Update on the haps

Sweet and mischievous

Jeremy took the Cub Scouts to the Horizon hangar and they got to sit in the cockpit. We took our boys so they could check it out, too

XOXOXO

The boys in Max's rocket.

It's official. I am the worst blogger and I'm totally okay with that. I only upload pictures when I have to and blog post without pictures are boring. Consequently no upload, no post.

Since my last post life has been crazy. We start with the announcement, at the beginning of December, that Jeremy was going to be furloughed (laid-off until further notice). That made for an awesome Christmas. My family was amazing to us, as always, and made sure that we still had a great Christmas. The miracle came just 2 days before Jeremy's last day when the Chief Pilot called Jeremy and said that he would not be furloughed due to senior pilots that took a voluntary furlough. We were sad for his friends that still lost their jobs, but shocked and humbled by the blessing we received. Jeremy is now, literally, the bottom pilot with his airline.

The new year came and with that, I started a new job. I watch 2 kids a couple days a week and it's worked out pretty well.

Max started Primary. He's very reverent and loves being in there with Ben and Mommy. He said (I mean whispered) his first prayer in Primary.

My birthday came and I am now into my 30's. That was worse than turning 30. The big "1" after the 3 is yucky.

For Spring Break we went to my brothers in Northern CA. The boys had a great time with their cousins. I had my wisdom teeth pulled. My sister-in-law was the best and watched my boys while I was loony coming out of anesthesia. A quick funny story: when I went to send Jeremy a picture of my minimal swelling, there were a bunch of pictures on my phone that had been taken of me at the Doc's office. I must have asked them to, but I had no recollection of it. Good times.

Jeremy has a new calling as the Scout Master.

Ben is doing great in school and recently started baseball again. Ben had a lesson in Primary and decided to apply it to his life. This is what happened:
He went to school and had the following conversation with his first grade teacher.
Ben: Mr. P. do you believe in Heavenly Father?
Teacher: Yes
Ben: Do you believe in Jesus?
Teacher: Yes
Ben: Have you heard of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints?
Teacher: Yes
Ben: Have you heard of the Mormons?
Teacher: Yes
Ben: Write your phone number on this piece of paper and I will send two special people to you.
Teacher: I can't give you my phone number.
Ben: It's not for me. It's for the two special people.

The teacher didn't give his phone number and Ben came home very upset. That night he was in tears because he wanted his teacher to know everything that he knows about Heavenly Father and Jesus. We talked for awhile and then Ben told me that his teachers birthday was that Friday. He wanted to go to the church bookstore and get him a Book of Mormon. I suggested we give it as an end of the year gift instead.

All in all, we are doing great. We feel blessed, busy, happy, and healthy. Can't ask for more.

Santa's lap

This post will have a lot of pictures because it was too hard to pick my favorite one. Ben wanted to put off the visit to Santa because he was having a hard time figuring out what toys he wanted to ask for. Isn't it tough being a kid? He went up and studied Santa's face and then said something. I don't know what, but you can tell by the second picture that it was something that gave Santa's bowl full of jelly a jiggle.

Then there was Max. He would not have anything to do with Santa. He wouldn't look at him. Sitting on the his lap was most certainly not going to happen, so he sat on a stool next to him. During this visit to Santa, somehow his name was changed from Max, because he wouldn't respond to it and when the "elf" asked if his name was Max he shook his head no. Santa was so patient and kind. Look at Max's face in these pictures. I have a very independent, strong-willed 3 year old. (I love it and at the same time I am rolling my eyes.) Now when we ask Max if he wants to go see Santa, he quickly says, "no". Tonight he wanted to play with me and have me come sit on his lap because he was Santa.

Merry Christmas!!

And we are live

Summer slip n slide or the sit and drink the water slide.

Papa dressed the boys up in all this hunting gear.

This summer we flew the boys down to CA and then flew back ALONE!! My parents watched the boys for a week while we enjoyed a quiet staycation. We surprised the boys with bunk beds when they came back home. They were very happy little boys. In fact, they still are. Anyone that comes over, Max proudly leads upstairs to see his new bed.

