It's Begining to Feel a lot Like Christmas...

With Christmas soon upon us, I have been scurrying around trying to get the tree up and the presents bought. Unfortunatly, I haven't gotten very far. I have most all the imediate family shopping done, but still have some extended family to do. And SOME people (you know who you are) haven't said what they want for Christmas! We really haven't been up to much other that that. I got a cold on Friday, but am doing much better today, which I atribute largly to some juicing I have been doing. I have been enjoying listning to the raw mom summit online and I am sucking up as much info as I can. Some things I agree with, and other things I find a bit extreme, and against the word of wisdom, but there is a lot a valuble health information which I really enjoy learning about. If you are interested in it, go to www.rawmom.com . you should be able to find more info there about it. I just realized that I have lost 9 lbs. since May after I had Brendon! Yeah me!!!

Life Goes On

Not much different around here. Kiddos are growing like a weedy lawn! : ) Brendon is almost 7 months already! I can't even believe it. It seems like I was just in the hospital with him. We a re borrowing a jumper thing form my sister and he is really enjoying that. Loves to bounce! Andrew is still not really talking, but he can say several letters of the alphabet. I think his favorite letters are "Z" and "E". Those are the ones he says the most. He does the "f" sound through his nose, if that makes sense. Funny kid! Olan has been busy with work lately. They have been working on a big project and he had to work overtime. I think his longest day was 22 hours. Pretty much from when he woke up to when he went to sleep. I have been wanting to do some projects around the house, but there just doesn't seem to be enough time to do everything I want to do! I don't have much free time any more, and any spare moment I've got is usually spent cleaning up after someone, catching up on emails, or grabbing the much needed shower. Don't have much time to add to this blog, but I really should more often. I get the feeling not many read it, and that isn't very motivating. Ahhh, well, got to go get something done around the house.

Why can't people jsut do the right thing?

We are having major issues with the AC company that put in out interior unit wrong. They sent someone out and even I could tell he didn't know what he was doing! He came back several days later (after and abrupt exit) and "fixed" it. Still got up to 83 the other day with the unit running constantly. We had the original guy out who told us it was intalled wrong (different company) and he said it would work okay, but not really. Oh, and also the guy had disconnected the electric heat while he was "fixing" the AC. I could go on and on.

What's Up

Well basically what we're up to lately has been pretty boring. I joined Lady of America about a month ago and I've been really good about going. The only days I miss are when there is just too much going on that there is no way to fit it in. I really enjoy going. Gives me a chance to be by myself for an hour and it gives me the energy I need to take care of the kiddos. Although it does take up almost my entire morning, but then I have nap time to get things done like chores or emails. Ahhh, emails! I get so many! Only because I am a part of 5 different yahoo groups- One diaper sewing group, two co-op diaper materials groups, and LDS group, and a Dallas area based holistic parents group. I should really cut back, but my emails are my link to the outside world! they have been for the last year or so. Hard to let go of fun things. I went shopping on Saturday with my sister for stuff for her mission and a dress for me for Olan's friend's wedding on the 24th. I found a couple skirts and a few shirts to choose from. All so cute. It was so much fun to go shopping for myself. I can't really remember the last time I did that. I need to do that more often! Anyway, on Monday I took the boys to the mall to find shoes for Andrew and to see if they had a shirt I was looking for. Didn't have the shirt or the shoes. I wore poor Andrew out! He walked all the way across the mall and back! He was very well behaved and stayed with me (except when he caught sight of the escalator). He even helped push Brendon in the stroller! It was soooo cute! He is showing more interest in Brendon and is such a good big brother. Brendon always had a wide open smile for him. Cute boys! Love 'em!

My Little Man Brendon

Homeschool Play

My mom was in charge of directing a play for some girls in their home school group. They had a performance on Monday night, for their families, and another one on Wednesday afternoon for a couple achievement day groups. My mom's next door neighbors came as well. It was really nice to see them. They are such a great family. Anyway, my mom had asked me to come and help with make-up for the girls. I did Savana, Megan, and Haley's make-up and Savana's hair. They looked so beautiful, as always! They did such a great job on their parts. I missed a little bit because Andrew was being a pill. I wish I could have sat down and been able to pay better attention to the whole thing, but the parts that I saw were great! I always enjoyed doing theater. When I was little I never really cared to be an actress, but I now that I am older, I think back to the good times I had, and kind of would like to do more acting. I think it would be so much fun to be in a movie! Highly doubt that will ever happen, but it would be super fun. Even if I was just an extra!

Yeah!!! We got our counters in today! So happy! : ) They look so pretty! My hubbie is awesome! He put them in all by himself! He amazes me sometimes. Only thing left is the sink (kind important). We will be using paper everything until Monday when he can put it in. He is kind of dreading it because it is kind of a one time shot. I know he will do great. Our kitchen is almost done!

Brendon Ferrell Hodges is Finally Here!

Our sweet baby boy # 2 was born on April 11th at 11:34 am. It was a beautiful, empowering birth, and I will post the birth story soon. He was 9 lbs 6 oz. I keep looking at him, and I still can't figure out how I pushed that chunky boy out! He is such a good baby. Such a joy!

Nursery

Andrew had his first day of Nursery a few weeks ago in January, and it went really well. Didn't cry a bit. I did sneak out once he was settled with some toys. (Loved the toys!) I figure if I made a big deal out of going, it would be a big deal to him too. I have been doing it that way until today when daddy decided to take him. Olan was trying to slip out unnoticed, but was caught in the act and then tried to happily wave goodbye to smooth it over. Didn't really work though. The nursery leader said he cried/was upset for about 10 minutes. Hopefully this will not turn into a habit.

One Smart Kiddo

I am amazed at how smart Andrew is lately. The other day he "helped" me bring in the groceries. I gave him some apples to carry and told him to take them inside, and he did! He did have a little trouble getting up the step, but that was it. That same day he found my keys that I had forgotten to put away on the key hook. He took them over to the wall where the key rack was and held them up trying to figure out how to get them up on the hook. He was trying to put them away. It was so cute! Lately he also has been saying "num" when he eats something yummy. He just keeps learning all the time. It is so fun to watch!