The chaos continues!

I figured once we got through the holidays that time would slow down and I would have time to blog and sew and keep my house clean. Really?! What was I thinking? Time continues to fly by and our lives seem to get more and more chaotic but we are enjoying every minute of it. The second weekend in January I went to Salt Lake with my mom and all my sisters and sister in-laws, it was so fun to hang out with them, and catch up. Jefferson had the weekend off so it was nice that he could stay with the kids. We made 2 trips to the cabin in the month of January, and we all had a blast. The kids love riding grandpa's snowmobile and Jefferson loves driving them around. I love sitting in the cabin by the fire watching Lorna grow up. January 2nd Lorna rolled from her back to her stomach and has not stopped. She rolls all over the place, and is getting up on her hands and knees or hands and toes trying to scoot herself around. She is growing way too fast. Last week we had french toast for dinner and Jefferson was holding Lorna he looked down at his plate & 1 of his french toast had disappeared off his plate we both thought the dog had stolen it, until we looked down and Lorna had a death grip on it and a mouth full of it. She loves REAL food. Peas, bananas, pumpkin, applesauce, cheerios, grahm crackers, she loves them all! Mylee is now in the BIG girl nursery at church and loves it. She is singing lots of church songs, her favorite being, "Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam" She is as spunky as ever, and is becoming a great little helper. She likes to help set the table, put laundry away and get diapers for Lorna. Shad has the job of feeding the dog twice a day and does a super job, he has learned from his dad to be a good worker. Yesterday our neighbors had some snow on their driveway when we got home from church so Jefferson & Shad went and shoveled it off. It was fun to watch him work with his dad. He has been learning left and right and knows how to tell them apart. Jefferson asked Shad what he learned in church and he said "Choose the Right....and not the left" We got a kick out of it. I love how the minds of kids work. Jefferson is loving his new job and we are all loving having him home at night.

I love you

Like most of you we have had a very busy December. From Christmas Tree hunting to ugly sweater and white elephant parties we have had a great time. We went up to Idaho City again this year and got our Christmas Tree, Jefferson did a great job picking it out, and the kids did a great job decorating it. Shad got to put the star on with a little help and was so proud. He loves helping his dad. Shad and Mylee also got to ride in the Kuna Holiday parade with Grandpa and Grandma Hunt. They had a great time riding in the trailer behind Grandpa's 4-wheeler. Alright, well to start I can't believe that Christmas is this week! Thankfully we are pretty much ready. I have really been trying to get Shad to realize that just because he asks for something for Christmas doesn't mean he is going to get it...considering he asked for a yellow rocket ship with a control to fly it to the moon. Thats a big order and we haven't been able to find a 4 yr old friendly rocket. O well I'm sure he'll love what he gets. Mylee wants a kitchen and I'm pretty sure Santa can fill that order. Lorna is very alert and aware of everything around her including food so she will be getting her hi-chair for Christmas. We celebrated with the Hunt side of the family Saturday and it was a lot of fun as always. Shad got a helicopter and airplane that he loves and has been playing with none stop. Mylee and Lorna both got beautiful Christmas dresses that they wore to church yesterday, and they both looked adorable. Jefferson & I got some huge fluffy towels which we both love. Lorna is getting close to rolling from her back to her stomach, but can't quite get over. She is growing way to fast. We were lucky to have Jefferson home from work 2 1/2 days last weeek and loved every minute of it. Christmas should be a lot of fun this year, we are looking forward to spending time together with family. Mylee is getting good at saying her own prayers and blesses all of us multiple times. She also blesses Jefferson's boss Jeremiah multiple times that he will feel better. He hasn't been sick as far as any of us know, but maybe she knows something we don't. Some fun stuff that our sweet Shad has said lately...In his prayers the other night he thanked Heavenly Father for his "great big dad" Yesterday we were getting ready to leave church and Shad said he needed to tell the Bishop something. Jefferson said, "he's busy" because he was getting ready to take a family in for tithing settlement but Shad insisted so Jefferson told him to go ahead-he ran down the hall and said, "Bishop, I love you" Bishop I think was a little suprised, but said "I love you too Shad" It was too sweet, so on the way home we asked what made him want to tell Bishop that and his reply was, "I was just thinking about it" We talked about how the Holy Ghost can help us know when to say things and when we do what he tells us to then we feel good. It was a good teaching moment. I can just imagine how Bishop felt. I love those little moments when my kids out of know where say, "Mom I love you" Today before Jefferson got home Shad said, "Mom, I really need some dad power" What? He is hilarious. Jefferson got home and Shad said, "Dad, I still really need some of your power...I need some dad power" It's no mistake dads have super powers and Shad wants some of them I guess. Today he also called Mylee his sidekick. Boy do I love my little man.

