My sweet Little Mary

Ok seriously, I know I am crazy when I hear that my baby gets to play Mary in her preschool production and I just start crying! Why would I cry over that? But let me tell you she made the cutest Mary I have ever seen! If I don't say so myself! :) Madi's preschool all dressed up and did the nativity scene at an old folks home this past week. I LOVED IT!! Madi was so excited and so were the little old ladies and men. I could not help but cry as I watched these precious little children bring the sweet spirit to a room full of adults. They were adorable!

Mad felt so pretty and it was so fun to watch. She has been such a sweet heart this season she has loved giving presents to friends and neighbors, she has loved doing surprise presents. Matt said the other night,"Mad you are so good at spreading Christmas cheer and she replied, "Oh Daddy I am trying so hard!" I love this little Lady!

Let it Snow!

Hallelujah Madi is not a wimp!!! I'm not gonna lie when Matt and I watched our darling daughter dance in a soccer field and chase butterflies we looked at each other and said where does this girl come from??? Well today Madi totally redeemed herself! She had been begging all day to go sledding and she LOVED it! Last year had she fallen off the sled there would have been tears and we would have been begging her to even try sledding this year she wanted to race, and after falling off the sled she jumped up and yelled THAT WAS AWESOME!!! what a perfect Saturday night!

Ohh Mia don't cry, maybe next year!!

Every year sense I was a little girl all of the girl's on my mom's side of the family have made each other a Christmas ornament and have exchanged them on Thanksgiving. This was always the highlight of my Thanksgiving dinner! I could not wait to exchange ornaments and see what everyone had made. As we got older our collections become very large! So we stopped making them for everyone as far as the extended family and we picked up a new tradition of meeting downtown and bringing just one ornament to exchange. The only rule is that the ornament has to have some kind of meaning. I absolutely LOVE this tradition. Every year as I pull out my old ornaments I can't help but laugh or smile as I remember all of the old memories and stories that are attached to each one. This year especially as my sweet Aunt Rea had passed away I couldn't help but think of all of the good memories of her and all of the fun that we had! This year at our dinner she was truly missed but happily remembered. I am so glad to have such amazing women in my family and even more glad that my sweet Madi enjoys this tradition as well.

Of course no dinner will go by without a likkte potty humor!

And yes girl's one day you will be just like them!

Life is short, Be Nutty- I love you Aunt Rea. Mama brought this ornament in rememberance of Rea (this was Rea's last ornament ,that she had brought last year) and it just made me cry! If that is not Rea to the t I don't know what is. She was a funny goofy nutty lady, and I cannot believe she wasn't here with us this year.

Madi's ornament was an ornament from Rea's tree, I love that she got that one. And she is such a little sweetie. She loves this tradition so much and she loves getting an ornament but when we got home she told me,"Mama I've been thinking would you like to have this ornament to keep sense it reminds you of your aunt" I tell ya I am one lucky mom what a doll!

I love my family! What fun girlies!!

Memories

I was getting kind of worried because Mia is one this month and with Madi and Max I have these vivid strong memories of holding them late in the night. I can feel the memory and see their sweet little faces, well I hadn't had that strong moment with Mia yet, I know this sounds way weird, but it was something I was so worried about. But the other night it happened. Mia woke up at about 2 in the morning and was crying and just wanted to play and snuggle. So I went in and rocked her and sang with her. She just kept looking at me and smiling and then we would play kissy kiss. She would kiss me and actually make the meeewaa sound! It was the sweetest moment. I sat there thinking YES!! Finally! I have one with Mia, and then all of the sudden her kissy kiss turned into a giant BITE! she grabbed my cheek with her razor sharp teeth and wouldn't let go!!! Of course anything sweet and tender around here would turn into a battle! I had to laugh she is going to fit right in!

It's here...

I love Christmas!!!! I think I love it even more as your mommy! So weird, I know that as a kid a lot of it (not all of it) but a lot of it is about what will be under that blessed tree on Christmas morning, but now it is so much more! I could care less what I get, if anything. Daddy and I are just so dang excited to spoil you and to help you feel that Christmas spirit. You three are at such a fun age. I have been thinking for weeks about different ways we can invite the spirit into our home this season. I remember Christmases as a little girl feeling so magical and I want you all to experience that as well. This is such a special time of year and I love that I get the job of helping you feel that magic!

I'm Ready for Church!

Last Sunday my little stud muffin told me he was going to go get his church clothes on. I thought to myself, wow this is nice he never likes to dress himself. After a couple of minutes he comes and yells, "I'm ready for Church Mom!!!" He looked ready to me, no shoes, purse, cape, comfy pants, definitely worshiping attire!

We had a great weekend

This past weekend we did nothing but enjoy each other. We stayed home all weekend and just played. Matt helped the kids build the best hut ever. His hut totally kicked my hut's butt! Then we made pizza and had a sleep over in the tent while watching Tinkerbell. Although we really didn't accomplish too much it was so nice to just relax and play with one another. I think the kids loved it to. Madi LOVES family time she just eats it up. And I love just being lazy! Hey I deserve it every once in awhile right???

Mia is on the run!

Mia has discovered her legs! And she loves them! The past three weeks Mia has been learning to walk and she is everywhere! She thinks it is so exciting to walk and she takes a few steps and then looks up with the biggest grin waiting for someone to cheer her on! We just bought her a pair of squeaky shoes and she can't quite figure those out. She loves them but is not sure if it is her making the noise or not! It is so fun to watch her hit each milestone. I can't believe she is already walking, and her birthday is next month. I feel like I just had her. Time goes by way too fast when you have babies!

Being a mom is scary. I am actually freaking out. You know when I think back on my childhood my real memories start when I was in preschool. As bad as this is to say I used to think they are still so young I can get away with this or that. Well now you are getting old enough to remember things, and for the first time as a mama I am scared to death to raise you! I have so many hopes and dreams for you all. It is so hard for me to know how and what to teach you so that you will become successful, loving, human beings. And when I say successful I'm not talking about money. I mean that you are functioning, happy, strong, people who know right from wrong and who chooses to do right.

This past week Max you have been out of control. Seriously you have been just nuts. I thought I might lose my mind and then as I was trying to think why on earth have you been so naughty. I realized that it was prob a side affect from some medicine you are taking for your asthma. So I started doing some research which I should have done from the beginning rather then obeying the doctor blindly. As I researched this medication I felt horrible! I felt like a failure as a mother, and I just wanted to cry and to go climb into your bed and snuggle your little body. These past few days I have lost my patience with you several times and as I sat here tonight reading about this medication I kept thinking about how you must be feeling and how you aren't meaning to be so out of control. I started contemplating our responsibility as parents and I was just overwhelmed with how big of a job it is. It truly scares me to death, but then again I know what I need to do, I know that as long as I am staying close to my Heavenly Father and obeying his commandments and doing what he asks that I will be guided in this HUGE journey, and that as different situations come up we will be directed in knowing how to handle them. I know that our Savior knows us and loves us individually and he too wants each of you to be happy. I know that I am never alone and that all that I need to do to have his guidance and spirit, is to believe and to have faith. And as I think about parenting each one of you knowing that I am not alone in the process is such a huge comfort. A comfort that no one can understand unless they are a parent themselves.

I hope I don't fail you! I hope I teach you what you need to know, and most importantly I hope that you all know how much we love you and how hard we try no matter how many times we mess up. Everything that we do, we do it thinking it is in your best interest. We want you to be happy! Although it's a scary job it's my favorite job. And I wouldn't trade you freaks for anything!!!

My favorite line of the day

madi: mom, will you please teach me how to fly tomorrow? I have had my cape for so long and I still can't fly!

I'm so mean!!! I guess it's time to break the news that only some super heroes can fly!!

Dear Santa...

Christmas is going to be pretty easy for Mr. Claus at the Hess home this year! All that he needs to bring is his shovel and a bucket! There is a nursery right by our home and they are planting a ton of trees all down the street and my kids are OBSESSED!! They want to go on walks to the holes so they can run and leap and jump inside and over them! Yesterday Moo said I think I'm gonna ask Santa for a hole for Christmas! Wouldn't that be so fun daddy?? We could jump in the holes all over our yard!!! It's sounding kind of good to me and it won't cost me a penny!

