Hibbits Happenings

...While driving on the freeway your 3 year old yells "We're winning, Mom!"

Yesterday Emma was complaining about it hurting when she would go to the bathroom. She had to go more often and I thought maybe she had a bladder infection. I took her to the doctor last night and on the way I mentioned that the doctor would probably have her pee in a cup. She immediately started freaking out. "Oh, that is so suggusting (disgusting)!! Pee in a cup?! The doctor is not supposed to drink my pee. That is suggusting, like an alien!!" Evidently the only thing you can do with a cup is drink out of it. Alien seems to be her ultimate insult at the moment. Last week it was the word weird.
While we were waiting for the doctor we read some books I had brought with me. One was a simple phonics book with three to five word sentences. I asked Emma to try to read it to me and she did! I was so excited and impressed. Part of the time she seemed somewhat annoyed with my enthusiasm. There were several words she hadn't seen at school yet and I would ask her to make the sounds and then she would read it and continue on with the story. I am so proud of her. She is so smart. When she reads she lifts her eyebrows really high. It is so cute. Charlie actually does that sometimes when he talks.

Emma looked under the sink in the bathroom and saw a little puddle forming. She ran to me and frantically yelled that the cupboard was filling with water. "It is horrible! What can we do?! We have to call someone! I know, I'll tell Jesus." Emma runs out the front door and spins around staring at the sky. She tells Jesus all about it because "He can hear everything." Justin, Mia and I watched her through the front door window and laughed. What will the neighbors think?

Okay, I know I already posted today, but Justin makes me laugh so hard. The other day I told Justin to take a shower and he asked if he could take some toys in with him. I said I thought he was a little old for that and by the way there is a drought, so he needs to take a fast shower. I explained what that meant and we talked about using less water and being good to the earth and all that hippie stuff. He then gets ready for his shower and asks me to time him. He took about a minute and a half. He shampooed his hair and soaped up his whole body then turned on the shower and rinsed off. Charlie and I were entertained and impressed, especially since he didn't even wait for the water to heat up.
His last shower was not as quick so today I reminded him and asked if he wanted me to time him again. He said yes and asked if it was cheating to use the sink a little first. I said I thought that was okay unless he used a lot of water. He turned on the sink for a few seconds. He soaped up, then got in the tub and all I hear is him pouring two cups of water on himself. He then yells that he is done. This is when I started laughing. He is so cute. I told him he had to really rinse off. He asked to wait until the water heated up this time. Then he rinsed off again. He used the water for about 20 seconds. And he even smells good.
Just a side note. About a year ago he asked me what a tree hugger was. I laughed and explained that it referred to someone who cares about the earth and wants to protect and preserve it. He then asked if we were tree huggers. I said there are crazy people that go overboard, but yes we love the earth and try to do our part to protect and preserve it. Truth be told Charlie is a bit of a tree hugger. He doesn't use plastic baggies or disposable anything. He doesn't even like when I get a plastic spoon from the yogurt store.

Mia and Emma have been fighting more viciously lately, but then all of a sudden they are best friends again. I love this (the best friends part) because Mia always makes some random exclamation when this happens. Last week she said "Emma you are so nice. Hey, Mom! We are sisters!" Then yesterday she said "Mom, Emma is being nice! We are friends!" My favorite part is that she is yelling this in public with her super deep baritone voice that she uses when she wants her voice to carry.

Mia asked for me to cut her hair "short, like a princess." She saw her cousin Chloe get a haircut on Thanksgiving and heard Aunt Ashley and Holly tell Chloe her hair was like a princess. So a couple days later I gave in and chopped her hair. She was so excited. Emma came in and asked why Mia's hair was like a boy's. Mia said it was like a princess and Emma said "No, princesses have long hair." Thanks, Emma.

Mia also has a few more battle wounds now. Maybe she really does want to look like a boy. She has been on this kick of chasing and tackling Justin every time she sees him. He likes it because he has always wanted a little brother. We keep telling them to stop because someone will get hurt, but do they listen? Yeah, right. At least nothing is broken this time and we already took our Christmas pictures. When people ask what happened to her black eye she says Justin did it. I want to clarify that he did not. It was all Mia. She tackled him from behind and they both went down. She landed on him and the tile floor. And to Josh Hixon, no, Justin did not punch Mia in the face.