Little Stinkers

This morning I layed Lorna down on her tummy with some toys in front of her, and then Shad & Mylee started fighting. I went to resolve the problem and when I turned around she was on her back. So I turned her back over and got the camera out and started filming....NOTHING. Of course she didn't do anything. After a nap another feeding I layed her down on her belly again and went back to finish getting ready for church. Jefferson came and told me to go look at her. Of course she was on her back, and we all missed it again. As if that wasn't bad enough, after church we were fixing dinner and she was laying on her tummy and rolled again. Yes my baby rolled over 3 times today and we missed it everytime! Once I could have handled but 3 times. She doesn't roll if we are watching, she loves torturing me. O well, there is lots of time to watch her roll. On another note, Monday my parents took me to lunch for my birthday. On the way home Mylee says, "Shad have penuts" "I no have penuts" my dad was chuckling pretty good. Mylee says again, "Shad have penuts" "dad have penuts" "I not have penuts" She repeated this probably 10 times. I guess I'm glad she knows the difference betweeen boys and girls. Just hope she keeps these conversations at home or in the car not at church! I love that little girl so much she has so much personality. My baby boy was in his first primary program a few weeks ago. His part was "Heavenly Father sent me to earth to be part of my family" We worked on it and after a day he had it memorized. I am so proud of him when it was his turn he stood right up to the microphone and said his part without any help. I have to admit I almost cried. The Spirit is so strong when kids are involved. It also makes me realize how fast my kids are growing up. It's bitter sweet. Every new stage is so fun, but sometimes I wish they would just stay little. Moving on, Jefferson is loving his new job, and I am loving having him home and awake on the weekends. The kids love having him around too. He has loved spending time hunting on the weekends with Lily and is thrilled that she has good instincts when it comes to hunting. He is looking forward to turning her into a really good bird dog. As for me I just turned into 27. Jefferson stepped it up this year. He made me a cake with homemade frosting took me to dinner and shopping plus bought me 2 skirts and some jeans. Things I definitely need. It was a fun birthday, and I'm so glad I got to spend it with family. So that is what we've been up to in a nutshell. Pics to come soon hopefully!

Funny Boy

We're in the car last night talking about the sound that S & H make when they are put together. "They say Shh, like Shad" Shad then says, "Sh means quiet in Spanish or somethin like that" Thats my boy. I moved all the furniture so I could clean the carpets the other night. Shad thought it was pretty funny. He came running to my room. "Mom, come look at this" "What?" I ask. "You gotta see this, it's so funny. Come on you gotta see this" I walk out and he points to the furniture. "Isn't that so funny? I think my dad did that while I was sleeping"

That boy makes me laugh every day, and I need to be better about writing them down. I hope this makes everyone that reads it smile.

4 yrs old

Shad turned four just over a week ago. We had a small birthday party at the farsmstead cornmaze, and had a pinata. There is so much for kids to do at the farmstead, a cornbox full of corn to play in, the cow train, a mini maze, a straw maze, duck races, hay rides, really cool slides and pumpkins to pick, and lets not forget the pig races. My kids would be out there everyday if they could. Jefferson is the only one that lucky. It was a nice day not freezing. We had cupcakes and hot chocolate and the kids all had a great time. Thanks Jim & Hillary for a great time. The Birthday Boy!

Benson knocked the head right off

Shad gets his very own Farmstead shirt & sweatshirt--just like his dad!

Fun on the hayride

Swing batter swing

Shad has been such a blessing to our family. He is a very good big brother and such a funny kid that we are always laughing. Some of his favorite things are...

the color yellow

cars, trucks, tractors, airplanes (pretty much anything that moves)

his geotrax train set

working with his dad

"yellow corn"

dogs

riding his Boise State Bike.

We love you Shad!

Lorna's Blessing

Yesterday Jefferson had the opportunity to bless Lorna. Jefferson's mom made her dress and it was beautiful. My dad compared her to an angel and I would have to agree. We were lucky to have most of our family here, but missed the ones that couldn't make it. Afterwards we had a BB-Q at our house with all the family and are grateful to everyone that came. It was a long day for Lorna but she did great. She is a very good baby and we are grateful for that.

What's in a name?

For those of you who don't know, we named Lorna after Jefferson's grandma--she passed away before Jefferson was born, but when she was alive she volunteered at the pediatric ward in St. Lukes. When she died some of her friends donated a painting in her memory to the hospital. Then when Jefferson was a baby he kicked himself off the counter and fractured his skull. His parents took him to the hospital and waited for a room. Hanging outside the room he was taken to was that painting. His parents both felt peace right away and knew that he would be ok. All of our kids are named after someone special to us. Mylee and I have the same middle name, Stella, which was my great grandma's name and Shad's middle name is Jefferson after his dad but also an ancestor that was a captain in the Mormon Batallion. I hope that someday they learn to appreciate their names and the history behind them and that they will live their lives in a way that will bring honor to those whose names they bear.