(Rosies is doing two giveaways this week check out our blog! www.rosierosies.blogspot.com)

I knew these would come in handy

A few years back my hubby kind of had a poker obsession! (ok not the bad kind! he just loved having a few friends over and they would play for fun!) Well that phaze came and lasted a few months and was gone. So we had several poker chips left just sitting in our basement. The last couple of months we have transformed these poker chips into our own little family shop. The kids earn tokens and every monday night after our family night we open shop and they are allowed to buy whatever they can afford. I have been trying to think about how I can get my kids involved in the whole Christmas spirit of giving and I have decided that for December our Family shop is going to be only for their Christmas Shopping. Of course I am going to have to add some extra cool gifts in the shop and give some more token earning possibilities but Mad loves to earn tokens so I think this will be really fun for her and I might get a lot of extra help around the house! :)

Halloween sucess!! Kiddies you LOVEd carving pumpkins this year. Mom and dad... we didn't like it nearly as much. I forgot how hard it was! And why on earth did you both pick such scary looking faces???? Max you were a wild man trick or treating! You loved the candy and you just did not want to stop, everyone who saw you had to crack a smile because your costume was a tad too big! Madi you made a beautiful fancy witch! I wanted to try and rat your hair and make you a little more festive and you absolutely refused, you needed to be beautiful!

The best part of the night was when you both got home Max you were so tired and you went right to sleep. But Madi you had something else in mind that apparantly you have been I quote "DYING TO TRY" I guess you have just always wanted to see if there was a Halloween fairy. In your mind you thought that if you put your candy under your pillow then the Halloween Fairy will come and take your candy and leave you a special prize????? Sounds good! The only problem is that mom was VERY VERY tired and getting over a little cold and fell right to sleep! SO the "Halloween Fairy" didn't quite make it to our house! Luckily you woke up and said that you think she didn't come because you saw her out the window behind the trees eating candy and she must of seen you awake. So I guess we will try again tonight! Hopefully that dang fairy will stay awake this time!! Who are you and where do you come up with this stuff??? I love your little imagination you are such a sweet heart!

Halloween Carnival

Some of the mama's in my hood wanted to get together and have a Halloween party for all of our little kiddies. It was a blast. We had different treat and game booths set up. Music playing and finished it with a costume parade. The kids loved running free and playing with each other. Some times don't you just want to be that kid again!! No fair!! Our costumes this year were super cheap! So cheap in fact that they only cost me zero dollars! Max found this size 10 super man suit in Grandma Chewy's costume box and insisted on wearing it, Awesome Aunt Jenny sent us Ashley's costume from last year, and Mia's costume has been worn by Bailey as a baby and Madi. So Hey no complaints here! I had it way too easy this year!

Fountain Green

So Some friends of ours from our old neighborhood have this cabin (more like this amazing house!) that they every so often try to get us all together to play and catch up. So this last weekend we packed up and headed out. It was so much fun to chat with old friends and let the kiddies all run and play together. Saturday we shot clay pigeons. I have never done that before it was pretty fun, but OUCH my poor arm is so bruised! ( I blame Isaac for making me try that huge crappy wooden gun! Thanks alot!!) We rode up to this waterfall and basically just hung out. We had a great time!

Mama Mama mama!

MAMA!! What an interesting word. Let me tell you about a conversation that was held in your house yesterday. Madi : Mama..Mama... Mama (might I add that these were all with only 1 second in between so there was no way to even respond) MAMA: Madi please stop saying my name say mama once and I will answer. That happened probably 10 times throughout the day and I was beginning to HATE the name Mama. Seriously I was about to lose it. Then comes today and my sweet little Mia decides to say her first word MAMA! And yes it is a word it is not just babbling! I will admit with Max and Madi mamammaa and daddaaaa were babbling but with Mia she knows I am Mama. She looks at me and smiles and says Mama if she is hurt or needs help she just looks at me and says Mama! And it completely melts my heart. But I was thinking how ironic that just yesterday I thought I would scream if one more little kid started their sentence out with mama and then today I can't hear it enough! I am their mama and I am dang proud of it!

Where's the toilet??

So Max is officially potty trained he has been for the past couple of weeks. He is doing so good in fact that he thinks he doesn't really need a toilet to do his business. The other day we were at the park I look over and Max has his pants pulled down to his ankles and he starts peeing. WHAT?!?!?! We start laughing and I run over and tell him we need to find a toilet for that and he kind of moans for a minute and says wait mom I got to poops first. Crazy kid! Then later he was jumping in the back yard with the girls and just randomly decided he didn't need his pants anymore. Uhh ok Max whatever you want dude!

It's time

So I have been debating for months back and forth back and forth, if I should just start my own craft blog for all of these crazy things that I am doing. And I think it is time. I love this blog for my family stories and my family junk. The only reason I blog all of our craziness is so that one day my kiddies can laugh and enjoy it. I can already see it now "BORING mom why did you put so many crafts on here!" soooo,,, the crafts will be moved to our ROSIES site. I really like this idea anyways because the cutest blog on the block will save your blog for you in PDF format for like 7.00 bucks (they print hardbound books now too) but I like that I can print nice copies of our family memories and then a a little crappy copy of a craft book for my girlies, because I just know one day that they will be wondering how I made different things. This way they will have their very own instruction book! So if you are looking for all my crazy new craft STUFF! go to that blog. There will be occassional tutorials, and GIVEAWAYS!!!! If you are looking for stories that make you feel like a better mother stay here!!

These pics are of pants I made for Moo last night (I'm not that crazy, Matt is out of town I had a whole night to myself, so why not!!) I LOVE them! She Loves them! They are so cute but the best part is they are made of knit so they are soft and comfy, just what she likes!

One of my Faves.

I don't know why but as soon as the fall comes I always crave a big cheesy bowl of my mom's broccoli soup! I just think it is so yummy! Anyways here is the recipe for one of our favorites.

4 Qt water
12 chicken Bouillon cubes
3 small packages of frozen broccoli
3 cubes of margarine
1 ½ cup of flour
1 16 oz char of cheese whiz

1- Boil water and add bouillon cubes
2- Add broccoli simmer on low
3- In another pan melt butter, mix flour and stir for 1-2 min. Add to broccoli whisk it add cheese whiz and continue to whisk until smooth.

*this makes a ton of soup! I usually get large freezer bags and freeze left overs. Then you have a meal for another day!

Success!!

Craft Night

Matt has a fishing trip coming up so he needed to tie a few flies. So in our home we had craft night!! We fixed up an area in our basement where Matt has his table of junk and I have mine! We both sit down there after the kiddies are asleep and he ties and I sew. It's kind of fun having a "crafting" partner!!! For tonights project I took this tank top from Walmart that I got for a buck and turned it into some really cute leggings for Mia! I saw this on the clearance rack a few months ago and loved the print and thought there was just enough fabric for Mia's little legs. And it turns out a headband too! I guess the real test will be tomorrow when I try them on her! but I think they will be right on!

The Machine works!

I had to test drive my new machine and it works like a champ!!! I love it! So much better then my old one! So here is my Mia Pia in her new skirt and shirt! I love this pattern I'm going to have to try a few more!

Our Weekend

I love fall weekends! I love just hanging out with the family. This last weekend Matt and I took the kids to the downtown Farmer's market again. Matt and I both just love it there. We love the culture, the food, the art, everything about it. I love to see all of the different people just being them selves. It is such a diverse place and so much fun to just go hang out. After the farmer's market we took a little visit to go see grandpa chuck. The kiddies love to visit him at his work. They know his building and if we drive by they both start yelling for him. I think it has something to do with him buying them a treat every time! Then we came home Matt crashed and I got busy cooking up some chilli for our ward chilli cook off. I was determined to win (ok not really!! but I thought I'd help support the ward and contribute to dinner!) But I did win most spiciest and the judge at my table said that the final decision was down to number 6 and number 9 he didn't even know I was number 6 so hey!! in my eyes, 2nd place that's not bad!! The best part is I lost to my MOTHER!! She won best chilli over all!! I guess I couldn't ask for a better person to lose to!! What a fun weekend!

Favorite Lines of the day...

Madison: You just want to be mean to me, you have been mean to me all year.

mom to Maximus right after his hair cut: You look like a missionary Maximus: No I look like daddy.

