Last week, the women of my church (The Relief Society) got together to celebrate all that we had accomplished over the past year. The activities committee did a fabulous job creating "a night on the red carpet" atmosphere. T'liese and I are visiting teaching companions. She is the BEST ever!! I couldn't have asked for a better friend to team up with! One of the girls we visit is Heather...the adorable blond on the right. She is so fun and down to earth. We all get along so well! I'm so grateful for good friends. T'liese and I bought these dresses and accessories together at the thrift store. My dress alone cost 6 dollars...clutch: 69 cents. Worth every penny...the 'aloha goddess' get up made the entire night 100 times more fun to get ready for and attend.
This last picture is of Ellie in the new dress I made her last Week. Katie and I are trying to finish a sewing project every Wednesday. More pictures of the girl in the yellow dress to come. (Isn't Ellie the sweetest thing?)
Thursday, January 01, 2009
This is an amazing photo my sister Ari took of our family while we were in Cali. Isn't she sc good? check out her stuff at ariphotography.blogspot.com
What a crazy month! Sorry I haven't posted for six weeks. We seriously have been out of town for almost 3 weeks of December. It's been so much fun, especially with Pat being home for a good portion of it! The first week of December we went to Utah for one of my best friends' wedding. It was the most beautiful ceremony I've attended thus far. What a great couple, I can't wait to get to know Bre's hubby, Mark better. During that trip we drove up to Idaho to visit Pat's sister Jodi and her adorable family. Then we drove all the way back to Arizona. We were only home for a week before we packed up the Tahoe again and headed to California. By far, my best visit back home yet. Such a fun vacation...packed with great beachy, California things to do. We stayed in the Hunter's Beach House for 3 days, that included Christmas, and then drove down to San Diego. We ventured out to Sea World, went on a bike ride, I got a facial...it was so fun. But seriously, the best part about it was just being with my Mom and brothers and sisters. I love my family! Thanks for such a memorable Christmas guys!
For New Years we put the kids down and had some of our favorite people over (T'liese and Joe) to eat yummy hawaiian pork stew (that T'liese made) and played speed scrabble. It was perfect, couldn't have asked for a better end-of-the-year hoorah! :)
This Morning I got so much done. I love being "on a roll". I organized the kids toys...that was a fat project to get out of the way. Now, this 2009, every toy will have it's place. I wish I could say the same for my office/craft stuff...and clothes, and toiletries...and stuff in the pantry.
New Beginnings are so important. It's always good to feel you can start over, clean your slate, try again. I'm grateful for everything the Lord blessed me with in 2008 (especially Ellie Baby)and I anticipate what's in store for us this new year. I'm sure a whole bunch of craziness and unexpected change. I say "bring it on, 0-nine".
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Friday, November 14, 2008
It's been a couple of weeks and both kids are down for naps so I had better get my blog on while I've got the chance! Hmmm, family update:
Ellison is almost 6 months old ALREADY! That means I'm 6 months behind on her first year scrapbook. She now has two teeth and knows how to use them, let me tell you! She eats anything we put in her mouth including our fingers (and occasionally Camdens toes. I know, disgusting. I didn't say I like it or permit it). Ellie is all smiles...and chubs. Doesn't get much better than that. Oh wait, it does; she also loves kisses and snuggling! (Still not as much as Camden did as a baby). She is usually super content with anything and everyone...unless she's tired. Then all she wants is peace and quiet. Ellie ADORES Camden and that's an understatement. It's crazy how aware she is of him. If he's in the room she has to watch his every move (which makes it difficult during feeding time). Camden is the only one I've seen really make her laugh. Ellie is my sunshine and biggest inspiration these days. I feel calmer around her.
