Hey Batter Batter!

Bryson has been playing T-ball now for about two months and I finally got a video of him at bat. He loves playing and after each game constantly asks when he gets to be with his buddies again. Tanner gives out a game ball after each game and Bryson knows that its o.k. if he doesn't get it because he's the coach's son. But Bryson knows that he is the fastest kid on the team and he tells people all the time. Its so cute to watch all the kids on the team and they are really having such a good time out there. Here are some pics and a video of him at bat and playing catcher.

Tremors

For about the last month we have been feeling a lot of slight tremors which the seismologists are calling foreshocks.  Nothing really big; if you're moving around at all you're likely to not even notice. But in the last week we have felt just about all of them.  So I double checked our food supply, emergency backpacks, water, and got ourselves some good earthquake insurance.  To tell the truth yesterday I was complaining about it saying "Come on already! Just hit and get it over with!"  The night before I was awakened by one around midnight and couldn't sleep the rest of the night. That one was about a 3.8.  Well guess what, I changed my mind. We just experienced a 4.1.  Not so fun.  Today at 3:47 we had a 3.8 followed by a pretty constant rumbling for a few minutes. At 3:51 we got a 2.6 (no biggy) and at 3:55 we got a 4.1 followed by more constant rumbling for about 10 min.  The kids think its really fun but it creeps me out.  I can hear the earth groaning before it hits and my dog starts whining. Then you see the pictures start shaking. These last few have even made us dizzy.  The worst part is that I can't decide where the safest place is to hide my kids if one really does hit.  Its freaky knowing that the prophecies of so many prophets are starting to come to pass and that I will be here with my sweet children to witness them.  It kinda makes you rethink your priorities and focus on things you might need to work on a little more. 

Terrible Twos Already

I think any mom would agree that the Terribles don't start when the child turns two. I've noticed it's the half-years that aren't so fun. In this case we're a bit early. Hudson is like a whirling dervish everywhere he goes. I am amazed at how quickly he can get into things and make messes. I'm tempted to buy a dog collar and zap him the next time he gets into the garbage or the toilet. What is so fascinating about a freakin' toilet!  He used to just play in it and now he's adding toys (or anything) to the toilet.  I can't go anywhere with him. And having the two older kids laughing hysterically at everything he does is not helping.  Hudson now hits and screams whenever he has something taken away or is told "no". Can't wait till he grows out of that stage.  Like I've always said, its a dang good thing he's so cute 'cause he sure has been a handful.

Yes! Those are little curls!  He kinda needs a haircut but the bottom curls every once in a while and its so cute. But usually he looks like Einstein!

"Helping" all the time, especially with the laundry and the dishes.

Yep! Fully clothed, head first. Good morning!

Spider-baby getting himself a drink out of the fridge (without a cup).

Muddy Huddy

I spent 45 min. hosing off my patio

and then Hud did a somersault 

into the biggest puddle.

"Crap! I hate when I do stuff like that"

His new favorite pose when he does something

silly.

My little sweetheart

I finally double french braided her hair last

week and then she wanted to chop it off.

A cut new bob that will help with 

the rats nest in the mornings(hopefully)

In January we found out that the daughter-in-law of a family in our ward was diagnosed with cancer. She was about 6 mo. pregnant with her first child. The doctors took the baby early and she is now out of the hospital and doing very well.  Sadly the mom, Erika Hicks, died a month ago from complications with everything. My kids have been very worried ever since we found out about her cancer in January. They have prayed for Erika and been very concerned for the baby. When we heard that Erika had died so suddenly Bryson and Brynn were very sad and worried about who would be the baby's mommy. Yesterday we were talking about being safe around cars so that you don't get hit by one. Brynn mentioned that if you get hit you die. Then she said "Well then I would get to go see Heavenly Father. I love Him! I miss Him so much. I want to die so I can go be with Him." I explained that we would all be very sad if she died and we would miss her very much. She replied, "Yeah, well I would be with Sis. Hicks though. And that would not be sad."  She looked at me funny when she saw the tears in my eyes. Sometimes children can be so sensitive and thoughtful.  How grateful I am to have such sweet children who are beginning to understand Heavenly Father's plan and have complete faith that He exists and that everything we've taught them is true.  I am equally as grateful for the knowledge and testimony that I have that allows me to explain to them why sad things happen in life. 

Tricky Mama

I have been taking the kids to gymnastics for a while now and recently saw a bunch of mom's tumbling and doing all kinds of cool tricks.  So last night I went to my first class and loved it. We did about 1/2 hour of "warmup" which was actually the hardest work-out I've ever done. Some moves I haven't done in about 15 years, others, ever.  Then I moved on to the trampoline which was also much harder than it looks. Then I finished up with the silks (the big long ribbons that hang from the ceiling). Sooooo, cool.  Right now I'm kinda feeling like I pulled every muscle in my body (and getting more sore by the minute) but it was so much fun and I can't wait to go back next week, if I can move by then.  When the kids asked where I was going I told them I was going to learn some new tricks. They wanted to seem them this morning. But since I can't move they'll have to wait. 

No Josh, You are Loved

Shortly after Hudson was born Tanner bought tickets to the Josh Groban concert for my birthday. We had awesome floor seats and it was an amazing concert. The coolest part was when he came out onto the floor and I was literally 3 feet away from shaking his hand. I would have had to get uncomfortably close to a big butch security guard so I opted not to. But I was so close!  I love his voice and could listen to him sing all day long. Likewise, so do my kids.  Baby Hud has to have music in the car to fall asleep. I don't think there has ever been a day when a Josh Groban CD was not in our player. We listen to him all the time and my kids know all the words to his songs (the ones in English anyway). We love you Josh!