Heartprints

Heart-print:  the impression left behind by a deliberate act of kindness.

A Heartprint is formed when you do something kind.  Your love touches others, leaving heartprints behind.

After reading my post last week about the book "Somebody Loves You Mr. Hatch," my friend Jody asked me if I have the book Heartprints by P.K. Hallinan.  She let me borrow her copy which lead me right to Barnes and Noble to order my own (don't worry Ash, I ordered you one too!).  This book is such a good reminder of ways to be kind and show love towards others.  So for FHE last night, we read this story and discussed all the ways Jesus shows His love for us and the ways we can be like Him by showing love toward others.  We then played a fun LOVE game and had treats by the fire pit while wrapped in warm blankets.  It was a wonderful night for our family.  So....how many heartprints will you leave today?

I'm so happy last week is over...

This is why:

Monday:  Went to Costco to get things for party #1.  Ledger threw a fit on the way out cause he didn't want to leave.  "Don't Go Yet!" He screamed for 45 minutes straight in that horrible, high pitched Ledger voice.  "Why don't you want to leave Ledger?" "Why do you want to stay at Costco?" I kept asking him. "I would miss you so much if you stayed here without me." "Wouldn't you miss me?" "NOOOO!" "What are you going to do if I leave you here?" (truth be known, I wanted to leave him there and drive off into the sunset!!)  "I want to stay and eat grapes!" "Wedger (as he calles himself) wants to stay and eat grapes!" We've never eaten grapes at Costco before but hey, there's a first time for everything right? 

I was so frazzled by his 45 minute scream session while driving home that when I finally did get home, I dropped my brand new Blackberry cell phone in the toilet!  Yuck!  That's what I get for trying to avoid another bladder infection by going to the bathroom more frequently!!  I convinced my cute neighbor Madi to watch my wild turkeys for an hour so I could run to the T Mobile store and get my pee stained cell phone fixed.  Bad news, it will take 2 days to arrive and cost me $130.00  SWEET!

Tuesday:  While brushing Brody's teeth this morning, I decided I couldn't stand that wiggly front tooth any more.  Still reeling (how do you spell this anyhow?) from yesterday, I yanked that puppy right out and sent him off to school.  (not before I took this super cute picture of him!!)

I then decided I need a sitter so I could try and find an outfit for Jeremy's party. BAD IDEA!!  When you're 20 pounds overweight from having your 4th baby 4 months ago, nothing looks or feels good on you!  I was depressed the rest of the day! Took hot chocolate and rice krispy treats to the pack meeting at the park this night.  Thought it would be fun to take Brody and Case to the event since Brody will be in Scouts next year.  BAD IDEA AGAIN!!  Both Brody and Case were so naughty and out of control that I wanted to cry.  Actually I think I did cry to Jeremy when I got home.  It went something like, "Our kids are out of control!" "What are we doing wrong?"  "Why aren't we focusing on the more important things in life?" "What have we done to deserve this?" Yadda yadda yadda!! Why why why?  Still no cell phone!!

Wednesday:  Run a hundred more errands with the LOUD 2 year old and fussy 4 month old.  The Brown Man delivers my cell phone...HOORAY (He's not as cute as your Brown Man Sara!)  Now back to T Mobile to get it reprogrammed!

Thursday:  Another sitter to watch the kids so I can help Jeremy set up for Prospero 2010.  The balloon lady blew up the balloons for Brody's party instead of Jeremy's, so had to wait half the day for black, red and silver balloons instead of blue and white! I felt so bad for the poor women at the balloon store.  She popped all 36 blue and white balloons in front of me...with her ink pen...I think she was not very happy!!  The party was great but I was exhausted!  It's been so long since I've worn high heel shoes that my back and feet were killing.  I either need to get out more often or wear cute high heels around my house while being  stay at home Mom! Either one is probably gonna happen so I should just give up huh!  At least I have a cell phone! Here is what Jeremy's Prospero 2010 party looked like before the guests arrived! 

Friday:   Stay home to get ready for Brody's 7th B-day party.  Clean my house, wipe down tables and chairs, another trip to Costco (another Ledger freaking out when we have to leave), call my Mom on the way home from Costco with Ledger scrrrrreaming and ask her what the jail time would be for leaving a screaming 2 year old on the corner of Country Club and Main.  She tells me it would be very long and that after they throw me in jail, they would  take away the other 3 kids.  SHOOT!  When I get home, I cut veggies, make dip, call Mattas, unload my car from Jeremy's party the night before, oh and feed that sweet baby girl every 3 hours in between all of this chaos!!  I'm worn out! 

(and wanting to put that charming 2 year old for sale on Craig's List!)

Saturday:  Brody's 7th Birthday!  The party was exciting to say the least!! Crying kids, other kids getting chewed out, snowballs flying through my front door, kids playing with fire and long Smores sticks with points on the end... AWESOME!!  Clean up most the night and finally fall into bed around midnight!  This is the only picture I have of the party decorations.  Sugar, Chase and Taylor sure look cute!