Camden is officially 2. I feel like I've been calling him two for the past 5 months (Probably to avoid the comments about haveing two babies in under two years). Cam is smart as a whipper snapper. He loves Thomas the Train, Elmo and his ABC's. He's always pointing out letters to me in books, on signs, tee-shirts etc. Camden sleeps in a big boy bed and has us sing the same three songs to him every night: "You are my Sunshine", "I love to see the Temple" and "I am a Child of God". In that order. He has quite a few friends that he talks about all the time (not that I understand anything he's saying but their Names every now and then). He really needs a hair cut, but I don't want to clean up after it so it looks like he's growing it out :). Camden is really into saying Thank You which is a good thing but sometimes it gets a little annoying. Like when I'm on the phone and give him something he wanted and then he continues to say "Thank You Mommy!" over and over and over until I say "Your Welcome Camden". Sometimes he wont leave it at that, I have to look at him and say it...with feeling. What a sweetheart.
I've been having way too much fun lately and my dusty house proves it. My girl friend and I have been sewing little girly stuff and I've been completely sucked into the world of hand made craft. I can't get enough. I'm losing sleep over it. I didn't know there were so many blogs out there about the trade. My mind is racing with all of these adorable things I could do and make. I had to create another blog just to bridle my creative anxiety before the right side of my brain exploded. I post pictures of things that inspire me, things I want to make, things i've made...mainly to save time. I have to share everything I love with at least one other person and it takes a lot of time going back through websites and blogs to find what I'm trying to describe. My friend and I are doing it together and I love it! (Maybe someday we'll open it up to the public :).
I love being a Mom but sometime I feel so blah when that's all I see myself as. Rekindling this creative flame is really lifting me up and giving me ENERGY! I could go on and on...but I won't. Life is good!
Pat is doing his work thing, trying desperately to find balance and joy in what he does everyday. I'm proud of him for following his heart and trying honestly to have "joy in the journey". He still goes mountain biking with his buddies a couple times a week. He's either being more careful (less stupid) or getting better because I haven't seen broken skin for a few months. Way to go Pat!!
We are so so blessed and are so grateful for these good days!
So this is long. I'll never know if you decided to skip the blabber and just check out my cute kids. I've probably done it to you...more than once :)
Last Saturday Camden had his big 0-2 Birthday! He totally understood it was his day (I was afraid he'd continue to sing Happy Birthday to him self every day for the rest of the year!). We had a little party for him that afternoon and it was a hit. 5 of his buddies (ages 1 to almost 4) came over with their mommy's and daddy's for painting, munching, gifts and a choo-choothomas cake!
The Dads helped the kids paint their masterpieces. Oh yeay!! Even Uncle Jared flew in for the Party all the way from Salt Lake! (Well, the party and a few work mtgs. THANKS UNCLE JARED!! Way to represent the family!).
Thanks again to all of the fun gifts and nice phone calls!!
Birthday Parties for my kids are a perk/happy moment of motherhood for me! It's so fun to celebrate my children!
This year we were all Cowboys/girls. No pictures of Me...darn it. :) We had some friends over for dinner and went to a few doors in our neighborhood. Effie, Camden's girl friend was a ladybug. They had a good time going trick-or-treating together.
Ellie was a Butterfly Fairy and Camden was Nemo (again) for the ward X-mas party. I was a Cowgirl and Pat a Mnt. Biker. The Party was a week before Halloween. Camden got some good practice treak-or-treating. Fun Fun.
So this is how I avoid using a double stroller. We bought this Car seat/Stroller set because it looked sturdy and easy to use. I've fully tested out it's durability and I still give it 2 thumbs up. This is us going to the Zoo. I know some of you readers have this same stroller but would never try this with your two year old but it works for us so I thought I'd share the idea. I've thought about creating a safety strap and something a little more comfortable for him to sit on but until then, this works just fine. I just keep a hand on him.
Is Ellie not just the cutest thing you've ever seen?! Don't you just want to squeeze her!!? Hal, thanks for this adorable outfit! Love the hat.
The kids and I met up with Ari and her boys in Camarillo last week so the two of us could refilled on some much-needed sister time. It was great. We shopped, took pictures of the kids and saw the usual sites of Ventura County.
I'm not going to go into any details about the fun week. Just wanted to post some fabulously adorable pictures of the babes. I love this face of Ellie's. I love matching Kota and Camden.
