Pete Pages: June 2009

Friday, June 26, 2009

We got "Annie"

Does anyone else notice a lot of Red in these eyebrows?

Here is a closer shot:

Now, we'll just have to wait 6 months or so to see if her hair is curly... (crossing fingers, but not holding my breath).

Umm, what was that I was posting about yesterday? Tosh has been crying most of the day today because his canine/eye teeth are coming in and Hewitt just missed the toilet and peed all over the bathroom floor. I guess what I should have said is that I am trying, TRYING to treasure these moments.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Like weeds

Tosh wanted me to move over this morning and said (very clearly, I might add), "Outta the way, Mommy." Didn't he just barely turn two?

Hewitt's latest response when we ask him a question is, "(big sigh) I have no idea." Only a matter of time before he picks up the eyeroll.

Umm, who told my kids they could sound (and be) so grown up?

Which reminds me, a week or so ago I took Burke on a one-on-one outing to the library. I've felt sort of out of touch with him lately with all our recent craziness (like him commuting 45 min to school every day, a new baby, etc.). I simply wanted a chance to talk and catch up. Our conversation on the drive went something like this:

Me (using my extra excited "Mom" voice): "So, what is going on, B? I've missed talking to you lately. How are things at school, etc. etc.?"

Burke (using his "I'm bored out of my mind" voice): "I don't like it anymore."

Me: "What? You don't like school?"

Burke, "No, I don't like talking anymore."

Ouch. Dagger to the heart. Since when does he not like, excuse me, love talking to his mother?

Like it or not, I'm reminded daily that my kids are getting older and growing up and there isn't much I can do about it. Liv has already grown out of the smallest of her "newborn" clothes. Can't I just freeze this perfect baby? All of them for that matter? Stop growing up so fast!

Obviously each new stage has excitement, new discoveries, and plenty of wonderful possibilities, not to mention the joy that only comes by way of growth and trial. I admit that it will be nice not to change (and pay for) diapers someday. It will be nice to sleep through the night again someday. Truthfully though, I'm thankful that that someday is not today. I am treasuring this time with my "babies" because I know it won't last nearly long enough.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

And the house hunt comes to a close...

Rob and I just returned from a trip down to Arizona. We left our boys at home with Rob's parents and sister (thanks so much guys!) and took the baby with us. We saw LOTS of homes while we were there. On our second day (Friday), Rob happened to see a brand new listing we liked so we went to it first thing that morning and immediately made an offer! This house had really everything we were looking for in a house/yard and just felt right. Because it was a bank owned property (good price), we knew there would be lots of offers so we spent the remaining days looking for a back-up house if it didn't work out.

We visited the ward of the house we really wanted on Sunday and even visited the school on Monday morning just hoping to get it. We were informed on Monday that there were 15 offers on that house! We upped our offer (twice) and said lots of prayers as it was a blind process and we couldn't see the other offers. Interestingly enough, every house we would decide on as our "2nd choice house" kept disappearing off the market. It was a fairly stressful process and trip (I wouldn't consider our time down there a *vacation* in any sense of the word, although we were able to sleep in a few mornings).

Well, we just found out yesterday afternoon after we were already back home that we got the house! It will officially be ours sometime in July. We are getting excited about entering this next chapter in our lives as this entire "moving" process has seemed to be going on for a long time now. I'm so grateful that even though my faith is very weak at times, things continue to fall into place. I'm feeling very thankful.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Baby mine

When Liv was six days old, I was able to take her to a photo shoot with an old friend from my hometown. Lindsay is so talented (at just about everything imaginable) and thanks to her patience, she was able to get some great newborn shots. If you are interested in checking out Liv's gallery, go to: http://www.lindsaydanielphotography.com/
Click on [website] and then on clients on the bottom right hand side. The password is my first name.

I can't believe how much Liv has already changed! She is one month old today.

