Summer

We had a really great summer!

- Swimming for All -

OTG Boy was on the water polo team.

The Professor earned his Swimming and Life Saving Merit Badges.

Bubba found his swimming groove - thanks to his fantastic teachers...

he's actually excited for swim team next year.

After his first week of swimming lessons Junior was pretty sure I was trying to kill him - but he spent the summer singing songs about rowing and kicking and loves being in the pool.

- Scout Camp at Camp Raymond -

Handsome Hubby, OTG Boy & The Professor Spent a Week at Scout Camp

OTG Boy earned Merit Badges for: Archery, Rifle Shooting, Leatherwork, Soil and Water Conservation, Weather, Forestry, Geology and Emergency Preparedness

OTG Boy's favorite memory:  Being the Master of Ceremonies for one of the nightly campfire programs.

The Professor earned Merit Badges for: Rifle Shooting, Weather, Soil and Water Conservation, Geology, Environmental Science, Leatherwork and Forestry

The Professor's favorite memory: Earning his Rifle Shooting Merit Badge.

Handsome Hubby's favorite memory:  Having the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend camp with his two oldest sons.

So, Bubba loved having everyone gone for the week... Junior not so much.  He woke up every morning between 5:30 and 6:00 am, walked into my room to see who was there and then yelled at the top of his lungs, "Where's my DADDY!?!"

We tried to have a little fun while the three of us were holding down the fort... we went to the movies, got happy meals from McDonald's, and went to Jambo (an indoor amusement park).

-15 Years of Marriage -

A lot has happened in the last 15 years!

5 Kids * 5 Homes * 3 Cars * 2 Vans * 1 Truck * 2 States (1 twice) * Handsome Hubby's worked for 5 different companies and I'm the Mom (the job I always wanted) I've had a few odd random jobs here and there... law offices, cell phone companies and insurance transcriptionist... even a paper route :) * We've gone on some great roadtrips and Vacations * Had a lot of Church Callings * Good Times * Hard Times * More Blessings than we can count!

 - Summer Vacation -

Our first full day in Utah was spent at Lagoon.  As a kid I remember going every summer for Stake Lagoon Day!  My siblings and I would plan for weeks which rides we'd try and in what order.  As a teenager I spent my summers working there as a ride operator.  Well our kids have never been to a real amusement park - and it was so much fun to take them to a place with so many great memories.  At the end of the day OTG Boy and The Professor were asking if we could move to Utah - they were thinking it might be fun to follow in my footsteps and get themselves some summer jobs :)

Junior's favorite ride - I can't even count how many times he drove the bumper cars!



OTG Boy & The Professor loved everything they tried - they loved spinning & flying through the air!



Day 2 was spent touring BYU, visiting with my Grandma and spending the evening visiting with my dad, brothers and their families!

Next came Handsome Hubby's graduation day!

He learned so much working on his MBA - the boy's and I are extremely proud!

Our last stop?  Grandpa and Grandma's farm.  The kids had so much fun visiting with family, riding horses, climbing haystacks and being around every kind of animal.  They also enjoyed shooting guns and trying out the bow and arrows... but, I think Handsome Hubby had the most fun - living in the city just isn't the same.

  

Now... the Kids have all been back in school for almost a month!



The High School Student





The Middle School Student



The Elementary School Student



3-Year-Old Student of Life

Time is flying by!!!



Anything Happening at HaHa's House?

I never thought I would say it, but I was talking with Handsome Hubby the other day and all of the sudden I found myself saying how much I missed the good 'ole days of having only one car and two kids under the age of two.

Did I just say that?!?

Yeah, I did... WOW.

For me, life seems to cycle. Sometimes I feel like everything is amazing and then I feel like everything is insane. Lately, I've been feeling overwhelmed - you can tell by the lack of blog posts :) Professional blogging is definitely not my thing - but keeping in touch with friends and family - I thought that should be pretty do-able... I thought.

So, I thought I better get posting so you'd know what was going in HaHa Land!

Handsome Hubby

New calling in the church, Scout Master! With the new calling a new something to drive. Our little old Saturn was having problems right & left... so he got to get a little something he's been wanting for years!!!

The Professor, Handsome Hubby & OTG Boy

Headed off to the Stake Camporee Last Fall

He loves his new toy!

He's studying like crazy to finish-up the MBA - he's doing great - and we are ALL looking forward to graduation! With all of his extra-curricular, life at work is pretty crazy, too... new owners, new bosses, new responsibilities - if you're curious give him a call - he'll tell you all about his adventures.

