The Pop-In

So just a few minutes ago my sweet Relief Society President and her Visiting Teaching companion stopped by (they were visiting next door and thought they would just stop by and visit me :) sweet huh!). They knocked on the door down here so I totally just assumed it was my Mom, she's the only one that really uses that door, so I didn't even try to shove anything under the rug before opening the door. I was pleasantly surprised to see Vicki and Jacque standing there and then it hit me how messy our place is. Isn't it sad that I couldn't just be happy to see them, I had to let my pride get in the way. So annoying. They came in and I scooted over the piles of folded clothes that were covering the couch so that they could sit down and they ooohed and ahhhhed all over Erika while they sat there. It was so nice to have them here!!! It was so nice to talk with them, and listen to their words of wisdom. I feel like I've totally been eating up the opportunity to learn from the older people in our ward. They are all old enough to be my parents and have kids my age. Grandkids too. So it's been awesome to learn from them. So anyway the whole reason I wanted to post something on here is because by the time they left, I felt okay with the messes that were filling my home. I feel okay with it because I have been enjoying my kids this morning and that, to me, is worth the mess. They were talking about how fast their kids grew up and how empty their homes feel. I just don't want to feel like I didn't at least TRY to take the time to enjoy it. I want to be able to look back on these years and know that even though they went by fast, I had fun, made the most of them, and got my loving in. I really feel like I've come a long way from how I was when Charity and Kelly were babies. Unfortunately I hadn't yet learned the value of holding a sleeping baby for hours. I hadn't figured out that the laundry would still be there and I could enjoy the baby while it sat there and waited for me to do it. Yesterday Grandpa Mottishaw took one look at Erika and said, "Wow, she's already so big!" And while I don't quite feel like she's "big" yet, I know she's growing. She'll be a month old tomorrow for heaven's sake!! So I HAVE to enjoy this time. Savor every moment. The dishes can wait.... right Natalie!
Here's what Jacque said, "The scrubbing can wait till tomorrow for children will grow so we've learned to our sorrow." This is my new motto. I love my kids, I love this new little baby and I don't want this time to pass me by. I have looked forward to this time, being a mom and raising my children for my whole life and I am not going to let it just go without my enjoying every minute. Thank you Jacque and Vicki for not talking yourselves out of coming over to say hi. It meant the world to me and really helped to boost my spirits today. Thank you for sharing your words of wisdom as well!! I love you both!
There ya have it folks, the rambling of a crazy person..... Erika nursing has really given me too much time on the computer :) Maybe I should take up reading :)

Our Weekend

This was the crowning moment on Thursday at the Maynes Family Party. I was really excited for Nate's mom to meet Erika and hold her. This was the first time she had seen her because Grandma Ruthie had been sick when she was born and then just schedules, germs and the weather had kept us apart. But it was fun to show her to Ruth. Afterall, Erika was named after her Grandma Ruthie (her middle name is Ruth). So this was special to me. Plus Nate's mom is so cute with little babies.


So Thursday we had the Maynes family party, it was really fun. I didn't take many pictures once it got started, but we had a really nice relaxing time. Listening to Grandma and Grandpa tell stories and read books. Brad got to be Samuel on the wall, and Kelly got pegged in the head when she walked between her two Uncles going at it with the bean bags.... that was memorable :). The kids all loved their gifts from Grandma and Grandpa, Brad's been carrying his flashlight around everywhere he goes. And we just had a really good time.

Charity and her cousin Sydney- the two big sisters and their baby sisters :) cute girls. At one point they were both standing holding their babies and talking, totally looked like two little moms.... it was cute.

Then on Friday we had our Ward Christmas Party. We missed the memo on the whole dressing Western part, but it was really fun anyway. We even got Steve to come (for the food at least). This Ward has been really amazing. It's crazy because as much as I want to get a house- leaving this ward will be really hard for me!

Noah was just adorable when he was eating his ice cream- had to get a picture.

On Saturday we made our way up to South Jordan and got to witness Marshall getting baptized. What a neat experience. I know I've said this before, but I do love that my kids have all these cousins to watch do all these things.... they get so excited to get baptized when they see their cousins getting baptized, and it really gives us a chance to talk about it and reteach our kids what it's all about. I do love that. It was fun to hang out with everyone and eat yummy soup afterward too. Erika got to hang out with Aunt Jen too.... I love that Jen still likes to hold the babies :) She makes them feel special, and I appreciate that about her. The rest of Saturday we really just bummed around.... it was nice. I love to relax.

Friday's Fabulous Five

1. Charity won a drawing at school because she didn't have any tardies or absenses for the month of November. I think this is pretty amazing because we did have a baby during the month :). So basically we have to give Daddy and Grandma Hatch most of the credit for that one :). (but just for the record and because I am so proud of it, they have been on time everyday this year and they haven't missed a day!!! Just to toot my own horn a little) Anyway, so she won the drawing and the Principal took her and 5 others to Chuck-A-Rama for lunch on Tuesday! How fun is that! Charity loved it. She said she ate 3 scones for me :) those are my favorite.