Here is a link to some of our recent family photos. My little sister, Ashley, is a photographer, and she did an amazing job. There are so many great pictures, that I am having a hard time deciding. Thanks, Ashley.

http://web.me.com/brotherdrew/Blog/Home/Entries/2008/11/30_Family_Session%3A_Hibbits.html

I have so much to be grateful for. I love my family and have so many wonderful friends that make my life even better. I am grateful for my home and the freedoms that we share in the country. Justin wanted to find a poem about Thanksgiving that was silly, rhymed and fit a few other requirements he had. I convinced him to just write a poem himself. Try not to be too impressed with our mad rhyming skills. ;)

Justin is getting older and more independent. It can be hard for me to remember that he really is my first little baby that just wanted his mommy to hold and play with him. Then I see that he still is that sweet little guy who loves to play and laugh. The other day I was walking the kids home from school and the girls like to run up the little hill that goes parallel with the sidewalk. Emma and Mia ran up and started to fight. Emma continued on the path and Mia sat down to mope. I turned to Justin and asked him to help out. He didn't hesitate at all. He jumped up the hill and leaned over Mia. She yelled "leave me alone!" I heard him softly say "Mia, will you race with me?" She says sure and jumps up. Then as they run he keeps saying things like "Wow, Mia. You are just too fast for me." Pretty soon she is giggling and having a great time. She even stumbles and he stops to help her get back up and make sure she is okay. Justin is a great brother and I am so proud of him...even if he did get suspended for "brandishing a weapon" a school yesterday. (He took one of Charlie's mini screwdrivers to school yesterday and showed it to a friend. And yes, I did correct the v. principal on the use of the word brandishing.)

Emma dressed herself, accessorized and made a necklace out of a strap and bracelet. Then she announced that she was ready to be a STAR!... So I took some pictures.


My friend, Kelly, came and stayed with us for a few days with her two boys. We had a lot of fun and some mishaps with Toby and me getting sick, but it was still great. We got together with a friend from high school and it was so much fun to reminisce. Then we went to Disneyland for a couple days. This was exhausting and so much fun. Emma loved staying in a hotel. She loved that the kids room was separated from the adult room. Both girls loved seeing all the princesses and Minnie. Justin loved the water rides. I loved going home and sleeping. I can't believe how tired I was after everything.


While we were at Disneyland it was my friend, Ginger's, birthday. She passed away suddenly this summer and it has been tough. I have been thinking about her a lot and trying to put my feelings into words, otherwise I hold everything in and end up not being very fun for Charlie. One word that I think epitomizes Ginger is good. She was a good wife, a good mother, a good friend, and a good person. She was one of the best people I have known. I miss her so much. My friend, Natalie, says that Ginger had mastered this life. I think she is right, but it doesn't make losing her any easier. She has meant so much to me and made a huge impact on my life. I am truly blessed to have had her as a friend. I wish I had told her how much I loved her. I am trying to learn from her life and death and focus on why I am here on Earth and what I am supposed to be doing with my life. The night before she passed away I was lying in bed thinking about her and some things I wanted to tell her. I thought it was too late and I didn't want to get up so I could just talk to her tomorrow. I never want to take the people in my life for granted again. I am so happy that I have my family and so many amazing friends.

Today was stake conference at church. Charlie, Justin and Emma were fighting colds, so I took Mia. Mia was sitting on my lap and the speaker was talking about the Holy Ghost. Mia sat up and said "Mom, he is talking about the Holy Ghost!" I say yes, and what does the Holy Ghost do? Mia thinks and says "he goes 'Ooooooooooooo!"

Emma has her first crush. I am feeling a little conflicted about it. I don't want her to grow up and I think it is hilarious to watch. A few days ago Emma commented on how her shoes match a boy's hair. I thought "okay, you're weird." Then on Wednesday I was helping in her class and the reading buddies came in from a different class. Someone sat in Emma's seat so she looked around. I thought she would be upset about someone sitting in her seat, but she skipped over and sat down at another table. She leaned over to a boy from the other class and started to laugh really hard like he had made a super funny joke, but he hadn't said anything. The other kids asked what was so funny and one girl said she thinks Emma and Liam are boyfriend and girlfriend. Emma ignored them and kept laughing. She then called out to me to introduce me to Liam. I never heard him talk and he has shaggy brown hair. I asked her later about him and she said she loves him. I asked her why and she said "because I love everyone, Mom!"

