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.