Spring Hiking

We have done quite a bit of hiking this spring and it has been a blast. Mostly it has been in St. George where it is actually warm and not blowing constantly. We went out by Tonaquint and watched some people bouldering. It reminded me of my college days and rock climbing with friends. Still wishing I could do stuff like that. The boys were all over the rocks.

 Jeff went with the scouts to Newcastle and ran up the mountain for his Saturday workout. What a hike! 

 We showed the boys Lion's Mouth out by Pinto and saw the petroglyphs. They boys are getting to be great hikers and I love to see them exploring things and having fun together. Even Hudson is getting used to being hauled around in the Bjorn. Hopefully they will develop a love for the mountains like Jeff and I have. 

Jake is Five!!

 Jake turned five this year!!! There is something about five that seems so big, they become so independent from this age on. Its one of those milestone ages. We had a great party with all our family and celebrated the week before with the Squires side since they were in town for Hudson's blessing. We had our traditional pick your favorite breakfast which was French toast for Jake. We hung balloons all over. The boys can't resist that many balloons. We had a party later that night and he got just what he wanted a Black Pearl lego ship. Its so fun to have all the cousins over. We had our third knight party and made a sword cake. He just loves being the hero and anything sharp. At first Jeff was a good sport and had all 10 kids helping put together the ship. Luckily no pieces were lost and we worked till after midnight getting it put together. Jeff put it on our front entrance table as a shrine and we both crossed all our fingers and toes it wouldn't get broken into a million pieces. We did take some advice and super glue some main pieces together. Happy 5 Jake!!

Five Reasons we LOVE our Jake the Snake...

1. Jake, you are the peacemaker in our home and have such a carefree attitude. You are always happy to help anytime. And you do it with such a happy attitude.

2. Your eyes are always sparkling at us and so loving.

3. You are a great friend, very caring and trying to make everyone feel comfortable. You are loyal to your friends and willing to help them no matter what and defend them.

4. We love that you are sneaky. Whether its sneaking a snack in the pantry and sneaking into our room at 5am.

5. You are genuine in all that you do.

We can't wait for the next five years!

Easter

Easter came quickly and went quickly at our house. The week before we were lucky enough to go on a family trip to Oceanside, CA for Jeff's half ironman and then on to Disneyland for some kiddo time. The kids were more than wonderful and we had a great time. Easter came so fast I didn't even have time to help the kids dye easter eggs, I know they were super disappointed, so was I though. Its one of my favorite parts. We did remember to focus on the real meaning of the resurrection of our Savior and have some family time. The Easter bunny did make his appearance despite the lack of dyed eggs to hide. I'm pretty sure all candy was devoured in less than 2 days. We love chocolate around here!

  Jax is growing up so fast! I love how handsome our boys look in their Sunday best!

 The Easter bunny brought golf balls, which were a hit along with the kites. There is always plenty of wind in Cedar for kites.

 Kite flying comes with its ups and downs. Jeff was usually up somewhere trying to untangle someone's kite or trying to get it up into the air.

New years

We had our second annual new years party at the Aquatic Center this year and it was a blast to have so many friends and family there. The boys couldn't get enough of the slide! There were about 7 of them that all went down in a train together over and over again. I can see our future already. A little rowdy I bet. I really can't wait. Hunter was on his own most of the time with his lifejacket on, he followed the boys around till they started going down the slide and he even went down the slide with Jeff at the end. I got to relax and talk to all our wonderful friends and family. I couldn't think of a better way to spend New Year's when you have little kids. 

 This is the line of boys as they climbed the stairs yet again. They were always so good to wait for each other and make sure everyone was in line and ready to go down. 

Growing...

One week old and ready to leave the hospital

2 weeks and ready for action or ready for mom to put down the camera

Our newest addition

Our new little one finally came on his due date January 6, 2012. After successfully having a version (which is where they turn the baby manually when they are breech) and him staying head down for three weeks. I went into labor that morning about 1AM. We left for the hospital but I didn't want to go in until the contractions were closer together. I just despise sitting there. So Jeff and I got something to eat and drove around Cedar. To make a long story short my labor stopped about 8AM so we went home and I grudgingly went to my doctor appt. instead. When he checked me, his face told it all. We did an ultrasound and there the kid was HEAD UP. To spare the details I was really upset and not prepared for this surprise. Right before surgery all I wanted though cut or not was my baby. Cut to birth took four minutes and our little Hudson Joseph was born weighing 8lbs. 15oz. and 20.5" long. It was wonderful to have him finally with us and he came out with legs to head just like he had been for 9 months.

 See his crooked head from being up against my ribs for 9 months.

 Our sweet Hudson went from this...

 to this... in just a few short hours after birth.

 That night I was totally out of it from the spinal and lots of other meds. My mom was holding Hudson while the nurse checked me out. While she was doing this my mom was taking pictures and kept saying he looked pale and washed out and the nurse kept giving her weird looks. Finally they rushed him back to the nursery and started doing some x-rays on his chest. After multiple x-rays they decided to intubate him. He had pneumonia really bad in his right lung from inhaling blood when he was delivered. They said it just happens sometimes and doesn't show up till hours after. Jeff was amazing and with him the whole time. I had only held him twice since he had been born. Once right after delivery and once to nurse. I didn't get my chance again till days later. I have never had such heartache to hold a baby. Looking at him all hooked up and not being able to breath on his own. The day I did get to finally hold him I know fully comprehend a mother's deep need and love that develops over those nine months of growing. I just cried with joy to hold him not caring about my pain, only wishing I could take all of his away. Thankfully we did not have to fly him to the NICU in St. George. We had wonderful nurses and doctors with so much knowledge. I was put on antibiotics for seven days. The day all the tubes came off and he could room with me was wonderful, I don't think I put him down for hours. Thankfully three weeks later he is still doing good. His brothers love him to death and have been so much more helpful then I could have ever imagined.

Cousin Christmas pics

The next future members of city council!