Ummm-I mean, 8 Amazing Years

Ok-so you'd think since we got married in 2000 I could easily remember how many years it has been. I guess not! Thanks Brit for bringing that to my attention. Did I mention I had a ton on my plate right now-where is my brain?

9 Amazing Years!

I was suppost to do this post on December 16, our Anniversary, but do I ever get the tribute on the right day for anything? We got married on a blistering, cold day nine years ago the day after finals at BYU-Idaho. I always dreamed of a spring wedding, but as all of you know, horniness gets the best of us and we all play it smart by having the wedding sooner! Even though our wedding day was freezing, it turned out beautiful and everything I could have asked for. The pictures in the snow with my white wedding dress in front of the white temple were beautiful (if I wasn't so lazy, I'd pull out the album, scan in the pictures, and show you all-besides, I don't want to see how skinny I was back then-too depressing!).

It truly has been an amazing 9 years full of love, children, personal growth, relationship growth, excitement, and happiness. Jim is the perfect husband for me and the best daddy to his three girls. God knew what he was doing when he "got us together" in his mysterious ways even though I wasn't trusting at first. Every other man I know could never be as good a husband, to me, as Jim. I love him and am thankful for him everyday. (Yes he changes diapers; yes he does the dishes; yes he cleans the bathrooms, bedrooms, family rooms, the kitchen, and dusts-all better than me; yes he can fix things; yes he bathes the girls; yes he cleans up puke-the kids' and mine; yes he wraps presents; yes he watches chick flicks with me; yes he keeps the yard mowed, trimmed, and weeded; yes he watches the girls when Mom needs a weekend away; yes he takes them to church by himself-and tries to do their hair; yes he works hard everyday to make a nice living for his family) Yes he does have faults, but he truly is one of the most selfless, caring, loving men I know, and I'm glad he's mine!

We usually take a weekend getaway in SLC for our anniversary every year filled with shopping, pampering, and eating out. This year we went to the Carrie Underwood concert on the 7th row on the floor. It was absolutely amazing-that girl can rock and has one of the best voices I've ever heard. We've been to several concerts and her's was the best one! We were six people away from her and I think I have a new girl crush. She's so hot! We had such a good time and felt young again screaming and singing along with the crowd. (Thanks mom for watching the girls. They always have such a good time with you, and I never worry when they're in your care.)

This video does not do her justice. She sounded way better!

Happy Belated Halloween

The snow has been falling the past two days-Beautiful!!-and I'm afraid winter is here to stay. Since I'm forcing myself to catch up, and we usually have snow on Halloween in Idaho, I thought it was a good day to post about Halloween this year. What awesome weather we had this year for trick-or-treating. I bundled my girls under their costumes and was planning on having to throw on coats and gloves, but we actually got hot without the outer layers. It was perfect!

I had great aspirations of coordinating our entire family as the cast of Wizard of Oz (Jim-tin man, Me-Glenda, Ashtyn-Dorothy, Jordyn-scarecrow, Avery-lion) but time slipped away and costumes became scarce. I'm planning to do this next year and convince my mom to make all our costumes! Ashtyn and Jordyn picked out princess dresses-of course-and Avery settled on the most adorable pink dinosaur costume. One problem: after seeing Ashtyn and Jordyn in their pretty dresses (which Avery is obsessed with right now-if they don't twirl, she isn't interested), Avery did not want to wear her dinosaur. Good thing we have a ton of dresses in the dress up box, and Avery was happy to be Cinderella. Crisis avoided! I think they make three beautiful princesses!

I also took the easy route on pumpkins this year and found these cute "accessories" at good 'ole Walmart. They were so easy, and the girls loved them. We did end up carving the Mommy and Daddy pumpkins (yes, mine is the fattest) but kept it pretty simple. All in all a great time!

Raining Leaves

Okay! I have no excuse for not blogging the past two months other than I've been extremely busy. (But who isn't?) I've spent more time on the computer working than I have since college. Just no time for blogging. My freelance writing career has really picked up and I've been working on two different books for different clients over the last couple of months. I've also done a menu, some website editing, and will finish up another book over the next few weeks. It's been so awesome to work in my degree, stay at home, and get paid really well for doing something I enjoy. The writing has been challenging in several ways, but I have learned a ton and am gaining more confidence in my abilities. Hopefully soon I can work on my own books so I can someday be an author on Oprah's book club (ha, ha-but seriously one of my dreams!).

