The Houghs

Hee Haw Farms

2011-10-20T08:34:00.003-06:00

We took the fam to Hee Haw Farms in Pleasant Grove last weekend. I think it is new this year...at least I hadn't heard of it before. Really cute place. We actually made it out of the corn maze by playing rock paper scissors a few times and by following the sound of tractors. Jake loved the corn cannonballs and being buried in the corn kernels. Stevie loved the trick or treat hayride, especially Dorothy and also scaring herself with a crazy rocking chair lady. Kelly loved looking for pumpkins and chasing Jake and Stevie everywhere.

Kelly is Riding a "Real" Bike

2011-10-12T14:23:00.000-06:00

Well....I haven't posted in a very long time. I get overwhelmed with posting in order. But I give up! That might take me forever. I am just going to start with today. Kelly has been riding her "run" bike really well all summer. We have been kind of stalling on the pedal bike so that her brain could catch up with her physical abilities :-) But now she really wants to do it. Here is some video from today. A very determined little girl.

Jake Did It!

2011-05-20T07:11:00.000-06:00

This is a random post...but it is a common topic of conversation in our house.

Jake finally hit the 40 lb mark yesterday! We have been waiting for him to get there for quite some time. He is now legal for a booster seat, at 6 1/2 years old :-) Part of me thinks that I shouldn't be encouraging weight gain...but the other part is happy that he realized that he needed to eat more so he can grow...and he did it!

Conversation with Kelly & Stevie Kate

2011-05-05T09:38:00.000-06:00

As we were driving to Wal-Mart yesterday, Kelly pointed out a convertible and said, "That is a cool car." Then after a minute she also added "This is not a cool car." And all with a disgusted look on her face. I asked her if she meant our van...and she said yes. I got a pretty good laugh out of that one!

I then asked Stevie what kind of car she would drive when she grows up and she said, "A van like ours." I guess she doesn't really know much about cars :-) But then she added "Except without the box on top...I don't really like that."

Well...I know I don't look very cool driving our wonderful van (aka Smartie)...but I love it and wouldn't want any other car right now. But ask me in a few years...

Kelly

2011-04-07T10:23:00.000-06:00

Several big things have been going on with Miss Kelly. The first one makes me a little sad - she gave away the pacifiers aka PACI. We have been talking about giving them away to her baby cousin Halle for quite some time. We tried not to push it too much...but just kept talking about it. Last weekend she seemed ready, so we packed them in a bag and took them to see Halle at Grandma and Grandpa's house. She was so brave and excited. Since then...no tears...just a few little whines on one day. Kelly seems very proud of herself.

The other two things are exciting and fun for us - Kelly went skiing for the first time and Kelly loves to bike on the pink run bike. I waited until a really warm day and then took Kelly and Stevie out to ski. She walked really well in the boots and seemed very excited. She loved to watch Stevie and tried really hard to do the "pizza." I was impressed with how hard she tried...and didn't whine once. After going on the Magic Carpet a few times, we decided to try the chairlift. Stevie Kate didn't want to ride with someone else, so I rode with her and Kelly rode up with another instructor. I have to say, I still get so nervous riding lifts with little ones and especially when it is someone else holding my child...but she did just fine. Wonderful first day on skis and now Steve is going to take her out again this weekend.

Kelly has been riding the run bike for several weeks now and loves it. She is getting the gliding part down and enjoys riding with the older kids up and down the street.

My baby is growing up!

Stevie Wanted a Bob

2011-03-17T06:36:00.000-06:00

Stevie Kate has been wanting a bob haircut for several weeks now. One of her friends had it done and she loved it. I tried to talk her out of it...only because I love ponytails...but she was set on it. Funny how I had to beg her to get her hair trimmed about six months ago :-)

So I took her yesterday and asked that they cut it only short enough so that it will still fit in a ponytail somewhat. Here is before and after. It really isn't a bob...but she loves it.

There is More Progress...

2011-03-17T06:33:00.000-06:00

I woke up this morning very panicked because I had a dream that the house flooded again. This time it was because I was busy working in the office and the kids were playing in the bathroom with water. Ouch...but it's not true...thank heavens.

We are so close to being done with the "remodel." The remaining items are baseboard downstairs and more painting. Yeah! I love the new floors.

The Tooth Fairy's First Visit to the Hough Household

2011-02-27T16:51:00.000-07:00

Around Valentines Day...Jake got an extra tooth in his mouth. His adult tooth came in way behind his baby tooth. The dentist looked at it and said that it should fall out on its own and if it didn't...to come back after a month and he would pull it out. Jake has been working at it...eating apples and wiggling it with his tongue and fingers. Last night we were at Grandma and Grandpa's house when Jake got hit with the back of Grandpa's chair. We don't know what happened next...other than the tooth was gone. Jake thinks he swallowed it. He left a note for the Tooth Fairy and when he woke up...she did indeed come and leave him some money for the missing tooth.

Now let's hope that adult tooth moves forward :-)

Before and After Pics (I have a new camera and haven't quite learned how to use it. Sorry for the blurriness).

There is Progress...

2011-02-27T16:44:00.000-07:00

We now have a complete ceiling again and walls too! The kids and I escaped to St. George last week while Steve worked hard at home and helped Todd coordinate the subs. Now Jake has a new color on his walls and there is carpet. Yeah! I was beginning to get used to plywood floors. In another 1 1/2 weeks...we should have new hardwood floors too. It has been 4 weeks tomorrow since the flood. When they told me it usually takes about 2 months to finish everything...I thought they were crazy. But they were pretty close. I am hoping it is a total of 6 weeks. Thanks to all of you who have helped so far.

Ski School Graduation

2011-02-20T21:48:00.000-07:00

Stevie Kate and Jake did a six-week ski school program at Deer Valley. They both loved it! Which is an accomplishment since Stevie had not liked ski school before. The last lesson she had before this program...ended in the instructor carrying her down the mountain kicking and screaming. Jake didn't love ski school at 3 years old either. And even though I teach 3 year olds how to ski all the time...I really don't recommend ski school until 4 and older. It is kind of a gamble...but maybe it is just my kids.

Anyway...Stevie's instructor was Kate. She was so sweet and drew pictures for Stevie and brought her accessories to wear every week.

Jake had Charlie and learned a lot about carving, hockey stops, side slipping and going through the trees. Apparently there were some very rowdy boys in Jake's class that couldn't take direction very well so that made it interesting for everyone.

The graduation parade was a beautiful sunny day and Grandpa D came to watch too. Having Grandpa there was really fun for Kelly :-)

Jake graduated from Advanced Beginner to Intermediate and Stevie graduated from Beginner to Advanced Beginner. Great job! Here is a link to the video we took if you want to watch.

Love is in the Air

2011-02-20T07:14:00.000-07:00

I love Valentines day. The theme of love is great and I also think it is a very simple holiday. Just wanted to share a couple of pictures taken around Valentines.

Jake and Shayla - they have only had eyes for each other since the 1st day of Kindergarten. They have a really sweet relationship.

Kelly and Choo-Choo - Tyler snapped this picture at the circus that we went to with the Dustmans. I love it! He really is Kelly's 1st love. (Choo-Choo is a nickname that has stuck with him since he was a little baby. It is going to be hard for us to switch to Drew).

The Flood

2011-02-06T15:32:00.001-07:00

So for my birthday this year...I wanted new carpet. Just kidding! But that is what I am getting. On my birthday I woke up to a pretty major flood in our house, complete with damage to both levels of our house. Jake went to the bathroom around 10:30 the night before and we think the toilet just malfunctioned and overflowed like a waterfall all night. With help from Val (I love you Dad!), we spent the morning cleaning up what we could and then turned things over to the insurance company and their disaster cleanup people. I left with the kids for the rest of the day and Steve went to work. When I got home late in the afternoon...I was pretty shocked to see how extensive the damage was. And how they moved our belongings around and just stuffed it into the guestroom and the office. I had a little meltdown then, at the expense of my dear friend Kathy. But she promptly informed me that it wasn't a fire, everyone is healthy, and to calm down (she did give me a hug first). She is right, although I'm sure I will have a few more meltdowns until we get everything back to normal. It is just hard to deal with when you have three small children running around and demanding almost all of your attention. But I will be getting that carpet along with new flooring downstairs too :-) Here are a few pictures after everything was ripped out and the very loud fans were doing their job of drying out the house.

What Comes Out of Their Mouths...

2011-01-26T12:27:00.001-07:00

Quoting Stevie Kate...said at the table during lunch today.

"Katie told me I was a cute baby. I told her that we were all cute babies. But really....I think Jesus was just a little bit cuter."

Happy New Year 2011

2011-01-09T17:10:00.000-07:00

Cheers to a New Year! Thank you to all of my family and friends for making 2010 a great year. I am excited for 2011 and so very thankful for the life that I have.

The list of New Years goals could be very long (especially with parenting)...but I am trying to make it simple for now. I am vowing to drink more water, be on time more, pray more, and smile more :-)

What about you?

Holiday Pictures 2010

2011-01-09T16:24:00.000-07:00

Great holiday season! Lots of great time with family and friends...

Santa 2010

2010-12-19T07:52:00.000-07:00

The holiday craziness is upon us all and we haven't had much time to catch our breath. But here are a few pictures with Santa this year. The first shot has Kelly with what looks like a laugh (kinda)...but it is a very scared cry. I wasn't planning on being in the picture...but 2 year olds and Santa just normally don't mix.

Thanksgiving 2010

2010-11-28T08:22:00.001-07:00

Thanksgiving week started off with Jake's feast and performance at school. He was an Indian in the performance and also in charge of bringing turkey. Steve got to be there and loved reading a book to the kids and participating in the classroom. I haven't been able to do any of that this year with both girls at home. Maybe next year...

Stevie Kate also had a feast at her school on Tuesday...she chose to take Yogurt Raisins. Go figure...

We had a week of "white" for Thanksgiving. Several big storms happened...including one forecast for today. Wednesday and Thursday were VERY cold too. They even canceled the local 5K race for liability reasons...it was almost 10 below zero when the race was supposed to start. The Houghs have not been skiing yet...but I am sure it is coming soon. Deer Valley opens this upcoming weekend and Steve is almost recovered from his ill-timed Thanksgiving Week cold.