This year the girls both wanted to be witches. I love that they wanted to match. My sister, Christy, had the Wicked costume and let me borrow it. I think the girls were more excited that I dressed up with them. Emma kept telling people I was her twin. Justin was supposed to be Michael Jackson. Last year he was completely obsessed with Thriller. He still likes it, but has gotten over playing the music video everyday. (I think Charlie made him stop.) I sewed Justin a thriller jacket last year for celebrity day at school. He had promised he would wear it again for Halloween, but changed his mind several times before officially deciding. This year he decided on a mummy. I thought it was best not to pressure him on Michael. We looked at mummy costumes, but he thought they looked lame so I made this one. He even got into posing for pictures like a mummy. This confused the girls and they kept putting their arms up too. He would get mad and remind them that they weren't mummies.

Well, I haven't posted in awhile, so I thought I would quickly recap what we've been up to.














Justin has been selling popcorn for scouts. He is really excited and asks everyday to count up the money. I am ready to be done with the popcorn. I am sick of the giant mountain of popcorn boxes in the house. I had a lapse in judgement and volunteered to head up the popcorn sells for our pack this year.











Emma had a field trip for school. We walked over to the local grocery store and the kids were given a tour. It was interesting and gross too.














I went out to lunch with some friends yesterday for my friend's birthday (happy b-day Tiff.) I was supposed to drop Mia off to be babysat during our lunch, so I took her to Taco Bell after preschool so she wouldn't be hungry. I sat there and watched her eat and couldn't help breaking out the camera and taking pictures of her eating. She is just so cute. I think the TB staff must have thought I was a little weird, but oh well. I am.

Elections are coming up here pretty quickly and I wanted to voice my opinions. I feel that voting is one of our greatest rights and obligations in this country. I generally shy away from voicing my political views outside of my close family and perhaps a few friends. Then I heard about prop 8. At first I was impartial. I thought "let people do what they want. I don't care." But I do care when some one's rights are taken away. Proposition 8 keeps intact the domestic partnership laws in the state of CA. In fact, in CA domestic partners have the same rights as married couples. Prop 8 gives the definition of marriage as being between a man and a woman. I feel that homosexual couples should have the same rights as married couples, i.e. property, inheritance, hospital visitation, etc. I don't really care what the union is called, but then I started paying attention to what has been happening in Massachusetts, where marriage includes same gender unions. Based on what is happening there I strongly support prop 8. I don't like that the rights of many Californians will be lost if prop 8 doesn't pass. Parents will lose the right to choose how their children are taught. Starting in kindergarten children will be taught that same gender marriage is just as normal and correct as hetero marriage. Isn't that my decision to teach my children the values that I feel are correct?! A parent sued the school district to be notified when these things will be taught and the courts ruled that he didn't have a right to oppose. Then when churches preach marriage between a man and a woman as taught in the Bible they can be sued for hate speech. How is that possible? Does freedom of speech only apply to a section of the population? If a church teaches that homosexuals are bad and should be hurt, then of course, sue them. What about the voice of the people in 2000 when 61% of voters decided that marriage should be between a man and a woman? How can judges overrule what the people voted for? Don't our votes count? Churches can also be sued if they refuse to preform marriages or allow marriages on their property for same gender couples. First, I don't understand why homosexual couples would want to get married at a church that opposes same gender unions, unless they want to sue to cause the church problems. Second, I think that churches shouldn't be forced to participate in something that they feel is wrong. I love America and value our freedoms above just about everything else. I don't want any one's rights to be taken away or infringed upon. Yes on prop 8 does not take away or add any new rights, but a no takes away rights of most of us.

I am not sure if this is going to make any sense. Well, it actually doesn't make sense, but that is what I love about it. Justin was talking to me and said "Mom, you know how cars have horns that you honk on the steering wheel? Well, they used to have horns on old cars that were those round things you use to suck boogers out of babies' noses. Those were attached to the car with umbilical cords and you could just squeeze that and you could honk the horn. That is what they did in the old days." Oh, Justin, you have no idea how much I needed to hear this today. You are so awesome!

Tonight for Family Home Evening Charlie was teaching the kids about death and the resurrection. He talked about G.G.(Grandma) He showed them his hand and said it was like her spirit and when she was born she received a body. He put his hand in a glove. He said that she died and he took his hand out of the glove and let it drop on the ground. He asked why the "body" didn't move anymore. Emma said "because it is not real." Duh.

