Back to the books!

So Bailee and Lincoln started school a few weeks ago. Now it is Ben's and my turns. I started my semester last Thursday and Ben started hi final semester of his MBA last night (YEA!!!!!!!!). It seems like it will be all business and no play for us :(

Bailee is loving her teacher and her class and Lincoln has adjusted well to kindergarten. The best part is that I haven't received any phones from the school regarding either of them yet (I must be the best parent ever!!!!!)

In a few months Ben will be finished with his MBA and I will be one semester closer to being finished with my BSN and Bailee and Lincoln will be half way done the school year. It will all go by so fast. Here's to enjoying where we are at now and not hoping for the future to come too soon!

First Day of School

I think that for Lincoln the first day of school felt like it was never going to come. For me our summer has been so long with yucky cold weather that it seems like school just got out for the year. Lincoln was very excited to start kindergarten. He admitted afterwards that we was a "little nervous" at first, but he had fun and likes his teacher Miss Rauser.

Bailee's an old pro at this school thing. She was so excited to be able to ride her bike to school. I am hoping the the novelty won't wear off. The first day of school is a bit of a gong show to begin with, but the first day of school in a brand new school... oh my.... thats is in another league of craziness. We survived though and tomorrow will be another day. Bailee loved her teacher Mrs Rassmen-Wood. I met her outside of the school and she seemed delightful.
The boys in the hood. Nick (left) is Lincolns friend that lives 2 houses down and went to preschool with him. They are like 2 little peas in a pod. They are so similar it is scary. I do have to admit though that I think even Nick can out do Lincoln in the energy department. Nate (right) is Lincolns best bud. They have been friends since their family moved here 3 years ago. I really can't believe that the day has come for these boys to go to school. Look out world because here they come.
The classic picture under the school name. How can I resist though. This school has been a long time coming (2 years in fact). It is a very exciting day for many reasons. Now onto day 2, 3, 3 and so on. Good luck guys!!!!!!!!!!

Dinosaur Museum

This was Lincolns year for a birthday party (since he was turning 5). He kept telling me that we wanted to go to the dinosaur museum and so he made the choice to go there as a family instead of having a party with his friends. So, last Saturday we took the kids to the Royal Tyrell Museum. It was awesome. Its about 1 1/2 from Calgary in Drumheller. We left Harrison with grandma and grandpa and took the 3 bigger kids. They we in awe over all the dinosaurs. I don' t think that Jackson closed his mouth the entire time that we were there. It will definitely have to be repeated!!!! Good idea Lincoln!

Ben LOVES triceratops. He had to get a picture with it. As you can see Jackson likes them too!!!!

This is an actual dinosaur bone from their leg. They say that is comes from a medium size dino. Can you imagine how big the bone from a large dino would be?
The kids were trying to look scared. Really they loved it. Bailee was a little aprehensive at first, but got into it in the end.

It is amazing to me that these are all actual bones that they have discovered. The kids always ask, what would it be like if the dinosaurs were still alive. What wold it be like? I am assuming that we would be on the menu. I'm not sure that I would want to have the experience. I'll stick to letting the kids use their imagination.

Jackson turns 3 today!!!!!!

So totally can't believe that my baby turns 3 today. There is no way that it has been 3 years already since he was born. He's been though some stuff in the last 3 years, but made it through like a trooper. I went into preterm labor with him at 25 weeks....(yuck!!!!). He spent a week at the children's when he was 2 weeks old, we found out that the poor kid couldn't hear when I had put him into speech because he wasn't talking by 18 months. He had tubes place in his ears in May 2008 and then this year found out that the poor kid can't see. We got him fixed up with some nifty glasses and its a whole new world for him, he can now see and hear!!!!! Amazing!!!!. Oh ya, lots of bumps and bruises and a set of stitches last summer to top it all off. He's had to be tough being the third child and all. He still loves to cuddle and still loves his binky. I wonder if they will let you take those to school with you??????I guess that we will have to jump that hurdle when we get to it. I love you J. Happy birthday!!!!!!!

This is his cake that I did, well actually it was cup cakes. It is supposed to be a monkey. It looked a lot better before I stuck the candles in it. Now it reminds me of a reindeer. Anyways, I was happy with the way that they turned out. Definitely pleasantly surprised!