OTG Boy

On the Go, as usual. Biggest changes - he just registered for high school and I am in total denial! In the meantime, he's doing great with school he's in orchestra and choir and also decided to learn the mandolin for Fiddle Club. And just for fun decided to be part of the Year Book Club, too. He has his eye on engineering, but I have to say he's pretty good with graphic design - yearbook club has brought that out. Summer is over, but he's still volunteering at the library - good kid - works hard.

He also loves to play goalie and took weight training as an elective this year.
It's official - he's a teenager!

The Professor

Absolutely loves his classes for school! Online schooling has been a huge blessing in this kid's life. However, he likes to get out of the house sometimes, too. He has so much fun going to his scout activities and tells me everyday about his amazing leaders. He's worked up to a blue belt in his martial arts class and can make one of the best "intense" faces you have ever seen. The Professor's biggest change?

Braces!

I tried and tried - but no matter how many pictures I took - he still came out looking like a teenager. I guess this little boy is growing-up, too.

Bubba

Bubba loves to have fun! His favorite subject in school is recess and his second favorite is lunch :) You get this kid together with his friends and he does not stop talking! He's been working hard at school and making definite progress with reading & spelling... and the kid is a math whiz! The only day of the week he actually enjoys homework is math day - any other day I think he'd actually prefer having a tooth pulled... if he just didn't have to do homework!

Bubba's biggest news is that he was baptized this past year and it was so fun to have family in town! We were lucky to have both sets of grandparents, a couple of aunts, a couple of uncles and a lot of cousins come by for the happy day... it was really great to see everyone!

Junior

Well, what's not constantly changing about this little man? The one constant? He's still a daddy's boy! A day without Daddy is just wrong! He loves playing High Ho Cherri-o and Candyland. His biggest accomplishment since Christmas - Potty Training! No more diapers at HaHa's House!!!

HaHa

Now you can see why I miss the no car - toddler days. Back then I spent my time, all day - pretty much everyday - at home. No commitments. No craziness. No needing to be four places at the same time while Handsome Hubby is out of town. Just walks to the park with my double stroller and playing in the backyard.

These days I'm driving kids everywhere and trying to organize schedules. I spend my days helping The Professor with school. Reading and singing with Junior. Working on spelling lists with Bubba and trying to keep up with OTG Boy.

Junior, HaHa & The Professor the park in Fountain Hills

It's hard to find a picture of myself - I'm always behind the camera :)

Life is definitely crazy... but... definitely good!

And I am thankful, every day, for the boys who make my life amazing!

Summer Round-up

No need to worry about Junior - he can hold his own just fine!

Dear Family & Friends,
You're probably wondering what we did with ourselves this past summer... especially since we didn't take any big vacations, missed ALL the family reunions, and basically haven't left the state since last summer. (Well unless you count Handsome Hubby - he's been off on business trips to California & Texas... but I don't... I like to travel too!)

If you ask the kids they'll tell you they did chores ALL summer - and they did - but here at HaHa's house we pay on commission so, honestly, it couldn't have been that bad - they were pleased with their summer incomes.

So here's the rundown...

Handsome Hubby - worked a lot, studied a lot, has enjoyed his calling as an 11-year-old scout leader, and is basically functioning on very little sleep - I can't believe how much he accomplishes in the day. Thank goodness the MBA will be done by next summer!

OTG Boy - and the award for "Not Wasting Time" goes to... yes OTG Boy. Not only did he attend Scout Camp for a week, he spent the summer participating in Swim Team, played on a water polo team, had a couple of scout camp outs (in addition to camp), cello lessons, Young Men activities and he volunteered at least once a week at the library. The teenage years are upon us - this is one kid who's hard to keep up with.

The Professor - karate, karate, karate... lots of karate! Also, since he didn't have swimming lessons I "made" him spend time in the pool everyday practicing all his strokes. Don't worry - plenty of free swim time too... I'm not that mean :)

Bubba - took swimming lessons from the best teacher he's ever had! He loved getting his gummy worm at the end of each lesson... such a good little fish.

Junior - well he spent a lot of time with mommy in the car driving to everyone's activities. However, he played in the pool every day, too - he loves jumping off the side and swimming to the steps (still needs help, but he's doing great)!

