All the Help

We had so much great help, love and support this last month.  Here's to wonderful parents, grandparents, and great grandparents.  You've helped to care and mold us into the parents we are and hope to become...thank you!

 Thanks Grandma and Opa for being the first on the scene.  Thanks to you, my kids were fed every night,  I was able to take a nap every day, and I never saw dirty clothes in the hamper!!

The Beginning of the End

Maxton's last day of preschool was Thursday. On his last day, the school has an olympic day and picnic and each kid can bring one parent. I was thrilled when Max picked me over Ben to attend...it rare that the boys pick me over Ben. Here are a few pictures of us at Olympic Day.

Max with his teacher this year, Miss Kelly. He has really enjoyed her class this year!

That same night, was his Preschool Graduation. Ben thinks it's silly that there should be any graduations besides for High School and College, but I thinks it's great to celebrate these milestones in their little lives. It was such a special night, and he looked so grown up. I didn't cry, I think because he is so ready and excited to move on...I'm happy for him. He was able to walk in the Flag as you can see here.

Here's Miss Carroll giving Max his certificate.

What a doll you are Max. I love you! You've grown so much. All that stands between me being a mom of little ones that stay home and a mom that has school age kids is three short months. I pray we enjoy every minute before that bus shows up.

Walkin'

I'm so happy that I was able to catch Jake on video taking his first real steps. He's taken one or two, not realizing what was happening, but nothing like what's in this little clip. I have to be honest, the ending is not the best, but it won't be long till we're running!

Thinking of You...always

Today marks the anniversary of my cousins death...I think of you always, my thoughts and prayers are with your family.

Somethings Missing?!?

There seems to be something missing. It's been gone since the 19th of December. It's about 5-6 cm long and about 3 cm wide. Something very easy to loose I suppose with those dimensions, but most don't loose this for five to six years and it only took my WiLd MaN 16 months. See if this picture can help you figure it out!

Apple Picking Time Line

I think it's funny how we judge time...each of us do it a little different and even more so at different times in our lives. For instance, when I was working full time I judged time by a 6 month interval...x, y, z will happen before I have to clean this persons teeth again. Since kids are my full time job now, apple picking is one of my judgements of time, among other things. As you scroll down, you'll see what I mean...once was one baby boy three years ago, is now two boys that are growing like weeds. (Can I also mention how much I love the fall and picking apples...it's the perfect temperature and the boys have such a fun time.)



Sept 2008
Seth is exactly 13 months old

Sept 2008
Max is 2 1/2 years

Sept 2007
Seth was maybe 2 months old

Sept 2007
Max was 18 months old

Sept 2006
Max was 9 months old

Hand, Foot, and Mouth

Need I say More?!?! It's been an interesting/hard week so far, we're praying for better days here at the Hale House!
Click here for details

Thank Goodness for Talk Radio

Let me just start off by saying Maxton is a great child. I enjoy him everyday, he brings me such joy! However, I do not like putting him to bed...it is such a battle, from the day he was born he's fought sleep. It was manageable while he was in the crib, he couldn't get out and he eventually fell to sleep. But ol' Seth kicked him out of his crib before he was two and the night time rituals have been nightmares ever since. We've tried standing outside his bedroom door and putting him right back in bed every time he got out...taking away one of his many two that he loves to sleep with, even the treasured "Banty"...we've even laid in the other twin bed (it's for Seth in a few years) until he fell asleep, but that means one of us were stuck in his room for almost an hour...this last week I've cut out his naps in hopes that he would go to sleep faster and sooner...but nothing seems to be working!
So, on Saturday, Ben had a bright idea. We all took a trip to Target and walked down their electronic isles till we found a nice new Sony alarm clock. It plays CDs, and FM/AM radio. We drove home, got the kids ready for bed and Ben set up Maxton's new alarm clock. Of course Ben would naturally have Max listening to talk radio, the Indians game to be exact. Ben set the sleep timer and we said good night with a kiss, shut the door and waited with anticipation on the other side...to our surprise, he stayed in bed. Ben shouts out with excitement, "I'm a genius!" I said, "Let not speak too soon, we need to give it a few nights."
Well, Sunday night came along...so far so good, then tonight. Ben works till 8pm on Mondays, so it's up to me to get the boys down. I got them all bathed, read a few stories, put Seth to bed in his crib, and then walked Max down to his bedroom. I turned the radio on to the Indians game for 30 minutes, shut the bedroom door and thought...if he doesn't get out of bed tonight it's the real deal. I came down stairs and kinda lost track of time as I did my own thing (a rare privilege these days) and then heard a very familiar sound...the opening of a door...I knew it, it's too good to be true...back to the ol' drawing board, as I walked up the stairs saying, "You better get back in your bed Max..." he interrupted me with, "Mommy, Baseball, NOW!" He had been in his room for 30 minutes, and the radio had turn off...this time I set that alarm clock for 90min, kissed my sweet son and shut his bedroom door for the last time tonight. Ben, you are a Genius! I didn't know what talk radio was until I married Ben. Thank Goodness for Talk Radio...Maxton is definitely his fathers child!

"Each Life That Touches Ours for Good"

Laura Kirkland

March 16, 1983-March 24, 2008

"Each Life that touches ours for good Reflects thine own great mercy, Lord;
Thou sendest blessings from above Thru words and deeds of those who love.
What greater gift dost thou bestow, What greater goodness can we know
Than Christ-like friends, whose gentle ways Strengthen our faith, enrich our days....."

