Mommy Dates

Before Hunter was born I was really worried about how Jake would react to having a new baby and him not being the baby anymore. But to our surprise Jax has seemed to have the hardest time adjusting to it. Not with Hunter himself, he adores him and is such a huge help to me! Since Hunter has been born he has turned into a torturer, teaser, and tormenter of his brother and mother. Granted I am not the ideal patient, nuturing, perfect mother, not even close, so part of his problem was definitely how his mother was reacting to him. I couldn't figure out how to help him adjust to all this new stuff and my attention not all his and Jake's. Well I was reading this book and it had some wonderful ideas and one of those was Mommy dates. It's nothing big, a grocery store trip with just that kid for example. On your "date" your attention is focused just on them, not how fast you can get your errands done or which can of beans is cheaper. If they want to check out and talk about each piece of cheese, go ahead and let them. Its all about them and you. I have only done it once with each boy. Jake a took to the grocery store, he got to sit in the cart, I carried him into the store and everything. It turned out great and he was having an especially rough couple of days prior to this. I loved it more than he did I think and I was more excited as well. Jax a just took today to lunch. He wanted to go to McDonalds and I was fine with that but the playland is there and we didn't get quite the talking time like I did with Jake. But he had fun and I played foosball and air hockey with him. We will see  how it goes. This has changed my attitude as well, and I have tried harder everyday to stay calm and be patient no matter what kind of torturing is happening, not that I don't slip up still. The more I think about the future with these the more excited I get, I just have to remember to make it all about them and not make it this elaborate date every time either.

A Ride of a Lifetime...

This month has been in overdrive, it has been go go go since day one and I'm afraid it doesn't look like it will slow down. Jeff is starting his hardcore Ironman training this week, not that he hasn't already been training like crazy! Hit class is Tues. and Thurs. nights till 9pm and 8:30pm along with his basketball schedule with games every Wed. and Friday and training on the weekends usually in St. George. I don't know where my brain has gone. The poor boys are dragged this way and that with a little free time in between. Last week I think Jake had finally had enough and told us he was done by going a little nutsy, throwing screaming tantrums and everything. That is not normal for Jake, I didn't even know he was capable of such craziness. A couple of afternoon naps and lots of cuddling and holding has done the trick though. As this Ironman race approaches ever faster I can't help getting butterflies in my stomach for Jeff! It is such a lifetime achievement that only a very small percentage of the world population accomplishes. In my opinion it is the ultimate test of physical fitness! I'm sure he gets tired of my constant nagging about what his training schedule is next or if he is really thinking about how he is going to fuel for the race. Maybe its just me living vicariously through him. These next few months will be a test for us all, him physically and mentally. It will be a test of my patience, mothering skills. And the boys it will be a test of how well they can handle their crazy mother! It will be a ride like no other and I can't wait.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is always one of my favorite nights, the excitement of things to come and all the craziness in preparing for it. We had Christmas Eve at Jeff's parents house, it was wonderful. The food was delicious as usual and we shoveled it all in as usual. The kids then did talents for the first time this year and Jaxon gave the whole Aunt Mandy poem! This poem was Great G-pa Hawkins favorite poem and since he has passed on we had Jax memorize it. He had it memorized in less than one week and the poem is 30 lines!!! Amazing. The boys then did "All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth". The cousins did their parts and it was wonderful. We then did the nativity and it went a little smoother than last year, at least the kids wore their costumes for longer than a minute. Bev then had these new chimes and we tried our best to play Jingle Bells, maybe next year. It ended with the kids opening their pjs and then these amazing boxes!

Our little nativity, baby Jesus (Hunter) only cooperated for a minute though

Our shepherd boy (Jake) and Wise Man (Coop)

Jax had been looking forward to being Joseph for weeks and Jadyn was Mary as usual.

My boys on the donkey with their Christmas jammers!

All the cousins in their pjs wrestling as usual with those cool boxes in the background.