Ellie, You are something else!! This is probably the best picture my Camera has ever taken with me behind it. The fact that my nephew is a GQ stud didn't hurt.
This is our lawn after 3 weeks with out a trim. It makes for some difficulty playing ball in the yard. Not only do we lose the ball, we lose half of Camden! I'm going to be one of those moms who loves having camden's friends over as much as he does. Are they not just adorable!!? And they are so good too! Pat and I are so glad there Parents are amazing and fun to hang out with too! :)
Camden helping me on ironing day! Kind of a cute ghost costume too...
Cam has a new friend, Effie! She's just a couple weeks older then him and is the sweetest little girl! They get along so well
Our new favorite place here in Arizona is this Museum. To all my friends with young kids: I recommend finding one near you and getting a membership! They are all very different but each one has so many activities, there's no way your kids wont love it! We've been to one in Salt Lake, San Fransisco and just discovered the one here in Phoenix. If anything, it has given me some ideas of activities I can do at home with Camden and a chance to see what he's interested in before I invest in anything. I've looked up all of the museum in California I could find too, and found a ton! Next time we go home to visit we'll be checking out one in LA and Oxnard!
Any other fun places to take your kids in Ventura County area, Utah or Phoenix? (These are all of the places we play!)
So this morning at 6:30 I was on my way to pick someone up about 10 miles from the house. About 3 miles from my door I saw a man laying in the gutter on the side of the road in front of a bus stop, bleeding from the back of his head. No one was on the scene so I assume it had just happened. The two people in front of me pulled over to help. I was going to call 911 but I had left my phone at home. I felt OK about driving by because the others had pulled over and I assumed they had cell phones. The person I was suppose to pick up and give a ride wasen't there so I turned around and went strait back and by that time there was an officer at the scene and another on his way. Anyway, my heart is still so heavy. He didn't look like a bum, but a man probably waiting at the bus stop...he probably has a family to support...oh, it's so sad. I think he was shot in the head. Phoenix is scary. Big old cities are scary. It's moments like this I miss Camarillo. I don't watch the news here because there's always some horrific crime or really lame story about cats or dogs. The news casters sound so calused to it all. It reminds me of the Jack Johnson song, something about "why aren't the news casters crying on the news tonight?". As long as I can remember, I've been one to look out the car window into river banks, back alleys and gutters for dead people. That sounds really dark, I know. I just figure those are the places bad people do bad things. I knew one day I would actually find a body. I guess today was that day. I have more appreciation and respect for police officers and EMTs this morning. God bless them all!!
My friend Cristin posted a great blog about Facebook the other day. The video is awesome...please check it out below. I responded to her post and my response was so long I thought it would be a waste of a lot of typing if I didn't share it with at least one other person. " Cristin--I loved the video. I signed up for Facebook a year ago to stay in touch with mission buddies around the world and plan reunions and stuff. I as well looked up high school friends to see if they're still alive and happy. So the other day when I got an invite to be YOUR friend, I admit I was a little hesitant to respond. Not because I didn't want to be your friend, or end our friendship or whatever, but because we already are in contact by blogger. I'm a little confused about the purpose of the thing, myself. I don't play the games, give hugs, join activist groups or write on funwalls. Am I heartless? Some of my old friends younger siblings want to "be my friend" too. Actually, I'm not too sure if they ever look at my page again after inviting me. Do they really want to know what a 26 year old stay at home mom of two is up to? Am I so rude to ignore them? Am I hurting feelings? Do they REALLY want to know what I'm up to? Who I talk too? Will they ever really write to me or just stalk me? It's especially weird when someone invites me to be their friend, I confirm and write a little note saying the usual "hi, what's up?" and they NEVER reply back! REJECTION. I either feel guilty, rude, stupid, confused, nosey or rejected while using facebook. I'm not a big fan of Facebook but if you or anyone else I kind of know or once knew or have heard of, need me to be another number on your number of friends stat...I'm here for you."
