fewer with me and all of the kids, besides it's black and white, so it's different.

So here's the deal. I want to stay home with my kids. It's what is right for our family. I also want to do something for myself. In a way it's for selfish reasons. In another, it's for them, I want them to know that their mom is more than just the person who makes them breakfast, kisses their boo-boo's and tucks them in at night. I want them to know that I have other interests and talents and that I took the time to develop them. I have come to a point in my life, that when filling out a stupid online survey, and it comes to the question-'what is your highest level of education?' I am finally at an age when 'high school diploma' is a bit embarassing for me. It is time to go back to school. Done. All enrolled. I am officially a college student, working towards my Associates in Web Design. I like design, I like the internet, I like to learn, I can complete it all online while staying here with the kids. It's a good fit. It feels good.

I'm a Mommy

Mother's Day was well...crappy...literally. Chad had to be at meetings after a full night of work at 7 am at the church. SO that left me to get the kids ready for church by myself. Nothing new. Except this particular Sunday, Porter got a new tooth, and was not in good spirits. He was crying and clinging as I walked up the stairs to get the older kids up when, oh, such a nasty smell filled my nostrils. I started to dry heave as I walked into the kids room. From the first sentence of this post, you can guess what had happened. I'll spare you the details. Suffice it to say it was DIS-GUS-TING. Woke up mumbling teenager to hold fussy baby while I cleaned up that mess. Got the kids ready for church, giving me no time for myself. Threw on dress that required no effort and some sandals. On my way out the door, saw the sweet note my husband had left for me and the little Flip video camera I had been wanting. Such a sweetheart! Realized once I got to church-my toenails were less than stellar and I was in open toed shoes. Fantastic. Whatever-church was great and we had no further incident. Came home, Chad went to bed and crashed hard. Porter fell asleep in his car seat. I took a little nap myself. Blissful. Then Porter woke up. I went into his room to an even worse smell than that morning. Clothes needed to be changed. I'll leave it at that. After Chad was able to get his eyes opened we went t o the Appahs. We had a fantastic dinner and a great time as always hanging out. So, it wasn't all, ummm...crappy. But it comes with the territory of being a mommy, and it's all worth it!

Baby Shower Gift

My friend Rachel is having a little girl, and I made her some stuff, and then some more stuff...This above is a diaper and wipe pouch and then some homemade laundry soap, and a measuring cup that I painted. Cute! I opened an Etsy shop, and have done nothing with it, but I made some labels, so I slapped those on. (The laundry soap, I have really enjoyed, it's a little gloopy, but if you shake it up-it's great!-I found the 'recipe' here on little birdie secrets.) Below is the dress I made for her, I hope it fits...otherwise it will be a cute doll dress! Finally I made her this headband, which I have started making a few of these. They are really cute on, and may be the first thing that goes up in my shop, if I can stop keeping them for myself!

Go overboard on a shower gift? Me? Never.