Christmas Stocking

When I was little my Granny hand made Christmas stockings for each of her grandchildren. I have loved and enjoyed my stocking every year for almost 3 decades. I have now made one for each of my boys. This year I made one for June. In honor of her birth while Diana was living on the beach in Goa India I made her this stocking.

Each stocking takes a long time, but I enjoy having a project to complete. This one was by far the most detailed. The umbrella was killer. Now I get to look forward to next year when I make one for both Jeanine's new baby and our new baby.

Confirming the Rumors

Yes, my older sister Jeanine is prego. I am so excited. They announced the good news while we were playing scrabble a few weeks ago. The first word was HAVING and the second was BABY! I totally missed it. She is due the beginning of July. Some of my first thoughts were "I am so glad it is her and not me."

I had been feeling frumpy and well, overall not great. After Jeanine's announcement I decided I needed to take action and fix the things that were bothering me. First, I went to the eye doctor for contacts so I would stop getting headaches from squinting all the time. Second, I joined Curves. I am now exercising at least 4 times a week and eating better. Next, I scheduled an appointment to get an IUD. I figured if we are not wanting to get pregnant for another 3 years then I need long term prevention. The only problem is that our terrible LineCo insurance doesn't cover ANY birth control. We saved up to pay the $800 cash to get the IUD. Long term it was actually going to be cheaper than paying for the pill every month. I felt like I had hit the jack pot when I found out about a program in California that would cover the IUD for me since my insurance didn't. Imagine my disappointment when I was told they could not put it in at that office and I would have to go to a different location. No problem, I would make the next appointment. Too bad despite all my exercising and being proactive my pants were not fitting. I was feeling even more frumpy and wanting to sleep all the time.

Before my IUD appointment I had a crazy nightmare that I was pregnant. I woke up feeling like I was falling and screaming NOOOOOO! My oldest just turned 5 last week AND more importantly, we live in a travel trailer moving all the time. 4 kids in a trailer is not on my list of things to do before I die. On a fluke I bought a 99 cent store pregnancy test to calm my fears.

I am 11 weeks pregnant. I am still reeling that we managed to get pregnant back in September despite still nursing Wesley and using birth control. I never even had a cycle! Hulse baby #4 is due June 22. I am actually due 10 days before my older sister.

Just to make this a little easier here are the answers to all of the questions I have been getting.

1. Yes, I cried for 3 days. I had no idea I was pregnant until I found out at almost 9 weeks!

2. Am I happy? It is a baby! Of course I am happy to have a baby.

3. No, I did not tell Johnny right away. I had to get all of my crying out first. Johnny's reaction: "At least we got the trailer with 4 bunk beds in the back."

4. Yes, Johnny laughed at me and we are both in shock.

5. Yes, my sisters, parents, and friends have all laughed at me. I am glad you think this is funny!

6. Of course I want a girl, but I will not be sad if its another boy.

7. No, it is not twins, I already had an ultrasound to make sure.

8. Yes, we plan on living in the trailer with 4 kids and finishing Johnny's apprenticeship before moving back to AZ. Johnny's foreman at work told him to send me back to AZ with the kids and visit a few times a year because 4 kids in a trailer will be crazy. I now understand why that man has been married 7 times!

9. Yes, my oldest will only be 5 and not even in kindergarten yet when our 4th baby is born.

Don't worry, I know you are all laughing that crazy "I am glad it is her and not me" type laugh right now. I understand. I would be too if it were not me.

I know that this happened for a reason. I know that the Lord's timing is better than my own. I know the Lord has a sense of humor and He knows what I can handle better than I do. So, here is to #4. Bring it on!

Change of plans - again!

We have been planning to go to Lego Land for a few months now. The original plan was to go last weekend with our friends from Arizona. Too bad their son broke his leg and they had to cancel, but we still planned on going. That is until I got the flu. My boys all had it the week before, so I shouldn't have been surprised when I started feeling sick. I was really upset to push back Lego Land since we told Daniel it was in place of a birthday party. Then this weekend with a 70%+ chance of rain all day we cancelled again. I was frustrated at first, but then realized what was really happening.

The first weekend Lego Land was replaced with the Pasadena Children's Museum, Kidspace. Johnny had never been there with the boys so he was able to have a fun day out with them. This weekend we replaced Lego Land with The Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana. So, due to unforseen circumstances we have now had two fun family Saturday activities instead of one, and we are still planning on hitting up Lego Land in December (due to non refundable tickets that expire by the end of the year)! Bonus.

The Discovery Science Center was a blast. We were not even able to get to the outdoor activities due to the rain, but we will be going back thanks to our new membership. Love you Mom & Dad and I love early Christmas presents! One of the things the boys liked best was the hockey exhibit. They enjoyed practicing hitting pucks and being the goalie.

Daniel blocked a few pucks, but was a little gun shy of the machine spitting them out.

