.levi part 2.

 Levi-isms

Age 3-4

• has a great fake, forced laugh (does it when everyone else is laughing at something)
• We saw a firetruck in the parking lot and he asked if we could look at it, so I drove by and let the boys look at each side.  Levi was in awe and kept asking us if we saw “the platform?”  He’s watched the Mighty Machines movie so many times he actually knows the correct wording for the parts.  
• has been lying recently
• Asks for stories and songs every night.  Mostly he wants a story about a mean pirate (or nice) and a mean or nice snake.  He wants a song about that too.
• Sometimes when I tell him I love him he will say, I love everyone, dad, Wyatt, Luke and Penny.
• gives the best, tightest “sqeezes” (hugs)
• says “flushie” for slushie
• Loves watching the garbage truck come.  Yells, “ Awesome!”  He cheers and pumps his fist.
• We were at tithing settlement (Levi really wanted to come and loves it when he’s included in things the older boys do) and every time bishop asked Levi a question he would hold his hands out and shrug (like, “I don’t know”).  He kept asking about the candy on the bishops desk.
• Levi is very confident in himself and his abilities.  When we went to D-land in the summer (his first time) he acted like he’d been there before.  Running up to the rides, no fear.  We recently went to a firehouse to look at a firetruck and the firefighter asked Levi if he was going to drive the truck.  Levi sat up in the driver seat fully expecting to drive the truck.  
• Will talk to anyone and isn’t afraid to say what he thinks.  We were eating out one day and a little girl came up to him and said hi and asked what his name was.  Levi told her, “I don’t like you!  Go away!”
• Has a hard time sharing.  Especially his trucks at the park.
• LOVES watching movies.  Will watch them all day long.
• Always wants to sit up front in the car so he can sit by and see Penny.  If he can’t sit up front he wants me to fold the chair down so he can see her.
• Goes into Penny’s room after she’s woken up, gets in her bed and plays with her.  I often hear them both laughing.
• Levi’s 2012 Christmas list: crane truck (pretty much any and all trucks, but he always mentions the crane truck).
• was playing legos/trucks with the boys and he named his truck (in all seriousness) “candy pants”
• tells me not to watch him when he’s trying to finish all of his dinner 
• Is a big tease to Penny, but gives her the biggest hugs.  He loves to carry her around (but it’s against the rules).
• We went to a play and towards the end Levi was getting impatient.  An actor was dancing on the stage and very loudly Levi told him to get off!  
• Repeats things (mostly in church during someone’s talk) he hears very loudly.  Once while in line at a store the lady in front of us was telling the clerk her phone number and Levi repeated it word for word (he was 2).
• Has been saying he wants a crane truck for Christmas and then recently told me he doesn’t like crane trucks anymore, but he wants a tow truck.
• Has a blanket (that I believe was Wyatt’s, then Luke’s.  One of the boys slept with silly putty and there’s now a brown stain where the putty used to be) that he loves and has to be holding the silly putty part in his hand by his face when he’s sucking his thumb.
• Sucks his thumb all the time now (and brings his blanket to church and preschool, which promotes more thumb sucking throughout the day) and so dad told him that he can only suck his thumb at bedtime.  So now when I tell him to take his thumb out he tells me that he’s sleepy.
• rides a two wheel bike now and has gone mtn biking twice with the big boys
• can stand on his bike and ride with one hand
• loves to hide and be found (scares very easily once he’s found)
• has a dream light that shines stars (blue, orange, green) on the ceiling.  It always has to be one blue
• fav songs right now, Santa Clause is coming to town (Justin Beiber) and Home (Phillip Phillips)
• prayed for Aunt Rachelle (who has cancer) almost every night that she would get better (he remembered on his own to pray for her)
• 4.8.13- Levi and Luke started swim lessons and Levi was so excited all day to go.  He put his swim suit on in the morning even though class didn’t start till 1pm.  At one point during the day he went out in to the garage and got the swim floaties, and water guns all ready.  I reminded him that these were swim lessons, not swimming!  Once we got to the lessons he had to wait 30 min for Luke’s class to be over.  He was so excited for his class.  He jumped right into the water and sat on the step.  I was watching him as he then stepped down to the lower step (shallow end) and then jumped right off the step into the water.  He started to dog paddle and looked very scared with huge eyes, because he couldn’t touch the bottom.  Ms Allison saw him and helped him back to the step.  He was shaken, but still did very well.
• One night while singing songs he cuddled up to me and said, “You’re nice, and soft!”
• watches Wreck it Ralph almost every day
• Told me he hated me the other day.  I asked him if he knew what that meant and he didn’t, so I had to explain it to him.  He told me he heard it on Wreck it Ralph.  I guess he was just trying it out!
• Was looking at the pictures above Penny’s changing table and when he saw the one of my mom as a little girl he said, “Hey, that’s the little girl at church!”  I asked him if she talked to him and he said no but that she was just happy!  I asked him what she was doing and he said she was just singing.  The hardest part about not having her here is that my kids don’t know her or get to interact with her, so I hope she has visited them.

