I know I've got a real sports fan on my hands when Ty's complaint while practicing the piano was "But Mom, I don't want to use the Metrodome!!!"

Firsts

First Tooth! just kidding :)

First 5K for my s-i-l Holly--she did awesome! Running, talking, smiling, soaking up the whole experience--a great family weekend.




First time riding a bike without training wheels for Garrett. He basically taught himself while he waited for me to finish feeding Miya. Then I just got to run along side him as the spotter more for moral support. He rides!!!



Miya sits up now! Not that she loves it too much because I think it hurts her tummy being folded in half like that, but I'm excited because it will give her bald spot on the back of her head a chance to grow in now :)




Shayla lost her front tooth! Not the first one, but a big milestone nonetheless.


Ty placed 4th in the pinewood derby this year and scored a sweet trophy/car display stand.

Ty's first pocket knife. He is a whittling machine now!

Grant playing in the rain. Not the first time, and certainly not the last.

Happy REAL Mother's Day!!!

In the spirit of REAL mom's everywhere--I'd like to share my adventures of my REAL Mother's Day today.

I woke up to breakfast in bed--a culinary masterpiece of some of my favorite things--fresh berries and yogurt, granola, bagels and cream cheese and my new favorite drink--Odwalla mango smoothie. It's like liquid heaven. Flowers, homemade cards gallore--it was so wonderful. And lucky for me ninja Garrett's kick did not knock the tray over and we got through breakfast with just a few kid conflicts.


Breakfast was so nice that we almost missed church--just squeaked in during the sacrament hymn, so things were getting a bit stressful. I was supposed to teach Relief Society, so I was trying to make sure Miya was fed and happy before hand so I'd be ready to teach. So during the end of Sunday School, I was walking Miya at the back of the room trying to get her to sleep when she let out the LOUDEST and LONGEST toot ever! Everyone turned around and looked at me. Very fun. So, with a sheepish grin, I grabbed a diaper and headed for the mother's lounge to change her. When I got there I discovered that she had a huge blow out all the way up her back. Yes, it went through her tights, onsie, slip, dress and blanket. It was everywhere! I had no wipes, so I was in the midst of cleaning her up with wet paper towels when she started peeing all over the place. By this point I was laughing hysterically (on the verge of tears more like it...) at the situation and Miya was just smiling and being adorable, oblivious to the mess she was creating. I hadn't restocked the diaper bag from the last blowout, so I wrapped Miya in the clean half of her blanket, and took her out to find some clothes. It was my lucky day--I found her pj's in the bottom of the stroller from the day before when we had gone swimming. Yes-victory! The miracle of all of this is that somehow my white shirt remained clean through this whole fiasco--THAT miracle was Miya's mother's day gift to me, and I am so grateful I didn't have to teach my lesson with yellow baby poop on me :)

So on the drive home the kids were fighting so I gave them the mom speech about how what I wanted for mother's day was for them to be kind to each other and not fight. Have you ever given that speech before? Does it seem like too much to ask for? Well, obviously it is because we had barely pulled into the garage when Shayla and Garrett had a knock-down roll on the ground fight over my mother's day flowers. It was a doosie--they both got sent to their rooms and later had to do 3 services for each other (one was a 30 second hug--I've never heard kids count that fast in my life :) to repair the damage to their relationship.

So, after the fight was finally resolved, I started making mac-n-cheese for the kids when I hear Grant yell, "I gotta go!" I started running to the bathroom to help him and before i get there I hear, "Oh, I gotta go poop! ...Uh-oh..." Yes, he pooped his pants, which is CRAZY because he has been doing so good potty training. By now I just kept thinking about Marjorie Hinckley's quote about laughing her way through life because crying gives her a headache. And I laughed. And I was proud of myself for choosing to see the humor in all of it instead of crying in a heap on the floor.

Tyler got home early from church and took Miya so I could take a nap and things just got better from there on out. He made me the most delicious dinner of steak, asparagus and mushrooms, fresh bread and fresh mozzarella and tomatoes. It was divine.