Mia: mmbbbklkhjlkalaaaaa klj k more icecream now! mlkhllnlnlknl

Dear Sleep

Dear sleep,

Where are you? I miss you terribly. There was once a time where you and I would meet and we would enjoy each other for hours and hours now it seems you just don't enjoy my company anymore. Oh how I miss those days. I look forward to meeting with you again soon maybe this time we can visit longer.

Sincerely,

a sleep deprived Brandi

If you are looking for the giveaway it is 3 down!

Some say that I am crazy!!

Others say no, just resourceful!!! I am kind of weird!! But I save EVERYTHING! I just know there is going to be some great use for all of my junk for one project or another. So these are all my old formula cans. I love them I have used them for all kinds of things. Most useful for me has been storage for my other "junk" Their most recent use was for madi's new piggy bank. Last Sunday she had me pull out all of my scrap books she loved my Europe scrapbook and also my college ones. She kept saying how one day she hoped she could go to that place where there is a queen and see her castle. (England) and also France to see the painting that is in Ever After (the Mona Lisa) So we talked about how she could do anything and how she had better start saving money for that Europe trip! Then we decided to get crafty and her and I made her this very tall!! Piggy bank. But it is perfect it sits in the corner of her closet. The bottom too are glued shut so she can't get in and the top two are velcroed (how do I speel that??) so she can pay her tithing and use her fun money!

PS Rosie giveaway still on only 3 more days til we pick the winner. Scroll down to enter

Why is my hubby so Freaking Awesome!!

I love this boy!! No seriously I love him!!! Matt was "working" today and he called and said he found an estate sale that said they would be selling vintage jewels and he thought he'd go check it out for me. Well he found some jewels but he also found this old kenmore sewing machine! He got all of the jewels and the machine for 25 bucks! the machine runs awesome! (my machine has been broken for the past 3 months and I have been using my nieces. Plus I got my machine when I was 11 years old!) It has sooooo many cool features and stitches and well I am in love! (with matt too!) I am feeling like a slacker wife these days Matt is just too amazing!

PS ROSIE GIVEAWAY STILL GOING ON! SCROLL DOWN AND ENTER ON THE FOLLOWING POST OR GO HERE AND ENTER ON THIS BLOG!!

Fall is here!!

I LOVE the fall! I love the smell the cold weather the leaves hot chocolate snuggling etc etc etc!!! Halloween is Aunt Holli's favorite holiday and Wednesday was her birthday so we of course had dinner at the Training Table and then after we took Bay and Brad to their first Haunted House!! It was a blast! it brought back way too many memories! Afterwards we had a sleep over at Holls and the next morning was UEA. For UEA this year we had intentions of doing our yearly tradition but ended up at Gardner Village instead. We can't complain it was so fun and got us right into the spirit of fall and Halloween. The kiddies loved going on a witch hunt, getting their faces painted, (and madi and bay's nails) Dancing, crafting, horse back riding, a little corn maze action , basically just being out in the fresh air enjoying each other. I love October! I can't believe the holidays are just around the corner!!

Hey Hey you you I sure love my husband!

The other day the kiddies and I were just hanging out when the flower man came!! At first I thought oh no the neighbors aren't home again, more flowers for heather!!! But low and behold my awesome cute honey had sent me flowers just for the heck of it! Man I love this boy!

Bitter Sweet

So a couple of weeks ago I was released from my young women's calling! Oh sad!!!! I will and do miss those girls and the other leaders terribly. What a fun, busy, crazy, amazing calling to have. I have loved loved loved working with all of the leaders that I did and I have learned so much from all of them. I absolutely adore all of the young ladies as well. They are all so dang cute and taught me so much about life and about parenting and about serving the Lord. Although there are times that I miss it, I can't believe how free I am feeling! So weird I guess I never realized how much time and thought went towards it.

So enter my new calling... I am now on the enrichment committee over the craft group. My job is to have a craft activity once a month! Kind of funny sense I am loving crafting lately! I don't know if it is really fair that I get to do something that I love!! But hey no complaints here! SO if anyone has any great craft ideas for me send them my way! I always love to learn something new!

Simple dreams

I cannot believe that I am old enough and have enough kiddies that I am sending them on their very own Fathers and sons outings! As Matt was getting ready to go with our little man I told him how I can cross one more dream off my dream list! I have always imagined having a hubby who would be sooooo excited to have boy time with our sons. Max could not wait to go fishing and camping with his daddy that was all he could talk about all week. The two of them went and canoed and slept in our tent. Madi and Mia and I stayed back and had a little girl time of our own, we painted nails went shopping, and HAD to eat at Olive Garden. I must say I have got it pretty good!

She's no dummy!

This girl knows a good thing when she sees it! I guess she deserves a little chocolate pudding to make up for her rough week!

Go Etsy! Go Etsy!

Pictures from Bobbi's lemonade stand!


Thanks to aunt bobbity boo!! My mom and I have finally started our Rosie Etsy shop! So we have been sewing for a long long time trying to get this up and going but every time we would make stuff we would either sell it or give it away! So when Aunt Bobbi had her grown up lemonade stand we had a sewing fest and sewed sewed sewed! So we finally have some stuff together! So if you are curious of what we have been up to check out our shop! Let me know what you think! We are working on something else that I will be posting this weekend I'll keep it a surprise so you will have to go back to check it out! hahaha!! Enjoy Peace out!!!

It's a good day in the Hess home!

Chooo Chooo the potty train has arrived and max is aboard!! Yahoooo!!! My little man is doing awesome!! it is about time!! We are going on three days with no accidents! I'll take it!!!

I Hit the Mother load!

I love to go garage sale shopping!!! I get it from my parents I remember as a little girl waking up on Saturday mornings hunting garage sales for treasures. It is amazing what you can find. But I must say this last Saturday was prob my FAVORITE yard sale shopping I have done in a long long time.

So Lately I have had an obsession with old vintage jewels. I have looked all over our thrift shops I have sent Matthew to the thrift shops by his work and while I am in Salt Lake I'll make an occasional stop here or there. But Saturday I ran into a lady who had collected all of these vintage jewels and she was totally selling them at her yard sale! You would think I was a five year old girl on Christmas morning! My heart was seriously beating so fast and I was so excited. I gathered what I could and probably ended up with 30 vintage clip on earrings! I only left a few sets behind and later regretted it. So I went back and to my dismay she had already packed up and left. But SCORE!!!!!!!

Later that night my ma and I were talking and I decided to pull out her old jewelry box. I love her jewelry box it is an old brown wooden box that she has had sense I was a baby probably even from before I was born. I have many memories attached to that box for some reason it not only reminds me of my mom but also of my grandmother. Which is kind of weird sense I was only 18 months or so when my grandmother passed away. I know this might seem crazy but I truly and vividly remember sitting on my grandmothers lap in my old house and my grandmother holding her pink jewelry box and draping her pearls and necklaces on me. I know it a memory because there are no pictures of this event I just remember it. And all through the years I have always felt a special connection to my grandma Faye. It is weird how that works out.

So anyways I begged my mother to just give me her jewelry box now and she politely said no but went on to give me some great treasure!! I was given my grandmothers pearl ring, a rose golden ring, a broach with a pearl on it and a butterfly pin. I love these things! I will treasure them forever!!! My mom got a little giving too and gave me a gorgeous bracelet that my dad brought home from Europe for her, one of her favorite watches, a ring, some clip on earrings, and that string of beads that we both just laughed at. My ma has never been really fancy and she pulled those crusty old dirty bent beads out and said if a piece of jewelry can describe me this would be it. Bright and different! And lastly this white doily, my aunt Rea made this and my mother let me keep it as well!! I'm in heaven with all of these things!!

Saturday was a great day!!! I really did hit the mother load!!!

Only in our house!

It's a bright sunny Sunday morning and Matt and the kids are entertaining themselves watching a marshmallow blow up in the microwave. How come Matt was more excited then the kids????

Dear Mia!

Mia if you are reading this then Hallelujah!! You survived at least until a reading age! You poor thing!!! You have had a rough week. I am slightly surprised that I have not been taken away yet. Here is your week at a glance.

Tuesday: Max pokes you right under your eye with an unidentifiable object. You immediately scream and bawl and then a few hours later have a black eye.

