Facts About Us (rob)

We met in the year 2000. I was technically 16 (it was a month before my birthday) and Rob was 17.We both worked at a golf course.

He has always been stunningly handsome. I didn't figure the girly things of life [purses, makeup (beyond mascara), loving skirts] until we had been married a little while.

Rob loves football. You already know he plays on saturdays with his team The Wannabees but we watch every BYU game we can and any other college football game on tv. He is a third generation Y fan.

He loves to eat. He has slowed down as he has 'aged' but man-oh-man can he eat! The stories of his teenage years has me fearing for when our boys are teens.

He is a perfectionist when it comes to house projects. Anything he makes is sturdy, looks good and is well made!

He is a dedicated family man. He works a ton to provide for our family. We always knew we wanted me to stay home with our kids and he knew he needed a good job to allow for that.

He excells at anything he puts his mind to (school, work, church callings, loving me).
It brings me joy to support this man in any way i can.

I am a Mother

We spent time this afternoon playing outside in the dirt, eating popsicles, talking to friends and family, riding scooter and enjoying the perpetual summer. while i can't wait for my favorite season to really begin this warmth is wonderful.

Yesterday colton spent time investigating this shoe. It was hilarious to me-he just kept staring, touching and turning it over and over. Caleb never did this (as far as i can remember) so it completely surprises me when i seem Colton patiently do something. Isn't he perfect?!

This is during Caleb's popsicle party (outside eating popsicles). We have had them almost every day this summer. I think we have gone through at least three boxes of otter pops.  

Today my boys couldn't get enough of me. Colton wanted nothing more than to be in my arms and Caleb was attached to my hip. 

It was heavenly. 

This is Caleb's 'cheese' face. 

At the craft store today he listened, stayed by me and was so good! I realized i never thought the day would come i wouldn't have to confine him to a stroller or cart for fear he would demolish everything in his path.

And it came. 

Today.

It felt like a slap (maybe a well-placed punch) upside the head. 

WHAM your firstborn is growing up

WHAM you are growing up

WHAM--"make sure you remember this Jill"

 Colton and I cuddled while i fed him and i cherished every moment.He then relaxed in my arms before i put him to bed tonight.

Caleb fell asleep curled into my body with one arm around me. Instead of taking him to bed i let him sleep with me for a few minutes and savored how his little body felt next to mine. It reminded me of when he was an newborn and used to sleep so soundly on my chest. 

When Rob came to put him to bed he didn't want to let go of me.

I smiled. 

ps

I need your advice: I can't figure out how to put my pictures side by side rather than having them cascade vertically down my post. I have a pc--don't know if that makes a difference. Thanks!!

Fall Color, a Moose and a million kids

 Going up Big Cottonwood Canyon. Oaks turning red. It is far more majestic in person! Take the kids and go!!

 Quakies turning yellow

 This is the moose. Can you see the dock on the very left? The moose was probably 25 feet from the boardwalk at Brighton Lake. Since i have seen movies of moose attacks and spent time in Island Park (35 miles outside yellowstone park) where they roam freely i am well acquainted with the dangers of moose. Everyone else up there were taking pictures and oogling. I was waiting for it to charge. Call me a doomsdayer but i wasn't going to wait for it to come after me and my babies. I don't have any pictures of the millions of kids but there were two school buses parked in the parking lot. Hopefully that creates enough of a mental picture of the amount of people there. Ironically, i thought it would be dead because it was a monday mid-morning.

f

 I kept colton in his carseat (which he hates) because i was worried about him getting cold. When he was born and taken to his doctor (weighing 5 lbs) the doc was very clear in telling me not to let him get cold-it would waste his energy on staying warm rather than growing. Since he was so small, i was paranoid about him not growing. I still worry about that, he seems so small to me, so i try to keep him bundled if it seems the least bit nippy outside. 

Aren't his eyes to die for?!

 And my precious, strong-willed Caleb. we had so much fun wandering around the lake, looking for ducks, feeding them with rocks (didn't work so well), looking for dragonflies and wondering what every other person was doing up their.

I saw this and had to take a picture.