2. The other day Charity was talking about Erika and somehow (I don't remember exactly how she got to the subject) she said, ".... and if Erika doesn't eat then you are going to EXPLODE!! BOOOIIIIIIINNNNNG!!!!!!" [both hands up near her chest, hands in fists and then fly open really fast when she got to the boing part] Did I laugh till my brains came out? YES!!!! She is hilarious! She listens to me WAY too much :)


3. On Wednesday, Luke wanted someone to read to him and Charity volunteered and as she was getting comfortable in her seat for a second or third book, she looked over at me and said, "I just LOVE reading books to kids. It's just SO much fun!" I thought that was sweet. Not only would she do something nice for her little bro, she let him know that she liked it :)


4. On Tuesday, driving home from the store, Erika was crying. Maybe it's just from experience, but our kids are so cute with the crying baby. They all start talking to her in cute little baby voices, singing songs, trying to help with the binkie..... it's just so adorable to watch these little kids be so thoughtful, helpful and loving. I can't get over it, so don't think this is the last time I will mention this :)



5. On Monday while I was doing Charity's hair, she announced to me that she and her friend Maleigha are "the only normal ones in her class". I really had no idea what she was referring to, so I asked. THen she proceeded to tell me that they are normal because they don't have step parents, or parents that don't live with each other, or step brothers and sisters, and they don't have to go to their dad's house on the weekend. At first I was just shocked that there would only be two in the class, but then I realized she may just not know about everyone. But then I was really happy about the fact that she feels that that is "normal". Whether I agree or not, and I hope no one finds this offensive (you shouldn't since I come from an abnormal family myself :)), but I LOVE that she considers this normal and the way it should be, rather than the exception. It makes me happy that we can provide her with a "normal" family situation :). And even happier when I think about the fact that we will be a "normal" family for FOREVER. Love it.


6. and just because it's something that I have been praying for so hard.... I have to tell you all that Erika's cephalohematoma is virtually gone. I don't think anyone would ever know how big that bump was looking at her now. It's so cool that it went away so fast. Rather than the "up to 3 months" they told us. I was feeling so bad for her. But we've prayed for her so much and looks like it was a worthy request :) She looks beautiful AND she doesn't have a huge lump on her head now :)

Opinions!!!!!

Okay, so I found this awesome (and when I say awesome, I mean AWESOME!!!!) article yesterday on Nate's cousin Emily's blog. I LOVE it!!!! I'm curious what others think of it. The parts you like and dislike, agree with or disagree with. I personally have felt like writing something similar MANY times, but didn't feel like it would be acceptable. And whether this is or not :) I am LOVING how they describe everything and all the areas they touched on. Helicopter parents make me CRAZY!!!! I will just leave my opinions at that for now. I am curious what you all think......

Click Here to see the article

Falalalala la la la LA!

For the last few years we have remembered to put up our tree the first FHE in December. As I am typing this I just realized that we did it an FHE early!! Yesterday was November! Oh well. Early is better than late right? I LOVE Christmastime so much now! I had a few years there where it wasn't my favorite, but I think I'm learning how to not get stressed out about it, and it's much nicer now.
The pictures I took of this event are not that great, but I like to have something to document the memories with, so I apologize for the lameness of them :)


Here is a picture depicting how well and how quickly these three children listen to their Mommy. I told them to look at me and smile. You can see how far away Luke looked :) just to prove his independence I suppose :) jk. I'm TOTALLY kidding. My kids ALWAYS listen to me. Especially Luke! HA!




It was so fun to watch Noah experience this again. He was so young last year, I doubt he remembers it, but he had SO much fun this time. I wish I had gotten a picture of his face when he would come over and wait for me to hand him a new one. He couldn't believe the amazing things I was pulling out of the box. And he's all about working anyway, so he was his "all-business" self too. Marching around carrying out orders. He's a cutie. It's so fun to watch these little people experience life. I hope it never loses it's thrill for me.




We have SO many ornaments. So many of them have strong memories and special feelings attached to them that we can't not put them up. I love reminiscing about who gave us different ones and where we got them. The kids all got excited to put up their own Alaska ones. I love to hear them tell each other who wasn't there when we did what. Brad actually said, "Charity you don't have an Alaska one, you weren't born then." LOL. We fixed that right up :)

And I can't forget how sweet it is to watch the older kids help the younger ones get excited. I know Charity and Kelly are excited themselves and it's just so cool that they would want to share that and be so fun and happy for the little ones to feel that way too.

Luke was especially funny when I would hand him an ornament that he didn't love, he wouldn't take it :) He was very particular about which ones he would hang up.... so Luke.

Grandma Hatch has given each kid a cute little ornament for their first Christmas. We decided this was a good year for a group picture of those. (too bad you can't see them really :)) I realized after the fact that we will have to redo this picture when (if ;0)) Erika gets hers (assuming of course). But anyway. It's cute to see them feel all special with their own ornaments from Grandma. They really are special to them too, not just me :).

Kelly realized after we got done that I hadn't taken a picture of her putting up an ornament, so she pretended for a picture :)

Then onto the glasses tradition. Charity got these amazing little glasses from Sister Ashton, her Primary teacher in Alaska, and we have just LOVED making it a tradition to look at our tree lights through them after we get it all put up. They make each little light into a little picture. We have like 6 different shapes, so it's a fun time for all. Erika slept through her turn of course!! The little sleepy-head! I still couldn't leave her out of that.

Noah wasn't interested. He wanted to go to sleep.

But everyone else, couldn't get enough of them :)

Even Grandpa Hatch got in on the fun. They really are cool glasses.... I need to reinforce them with some tape this year.... they're falling apart.

And now the tree is up!! Christmas can begin!! (not as early as Luke was thinking though. He asked me this morning where the presents were..... "why aren't the presents under the tree?? did Santa unwrap them all??" funny little guy. We'll have to make a chain.)

Brad put the angel on the top of the tree this year. Luke's turn next year. (gotta write it down or we'll forget and I didn't get a picture!)