Wednesday: You decide that your right eye need to match your left so in a fit of laughter you bang your head forward and smash it on a shopping cart evening both eyes out for two black eyes.

Friday: we discover that you have mommy's bad cold sore genes and get your first cold sore on your upper lip,

Some day: a mysterious scratch appears on your chin

Sunday: Your top lip just wasn't quite big enough with your cold sore so you hit your lip on your high chair, cut your lip and it instantly swells for a huge fat lip.

and finally today Monday: This one was the worst of all and had me completely freaking out and shaking for a good hour after. We were getting ready to go to the store, I put you in your car seat and set the keys on the front seat. Two doors were open and the neighbor walks by. I stop to say hello and in the mean time Max climbs in somehow locks the doors climbs out and closes both doors. I finish my conversation to realize that you were locked in!!! Talk about hysteria. I called the police they came and could not open the door. They tried to break two of our windows and could not break them either. Finally they broke the back window and we got you out. By that time it had been about 25 minutes and you were sweaty and sobbing, and I felt the exact same way. Because you had been in so long the officer had to call the ambulance and they came and checked you out. Luckily you were just fine, but it sure gave me a scare.

So meeza peeza! You as a baby have it pretty rough! You have got one big brother who loves you to pieces but just likes to show his love by tackling and kicking and locking you in a car. Believe me I try to save you, we all do. I guess it is just part of being the baby of the fam we are glad you are so tough and can handle all of this craziness!

I have a preschooler!

Ohh Mad!! You started preschool last week! I couldn't help but shed a few tears. You have been patiently waiting for this day for two years. You were so excited and so dang sweet. I love seeing you grow and learn. You are such a curious little person. You are so excited about life and about learning everything that you can. Right now you are very excited about learning how to read and write. You practise all of the time and you get really frustrated if you can't do something right the very first time. You are one of the sweetest kindest little girls that I know. You are always very concerned about your friends feelings and you want to be friends with everyone. Because of this sweetness you are very sensitive, if any one is mean or sassy with you your feelings are hurt right away and you get the saddest look on your face and these big alligator tears. These tears are not a good thing for this mama to see because I instantly want to go and kick whoever caused them. You are my buddy! You love to shop with me, you love to create and sew with me, and you share my photography interets as well. You are using your new birthday camera to take pictures of everything. It is so much fun to watch you be creative and to explore your world. You are very imaginative. You love playing house or ponies in the bath, and my favorite thing to do is to sit and listen to you as you play, you are usually singing to your animals instead of talking and the things that you come up with just make me laugh. Another favorite of ours and yours is you love to perform for us, you love us to present you and then you come out and start singing songs that you have made up. You are so serious about this and you have this look on your face that just kills your daddy and I. You are a very organized little girl, you have a special drawer where all of your extra special treasures go and you know where everything is even when I don't. You are silly and goofy and fun but the thing I love most about you is your kind sweet heart and your small testimony of your Heavenly Father. I see you every day making good right choices. You are an amazing five year old and I can't even think about what an amazing woman you will one day be. You are the joy of my life, and I love you with all of my heart!

That dang sewing bug!

She is really not grumpy here, this is her model face!

She is grumpy here!

Ok So I have that sewing bug again where all I can think about is the bazillion projects I want to make! I blame you Bob! This boutique thing on Friday has got me going! Tonight at Walmart I saw this pink and grey striped dress for 5 bucks. I bought it and added a little bit of my own pizazz!!! You can't see the headband that well but I love that just as much! I felt bad that I cutsied up a dress for Mia so I made Mad a headband too! Way fun!! I can't wait to see Mia in it!

My 5 year old!

I cannot believe my baby is 5! She is so grown up! I'll post more about my feelings on that later! But for now here are some pics of Madi's birthday party. Madi loves to bake. So she wanted to have a cooking party. What was supposed to be only 2 friends ended up being 8. It is so hard living in a neighborhodd with sooo many cute little girls you don't want anyone to feel left out or sad and even with this many I know we missed a few! But Madi had a blast. We made little aprons and little chef hats and had the girls bake and decorate icecream cone cup cakes, make homemdae icecream in bags, and decorate their hats. Everything turned out great Madi loved it and I loved being creative and making my girl happy. Sometimes I think this gal has a pretty charmed life. She is definitly loved and we keep pretty busy. I hate that my baby is growing so fast!

I love these gals!

This is a pic of two of my young women! I love these girls so much! For the past couple of weeks I have had several late night visits and it is so much fun to sit and chat with them and really get to know them. Matt swears that they come to visit with him, and he is probablly right, they tease each other like crazy. I remember as a young girl having different young women come to my house to visit my mom and I always wondered if one day that would be me so now every time I get a call or a text saying they are on their way I just smile. It's funny how you can grow to love and worry about teeny boppers who are not even your own.

Disney Fair with the Banks kids

While Peyton and Ashley were here visiting from Idaho we lived it up and tried to spend as much time as possible with them. Madi simply adores Ash and Max feels the same for Peyton so every waking moment they were both asking to see them or play with them. While they were here we were able to go to Chuckee Cheese, play at the castle park, go to Raging Waters, Go to the Gateway fountains, See a movie, many sleep overs and mostly just play play play! One of the days I tokk the kiddies to a Disney fair at the Galavan Center. There were several different booths that the kids enjoyed but I think the highlight was seeing this gigantic python!! It scared me to death but they seemed to enjoy it! We love Peyti and ASh! Can't wait to see you again!

Jackson Hole

A couple of weekends ago Matt and I and some of our neighbors ditched the kids and went camping in Jackson Hole. It was a blast!! It was so much fun to sit back, chat, laugh, and hang out with good friends. My brother Jeff gave us a really nice raft a while ago and we have not had a chance to use it yet so this was the perfect weekend. Matt guided us down the famous snake. We went Friday and Saturday and Matt did great. We hit almost every rapid! Unfortunately no one fell out of the boat, a few got pushed in and we did a little cliff diving. Darrin tricked us with a belly flop switch dive and Paul dove right into a huge rapid called Lunch counter? I don't know the spelling! Saturday night we headed into the town for an excellent dinner and a little shopping. Jackson Hole has a special place in my heart. I have many memories there as a child and as a grown up with many family and friends. It was fun to be back there in that beautiful canyon I had forgotten how much I love that place.

Licorice straws anyone???

Got It!

Yes a smile with no tongue!!!

It's all about your tude dude!

Dear Kids:

I hope so badly that you are those kind of people who always have a smile on your face. Don't get me wrong there are going to be bad days and lots of them. There are going to be days where all that you want to do is (hopefully call me! ) and just stay in jammies all day and maybe even cry a little. There are going to be times where you are going to have to go the extra mile and maybe do things that you'd rather not be doing. There are going to be days that just plain STINK! And that is all ok, it is all part of life and that is how we grow and learn. But I hope that one of the many lessons that you learn from me is that your attitude will affect everything that you do. I consider myself a pretty positive person, but I am definitly learning the importance of a good attitude and of putting a smile on this face of mine no matter what. I can't stand grumpy people! I can't stand "Debbie Downers!!" and I can't stand Negativity. Life is what you make it. You can either moan and groan about every little thing that may not be the way that you do things or you can be excited to try something new or to learn what ever lesson is coming your way. I am learning that you have a choice. Every morning you get to wake up and you get to decide if that day will be a good one or not. You get to decide if you are going to make the best of every situation or if you are going to sit back like a spoiled kid and mope in your bitterness. For me I am chosing from here on out to be happy! I am choosing to Live and to Love! I have a few things that I am working on and it is only the end of day one, but dang it feels good!

Thanks Peyt!

Cousin Peyton taught Max how to go to the backyard turn on the hose and put the hose on your head to drench yourself! Cousin Peyton didn't realize that this would now be max's new favorite thing to do for the next two weeks! But at least he has big muscles!

I don't want to grow up!

Those were the days!! Remember being a kid with not a care in the world! The other day I was watching my neighbors twin boys and we had another friend call and want to play and I thought why not send her over, and then another called and I thought whats one more? ANd then we have cousins visiting from Idaho and they wanted to join and I thought sure!! the more the merrier! Ten minutes later the doorbell rings and there is two more girls on the front porch, the best part is that 8 little kids ran to the door and the two new girls asked "can you play?" and all 8 kids said "no not right now" I was like what???? Be nice let them in!! So we had ten adorable little kiddies dancing in my front room! One thing I love about this hood is there is always a friend available!