Monday, June 8, 2009

Blessed

Yesterday was Liv's baby blessing. It was a very special and emotional day for me. I was overwhelmed with feelings of love and gratitude for healthly children and a wonderful family, for the gospel of Jesus Christ, and for good friends (just to name a few). We blessed Liv in our old ward and it hit me as I entered the room and saw so many sweet and smiling faces that we really are moving! Rob and I were also touched that so many family members were there to share the event with us. We will miss living so close to our great families! We were able to get a couple of quick shots of our crew prior to the blessing. These are the first photos of our family of SIX!

Liv was blessed in a dress that was made by her Grandma Maryana (who Liv is named after), which made it all the more special. I'm glad my folks were able to be at the blessing as they left today for their third LDS mission. Our family all gathered last night for a big and very yummy dinner to celebrate in Liv's honor. What more can I say? We are so blessed.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Birth"may" time

I'm not quite sure how we ended up with three of our four children being born in May...makes for a busy month. Burke turned 7 on the 13th! He requested dinner from Bajio (his very favorite and what he suggests that we eat every night) and donut holes and ice cream for dessert. It was nice not to have to make a special theme cake for the occasion (having just returned from the hospital). I find that my kids are usually just as happy with a "simplified" version of things. Burke is certainly getting older as he was quite particular about what he did and did not want for his b-day (he mostly wanted books) and was really excited about the Lego watch and Lego game that he received.

Tosh turned two on the 30th! Between soccer games that morning and Hewitt's preschool graduation in the afternoon, we celebrated by meeting cousins at the Farm at Thanksgiving Point. That evening we continued the party with pizza and cupcakes. I stole a friend's idea and did a little Elmo cake for Tosh (and smaller Elmo cupcakes for the other kids).

My sis-in-law got some great photos of Tosh while eating his cake:

Happy Birthday Burke and Tosh! We love you.

A boy and his baby sister

We're all having fun with a new baby in the house. Hewitt, in particular, is so enamored and thrilled to have a little sister. He is always checking on her, kissing her head, patting her back, etc. I love listening to him talk to her and the sweet little voice he gets when he says things like, "Hi baby girl," or "I love you, I love you, Liv!" The other night I put a nightgown on her and Hewitt asked where her pants were. When I told him that her jammies were like a nightgown or dress he excitedly said, "Oh, it's like her princess dress!?"

Every time he holds her he wants me to take a picture. Here are a few:

Pete said...

Hewitt was just telling me about a new game he created where you can't touch the ball with your hands or feet. He said, "You can only hit the ball with your leg or foot-wrist." And so I clarified, "You mean your ankle?"
(10/8/09)

Me to Hewitt: Whatcha doin?
Hewitt: Arting. It's making art.
(10/2/09; Hewitt's 5th b-day)

Two jokes by Burke:
What does a storm wear?
Thunderwear!

What do you call King Kong's feet?
Big Foot!
(9/26/09)

I had the following conversation with Tosh:
Me: Are you a boy or a girl?
T: Boy
Me: Is Livvy a boy or a girl?
T: Baby
Me: Yes, but is Baby Liv a boy or a girl?
T: Girl
Me: Is Daddy a boy or a girl?
T: Big boy
Me: Is Mommy a boy or a girl?
T: Mommy a babe!
(Not prompted, I promise! 9/3/09)

Hewitt had set up a bunch of toy figures and Tosh was trying to play with them... Hewitt was telling Tosh not to touch them and I asked him to share the toys or to go and get some more figures for Tosh to play with. Hewitt said, "These are not toys! They are art!" (9/3/09)

We were driving along a road near our house (a rather quiet highway, really) and Hewitt suddenly exclaimed, "Mom! I just found the road to our old house! Keep driving straight!" I looked up and realized there were some big mountains in the FAR distance. Hewitt clearly thought he was staring at Utah. (8/28/09)

Hewitt brought home a little "Groundhog's Day" craft that he had made at preschool and kept calling the groundhog a bear. When I tried to tell him it was really a groundhog he looked at me like I was very silly and said, "It's a BEAR Mom, not a CORNDOG!" (2/2/09)