We spent Thanksgiving Day with Grandma & Grandpa D, Grandma Lee, Duff, Amy, Kace, Kassidy, Shane, Carrie, and Halle. It was fairly quiet for a Draper Thanksgiving and very laid back. I loved it and thank you to Mom for most of the cooking. The Houghs were in charge of bringing Sweet Potato Casserole (a favorite of ours from Tennessee). After dinner we played Hearts and Kace was the winner...even though this was his first time playing. I was the big loser.

Bring It On!

2010-11-15T22:23:00.000-07:00

The kids and I spent last Friday afternoon/evening getting the winter gear out from the crawl space. The ski boots, snow boots, goggles, hats, gloves, etc. Then we went to the rental shop to get them measured for the right size boots and skis. Turns out Stevie needed new boots...but other than that...they were all good for the same equipment from last year. It got us all excited and now I can embrace this cold weather and pray for snow.

The best part of the night was the laughs we all got from Kelly and her goggles. We found these in the crawl space and the rightful owner is Sam McClendon...from the last visit. Kelly has staked her claim on them and would not part from them until bedtime. I think Sam will understand.

Halloween and Tennessee Trip

2010-11-08T07:41:00.000-07:00

HALLOWEEN

We spent Halloween in Tennessee this year. The weather was fantastic and loved the time we spent with the Hough side of the family. Jake doesn't really like to dress up and it is pretty tough to get him in a mask or hat. So he chose to be Luke Skywalker for Halloween. Perfect for him. Stevie Kate surprised us by wanting to be an Avatar. I was convinced that she would be a different princess every year...but I love it when they come up with something and are so excited about it. Kelly was a Sugar Plum Fairy, a costume that I loved when Stevie was her age.

They all loved Trick or Treating - especially because they were with their cousins. Jake and Kelly tired out after an hour or so. And Stevie had a lot of stamina, kept up with the older kids and stayed out longer. She was the one running to the door.

THE REST OF THE TRIP

We stayed for 8 days this time around so we had lots of time to see everyone. Krissy, Drew, and Cooper were so great to drive from Shreveport to visit too. The cousins were all together for a few days which was fun to watch. Cory Nicole was so great with Stevie and Kelly. Stevie just ate up the attention and didn't want to be away from her side. And Jake was just one of the boys this trip - or at least he tried to be. I honestly didn't see him that much because he was with Luke, Sam, Drew, and Cooper as much as he possibly could be.

Other highlights...

Watching Luke's football game
Childrens' Museum with Nannie
Corn Maze
Zoo with GranDaddy and GranJackie
Tech Decks and Trampoline
Taylor Swift's House
Building a Trail in Nannie's backyard

Catch Up - Part 2

2010-11-08T07:02:00.000-07:00

Kelly
It was time to hand over the crib to Halle because she was growing out of the bassinet. I wasn't exactly ready to move Kelly out of the crib, but didn't think it would be too bad because of my experience with Stevie and Jake. Wrong. The first few nights she just constantly got out of the bed before going to sleep. Steve installed the gate on the door and just kept putting her back in. Then she slept ok once she fell asleep. But I think it was night 3 that I probably won't forget for a long time. She woke up around 1ish and we kept going in there and thinking that she went back to sleep. First we saw books all over the floor. Then around 4 a.m. we heard a big bang and then crying. I went running into the room and she was sitting under the dresser in her closet - which had nearly fallen down on her. The only thing that caught it was the molding around the closet door. Six inches more and it would have landed on her head...my worst nightmare. She also happened to be in different clothes and every toy in her room and closet was out. Needless to say...I was terrified and slept in the room with her for the rest of the night. The next day, Steve bolted it into the wall. Our pediatrician always talked about bolting stuff...but we have never done it because I just didn't see my kids climbing stuff. Wrong.

She hasn't really been that bad since that night...but we have found her asleep under Stevie's bed. And lately she rolls off the bed and doesn't even wake up. Crazy girl for sure. The other scary experience with her happened a few weeks ago. I put her down for a nap and didn't latch the gate on her door. Mainly because I was going to be upstairs working on laundry. I was soaking some clothes in Oxi Clean in the kids' bathroom and left the powder (lid on) in the bathroom. I heard some screaming and ran upstairs. Kelly had woken up early from her nap, went into the bathroom, figured out how to open the powder container, and eaten Oxi Clean. I don't think much got down her throat, but I did try to make her throw up. That was the first time I had to call Poison Control, but luckily she was ok. So...maybe these two stories will remind all of us with small children that you never can be too safe :-) Let me be your lesson.

The next big step with Kelly will be taking away the pacifier and then on to potty training. Not looking forward to either one...so I may just wait a bit.

Jake
Jake is doing great in Kindergarten. He loved his sub teacher, Ms Langford, and now his real teacher is back from maternity leave, Ms Minneci. Things are going well. The only thing that has completely surprised me about Jake in Kindergarten...is the fact that he loves the ladies. I wasn't prepared for that aspect because he has not really wanted to even play with girls for a year or more. So now all of a sudden he loved the girls in his class - one or two in particular (Shayla and Abby). There has been kissing and "I love yous" and I am shocked. I think there are 15 boys in the class and 6 girls. So maybe he is just trying to stake his claim. I remember loving the boys in Kindergarten...Mark Pitts in particular...so maybe he is just taking after me.

Stevie Kate
Nothing really too exciting going on with Stevie. She is doing great at Miss Sharie's preschool and is loving her new friends there - Lila, Tatum, Annika, and Hayden. The only drama we had was that Miss Kathy (Lila's mom) and I worked out a carpool schedule and she picks up Stevie and Lila. That really upset Stevie for a few weeks because she wanted Mom or Dad. Lots of tears. She figured it out and now we just try to make it special when she comes in the door rather than when we pick her up.

Catch Up - Part 1

2010-11-07T16:16:00.000-07:00

FALL FUN

For all of you who have been bugging me to "update the blog"...here you go. I am slacking, so please keep pestering me. Seems like my sisters and I share a quirk about having to do things in order. I can't just pick up in November now...I have to go back to where I left off.

Soccer - Jake and Stevie both played soccer this fall - on different teams and in different leagues. We all spent quite a bit of time at the soccer field and although it was fun and worthwhile, I was ready to be done. Kelly was not a good sport at all at soccer games and that made it hard on the rest of us.

Jake had Coach Elaine this season and a good group of boys - all new friends. A little rough at first, but but the end of the season it was great. He really made progress at the end of the season too - even scoring some legitimate goals and really hustling.

Stevie had Coach DJ this season and a great team. Her good friend Gracie was on the team and a few other girls that she knew a bit - but they were all so darling. After a few games, Stevie got the concept and became really competitive and loved to kick the ball and score goals. She was mostly competitive with one of the girls on her team - Maggie. They fought over the ball quite a bit...funny. Maybe the concept of teamwork will come next year. One of the moms is a photographer and took some great shots.

BYU Football
Uncle Shane is starting Middle Linebacker this year for BYU. I am so impressed at how well he has played...despite the losing record for BYU. It has been fun to watch and we have been able to go to a few of the home games. He is such a nice and humble guy...and a great uncle to my kids. It is crazy to see him be so aggressive on the field. I told Carrie to watch out when football season is over...he will have to get that aggression out somewhere :-) Just kidding...great job Shane.

More Pictures

Here are a few more pictures from our Scarecrow Walk and from the backyard. The pictures of the kids mid air crack me up.

Steve and Point to Point

2010-09-10T14:19:00.000-06:00

Steve has been training all summer to ride the Point to Point mtn bike race in Park City. It is an 78 mile race that you can do solo or as a duo. Steve did the duo option and raced the last 42 miles of the course. The race was last Saturday and he finished! I can't imagine being on a bike seat for over 5 hours, but he did it without any crashed or bike malfunctions. Duff did the race as a solo rider and finished the whole thing in just a little over 8 hours....despite his bike losing rear brakes (scary).

The kids and I chased Steve around Deer Valley and Park City Mtn Resort before finally catching him at the finish line at The Canyons. He was so exhausted and wasn't sure if he would do the race again. But the very next day, the story had changed. He said he is doing the whole thing next year :-)

Stevie Kate - with no training wheels

2010-09-10T14:08:00.000-06:00

A few weeks ago,on a Sunday afternoon, Stevie Kate asked Steve to help her move her bike to the front yard because she wanted to ride it. I don't think he thought much about it...but sure enough, she had taught herself how to ride her bike without training wheels. We give all of the credit to Stevie and her pink run bike that taught her balance. She didn't even want Steve to push her or help her in any way. Stevie has always been very independent...no exceptions here.

Stevie riding bike for 1st time from Steve Hough on Vimeo.

Jake's 1st Day of Kindergarten

2010-08-31T06:47:00.000-06:00

I was somewhat worried about Jake's 1st day of school...only because he clammed up almost every time we visited the school and classroom before school started. Wouldn't speak, very shy, etc. But yesterday he turned it all around. He was excited all morning and especially excited that it stopped raining enough for us to ride bikes to school. Once we got into the school he was all smiles and said hi to the kids he knew in his class - 14 boys and 6 girls (those odds won't be so good later on :-) And he wasn't sad at all when we left. I wasn't expecting to be sad at all - but I got choked up somehow. Maybe it is because this is a new beginning of our lives...me leaving him places and him having to be responsible. He doesn't need me as much??? Who knows...but along with the tears, I was very proud of him too for being ready to let go. All of you out there with older children...I know you know how I am feeling.
Steve said he wasn't sad...just excited for Jake and remembering what it felt like to go to your first day of school.

July and August

2010-08-29T07:57:00.001-06:00

Yes I am behind on blogging....but it is summer...that will be my excuse :-) I am trying to catch up a bit...so many things to remember...here are the highlights.

Tennessee
Steve & Jake were able to go to Tennessee to visit mid-July. I was worried about Jake not handling the heat...but not one complaint from him. He just loved the pool parties, the attention, and all of the play time with his cousins - who he looks up to so much. Steph got some great pictures.

The girls and I helped with Angie's baby shower and then made a trip to Logan with Brittoni to visit Miranda and fam. We missed the boys but we painted toenails, did hair, etc. Yes...even Kelly likes to have her toenails done.