Chickens!

Batman to the rescue!! Have I told you about the chickens??? Ok so our back yard neighbors have a chicken coop. Max loves this chicken coop! Sometimes the chickens get out and wander into our yard! max loves when the chickens get out and wander into our yard! He immediately runs to the door lets himself out and tries to help these big fat chickens back into their home! Well a couple of months ago we were all crazily getting ready for church. max is in shirt and tie and we are just about ready. Church starts at 9 it was ten to we are on our way out and Max is no where to be found! Matt looks out the window and just starts laughing. Max had went to the chicken coop and decided to free these dang birds! So there was Max and Matt running around the yard trying gather all of the birds in a frantic scurry so we wouldn't be late for church! I love chickens!!

Here is moo doing what she does best acting silly and crazy for the camera! Madi loves to dance. She always has sinse she was little but her favorite songs are the slow ones. Or what she calls the lovely music! This year we switched dance studios and Madi is dancing with Clytie Adams. Clyties is more classical ballet. So far so good. She seems to love it so I guess only time will tell. I love to imagine what madi will be like when she grows up? I always wonder if dancing will fade away and she will turn into a sportsy girl or an artsy type of gal. Lately she has asked to be put in singing lessons. It is so fun to watch her grow and dream!

Play room

I'm slowly but surely getting this room finished. I love it! It is very bright but I think that is what I lke about it. So I am a pretty cheap gal and I wanted to paint but I didn't want to spend a fortune on paint so I had to be creative and think of a color that would already go witht the light green walls that were there. I love this green! The curtain is funky and fun I need to take the black trim off I don't love that but the whole valance was made with scraps just lying around my sewing table! I think the book shelf and the desk turned out great thanks to madi's help! And now the kids just can't get enough. They play in here way more then they used to. hmmm now for my next project?????

I'm losing my mind

I just got back from an awesome trip to jackson Hole minus the kiddies so I really don't have any excuse for losing my mind but yet I still am. You'd think that I would come home refreshed and good to go for the next 3 or 4 months. But I already feel this incredible urge for a huge Brandi only break!! No cell phone, no kids, no voices!!! Sometimes after hours of little chatting voices the only thing I think of is the grinch and his line from the movie Oh the noise noise noise!!! (and seriously if I have to watch the grinch one more time before Dec 1st! I am going to poke my eyes out! What is it with my kids and Christmas movies?)I am embarrassed to admit this but I think the realization point that proved to me that I really might be losing my mind was yesterday afternoon I was trying to put toys away and these little multiplication cards just keep falling off the shelf, finally I just screamed and ripped them all up!! Really?? Was that necessary?? That's when I knew I had lost it!! I imediatley texted Matt and told him it was time for him to come home. The best part about all of these feelings though is that I know that I am not alone. I sat visiting teaching yesterday and the topic kept coming back to kids and how they can drive us crazy. How who would have ever thought that a trip to the grocery store or to Walmart alone would be the highlight of your day! And it is so true! I have never felt such extreme emotions and feelings. At times I feel very bipolar as one minute a goofy grin can melt my heart and the next minute I want to run away screaming where no can find me. as the saying goes "Oh the Joys of Motherhood!"

My meezers! I can never get a shot without that cute little tongue

I think this is the real thing!!

Ok I know maybe I suck as a mom, especially to all of you mothers who have babies sleeping through the night from day one!! But for some reason my babies take longer!! But I think this is the real thing. I think Mia is finally starting to get this down For the past two weeks she has been finally making it through the night!! Yahoo!!! I put her down around 7 and she wakes up around 6 eats and goes back to sleep til about 8! Yes!! It is amazing how nice uninterrupted sleep is! Let's just hope she keeps this up!

And this one

Some pics that I love!

Lava Hot Springs

Last weekend our little family of 5 was in need of a vacation with just us. So we packed up and went to Lava Hot Springs. It was awesome! The kids loved the one on one attention and we loved just being away. Madi was most excited to go swimming at the pools however the weather just did not cooperate. It rained all night and drizzled the next morning, but we still had a blast. We got ice cream, played at the arcade, made hot dogs and smores and told stories in the tent. We rediscovered how Maximus James Loves sleeping in a tent or I guess we should say loves flying and diving and rolling in tents he doesn't really care for the sleeping part! Madi was most excited for the snuggling and looking at the stars and I can't forget sleeping with a flashlight! Because of the rain we were not able to swim in the big pools but we went to the hot springs and had just as much fun. I love our little family. I hope that we will always be able to love laugh and play with each other.

Singing in the rain!

We had the best rain storm last week. It was pouring and all three of us were sitting there watching it pour out the window. All of the sudden I had this incredible urge to just run and play in it and splash in the puddles. At first Madi, you looked at me like I was crazy and wouldn't come off of the porch and then the belly laughs began and all three of us were dancing on the drive way. Within minutes we were all drenched but it was so worth it!! There is nothing like a good rain storm on a hot summer day!

When Matt's Away the Wifey will...

PAINT!!!! Ever sense Matt and I have been married whenever Matt leaves for a little fishing trip my mind starts going crazy and I end up with some big decorating project. Sometimes cute some times not so cute!! Our Toy room has been in need of a major make over. So I have been collecting things along the way and a couple of weekends ago I found this AWESOME white shelf at a yard sell for 10 bucks and this little school desk at the DI for two bucks and Matt had a fishing trip coming up and I started thinking it is time!! So I tucked the kiddies in bed early got out my trusty level and paint brush and stayed up til 3 AM painting and I LOVE the results! Ill post them tomorrow! I still need pics. But My little Madi girl you are one amazing helper! I love that you want to be right in the action helping me paint and giving me different ideas of where to hang things or what to put up! It is so much fun to create with you!!!

AARRRGGGHHH!!

Does anyone remember when Madi pulled my bean bag apart and my front room kind of looked like this??? Seriously you turn your back for two minutes! This was Max's adventure a couple of weeks ago he spilled his Lucky Charms EVERYWHERE! They were even stuck to his naked little bum while he was helping me pick them up!

Don't ask!

I think I am a farmer!

So we harvested some grub! Is that what you say harvest??? We have gotten all kinds of things! And we are loving it! Here is Max and Brady helping me pick green beans. Another favorite was the zucchini. And we have tons of Hungarian wax peppers but I am not quite sure what to do with them!! So I need to start getting creative any suggestions???

Hess family reunion

Of course I did not bring my camera to this!! But a couple of weeks ago we went to our biannual Hess family reunion. This is quite a big event and Matt's ambitious father puts the whole thing together. So John W. Hess and his ?seven? wives settled in old downtown Farmington so we get together at the old rock church and Chuck has all kinds of speakers there and talks about all kinds of Hess family stories. Matt and I watch kids so that the parents can listen and then we all just eat!! This year the Farley family reunion dude came and he was Hilarious!! Although this is Matt's side of the fam and although even Matt doesn't know half the people that are there (there was at least 100) it is such an awesome tradition and Chuck does a wonderful job at putting it all together and doing the research and the genealogy for his family. I know that one day my children are really going to love the many books that have been put together and the many memories that they will have of attending these reunions.

Shiner

These pics do not give it justice but yes Madi has a black and eye and yes Max is the one who gave it to her! He decided to head butt her! It's all good, my kids are not out of control!

Peace

We went shopping a while back and mad saw this peace shirt that she wanted it was like 32 bucks and I thought no way am I spending 32 bucks on a tee shirt for a kid! So We decided to make it! The sleeves are not my fave but Madi loves them!! So Peace Out dudes!!! Thinking of doing a tutorial anyone interested????

Aloha!

Aloha Justin, Erika, and little Parley! Jus and Ers are off to Iowa to start their adventure in Mommy and Daddying and Justin going to podiatry school! Although we are super excited for them and everything that lies ahead of them we are so sad to see them go! Especially our new little guy Parley! Last week we had a going away Luau to say our goodbyes it was fun to see our family and friends. But I Hate goodbyes!!! Every time one of our family members decides to move it just makes me sick! It is so weird that we are all grown ups now and really our lives will never be the same, but I look forward to hearing their stories and seeing their pics thank goodness for blogs right????