These are the boxes each one was personalized according to each grandkids interest. Bev's friend Janna is absolutely amazing and painted each one. Her brother-in-law actually made the boxes. Jake is all about saving the princess and being the hero with a sword usually. His is a pirate theme, with a map on back (pictures don't even do it justice) with a pirate ship on front. Jaxon has always been into sports especially baseball. So his has a baseball jersey on top with a bunch of balls on front and a baseball diamond on back. Thanks Beverly! We love them!

Blessing Day

We blessed Hunter today, and everything went great surprisingly. Minus my skirt zipper breaking there were no mishaps. He was so good the whole time, I am always afraid they will be screaming in the middle of it, but that has never happened and I've never heard it happen to anyone else. Maybe he knows how special it all is. If only I could remember all that he probably still can. Someday I suppose. Thanks to my great families for all of their help getting everything ready. Hunter, we love you and couldn't ask for a sweeter little guy to add to our family!

I had to tell the story of this quilt. We were at Grandma Hawkins house and she had just finished it and brought it out to show everyone. Jaxon was particularly interested in all the animals on Noah's ark. We all talked about it and then she put it away. Well, about 10 minutes later Jaxon went up to her and said, " Great Grandma, can I see the blanket again with all the animals?" She said sure and got it out. Then he went on the tell her, "I think my mom needs that blanket for her new baby!" (That was when Hunter was still in my belly.) Grandma thought that was so cute that she gave it to us. She is so talented and it is beautiful! I am thankful Jax was so bold to ask her because it is my favorite blanket. It almost tempts me to change our nursery from surfing to Noah's ark. Thanks Grandma H!

Polar Express and Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving we went up to Ogden this year. We tried to figure out how long it had been and we don't think we had ever been up there for turkey day officially, we were in Hawaii last time. It was so fun to have all of us there together which doesn't happen very often! Thanksgiving day was busy! The guys went golfing for free at El Monte Golf Course. While we started our day of cooking and boy was it a lot of cooking! The turkey was our biggest fear as usual and it turned out great, thanks to Jeff who kept a close eye on it. All of my cousins on the Squires side came over for pie later that night and it was fun to catch up with them and see all their cute kids. On Friday Mitch and Cami went at 4:30am to shop with all the crazies! We then went up to Park City and shopped a little, next time we should go there earlier, they had some killer deals! Then for our final event we went to see the Polar Express! It's the Heber Creeper turned into that and it was amazing! Next time I am going to put the kids in matching jammies just like the story. It was decorated all Christmas like. We drank hot chocolate, ate cookies and read the story the Polar Express! Mrs. Claus came to visit and give us her cookie recipe and than who stopped by!? Santa himself came and gave the kids bells from his sleigh! We sang Christmas carols to top it off. When Santa came Jake closed his eyes and didn't want to see him, while Jax was all about it. Then when Santa gave him a bell he brighted right up and said I want a motorcycle and a Woody! Jax told Santa he wanted a motorcycle and a Buzz. Jaxon was so cute with the bell, he kept holding it up to his ear and shaking it just like in the movie! This was a great way to kick off the Christmas season! Hopefully we can do it every year or every other year. Thanks mom and dad!

This is Jaxon so excited and you can barely see Jake in the background with a sad face which immediately turned happy when he got the bell! Hunter was more than great the whole time! They are ready to Go!

 A Family pic by the Engine!

Tri Blog

Just for those of you interested in the training required to do an ironman, Jeff created a new blog and is updating all his training, nutrition, and insights. The blog address is: burgessironman.blogspot.com. This is a once in a lifetime chance and it should be really tough and exciting all at the same time. Check it out, maybe it will inspire a few more budding triathletes. The more friends involved in the triathlon experience the more fun it will be to do races! Check it out!

SMILE!!!

I can't get enough of this smile lately! Hunter gave us his first smile at two weeks old and I've been trying to get a pic ever since. It finally happened! I don't think his smile can get any bigger! 

So big you can't even see his eyes hardly!