I have so many things to blog about that have been going on in our lives, but I don't know if I will ever catch up. I haven't even done my girl's 1st day of school or Halloween. Pretty pathetic! Because I want this to blog to be a journal to look back on in the future, bear with as I will probably be posting a lot of past events that I want to record for history (Ashtyn's surgery, Thanksgiving, Halloween, school, CARRIE UNDERWOOD concert-just to name a few).

I can't believe Fall is over already. We had such a nice-weather Fall this year and I wanted it to stay longer. We have a huge, huge tree in our yard that dumps tons and tons of leaves each year. One particular windy day, I remember Jordyn saying "Mommy, come here. It's raining leaves." She was looking out the window and it was seriously raining leaves. We walked outside and couldn't see around us cause leaves were falling and swirling in all directions. It was pretty magical! (Until we spent 5 hours raking those leaves into piles a few days later!) I wish the world would stop like that sometimes and let us just stand in the beautiful, swirling leaves with our children and enjoy the moment. I don't do that often enough, and those are the moments that children cherish and remember!

Hope you all have some time to enjoy the magical moments of the Christmas season these next couple of weeks. I absolutely love this time of year. Children's smiles are bright, their minds are innocent, and they show us the type of love that our Saviour's birth was all about.

Sleeping Beauties

Since Ashtyn started first grade, Jordyn and Avery have become the best of little friends since they only have each other to play with during the day. It is so cute to listen to them playing upstairs and the way they talk to each other. I think Jordyn loves finally being able to be the older sister with all the ideas while Ashtyn's away. The other day they had been playing "house" in Avery's closet for most of the morning before I announced it was nap time. They had already gotten all the blankets down from the shelves in Avery's closet, and Jordyn said "can we sleep in the closet?" Usually I am a stickler for sleeping in your own bed, but they were being so sweet and I thought "why not?" So I let them and this is how they ended up! Jordyn slept for about an hour, and Avery slept for 3 1/2 hours. I think they got a little hot from the confined space and body heat 'cause their cheeks look flushed. It sounds bad that my kids took a nap in the closet, but it was too adorable not to snap a memory.

4th Picture Tag

This tag seemed easy enough since I've been horrible at blogging lately. This is Jordyn a little before she was 1 (I think!). She has the finest hair that is always fly-away. Doesn't she look a little like Elmer Fudd?

Getting With It!

I am finally catching you all up on the little "sneak preview" I mentioned a few weeks ago. I don't put things off, do I ?
The girls' first snow cones of the summer. This is one of our favorite things about summer, and the girls (and Jim) absolutely love them.
Avery couldn't get enough and was sucking every last drop out of her cup.

We took a lovely Sunday drive after church to Cave Falls. I hadn't been for a while and forgot how close you can get to the water. I dressed the girls in tennis shoes but should have put them in water clothes and sandals 'cause they all waded in the water. It was freezing, but the girls didn't care. Avery actually fell all the way under, cut her leg on a rock, and got a face-full of water. She shivered the rest of the time!

It was such a nice afternoon and the falls are really pretty. We could have stayed for hours just skipping rocks and splashing around. Jim and I should have plopped down some chairs and read a book while the girls played.

I love this picture. The girls adore their daddy, and Jim adores his girls. He always tries to teach them something on our little excursions-this time he picked rocks out of the water and turned them upside down to show the girls the bug larvaes on the bottom. It was actually pretty cool because we could break open their little cacoons and see the bug forming from a little worm. He told the girls that when these bugs hatch, the fish jump out of the water and eat them. And that's what his fly-fishing is all about-duplicating these bugs and trying to fool the fish! (Didn't you all want to know?)

Ashtyn lost her first tooth a couple of months ago. It finally got loose enough for Daddy to pull it out. Ashytn freaked out cause she thought it would hurt a lot and was screaming! Jim was trying to wait 'til she stopped crying, but I told him just to pull it since her mouth was open anyways. It popped right out of course, and Ashtyn calmed down 'cause she didn't even feel it. She also had to have the tooth right next to it pulled by the dentist because her two front permanent teeth were already coming in behind her baby teeth in the wrong spot. We definitely need to start saving for braces now!

