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Remind Me Next Year

Christmas with a newborn is the best! It adds a little extra peace and joy to the season! We had a great Chistmas! My whole family was together, including Judd and Jackie and their kids from St. Louis. I don't know how I'm going to let them leave now. I have taken down the tree and decorations and the house looks empty! Now that Christmas is over I keep saying "remind me next year".....So here are a few things I would like to remember for next year.

Don't buy so many dang presents for the kids. The absolute highlight of their Christmas was the electric toothbrushes (Saint's toothbrush for Scott) in their stockings. I could have saved myself a lot of money!

Don't trust Steve when we make our yearly vow not to get eachother anything. He always does and I look like a big jerk!

Buy more football cards. They really drag out the present opening process. They have to open each one and look at each card. It makes the boys feel like they got more than they did.

Buy batteries before Christmas Eve.

Christmas break is long! Make more plans to farm out kids to relatives.

Regift all extra chocolate! Do not leave in pantry with easy access for all!

Remind me that I love Christmas and not to forget the true meaning, our Savior was born and lived and died for us all.

Kids are Honest

Claire and I were driving in the car and singing out loud and Claire said that she wanted to sing me a song. It went a little something like this (to the tune of "You are so Beautiful to Me"). "You are so beautiful to me, except before you take a shower, then you aren't beautiful. But if you take a shower and put your earings onnnn. You are so beautiful to meeeeeeeee!!!!!" It is the truth!!!

Snow Day

Sneak Peak of Newborn Photo

Jane Staring at Camera, only exciting for family and bored friends

Sensory Overload

My children love to use me as a jungle gym. Starting with Scott, it was not uncommon to find him on top of my head. The next two have joined him and it is actually possible for all three to be touching me or sitting on one of my extremities all at once. It has taken on a whole new level now while I breast feed and they all start climbing on me. AHHHHH! I need space! Don't get me wrong, I love to snuggle my kids, but this is more like wrestle mania! Does anybody else get "Sensory Overload"?

I've been tagged

I was tagged by Laurie and my sister-in-law Jenny. The problem is, my life is an open book. I tell absolutely everyone I meet intimate and embarassing details (ones they don't really want to know)! The man at the grocery store, my hair dresser, the poor lady at the gap, the man working at the drive up window. It's scary - I think it may be an actual medical condition. I once had a grade school teacher who told me I had diarrhea of the mouth. That is such a disgusting and graphic term I have never repeated. But, there you go, that is what I have. Here are six facts about me, that even strangers and the man with no teeth trying to sell magazines at my door already know.



1. I went through a very serious "cowboy phase". I owned several pairs of wranglers and boots. I owned a red pair, a turquoise pair, and a black pair (without pockets)!



2. I lay out my clothes, underclothing, jewelry and all before I get in the shower and get dressed. Weird I know!



3. I am afraid of cats. I feel like they are snotty and they hate me. But I love dogs. The bigger the better. I think this means I'm insecure!



4. The first boy who told me he loved me was in 5th grade. His name was Steven and he wrote I love Whitney on one sh0e and I love Brittany (my best friend) on the other shoe. We were happy to share. He dedicated "True Colors" by Cindy Lauper to me on the radio.



5. I once sneaked out of my house in the middle of the night. I actually tried the put the pillows under covers in the shape of your body technique. I came home to find my dad sitting on the couch waiting for me. OOPS!!



6. I hate watermellon. I have tried to pretend like I love it for years. Who in the world doesn't like watermellon?



7. I love sports movies. I watch "Rudy" at least a couple of times a year and I cry everytime. I love "Remember the Titans" and any other feel good sports movie!

Happy Thanksgiving

My heart is full of gratitude this Thanksgiving! Our family is complete with the arrival of baby Jane. What a perfect Thanksgiving blessing. I am also thankful for Scott, Brock, and Claire. I have probably already ruined them by spoiling them rotten and poor parenting, but I adore them anyway. I am so thankful for a kind, patient, and hard-working husband who brands our kids with his dimple in their chin. I am so thankful for my Savior Jesus Christ, for my testimony and my membership in His church. I am thankful for so many good friends who bless my life with their kindness and support. I am thankful for great parents and siblings who are my best friends. I feel so blessed this Thanksgiving!

Falling in Love with Jane

Jane Rebekah Hughes

Our long awaited little angel has arrived. She was born on November 12 at 11:22 a.m. after a very short labor and two little pushes. She weighed 6 lbs. 11 0z. and is 19 1/2 inches long. She is a little more fair than our other kids, but is definitely made from the same mold. Complete with a deep dimple in her chin. We are falling in love and very, very grateful to have a healthy baby girl!

