Mommy & Sons Date Night

    I've been such a slogger! (blog-slacker)  So much to tell!  I will probably do a rapid fire of blogs over the next couple of days to touch on some of our highlights!  But I'll start with the most current events.

This evening Hayden, Hurley, and I went out on a Mother & Sons Date.  We headed out to Gardner Village in West Jordan to see the witches!  I love Gardner village, and being a descendent of the man who settled the place back in the 1800's it has a special place in my heart.  They have lots of stores (scrapbooking, clothing boutiques, a quilt shop, fabric store, jewelry, home decor, tea cottage, restaraunt, a Christmas Shoppe, and even a day spa).  The buildings were the homes to Archibald Gardner, his 13 wives, and many children.   

Each year they set out witch manequins around the village.  The boys have always enjoyed going to see the witches; we don't usually wait to go so late in the season but we've been busy, busy so this was our first opportunity... and of course my procrastination would lead to us heading out on the night of the Salt Lake Valley's first snow storm of 2009. 

When we arrived it was chilly and drizzling just a little bit.  The boys were kind enough to humor me with some pictures, but as you can tell by looking at most of them they each look less than enthused about the photo-op.  Hayden decided to just start throwing down the "thumbs-up."  And with each picture I snapped, Hurley would say, in a very synical, toddler tone, "Cheese."  No smile.  No pose.  Just attitude.  They are such a funny pair.  After spending a little time walking around it started to snow and the guys were getting irritated with the frigid temperatures so we headed off to Toys 'R' Us, because Mommy owed each boy a toy for obtaining their flu shots today.  Yes a toy, I started a tradition of sorts by buying the boys a toy each time they get a shot, I should have perhaps thought a little more carefully about this tradition before implementing it, but I can't go back now!  It's been nearly 6 years running!  We just make sure to put a spending limit on the toy of choice. 

On the way home we hit up our local grocer, Harmon's, and bought some pumpkins to carve this Thursday night (stay tuned for the carving pics to come.)  Hayden picked some great pumpkins so I'm excited to see what we can come up with!  Hope you are all enjoying the Fall Fest and looking forward to a Happy Halloween!

 

Autumn Awesomeness

I love fall! 

It is my favorite time of the year.  As the beautiful season approaches next week, I have decided to reflect on some of my favorite fall things or activities.  Maybe you'll catch the spirit too! 

• Short days - the sun rises later and sets earlier. - I love that.
• Going for drives up the canyons with the windows rolled down and the heater turned on.
• Pulling on a big, soft comfy sweater, climbing into a comfy chair, cup of chai tea at hand, and a good book.
• Haunted Houses - that's right, I love 'em!
• Halloween
• Halloween Horror Flick Marathons!  Heck yes!
• Corn Mazes
• Family pictures with the changing leaves in the background.  They may be cheesy and overdone, but no matter who the family is in the picture they always look happy and cozy.
• Changing leaves - of course!
• Fall decorations.
• The NFL season is in full swing. Go Steelers! 
• The hustle and bustle of the holidays.
• Chilly night air and the harvest moon.
• Jumping in piles of raked leaves.  I know I'm not a kid anymore, but I think it's freakin' awesome!
• THANKSGIVING - My favorite holiday, and this year I have lots to be thankful for.

As an added bonus, "New Moon" the second Twilight movie is opening November 20th! 

I love fall!

"Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile." 
"Autumn is the hush before winter."

To My Sweetheart

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart)

i am never without it (anywhere i go you go, my dear;

and whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling)

i fear no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet)

i want no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)

and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows

higher than the soul can hope or the mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

E. E. Cummings

This is my all time favorite poem.  As of late, when I recall the words of this sweet poem, I think of only one person - an incredible man.  I feel blessed to have had him brought into my life and I am so grateful to him for all that he does for me and how truly loved he makes me feel.  I love you, Jim.

Mommy - Hurley Date Night

Hurley and I went out for a little date the other night. He accompanied me to the mall to exchange some school clothes for Hayden and on the way back home we stopped for an ice cream cone. Nothing too fancy, but I cherish the moments when I get to take them out individually for some one-on-one time. I'm hoping in the long run, they will each be able to look back on these simple times Mommy shared with them and enjoy the memories; maybe they will adopt this little tradition and pass it on to their own children.