Yesterday my grandma passed away. She has had dementia for the last several years. I really miss her. She was the best grandma you could imagine. She provided me with one of my favorite sayings: "You have to suffer to be beautiful." I tell my girls this a least a couple times a week. She also made each of us feel like we were the only person in the world when we were around her. We would go over to her house a few times a week and she was always so happy to see us. I don't remember ever feeling like she didn't want me there or that she had something else to do. I love that she would pretend to race teenagers in her acura, then slam on the brakes, pull into the bank parking lot and wink at me. She collected quarters. Grandpa would trade me a dollar bill for my two quarters to give to her. She was always elegant and beautiful and would pucker her lips really big to put on lipstick. When I would do something wrong and one of my siblings would tattle to her she would act completely shocked and say "I don't believe my Kelly would act that way." I always felt ashamed and would want to be a better person because she believed I already was. About a year or two ago she couldn't remember who I was anymore. She told me that she didn't remember who I was, but she knew she loved me. I am so sad that she is gone, but really happy that she is free from this life and reunited with Grandpa and her little Judy.

I am helping in Emma's kindergarten classroom this year and today was my first day. Her teacher gave me some work to do which included calling the kids over to do one on one assessments. Every time I would call a child over that sat near Emma I would hear her say "That's my mom!" It was really cute. She kept looking over at me and smiling.

After working in the class, I went to pick up Mia from preschool. I walked in and two of the little girls in her class try to fill me in on how the day went. Brianna tells me Mia was not nice today. Then Peyton says that Brianna is right. Uh, oh. The day had been going so well. I just hope it is an "off day" and not a regular pattern starting.

We just got home from Europe tonight. I had a great time, but I don't know what else to say except I love America. When we landed in Philadelphia I was between crying and singing the national anthem. Charlie made fun of me because I told a couple random people that I love America. Actually, I think I only told the guy in the airport restaurant that I love America... I told the customs guy that it is great to be home. I was smiling really big. In the Philly airport they have the liberty bell made out of Lego's and the signatures from the Declaration of Independence on a glass partition. It just stirred so much emotion in me to see the signatures and to know what they were risking and what they were creating. I think being away, no matter how amazing it was, makes me realize just how great we have it.

1. Watch my children grow up
3. Play
5. Blog (probably too much)
7. Cook

7 things I can't do
2. Be understanding when someone hurts my child
4. Hide my emotions on my face.
7 things that attract me to the opposite sex
1. Sense of humor
2. Eyes
3. Intelligence
4. Playfulness
5. Athleticism
6. Sensitivity
7. Dorkiness

1. Bummer
2. I love you more.
3. Cereal or waffles?
4. Want to play/race?
5. What did you do first?
6. Okay, your turn.
7. actually/really

7 favorite foods
1. Chicken Milano
2. Spinach and Artichoke dip
3. Cereal
4. Avocado
5. My BBQ hamburgers with green chilies
6. Tri-tip
7. Carne asada or pollo asada

7 people who need to do this

Before I had my blog I tried to write down funny things the kids did in my journal. I would often forget so I started quickly writing down notes on paper when something would happen. I am trying to clean off my desk in the office and came across a few of these notes.

Emma pretended to conduct primary(the children's meeting at church) and did a random version of the First Article of Faith, then prayed that her eggs would be yummy and soft. Then she told Mia to give the talk. Mia started to pray and Emma yelled at her to stop and give a talk. Mia stopped praying and began to sing "We Will Rock You." Somehow this was acceptable to Emma.

I told Emma that the aquarium has things that live in the ocean. She asked if it had pirates. I told her no. She said pirates live in the ocean with sharks and dolphins.

Justin just started scouts. This is his first activity with his uniform. Doesn't he look handsome? Just like his dad. He had a pack meeting last week without uniform and a swim activity a few weeks ago. He loves scouts so far and is excited to participate.


















Charlie started a new job last week and had training in NY. This week was his first real week of work. I took a picture while he was getting ready. He asked what I was doing and acted like I was being weird, but I think he secretly enjoyed the attention. We recently got a new camera and I really like taking pictures now, so get used to it.


















This last picture is not a first, but I like that my kids are so random and goofy together. This is Mia and Emma pretending to be monsters and ghosts.