Technology

Lately I've had a real love hate relationship with technology. When Chris first went to Texas we discovered his cell phone, 100 plus degree weather, and fires do not mix. We would go days at a time without hearing from him and it was pretty darn awful. He ended up being stuck in that awful state for 40 days and got to celebrate his birthday blowing out big flames and we splurged and bought him an i-phone so he'd be able to talk and skype with us. Unfortunately right after that our computer died and I wasn't able to make a decision on my own if we should pay to have it fixed or just buy a new one. He finally got home for a few days and helped me put on my big girl panties and deal with life and when the next call came four days later I did pretty good. I got the computer fixed, handled three hound dogs and Huntley with very little tears, and only had one casualty and are now rocking a really awesome yellow lawn. Luckily his trip to Colorado was cut short by a snow storm and we only had to miss him for one week. Now he's on his way to Arizona but we have a working phone and computer so this should be our easiest separation yet. A month ago I was hating technology and how it wasn't cooperating with me but now I'm so glad for everything we have and how it lets us still be a family even though we can't be together. I'm also grateful for technology so we could see our new baby and have reassurance that everything is fine and we have one healthy little girl coming our way.

Owie

Huntley's really been into owies lately. She fell and hurt her knee last week and when Chris called that night all she could talk about was her owie. Our new dog Maze was branded when she was a pup and Huntley thinks it's an owie. In her prayers she asked Heavenly Father to please help Maze's owie. Sunday when I picked her up from church I asked her what she learned. Every Sunday I ask her this and she always responds "dollies" but not this time. This time I got "Jesus got an owie."

Yesterday my mom was watching her and all day long she kept complaining her ears were owie. She ended up having a low grade fever and so my mom figured she must have an ear infection. I couldn't get her into our regular doctor so I took her to the instacare when I got off work. This was the first time I've ever taken her to the doctor by myself and I was terrified. Huntley hates the doctor and screams and flings her body around the whole time. Well my baby is growing up and was fascinated by everything the doctor did. When we left she was proud to tell me "my doctor has toys." I'd taken her to my last appointment where we got stuck there for a couple hours and no my doctor did not have toys for her to play with.

Oh and yes her ear was a little pink and she had a slight ear infection. We were able to get drops for it to avoid it turning into a major catastrophe which makes me glad she is sensitive to her owies.

Home Alone

Chris left Huntley and I home alone for FOUR whole days to go play with some fires in southern Utah. He left Monday and was supposed to come home Thursday but Wednesday was the worst day ever. His crew was called to fight fires in Texas and our four days of being home alone turned in to THIRTY!!! I kicked. I screamed. I cried. And now I'm trying to employ positive thinking and enjoy the fact that his absence will give me my new kitchen.

Saturday Chris finally arrived on site and since he will only be able to talk to us randomly throught out the next month the blog has now become my way of updating him on what is happening in Huntley and I's lives. Saturday we went out west to take Ellie and Maze (yes that's the new dog's name given by Huntley that I can't think of anything better) for a walk. This week I discovered trying to walk two dogs and push a stroller is a joke so now we just drive out to the desert and let them run around while Huntley and I walk. Poor Hunt is going to have to get used to being quite the celebrity since I'll constantly be taking pictures of her and the rest of you will just have to get used to seeing boring pictures of her on a regular basis.

Don't worry she's about as annoyed with that fact as anyone but I figure someday she'll enjoy it since it will be a whole lot of attention on her before the baby comes.

I'm writing this at seven in the am but I know Chris was on a fire all night so hopefully he checks this before he crashes in bed and Huntley says "Night Night Daddy, Luv U!"

Bow

A couple weeks ago we had the really hard task of saying good bye to our buddy Bow. I've never been much of an animal lover and have just put up with Chris's need to always have man's best friend but Bow apparently was more important than that because I've had a hard time letting him go. He was only a member of our family for four short months but he will always be remembered, as Huntley's best friend, Chris's pride and joy, and for his crazy tree climbing skills and cute little howl.