Hurley has the cutest little voice! If you haven't ever heard it, you're missing out. I love asking him questions and having conversations with him. His personality is so amazing - He loves to be silly and make other people laugh.

He's getting so big, I've noticed in the last week or so, that the physical attributes that used to scream toddler (chubby little hands, chubby feet, round tummy, wobbly stride) are fading away, and he's just turning into a little boy now! It's makes me sad, but it also fills me with a great sense of pride.

Big Cheeser!







I asked Hurley to smile, so he did this instead.







Crazy Kisses.

The more the boys grow and the more independence they each gain, causes me to reflect on those sacred moments as a new mom: the restless nights, getting up for feedings, diaper changes, fevers, teething, general fussiness. All of these things that at the time scared me to death and made me feel so unprepared - I took for granted. I miss all of those things. I miss knowing that they depended on me for everything. Of course, I know my boys will always need their mom, but I'm beginning to see their paths unfold in front of them as they embark on their roads to adulthood.

I just pray that Hayden and Hurley will know how much their mom loves them and that she would do anything, even lay down her own life, for them. I absolutely love being a Mommy. I have never found a greater joy on this Earth.

Hayden's First Day of Kindergarten

Today it happened.

Today He left me standing all alone.

Today He showed me he was grown...

and no longer needed me to hold his hand.
Today He walked through that door...

and didn't look back to get my nod that everything would be ok.

He just went.

-Tricia-

My oldest son, Hayden, started Kindergarten today. I can't believe how fast these last 5, almost 6 years, have gone by. He was so excited to go to school with all of the other big kids today. I had been excited for this day up until last Friday when I awakened with a knot in my gut. Suddenly, the reality that my baby wasn't a baby anymore hit me.

I woke him up this morning and we started the new routine: get up, do bathroom stuff, wash face, brush teeth, get dressed, eat breakfast, brush teeth again, and do hair. Then we took a few pictures and headed to school!

When we arrived, Hayden was ecstatic to see his best friend Kaden who is in the other morning class. He firmly told me it was "unfair" that the two couldn't just play during school time. Karri, Kaden's mom, took a couple of pics of the boys together just as the bell rang and the kids had to line up. Hayden strolled off, when I stopped him and said, "Aren't you going to give me a hug?" He looked up at me with those big brown eyes and replied, "Ah Mom, there's kids around." Taken aback, and now feeling like I'd been stabbed in the heart, I proceeded to beg. He came back to me, put his arm around my waist, and just sort of head-butt me in the hip - in place of the hug I had been seeking. Beggars can't be choosers I guess, so I accepted it, and watched him head into his classroom to find his chair as directed by his teacher, Mrs. Homer.

Feeling proud of myself for not crying in public, I turned to see Karri crying about Kaden and there it was... that knot in my gut was back and I could feel the pools forming. I walked quickly back to my car, hopped in, ignited the engine, and burst into alligator tears followed by sobs. I had to call my sister for some comfort.

When I returned to the school 2 1/2 hours later to pick him up, he came bouncing from his class and told me, "That was great!" He was totally stoked for school and can't wait to go back.

Hayden, you are such an amazing little boy. I'm so proud of you and excited for this new journey in your life. I feel so blessed that our Heavenly Father entrusted me to be your Mommy. I love you to the moon and back, Doodle Bug.

Wacky Wyoming Weekend

The boys and I just returned home from a fun weekend getaway in Kemmerer, Wyoming. We went up yesterday morning to visit our friends, Jim and Owen. We arrived around 11:30 in the morning. Shortly thereafter, the boys decided they all wanted to go to the park, so we headed over to the Kemmerer City Park to let them play for a little while. After the park had run its course with the kids, we went back to Jim's house where we hung out and the boys just played with toys for a while until Owen had to leave at 3:00 to go spend sometime with his mom. We were all bummed to see him go, but super stoked when he returned home later last night.