I explained to Burke about the recent airplane crash into the Hudson River and knowing that he would be very concerned, I quickly told him that all of the passengers were just fine. He looked at me with a worried look and said, "What about the birds? Are they okay?" (1/15/09)

I have a trunk full of old performing costumes from when I was a kid. Hewitt saw the trunk in the basement and told Rob that he wanted to open up the "treasure chest." Rob asked him if he knew what was in the trunk/chest and Hewitt replied that it was full of clothes. When Rob told Hewitt that he didn't want him to make a big mess Hewitt said, "I won't make a mess, I will just get out one clo." I guess that "clo" would be the singular form of clothes... (1/13/09)

Burke is always mentioning how he wants us to have lots more babies because he wants "hundreds" of brothers and sisters. I was explaining to him this morning about how it gets harder and more dangerous to have babies as a woman gets older...he looked at me and said, "Well, you look young Mom, like 19!" Then he leaned in closer and said, "Well, I do see some indents in your skin around your eyes (those would be wrinkles--thanks for noticing)." (12/26/08)

Hewitt blew his nose and must have accidentally gotten some snot or tissue in his mouth because he said, "Yuck! That tastes like cow dung!" (12/24/08)

Tosh got to Hewitt's cup of water at the table today and dumped it all over Hewitt's lap and onto the floor. Rob asked Hewitt, "Are you a little wet?" and he said, "I'm a BIG wet!" (12/24/08)

Rob was playing "Memory" with the boys and when Burke got a few matches in a row Hewitt said, "Wow Burkie, you're on fire!" (11/08)

We just bought some sod for our park strip and while Burke and I were looking at the pallet, I mentioned that some of the pieces looked like crabgrass and that we needed to find the best pieces of grass to buy. Burke looked at the sod for a little while and said, "None of it looks like crap grass to me!"

While I was flossing Burke's teeth he said, "Wait--I need to tell you something." I paused flossing and he said, "You sure know how to be a good mom!" (now there's a treasured compliment!)

Hewitt watched Rob kill a fly in our kitchen and then asked, "Did he cry? Did he want his mommy fly?"

I told Hewitt that I was going to get Tosh a snack and asked if he would like one. He paused and then said, "I'll take a milkshake." What am I, a drive-up window?

Hewitt was asking for toast today and when I pulled out the bread he said, "No, the 'letter O' toast!" I finally figured out that he wanted a toasted english muffin.

Burke came down for breakfast and said, "Mom, it might not look like my bed is made and you might not like it, but it's really stripes that I did as a design on my bed."

Hewitt has really liked eating plain tortillas lately. When I asked him if he wanted one he said, "Oh. Sure. I'll have a mamma mia."

Hewitt understands things very literally. When Rob told him that he "needed to fly" this morning (go to work), Hewitt asked, "Where is the fly? In the house?" When Rob asked him if he had a runny nose he said, "No. It's just boogers."

When Rob was leaving for work he hugged the boys and told them to "be good for Mommy and do exactly what she says." Burke said, "OK bye Dad, you be good at work and do exactly what your boss says."

We were discussing prophets in the scriptures for Family Home Evening and when Rob asked Burke which prophet(s) wrote the Book of Mormon Burke said, "Nephi, Jacob, Enos..." and continued to name the books in order. Rob and I were pretty surprised and couldn't help laughing.

I was just eavesdropping on Hewitt while he was playing with his toys and heard him say, "Ladies and jumpingmen..."

Burke was heading off to a neighbor's house to play and stuck his head back in the door and called, "I'll be traveling by bike."

When the garage door opens for us to drive in, Hewitt will pretend to be scared and say, "Oh no, it's the garage mouth! He's going to eat us!"

Hewitt got distracted and starting playing with his toys during lunch and when I reminded him to please keep eating he said, "But Mommy, I'm working."

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