We topped off the night watching some home videos and skyping family. All in all, it was a wonderful day. I felt cherished and loved and like a real Mom. I hope your day was just as special (but without all of the poop :)

This is what Miya thinks of sweet peas

This is how Miya feels when I stop trying to feed her sweet peas

Two of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite people:

"I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbors children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden. I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived."
— Marjorie Pay Hinckley

"Elder Neal A. Maxwell once said, "We are here in mortality, and the only way to go is through; there isn't any around!" I would add, the only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it. You either have to laugh or cry. I prefer to laugh. Crying gives me a headache." — Marjorie Pay Hinckley

HAPPY REAL MOTHER'S DAY!!!

april fools

Tyler made breakfast on April Fool's day, and somehow the eggs turned blue and the milk turned blue and pink. Imagine that!

The missionaries joined us for dinner and Garrett and I decided to play a trick on them. We made my rhubarb coffee cake and told them it was a "chicken stuffing casserole" and served scoops of ice cream as mashed potatoes. One of the Elders got it and was playing along with it for the kids, but the other one was really baffled when he saw the "mashed potatoes." "Wait a minute--why are we having ice cream with dinner?!!"

Garrett then shouted, "April Fools!"

The best was when we were sitting up to dinner and Garrett said, looking at the "casserole," "Yum! Chicken casserole thingy!"

First broken bone

Shayla broke her arm at recess on the day we brought Miya home from the hospital. It was a rough few days and took a trip to the specialist to discover the break and get her casted. She was bummed

because she couldn't hold Miya very well with a broken arm.

Bath time was an adventure. Thank goodness for Target bags and lots of saran wrap!

Shayla carried a sharpie with her wherever we went so people could sign her cast. She also got pretty good at using her cast to keep her brothers in line. I bet she wishes she had it back some days :)

Merry Christmas!

Okay, here is a hodge-podge group of photos. I call it "Catching up with the Hackings and their lovely visitors." Catchy title, I know.

Fun with Grandma at the Mill Museum (left), and Tyler and Miya on Christmas Day 2009. Which one looks more tired?

Garrett and Eva, in disguise. She loved to wrap up in blankets and walk around. Our very own Mary, (or homeless person :)

Christmas morning--the excitement was tangible

A week of fun with Kristina and her girls Felicity and Eva--such good times!

Kris, you kept me sane during the month of December--I am indebted to you!

Sleepy sisters

In January Seth and Emily came out for a fun visit--so great to see you both! To see great photos/video footage of their visit, check out Emily's blog here
(thanks Emily!)

Miya 5 weeks old

Okay, that's all for now...more rambling catch-ups to come

testing...testing...1.2.3...

happy easter!

Hi there...so it's been a while. It feels like I've been on a roller coaster for the past few months. Some breathtaking loops, thrilling turns, memorable moments mixed with moments when all I can do it hang on, scream and hope I don't throw up. But would I trade this ride for anything? Not a thing. I heard Seinfeld say that he loved parenthood--all of it, even when it is terrible I love it, he said. I would have to agree. Even when the kids are freaking out and a mutiny threatens Tyler and I look at each other and just have to smile (or laugh, or cry--depends on the day). These are the moments that I try to soak in and remember for the days when our kids are grown and the house is clean and quiet. When I think about it I start to miss these days already. I love, love, love my life and feel so grateful for it.

So, I think I'll start with the present and work backwards and try to catch up.

Today at lunch Garrett was trying to count to a google (he made it all the way to 100 and then skipped straight to a google!) It is his favorite number and he is aiming to live to be that old--good luck Garrett! Anyway right in the middle of the counting Grant pointed at me and in a loud voice said "Give me back my fillet-o-fish!!" So I've been laughing all day hearing his little voice singing th McDonald's commercial. He quotes movies non-stop. His current favorites are from American Idol, singing "pants on the ground," and from Night at the museum, "Oh, he's so cute. Just like a little piece of cous-cous." (said with a lisp).

Miya on Easter Sunday, wearing her heirloom dress made by Nana