Reminds me how so many times this is all we can see of our lives. A little bit of the path, one single bend, sometimes nothing at all. Everything else is taken on faith and hope in a Supreme Being who directs the universe and loves us--you and me--beyond that which we are able to imagine.

I am honored to be on this journey. I believe that is what life is...a journey filled with beauty, joy and mind-blowing wonder. Thank You Lord for this privilege.

Can't wait till christmas

So i am considering doing a 'homemade christmas''

unfortunately i have no idea how to do this for men and boys. If i had girls, i think it would be 1000 times easier. (maybe??) Anyway, i could really use any ideas you have.

If you are on pinterest, pin them and i will follow you. (not on pinterest? give me your email and i will invite you)

Thanks a million!

tomorrows post will be about our field trip to brighton lake, a moose and a million kids.

Women's Conference

Twice a year our church has a conference where we receive instruction from our Prophet and his apostles. Once a year their is a Women's Conference where the women of the church receive instruction unique to their responsibilities in the church. Usually this i participate in this meeting from the confort of my couch watching a rebroadcast or by reading the printed word later. This time around my beloved mother got us tickets and we went and participated. The music was inspiring as were the messages.

Mom, it was a wonderful evening. Thank you!
Yes folks, this is my beautiful mother!

Break Time

Friends, i have to say i love having a camera that works. I love the picture of Caleb in the red circle (at Target). It just looks cool.
Caleb got to spend the day with his cousin Keeley yesterday. It was so nice for me. I love my boys but colton has been a sleepy growing boy and i got some much desired self/girly time. As a mother of boys i forget to give myself girly time. Tonight i am going here with my beloved mother. I will get to listen, take notes and generally enjoy worship and instruction.

caleb picked out my shoes. It was between these and teva sandals. I usually leave those type of decisions (when i can't decide) to Rob but Caleb did great and it was so nice to have the help.

Post 100

This is how we spent tuesday afternoon. I have found Cars marshmallows at target. Caleb loves to set them up on his cars mat and play. We have to send the dog out so she doesn't eat them while we play. 

 Gassing up Mqueen. Caleb doesnt' know how to play alone yet (ever?) so we play together. I keep telling myself this will help him be a more secure adult. Who knows if that is mumbojumbo but it sounds nice. And truth be known, despite the effort it requires, i really enjoy it. I enjoy pulling out my imagination, dusting off my creativity and prentending.

 Caleb figured out how to take pictures so every time i pull out the camera he wants to take pictures. He did pretty good for his first time. Aren't my muscles pathetic?! HA.

The babe  waking  up. He is not attached to his binkey, unlike his older brother was. He is most content when he is on my hip. And beginning to learn to crawl. Mentally, he hasn't totally figured out "hey, i want to go here and i CAN." I am so glad. I am not ready for mobility for him. I am positive that is when i will lose the remaining shreds of my sanity. It has been a rough week and half. My beloved children need/want me intensely and i frequently feel overwhelmed. I consistently work to remind myself  one day they won't want me anymore -- and to cherish their undying love demonstrated in this way while i have it.
Sometimes...even the reminders aren't enough to sustain. But i love them and i will happily sacrifice myself for them for i am a mother. Their Mother.
What an honor.

This morning i found a dead fly in my blender

Yes, if you just read and reread my title, i did in fact find a dead fly in my blender this morning. I poured in my rice milk to start making my morning shake and i saw a black floatie. At first i thought it was a flax seed but it was way too big and black for a flax seed. I did my double take and bam...dead fly.

be comforted...i didn't drink it. I dumped it out and washed thoroughly.
 I know...eeeewwww

I started singing "i know a lady who almost drank a fly" to my boys.

 Baby Caleb

Colton

Hakes Family Dinner

 With so many beloved people in the hakes family Momma Hakes decided to do dinner monthly. Here is september's dinner:

Games with Aunt J

 Braylie eating dad's belt

 Miles checking out Caleb's face. I can't wait until colton is big enough to play more with caleb. When miles and colton are older...we all are in for it. Colton had that doll...not sure why.