Since Ellie is now by herself for the first time in her life she's been really lonely during the day and it breaks my heart to see her sitting by the fence as we leave. So we welcomed this little lady into our home and she has been great. She is extremely patient and puts up with Huntley's love and has been perfect. Now if we could just think of a name for her we'd be set.

Humble Pie for the Homeless

Our Easter was so much fun this year. Huntley actually understood and grasped concepts so we were able to dye eggs, hide eggs, find eggs, not to mention enjoy the real reason for the celebration and be thankful for our savior and all he did for us so that someday we can see Bow again. I love that she is starting to grow and learn things but the independent attitude that is also coming with that growth is not my favorite thing. She had a gorgeous Easter dress that is too painful to wear and after me arguing with her forever about it not hurting her Chris finally pointed out we were late for church and just let her wear what she wants. We got the below ensemble of a pink polka dot dress, pink rain boots, pink blanket subsituted in for a little old lady shawl, and our pink princess lunch pail. She looked homeless. The picture is horrible but I had to take it so that I could someday laugh at her stubborness and not be upset with her not wearing the dress she was supposed to wear.Lately it seems like I haven't had a whole lot of patience. Chris started work a couple weeks ago and is gone alot which has been a huge adjustment for me and the life I was used to of going to work and coming home and doing a whole lot of nothing. Now it seems like I'm constantly running from one place to the other, we're surviving on cereal, and I'm late to everything. I've developed a nasty little habit of saying bad words in my head and under my breath, a lot. On Thursday I'd gotten off work late and hurried home to make dinner so I could get to a training meeting for church. Of course I'm running behind, Huntley has a major diaper blowout, and not one dress or skirt in my closet fits. I walked into the meeting late thinking not so nice thoughts and was then served my piece of humble pie. Our meeting was on constantly using the For Strenth of Youth pamphlet in any way you can when working with the youth. We learned how the number one way to do this was to make sure you always live the standards in the pamphlet. Originally I had forgotten what had been going through my head just a few short minutes before and thought I'm not perfect but I do feel like I try and live my life according to those values. As the meeting went on we were told to open the pamphlet and they wanted to go through an exercise on how to teach values. Here comes my big piece of pie, the value they picked was language. I sat there in my too tight clothes feeling extremely bad and realizing I had a problem. I'm glad I was able to have this experience before it gets any worse but I'm since it's a problem I have in my head I figured writing it down and admitting I have a problem is the best way to overcome it. Now my plan of action is to try and sing songs to put me in a better mood. Plus I'd rather have Huntley pick up on hymns than spitting out swear words.

Saturday

Saturday we:

• Mowed the lawn


• Weeded the flower beds


• Played in a fort


• Built garden boxes


• Went to the dump


• Taught Huntley to drive


• And started leveling the dirt to make a corner of our yard into a really awesome fire pit

Then for the half hour break we had before the preisthood session started we sat in the backyard BBQ'ing and enjoying our hard work.

Sunday we woke up to this and our all our hard work buried. At least we enjoyed the sun while it was here.

Why I love my Huntley Baby

Since I've been really bad at blogging this year and this is what I use as my journal I decided I'd better devote a whole post to Huntley so I can remember how fun we had at this age. I love that she has developed her own personality and is becoming her own little person. #1 I love how gorgeous Huntley is. She loves to sneak in the bathroom and do her "pretties." Normally I try and keep the mascara unreachable but not this time.

#2 The way she talks cracks me up. When she wants to be carried she comes up and says "Mommy I carry you?" Of course she has her I's and me's a little confused and wants me to carry her but it makes me smile every time she says it.

#3 She is my little snuggle bug. I go to bed really early these days and she always comes and cuddles with me and then goes and lets Chris know when I fall asleep. Sometimes I wonder if we've switched roles and she's the mom now.

#4 She is one cool kid. She loves playing outside and a couple days ago Chris told her it was finally going to be warm and she'd get to go to the park. This is how she got ready to go.

#5 Like I said before we've switched our mother/daughter roles. Here she is in self imposed time out. When I told her to get out of the dog kennel she said she couldn't because she'd been bad. Too bad it's not that easy when she really is.