Exercise

For two weeks now I have finally started to exercise. I only give myself 30 minutes a day which has been on the treadmill but today I used a workout video for those problem areas by Jillian Michaels. I could only do about 1/3 of the video. I was dying. I don't think I can walk up the stairs anymore today, my legs are going to give out. I have finally realized how out of shape I am. I haven't exercised regularly in 10 years and it's caught up with me. Of course I'd like to lose weight, the baby weight. I'd like to get rid of my muffin top, which I never had until after Lucy. I'd love to tone up my bum so it looked as good as Neil's. He's got the cutest bottom ever and I'm hoping my kids get it. All of these reasons are great but I just basically need to be more healthy and have more stamina and endurance. Girl's camp is in 6 weeks and I have volunteered to go on the 5 mile hike. This is my motivation. I don't know how in shape I can get in 6 weeks but I'm going to give it a go. Now if only I can get my eating habits under control. I just enjoy my sweets and treats too much!

The Hibbert Boys and Too Much TV

We love the Berenstain Bear books around here. I love that they teach a moral, well one of Conner's favorites is about too much tv, probably because that is what was going on at our house. I am totally to blame. A couple of weeks ago I was extremely preoccupied with a Young Women activity I was in charge of and a lesson I had to teach as well and so the tv and computer became the babysitter. The boys would turn on the tv as soon as they woke up and it was like pulling teeth to get Conner ready for school because he was so glued to the tv. Both Conner and Sam love to play on the computer and then there's Mike right there beside them watching. Now I'm not against tv or computer games but like Mama Bear, the tv habit. All the boys get so cranky and irritable after watching too much media. So two weeks ago for fhe we read the Bears book and discussed it and we decided as a family we wouldn't watch any tv or play on the computer for the whole week, even parents. Neither Neil or I watch much tv so that wasn't an issue but the computer--oh the hours I waste away on the computer usually while the boys were watching tv. I didn't even check couponing sites and oh the deals I missed out on especially on diapers but that's just a little sacrafice. I did have to check my email each night but that was about all. The challenge is over and we all survived and the change that has taken place is amazing. Conner rarely played with his brothers. He was usually in his own little world doing math problems or something. Actually all the boys were in their own world. Sam would play dinosaurs by himself and Mikey trains. The first day was kind of hard for the boys. We played probably 20 different games. The house was a mess but we had fun and we were all playing together. During this week there was a lot more reading. Conner came home with 14 books from school that his teacher gave him to read while he was off track. He thought he'd surprise her and read them all that night so me and the three boys spent 1 1/2 hours on the couch while Conner read us the books and we looked at the pictures. There has been a lot more snuggling and tickling and wrestling. The boys have been so much more happier and rarely fight and aren't cranky. Yes my house is a complete disaster, more than before, but it's because we're playing all day long. I haven't gotten anything done because I've been playing with the boys. Elmo has become Conner's best friend and Curious George is Sam's and they role play with those two stuffed animals all day long. Each morning whoever wakes up first comes into my bed and says, "I wish Conner or Sam would wake up so we can play." Conner will actually play with Mikey and help him. No one ever played with Mikey before because he's really no fun to play with because it has to be his way but not anymore. I am so sad and guilty that I let my calling come before my family for awhile. Now I know we all have those days where we need to get things done and we let our kids watch movies or whatever but I was letting it happen every day for a long time. I seriously can't get over how the atmosphere in our home has changed. So now the week is over and at last FHE we disussed the changes that happened in the home and everyone agreed they liked it so what do we do now. We have decided Tuesday is TV day and everyone can pick one 30 minute show to watch. This week Sam and Mikey chose Dinosaur Train and Conner chose Family Feud. Thursday is
Computer Day and everyone can play on the computer for 30 minutes and Friday is still Movie Night. As I write this the boys are playing house with Conner as dad but Sammy doesn't want to be the mommy so they asked if Lucy could be the mommy but she's asleep. Sam is the son and Mikey is the puppy.

I love my family so much and I want them to love and enjoy each other. Last month the VTing message was on personal revelation. When I read it I felt like I get a lot of revelation for my calling. I'm actually amazed at it but I didn't feel like I got much for my family in comparison so I really began working to receive more and that's how this whole no tv week came about. Pretty amazing. I can't think of anything else that could have had a bigger impact on our relationships. I love the Lord and the promptings he sends to help us be better if we just listen.

I LOVE Garage Sales but Hate Burning Food

I went garage sailing today and found the best stuff. I got Conner and Sam new bikes, $10 each and clothes for Lucy, $.50 each, a couple Christmas presents, 2 sleds for $5 (we bought one brand new this past winter for $35) and two new Serta memory foam mattress pads for $5 each, regularly $75-$150 each--they still had the tags on them. We may use them on the boys beds and one for camping. I love other people's junk. I could have kept going but I have to limit myself to 10am so I reluctantly came back home. We had to hurry to Conner's soccer game so I quickly turned the stove on to fix myself a quesdilla. I put the tortilla and cheese on and ran upstairs to change Lucy into one of her cute new outfits and all of a sudden I smelled something burning. Oops it took longer to get Lucy dressed than I had planned so I ran downstairs to find it engulfed in smoke and the most awful smell. I quickly took the pan outside and placed it on our welcome mat which I later found out is ruined because the pan melted it. The worst part is that the whole house reeks and so does my hair. Now I am funny about my hair smelling. This is worse than microwave popcorn and the smell is here to stay for awhile.