 Dinner action shot. Pappa Hakes asked me to warn him next time i take a pic. At dinner Pappa Hakes told the story of the plane falling from the sky 12 inches away from the wall of the elementary school he teaches at. Actually, the wall it fell outside of was the wall between him, his lunch and the great outdoors.  We all concluded Angels helped the plane fall perfectly so it didn't hurt anyone. No small miracle since there were children outside playing. So glad you were protected Pappa Hakes.

 Braylie and Colton talking. Usually this is how Mark and I are able to eat dinner. It doesn't last super long but it does let us get some dinner. Ü
I love that colton has cousins so close in age (braylie is 2 weeks older than him; miles is 3 months older). We all look forward to them being good friends.

Dads and babies. From left to right: Mark and Braylie. Cody and Miles. Rob and Colton

I love family dinners and i love my family. I feel privileged to be a member of the Hakes Family. I love our conversations, the food and all the people.

Happy Friday!!

I just had the most perfect run. I didn't get overly winded, perfect pace. Gabby listened and didn't bark too much. The kids were content. The view of the wasatch mountains was spectacular. I wore my favorite green tank top and my hair down. I felt my hair bounce around my shoulders as i ran. it was perfect running weather-probably high 60's low 70's. There were blue-gray almost rain clouds in the sky. The sun was hidden behind the clouds. There was a mild breeze--enough to make me work when i ran into it. 

I listened to this song on my ipod three times

I only run two miles. I am slow.  But i smiled the whole time.
have a beautiful friday!!

I am looking forward to tomorrows Wannabee's Game and the BYU v Utah game.

Pictures and Thoughts

 no makeup.
undone hair.
feelin dorky
I posted it here because i have very few pictures of my mother as a young mother...i want my children to know what i looked like when i was young (yes, i think nearly 30 is young). And that despite my insecurities, i love being me.

 K wearing our neighbor's (Abby) jacket because it was cold and i was under-prepared. Actually, Rob took K (my nickname for my caleb) to the game so he was under-prepared. Abby was hungry because her dad was under-prepared. [You know on The Office episode when Jim and Pam get married and Michael is sitting behind Pam's mom and askes her if she has any food and she gives him a weird look and michael says to her "you're a mom, i thought you'd have food". That is me. I almost always have something in my bag. It isn't always delectable but its food.] I had oyster crackers to offer poor Abby. She took them because she is nice but i don't think she ate any. Poor girl. I will be better prepared next time.
yes, i watch the office a lot.

 Wannabees sporting their new team shirts. They lost their first game this past weekend. Go bees!

 This is in my mom's pantry. My brother Jared is the one in the blue. they are reading books to caleb in the pantry. When my brothers and I were young and off-track we'd occasionally hang out in the pantry during the day because it was dark in there and we could turn on the flashlight. If a trip to Idaho, where all our extended family lives, was coming up, we'd discuss sleeping and playing schedules with the cousins. I dont' remember what else we'd talk about. We did this here until the three of us outgrew the pantry, then we moved to my walk-in-closet downstairs. I was in the seventh grade then. It only happened a few times there and then we outgrew the whole tradition. Glad to see it passed along to the next generation

We were all mesmerized by a documentary about the building of the 9/11 memorial. See how Rob is standing watching...this is how he tends to watch tv. Especially sports. 

This is my kitchen cleaned (all the dishes on the left are clean) and ready for me to wake up, smile and text my gratitude. Rob did this for me. I was playing with Caleb, watching tv and doing leg exercises to get rid of knee/hip pain. He brought us licorice with a smile on his face. I woke up and had tears prick my eyes. His dedication to taking care of me and helping create an environment of peace is ... wonderful. I actually nicknamed him Superman after we got married. He is one incredible husband. I feel like a lucky woman. So thanks hun. You make my heart soar ;)

R & R

I sent caleb to our neighborhood preschool fieldtrip with Tiff (thank you!!) so colton could sleep. It was so quiet i didn't know what to do. It was weird. Nobody yelling "MOM" at the top of their lungs (even though i told him i was going to the bathroom). Nobody yelling "MOM more George" (curious george). Nobody yelling "MOM" just to see where i was.

This morning...i had quiet. 