And by the way, that strange stomach flu I mentioned-it started the morning of Ashtyn's dentist app. I had to call my dad to take her because I couldn't leave the bathroom for more than 2 minutes for almost three hours(so glamorous, huh? But I did lose 5 pounds that day!). I felt so bad cause I couldn't even go hold Ashtyn's hand during her first tooth-pulling. But my dad was amazing that day. He took all the girls to swimming lessons, brought them home to get dressed, then took them to lunch and to the park (and no, my mom wasn't with him). I was so impressed, and Avery even through a couple of little tantrums for him. Ha, Ha-she is a little monster! The girls love their papa!

Swimming lessons were such a blast (hell no!). It was Jordyn's first year, and she cried for the first three days. I had to pretty much just drop her into the pool. She absolutely hates to be cold (can you blame her? She doesn't have an ounce of fat warmth on her body) and her lessons were pretty early so it was chilly. I lied and said Ashytn was 5 so she could be in Jordyn's class to help her. Good for Jordyn-boring for Ashtyn. She already knew everything they taught in that level so didn't gain much from the two weeks. Oh yeah-while Jordyn was crying cause she didn't want to be in the water, Avery was crying cause she couldn't get in the water. She's not old enough yet, so everyday for two weeks, we stood outside the fence while she cried cause she wanted "to get her swimsuit on and go swimming". (Ashtyn is the one floating on her back, and Jordyn is the first one sitting on the bench by the edge of the pool).

Can I take your order? You are all just dying to find out what my new job is right? Well, even though I swore I'd never go back and got a degree so I wouldn't have to do this again, I started waitressing a couple nights a week at my parent's restaurant. They have been really shorthanded most of the summer and I thought we could help each other out. Who doesn't want a little extra cash, huh? I've actually quite enjoyed it! It's nice to see the same customers still coming in after 8 years. It's also nice to have adult conversation and come home to a clean house and kids in bed. I also get to work with my sister both nights so that is is plus! At first I was a little embarrassed to admit I was a waitress again: I'm 28, I have three kids, my husband makes 6 figures, I have a college degree, and I'm a waitress again. Doesn't it sound kind of funny? But oh well-I got over it fast cause who really cares in the end? I'm a damn good waitress and have been making killer tips. I'm thankful that my parents have this great business and am appreciative for a job in this crazy economy. So anyway, if you are in town, come visit me at good 'ole O'Brady's on Thursday and Friday nights. (By the way, I tried to curl my hair this particular night, which I never do and have no idea how to, and this is how it turned out. Aaahhh-I even burned my neck with the curling iron!)

This is my new "mommy vehicle". I traded in my Yukon (sniff, sniff) 'cause I saw no reason to have three cars. Jim had to buy a little car (Honda Civic) cause his office moved to Rexburg and his huge Diesel Dodge wasn't exactly the best gas option for driving up there everyday. We were filling up his tank every five days at $140. Not smart! (On top of my $110 every week for my Yukon) But he insists on having a truck, especially now that we have horses. So I decided I could drive a truck for a couple of years until we have another kid and need more room. Jim got rid of his huge Dodge, and we found this beautiful thing. I actually like it a ton-way nice model with leather/heated seats, sunroof, 6-disc cd, all the options. And now that gas has gone down a little, it was a way good decision! Hey, guys dig chicks in trucks, huh?

So anyway, sorry for the long post, and I know I didn't cover everything, but at least I got this info. down to put in the record book. I hope all of your summers were great and that fall is off to a good start! (Damn this cold weather!!!)

Random Nonsense!