I just looked out the window and the boys are all playing in the sprinklers but it's pretty chilly so Sam has his swim trunks and swim shirt on along with his snow boots and mittens. He put it all on himself. He's quite the character.

I Am Smarter

Conversation with Sam this morning.
"Mommy can I play on computer please."
I think oh boy here we go again, the fight of my life right now. "No Sweetie, it's not computer day."
"Oh please, please just a little bit."
"No Sam, we're not playing on the computer today. I want you to get smart and playing on the computer too much doesn't make you very smart."
"But I am smart."
"I know you are Sam but I want you to be smarter."
"I am smarter."
"Sam, let's read some books instead so you get smarter."
"I can read! I can read like Conner!"
"You can? What books can you read."
"I can read Railroad Toad all by myself."
He proceeds to go upstairs and finds the book and proceeds to read (recites from memory) the whole thing. He was so proud of himself. This is the first real book Sam has memorized. It amazes me how kids can memorize books and I'm the one reading them and never do. I remember Conner memorizing so many books and I'm glad to see Sam is too. He is a smart little guy. I always worry that he'll always be compared to Conner who excels in academics right now. I know I'm always thinking, shouldn't you be able to tell time by now or add or something. Conner did. He's mentioned before that I'm not good at numbers like Conner and gets sad but I tell him he's good at other things that Conner's not like puzzles and he knows that is true and it makes him happy.

April Happenings

Today was stake conference which meant we had church from 10-12. I've been giddy all weekend knowing that I would get to take a nap today. The whole family took a 3+ hour nap and there's still time left in the day to update my blog, prepare the Mutual activity for Tuesday and start preparing for my lesson on Sunday. I can't wait for 9 o'clock church. It sure seems like time has been flying and it is sad in a way. Lucy is now 3 months old and Sam turned 4 in April. Our kids are growing up so fast. I've finally got a handle on having 4 kids. It's not so bad anymore and can actually see us having more. For awhile there after Lucy was born I thought we were definitely done. So here's the update of the past month. A scene I see too often: the three boys on the computer playing some game. They love the computer and it drives Neil and I crazy. I try to limit their time on the computer to 20 minutes a day for each of them but you know how that goes. Some days is more, way more. We've been contemplating getting a wii but with the battle we already have with the computer I wonder if we'd just be shooting ourself in the foot.
Conner has become quite the teacher. He loves to go over flashcards with Mikey and gives him such praise. It is too cute.

Conner is really sensitive to sounds and the toilets at school are too loud for him and scare him so he won't go. I usually make sure he goes to the bathroom before school but one morning we were in too big of a hurry and he didn't. He ended up having to go at school and started to freak out because the toilets were too loud. His teacher took him to two bathrooms and he wouldn't and they were on their way to a third when he couldn't hold it any longer. I got a call to come bring him some clean clothes. I pulled up and he was so sad and had been crying. Luckily I brought him some gummy bears to cheer him up and it did the job. I told him it was ok and that everyone has accidents now and then. So now the deal is if he ever has to go again he doesn't have to flush the toilet.

Conner is also quite the diplomat. Last Sunday Sam was outside playing and came in running and saying those two boys are chasing me and want to destroy me. Conner got all upset and said that's not nice for those boys wanting to destroy my Sammy I'm going to talk to them and find out why they wanted to destroy my Sammy so he goes outside to talk. He goes outside and approaches them and tells them it is not nice and blah blah blah. Neil and I were watching and it was so funny. Way to try to find a peaceful solution to the problelm. Come to find out the boys had been playing lego battleship and that's what they were talking about.

Mikey is our rough son right now. He goes to timeout probably 5 times a day. He's always hiting and biting his brothers and me. I can't figure out what has gotten in to him. Is he acting out because of Lucy? I don't think that is it because she's the only one he's nice too. He is very polite however and always says thank you.

We refinanced to a 15 year loan. We went with Box Home Loans and their closing costs were more than 50% cheaper than anyone else and it was so easy. I wish I could have known about them our first time around. We would have saved thousands. With interest rates being so low we thought we'd be dumb if we didn't. It is ending up only costing us $100 more than our 30 year loan.

We bought our tickets to go to Georgia in July. I am going to go for 3 weeks with all the kids and Neil will be there for almost 2. I am so excited as well as the kids. Conner can't wait to go swimming every day. Mikey would be really excited if only he understood he'll get to jump off the diving board again all he wants.

Lucy's 3 Months Old!