This Aint No Chew toy!!

Mia's first tooth has broken through!!! one word OUCH!!! Mia is also crawling like a maniac and constantly trying to stand and walk her self along the couch!! Seriously Mia you are not even 7 months yet!!! What the crap!!!

Interesting Tac Tic

Madi, we were at the store the other day and you were begging and begging for a new swimsuit. I told you no and that you could do chores to earn it if you'd like and you didnt like that idea at all. So you hid in the shopping cart behind Mia's seat and started talking like a baby and said, " Mama it's me Mia please buy Madi a swim suit it would make me so happy." I laughed and talked back to Mia telling her no and you went on and said, " mama if you don't I am going to cry really really loud and I won't stop not even with a bottle!" I could not help but laugh I almost bought you a suit just for your creativity!

One of those Proud Mom moments

The other night we had my niece Bailey sleep over. Her, Madi, and I were watching a movie and when the movie was over I told madi good night and started heading up for bed. Because it was really late and we were totally out of our comfort zone I didn't really do the whole tuck into bed thing. As I was walking up the stairs though I could hear Madi whispering so I stopped to listen and I witnessed her saying her very own personal prayers, asking to sleep well, to bless bailey to sleep good, and of course to bless her to dream about mermaids. I could not help but feel so proud and so happy I of course started crying and ran and woke Matt up and was just really excited that Madi is getting it that she has her own testimony of prayer and that she realizes that she has a Heavenly Father and one who will watch over her and protect her and that all she has to do is ask with or without Mom!! We teach and hope and pray everyday for our children to understand that they are children of God and for them to feel his spirit and even though they may only be understanding it a teeny tiny bit, I will take it! I can't tell you how happy this made me!!

Oh Mccall

We just got back from a fabulous family vacation. Every summer we try to get everyone in my family together for a trip so this year we headed back up to McCall Idaho. It was so much fun and so nice to be together as a family. With every ones crazy schedules and busy lives it is so hard to all get together and just play and relax so this is something that we, especially my parents look forward to every year. It is a pretty long drive especially when you are a nursing mother but it is so worth it. The scenery is beautiful and the kids love just playing and being completely off any type of schedule that they have at home. They love being dirty and laughing with their cousins. In trying to keep some traditions, we repeated the Banks ball game even in the rain!! Max loved hitting the ball and then sliding on his bum right onto home plate. And then we just HAD to have our talent show again. I can't believe how much these kids love the talent show! Although they seem like last minute talents being thrown together Madi had been talking about how she was going to dance, for weeks up until the actual show began. And then her dancing was more of sassy lip syncing!! But hey she was proud! Max wagged his tongue to the Star Trek music! And I made Matt snore with my magic! But my parents was the all time best! They did a creepy shadow skit and I have never laughed so hard. I don't know where they come up with this stuff!! Our t-shirts this year were a little sad! It is probably my fault I talked my mom into not using this one guy and then she got sick and just didn't have the time to do them. So we ironed them on and of course they were lopsided and crappy looking but you know what we tried so OWELL!! Good thing we can look at life and laugh huh! We were able to experience our firsts helicopter ride. I am not going to lie kind of scary having your two year old son sitting by an opened door flying through the air but he loved it and it was absolutely beautiful flying over the mountains and over the lake. We rode the ski lift up brundage???? mountain. It was amazing! I sat there holding my new little baby, holding Madi's hand, and watching matt and Max. It was heaven, the wind was blowing and the higher we got up the more beautiful the mountain was. I loved it! For the fourth of July Mccall had several booths set up some bouncing rooms for the kids a mechanical bull (which I totally dominated Jeff!) They had the kids put on a parade and the contestants could win prizes for 4 different categories, and ahh yea we totally won that! We dressed Bay up as Lady liberty and painted the rest of the kids faces as flags. We won first place for most patriotic! The kids loved waving and smiling to everyone on the streets and then loved that they actually won first place! Madi just wondered where on earth her float was and why she could not put more make up on! For the the fireworks that night we spread our blankets out about three feet from the shore and the fireworks went off over the lake. For our last day in Mccall we of course had to go river rafting. So Jeff and Matt guided us down and it too was a blast. I love being with my family! We may be crazy and a little weird but we sure have fun together and we sure love each other. We missed you Mike and Em!! Can't wait til next year when little Samuel will be right there in the action!

Karate Kid

Max: Mom Madi Hit Madi Hit
Me: Madi did you hit your brother?
Madi: Nope!
Max: Still crying Madi hit Madi hit!
Me: Madi are you sure you didn't hit him?
Madi: Nope I swept the leg!!!

That's my girl!

He's gotta be cute!

Matt and I really wanted to Have a specialist take a look at max and have him tested to see how severe his asthma is and in Matt's case to see if he really even had it. So last week we took him to a three hour appointment at Primary Children's. And what a little stud Max was. Although the doctors and nurses poked and prodded Max was able to hold his ground and let them know who was boss. At first he didn't want to allow any docs in the room as they entered he would just look at them and say go away! Go out! Out mom! Then after being bribed with spider man stickers he warmed up and was everyones buddy. He gave all of the nursing staff and doctors knuckles and was in better spirits. The doctor had us do chest X rays, a sweat test , and blood work. My poor little man had no idea that that day he was going to be bugged so much. But he did amazing. He sat in the chairs ordering the nurses to hold his stickers, take on and off his bandages, and blow bubbles. After the nurse drew his blood he just sobbed and hugged me and said over and over she mean mom she mean! Every where we went in the hospital people just giggled and watched our little dude. We were told twenty times how cute he was and I must say that I agree! I couldn't help but feel so blessed that we were only there for testing and for something so minor as asthma. My heart ached for all of those parents there, who (in my eyes) were probably just wishing that there child could be hopping down the hall pretend fighting. We are so blessed and so thankful for ours and our children's health . So far all the tests are coming back normal and we are just waiting for the results on one more. He was diagnosed with asthma but it is a very mild case and we have a prescription and a inhaler for the just in case situations that usually only happen in the spring.

Just Can't get enough

Although Mia is already 6 months old Madison still just can't get enough. Madi loves being the big sister to Maximus and Mia and she is dang good at it. She loves Mia so much and will do anything to get a snuggle from her.

A few weeks ago Matt's familia came up and we all went to the Air show at Hill Air Force. It was a blast. The kids loved running from plane to plane and watching the LOUD Jets fly through the sky. Max sat on Daddy's shoulders and would just shout GOGOGOGOGO! He is absolutely adorable.

Max man and uncle Greg

Grandpa Chuck and Moo

Daddy and the kids going inside one of the planes.

The weather started out perfect and nice and then out of no where it just started pouring! We were drenched!! It was awesome! Max wasn't sure if he loved the rain, but it made the rest of us laugh!

Baby Legs

Ok so you know those way cute baby leg warmers that they sell at boutiques and all over for like $15.00 a pair. Well I have always eyed them. I have always wanted a pair for Madi and Mia but I am way to cheap to shell out the dough. I just can't justify spending $15.00 on a "pair of socks" So I decided I was going to figure out how to make them. I found a tutorial online and it walked me step by step. So I made two pair for Madi yesterday. Total time from start to finish for two pair was 15-20 min. Total cost for two pair of baby legs: $1.25!!!! Now that is a bargain! SO EASY!! click on the link below have fun let me know if you have questions!

click HERE for tutorial

These Pics are not the best, Madi picked her outfit out for the day and yes my bed with the fish sheets is not made! Fish sheets because I have been washing and rewashing my sheets all week trying to prevent any flu bugs!! Unmade bed well because I was too busy making baby legs!!

I aint afraid of no pig!!

Ok so I kind of am afraid, so I hope I didn't just jinx us!! But for those of you who have been wondering, questioning, texting, calling,talking, etc etc etc Max is NOT contagious anymore!! Did he really have the Swine flu?? We are not sure. I guess Type A can be the swine but it isn't always, so he may have he may not have. After calling the docs to double check they said that they were treating all types of Flu at this point like they would treat the Swine flu. They also said that if it was indeed the swine that Max would be down for a good 5-7 days. And that if it was just the flu that he would be sick for 2-3 days. Max was pretty much back to himself by Thursday night. (so two days of a fever and just being sleepy and groggy) He seemed a little grouchy but I think it was the lack of sleep from the previous two nights. But just in case we have kept him indoors and away from the neighbors which hasn't been an easy or fun task!! But we did have some fun with this "SWINE" flu and we gave him his very own Mark of the Swine necklace to wear! And yes his own OINK tattoo (ok so My sis and I are nuts but hey you would be too after two days of being locked inside your house with three crazies!!) Anyways buddy I am so glad you are back to your happy little crazy self, and I hated seeing you feel so sick!!