Nannie, Aunt Krissy, Drew and Cooper Visit
A few weeks about Steve & Jake got back, Nannie came to visit. She is such a great help and everyone loves to have her visit. Kelly was immediately in love and wouldn't even let Nannie talk to anyone else on the car ride back from the airport. The Waydas came a few days later and Jake, Stevie, and Kelly went crazy. Jake looks up to the boys so much and wanted to be with them the whole time. Stevie was smitten with Drew and Kelly was smitten with Cooper.

The highlights of activities - Olympic Park, Alpine Slide/Coaster, smores, bike riding and more bike riding. Thanks for visiting us...we loved it! I didn't get very many pictures...but here is a link to Krissy's great pics. http://picasaweb.google.com/thewaydas/DevicesDownloadFiles?feat=directlink

Draper Family Reunion
This year Brady & Angie were in charge and we spent the long weekend in Wallsburg. Of course we always love to go there and enjoy being outdoors, dogs, horses, ATVs, guns, etc. It felt like we packed in quite a few things in a few days...so fun. I especially loved watching the kids play with the water balloons and the Minute to Win It game. Steve and I didn't get to enjoy the last day and night of the reunion because of our trip to Taos. But many thanks to everyone who helped with our kids while we were gone.

Taos
Steve's friend Jason Boutwell from Tennessee invited us to his wedding in Taos, NM. We have always wanted to ski there, but took the chance to see it in the summer and support Jason & Dena. The trip was short....we had a great time at the wedding, shopped & ate downtown, visited the Rio Grande Gorge, and the Taos Ski Area.

Our New Friends

In July, Nannie bought us a hummingbird feeder for our window. It took a few weeks, but once the word got out...our house was the hot spot. Birds were constantly feeding...and I think we even counted 7 birds there at one time. The kids loved watching them and Kelly learned to say hummingbird and point at the window. Last week one actually flew into the house. It took some effort on Steve's part to get the bird to go back outside. The poor thing looked terrified. But after about 15 minutes...ssuccess.

The feeder fell and broke last week and the new one on the fence post doesn't quite get the crowds. Maybe they are leaving for the fall/winter. We will miss them...

Jake is 6!
Jake turned 6 on August 14. This year he decided that instead of a party, he wanted to take 2 of his friends - Luke and Chase - to Seven Peaks Water Park. And he invited Stevie Kate too (thank heavens :-) Luke's mom Kathy and his sister Lila joined us too and we had a great afternoon & evening at the park. I even wanted to stay longer and maybe next year we will go and stay all day. Fun place.

We also did a little celebration with Ellie Edwards and fam since she and Jake share the same bday.

New Cousin

Quincy Lee Draper was born on August 19th. She is so tiny and adorable and Brady & Angie are happy parents. Kelly and Stevie loved to hold her...and Quincy makes Kelly look like a giant. Brady was the last Draper sibling to have a child. It really made me feel so blessed and lucky to have such a healthy and happy extended family.

Kelly is 2!
My baby is 2 years old. (I think that realization may be harder than sending Jake to Kindergarten tomorrow). I am truly loving the stage that Kelly is in right now (minus the tantrums). She loves to say new words, be silly, jump on the trampoline, and annoy Jake and Stevie as much as she can :-) We celebrated Kelly's birthday a day early by taking the kids to the beach at Bear Lake. Many of you know that that is one of my favorite places to visit...and it turned out great. What a fun day and a delicious raspberry shake at the end. On her actual birthday, we had the Dustmans over to celebrate with dinner and an Elmo cake - Kelly's favorite.

Travelers
My parents and Amy, Kace, and Kassidy got back last weekend from visiting Tracie & fam and helping Casey, Lindsay, and Jack move to Philadelphia. My mom had a crazy experience on the airplane, by herself, major allergic reaction, ambulance, and a stay in a Chicago hospital. She is ok now and hopefully she can figure out what caused it.

We are happy to have them back in UT...without them at Jake, Kelly, and Quincy's birthdays, it was strange. We are lucky to live close to family for sure and miss those who live away from us - we now have family in Nevada, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Louisiana.

Stevie's 1st Official Day at Miss Sharie's

Jake has gone to preschool off and on at Miss Sharie's for the past 3 years. Stevie went a bit this summer...but last Thursday was her first official day at Miss Sharie's. She loves it, even without Stella and Jake there. On her first day, she was supposed to wear her favorite color and bring show and tell. You would guess pink or purple...no...the new favorite is black. What??? But she loved the Johnny Cash shirt she wore and was very proud because Jake's favorite color is black too.

Zeke

2010-07-12T22:13:00.000-06:00

For the very first time ever...I passed Zeke on my bike. Steve told me that Zeke had really slowed down...but I had to see if for myself. It is true, and it makes me sad. He is 9 1/2 years old. The first time he let me pass him it was only for a minute or so. But at the end of the ride tonight, about 3/4 done, he let me pass him again and stayed behind me for the rest of the ride.

Hough Happenings for June (and a little of July)

2010-07-11T15:52:00.003-06:00

Lagoon - We started our summer activities at Lagoon at the beginning of June. Unfortunately the weather wasn't great...but it was good enough to enjoy our time there. So fun to have 4 adults and 4 kids - one on one. Nikki & Tyson, Natalie & Colin, Steve & Jake, and me & Stevie Kate. Jake's favorite part was the Music Express. Stevie's favorite part was the Helicopter Ride. Stevie rode almost everything when we went last year...but this year she had FEAR. No roller coasters, swings, or "fast" rides for Stevie. And my favorite part was riding Wicked with Steve. Maybe one day we will leave all of the kids home and go for the thrill rides :-)

Camping - We tried camping again with 3 other families at Rockport (only 20 minutes from home) over Father's Day weekend. Unfortunately we didn't check out the spot beforehand - it was a little dangerous with a little dropoff into deep water. But we were all vigilant with watching the kids and everyone was safe. It was only for one night and I wish we would have stayed longer. Sitting around the campfire and telling stories and laughing makes up for all of the packing, setting up, and uncomfortable sleeping...all worth it. I also love how much fun the kids have in nature - finding creatures, plants, etc.

Biking - Everyone has healed up...for the most part. Jake and Steve went back to the site of Steve's accident :-) and took a picture of the drop and had fun too. Steve has been nurturing his love for his new bike and riding quite a bit. He is also racing a little bit in preparation for a big race over Labor Day weekend.

Swimming - I love to spend time at the pool during the summer. And that love drives me to work hard to get everyone prepared, sunscreened, dressed, fed, and kept safe from drowning. It is quite a job and I am exhausted everyday. But I still love it. We just finished a 2-week lesson rotation and Jake and Stevie had fun and made progress. Jake is so close to being self-sufficient. His strokes and underwater swimming are great. But he panics when he comes up for air and his legs sink. This has kept his self confidence down so he is scared to try. Hoping that more and more practice will fix it. Stevie had developed FEAR in the water too and it took almost all 8 lessons in order for her to get more comfortable and start to keep her head under the water while she practices the strokes. And then there is Kelly. It was a chore to keep her out of the water during lessons. She loves to jump in and isn't really concerned if she jumps too far from the edge or if she jumps without mom or dad there. Steve got to come with us one time and she couldn't be pulled away from him. Luckily she also likes to take breaks and lay on the lawn chairs too.

GranDaddy and GranJackie - We had visitors last weekend and it was great for us all to spend time with GranDaddy and GranJackie. The highlights of the trip included Steve beating his dad for the 1st time ever on the golf coarse, watching Steve, Jake, Steve Sr. and Jackie all ride the Alpine Coaster, and enjoying many great meals together. We also watched fireworks with them on the 3rd of July at a local park.

Other Stuff - Our new niece Halle Paige Hunter was born July 1st. So happy she is here healthy and safe and congratulations to Shane & Carrie. You are already great parents.

Jake wanted me to include a picture of the snake that he caught a few nights ago. I am TERRIFIED of snakes so I was happy that we convinced him to let the snake go that night. Stevie Kate was very proud that she held the snake and helped Jake take care of it.

The Past Month

2010-06-06T08:19:00.077-06:00

The Hough Happenings for May
(having a hard time getting posts written lately...try to do better)

Lesa- Mother's Day...I followed the advice of a friend and had Steve take my picture with the kiddos on Mother's Day. It seems that the moms are always behind the camera and at least once per year we should try to take a mom & kids pic. Steve scored big points this year by getting me a necklace with the names of the kids on different charms. I LOVE it! And another highlight this Mother's Day...was watching my Mom ride her new red cruiser bike that we all pitched in and got her. I really don't remember ever seeing my Mom on a bike before. She looks great! A few weeks later...I ran in my first relay race - Running with Ed. It was the first annual Park City Education fundraiser....I think it raised around $50k and it was really fun being part of a team. I kinda choked on the first leg - 7 miles slight uphill...but finished strong on our other leg - 6 miles trail running. I think the second leg was easier because Steve and the kids were there cheering us on right when we needed it.

Steve - Most of you have probably already seen this picture...but this is the aftermath of a fall at the bike park with Jake. About 15 stitches in 4 different spots. The chin/mouth area took the first impact and he still has no feeling in his chin. We learned that the face/mouth heal very quickly. It really was amazing how much better he looked within days. He was back on the bike a week later and is LOVING his new bike - a labor of love for him and Duff. Thank you Duff for all of your connections and help!

Jake - it seems like this was a big month for Jake. At the beginning of May, we finally convinced him to try a short haircut. I actually love the look for him...but it was also hard for me to cut almost all of it off. It hasn't been this short since he was a baby. There is a little road rash on Jake's face in this picture. He took a good spill on his friend's bike and was very brave. His friend's dad said no tears. The next big thing for Jake was this awesome birthday party that he went too for his buddy Luke. He counted down the days and it lived up to the hype. It was a reptile/spider/insect party and he got to hold several snakes, etc. That has kicked off a LOVE of bugs and every creepy crawling thing. When he is outside and off his bike, he is constantly looking for things that move. The next big thing is that Jake can now make it through the night without a pullup! For you parents out there who have gone through this...you understand our happiness with this news. It was been a long road and he seems to be doing great and sticking to it. Wish us luck going forward :-) He earned a remote control car. Spring soccer finished up yesterday. Jake really enjoys being part of a team and I have loved that about his soccer experiences. The things that we don't love...it that he is not really interested in kicking the ball too much or scoring goals...even though we bribe him with money. He did score one goal this year - in the wrong goal. But we are proud of him none the less.