Jaxon was not afraid and even growled at the machine before unleashing a karate move in its general direction. Then he squatted down and let the pucks zoom over his head.

The boys were very well behaved the entire day! Wesley even loved wondering and having us chase him down. We had a great time together and I am looking forward to Lego Land more and more every time the trip is pushed back. I am sure they will have fun Christmas stuff to entertain us in December! Anyone want to join us?

Burned

Johnny was super dad tonight while I went to have a free Mark Kay facial with a few friends. He took all three boys to Red Robin insisting that "We will be fine! They have bottomless fries" as if this was somehow the answer to all of life's important problems. Surprisingly they all returned happy and full.

Too bad after they got home there was a little accident. Before I went to my outing I started a crock pot full of little smokies for our ward party this evening. Wesley was just able to stretch and reach the cord. He pulled the bubbling pot down on himself before Johnny could reach him.

Johnny was quickly able to get it off, but it still burned his face. He was wearing long pants and a sweater so it didn't burn anywhere else on his body. Thanks to Johnny's quick reaction, a cold compress, aloe vera gel, and most importantly a blessing the redness and swelling were gone within three hours. Wesley seemed to be more upset about the cold compress on his face than the actual burn.

After the initial crying he could have cared less and went about his merry little way climbing on everything and digging through my utensil drawers. We are just so glad it was not worse.

Using the belt!

I am sure many people think my children need the belt, but Johnny and I have never felt that will teach them the correct way to act...until now.

We were out to dinner with my parent's the other night when Daniel and Jaxon reached the point of no return. They would not just stay in their seats! It had been a REALLY long day. During the middle of the night the carbon monoxide detector started beeping. Apparently one of the boys turned the propane stove on. It was on for at least 6 hours. Before bed my eyes were burning but I obviously didn't put two and two together. We are lucky to be alive! The next morning we discovered a leaking window. After a few weeks of rain there was lots of mold under one of the benches in our trailer.

By the time we moved out of our trailer, took the trailer back to the manufacturer for repairs, and moved back to Hemet with my parents I was no longer willing to play my boy's little games. We were in a restrauant and I had finally had enough. I told Johnny and my dad to take off their belts.

Daniel and Jaxon were not too happy with the outcome, but they stayed in their seats and I was a much happier mommy! Before we left I had to remind my dad not to get up until I returned his belt!

Judge if you wish! It was a very effective solution.

Day of the Dead

For family night we decided to take the kids to the public library for free Day of the Dead crafts, food, and displays. Looking back I realize that this is just how my life is at this stage, but while we were there it was a minor catastrophe.

Jaxon & Daniel decide to paint masks, promptly get non washable paint all over their shirts and my favorite skirt.

Run to the bathroom to wash out paint (out in the hallway, have to stop and get the key) leaving Johnny to man the 3 boys. Luckily Wesley was confined in the stroller but he was making sure everyone knew he was not happy with the situation.

Return from the bathroom, hang the wet shirt on the back of my chair. Realize Jaxon has gum on his chin which he promptly tells me came from under the table. Yuck! Johnny gives a weak smile and states he took the gum away.

Continue painting with the boys. Break-up a fight over who gets the bigger brush. Stand up to get paper towels only to realize the wet shirt slipped down the back of my chair and I now look like I peed my pants!

Painting is over. Wesley is protesting loudly. Get Daniel some traditional sweetbread only to turn around and find Jaxon eating sequins and who knows what else off the floor. Think to myself "at least it is not something that will make him sick," then do a double take and question if sequins really will make him sick. Daniel promptly dumps his cup all over the craft table and into the newly opened economy size bag of sequins. Grab more paper towels.

Release the beast (Wesley) who is protesting more loudly than ever and assign Johnny chasing duties. Clean up and apologize (for the 500th time). Let the boys put on their still wet masks and think to myself "at least it is bath time. " Snap a cute picture for the blog.

Herd my small flock out the door only to hear rather loud sighs of relief from the other participants and the craft director.

Get out of the car at home only to turn around and see Jaxon dump dirt over Daniel's head and down his back. Daniel is not protesting so I decide to pick my battles.

Hurray for bath time & bedtime! Sometimes I think, is all of it worth this? It is.

Halloween 2010

This Halloween was a few weeks of festivities. We started at the Cal Poly Pomona Pumpkin Festival to pick out pumpkins.

The next weekend headed to the Scarium of the Pacific at the Aquarium in Long Beach. It was a great time. The boys all wore their costumes. For some reason I only took pictures of their backs, but they were adorable. Daniel was a Firefighter, of course, Jaxon was a Knight and Wesley was a Monkey. Baby June was a Dinosaur. Next we crashed a trunk-or-treat at one of the wards in Hemet. Jaxon ate way too much cotton candy! On Saturday we went to my sister Jeanine's 7th annual pumpkin carving contest.

During the pumpkin judging we headed to the El Sugundo ward trunk-or-treat and carnival. It was of course great, but we ended up with way too much candy!

Happy Halloween!