HaHa - driving, driving & driving. In between activities we managed to throw in our weekly Summer Fun movie at Harkins, plenty of trips to the AZ Science Center (one of our favorite places), a wild morning at BounceU, oh and we can't forget, plenty of trips to the library - the kids completed the both the Mesa & Phoenix summer reading programs (and yes, if you are wondering, I am "that" mean - they had to read separate books for each - but my kids love books so really it's better to have a challenge) - can't wait to take the kids to their free Diamondbacks game!

Also, Handsome Hubby and I had tickets to see "Little Shop of Horrors" - Handsome Hubby thinks I'm so funny but, I love that musical.

And to top off the wonderful summer "break"? A family camping trip - that will get a blog post all it's own.

Very great summer! I'm trying to enjoy them and keep track of the memories - my little boys are growing-up - I love it, but I hate it.

Hope you all had wonderful summers, too!

Love,

HaHa

P.S. We hope to see a lot more of you in the next year!

Jack-O-Lantern in July

Bubba's gonna save us some money on buying pumpkins this October!

He's lost another tooth and has the best jack-o-lantern smile on the block!

Toothless

Look who just lost another tooth!

Guess we know what Bubba will be wantin' for Christmas!

(Two others are loose & wiggly - how's the poor boy going to eat!?!)

Staying Cool

(Bubba and The Professor)

Favorite Summer Family Activity? Swimming!!!

Bubba's Turn

Bubba has grown so much since this blog began. He has a love of life that is absolutely contagious. He loves sports and he's always asking if I can go outside and play with him, whether it's playing soccer or throwing a baseball. I wish I had more time, but I do take it as a compliment that he thinks I'm coordinated enough to go outside and play.

He loves school, loves riding the bus and loves recess.

Bubba loves to help... he's always in the kitchen helping me with whatever. Part of it is, he is truly that helpful - the other part... he loves to snitch - anytime I'm cutting up cantaloupe he's there.

Long Over Due

Updated photos of these handsome little men are long overdue!

So, as we come into the holidays I'd like re-introduce you to a few of my most favorite people.

Backyard Fun

When it's 104 degrees - the pool is a wonderful place to be!

Junior loves floating around!

Bubba, the noodle thief!

How about a snorkeling adventure with the Professor?

OTG Boy's up for a little one-on-one any day!

And of course Handsome Hubby and I take turns playing and life-guarding...

How 'bout a swim? Come on over!

A Few Firsts For Bubba

Bubba's had a great couple of months!

This was his first year playing soccer!

He loved it! He had a lot of fun because his dad was his coach and his best friend was on the team... it did however bring out a competitive streak we didn't know Bubba had. He's one tough cookie!

He also celebrated a birthday!

He loves dinosaurs so, I created a volcano cake complete with dinosaurs and lava.

(Made me feel good when he said it was the best cake ever!)

Look at that smile!

This is Bubba's first bike that wasn't a hand-me-down...

he rides it any time he gets a chance!

On Thanksgiving Bubba lost his first tooth!

Bubba loves kindergarten and has become a great reader!

I love watching him learn and grow - he's so enthusiastic and that smile is contagious!!!

Halloween

My costume supply has built up over the years - they are sooooo cute!

I have everything you need to be a puppy, a cow, Bob the Builder, or a Fireman and plenty of other fun ideas.

My kids really haven't been attracted to the scary, or repulsive.

But,

this year things changed.

It all started with Bubba...

He said, "Mom, I don't want to be Bob the Builder for Halloween."

I said, "Why not? We've got the whole costume it would be great."

He said, "Mom, Bob the Builder is for little kids. If I wear that everyone will laugh at me."

I said, "Okay, what do you want to be?"

He said (with bright eyes and a mischievous smile), "A vampire bat!" "With fangs!" "And with my face painted black."

So, for my first year of scary boys for Halloween this is what I got:

OTG Boy - Skeleton

The Professor - Harry Potter

Bubba - The Vampire Bat

(check out those orange teeth!)

And

Junior - The Jack-O-Lantern

Since he can't talk I got away with cute for him :)

So, candy anyone?

Hopefully, we didn't cause too many nightmares!

Spooky Spiders

Remember last year's October Break project?

I was pregnant and sick and needing to stay off my feet...

but had three busy boys who needed something to do?

I guess we started a new tradition.

I wasn't sick

- but -

you may have heard that the flu is going around, so when OTG Boy had a fever of 102...

Mama called the doctor and the doctor said...

keep those boys at home - don't let that flu bug spread!

I had to find something fun to do?!?

We made spiders!

Even Junior helped - he was a great spider hanging supervisor!