Stevie Kate - Stevie also did Spring Soccer - but just a skills clinic instead of teams playing games. She loved it! And is very excited to play fall soccer on a team. We will see if she is more competitive than her brother. We have all been biking...and Stevie took a good fall already on her new run bike. She created much more drama over this fall than Jake and Steve combined. School is now out in Park City and I had a parent teacher conference with her teacher a few weeks ago. I was very proud to hear that Stevie is kind at school and always tries her best. Shining Stars Preschool was a great experience for us. She is now very excited to start going to preschool at Miss Sharie's...where Jake has been going to preschool. Stevie wanted me to post this picture of her face as a dog...she absolutely loves face painting.

Kelly - As I have said before...Kelly is the comedian in our family. She is quite funny and more of her personality comes out each day. She loves to dance and do silly things to try to get people to laugh. And I love that Kelly is starting to really enjoy having friends....and she loves to say their names. "Choo Choo" (nickname for Drew Dustman), Mia, Will, Sophie, Jack, and Riley...all little ones about her same age. She is also smitten with Aunt Amy "Mamy" (just like Jake and Stevie). Kelly loves being outside...which is great for us. She begs to go out first thing in the morning. I think her favorite thing to do is go down the plastic slide onto the trampoline. She also loves the swings at the park.

Goldie - our pet goldfish. This was our first attempt at having another pet and we knew the outcome would probably be a dead goldfish. But we tried....and only made it 3 days. But in those 3 days...the kids fell in love with Goldie. We left to pick Jake up from school and when we came back, she had gone to heaven. I told the kids we should flush her down the toilet and Stevie agreed and didn't shed any tears. However...Jake was very upset...hence the picture. We talked about it...said a prayer...etc. But he finally stopped crying when I asked Stella (4 years old) to talk to him about pets. Stella lost one of her dogs this past year and she did a great job explaining it to him. I shed a few tears listening to her say words like "freedom, family, heaven" etc. So precious...

Misc - The brink of summer is finally here and we are looking forward to a great time and visits from some of our Hough family. I am also excited for two new baby girls that will be born into the Draper clan this summer.

Stevie Kate is 4!

2010-05-02T07:20:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was our Stevie Kate's birthday...she has seemed older than 3 to me for a while and now she is officially 4. Stevie is my helper, my cooking buddy, my shopping buddy, my dancer, my spirited daughter, my love and many more things.

We all had a great day celebrating her birthday. She had a Pinkalicious themed birthday party for a few of her friends and also had Grandma & Grandpa and Amy & Kassidy over to visit.

A few of the questions I asked her today on her birthday...

Favorite Foods - Cottage Cheese, Watermelon, Bagel with Cream Cheese

Favorite Movies - Up, Princess and the Frog, Astro Boy

Favorite Book - Pinkalicious

Favorite Colors - Pink, Purple, and Yellow

What she knows about Jesus - He lives in the Churches and He helps to build them.

I love you girl!

Kelly's New Words

2010-04-25T17:34:00.000-06:00

Kelly has been talking quite a bit in the last month or so...but she has picked up the pace in learning new words...especially in the last week. She loves to say "Please, Thank You, Stevie, Kelly, Outside, Tippy, All Done, Mia, Top, Up" Most of the words come out with a very high and sweet-sounding tone. She says those all in her own way...probably only that a Mom can understand. Great progress though! We are trying to teach more signs too. Anything is better than the screaming and crying to try to make us understand what she wants.

Spring Break 2010

2010-04-24T07:16:00.001-06:00

After some serious snow storms before Spring Break...we were ready to leave the "mountains." The day before we left...we met up with Natalie and the kids at the Living Planet Aquarium. Stevie Kate was scared of quite of few of the animals, but Jake, Sara, Isaac, and Colin enjoyed all of the them. I think the favorite were the penguins. They were so fast at moving around and were so lively that day.

Jake wanted me to mention that he got his first black eye during spring break. He fell on a corner of a train track he was building and hit so hard that his eye went immediately black and blue. I tried to get him to come up with a cool story about how he got the black eye...but with no results. He just told people he fell.

And then we were off to Logandale NV to visit with Nikki and her family. Jake and Stevie Kate had been talking about this trip for so long and the countdown was finally over. We spent a few days going to the fair/rodeo, playing in their great backyard, going to a pool, and just letting the kids play together. The trip was extra special because Steve went with us this year and he loved hanging out with the kids and being the designated rider with them at the carnival. The weather was fabulous...that was my favorite part. Jake's favorite part of the trip was riding the roller coaster with Tyson. Stevie's favorite part was sitting by Garrett at the rodeo. (She really likes to flirt sometimes). And Kelly was a challenge on this trip with having to be held by Mom almost the entire time (bless her heart). But I think her favorite part was playing in the backyard. Her new favorite word is "side." (outside).

Thanks Nikki and Steve for a great couple of days!

We spent Friday night in a motel in St. George and then spent Saturday swimming and hiking before we came home. Jake has this notion in his head that. St. George is the ultimate vacation spot. I am guessing this comes from talk at preschool/church/etc. Quite a few people head down there at this time of year. So funny...but he did love it.

Easter Weekend in Pictures

2010-04-05T22:41:00.000-06:00

No time for the narrative tonight. At least I got the pictures posted...right? :-)

Steve and Cardiac Ridge

2010-04-05T22:25:00.001-06:00

I love this picture of Steve - taken by Todd - on Cardiac Ridge in Little Cottonwood Canyon. It truly shows the craziness, as well as the determination, that it takes to get the powder turns that he wants. I am sure he burned quite a few calories that day.

More pictures of the day...go to http://picasaweb.google.com/steve.hough/CardiacRidgeMar282010?feat=email#

Gross!

2010-03-19T13:35:00.001-06:00

Kelly loves to put things in the trash. I gave her a poopy diaper this morning and asked her to put it in the trash. She walked down the hallway to the laundry room and I turned and went into the bathroom to brush my teeth. A minute later, she came walking in to the bathroom with poop hanging from her chin and a piece in her hand. She had opened up her diaper and tried the poop. Gross!

When Jake was little, he collected dog poop from the yard when we weren't looking. And we once saw him tasting it. Well...I think Kelly's story is even more gross.

Jake's Ski School Graduation

2010-03-08T09:19:00.002-07:00

Jake had ski school this year at Deer Valley with Juan. Juan is from Argentina and Jake loved him. He didn't know quite how to pronounce Juan - so it came out Kwan. Jake went from skiing on green runs at the beginning to doing blue runs, tree trails, and hocky stops by the end of the program. I am very proud of him, especially because he went with kids and a teacher that he did not know beforehand. That is a big accomplishment for him with the shy stage that he is in right now.

In the video, Jake is at the end of the class with the green balloon on his helmet. Turn the volume down because there is some yelling from me and from Stevie. Proud mom yelling from me and mad yelling from Stevie because I didn't see that Ruby the Raccoon was riding the chairlift. She really didn't seem to care that Jake was skiing by at the same time.

Jake's Ski School - Last Day 2010 from Steve Hough on Vimeo.

Here are a few pics too...

Stevie's Shining Stars Program

2010-03-08T08:28:00.002-07:00

Stevie was very happy and proud of herself. Proud parents too...all over that place :-)

Stevie sings in her pre-school show - 2010 from Steve Hough on Vimeo.

And her proud brother...

Star Sticker Reward - Bowling!

2010-02-28T07:48:00.000-07:00

The Houghs have been doing star sticker charts for the kids for good behavior, chores, etc. We decide as a family what the reward will be and when Jake and Stevie achieve the goal, we go do something fun. This time it was bowling at the new local bowling alley - Jupiter Bowl.

We went on Family Night for a good deal because the place is pricey! I recommend going on Tuesday nights at 5:30 so you can get the deal. It is an experience with an arcade, a restaurant, a bar, a private 4-lane area and then the regular bowling area. Big and state-of-the-art...so I'm sure that is why it is so expensive. It was a blast...and even Kelly had a good time just taking it all in. I was terrible at bowling; really nothing unusual...even the kids beat me. But Steve was on a roll with strikes and spares. Jake totally got it and we didn't really have to help him much. Stevie Kate definitely needed help carrying the ball and rolling it so it actually made it all the way down the lane. Fun times...

Recent Pictures

2010-02-24T11:44:00.001-07:00

Here are a few recent pictures...playing with cousins, having fun at Discovery Gateway with the playgroup gang, exploring the Zermatt ice castles, and going to Toys R Us for the first time.

I Can't Out Smart Them Anymore!

2010-02-24T11:36:00.001-07:00

Jake...now takes things very literally. So when I say "Just a minute" he counts to 60 and then announces that it has been one minute. He even told me that he counted to 60, ten times when I told him "Wait ten minutes." He is watching the clock too, so when I say a certain time, he often reminds me. Maybe he will excel in math.

Stevie Kate...has an impeccable sense of smell. I can't smuggle chocolate in the front seat of the van without her knowing. She can't stand to be in the same room with a poopy diaper, and she is always the first one to ask "Who tooted?" She also loves to help me cook, but sometimes the smell of eggs, onions, melted cheese, etc. are too much for her. Maybe she will be a chef.

Kelly...is very demanding when it comes to food and jewelry (just to name a few). If the pantry door is open, she is lightning fast. She finds exactly what she wants and either brings it to us or screams until we get it for her. And jewelry seems to be a love of both girls. Kelly can't stand to be left out if either me or Stevie is putting on jewelry. She is the same way with hair products, toothbrushes, crayons, etc. She just wants to be a big kid I guess.

New York / Connecticut

2010-01-31T07:17:00.000-07:00

My awesome husband watched the kids for 4 days and nights while I went to NY/CT to visit Tracie and her family. We almost pulled off a surprise visit - all 4 of my sisters and my parents. I learned again that I have the utmost respect for parents of twins (and a two year old), it is crazy how much more work it is. Tracie and Dave handle it with so much patience and love. Lucky kids...

Anyway, the goal of the trip was to help them move into their new house. With a little fun and time in NYC in the mix too :-) They have a beautiful house in New Milford, CT and we will be coming back to visit many more times I hope. It was great to spend time with my sisters and be able to help someone else besides my own self. I feel like I get caught up in how much work it is to take care of my own family. Sometimes you need a break from your own day to day life to realize that. And the airplane ride without my children along...a beautiful thing.