This was the closing hymn at my cousin's funeral last Thursday. I've always like this hymn, but it really touched me as I sang the words that day. It was nice to be back home and visit with so many family and friends that came together for Laura and her family. As I hugged each one and talked with them, so many memories rushed back to my remembrance. Each one has touch my life for good and has brought me such joy and love. I'm so happy we were able to be together and help support Laura's family. I wish I could have stayed longer and spent more time with them.
It was such an uplifting funeral...my Aunt Gigi spoke tenderly about her and her life on behalf of the family, and Patriarch Boone (he gave me my patriarchal blessing) was the last speaker. He is such a great man and always gives a wonderful message. What impressed me the most during his remarks was that he reminded us of the choice we made in the pre-existence...we chose to come to Earth and we knew we would return...like a round-trip ticket. When we go on a trip, we are excited to go, but even more excited to know that we will return home and back to our loved ones. I think we forget that detail when all we remember is this life. We are experiencing the trip right now...we think we're happy, just wait till we get home. I will always remember Laura, and I can't wait to see her again.

"When such a friend from us departs, We hold forever in our hearts
A sweet and hallowed memory, Bringing us nearer, Lord, to thee.
For worthy friends whose lives proclaim Devotion to the Savior's name,
Who bless our days with peace and love, We praise thy goodness, Lord, above."

Nice and Quiet?!...NO!

Driving past our home one would think that we've been pretty lazy and that our week has been uneventful...the snow hasn't been shoveled, the car has been in the garage most of the time, the mail has only been checked every other day, a few newspapers have collected at the end of the drive...but, on the inside things have gotten pretty exciting...no, messy...no, crazy...no, sick...no, gross...I'll just let you decide.

I thought we were done being sick once we pulled in last Sunday from being in Georgia for the week, but the fun had just begun. Seth's cough seemed to worsen, so we took both the boys into the doctors on Monday to find out he had broncitis. They sent us home with a breathing machine to do every 4-6 hours and said that it would just have to run it's course. Tuesday morning, Seth threw-up twice and then once more that night. After we got the boys to bed, Ben started with the stomach flu all night long...by 3am, I was starting to wonder how big his stomach could possible be. I felt so bad for him...he was so sick. By Wednesday, we were finally finished with the stomach portion of the flu, now we are dealing with the sneezing, coughing, and runny noses of little boys (that almost sounded like the NyQuil commercial).

It may appear that we've had a nice quiet week from the outside, but it just goes to show...you never know what goes on behind closed doors!

No Rest for the Weary

Getting ready for bed, starts around 5:30pm with dinner. You've got to get them both fed and then spend twice as long scrubbing their faces and hands clean, along with the high chairs and floor space they cover. I'm elbow deep in hand soap and Clorox wipes for about 15 minutes.
Following dinner time, we march up stairs for bath time. I run around hunting diapers, lotion and PJs, while Ben does the bathing. Seth is pretty straight forward, I can get him dried off, lotioned up and in his PJs within a reasonable amount of time. Maxton on the other hand, loves to run around the house naked with us trying to get a hold of his slippery little body. All we care to do is get him dried and diaper on (honestly, we can wait on dressing him) to preventing any accidents.
By this time, it around 7pm...we are some what on or knees for prayers...well Ben and I are, Max is usually in the general area and that is really all we can ask. Max is such a sweetheart, he always goes around and gives each of us a kiss after the "Amen". Seth is usually ready for me to feed/rock him and put him down for bed...I would say for the night, but he usually gets up a couple times to feed.
We start getting serious about getting Maxton down around 8pm...Yes, he is in a big boy bed now simply because little Seth needs the crib. We can't keep ol' Max in the bed, so we have to wait outside the door and keep putting him back in bed every time he opens his bedroom door. This could go on for 20 minutes or so. We're not perfect at this, sometimes we find ourselves laying with him until he falls asleep. I could be in bed with him for an hour. If Ben is the one who lays with him, I won't see Ben until about midnight, because he falls asleep in there. I have more control over that because I don't sleep as hard (maybe because I've gotten up all night long with babies for the last two years...it changes a person if you know what I mean).
By 9:30pm everyone is asleep. I then have a decision to make...go to bed right then and there (Since Seth will be waking up in the next 3 or so hours) or go downstairs and spend so time unwinding from a busy day with Ben. I usually find myself downstairs and not going to bed until 10:30 or so, but it's worth it to share some time with Ben.
Now, we're in bed and I have Seth's feeding times to wake me up during the night, along with a special visitor, Max, to find his way into our bed anytime between the hours of 4-6am.
The next day we wake up early, between 6-7:30am to have the rest of the day to prepare for another long night. You would think we would find time for some decent rest in order to recharge our batteries...you would think Heavenly Father would have worked it out so that parents of little ones would be the people to get the most sleep at night...and give those individuals that can nap when ever and come and go as they pleased the rough night...not those of us that run around all day long trying to meet the demands of our lives with small children in tow. Yes, if you haven't caught on yet...I'm venting here...it's about over. The truth is, Heavenly Father knew we would be able to do it, because we are so in love with our children...we would move mountains if we had to. For that I'm grateful...tired...but grateful!

Over the Top

Since life has become a little more crazy these days, I try to make things as easy as possible. For example...When I was half way through my pregnancy, it was just too much to carry the laundry basket down stairs to the laundry room, so I started throwing all the dirty clothes over the top of the banister and kicking them into the laundry room. Since Seth, I've continued this tradition and Max enjoys this game right along with me...however, if there aren't any dirty clothes to go down, he just starts opening up the draws in each of the bedrooms and throws our clean clothes over the top. But here's the moral of the story...Since I throw diapers in the garage garbage, I don't keep a garbage can upstairs...you know where this is going...I just collect all the diapers from the night before and throw them over the top. Up until now that hasn't been a problem...then yesterday, after nap time, I changed Max and threw his diaper over the top, and realized there was a saturation limit for two stories...yes, the diaper exploded and tons and tons of little saturated diaper crystals covered my tile floor. What started out as a convince, tossing stuff over the top, become a major clean up.