I saw this on a friends blog and thought it was hilarious. I had to share it with everyone at work. So, here are my alias':

1. Your Rock Star Name (first pet and current car): Marvin Silverado

2. Your Gangsta Name (favorite ice cream flavor, favorite cookie): Neopolitan Chocolate Chip

3. Your "Fly Girl" Name (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name): C. Has

4. Your Detective Name (favorite color and favorite animal): Pink Cat

5. Your Soap Opera Name (middle name, city where you were born): Michelle Las Vegas

6. Your Star Wars Name (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name):Hasch

7. Your Superhero Name ("the"+ 2nd favorite color, favorite drink): The Blue Dr. Pepper

8. Your Nascar Name (the first names of your grandfathers): Bart Dean

9. Your Witness Protection Name (first letter of mothers maiden name, fathers middle name): I.Lynn

10. Your TV Weather Anchor Name (your 5th grade teachers last name, a major city that starts with the same letter): Hulse Hollywood

11. Your Spy Name (your favorite season/holiday, favorite flower): Spring Lily

12. Your Cartoon Name (favorite fruit, article of clothing your wearing right now + "ie" or "y"):Watermelon Caprisie

13. Your Hippy Name (what you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree): Fiber One Maple

14. Your Rock Star Tour Name ("the" + your favorite hobby/craft, favorite weather element + "tour"): The Reading Sunshine Tour


What a totally random post but kind of fun since it is complete nonsense. We all need some of that every once in a while!

Hallowed Day

As I pulled out of the garage this morning to take Ashtyn to school, I was caught off guard by the flag in our yard that the Scouts put out on holidays/special dates. I thought to myself "what holiday is today?" Then I realized it is September 11, and my mind instantly went into reflective mode. I remember hearing the horrifying news of that dreadful day 7 years ago. I was sitting in my Creative Writing class at BYU-Idaho when they announced it, and then I went to the MC and watched it happening on TV the rest of the day. I remember watching the news whenever I could for the next two weeks feeling the heartache for those involved and shedding tears for the victims and their families. I remember being hopeful after a few days when they still were rescuing people from the rubble, and then feeling the hope slowly burn out as it became too long for anyone to survive. This tragedy hit me to the core, and I will never understand how anyone could do this to another country (I have never really understood war or acts of terrorism). I will also never forget the courage and patriotism that arose during this tragedy and am thankful for all the service men who sacrificed their lives to help.

It just so happened that I had a poetry assignment in my creative writing class that same week. I chose to write about the attack on the Trade Centers, and this is what I came up with just two days after it happened. (By the way, our poem could not rhyme, and we had to use illiteration in the first line. I can only write poems that rhyme, so this was a struggle for me!)

BROKEN PIECES
(In response to the terrorism attack on the World Trade Centers on September 11, 2001.)

Cutting through the clouds with calmness
the passenger jets slice the sky.
The silent sun has already risen,
giving reason for another beautiful day.

But an unknown evil is lurking in the midst
with a destructive design on their minds.
Heading toward the heart of the nation,
the innocent people as their bomb.

A shining skyline is abruptly changed
as swarms of smoke fill the air.
Two great giants come crashing down,
and America is left standing in awe.

Our lives, our families, our nation
has been suddenly shattered apart,
broken pieces amidst the chaos and destruction
that can never again be glued together.

A mastermind plan has been carried out
with no second thought of pain or guilt.
The message is sent, a war is waged,
and the fight is about to begin.

Who are these beasts with hearts so hollow,
not shadowed by shame or thought?
Death and bloodshed upon their hands
only fuels their flasks of hatred.

They think their action has destroyed us,
that the damage done is beyond repair.
But the human heart can be broken
and time after time, still go on beating.

Now our hearts beat together
as a whole nation for one cause.
Hand-in-hand we are unified,
to pick up the pieces and rise again.

Gone Fishin'

My husband-doing what he loves! My uncle, from Washington, came for a visit a couple of weeks ago and Jim took him to the river. They have kind of made this a tradition that every time my uncle comes, they go fishing. Jim has taught him a lot about fly-fishing the last couple of years, and they always have a great time together. He taught my uncle how to nymph (whatever???) this time and had great luck!

I remember after Jim and I were first married and living in Rexburg. He would take off fishing 3-4 times a week while I did homework in the evenings. Fishing has always been one of his passions, and he hasn't been able to fish much since that first year. He's lucky to get in 1-2 trips each season lately because he's so busy (mostly because of his travel schedule-and kids-and horses!!)
I'm so glad he was able to get out the other weekend and enjoy the river. It always makes him smile like a little boy! He wants to teach me how to fly-fish, but I'm just content sitting on the shore with a good book (yeah-like that ever happens). I also have this weird thing about not liking to kill animals-even fish; especially since I don't eat them!