Lucy turned 3 months old April 22nd. She has turned into the sweetest baby ever and is just so happy. We took her to the adult session of stake conference last night and I felt kind of bad because she was such a distraction, not because she was bad but because she was so happy and non stop smiles at everyone. We play a game that whoever can't make her smile loses. This can last a long time. She sleeps through the night now. She usually goes to sleep around 9pm and wakes up around 7am. I think that is why life is so good, I'm getting a normal amount of sleep. We're still not sure who she looks like but she definitely has her daddy's smile. We just love her so much. She has become so patient, most likely out of necessity. I'm gone alot with my calling and she just waits for me to come home to nurse and doesn't cry too often. In the past couple days she has started to laugh. She laughs when Neil is doing Pat-a-cake with her and comes to the part throw it in the oven. Too sweet. She is Little Miss Slobber Puss though and I often find her chomping on her hands.

Lucy and Aunt Beka!

Lucy and Aunt Jerusha!

Whenever we leave the house she has to have a bow on. I don't want anyone mistaking sweet cheeks for a boy but this often happens. This is one of the only times she'll cry.

She is always making bubbles so one of her nick names lately has been Bubbles.

I got her this cute capri set and she wore it twice and then it turned so cold. Back out with the winter clothes.

Spring Soccer

We started soccer again in April. It looks like a lot of the kids improved over the break. On Conner's first game he scored two goals. It's been down hill ever since. I didn't think he'd want to play next year but whe I asked him he said of course.

Fun Center

Sam wanted to go to the Fun Center for his birthday and it just happened that Conner's school was having a special night as well so it was cheap. Conner and Sam had a blast. Mikey was a little weary of the bouncy inflatables but loved Pirate's Cove.

Sometimes I wish I could keep him caged up and he'd like it

Me and Luc hanging out.

Sam's 4th Birthday!

Sam turned 4 April 11th. He had been waiting for this day for months. He is so excited that he now can wear 4T clothes and always reminds me how big he is getting. He's signed up for preschool and soccer for next year. This year we just did a family party to the dismay of Sam. He really wanted a friend party but ended up having a good time anyway. Grandma and Grandpa Hibbert came up and brought these awesome cupcakes and tons of presents. He still likes trains but may be starting to like dinosaurs even more thanks to his cousin Jaxson so he got some new dinosaurs and two new dinosaur shirts. He now has 3 dino shirts and two Thomas shirts and those are all he wants to wear. I am terrible at doing laundry and so I often have a sad Sam when his favorite shirts aren't clean.

In the past four months Sam has already been able to do the theme, prayer and recently a talk in Primary. He did such an awesome job. He was to talk on Joseph Smith so he stands up and holds up a picture of Joseph Smith and says I am going to talk about General Conference. He looks at the picture and then says General Conference again and on the third look he finally got it right. He had about 4 more pictures to talk about it and he was able to describe each one on his own. It was so cute to hear him try to pronounce translate and ordinances. We were definitely proud parents. He definitely loves being in front of an audience.

Sam is our vegetable lover. He'll eat any vegetable except tomatoes and will often go to the fridge and get broccoli or carrots out and start chomping away. He rarely will dip them in anything, not even celery. Even I need a dip for that.

Sam loves to put on a show. Here he was being silly and put a rubber band around his head and then couldn't get it off. He loves to sing and dance and jump. He loves Lucy. He's starting to grow out of that cute stage. You know the one where everything they do is just so darn cute. It's not a bad thing just a sign that he's maturing. He loves to help cook but often helps a little too much. He is having a harder time listening to mom and dad and wants to do whatever he wants to do so it is a struggle at times. We love this little blue eyed guy.

Donuts

When Neil goes to Priesthood session I have always taken the boys out for a mother/son date to Brick Oven. Since we don't live in Orem anymore and the fact that I didn't want to go to a restaurant by myself with four kids we stayed at home and decided to make homemade donuts together. We had such a great time and the chocolate donuts were so stinkin good.

Easter

Grandma Hibbert always puts on an Easter egg hunt for all the grandkids. Sam had been talking about it for weeks before hand and when Easter arrived so did the snow. I was a little worried it wasn't going to happen. Grandma was a little creative and we had it in Tiffanie's basement, which worked out really good.
Here's Grandma explaining the rules.

All the grandkids waiting patiently with so much anticipation

Conner with his stash

Sweet Lucy in her little Easter outfit. Do you see the little bunny on her shoulder.

Timber

Over conference weekend we had some guys come over and cut down our 15 trees. One of the guys would climb the trees and he was called spider man. It was amazing to see this huge tree come crashing down and never hit the house or fence. This is what our yard looked like for two weeks.
We had planned on chipping all the branches and was able to borrow a chipper but it was taking way too long so Neil finally was able to borrow a flat bed trailer and with the help of our three neighbor girls and one boy scout we got all the branches out of our yard last Saturday in a couple of hours. We have donated all the wood to the boy scouts if they'll come and get it. Next weekend is the dead line or else it will go to the dump unless someon else wants it. Neil is hoping to grind the stumps himself next weekend and then we'll be able to get some plots ready for a garden.