Alta in summertime

I love the mountains. I haven't spent much time in them since we had Caleb. As first time parents we were so careful and leary of everything. Now that we are seasoned parents (HA!) we are much more comfortable. the Drive was awesome (would have been horrible last year though since i was sick and pregnant) and everything was a feast for the eyes!!
                                                                                please forgive the abysmal quality of these pictures. They were taken with my phone as i didn't take my camera. 

I drove to the upper parking lot at alta and drove up the packed dirt road to a trail head. The flowers are breathtaking and i am sure they only get better as you go farther up the canyon. I didn't take the time to go farther.
It was 65 degrees at 11:30 am and i kept pointing things out to Caleb along the way. Only thing that would have been better would if Rob had been with us.

 Looking up the mountain

 I felt like i was looking at the poppy fields in Wizard of Oz.

 We had a great time and will be back with Rob. The fall should be exceptionally beautiful because of all the water--the colors should be extra vibrant this year.

The whole time we were up the canyon all i could think was "I feel privileged to live in and around such a beautiful place. There IS a God!!"

Power of Heels

I love heels.  

They make my legs look long. They make my butt look better. They make me feel sexy.

They are not for pushing a stroller or chasing fast boys.

I wear them anyway.

Dear Laundry:

Dear Laundry:

You and i will never be friends.

~Jill

Scenes from my heaven

My boys, my children, my gifts from God Himself.


See what i mean

Messing with Camera

So i usually delete all pictures i take of myself on my camera. I am always dissatisfied. Even though i feel this way i am purposely not giving in and i am posting these. (i also think this blog is a good way to have free online picture backup).


I was curious which smile looked best: with or without teeth. My toothy smile wins out.

Thank you Aunt Tanna for this wonderful blanket!! I also love that the boys are holding hands for this picture. I love my life!!!!!

Caleb's Birthday (back in may)

I decided to make individual cakes this year instead of one giant cake. Caleb got to decorate his and his dads cake. I did my own. I am looking forward to this. It turned out better than i thought.



I did this over caleb's bedroom door while he was sleeping. when he woke up he got the surprise and had a blast running through his streamers.

More streamers at the end of the hall.
Happy Birthday to my caleb.

Lack of Pictures

So my camera is a piece of crap. It runs on two AA batteries and if it is on for more than five minutes it dies (so it seems). If i take a picture of someone who is breathing it comes out fuzzy and it refuses to take a picture in low light. UGH!! I wanted to find a cute picture to have for this post however i don't have any. So i will begin dreaming and conniving ways to find money to spend on a camera.

Last weekend we hiked doughnut falls. Caleb hiked up and down-all by himself. It was fabulous. Colton was happy as ever in my little front papoose. It think i want to go again this weekend. Eventually we will get pictures of our little events and life will be documented better.

I have discovered that i love babies. I never did before. Sad huh? :)

I also want to sew...(yes that actually came out of my metaphoric mouth) create, decorate and make cutsie stuff. Wherever this all came from, i don't know but i am determined to embrace it. It may be a passing fancy but i am sure i will benefit from it.

love to all

National Center for Constitutional Studies

Dear Friends:

I have been doing a lot of studying of our countries history of late. I have been inspired by John and Abigail Adams, more informed about FDR and am coming to understand more about the original role of religion in our country. Because of what i have learned, I want to host a seminar from the National Center for Constitutional Studies. This is one of the best ways i can think of to share the excitement, knowledge and awe i am experiencing.

It would end up costing $5-10 a person depending on how many people decide to come and likely be on a saturday. The title of the seminar is "The Making of America" and is presented in two parts:

"Developing America's Great Success Formula- 8:30am-12:00pm
This is the exciting exploration which Jefferson, Adams, Franklin,
Washington and others made in order to rediscover the key to the creation of
the first free nation in modern times. We trace their adventure from 1400 B.C.
to A.D. 1787.

Lunch Break- 12:00-12:45pm

The Perfect Plan of Liberty- 12:45pm-4:30pm
A refreshing look at the solid political and economic principles from the
preamble through the amendments to the Constitution. You learn perhaps for
the first time, how nearly every problem in America today can be solved by
restoring these successful concepts."

