The Hursts

My sis-in-law Mallory is insanely talented with a camera.

Here's the proof:

She gets my kid to smile and laugh...

and hold still long enough to be photographed...

These photos are precious to me!

Thanks for sharing your talent, Mal!

(malloryhurstphotography if you want to see more!)

And on a totally unrelated note...

When we were growing up, my mom used to to play the game "one good thing, one bad thing" with us. We each had a turn to tell one good thing that happened that day and one bad thing. When I came to college, I started playing that game with myself in my journal, but I changed it to "Five good things, Three Bad things". (gotta keep that positive mental attitude)

Here's my entry for today:

The Good

1. More beautiful pictures of my children sent by Miss Mallory. I love those little butter beans.

2. Davi, Dalyn, and Dallas are on their way to spend spring break with us. Yay! We love when they visit.

3.Date night tonight. Nothing more romantic than a jog and grocery shopping with my hubs. (bwah!)

4. General Conference starts tomorrow! YES. My spiritual cup feels a little empty.

5.Vyla's starting to come alive just a little bit more this week. Babbling, rolling over, and giggling. She's my little dolly.

The Bad:

1. Hinder's attitude. Snarky three year old= Lots of time-outs.

2. Raining/windy weather today kept us cooped up for most of the day. See #1.

3. Somethings been trying to penetrate my immune system the past week, in the form of body aches and sore-ish throat. Can't really say that I'm sick, but I'm pounding the echinacea and crossing my fingers.

One afternoon, we came back into the house after a little time outside. Hinder brought with him a long stick and a little rock. He sat down on the carpet and immediately started playing all sorts of imaginative, dinosaur/fight/attack type games with his treasures. After a few minutes, he said this,

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Hinder is generally a pretty terrific little road trip companion. This last February, we made the 8 hour drive to my parents house; a drive we are all too familiar with. We stopped at the usual service station in Missoula. I took Vy to the bathroom for a diaper change, and Riley took Hinder to the men's room to take care of business.

A few minutes later I hear a yelling/screaming toddler. As I left the women's room, I exit just in time to see Riley busting through the bathroom door with a wriggling, angry Hinder. I swap him kids and jet out to the car to find out what the deal is. Hinder's having a freak out this entire time.

Anyway...Riley and Hinder tend to butt heads a little anyway, but this time H was very angry. I sat next to him in the backseat of the car while he fumed. I questioned what was wrong, but he was just too darn mad. Finally, he turns to me with clenched fists and says,

It took all my facial muscles to keep from cracking up.

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Hinder loves to say the prayer before dinner, and we equally like to hear his prayers. They never lack for entertainment. About a year ago, he started saying "thank you that this food is yummy", and when he saw how pleased that made us, he always repeats some form of that phrase.

One night, it was just H and I. I tried a recipie for Gorgonzola Gnocchi. It was a mistake, but I didn't know that at the time. I've since destroyed that recipe. I dished our plates and set them on the table. In the ten seconds it took to walk to the silverware drawer and turn back around, Hinder had sampled his dinner pre-prayer and was already making a stink-face. Then I asked him to say the blessing on the food. And this is what he said,

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Hinder adores his sister. The other day, I turned just in time to see him cuddled up beside her on the floor. He got really close to her and whispered most sincerely in her ear,

So sweet.

Miss Vyla Leigh was giving a name and a blessing by her sweet daddy on March 4th. In the rush to get us all out the door, on time, to our 9 a.m. church service, I failed to get photos in her heirloom dress. Bummer.

The day was really pretty lovely. Vyla had about forty of our family and friends there to love on her. Miracle of miracles...she made it through the blessing without an outburst. The ornate gown only lasted about fifteen minutes, then she spent the rest of the meeting in the nude. Still adorable.

The words to the blessing were beautiful and I could feel how loved Vyla is by her Heavenly Father, as well as her earthly father.

Thanks to everyone who made the efforts and took the time to be here with us.

We love you all!