Attempted Catch Up

Avery is napping; I just built a big tent in the living room for Jordyn, Ashtyn, and their cousin, Liz, to keep them busy; and I am sitting down with my Diet Dr. Pepper to play catch up on the last couple of weeks I've missed blogging. But wait-I just remember that Jim has taken the camera to Washington D.C. (yes his travels have started up again-WAHHHH) with him this week, and I haven't downloaded any pictures since my last few posts. Since I hate to post without pictures, I'll have to postpone this 'til next week. But I will give you a sneak peak as to what the topics will be:

• Swimming Lessons
• Horse's new home
• Ashtyn's first "lost tooth" and first "pulled tooth"
• Christine's Stomach Bug
• Christine's New Truck (bye, bye Yukon)
• House for Sale (WAHHHHHH)
• My Mom's Hawaiin Luau
• School Supply Shopping (Hannah Montana anyone?)
• Christine's New Job
• Jim's sister's Jackson Wedding Adventure

I'm sure several of these topics are making you think "what the h..."; they are making me think the same thing. We've had quite a few changes these last couple of weeks, and I've been in a somewhat humble, depressed mood (thus the no blogging). But after a good dose of self-pity and a few swallows of pride, I'm happy with the decisions we've made and have a good attitude as to what lies ahead. As for now, even though I hate doing this because I don't like pressuring people to comment, I'm going to leave you with the "memory game" you've probably seen floating around blogs recently. I need a little "pick-me-up" and think your memories are just what I need (since this Diet Dr. Pepper doesn't seem to be working!).

So come on everybody, share the good, the bad, and even the ugly. I've had three babies- what else can you expose that will leave me more "naked"?

1. Leave a memory that you and I had together, as a comment on my blog. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

My Treasures!

I absolutely love these pictures of my beautiful girls. A friend of ours (who use to baby-sit the girls while I worked) has kicked off her professional photography career. We got together a few weeks ago and she took some adorable pictures of the girls at Freeman Park. Unfortunately, she just moved to Tennessee so her husband can go to dental school. We are going to miss her so much but are so thankful she captured these special memories for us. She took a ton of shots, but these are some of my favorites.

Once Again.....

I think my family deserves a discount at the local funeral home as we've helped keep them in business. My aunt died on Saturday and the funeral home workers (who are great!!) even commented on how much they've seen us, especially with my Grandma dying only a month ago. We first worked with Wood's Funeral home several years ago when my Grandma died, and they have since helped us with my nephew, my sister, Bryan, my Grandpa, my Grandma, and now, my aunt. Just a warning: you might want to stay away from my family; death seems to quite like us.

My aunt has been struggling with her weight most of her life and had some heart complications the last two years. She's been on a rollercoaster ever since-in and out of the hospital, battling infections, complications with diabetes, breathing problems, and several smaller ailments. She's been suffering for quite awhile, and even though she recently lost close to 100lbs., she somehow got a bacteria through her body that I think was the final straw. We are all glad to know that she's in peace now, but we ache for her husband and teenage daughter who are going to feel her absence so greatly.

I've come to understand that death is just an inevitable part of life and seems to be my family's personal trial, but it is still hard and heartbreaking each time it happens. I'm thankful for a knowledge of Heavenly Father's plan for us. I'm thankful that there is hope in eternal life, and that we will be with our loved ones again someday. I'm thankful for a loving Heavenly Father who sends his comforting spirit in times of sorrow. I pray that spirt will be with my Uncle and cousin in the hard times ahead.

Haircuts

All the girls needed their hair trimmed so we took the plunge and headed out a couple of weeks ago. Ashtyn wanted to go really short, and we kept having to "take of a couple more inches off", but this was as short as I could let her go. I love her long hair and it's so much easier to put it in a bun for ballet when it's long. She got almost 6 inches taken off, and now we can barely get it in a pony tail. But it is easy because I never have to do it and it still looks cute. Jordyn just got a trim, and Avery got a little a-line, which looks pretty cute when it's styled. I can just imagine the fun days my girls and I are going to have at the spa and salon in the future. "Sure you can go hunting, honey; just leave us the credit card!"