"How Low Can You Go"

I'M STILL PREGNANT A WEEK LATER

Laurie and I are proud of our voting stickers. It was really hard. Ha Ha. Only two things on the agenda. But something about voting makes me feel very American and proud to be so! My belly is even lower now!

I have been having contractions about 5 minutes apart for the last two days. They are pretty strong, but unfortunately they never get any closer or harder. I guess she is just not ready yet, and believe me, I have tried everything. The bad news is I'm exhausted. The good news is I get to have a baby in the morning. I can make it! My kids were mad when they woke up this morning and their grandpa Charley wasn't here. I don't know if they really care about the baby being born as much as spending time with their grandpa. I am giving in and posting a belly picture, because it was taken last Tuesday and I have gotten so much bigger in the last couple of days that the picture is starting to look good. My kids call this shirt the "clown shirt". When they came home from school and saw me wearing it, they just kind of stopped and stared and Scott asked me if I wore it all day. Brock tried to soften the blow by adding, I kind of look like a flower. But it is soft, big, comfy, and feminine. Plus, I am running out of things to wear.

I'M STILL PREGNANT

The basement is almost finished and I even bought hand-sanitizer and the dreaded giant maxi-pads at Wal-Mart today. I am officially ready to have this baby. Many of my wonderful blogging friends and family have requested a belly picture. If I'm honest, my belly is not all that impressive. I would like to dedicate this entry to the progress and sheer impressive size of my rear end. Now that is something to talk about! It didn't come easy. It took nine months of sitting on it whenever humanly possible and consuming at least five times the normal caloric intake each day. It has not only increased to four times it's normal size, but it has also changed in actual shape and texture. It is truly an entity of its own!

Halloween Pictures

My little "Brockstar" as an army guy in the Halloween parade.

Halloween Pictures

My kids got the motherload this year at PaPa Charley's office. It's actually disgusting! Don't worry, I can take care of a few or maybe more pieces while they are at school!

No Exciting News

Now I have a problem. I've started the blog and nothing noteworthy has happened for at least a couple of weeks. I feel pressure to come up with some profound wisdom, insight, or humor and find myself lacking. The best thing I could come up with was a list of things that bug me. However, I know I am just really pregnant and I'm afraid I would regret posting the list in the very near future. Our life has been consumed with football, Scott won his championship game yesterday. YAHOOO! It has been really fun to watch him this year. His aggressive behavior finally has a suitable outlet. The few leftover hours are filled with finishing the basement. We are in a mad rush to finish before the baby arrives. Today, I have about two weeks left. ANOTHER YAHOO! My cousin claims she loves a man in a uniform. I must confess, I just LOVE a man in a toolbet! There is nothing sexier than my husband covered in dry-wall dust slaving away in the basement! If anything exciting happens, I will post it!

My Baby Turns 10

I can't believe my baby boy turned ten this week. Last night we took him out on a date for his birthday. Steve and I both felt like we were out with our best friend. He is funny, smart, and, I have to admit, a really cool kid. Before he was born, we thought he was a girl. Immediately after he was born, we thought he was from the hispanic mail-main. A couple of years later, we were convinced he was going to be sociopath. The pattern has continued, each year worrying about what he will be like when he grows up. I am now becoming more and more convinced that, despite my parenting, this kid is going to be an amazing person. Despite his very unbalanced obsession with sports, he is kind, compassionate, hard-working, and smart. We are hoping this obsession will keep him busy and tired enough to stay out of trouble for at least a couple of years. He is pictured here in his only requests for birthday presents, a John Beck Jersey and Miami Dolphins hat. To Scott's delight, the man at the Fanzz store also talked me into buying a bunch of other sports related paraphenelia. But only after we discussed his marriage and fertility problems!

Wow, at least Steve looks good!

Steve ran the St. George Marathon this weekend. When he first began training I was, I admit, very jealous. I sat there watching the kids each Saturday morning in a fat depression. If any of you can't understand this. Just imagine you love to scrapbook, it's your outlet and hobby, and then one day you catch your husband down in the basement doing your pages and going to scrapbooking night every Saturday. This is how I felt watching Steve train, reminding myself that he has unselfishly supported me for many years. However, all my feelings of jealousy turned to sheer PRIDE as I watched him pass me at the 16 mile mark. I got tears in my eyes and my heart swelled (like it usually only does when I watch my boys make a touchdown or a soccer goal)! Steve also grabbed my hand and kissed it as he passed. Let me tell you that will cover my romantic needs for about another six years. He finished the marathon with an awesome time and he felt great! He is a stud! Everyone knows I will brag about Steve, what can I say, I married up!