Sunday:  Get up and get ready for church!  Laundry all  over the place, dishes piling up in the sink, toys covering the house, can't find the boys black church socks (why do they each only have 1 pair!!!) I'm super grouchy and Jeremy is exhausted and grouchy too. 15 minutes before church is to start, we call Jeremy's Sunbeam partner and tell him we are not going to make it.  We take a mental health day by catching up with our kids and the house.  Although I feel super guilty for bailing on my Primary President and First Counselor, I needed time.  Time to recover and relax.  Time to de-stress.  It made me feel better!  I'm doing better!  Happy it's over!!!

Another Painful Well Check

Heart beat sounds good!  

Doesn't my baby look huge on the scale?

Measuring from head to toe.

Last week, or the week before...I can't even remember, Miss B. had her 4 month well check up.  As you know from previous posts, I dread these appointments. While I love seeing how long she is, how much weight she has gained, and how big her noggin is, I hate hate hate those immunizations.  As expected, they juiced my sweet baby girl up with 5 shots in her chunky little thighs.  It was painful for me to hear her cry, but even more painful to think about why we are giving our little babies so many shots at one time!   I won't go on any more about how I hate immunizations so here are some exciting things from the 4 month appointment.

Weight:  13 lbs 7 oz (42%)

Height:  25.8 inches (92%)

Head Circumference: 15.9 inches (28%)

Shots given: DTaP, Hib, Prevnar, Rota Virus, and one other I can't remember!

You've Got Mail!

Last week for FHE we read a sweet story titled, "Somebody Loves You Mr. Hatch."  If you haven't read this one, I highly recommend it!  I cry every time. After we talked about ways we can show love toward others, we decorated these darling mailboxes and wrote each other love letters.  We decided the letters can be signed by the person who wrote them (or colored in some cases) or left blank.  This whole week we have all been receiving letters from each other.  It is seriously fun when I see the flag on my mailbox up and realize someone loves me. Of course most of the letters are signed "sikret emier." (that would be secret admirer.) but I secretly know that since Brody is the only one who can actually write words, they are from him! What a fun way for our family to show our love for each other!  What ways do you and your family show your love?

Does anyone know a good Lawyer?

I think we're gonna need one!!

On Saturday, Brody celebrated his 7th birthday with a snow party in our front yard.  He did the same party for his 5th birthday and it was so much fun, he wanted to do it again.  The day of the party, Jeremy, Kunkle, Jeff, Craig and Jim took Brody and Case to Forrest Lakes to load up the snow.  They left at 6:00 in the morning which was a good thing since they got a flat tire in Payson.  Anyhow, Jeremy took his Bobcat along with 3 trailers to gather snow.  The boys had a blast loading the snow in the Bobcat.  This could have been the best part of the day!  

It took 4 trucks, three trailers, 1 Bobcat Tractor and 9 guys to get the snow for the party!

Thank goodness for the Bobcat!

Brody had a blast throwing snowballs while waiting for the guys to get the snow.  Case loved helping to get the snow in the Bobcat.

Since we had done this type of party before, we knew what to expect. Apparently we hadn't 

thought it out well enough because within 5 minutes of the party starting, Brody was crying saying, "This is the worst birthday party ever!" Our cousin Jacob had a black eye and large road rash type scrape down the front of his face from a snowball hitting him, Jeremy had to take away all the snowball makers because they were making such hard snowballs that everyone was getting hurt, and most every kid at the party was crying! We really know how to throw a party huh! I guess when all the kids who come to the party are 2 years older then the last time, it makes for stronger more wild kids. Since there were about 50 kids ranging from ages 4 months-18, it makes for a super out of control snowball fight!! That and the fact that since it was Brody's birthday, all the "big" kids felt it necessary to really cream him with snowballs.  He was getting pelted all over!!  Poor kid!  He eventually got over it (after Jeremy had a talk with some of those "big" kids) and the party turned out great! We had Mattas for dinner, Krispy Kreme Donuts, Ice cream, Smores, Hot Chocolate and Candy for dessert.  It was so yummy!  Brody got a new DSI and Bakagans for gifts and he was beyond thrilled!   

We got blow up snow shields for protection from flying snowballs!

Even the Dad's were getting into the action!

Everyone loved sledding down the snow hill...especially the birthday boy!!

Poor Sugar was a target every time she came out of the house!

  Case was having so much fun at the party! Berkley, Ledger and I were in the middle of the battle field at one point.  It was each man for himself at this dangerous party!

Brody LOVED having Krispy Kreme Donuts for his Birthday dessert.  
Who doesn't love making Smores when it's cold outside.  Besides the fire pit, I was able to find 8 Smores makers to go on each of the tables for the kids to roast marshmallows after they ate. 

It was so fun! 

Devin Stewart, Priscilla Fernandez, Wyatt Crosby, Preston Crosby, Drew Felix and Chloe.

After it was all over, everyone left happy including the birthday boy who was beyond exhausted from getting up at 5:30 that morning and then getting pelted all evening from cold snowballs.  We haven't gotten any calls from our friends Lawyers yet, so that's good right?!?!  Happy birthday sweet Brody.  I love you tons!

Run Brody! RUN!