These are the Days

2010-01-30T07:12:00.004-07:00

Listen to this song...I just love it.

Every time I hear this song I get teary-eyed. I first fell in love with it when it showed up on the movie Nine Months. Ever since then, it makes me think of my kids and how they are only this age once...and growing so fast. One of my ongoing goals is to live in the moment with my kids - which is so hard to do. Keep reminding myself with this song and keep a daily prayer going to be a better mom...

Walking Girl

2010-01-20T09:36:00.001-07:00

I have not posted for quite a while...but I have some news today that I have to share. Kelly is walking! Almost...I guess. But yesterday she took many steps, only 6-8 at a time, but she is finally getting there. Good thing because she is 17 months old on Friday. She has been even slower than Jake. Crazy. I will have to post video later...baby steps are so cute.

Here is the video...

Kelly is walking from Steve Hough on Vimeo.

Steve's New Backyard Project

2009-12-16T14:04:00.003-07:00

The mini sledding hills...Steve's new backyard project. It is a beautiful thing to watch the kids have so much fun and I can even stay inside with Kelly if I need too! Lucy, Stevie, and Jake had a blast today on the hills that slide onto the trampoline.

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas....

2009-12-13T15:16:00.003-07:00

Busy time of year for sure...so not much time to post. But here are a few things going on with us. Happy Holidays!

Bob the Elf on the Shelf watching Our Home...check

Santa Visit...check

Christmas Decorations...check

Big Snowstorm...check

Thankful For...

2009-12-03T20:46:00.004-07:00

I have so many things to be thankful for, can't name them all. But this week, I am thankful for...

A wonderful Thanksgiving trip to Tennesee.
Kelly, who saved her vomiting to the last 15 mintues of our flight home.
Tickets to the BYU/Utah game last weekend. So fun.
A husband that helped me put up the Christmas tree for the first time ever. Yeah!
That the swine flu has not hit our house yet.
The old Christmas shows that have been coming on TV lately.
My Mom, who celebrated her birthday this week.
Hats, scarfs, and gloves - it has been so cold.
Stevie, who always reminds me if we forget to pray at the dinner table.
Jobs, Income.
Jake, who guilted me into putting up Christmas decorations before another week went by.

I love this season.

Stevie's Magical Night

2009-11-15T21:47:00.005-07:00

Stevie and I went to see Disney's Princess on Ice tour last week. It was so magical for her and I loved watching her take it all in. She spent a few days deciding what to wear and then on the day of the show, she literally spent about an hour picking out accessories and laying everything out on her bed. I really think she might go into fashion someday.

I think Gracie and Miss Caren enjoyed it as much as we did too. Stevie's favorite princess was Ariel and her favorite part was when all of the princesses came out at the end and danced together. My favorite part was watching the girls get so excited...and the other favorite part for me...I got away without buying any of the expensive souvenirs!

So You Think You Can Dance?

2009-11-15T21:38:00.002-07:00

Uh...I know I can't dance. But I am a sucker for some reality TV shows...and I kinda like So You Think You Can Dance. Guilty pleasure. Sara, Brittoni, Katie and I went to see the Season 5 tour last weekend. Fun times! I really loved looking at all of the fasion statements being made by all of the fans, and watching and wondering why so many men were at the show. I'm pretty sure that it would take a lot of bribing for my husband to even consider such an event.

Anyway...for the record...I don't like Season 6...but I love Ade, Kayla, Jeanine, and Melissa from Season 5.

Stevie's Imaginary Friend

2009-11-10T07:02:00.002-07:00

Before I forget her name again...I want to introduce you to Ellajanea aka Stevie's imaginary friend. She has been around for a few weeks. I'm guessing on the spelling of Ellajanea's name because Stevie couldn't provide that info for me. But she did tell me that Ellajanea is 5 years old, just like Jake. She is always dressed as a princess and even wears princess dresses to bed. I'm hoping to find out more about her soon :-)

Quote of the Day

2009-11-09T06:40:00.002-07:00

Stevie - "I want to marry Jake."
Jake - "Maybe, but I am too old for you Stevie. You are 3 1/2 and I am 5."
Me - "Jake I thought you wanted to marry me?"
Jake - "Mom...you are really too old. You are 31 and I am only 5."
Me - "Right, I am old"

Halloween 2009

2009-11-01T22:20:00.003-07:00

Introducing...
Jake the Transformer
Steve aka Cinderella
Kelly the Lil Devil

The morning after...counting the candy. I have awesome memories of doing this as a kid and it is so fun to watch them get excited about Halloween now.

Bramhalls in New York

2009-11-01T22:04:00.002-07:00

My side of the family has been spoiled. So far all 8 siblings have lived fairly close together. The furthest away is Nikki and her family and they are near Las Vegas. Still within driving distance, weekend trips, etc. And I feel like we get to see them quite a bit considering the distance (thanks to Nikki for doing most of the driving).

It was bound to happen...and now Tracie and her family have moved to New York. Not going to lie...I have been so sad about them leaving. Even though it is hard, I am used to having the Hough side of the family far away. Now I will adjust to having one of my sisters across the country too. My kids are really close to Taylor so that will be an adjustment for Jake and Stevie. But to focus on the positive, I am excited for the Bramhalls in this new adventure and excited that I have a place to stay somewhere near the east coast. If anyone can handle this drastic change...it would be Dave and Tracie. Thank heavens for texting, emailing, cell phones, blogging, and even Facebook :-)

Bike Racing

2009-11-01T20:55:00.004-07:00

My guess is that Steve has spent more time on his bike this summer & fall than ever before. He loves mtn biking and I usually embrace this passion. I know how it feels like to release stress with exercise and just to feel better about life. Anyway...Steve and my brother Casey and brothers-in-law Duff, Troy, and Dave decided to train and complete the 24 Hours in Moab race. They did the race 3 weeks ago and I think everyone enjoyed themselves. I was impressed at how well they did as a team , placing 6th in their division. The team motto was "Beware of Duff"...so true. That race doesn't apeal to me very much because of the night-riding factor...but the team race sounds kinda cool. Here are a few pics from the weekend.

After that race, Steve was inspired by Duff to try out Cyclocross racing (hope I spelled that right). The kids and I went to watch Steve and Duff race and it was easy to watch and cool to see something different. He liked that race too. But now that we have been getting snow...I think his frame of mind is shifting in ski season mode...his other outdoor passion :-)

The "Lil' Devil" Is Crawling

2009-10-25T07:29:00.005-06:00

Kelly is finally crawling! Steve will post some video later, but it is pretty cute. She is gaining speed every day and creating some chaos with Jake and Stevie. They think is it cute and all...until she grabs their stuff, ruins their puzzle, etc. So after seeing her Halloween outfit last night...they have nicknamed her the "Lil Devil." I'll have to correct that after while :-) I have seen a change this week with how they sometimes treat her too...as a playmate instead of the baby. Only for part of the time, but it has been a bit of a change for sure. Love this new picture with them all doing the same thing.

Fall Festivities

2009-10-17T07:28:00.005-06:00

We have been trying to enjoy the season by doing our annual fall activities - hike in Uintahs to enjoy the colors, Scarecrow Festival at Thanksgiving Point, and we added a new one this year - Wheeler Farms.

A few weeks ago we went to the Uintahs and it turned out to be a disaster (the pics we got are deceiving). It was cold day so we were sure to bundle up the kids. About 1/2 way up to Mirror Lake, Steve realized that we might not make it back because we were that low in fuel. I tried to convinced him that we would make it, but it was definitely a sore spot for us for the rest of the day. And then it was very cold with quite a bit of snow on the ground for our hike. It was packed down, so I thought it would be fine to do the hike around the lake. It went okay until about 1/3 of the way around when Kelly started to cry. And then about 1/2 way around Jake and Stevie started to cry. It was cold. Needless to say, we ended up carrying all of the kids the rest of the way and listened to three crying kids. Bad idea Lesa, I felt pretty defeated. Everyone was so cranky, hungry, cold, etc. At the end of the hike we just got in the car, gave everyone a snack, and headed back home. I really don't think we enjoyed the scenery much at all, but I think we did learn a few lessons. And we made it to the gas station!

The other two activities have been great. We went with the Dustmans to Wheeler Farms and had a great time picking pumpkins, going for a hayride and enjoying the animals. Jake fell into the ditch and got wet up to his belly button, but luckily we had extra clothes in the car.

The Scarecrow Festival was also a great time with the McClellands and the Dustmans. It was so different this year than last...the kids were more capable and could do most of the inflatables themselves. And Kelly didn't cry the whole time like she did last year. She loved the train ride and loved watching the rest of the kids enjoy themselves. It wasn't as busy as last year either, so when Stevie got lost, it was easy to find her. Poor thing ran off and was so scared when I found her a few minutes later. Hopefully she learned a lesson. FYI...if any of you are going...my kids loved the Rocket Launch the best.

Animals Living Together

2009-10-05T07:51:00.003-06:00

Look for four different kinds of animals in this picture...

Yes, this is a field by my house and the owners just love to have unique pets. A buffalo, a zebra, a donkey, and a goat.

Come On Kelly!

2009-10-05T07:33:00.002-06:00

Okay Little Kelly...you have 2 more days to start crawling. After that...you are officially the latest crawler in our family. Jake started at 13 1/2 months and Stevie scooted at 11 months. My children really take their time! It is really getting old to hear that Ah Ah Ah thing she does when we walk away from her. Come on Kelly! Just follow us.

The first tooth came after her 1st birthday too and we sometimes call her Bucky. He he. Check out this picture.

The tooth is adorable and actually has some friends in there, four teeth total have broken through the skin but all in a strange order.

Fall is in the Air...Literally

2009-09-30T06:54:00.005-06:00

I woke up this morning to rain/slow pellets coming from the sky. So not only is Fall in the air...looks like a little Winter too. We have been trying to enjoy our favorite fall things as much as possible - long days at the park, walks around our neighborhood trail, favorite TV shows that are back, bike rides, soccer, etc.

Here are a few pics from the Cow Ballet this year...always a good time.

And I really don't have any park pictures, but I will say that I have fallen with love with Liberty Park in SLC. Playgroup has been there a few times and we are going to try to back a few more times, weather depending. So many things to do and see there.

