Motherhood

A six-year-old's perspective on motherhood . . .

Joshua: "Mom, it's kind of like you're our servant."

Tell me about it.

First Grade!

Joshua started first grade today.  He was excited to be back in school, but a little nervous too.  In the car on the way to school, he said, "I think I'm really going to miss Ethan and Livi and you."  All this was forgotten when he arrived at his new classroom and saw his best friend from kindergarten was sitting right next to him.  When he heard first graders get THREE recesses, he decided he wasn't so nervous after all.  I gave him a hug, told him I love him, and then left the classroom to cry in my car . . . and so another school year begins.

Farewell to Summer!

The kids and I had an end-of-summer party yesterday.  Both Joshua and Livi start school in the next few days, and we wanted to do some of our favorite summer things to celebrate.

First we went to the movie theatre and saw Kung Fu Panda 2 . . .

Then we had a picnic at the splash park . . .

We had fun spending the day together, and we're a little sad to say goodbye to the freedom of our summer days.  Ethan and I are going to miss the kids so much . . . but I can't really talk about that or I'll start crying.  Goodbye Summer!  We'll miss you!

33!

        Jason and I had this little obsession with the TV series, "24."  It entailed putting the kids to bed early so we could get as many episodes in as possible, then dreaming of saving the world from terrorists at night, and discussing our predictions over the phone the next morning.   Fortunately for our children, we've finished all 8 seasons now.  But since then, Jason has had this desire to become some sort of secret government agent.
        Last week Jason turned 33, and I surprised him by taking him to an indoor shooting range where he could live out his Jack Bauer fantasy (in a safe, non-terrorist environment).  He got to shoot 8 or 9 different guns- He could tell you all their names, but I don't have a clue what they were.  And I even shot a few myself.  I know . . . me.  with a gun.  scary.  We had a great time together.  It seriously did feel like we were in a movie or something.

Jason had great aim.  He even got Osama bin Laden right between the eyes.  I was just trying to keep my eyes open when I shot.

After the shooting range, we went to dinner and had a little party with the kids.  We also ate a lot of cake over the next few days as we celebrated with family.

Happy Birthday Babe!  I'll love ya forever!!

The Translator

Ethan knows precisely 2 words . . . "hi," and "mama."  This doesn't stop him from trying to communicate.  He spends %99.9 of his day pointing and grunting at everything around him.  He has become quite famous to those who know him for his "eh, eh, eh!"  Luckily we have Olivia, who is Ethan's self-designated translator.  A few examples . . .

Ethan: "eh, eh, eh!"
Olivia: "Mom, Ethan is telling you his favorite color is yellow."

Ethan: "eh, eh, eh!"

Olivia: "Mom, Ethan says he wants us all to have ice cream cones."

Ethan: "eh, eh, eh!"
Olivia: "Mom, Ethan says he wants to be an angry bird for Halloween."

It's a good thing I have my little translator around.  What would I do without her?

Hague Family Reunion

We recently returned from a Hague Family Reunion (my Mom's side of the family) at Bear Lake.  We spent a week visiting with family, playing games, visiting milkshake shops, boating, and taking lots and lots of pictures.  We thought this would be our last Hague Reunion because the family is getting so large, but everyone had so much fun we decided we can't give them up!  Here's a look at our week in pictures . . .

We stayed at Papa Bear Lodge right next to the lake.  It had everything the kids could want . . . a playground, a movie theatre, toy rooms, and grass to run in:

Grandma surprised the kids with some art projects:

Each night we had a Family Night activity planned. We had the Hague Family Hunger Games, a Hague Family birthday party, and we played games like Pictionary and "Minute to Win It".  It was a blast!

My sisters surprised me with a hydration belt (to run with) for my birthday.  Thanks Sistas!

More Sisterly Love:

We spent one entire day at the lake.  We played in the sand, went tubing, rode jet skis, and soaked up the sun:

We took a few walks that just happened to end at the milkshake shops. (Funny how that happens!)  We also found a sandbox that Livi and her favorite cousin, McKenna, loved:

Family Pictures:

It was a great week.  We feel so blessed we were able to go.  And we can't wait to see everyone again in 2013!