Luke's baptism

 June 30, 2015

Luke’s baptism

Jared and I were out of town (in Chicago) for the stake baptism day, so we were all on our own for Luke’s baptism and it kind of snuck up on us!  I ordered invitations but we left town and I wasn’t able to send them through the mail in time, so luckily I was able to hand deliver or text/email most of them.  Jared pretty much took care of everything (contacting the stake for the font, scheduling the building, talking with Bishop, etc.  The day of the baptism I talked with the primary president to make sure we had the baptismal clothes).  Jared also took care of the program.  Luke decided who he wanted to talk, pray, sing and conduct and then he talked to each one and asked them if they would do it.  He did a great job!  Grandpa Webb spoke on baptism and Grandma Williams spoke on the Holy Ghost and both did a wonderful job!  It was really nice seeing my dad play the role of Grandpa (because he’s a dad all over again with his family) and teach Luke important things.  He took the job very seriously and he even gave Luke a compass, which was really cool.  Grandma Williams always does a great job speaking on the Holy Ghost.  She told interesting stories of how the Holy Ghost can teach, comfort and warn us.  She gave Luke a warm, white blanket.  Grandpa Williams sang a musical number (Baptism) and Levi said the opening prayer.  Wyatt said the closing prayer.  Levi was pretty nervous to say the prayer.  He started out great but got embarrassed when I told him to talk loud (and he started out a little too loud).  Reed was sitting right in front and started laughing uncontrollably.  Levi froze, so I got up and helped him finish.  I was proud of Levi for being so brave.  Maren played the piano, of course.  

The day of the baptism was a little hectic.  I had an appointment earlier that day and then did a few last minute store runs.  Lauren was kind enough to watch the kids while I was gone (Kristy was in town with all the kids).  I made a couple stops at the stake center to drop things off, and I spent a little time finishing up the video I made of Luke (birth-8 yrs old).  I brought the kids with me to the stake center to start setting up and luckily Jared came home from work and took all the kids (except Wyatt) home to eat dinner and get ready.  Also, I was planning on making cupcakes but thankgoodness Jared talked me out of that and we grabbed pre made cookies from Costco!  And Jared saved us a ton of time setting the chairs up the night before!  Wyatt was a tremendous help setting the cookies out, making lemonade and blowing up balloons.  The decorations were simple, but it always takes more time than I think, so Wyatt and I got home at the same time Jared was leaving with the kids to come back to the church.  Wyatt and I quickly got ready and rushed down to the church.  Once at the church everything slowed down and it was nice.  Luke was smiling from ear to ear the entire evening.  There were lots of people there to support him!  The program went smoothly and Jared said that when they were changing back into their clothes (after the baptism) Luke was pretty much bouncing off the walls because he couldn’t wait to get back out there!  What a funny boy.  I love Luke so much!  He is a happy kid.  He has a great sense of humor and loves to tell outrageous stories and make us laugh.  