I think I am old!

I was thinking about it this past weekend and I have decided that Matt and I are definitely old. We are totally content with staying home on the weekends and getting take out and a red box. I LOVE spending the weekends with my little family. We used to go out every single weekend now with three small children we really stay home alot or go on family dates. This past weekend we had to stay clear of people just in case that rotten pig really did hit Max but after hours of boredom we decided to head up to Heber and go fishing at one of our family's favorite little ponds. It is so fun to just be together. I used to be very social and I guess I still am but if I had to choose dinner and a movie with friends or hanging out with Matt and the kids 9 times out of 10 I would choose these "stinky whinny " kids!

Why?

Madi: giggle giggle.... I just wiped a booger on the couch

sigh

I just got back from girls' camp, and was so glad to be home. There is nothing that I love more then being outdoors smelling that fresh air, listening to the water and animals and just being outside. I absolutely love being that close to the stars and looking at the world as a piece of art carefully painted on a giant canvas. I love the peace and quiet and the few days of being free from stinky diapers and whinny kids! (However, due to the milk that fills my boobs every 4 hours I did end up bringing one child with me. Which I completely enjoyed and she did amazing!) While up at camp I was able to do a lot of thinking and contemplating and I was just overwhelmed with how happy I am of where I am at in my life and how much I love my cute hubby and my three babies! So of course on Wednesday afternoon I was anticipating seeing them. The reunion was better then I could imagine Madi came bolting down the sidewalk and gave me a huge hug and after a few seconds Max ran up and wouldn't let go of me too. I realized how much I had missed them and couldn't wait to just hold them and love them. That lasted for about oh I'd say 3 hours, then we were back to stinky whinny kids. Max had a fever of 104.He was up all night moaning and groaning. So today I had to take him to the Dr's hoping it wasn't that blasted swine flu. The first doc tried to convince me that he was sick because he hadn't had a good meal in a couple of days I quickly shot that down and the the second doc swabbed him and confirmed that he had type A flu whatever that means! So he's sick and I am back into mom mode. Wondering how I can get girl's camp next year to be two weeks long at a beach in Hawaii! Any suggestions?

We are Loving that Converter Box!

Matt and I are kind of lame. We don't have cable and have not had it for quite a while so because of that we have had like 2 channels that are not blurry! Enter the converter boxes! ahh yeaa! We now have clear channels!! Maybe we will start watchin some tube now!!!

The Hundred Dresses

I am so excited a gal in my ward is putting together a mother daughter book club. Our first book was The Hundred Dresses. So I went and bought it today (kind of late because I have girl's camp next week and the actual meeting is next week) But I thought we'd give it a shot. Mad and I sat out in the backyard tonight snuggled up in a blanket and read the whole thing through! She loved it! I wondered how she would do sense it is not a picture book but the 82 pages kept her attention the whole time. I would try to stop a couple of times telling her we could read more tomorrow but she was so into it she didn't want to stop. Madi has always loved reading ever sense she was Mia's age. I remember thinking when she was born that I was going to be one of those "good" mom's and make sure I read to her every single day. I would read everything to her, in fact I remember sitting on our giant bean bag reading Shel Silverstein poetry and she was like 6 months old!! (crazy!! how did I find the time!!) But she loved it and she always has. Then there is Max he can't sit still for two minutes. Never has had any interest in a single book and still doesn't unless it means that bedtime will be prolonged. Kind of funny how different kids are. Anyways if anyone is looking for a good book to read with their daughter I loved this book it was so cute, and thought provoking.

My kids love the camera! This is Madi with her infamous pose showing off her new dress and then I wanted to get a pic of Mia in her dress and both Mad and Max insisted on being apart of it! I don't mind They are way toooo cute if I don't say so myself!

I've got the Bug!

And it's SEW much fun!!!! Ever sense I made Madi's cape last week I can not stop sewing!! I have always been able to sew and craft, I have made many things in my home, window curtains, shower curtains, blankets, baby bedding, and countless of other projects, but I have never ever really been able to sew clothing. I decided that it was time to learn how. So my adventure begins. Last week I sewed Madi this cute striped skirt and this week I have sewn her one more skirt which I ABSOLUTELY LOVE! and Mia a little dress and These cute little pants to go under skirts. I am having so much fun. I love it! As stupid as this sounds I can't sleep at night because I am dreaming up my next project!! I love to create! ANYTHING!! So here's to my new hobby, I'm currently working on another little top and shorts for Miss Mia and another little dress for Moo and a little secret for Madi and some of her friends. Can't wait to post more pics!!

I love this picture! I think it embodies childhood to the T. My little Madi smiling and laughing with not a care in the world except that she hasn't figured out how to fly!

It's a bird, it's a plane, No it's Rainbow Jewel

Or Madi, whatever you like best! So the cape fairy FINALLY came and left Madi her cape! That dang fairy took WAY too long! Mad was so excited. As soon as she put it on she smiled so big and then told Matt and I that she could already feel the magic coming into her. She is a little concerned about why her magic hasn't came all the way yet and why she can't fly. But feels confident that with time and practise it will all come! I love this little girl she is so animated and so much fun. She has been wearing her cape day and night and if she is not wearing it she is hiding it for safe keeping!

My Freckle Man!

I have ALWAYS! Hated my freckles. When I was a little girl I had an old Lady tell me and my brothers that we were all ugly because we had freckles. She then went on to say that my sister was absolutley beauutiful because she did not have any. From that day on my once loved sun kisses or angel kisses were now considered the mark of the beast!! So I kind of always hoped that my children would not get freckles. But can I just say that now I am in LOVE with Mr. Max's freckles! They are absolutely adorable!!!! They are the cutest things ever and they just make me smile!!

Mia Pia

We went to the Park today and I just loved these pics! You are beautiful Mia!

Welcome Baby Parley!

We have a new little addition to our family. On Wednesday May 27th little Parley Justin Banks was born. He was 8lb 11 0z and I think 22 1/2 inches ling (not sure on that half!) But he is SOOO long, and absolutely adorable. We are so excited for Jus and Ers they are going to be such amazing parents, what a lucky little boy to be blessed into their family. We can't wait to get to know little Parley and we are so happy to have another little baby cousin!

Rock N Roll Mia!

Mia STOP GROWING! With your first baby you can't wait for it to roll, walk, eat solids, talk, sit up, etc etc etc By the time you get to the third you are treasuring every minute! Little Mia you are getting so big and I hate it! For the last month or so you have been rolling over, but this past week you have figured out that rolling can be used as a form of transportation. You roll and push and then grunt and scream when it just isn't working right! You are moving all over this home! I hate it. You are going to be crawling way too soon. You are such a smiley girl and a spitter. You get everyone! You love to eat your toes and you love your sissy and brother. You are always just watching them trying to figure out what on earth that they are. You make me and Daddy light up. And I have decided that you are defiantly a mama's girl. You love me! And I love you. You are the best snuggle partner and I love your big lips and your soft cheek pressed against mine. You are my angel!

One proud mama!

K so remember how I sometimes believe that I can make or do anything, and I always have these crazy ideas of things that will just sell awesomely! (is that a word?) Well like mother like daughter, a couple of weeks ago I went to young womens as I was leaving madi and her cousin Bay and her friend Halle were in the back yard making bead necklaces. When I got home I found two happy girls with big smiles on their faces and a wad of cash in each hand. While I was gone they managed to come up with the best lemonade recipe (thanks grandpa chewy) and a whole bunch of necklaces to sell for a dollar each. They ended up making $16.00 Now that is impressive!! We celebrated by going and blowing it all on wonderful treats and ice cream at our favorite treat store Just Desserts! Way to go Moo!

Girls' Just Wanna Have Fun!