Here is a link to the study guide

If you have read or heard of The 5000 year leap then you are familiar with Dr. Cleon Skousen who founded the National Center for Constitutional Studies. I have long misunderstood my own countries foundation and now that i am discovering it, i want to share what i am learning. I would like to do this after the summer is over. I figure most people wouldn't be able to come in the summer.

Before i call and schedule i want to ask does this sound interesting? Would you want to come? Do you know anyone else who might be interested?

Pictures from J's wedding

I thought this was funny in its opposites. I'm posing and rob is wrestling caleb. Will this kid ever slow down...even a little?
Blinded but K looks cute!
This was totally unsolicited. Keeley started holding onto aunt J's dress and of course K couldn't be left behind.
Father and Son
Happy Colton.
Cute K!
Brothers--blinded and somewhat awkard looking
Happy Family
I think i look fat in this pic but colton was just turning three months old. Aren't we our worst critics? Regardless i am honored be a mother and a wife. Somehow i feel like i have found my calling and my joy is so full with colton and caleb in my life. Rob and i have always been happy together but life is just so much more with kids.

Little Ducky

So i got this outfit when caleb was born and i determined to take pictures of all my kids in it just because it is hilarious!


















Ducky Outfit
Caleb about 5 weeks old






















Ducky outfit
Colton 8 weeks old



These are my boys.

Photo Update

Heading outside to shovel snow
















Hard to believe he was born two months ago at 5.5






















Please note the jeans. We are beginning our foray into caleb dressing himself. He certainly tries hard!















Cheeeeeseeeee




















He loves his swing!

















This is my dish crew. They keep the dishes clean and motivate me to continue cooking for them. They do an awesome job!!!

Colton Matthew Hakes

I went into mild labor on February 8 at night. We managed to slow it down enough for me to sleep and the next morning the contractions kicked in. I went into the doc and after throughly checking me out and doing a fetal stress test my doctor told me we needed to deliver that day. I felt pretty dazed. I left the office and called rob to come get me. He and my sick caleb drove me down b/c the contractions were to intense for me to drive. Robs phone went straight to voicemail-twice. I called my mom and it went to voicemail. I started to cry-of course. I felt so helpless! I got in touch with my mom who helped calm me down and then i called robs work to have Dan radio him-he has nextel with direct connect for work. Of course Dan wasn't their and i end up crying on the phone and freaking everyone out. Finally, we (two other people at his work helped out) get a hold of rob, who was 2 blocks up the street-literally. Let me just say i HATE nextel!
He felt so bad. He had been staring at his phone waiting for me to call and here i am crying standing in a parking lot waiting to have a baby and my husband up the street waiting to hear the news from me. It was so dramatic for me...funny now-we could make a killer commercial with that idea!
So we ran home and met my mom who took caleb for us and packed bags and went back downtown for our baby to be born. It was really weird-surreal. I ended up having to wait for a while for the whole shootin match to get going and some of the contractions were strong-unfortunately after half a day in labor, my body had done nothing in the way of birth preparation.
So, into the OR and away we went. Rob and i didn't like the OR. It was cold, lots of steel and a little freaky. I tried hard not to think about what was going to happen to me. The spinal block felt cool at first then as it hit my upper rib cage, i tried not to panic as i focused on the fact that i could breathe, even if i couldn't feel it. Thankfully the anesthesiologist had warned me.

And out he came-my precious, teeny, tiny baby. Colton was 5 lbs 5 oz 18.5 inches long. He was in the special needs nursery the whole time and by sunday i thought i was going to die if we didn't get home. Hormonal mommy=dramatic mommy
we are home now and are working on healing. ROb's bout wtih the flu was gone enough for him to be at the hospital, but caleb started his bout the day i went into labor so he was with grandma sota the whole time i was in the hospital. Now he is finishing out his sickness and it hanging with grandma hakes and we are forever grateful for the help from our families!! Here are some phone pics for your viewing pleasure.