No home, but thats ok

Hey all. Its that time again for a blog. We're a little sad that the hundred year old victorian house in Layton fell through but are happy where we are at and imagine the Layton home just wasn't meant to be. I'm thinking I'm anxious for our lives to keep coming together, but maybe I'm too anxious. Will has some great prospects at the job he is at to move up in the next year or two and we're hoping that all works out. Meanwhile, I long for the day that my work hours don't include wee hours of the morning 1 am or 2 am... I can't wait to ask my kids what they remember about their childhoods- I hope it isn't me sleeping away while they run around the house potty training themselves and Ben teaches himself to read.... really though I use those two examples because it seems like Ben really is teaching himself to read/write and James is potty training- and I"m hardly doing anything to get them there...

So lets talk about them- Ben is starting to grow into himself. Highly motivated, really serious, and still uber physical. He does really well in his preschool class. He just seems to pick up writing and his letters and sounds of the words pretty quickly. We've signed him up for soccer and I'm going to be his coach- We're going to go far with my expert soccer guidance I can just feel it ;)

James - so much to say about this little tyke. He loves stickers so the incentive of getting them everytime he goes potty is huge- he is doing well. We started him because he went poo in the toilet three days in a row by asking us to take him.  So since then we have switched over to underwear and here's hoping!  James is talking a lot more now and today he asked for a jelly bean and I told him he could only have one-- and he quickly shot back with "two" -- I didn't even think he could say the word two- let alone count. Way to go bro!

Madisons is the queen around these parts- She lets the boys know that all of the time and let me know it the other day. I went to take a shower and usually I let her wait outside the shower while I am in there-- this day I didn't -- I told her she had to stay out in the hall with the boys-- Let me tell you I was in TROUBLE! She banged her head against the ground and cried very loudly- by the time I got out the poor girl had bruises all over her head. Last time I deny her a request! She does the same to the boys and they quickly give her toys or run to get her whatever she is demanding. It is so cute!

We'll this is the end of todays edition of how the Blackhurst world turns. Stay tuned for the next episode...

Summer

Maddy's birthday and etc...

I'm way behind on blogging again but for a good reason. I was busy before I got the bright idea to try to buy a house and now I'm drowning!!! Work, kids, work, Will, Will's school, papers to sign, papers to sign, papers to sign, calls to make, work, kids, pre-school, meals, and the list goes on-- I didn't mention sleep cause I am way sleep deprived right now-- Lets just hope the studies aren't accurate about weight gain and sleep depreivation-- and if they are and you're noticing me put on a few extra pounds just give me a twinkie and move on ;)

Ben says the cutest things as of late-- when he has done something bad and I ask him for example "Why is James crying?" he says "I'm not telling."  THis kid can't lie - I love it. So instead of lieing he says "I'm not telling." And if he does do seomthing bad that needs immediate attention he runs in and tells me "I left the water running- and locked the bathroom door." 

James, James James. He is brother number two -- he is sort of a complainer. He knows if he lays out on the ground and cries loud enough I will run to the rescue. Which would be fine if he didn't lay out on the floor for less than important reaons like slipping on a sock. He loves to do everything Ben does. The other day Ben got off his bike and walked his bike across the street - so James got off his wiggle car and dragged it across the street. Also one last tid bit- this kid is potty training himself. For the last week whenever he needs to poo he says so and we put him on the toliet and off he goes. Since my sanity levels are a little lacking now becuase of trying to buy a home- I haven't put the effort into teaching him to go 1 and 2 consitently-- but I hope when I do it will be eaiser ;)

Madison. Today is her Birthday!!! And I am in sooo much pain from weaning her-- Everytime my boys even look my way I have my arms up so they don't cause more pain. She is my doll and my everything. We bought her her first doll and went dress shopping for her. Her cake was pink we had her wear a tiara-- I never knew I could be so girlie- but hey I have a GIRL!!!  She started crawling a few weeks ago - breaking the trend the boys started of scooting. And I"m thinking she will be walking sooner than them too. The other day she pulled herself up a stair and is starting to stand against furniture. 

Well I best be off. Its late and time for bed. We're good. Very busy as usual. Every minute I have with Will is a really good minute. For awhile there we were just passing in the night. With him having a break from school I'm in heaven. OK get ready for an onslaught of pictures and make sure to take a minute to comment and let me know how cute our kids are :)) Jk

 Don't mind the random pic of my brother's gum on my hand- but he must be implicated in his crime against humanity-- he is the one who put it there!!!!

Lots to cover

And little space because of the picture overload you're about to get. So lets start, and keep it brief, shall we.