And soccer...Jake is on his first soccer team and it has been such a good experience. I have to say that we were worried because he is going through such a shy phase and he really didn't know anyone on the team. Team Spiderman lucked out with a great coach aka nurturing mom, and good kids that aren't out there to be a star, just to have fun with each other. He is pretty much the youngest and the smallest on the team. But Jake loves going to soccer and he is improving for sure.

Facebook Finally

2009-09-27T15:00:00.003-06:00

OK...I finally joined Facebook. Yes...I have bashed it in the past, but I missed out on one too many things and couldn't stand it anymore. I am taking baby steps so I don't get overwhelmed. And hopefully I won't waste too much time this week :-)

Nannie's September Visit

2009-09-13T07:39:00.002-06:00

The day after Steve and Jake got back from Tennessee, Judy aka Nannie, flew to Utah as well. The boys had already spent time with her, and now it was the girls' turn. Judy helped me plan Kelly's belated birthday party, put together the girls' room, take care of and play with all of the kiddos, and on and on. Nannie won over Kelly's heart too...which can be very difficult to do. She has the grandma's touch for sure.

Kelly seemed to enjoy her party and didn't fuss too much when people tried to hold her. Jake helped her blow out the candle and then she dug into the cake. I don't think she liked the frosting sticking to her fingers, but she did like the taste. She ate some, smeared some on Zeke's back, fed me some, and then just got annoyed with the mess. Notice the toxic-looking pink frosting that came on the cupcakes and Kelly's cake. It did not come off of Stevie's face for a day or so and it took steel wool to get it off the tables. Still working on getting it out of the clothes. Thanks to those who came to celebrate Kelly with us.

There is only one picture of Judy in all of these, but these are the pictures we both took while she was here.

Steve & Jake's Adventure

2009-09-13T07:15:00.005-06:00

I can be a bit of a baby when it comes to heat. Love cold weather most of the time, but I don't enjoy hot weather unless I am sitting by a pool. And Nashville can be very hot and humid in August. I have been there one time in August and I told Steve then and I probably wouldn't go back that time of year unless I had to. Selfish...yes. I'm sure I would adjust if we ever move to that area, but I would need some time :-) I love Nashville in spring and fall when it can be somewhat dreary in Utah. Anyway...so when it was decided that Steve's 20 year high school reunion was in August, it worked out perfectly that Krissy - Steve's twin - wanted to be his date...she came up from Shreveport, LA. Thanks Krissy! And we thought it would be fun to have Jake go along on the trip as well to spend time with everyone there.

They had a great trip and Jake got so much attention and time...he felt very special when he got home. They all took great care of him. Here are a few pictures of the reunion - Steve and Kris look so good and you gotta love the Elvis impersonator who is actually one of Steve's classmates. And a few of the rest of the trip too. We are all going back to visit in November and we are excited.

Changes

2009-08-30T06:51:00.004-06:00

This last week brought some changes to the Hough household.

First, Jake went back to school. I love how cute he looks with the backpack on and his hair all combed nice. Even though Jake made the Kindergarten cutoff by 2 weeks, we decided to "red shirt" him this year and have him continue with preschool with Miss Sharie until next year. I love the term "red shirt" as it applies here, our friends the McClellands gave us that wording. Steve and I both feel good about the reasons behind the decision and now I get to have him home more often for just one more school year. Stevie starts her preschool after Labor Day.

Secondly, the girls are now sharing a room. I wish it looked as good as this picture already...it will take some time knowing my slow pace :-) We have been wanting to have them in the same room for quite a while, and finally followed through once the nap situation was worked out. I have good memories as a kid sharing a room with one of my sisters. I mostly shared with Nikki, but also with Tracie and Amy at times along the way. There were disagreements of course, but I really did love it and I want Stevie and Kelly to have that experience too. They have still been sleeping well at night and so far so good.

Thirdly, the infant car seat has expired. I mean that literally and figuratively. My friend Denett told me that car seats literally expire after 5 years, so once Kelly grew out of it...gone. And I think our little family is complete too. Unless we have some divine intervention, we probably will not be needing an infant seat anymore. It was a little emotional for me to pack it up and so many memories flashed through my head that involved that car seat. Bringing home Jake, Stevie, and Kelly from the hospital, seeing them sleep so peacefully in that thing, hauling it around everywhere so they could sleep on the go, rocking them to sleep in it, moving them out of that car seat into a bigger one, etc. I could go on and on. You have served us well.

Happy Birthday Kelly...

2009-08-23T08:46:00.007-06:00

Another August birthday...and my baby turned one! It is so hard for me to fathom that it has been one year since our little Kelly Belle (nickname) was born. It truly goes by quicker with each child. Here is a picture of her from yesterday with her new toy, which she loves.

I think she looks so much like Stevie one day and then so much like Jake the next day. She still has Dennis the Menace hair on the top and it just loves to stick straight up. Her hair has changed to blond this summer and the fronts of her legs and her little feet are brown. Since she isn't crawling or walking yet, she spends most of her time sitting down...hence the tan lines. She has been getting up on all fours lately and rocking...so I think crawling is coming very soon. No teeth yet either, but her top ones are so close to coming through and they look rather large. I will have to post a picture once those buckies come through. Kelly loves to get in happy screaming matches with anyone who will do it with her. Of course the kids love to do that in the car...so that just gives me an excuse to turn up the radio :-) And she loves to talk with her hands and feet...they are in constant motion...turning in circles. Her first word was Dada and then came Mama. Now her second and third words were Zeke and Tippy - the dogs. That is the one sign she will do too...DOG. Trying to teach her a few more, but she hasn't done them yet. Kelly is still on the small side, but she has caught up considerably. She is a good eater...used to love baby food, but once she got of taste of the "real" stuff, she won't go back to the pureed food.

Most of you probably know that Kelly is pretty picky and mostly just wants Mom or Dad to hold her. In fact I am in physical therapy right now for what my therapist calls "Mommy Arm." My shoulder apparently can't handle holding her for a few hours at a time all day and it has started rebelling against me, sometimes with a lot of pain attached to it. Anyway...she is the spoiled youngest child right now. We may have created a problem with holding her, but is hard to hear her get upset too. I know...excuses...excuses :-)

It was tough for me to adapt to this third child in family, but I really do love the dynamics now with her in the mix. Love her so much! Happy birthday little one...we are so lucky to have you.

Happy Birthday Jake...

2009-08-15T06:39:00.003-06:00

We celebrated Jake's 5th birthday yesterday...the five year mark and it really made me reflect on the day he was born. An emotional birthday for me for some reason. I remember clearly the overwhelming feeling of love that I had...and the instant connection. Jake was so tiny and scrawny, but his eyes were so wide and beautiful and they kept looking right up at me.

I feel so blessed to be a mother, and especially a mother to him. He is so patient and loving as I try to figure out how to become a better mom for him and his sisters. Happy Birthday Buddy...you are the best...I love you.

Draper Parties!

2009-08-07T07:15:00.007-06:00

I have been slow to post what has been going on for the past month...and this is why. Baptism and Baby Blessings on July 11-12, Zoo Day on July 13, Camping July 23-27, and then Logandale, NV for Baptism on July 31-August 2. Lots of Draper get-togethers and we have had so much fun!

My nieces Sara and Sierra were both baptized over the last month and they both looked beautiful. Congrats to them! The twins Lana and Drew were blessed as well. I can't believe they are growing so fast! Bramhalls...you are holding it together so well I can't believe it.

Zoo Day was an impromptu thing and the Stahelis invited us to join them before they went back home. Here a few pictures...

Camping at Albion Basin in Alta was a planned event put on by Dave and Tracie...newborn twins and all. I think the Drapers are at 38 people now??? I was a little nervous about camping in a tent with our kids, but tried to go into it with a positive attitude. It actually went much better than expected. Dave did a great job of planning rock climbing, bike riding, hiking, games, etc.

The only hiccups for our family were a middle-of-the-night stomach bug that Stevie Kate got (sorry to say that Steve got puked and pooped on), and Kelly's cranky attitude. She was a great sleeper there at night, but wasn't happy during the day most of the time...I think because she wanted to get down and maybe because there were so many people. Side note - we found out Jake may become a florist one day. He spent most of the weekend picking bouquets of wildflowers and handing them out.

There is always a least one injury from our reunions...unfortunately Amy was the chosen one this year. Her pedals on her bike weren't working right and she couldn't get her feet out before she tipped over into a sharp rock...11 stitches later, she was okay.

Anyway...it was a wonderful camping adventure and we loved getting to spend that much quality time with cousins, sister, brothers, grandparents, etc.

After a few days at home after camping, we packed up and went to the Staheli Home in Nevada for Sierra's baptism. Another fun weekend with quality time with the Draper clan. The high was 110 degrees while we were there, so we spent most of the time doing water games and pool, and indoors for Rock Band on the Wii. Didn't get too many pictures, but here a few. Thanks for hosting Nikki!

Lagoon (aka Magoon) Day

2009-08-03T21:52:00.006-06:00

We had a great time at Lagoon this year (aka Magoon, the kids call it that for some reason). Anyway...Steve's work sponsored a day there (thanks Ebix!) and we decided to take Jake and Stevie and leave Kelly with Grandma. If you haven't been...it is worth it. There are tons of discount passes out there too.

We spent most of our time with the Edwards family and had such a blast. Thanks for all of your help Edwards' kiddos (and Tyler too)! Jake has a boy-crush on Phillip now and he was excited to learn that Phillip can babysit/kidsit now. I didn't get too many pictures...but here are a few.

Potty Training at Night

2009-08-03T21:52:00.003-06:00

Help needed...

Jake has struggled with potty training since the beginning. He has been great during the day for quite some time now, but has never figure out the night part. We haven't been that worried out it because the doctor's say not to at his age...but he has started to notice that other kids his age don't wear them at night and the kicker is that Stevie just stopped wearing pull-ups at night. And I think it upsets him a little. So...I feel like we have tried so many things and exhausted our resources. But...I know that many of you have gone through this and I thought I would throw it out there for advice.