No offence to anyone who really enjoys facebook. I'm glad it has helped me stay in touch with some of my non-blogging friends (which are most of my single friends) and reminisce on the good ol' days. I admit I enjoy stalking you too from time to time :) SORRY CRISTIN FOR WRITING SUCH A LONG RESPONSE TO YOUR POST, AND FOR NOT SPELL CHECKING BEFORE I POSTED. CONSIDER YOURSELF HUGGED :)
Ellie was blessed in Church this past Sunday. Thank You to all those who could make it, it was beautiful! I was certain she would be blessed to become a prima ballerina but it wasn't mentioned...this time. Pat said he was given the inspiration from above that she would become a quarterback princess but that he shouldn't mention it in the blessing for fear Mommy would be upset. Whatever she makes of her life, she will be FABULOUS! I'm so excited to watch her grow and shine! She is our SUNSHINE! Sunny is another very appropriate nickname for this girl!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
This picture was taken of Ellison when we were in Utah 3 weeks ago. She has really changed. She is now two months old weighing in at 13.5 lbs and 23in. She at the gooing stage which we all LOVE, especially Camden. She wakes up happy and is just a JOY in our lives. I'm having the time of my life dressing her and squeezing her. I have to be sure not to squeeze her too much in front of Camden, Monkey See, Monkey Do. We found out in her appointment Tuesday her heart murmur is gone, meaning the hole has closed up on it's own. Her clogged tear duct just opened up this week too...I think. For the past 2 nights she's woken up once for a feeding in the night. I owe that miracle to Pat for praying she'd sleep through the night. Try it, it works :)
Ellie chokes quite a bit and that scares me. She chokes when she feeds at least once every other feeding and sometimes when she's not feeding at all. She doesn't spit up a ton but I wonder if she has silent reflex (that's what my girlfriend's daughter had). She also doesn't poop on a regular basis anymore. Once every other day, sometimes 2. I need to call the Dr. about that one huh? She just seams so healthy and happy...I hate to jump to any silly conclusions. Anyone out there in my circle of friends and family have any advice? Camden is doing well. His favorite thing to do is run/skip around clapping his hands and sing/chant. He is pretty accident prone like his Dad (i.e. Sat Pat went to the ER for 6 stitches in his knee due to ANOTHER mnt. bike fall. the Next day Camden flew off the Glider and cut his gums right above his front teeth. CRAZY BOYS!). Lately he's been screaming a lot. Too much and for dumb reasons. It's definitely a communication/attention thing but it drives me bonkers. I'm having a hard time disciplining the behavior because he seems to ENJOY going into his room or the bathroom a little bit, and then talking bout it. He likes the attention. On the other hand, he'll keep screaming if I ignore the behavior and that doesn't seem to be teaching him a lesson. ANYONE DEALT WITH A SCREAMER? HELP! Note: Sometimes he does it because he's frustrated and I understand that. It's when he has no reason...is perfectly content and thinks it's funny or something...
Besides the choking Girl and screaming Boy, life is ROCKIN'!
A few weeks back Pat and I took the kiddos to Utah for 5 days to visit family. We had a nice time relaxing a bit and playing hard the majority of the trip! Here are a few pictures, enjoy! Hobbs family, These are pictures from my camera that I edited. Feel free to copy any of them you may want!
Yeay! Ellison slept from 9pm until 4am last night (as well as 2 hours before and 4 hours after) ...her longest stretch thus far. Too bad I didn't go to sleep until 11pm. Missed out on two extra, beautiful hours of sleep. Pat made it up to me by getting up with Camden (at 6ish) and letting me sleep until 8!! I'm not following any sleep schedule this time around, at least not yet. I'm just hoping this 7 hour business becomes a new habit for the little princess :)
did a fabulous job creating "a night on the red carpet" atmosphere. T'liese and I are visiting teaching companions. She is the BEST ever!! I couldn't have asked for a better friend to team up with! One of the girls we visit is Heather...the adorable blond on the right. She is so fun and down to earth. We all get along so well! I'm so grateful for good friends. 