Ben:
*Finished Kindergarten and began 1st grade...with a bang! A few adjustment issues, but is now doing great and sick of always being in reading groups with mostly girls.
*Is very excited about the lesson they had in reading the other day. The topic was "quotation marks" and he now uses them with his hands as he talks.
*We asked him where he wanted to go eat the other day. His response was, "well, which place has the faster beverage service?"
*The other day he asked me if the way I was talking to Daddy was sassy. It was hard enough when Jeremy and I had to stop spelling words to each other to secretly communicate, but now he questions our tone of voice.
*He successfully taught the word stupid to his little brother. (see below)
*We still get very excited when the school bus comes down the street to bring him...HOME!!

Max:
*Was falsely diagnosed with celiac disease, but we did find out that he has no esophageal sphincter and a little hiatus hernia so he has acid reflux issues.
*Is starting to like the idea of friends. (big sigh of relief)
*Is a talker and a singer. Frequently we wake up to a LOUD 3 year olds version of "How Firm a Foundation".
*Recently heard the theme song to Scooby Doo, so he now sings it, "scupid, scupid, scupid, where are you?" The name scooby turned into his version of stupid. Apparently that's what happens when you have an older brother.
*Started Preschool.
*Says my favorite little kid thing, "hold you" when he wants us to hold him or cuddle him. Yesterday it turned into, "hold you me".

Jeremy:
*Still flying for Horizon Air (huge sigh of relief)
*Is the best at playing with the boys because it has been said that I am not very good at playing Lego's and GI Joes, but I am very good at sorting the Lego piles. (Ben's words)
*Has been very good at taking care of the boys during my recovery (see below)

Abbie:
*Spent the summer having miserable pain
*Found out the gallbladder had to come out. During that surgery in Sept they did some other stuff. They repaired my hiatus hernia (yes that same thing Max has), and made an esophageal sphincter (yes the other same problem Max has). Now, 6 weeks out of surgery, I am enjoying a life reflux FREE. After 14 years of throwing up, sitting up to sleep, and constant heartburn/acid reflux, I am enjoying sleeping flat and drinking things like orange juice (which I now love).
*Loves my cute parents and husband who did everything for me during my surgery/recovery!!

More tubes for Max

2 days after Max's first set of tubes fell out he had a massive ear infection. Our pediatrician gave me the look and I knew we would be back at the hospital sometime soon. After 6 weeks of constant ear infection and antibiotics and visits to the ENT, Max was scheduled for surgery. We all went to the hospital and when we put his scrubs on him he instantly knew something was up. There were a few signs that he remembered his last visit in Feb of '08 at the age of 16 months. The procedure for little ones is to give them Versed when they are with their parents. This makes them see double and also makes them loopy so separation from the parents is easier. Oh boy. The pre-op room had Easter eggs hanging from the ceiling and the closest one to Max was about 10 feet away. We knew the drugs were kicking in when he layed down on the bed and started reaching for those eggs as if they were in his reach. Then, without any prompting Ben began to sing to Max.


I don't think Max will mind if he has to do this part again.

T-ball

Ben at his first practice and first game.

Ben's fan and Jeremy's white legs. ;)



It isn't customary to have sliding in t-ball, but that has been Ben's biggest thrill about playing. I can't tell you how many times he has asked his extremely patient coach when they are going to practice sliding. In t-ball the answer is never. That didn't stop Ben from performing during his first game on his first run into home. I wasn't expecting it and so my video job is not good, but you get the idea. The crowd cheered for Ben and he was hooked.

An update

My Dad said that my blog was too prideful. I don't know how to caption these photos without sounding prideful. Either I have a problem or this is the cutest group of men ever. How's that Dad?


We may have more student loan debt than any of you combined (not bragging), but we get to do fun stuff like this. (bragging) Jeremy took us all up the other day. Ben got to fly for about 15 seconds before a passenger in the back had had enough.

Future "recreational" pilot.

The little man and I in the back of the Cessna.

This is why I didn't renew our Disneyland season passes. Apparently, the couch can be just as much fun.

I hear you

Okay. I hear you. I got the emails/comments. I will update soon. I have a ton of stuff on my card that I need to upload and I know it's going to take awhile, so I keep procrastinating. You know that word.
It doesn't take much to overwhelm me. Max had tubes put in again last Monday, I broke out in hives (no idea why), Max had an accident on Ben's bed and his gums are all torn up. I wish I lived closer to my dentist brother.
Enough of my excuses. I will get it done soon.