In my head, i frequently hear "take some time to yourself" or "you need a break" "you deserve time away from your kids...look at all you deal with" These are the moments where my heart doesn't seem to have enough room for all the love, compassion, kindness, patience and ...goodness that are required of me as a mother (the kind of mother i want to be). In these moments i can feel my heart expanding, tearing really. But the hugs, kisses, and quiet moments with my little men on my lap--these heal, enlarge and change my heart.

But this morning, i gave in to the call to "take time for myself."

It was nice. I had a long mental list of all the things i could do but instead i sat down in my favorite comfy reading chair and stared out the window.   I read blogs.    I cuddled colton when he eventually woke up. Toys are still strewn about. My bed needs to be made. But i have peace in my heart and that my friends is the thing to fight for.

Enjoyable Show

My dear sister-in-law (of one year--congrats to her and my brother) showed me and episode of this show two weeks ago and Rob and i have watched a few episodes. It frequently makes me laugh.  This may not be a popular opinion but i don't appreciate the gay couple. I believe marriage and child rearing is between a man and a woman. I still enjoy the show and am looking forward watching this upcoming season.

On a totally different subject:
I want to say i am proud to be an American. I spent time reflecting yesterday of the 9/11 tragedy and what the subsequent decade has brought us as a country (as well as personally). I love our constitution, country and the hope for the future.

Wannabee update:
First loss of season. The team wasn't in their division so they are still undefeated in their division.
go bees!

Hello to peace

I live in a microcosm.
I have my beloved other half. My first son and my second son. a dog. I have parents and siblings.
This is what i consider my world. This is where i focus my efforts. Sometimes my efforts are pitiful (lazy days). Other days (like saturday) i am superwoman (6 loaves bread, 4 loaves banana bread, batch spaghetti sauce, fresh peach pie, 3 football games). 

In terms of an outsider looking in, i don't make a very big difference in society in general. I am probably viewed by some as a woman who has no opportunity and who is sentenced to a life of drudgery. To these people i say the following:

I am happy. I desire this life-since i was 17 years old.

You may say i am deluded, i had no choioce, some mumbojumbo about religious expectation, culture, or any number of socioeconomic excuses.


I want the life i have. I have carefully cultivated what i have and willingly sacrifice myself for the good and benefit those around me.
I write this because i feel like i have to justify my choices to a nameless, faceless someone pointing a finger at another underprivileged housewife.  Silly and stupid, i know.
so farewell to weird guilt.
hello to peace.

Natures Bounty

We have a peach tree. Rob grew up with one so when we moved into our house, one of the first orders of business was to figure out a place to plant a peach tree. Yesterday has harvest day. The peaches were amazing!! So ripe, with the first juicy bite, the skin could peel off. They taste better than any store peach you have ever tried. I promise. We froze a bunch of the peaches last night--the ones the bugs and birds had started into. The rest are for eating, sharing and then we will go from their. We also have an apple tree. Regretably Rob forgot to spray for bugs so the apples we do have are inundated with worms. 

This is our corn. Yes, it is very few but Rob didn't think we would get enough to eat. Thankfully i was able to convince him to plant anyway and we were both surprised. It has been so fun to have our garden this year. It didn't do nearly as well as it has done in the past but we had fun anyway. Thank you to my darling Mr. Wonderful for making it possible for us to have one.

Catching Up

 I finally got a new camera. Panasonic DMC-FH27. I have no idea of the techy info but it will take pictures of subjects in motion and not come out blurry and it will take pictures in low light. So i am thrilled. These pics are from it.

Last night was the Wannabees second game. They won by one point. It was a hard-fought game and i loved talking with all the girls who showed up. Here are some Pics.

Caleb helping uncle Spen get ready to play

A little pass to warm up

I think that is eric in the blue-for now until we get our team shirts the boys wear blue.

Yep, that is my man in the blue

Caleb and Noah Playing hard. we had the hardest time keeping them off the field. Finally we had Noah's dad show the boys the "pokey shoes" (cleats) and told the boys they would get ran over with pokey shoes if they didn't stay off the field. That seemed to help. :)