Steve and Jake's Dragon Trail

2009-08-03T21:51:00.008-06:00

One of the major projects of the summer has been going on for the past few weeks. I can take no credit for it...it has been all Steve. He has always had this idea to build a dirt/road base track for biking all around our yard and decided he was ready to do the work. Jake actually helped quite a bit for a 4 year old and he can really focus and work hard when he wants to. He got to name the track and he chose "Dragon Trail."

Anyway...I am going to take video of the track this weekend so you can get the gist of it...but it's great. Stevie Kate loves to run it or roll the dump track around it (this trail probably wouldn't work with the training wheels bike). Jake likes the dump truck too, but he is really starting to take to the riding part. He has taken a few good falls trying to figure out the sharp corners and the small bumps, but he keeps getting back on. Very good practice for him for sure.

PROMISE YOURSELF

2009-07-09T06:16:00.001-06:00

I loved this...thought I would pass it on.

PROMISE YOURSELF
by Christian D. Larson

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the
best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your
own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements
of the future.
To wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living
creature you meet.
To give so much time to improving yourself that you have no time to
criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too
happy to permit the presence of trouble.
To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in
loud work, but in great deeds.
To live in the faith that the whole world is on your side, so long as you
are true to the best that is in you.

Funnies From This Week

2009-07-08T14:17:00.006-06:00

Stevie - We were at the park on Wednesday and Stevie ran over to me and said "Mom, I need your camera to take a picture of those boys. They look really cool." Here is the picture of the "cool" 8-9 year old soccer players at the park. Boy crazy already...

Jake - I was telling him that Kennadi is going to babysit them this weekend. He said "Mom, I'm tired of you saying babysit. We are not babies, we are kids. I'm going to call it Kidsit from now on. Okay?" Okay Jake.

Kelly - Loves hummus. She grabbed my bowl and went to town. She was having too much fun and I let her keep it for a while.

Independance Day

2009-07-07T06:53:00.003-06:00

Sad but true...my kids shamed me into buying a flag for our house. They have been asking why we don't have a flag at our house...and they asked more than once. So we have a flag now to celebrate holidays. It has also been fun trying to figure out how to respond to questions like "What does freedom mean Mom?" They are the ones teaching me, I tell ya.

Here are a few pictures from our parade day with the Evans family on the Fourth. Park City's parade isn't all that exciting if you ask for my opinion, but the kids had such a great time. And the flag cake is one that we made for Steve's birthday.

Swimming Lessons

2009-06-28T21:39:00.003-06:00

The first week of swimming lessons was pretty darn cold...in the 50s some days with some rain. But we braved it and even stayed after most days to swim some more. Then the rain finally stopped! It has been over 3 weeks of rain here and that is pretty unusual for sure. We were getting tired of the song "It's raining, it's pouring, the old man is snoring...."

This last week was the second week of lessons and the weather was awesome. Perfect temps for us. Stevie loved her first round of lessons and had a smile on her face the entire time. Very proud of her. Jake loves his class this time too. He had boy teachers and that was a big hit. He is very comfortable in the water and loves to go under and swim for a bit. His problem is he is so crazy in his movements and can't relax enough to actually swim further. Steve is going to work with him more. And Kelly didn't have lessons but she loved the time in the pool later on. She kicks her feet like a little polliwog and loves to splash.

Even though it is hectic getting all of the prep work done to get to the pool with all 3 kids, pack lunches, make sure they aren't drowning etc....it has been worth it. I have truly enjoyed seeing the excitement on their faces every time they realize it is another pool day.

Gift or Decorating Idea

2009-06-28T21:34:00.002-06:00

My friend Katrina is a great artist. I love her work and am lucky to have a few of her paintings in my home. She also just painted a picture of my Dad's childhood home for me to give to him for Father's Day. Thank you! She does paintings from photos or on site too. Here is her site if you want to know more...http://thedailydelights.com/

Happy Father's Day

2009-06-21T07:16:00.004-06:00

Happy Father's Day to my husband and the father of Jake, Stevie and Kelly. Thank you for being a wonderful father, for being so hands on, for giving me time away to recharge, for working hard to provide for our family...for just being you.

Seattle

2009-06-21T07:04:00.004-06:00

Well...it has been almost 3 weeks since we returned from Seattle...but I am finally making new posts. Sara, Brittoni and I traveled to Seattle for our Annual getaway and met up with Julie on her home turf. I have heard that Seattle is having an unusual amount of days in a row without rain and I was happy to be there during that spell....because Utah has been experiencing Seattle weather for the whole month of June...rain rain rain.

It is such a beautiful area. We had a great time, plenty of time to have girl talk, shop, eat, and for r & r. Of course we had to indulge in the "Twilight" attractions nearby too...good times. Team Jacob!

It was really cool to see where Julie lives and spend more time with her cute family. Thanks for hosting! Where to next year?

My "Spirited" Daughters

2009-06-07T21:17:00.003-06:00

Stevie was the best baby ever. Around the time she starting walking, she became a totally different child - feisty, independent, bossy, etc. I was a little scared when Kelly was born because from day one, she has been feisty. We had a rough several months with her at the beginning of her life. She is easy to predict now and very sweet, as long as Mom and Dad are around. She still isn't predictable when other people are watching her though.

My girlfriend used to call her daughter stubborn, feisty, difficult etc. But she has changed her vocabulary now based on a book she read and refers to her daughter's personality as "spirited." I like that too, so I try to use that when talking about Stevie and Kelly.

Well...I just went on a long weekend getaway with some girlfriends (new post coming up). First time away from Kelly and I missed her. When I got back and grabbed her with a hug and a kiss. She smiled and played with me. But when Steve got in the car to run an errand, she threw a big fit and didn't want to be with me at all. Same thing that night...screaming and everything because she didn't want me to be giving her a bath or getting her dressed. Mad mad at me...I should have guessed that she would react that way considering her personality. Good thing she forgave me the next morning and moved on. Spirited...

Memorial Day Weekend

2009-05-27T21:32:00.005-06:00

The weekend in pictures and video.... Check out the memorial day 100 yard dash!!

Thomas the Train came to Heber again. My kids LOVE this!

Jake and Stevie's first race...a 100 yard dash. So adorable to watch all of these kids run.

And the best part of the week...twins! Tracie, Dave, and Taylor welcomed Baby Drew and Baby Lana early Monday morning. http://thebramhalls.blogspot.com/ What a woman!

Big Girl Haircut

2009-05-20T21:06:00.006-06:00

Stevie needed a little haircut. When I asked her how she wanted it cut...she promptly told me "like my friend Bryn and my cousin Kassidy." So there you go. I'm kinda sad because the wave is gone and she looks more grown-up. But she loves it...and I know...it will grow back.

Before

After

"Dad" Activity

2009-05-18T06:25:00.003-06:00

Another one of the activities that happens when Dad is in charge. They are getting better at the drums. Pardon my half-naked daughter.

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-09T23:52:00.013-06:00

You are the best "Mom". Have a great day! We love you - Dad, Jake, Stevie & Kelly Here are some random quotes that will might entertain you: "Never raise your hand to your kids. It leaves your groin unprotected." "If nature had arranged that husbands and wives should have children alternatively, there would never be more than three in a family" "You don't really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his parents every time around - and why his parents will always wave back. " "The one thing children wear out faster than shoes is parents." "A suburban mother's role is to deliver children obstetrically once, and by car forever after. " "Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and with a breath of kindness blow the rest away."

No Training Wheels!

2009-05-06T21:21:00.007-06:00

Way to go Jake!

Special to thanks to Tyson for shaming Jake into riding his bike without training wheels. And special thanks to Runner. I highly recommend these bikes - balance comes easy this way.

Spring Days

2009-05-06T21:13:00.003-06:00

This spring has been cold and wet...at least in my opinion. I usually don't complain too much about the crazy Park City weather, but I am getting a little tired of it. Well...today we had some sunshine and we took advantage of being outside. In this house, we wear shorts in the spring when it gets above 55 degrees :-) Taylor was over today and here are the smiles from everyone enjoying the sun.

Happy Birthday Stevie Kate!

2009-05-01T15:10:00.006-06:00

Birthday #3 for Stevie Kate! It’s time for me to gush about her a little. For those of you who know her, you will probably agree that she can be a handful. We are working hard on harnessing those fiery traits and turning them in the right direction. Here are some of the things that she does so well and that we love about her…

• She is such a ray of sunshine in our home. Always wants to give hugs and kisses, especially to Dad.
• Full of love for perfect strangers (good and bad :-)
• Loves to try to make Kelly laugh with crazy voices.
• Always so proud of Jake when he performs or completes something.
• My little buddy and helper - mopping, laundry, cooking, you name it.
• Loves being pampered and loves accessories...in fact I call her Fancy Nancy quite often. Our home pedicure routine is a favorite.
• We love when she uses her soft sing-song voice to tell a story or sing a song.
• She has the greatest facial expressions.
• Wants to be like her girl cousins and talks about them daily.
• Loves to say her prayers at night.

I can’t imagine my life without you.

Quotes From Jake & Stevie

2009-04-28T10:15:00.003-06:00

After talking about our trip to Nevada...
Jake: "I want to live with Aunt Nikki and she can be my Mom."
Me: "That makes me sad Jake. You already have a Mom."
Jake: "But I have already been with you for a very long time."
Five minutes later...
Jake: "Mom, I've decided I want to stay with you because you are my Mom."
Me: "Good choice."

While watching Dancing With The Stars with me...
Stevie: "I want to be on there Mom."
Me: "That would be fun."
Stevie: "But I only want to dance with Dad."
Me: "Good choice."

Stevie's Favorite Song

2009-04-26T06:41:00.004-06:00

We broke out the video camera a while ago to capture Stevie singing her favorite song. It is from The Polar Express movie. Needless to say...that Christmas CD has been playing in the van since about November. Maybe it will accidentally get lost soon :-)

Stevie is generally not shy at all and loves to showcase her "tricks." This video cracks me up because I had the view finder faced at her so she was watching herself and exaggerating everything.

Easter

2009-04-19T07:32:00.002-06:00

Last year we OD'ed on Easter Egg Hunts...I think we did 5 or so. And this year...only one at Grandma's house on Easter Sunday. The baskets and decorations didn't even come out of the closet until then. We did a few things at home...hunting for their baskets from the Easter Bunny and coloring eggs. I was thinking out loud to Jake about last year vs. this year. And he said "Maybe next time you will do better." I think he may have heard that coming out of my mouth just a few times :-)

Here are a few pictures. One of the things I love about having two girls is matching the outfits occasionally. I know they won't always like to match...but for now I am enjoying it. And Duff and Carrie...I had to include these pictures that Kassidy and Stevie took...great smiles.