While Owen was gone, Jim took the H2 and me for a ride in his FJ Cruiser. We headed out past Lake Viva Naughton to where the county road ends and the four-wheelin' begins! We bumped and thumped around for a while until we reached the Jim Bridger National Forest, we continued into the forest until we happened upon a clearing where we stopped. Jim pointed something out to us across the canyon.... three bull elk! It was amazing and it gave me the chills to see those magnificent creatures even though they were miles away. Sights like that, the sounds, and the smell of the timber - all reaffirm to me that Heavenly Father does exist. The outdoors are magical. Hayden and Hurley were growing a little restless so we headed back home. I cooked dinner. When we were finished and all cleaned up, I bathed both my boys and got them into their jammies, then it was a waiting game for Owen to come home. Hayden and Hurley were so glad he came back so they could play for a little while longer, then we all settled down and watched Thomas the Tank Engine until it was lights out for all.

This morning we got up, had breakfast and played for a little while. Jim suggested we go down to the Lion's Club Community Park; it's a little ways past Frontier and down a dirt road by the Hamm's Fork River.

{I'm sure to those of you who know nothing about these parts of Wyoming, the specific locations hardly seem relevant; but because this is where my grandparents, and parents grew up, it's a pretty special place to me - full of memories. And the wonderful man I'm in love with just so happens to be from there too, so I'm making new memories with him and our boys.}

Jim tried to teach Hayden the concept of rock skipping, he was a little too timid to actually try it out on his own but he's got the rock selection process down pretty good. He was going up and down the banks finding flat rocks that weren't too thick for either myself or Jim to throw. Jim got each of the boys their own sticks to poke crawdads with - that was very entertaining to watch; Hurley was terrified of those "little lobster-crabby things." Needless to say, we didn't catch any but I think the boys had fun just throwing dozens of rocks into the river and wading into the water, waist-high.

My allergies were absolutely awful up there this weekend, so after getting back to Jim's from the river, the boys and I had to say our good-byes and head home to Sandy. We are looking forward to seeing Jim and Owen again very soon and we miss them when we can't be together.

We have a Jeep, not an H2!

I've had the desire to start a blog for quite a while, after all "everybody's doing it," so why not me? "Life with the H2" is about my adventures with my two (2) adorable boys Hayden and Hurley, and there you have it! Our blog name was born. I've been refering to my boys as my "H2" since Hurley was born. I don't own an H2, those things are gas hogs! I drive a Jeep, which is so not a gas hog. ;-)


Hayden was born December 5, 2003. And my-oh-my did he get a big start! Hayden tipped the scales at 9 lbs 4 oz, and was 23 inches long; his growing has not slowed down! He is a very sweet boy who loves to have fun with his friends, play video games, roll play Star Wars and Indiana Jones, read books (or be read to), watch movies, snuggle with his Mommy, and he also happens to be the greatest big brother a boy could ever ask for. Hayden has had Hurley's back from the very start. I don't mean they NEVER fight, but if his little brother is ever hurt or upset about something, Hayden is right there to solve the problem. He has the biggest, sweetest, love-filled brown eyes I have ever seen, and they are a window to his emotions - one look into those peepers and you can read the boy like an open book. He's my Doodle Bug!

Hurley joined the crew on October 17, 2006, not quite the big start his older brother got, but he wasn't the tiniest baby in the world. Hurley weighed 7 lbs, 13 oz and was a cool 20 1/2 inches long. He's a big boy now, and like his brother, he's way above average in the height department. Hurley is a rough-tumbler; he has 2-speeds, turbo and off. He loves wrestling, playing with cars, Thomas trains, watching movies, and he's the master at terrorizing his big brother. All-in-all though, Hayden is Hurley's hero and whatever Hayden is into, you can bet his little shadow is close behind. Hurley got his dad's blue eyes and they just sparkle, with mischief! He's definitely the more difficult of the two, but none the less Hurley Bird, or Birdie, is a sweet kid who loves to give kisses and tell his Mommy, "I freakin' love you!"


Well that's us! We may be a small family but our love is big. I adore my boys and I am enjoying watching them grow. I wish the process didn't happen so quickly, but the memories are great!