Girls weekend

Me and 13 other super fun girls got to spend the weekend at my friend, Alisa's cabin in Greer a few weeks ago. I got soooo carsick on the way up that I was tempted to have them leave me on the side of the road and hitchhike home. I'm so glad I didn't! We stopped for dinner on the way up at a overpriced, and untimely Steakhouse....

Poor Lori and Lisa...these 'butterfly' style chicken breasts cost them $20 and add$4 for the scoop of bbq sauce on Lisa's!

No wonder it took us 2 hours to get our food! And of course it was.... separate checks!

Angie, Cari, and Kristen

Marcee & me

Flagpole ceremony...jk not really...

There was nonstop eating, laughing, and talking the whole weekend. When we got to the cabin everyone had a nice stomachache, but that didn't stop us. We stayed up way too late and then in the morning we went for a hike. Then we came back and got ready and went to lunch at this cute little diner that had the best blackberry cobbler, and a very entertaining waiter who was none too pleased when we asked for (again!) the dreaded "separate checks"....Here he is, curled mustache in full effect:

Alisa (our host), Melissa (rarrr!) and Cari

Julie, Angie, and MarceeDon't mind us...

Me and Jamie--going to bed, in the full size bed...it could really pass for a twin size here!

Somebody was tired!

The porch was my favorite part of the cabin, it was huge and wrapped all the way around. It had custom rocking chairs for each person (and their spouse) in the family. It had their names etched on the backs. Super cute.

My backseat car buddies- Jamie & Melissa

Then it was back to the cabin for more talking, more food, and more laughing. We all stayed up way too late once again and I really felt sorry for those that had to drive 3.5 hours home! We made a stop at church and then packed up and then got on the road. It was my first official weekend ever away from my family and I am happy to report that I didn't get homesick like I thought I would! Thanks girls for an awesome weekend! And thank you to Julie and Amy for the pictures-- I only took three on my camera!

D e f e a t e d.

About 6 months or so ago, our Bishop casually mentioned something about no TV on Sundays. I immediately felt guilty so I decided that from that day forward we would be "that" family. The family that eats breakfast together, reads scriptures, Ensigns, and Friend Magazines, plans lessons, only listens to church music, plays board games, doesn't fight or argue, and of course...NO TV or video games. Unless its a church movie of course.

I implemented the plan immediately. I wish I could say I had my husband's full support, but in this case, I don't. He whined almost as much as the kids. "But its relaxing...Sunday's are supposed to be relaxing....family movie time is bonding time....the kids are bored..." For the most part we do pretty good until church. Then sometimes we go over to his parents for dinner, and they happen to watch tv on Sundays. Me and Jer both come from families where there was no rule about TV on Sundays. Everyone is grumpy, fighting, bored after church. We've played every game, watched church videos, and made desserts together, but somehow at the end of the day the tv is on and the video games have been played. Sometimes I just plain and simple feel like a failure. Please tell me your best secrets. I'm about to give up. And I'm pretty sure my family hates me on Sunday. Yep, they do.

third times a charm

When I picked up Kosty today from preshool, his teacher said he had a "monumental day" today! Speaking in sentences and having conversations. When we started walking home, he said, "I just talked-ed today!!"

I'm so happy.

first day of preschool

My sweet tiny boy officially started preschool last week. I was extremely nervous, based on the fact of his behavior at the "Meet the Teacher" a few days prior. He was so excited to go, and then when Miss Nicole tried to talk to him and give him a treat, he clinged on to my leg and wouldn't look up or talk to her. Then more kids started coming in, and he got increasingly nervous/shy so he started clinching his fists and shaking...it was a sight. Then immediately when we walked in our house, (Miss Nicole lives right across the street) he started talking all about it and acted like it went perfectly smooth??

So on the first day, he was really excited and ate breakfast (which he now makes all by himself), got dressed, put on his backpack, and was begging me to hurry up so he could get to school. Only problem was it didn't start for 40 more minutes, so he did not appreciate the delay. I could barely get him to stop for a split second to take a picture!

So, he has now been to school twice. Here's how Miss Nicole reported.

First day: No words, separated himself from the class and did his work on the rug.
Second day: Still no words, but sat at his group table with the kids.

Baby steps. Can't wait to see how he does on his third day! I'm so anxious for him to come out of his tight little shell. He comes home FULL of words and promptly takes all his work and puts it on the fridge. Oh, my sweet little boy you are so grown up!

And I've got 4.5 hours a week alone! I feel like I need to use my time really wisely and enroll for a college class or two....we will see. I also need to do projects around the house, hit the gym, grocery shop, clean, blurb, pay bills, volunteer in Brayden's class.....the list goes on!

last round

These are the pictures that Cede took in Newport. Ah, I really want a good camera.

Newport- part 2

Zach (Jer's brother), Chuck (Jer's Dad), and obviously Jer and Brayden

Grandpa and the boys!

Here are the Hatch's taking a big group picture of us

He looks like he is about to spin a web on that hand!

Brayden scored these headphones for free at Huntington and they were a big hit!

bed dancing with cousin Zoe

The Hestands/Lees were also there the same time, just 2 beach houses away! Me and Jenna

Jenna, Kevin & Braxton

Jer's older sister, Mindy, Dave and Zoe

Cede and I

Mindy and Kosty

He LOVED standing over the fan!

On the ferry ride to Balboa island

this boy was OBSESSED with the sand. Every chance he got, he would lay/crawl/dig in it!he even loved making "sand angels"!