Happy Birthday Ashley Girl! Last Friday we sent the boys fishing and me and some of the gals in our fam had a birthday party for Ashley Ray! We went to Training Table, shopped, painted nails, pedicures, cake, barbies, made hair bows and head bands, and did whatever we wanted without the menfolk!! It was a blast. I just love being a girl!!!

Sunshine!

You gotta love that sunshine! Miss Madi! you are completly obssessed with playing! It is all that you want to do from the minute you wake up to the minute that blessed sun goes down. You want your swim suit on and you want to be in that backyard soaking up the sun. Max you are the exact same. But yours is more of a you want to follow your big sis around. You absolutely adore Madison and you want to be where ever she is. Last weekend we had cousin Ashley and Peyton here playing with us. We set up the slip n slide and Max you insisted on wearing one of Madi's suits. We showed you your camo shorst and your dino shorts but you HAD to wear Mad's princess suit! And boy did you think you were hot stuff. The cutest was that you had a ball in one hand and then you would shout GO Go Go GO to whoever was next in line on the slide! You both love your cousins and we had a wonderful weekend with them!

Your Grandma Chewy

kiddies, let me just tell you a little bit about your grandma chewy just in case you can't remember. Can I just say that I love this woman! She is the epitome of everything that I have ever wanted to be. I have never met a more kinder more sincere more thoughtful person. She would do anything for ANYONE! When I think back on my childhood I have so many fun and crazy memories and I owe the majority of them to her. I was always taught to live and to love and to just be me. I have never once doubted that I can do or be anything that I want to be and I know I learned that from her. I have learned how to serve, and how to enjoy other people through her example. I have learned how to make any situation a good situation and most importantly how to be a mother. I am constantly amazed that although I am 27 and not living with her that I am still learning from her daily. She teaches me so much. She has always been so goofy and never afraid to let loose and just have fun. She is so very creative and could think up any kind of activity or craft in two seconds flat! Her home is like the dollar store but better, if you need anything she is bound to have it! ANYTHING! The other day I overheard some mothers talking about their mothers and how wonderful they were or how awful they were and I just couldn't help but thinking that no one is as lucky as me. My mother is amazing! I could not ask for a better mother. She is such a strong woman!!! and She can do anything. I love you mom!!

Some memories you'll have to ask me about...

Midnight tag
sleeping on the tramp
goats,ducks,turtles the works!
Midnight walks to the gas station for T.P. to toilet paper the hucks!
voo doo dolls
dance poems
Blankets and stars
cow bells
peeing/rolling down a hill

Fruits and veggies!

So we did it! This year we started a little mini garden. Let's hope it all lives! Last Saturday the kids played and Matt and I took on some of our own projects. I planted a garden and Matt cleaned the garage! (Ha he got the lame job!) We planted suqini squash pumpkins watermelons Hungarian peppers red peppers beans cauliflower onions tomatoes strawberries corn carrots a raspberry bush and a grape bush!!! It has been kind of fun, and we are so excited to see if they will actually produce!

EVERY SINGLE DAY!!

So this is our backyard every single sunny day!!! We have about four yards that our backs are al opened up to each other and the kids just PLAY PLAY PLAY!! This day seemed calm and there were only 10 kids out!

PROS: The story lines and games that are thought up on this tramp are amazing!!! Friends! Excercise! Babysitter if I am doing yard work!

CONS: SO MANY KIDS!!! I'm the babysitter if someone else is doing yard work! Our dinners have turned into stage productions where we sit in and act like a family unit trying to have a peaceful meal and we have a little audience of children watching our every bite wondering what is on our plate and when it will be done so they can get back to playing!

Time alone!!

SO two weekends ago Matt and I got on price line and took a little date night to .... Dadadada! Downtown Salt lake!! I know crazy huh!! It was so nice though. We checked into our hotel in the early afternoon and just hung out then we got up and went and tried to win tickets to wicked! Which we failed!! SAD!! It was pretty fun we ran into some of our neighbors and laughed and talked while we waited and hoped for our names to be called. Then we went to this yummy restaurant called cafe mulize??? I am not sure of the spelling but it was fantastic! The food was awesome and they had this little jazz band playing it was so nice and peaceful! You forget how nice going out to restaurants are without little ones!! After the restaurant we went to Gateway and walked around and then back to our hotel for the hot tub and movies! It was such a nice weekend to just enjoy each other sleep in (and sleep through the night with NO disruptions!!) It was so fun and we both DID NOT want to come home quite so soon!

Asthma

Last week I took my little Max man in for his two year old check up. When Max was a baby we were told that he had a mild form of asthma and that he would probably grow out of it. So at this last check up I was asking the doctor about it and trying to figure out if he did indeed have asthma or what. The doc says with all of his symptoms that it is asthma and that he probably won't grow out of it. I know that this is a very minor thing to be dealing with but I just started crying when the doc told me this. I think every mother wants their child to be 100% perfect and not have a thing wrong with them. I hate to think of my little rambunctious kid struggling for breath as he is playing tag or football. The poor thing is always coughing and as he is running from trampoline to trampoline in our backyards he just huffs and puffs! So for now we have a nebulizer and we give him breathing treatments as needed, One day we will get him an inhaler when he is a little bit older. But it just breaks my heart! I can't imagine what other mothers with really sick children are feeling. Other then his asthma Max is doing great. He is right on track with everything and the doctor assured me that all little boys are a little rowdy and crazy. Max is our little go getter he is relentless and will not back down. Hopefully his strong will and energy will serve him well in life!! Oh and he is in the 25th percentile for his heighth and the 75th for his weight! That's my boy short and fat!!!

Bad Mom Bad Mom!

This mom needs to get on it! I am not quite sure because I really don't remember the details but for some reason Madi thinks that a super hero cape is coming for her in the mail!!! (Have I ever mentioned that she truly believes that matt and I are super heros with all sorts of magical powers!! It's great we have all kinds of fun with this one) Well anyways she has been making me check the mail box all of the time lately looking and waiting for her cape to come. I told her it it would probablly take a few weeks thinking by then she will have forgotten but those few weeks have past and she is still asking where her cape is. So the cape fairy lady (whatever!) sent her a note in the mail asking for some more time and basically this mom, needs to get her butt in gear and start sewing her super hero daughter a dang cape!!!

Grandps and grams

Thank goodness for Erika and her loyalty in bringing her camera to all family events! Because now I just steal pics off her blog so my blog has records of what is going on! Man I have sucked at blogging lately. O well hopefully I'll get better! Saturday night we were able to celebrate my Grandma and Grandpas 60th wedding anniversary! Holy Cow! That is long, and so inspiring! A couple of weeks ago we were at my mom's playing the newly wed game and one of the questions said something about describing your wife in a bathing suit and my Grandpa said she's a babe and she always has been! how cute is that? You never quite know what either of these two are ever thinking but I love to see the way my grandpa looks at my grandma he truly loves her and would do anything for her! We celebrated with all of my aunts and uncles and cousins with a dinner and then some kind of talent show!?!?! It was a little crazy, but hey we are a pretty crazy family! I must say though that between my magic show and Madi's dance solo this Hess family represented!!

Some things I don't want to forget.

Madi's bed time prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for this day, thank you for my friends, thank you for letting me play all day. Please bless my family that we can all have sweet dreams. Please bless me that I can dream of Mermaids. Bless my daddy that he can drive to work safe and drive home safe. But please let me dream about mermaids. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

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This morning Madi comes walking into my room where Max greets her with, "Morning mati. I wuv you! Kiss Kiss" as he puckers up waiting for a good morning kiss.

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Modesty taught by a 4 year old:

We have the cutest little neighbor boy named Trevor. He is seriously a doll! So sweet and so well mannered. Well Madi plays with him quite a bit. Yesterday Madi had him and another little girl over. they were all playing in the toy room and I was doing odd jobs around the house when I walked out and saw Trev sitting on the stairs with his arm on his eyes. I asked him what was wrong and he said they don't have enough clothes on. I kind of laughed and then thought you know what you are right. I went into the room and looked at mad's ballet tutus and leotards we wrapped a shawl around her shoulders and I thought we were ok, so I showed madi to him and asked if that was better and he shook his head and said nope too short. She needs some shorts on or pants on. I tried to convince the girls to add some layers but they did not like that idea so little Trevor sat with his arm around his face and finally stood up and said I better go play with the boys!!! What a sweet kid! He has my vote for a future son in law!!