Gotta Love It!

I'm sure I'll have to break out this picture in a few years when the girls are all fighting and think having sisters is so awful. I'll have evidence to show them that they once loved each other. But for now, we savor these special moments, which still happen quite often. The girls are usually best friends and play together all day, but I heard it changes once the teenage years arrive. Please stay young...Please stay young....Please stay young!

Reflections

I decided to put a playlist on my blog so I can represent who I really am. I absolutely love music! I have music on usually everyday, and it always helps me have a better attitude. My kids have listened to CMT since they were babies and know most of the songs I do. So why not put one of my favorite things on my blog that I usually check everyday? Maybe because I thought it was harder to create a list than it actually was. So dang easy!!!

As I was putting together songs this morning, I got caught up in the memories that most of these songs evoked. So many events and moments of my life are surrounded with music that will always have special meaning to me. I got carried away and started looking for songs that brought back tender feelings to my heart. I cried listening to a lot of these songs. Most of the songs I chose for this first playlist hold memories that a lot of you have shared with me. I bet they'll even make you remember, too! I included songs that remind me of highschool, volleyball, friends, Josh, Bryan, my sister, my husband, and my daughters.

Listening to the songs that remind me of the people I've lost in my life helps keep their memories alive for me. Yes, they do make me sad and shed tears because of how much I miss them, but the songs also make me thankful that I can remember such special people everytime I hear their songs. But then I'll hear a song that reminds me of my life now and feel so blessed that I've got to experience so many incredible things so far. Some of these songs are for the amazing love I feel for my husband and family; some of them are for the times I've shared dancing and having fun with my girls.

It's been a fun morning reminiscing about special people and special memories. I hope all of you have a love for music like I do. My life is enhanced by music; my soul is rejuventated through music; my attitude is better with music; and my memories will never fade because of music.

Girls Getaway!!!

Britney has already beat me to this post and shared how much fun we had, but I had to give a shout out on my blog also to the girls that made this weekend so great. We had such a good time shopping, eating, laughing, swimming, and of course, talking, talking, talking. It was so good to catch up on eachother's lives and to reconnect with one another. We will definitely be doing this every year until we're old ladies stuck in our wheelchairs!

It was also so good to see them, and everyone else, the next weekend at our 10th year reunion. Everyone always says how they can't believe 10 years have gone by, but seriously "I can't believe it's already been 10 years since high school." I had such a good high school experience because of so many things: sports, student council, fun parents, hot guys, and most of all, amazing friends. I'm lucky to still see some of them pretty regularly, but I miss so many of them! It was fun to see that some people never change, and that a few people suprised us with how much they've changed. Of course I didn't take any pictures, but I'm so thankful to have graduated in the class of '98 with so many awesome people. GO BEES!!!!

In the arms of his love

My Grandma passed away one week ago today peacefully in her bed. My grandpa, the love of her life, died almost one year ago this August. Even though Grandma has been miserable since Grandpa died, her health has been pretty good, and we all expected her to live for several years. Although this came as a shock and suprise, we are all okay knowing that Grandma is with her love again-the only thing she's been wanting since he passed.

We all hear about elderly couples dying a short time from one another, and now I've witnessed this precious blessing from Heavenly Father. I guess it's true that one can will herself to die as I'm sure that's what my Grandma did. What a loving, caring Heavenly Father (who knew the pain and heartache my Grandma has been feeling this past year) to bring her back to her husband.

I'm happy for my grandparents to be reunited again; I'm happy for the love they must feel to once again be in eachother's arms. I'm sad that I won't see them in this life again; I'm sad that my children won't be able to continue the special, tender relationship that was beginning to develop with their great-grandparents; I'm sad for my father, who has now lost both of his parents-what an empty, lonely feeling that must be.

I was able to share some of my memories of Grandma at her graveside service, and it was so special to take some time to reflect on her. Even though my grandparents lived in California all of my childhood, I was able to realize through my memories what an impact she had on my life. I always felt love from her; I was always excited to visit her; I always felt special in her presence; and I will continue to love her and keep her memory alive.