Bailee's new hair do

Grandma and grandpa Shaughnessy invited Bailee and Lincoln over for a sleepover last Friday (Aug 20). They had so much fun. Thank you grandma and grandpa for everything!!!!!

Bailee has been wanting a new hair do for school for sometime. She hadn't ever really decided on what she wanted, so I never went a head with it. Grandma must have figured it our, because when she came home from her sleepover she had the most amazingly cute hair do. She looks so grown up. She still grins from ear to ear when she looks in the mirror. She loves it. Thanks grandma!

BEFORE

AFTER

Totally need an update

So, I have totally slacked off this summer in updating my blog. My mom, my sister AND Ben have been on me about getting some updates. So here is a little synopses of I've missed so far.

1) We went down to visit the rest of the Hughes gang the end of July, beginning of August. It was so much fun. I mean who wouldn't have fun with 11 little ones all playing and laughing. We usually go to a water park close by, just outside of Boise, but this year we thought that we would try something different. We all went to Utah!!!!!!! We spent 2 day at at Lagoon. Man did the kids ever have fun. That was, I think the highlight of there summer. Bailee and Lincoln we actually able to ride a big roller coaster. Thanks uncle Scoot for introducing Lincoln to the Bat!!!!!!!!!! Yes that is Lincoln in the front with his Uncle Andy beside him.

2) We were able to spend a few hours at temple square. It is amazing down there. They now have this mini replica of the Salt Lake Temple. It shows what the inside of the temple looks like. It is really cool!!!!!

3) We went of a tour of the conference center. The kids thought that it was so cool that they actually were able to be where President M

onson actually speaks. The roof is amazing. The views are amazing!!!!!!!!

I thought that this picture is a perfect foreshadowing of things to come!!!! Keep your eyes on the goal girls and you will get there!!!!!

All in all our trip was a success. We had a few bumps in the road like Lincoln puking just as we arrived at the border and Bailee getting heat stroke our first day at Lagoon. But it was nothing that a little nap and air conditioning couldn't fix.

July 26 2010, TORNADO

We TOTALLY got hit by a wicked storm. The wind was so bad that we thought that the hail was going to smash our windows. We actually headed to the basement for cover. I have NEVER seen a storm like this before.

The hail is crazy. Looking outside you would have thought that it was December.

Thankfully our umbrella is the only thing that be need to replace... plus a few leave off of our trees and bushes.

Watching the weather network, after the storm we came to find out that there was indeed a tornado warning in effect for Calgary and that there had been sightings of tornado's in the southeast of Calgary. We also had water pouring into our windows (I mean pouring).

Saturday Picnic at the Lake

Aunt Pam and Uncle Matt thought that it would be fun to have a race to see who could roll down the hill the fastest.... without throwing up. It looks like Lincoln may have won (or cheated, one or the other!!!!!!).

Hanging out with big Papa. Who wouldn't want to hang out with a topless, good lookin dude and his cowboy hat!

Jackson and Harrison share a common love......food!!!!!

Not only is Harrison walking now, he's running too!!!!!

Baby Chet. How can you forget him. So quiet, so stationary and so cute.

The BOYZ

So this is the LAST picture that we will have of this trampoline. Three days ago, Lincoln was jumping and landed on his back (kind of like doing a back drop). Only I don't think that he was really ready for it, because his head whipped back and then he complained that night that his neck hurt. I bet that it did. The next day (yesterday) the poor kid was in such agony that even sowing down the car to turn a corner was hurting him enough to make him cry. (Lincoln is not a complainer...he's a tough kid). So needless to say, I tried 3 walk in clinics before I found a place that had time to look at him...2 hour wait though...sucky part was, I had to work in 1 hour. So my awesome mother sat in the doctors office, with 4 children and waited 1 1/2 hours until they could get him in, then waited again as they took x-rays. I am glad to say that h does not have a broken neck (thankfully), but down have very sever whiplash. The kid is tough though, he played al ittle today and complained a little, but I know that if that were me or any other adult, I'd be in physiotherapy for moths trying to get back to normal. Kids are so resilient it amazes me!

It looks like I have another dare devil on my hands. Harrison has only been walking for a week and a half, and already he is trying to walk up the slide. Oh boy........