Ben was so excited about Christmas this year in November he made me print out a count down calendar and put it on the back of his door- just like he saw Curious George do in Curious George episodel. He loved Christmas- he was the one who opened everyone's presents - because he could and Madison and James havn't picked up that gift yet. He moved from Sunbeams to CTR in primary- I'm so surprised how much a toddler changes into a child during this year. Ben is all grown up-- dresses himself, potties himself, helps his sister off the ground when she is beached on her belly. In preschool he was one of the only kids who could configure an "M" with marshmellows and toothipics without help (I put this incase he ends up being an engineer or something ;)

James- lets just call him guy smiley- cause that is what he does. He is now of the habit of saying "Hi" to complete strangers. He also draws in friends easily. The other day he had his friend Cecila over and his cousin Vaughan came over too. The two toddlers took turns holding onto James hand dragging him around the house. James is so friendly and likeable. He is talking up a storm. Earlier tonight he heard the timer go off and ran into us pointing towards the kitchen saying look look! He can name just about anything in his picture books. Sentences are starting to make their way-- he has said a few prayers with our help. It's soo cute- he always gets bored halfway through and says amen prematurely.

Madison- we are still on the fence with whether we are going to have another scooter or if she'll be our first child to pull off crawling. She loves her brothers and is pretty well entertained with them whenever they are around. Last month she got an ear infection and I took her to instacare-- after that they gave us penicillin to correct the problem- only it didn't correct it- it was tons worse- after a day and a half she was more miserable than ever and her body was covered with a head to toe rash and she hadn't had any wet diapers. I was an hour away from taking her to the ER when finally she started wetting her diaper again after getting her another medication to help and not hurt my poor baby.


OK so this entry isn't as short as I promised so please forgive. Will is liking his job, and doing really well on his tests for his classes. I am practically a single mother and learning to balance kids and work and at times I'm drowning and other times I'm OK. Mostly I am just so happy my husband is employed.

So here's the barage of pictures I promised.

 Mr and Mrs Claus came to pick up donations for a charity event Ben loved it James not so much

 Hot Chocolate and Christmas lights in the back of the Call's new truck

Making Ginger Bread houses at Leisha's with Vaughan

 Christmas Eve at Ogden park 

 Classic Ben sucking his fingers

 Christmas- grocery cart, scooter, wiggle car, books, fire pit and sleeping bags

 Cousin Leila feeding Maddy Chocolate Mousse

 The boys LOVE Madison!

Baby it's cold outside

I don't have much time because I should be asleep but I just thought I'd report to you a few things. Will got a JoB at U of U working in the Health Information Department. He starts Dec. 1st. See more about this on our what happens instead blog. This past month he has also been in a seasonal position educating people on their medicare plans. So I've been home with the kids without hubby. And you know what- I feel like I'm focusing more on my kiddies than I ever have. Before I was so worried about keeping  a roof over their heads that I think I have been too preoccupied, so this last month has been wonderful. I'm falling in love with our kids all over again.

I love how Ben has to question everything. "How did that tennis ball get in the street? Was it a kid that threw it to a dog and the dog got it and brought it back to the kid and then the kid left it in the street? And then a car ran over it. I need to go tell my friends they left their ball in the street…

James is so cute. He loves loves loves stickers. He loves to put them on his face. I find them everywhere around the house once they have lost their stick and fallen to the floor. Today it was so cute he was frustrated that he couldn't get the ink off of one of his toys-- it looked like a sticker so he was scratching at it to try to get it off.

Maddy. What can I say, she is already stepping up as queen bee around here. The boys love her and bring her toys every time she is on the ground. They are soft with her and if they get a little rough she lets out a shout and they cease and desist.

Well I best be off to bed. We're happy as clams around these parts. Keep us in your hearts and we will keep you in ours!

Love,

Summer

Primary Program

I can't miss the chance to tell you about our primary program epic fail. -- The program itself was wonderful. My corner of the world not so much.  Will and I are Sunbeam teachers, and we were on the front row facing our sunbeams. The kids said their lines alright. Ben (who is in the other sunbeam class) was pretty impressive - he recited his line for memory loud and clear. Then things took a turn for the worse. Instead of singing the whole time Ben decided to knaw away at the podium. It was half way through that I realized he was making marks in the wood!  Meanwhile, Will and I were rushing three of our own sunbeam kids off the stage to the bathroom(one didn't make it and went in her pants) and bribing James to sit with us with fruit snacks-- the program was pretty crazy. Well at least Maddy was behaving herself.... or so we thought. When Will rushed one of our primary sunbeams off the stage to the bathroom, on the way back someone in the hall pointed out a yellow spot the size of small basketball on on his shirt. Maddy had made her mark... Poop and all! Will got back to the pew moments before he had to give the closing prayer in front of the entire ward. I tossed a few wet wipes at him and one of the women in the primary presidency gave him a sheet of paper to cover up - and up he went to pray with a paper in hand/over belly.... After sacrament he had to run home to get a new shirt. I'm including a picture of Ben's teeth marks on the podium. I didn't get a shot of Maddy's ferocious poop mess- all you need to know is it saturated three layers of clothing-- Will's white collar shirt, tshirt and garments- Yikes!

Ben's teeth- marks... we did report oursleves to the Bishop don't you worry.

 Three bats, a spider man and a football fan from Ohio

 Ben's habit of taking pictures of his siblings

Ben and his preschool class pet eating popcorn and watching a movie