Fun in Nevada

2009-04-19T07:14:00.003-06:00

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from our trip to Nevada last week. When my children are around Aunt Nikki and Grandma...I think that I disappear for them. They love you so much and feel the love from you. I guess Kelly still loves me the best :-)

Stevie told me that her favorite part of the trip was "pigs." Jake's favorite parts of the trip were riding the Ferris Wheel with Aunt Nikki and playing with Tyson. And I think Kelly's favorite part was getting attention from Jackson and Max. Drake did a great job on showcasing his pig Porkster...I was very impressed. Thanks for all of the fun times and for all your help with the kiddos!

Another Great Ski Trip

2009-04-07T10:53:00.005-06:00

Here is a link to Steve's new movie...a chronicle of his ski trip this year. Isn't he talented?
>Click HERE<

Playgroups

2009-04-07T10:03:00.005-06:00

Here are a few recent pictures of Jake, Stevie, and Kelly with their friends from playgroups (and Kassidy :-). Love them all like family. We are so lucky to have so many great friends that are close enough for us to see them this often.

I have decided that playgroups are for both ME and the kids. Of course the kiddos get to play. AND I get to chat with the other moms - share good news, bad news, gossip, whatever. Isn't it crazy how much better you feel when you are around others who are going through the sames ups and downs as you?

And...I couldn't help but including this picture. The BEST of friends, through all of the ups and downs...

Grandma Lee's 80th Birthday Party

2009-03-29T06:31:00.004-06:00

My sweet, adorable Grandma Lee turned 80 this week. We had a birthday party last night to celebrate. My mom and her sisters and brother put together a fun night with plenty of pictures of Grandma's life and stories too. What a great woman. I am hoping that Grandma's genetics are on my side and I will look as good as she does and have as much as energy as she has when I am 80 :-)

Bless His Heart!

2009-03-08T07:37:00.002-06:00

Jake made my day. I have been working very hard to lose all of this "baby weight" but I still have a long way to go. Yesterday we were eating breakfast and I was telling them that eating all of their food will make them get bigger. Jake said, "Well then why are you getting smaller Mom?" The kid knows how to make me smile. Then he grabbed a Victoria's Secret postcard from the mail pile and asked if that was me in the picture. We all know I don't look like that...but bless his heart for making my day yesterday!

Cousin Fun

2009-03-08T07:12:00.003-06:00

So we had a house full last week/weekend. The five of us plus two dogs plus the five McClendons and the four Waydas. Everyone was so great about the space and the bed issue. In fact...all of the kids except for Stevie and Kelly slept in the same room the first two nights. I can speak for everyone in the Hough family and say everyone loved having them here for the visit. Kelly had her moments, but for the most part she let everyone hold her. Jake and Stevie both shed some tears on Sunday when they woke up to find the house vacated.

It was two days of skiing, then the Kamas pool, sledding down the "big" hill, and many hours of playing in the snow in the backyard. Here are some of the pictures...I will post more when I find them on Steve's computer.

A few memories...
*Sam - almost had a run-in with a barbed wire fence while sledding. Was he nervous...no...just smiling the whole time coming down that hill on the oh-so-dangerous green disc.
*Drew- skied his first black diamond. I'm sure you can guess that he was with the guys and not the moms :-)
*Cooper - always wanting to play in the snow. The first person to ask to go outside and play in the morning. Found a great spot at Deer Valley to play and entertain all of the kids for a few hours.
*Luke - had a few injuries from skiing and playing in the backyard. There was a little blood and a big welt/bruise invovled. But I didn't even hear him complain. A tough one!
*Cory - loved the skiing and din't want to quit at the end of the day. Took care of Stevie almost the entire trip. Made Kelly laugh (a hard thing to do :-).
*Stevie - loved making all of the kids laugh at her wild side. She hiked almost all of the way up the bunny slope at Deer Valley at the end of the day before Dad had to run up and get her.
*Jake - followed Sam around and wanted to do everything he did. Had some good wrecks into the bushes while sledding. Did his ski school graduation run in "race" form.

My Clothing Strategy

2009-02-25T11:28:00.003-07:00

Most of you have probably seen these orange Tennessee hoodies that Stevie and Jake wear. That is because one or both of them usually where them when we go on an "outing." They are very bright and I can easily spot them in a crowd. The other favorite clothing item for outings is a hat. Usually works good too...unless they throw it off and we lose the hat :-( If you haven't tried this strategy...I highly recommend it.

Kelly - Six Months Old

2009-02-25T10:35:00.003-07:00

I can't believe my baby is six months old. Kelly is our bundle of joy. She loves to smile and grab at everything. We can tell that she is really trying to communicate with us...she looks right at as and just babbles and babbles. Some of you may not think she is a happy baby because of her crazy mood swings. But the truth is...she just wants to be around Mom or Dad most of the time and then she is golden :-) At her checkup she was 11 lb 14 oz and 25 inches long.

Here a few new pictures of her and of the sisters together. Thanks for the outfits Nannie!

Daddy Time

2009-02-08T08:13:00.003-07:00

When Dad is hanging out with the kiddos, it is not uncommon to find these kinds of pictures on the camera. Usually gives me a good laugh.

Saturday Fun

2009-02-08T07:51:00.005-07:00

Jake and I went to Deer Valley yesterday for a few runs. He has been getting good reports from ski school and keeps asking to go with us...so I thought I would check out his progress. Yep...Jake is officially a "green" skier now. Because Steve and I enjoy skiing so much, we have always hoped that our kids love to ski as well so it can be a family activity. Hopefully we don't force it on them too much...You will like it! :-)

My job at Deer Valley is all worth it when I watch him ski with me down a green run from the top of the mountain, with a grin on his face. Otherwise I couldn't afford to send him there. And I think most of you will agree that our kids probably learn skills like that better from someone else, other than Mom or Dad. Sad but true.

On the way home from skiing, Jake asked some questions that somewhat surprised me. He is growing up faster than I want, and I guess this can be the beginning of the never-ending questions. "Mom, how do our legs move." I could answer that. "Mom, how to babies get out of your belly?" Didn't know how to answer that one for his ears so I said something like "Doctors help us." Help anyone?

Stevie Kate had to stay home this time. But to be honest, she loves her Daddy. Dad wasn't going skiing, so she was perfectly content to hang out with Dad.

Baby Sophie

2009-02-08T07:46:00.002-07:00

Here is a picture of another beautiful new cousin with Kelly. They will be pals.

Lucky Birthday

2009-02-01T09:50:00.002-07:00

Yesterday was my lucky birthday...31 on the 31st. My new little niece was born on my birthday...Sophie Lela Draper weighing in at 7 lbs. I feel lucky to share my birthday with Carrie and now Sophie. Congrats Cody and Natalie! We can't wait to meet her.

The other lucky part of my day was going with the Berg family to the Draper Temple Open House. Named after a city in the Salt Lake valley which was named after a relative...William Draper. Jake even said, "Mommy, Draper is one of your names, not the temple silly." Ha ha. Thanks for getting us the tickets Katrina.

Yes it was hectic with all of the small children, but they all did pretty good. It was just a big maze to them and it was like playing "Follow the Leader." We kind of cheated and skipped the bus part of the tour, which would have added at least an hour to the excursion. But no one was parked near the temple...so it worked out great. (Hint hint to the rest of you with small children who are planning on attending the Open House).

Thanks for all the birthday wishes yesterday. I have the best family and the best friends. Loves...

Blogging vs. Facebook

2009-01-25T20:36:00.002-07:00

Blogging vs. Facebook. This has been one of the topics that keeps coming up lately, and everyone has differing opinions. The blogging is working for me and serving it's purpose - it persuades me to document, take pictures, etc. I have been terrible about baby books, but this works for me. And I love to read other blogs too, because I think it just helps keep the connections going (especially since I am so bad about picking up the phone!) I have not joined Facebook, although I have stolen glances at Steve's account and Brittoni's account too. Okay...they have been more than glances, it was a "Facebook Binge." "Blog Binge" is the term that Sara uses to describe the countless hours looking at blogs, so I guess we can use it for Facebook too. Anyway...I feel like I already spend too much time on the computer. And adding Facebook to mix won't help. Long story short...if you invite me to be your friend on Facebook, I probably won't respond....but I still want to be your friend :-)

Baby Jack

2009-01-21T16:00:00.003-07:00

Meet Baby Jack aka Jack William Draper. He was born last Friday, Jan 16th, weighing in at 6 lb 3 oz. "Him so cute!" as Stevie Kate says. The hair...

We traveled to Logan last night to meet him and to congratulate the proud parents. Jack is now Kelly's closest cousin in age. And Kelly now looks like a giant.

Snow Day Adventures

2009-01-11T07:09:00.005-07:00

Meet the first snowman of the year…Little Dude. He is a little short and has a very wide bottom…but it is all I could do with this dry snow. The snow keeps piling up, so I’m sure we will do more.

Jake and Stevie got out on skis for the first time this year too. Jake wasn’t sure how he was going to like it this year, but as soon as he figured out his legs were stronger and he could stop and turn…he was a happy camper. Stevie was happy to go with her favorite person. Right now that is Daddy. She held the wedge pretty good and had fun. That is all that matters at this age I think.

Jake's next ski adventure was last Friday with ski school. He and his best buddy Chase got put with the same teacher, Mr. Dave. When I came back to pick him up, I found out he had skied almost all 3 hours and loved it. I have to hand it to Mr. Dave there. We are all looking forward to the next lesson.

Meet my new skis…Joule. I have a wonderful boss who gave me these as a bonus this year. I skied on them backwards down the bunny slope with Jake…but I have yet to try them going the right direction…hopefully soon. They may have to wait until next year to get a lot of use.

And our most recent snow adventure was last night. Steve said the moon was the brightest it has been for 25 years. It was so beautiful we decided to go on a little walk. Everyone loved it. Stevie Kate loved having a head lamp on and stopping every few steps to take a bite of snow. Jake loved to see everything with the light of the moon and found a special piece of ice that he brought home. It's comical some times to see what they like.