The look on his face, is priceless. How can you not love his kid?

Thanks mom

Today was a particularly hard day for me. I found the kids particularly challenging. After cleaning up 2 urine drenched children this morning, 2 poopy pairs of underwear, and 1 urine soaked, a kitchen that the kids had turned into a swimming pool, several loads of laundry and 4 very grumpy children I am so done for the day. My wonderful mother sent me a link to You Tube. On it was a talk by Jeffery R. Holland. He spoke about the importance of mothers, that they are special, and needed in the world. I was very touched by it. Thank you mom. You always seem to know what I need. 

http://www.youtube.com/mormonmessages?v=WbYLKVgwztY

Bailee is my monkey. She LOVES to play on the monkey bars. I think tat she would stay there all day if I would let her. She has permanent callus' on her hands now. She's pretty good at it. She can skip well. Lincoln has now picked up on the monkey bars. Bailee is very patient with him and is trying to teach him to be as good at it as she is.

I tried to do them the other day, I must be REALLY bottom heavy, because there was no way that my hands were holding me while I went across them.

The boys were making rock angels. Lovely aren't they. They look more like they fell asleep in the rocks more than anything.

I love this picture. Harrison was so happy on the swings. He laughed and laughed. Lincoln was being a good big brother and pushing him on them. Harrison thought that it was the best thing since his bottle earlier that day.

* Notice the long pants and long sleeves. Yes it is JULY. I guess that Mother Nature forgot about us here in Calgary. *

Calgary Stampede

Ben took Bailee and Lincoln for their annual rodeo trip. They were so excited to go. I am glad for this, because it is freakin cold here. Temperature is about 8 C with wind gusts about 45-50 km/h. So not summer weather. They pretty much resembled the kid off of the Christmas story. No I am not just exaggerating either. They both had their winter coats on, hats, mittens, and winter boots, and I sent with with a blanket, just in case. I even had to bring an extra coat and mittens for Ben too. Ben's pretty hardy, so you know it was cold.

Our summer days

We have the greatest park near our house (about 10 houses away actually). It is nicknamed "the drop of doom park" because it has this wicked steep and fast slide. The kids love to go it. I have been trying to get out for a walk every morning and this morning my friend Sharla called to see if she and her kids could come. Of course they could, it is always nice to have company on a walk. The walk stated out a little bumpy. Jackson decided to race down the middle of our street and then out into the main street. I could see cars coming, so I put the break on Harrison in the stroller and booked it down to him. I was not very impressed with him, but slightly impressed with the speed that I arrived to him. Needless to say we made it to the park without further incidence. Jackson found some nice rocks, there nice don't you think? He said to me, "mommy can you take a picture of my cool rocks?" SO here it is, just for you Jackson,a picture of your cool rocks.

I think that Lincoln could have easily played the part of Jack on the Titanic with this pose :)

Bailee and Nyah had so much fun today, only they were sad because the boys kept "bugging them". They decided to find a hiding place and build their own little girls club. Oh the things that I have to look forward too.

My little monkey. What more can I say. He plays this part well.

So we have 4 bedrooms in our home. Bailee has an awesome room in the basement that her uncle Matt built for her, and Lincoln and Jackson each have their own bunk beds. Yet they choose to all cram into one little twin bed. I guess I shouldn't complain at least they aren't all fighting with one another.

First Stampede Breakfast of the Year!

A friend of my moms, Jill Rae, kindly invited us to attend a pancake breakfast for her work. It was awesome. They had bouncy houses for the kids, snakes and lizards and the coolest thing of it all......fainting goats. They are soooo cool. I think goats are pretty cool anyways, but these one are way better than the rest. If you scare them, they will simply pass out. Cool huh!!!!!

Bailee is usually a big help, and she has been even more so since school let out. She dressed Jackson this morning and did a pretty good job I thought. Jackson decided that he however needed to accessorize his camo attire with a cowboy hat and boots. I guess we won't have to worry about him entering the fashion designer world.

The kids got to pet the coolest goats on the face of the earth, and their was a bunny too.

My cowboy. I look pretty raged. I got home at 4am from work and we left for the breakfast before 8am. I was exhausted, but it was fun and the kids loved it.

Jackson loves his papas. I think that his papas love him too!