Those in attendance:

Williams 

Dad, Mickey, Cooper

Cam, Jenny and girls

Connie, Tim and kids

Carrie, Dan and boys

Ladd, Janet, Maren, Truman, Preston, Trevor

Wade, Kimber and kids

Tyler and Kristy’s kids (Kristy was picking Tyler up from the airport.  Kristy and kids have been visiting from PA for a couple of weeks now!)

Porter and Karla’s kids (Karla had her baby earlier in the day!)

Brad, Julie and kids

Jessica, Jordan and boys

Phil, Brittny and Ben Tew 

Connor Jones and dad (friend)

Koen Williams and dad (friend)

Sis Petersen (primary pres)

Bro Richardson (2nd counselor in bishopric)

Bro Carlisle (Luke’s primary teacher)

Penny goes to preschool

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Today was Penny's first day of preschool.  She goes to Melissa Goff on Tuesday and Thursday of each week from 8:30 (yikes, that's early for Penny!) to 11.  She's been excited for school all summer long!  She was most excited about going to school with cousin Coco.  This morning I went into her room at 7:45 to wake her up.  She stayed up later than usual last night singing in her bed so it was difficult waking her up.  I almost let her sleep and miss the first day.  Once she was awake I asked her if she wanted to go to preschool and she said, "yes!"  The night before she told me she wanted to wear her flower dress, so we had her clothes and shoes all set out.  She wanted her hair in "one little braid." She had cereal and yogurt for breakfast.  The boys were all still sleeping (they start school next Wednesday) but Eve woke up just in time to come along.  We listened to Disney songs on the way.  Collette pulled up just as we did so Karla and I took a couple pictures of the girls (Penny didn't want to smile for any pictures.  She was still waking up!) and then walked them inside.  Penny was especially excited that there was playdoh out to play with!  I showed her the bathroom (we went just before she left and she told me she wouldn't need to go at school) and we put her backpack on the wall.  I gave her a kiss, took a few more pictures (by about this time Eve was getting in to the kids water cups) and told her I would be back to pick her up.

Eve and I returned just before 11 to get Penny.  She was waiting by the front door with the other kids, with her dress tucked into the front of her underwear and her backpack on.  She saw me and didn't move from the teacher's side or even crack a smile, until I called her name and told her to "come here!"  She ran up to me with a smile on her face.  Her teacher said she did really well and that she was making her laugh by doing all of the animal noises.  I wish I could've heard that!  Once we got in the car she and I was buckling her she said, "Mom, I have to tell you something!  I played with playdoh and cut it up and we got a sucker and fishies!"  She said it was so fun!  She even asked if we were going back?!  On the ride home I asked her if she went potty.  She said she went "pee pee and poo poo!"  I wondered if Miss Melissa helped her and she said she did it herself (oh boy)!  Once we were home she said, "Miss Melissa is my teacher and she loves me!"  Sounded like a great first day of preschool to me!

Eve's blessing day 

April 13, 2014

Those in the circle included, Tim, Dad (Jared), Cam, Brad, Ladd, Wade, Porter, Jim (Grandpa), and Bishop Baird.

I was planning on having Eve wear the same blessing dress as Penny, (my wedding dress made into a blessing dress) but it just didn't seem right for Eve, plus it was huge and would've swallowed her up.  I decided to just keep it simple and dress her in a soft, cream dress.  She looked beautiful and everything was perfect.  Lots of family came to support, which is always nice.  Jared took a couple photos before church and I will cherish them forever.  Eve looked like an angel!  

 Levi sure does love his little sister!

Eve Christine was born Friday, December 27, 2013 at 7 in the morning.  

Eve’s birth story:

I had a dr appt Thurs 26th around 11 and asked Dr Beck to strip my membranes.  He asked me if I wanted to schedule an inducement if this didn’t work (I didn’t really want to be induced and sit in the hospital all day, but I decided to schedule a day to be induced just in case...so they had an appt Fri at 5 am.  I set the appt but then called back after talking to Jared and cancelled it because he had appts at work that he didn’t want to miss and because I originally didn’t want to be induced!)  I was dilated to a 3 but not very “soft” so he didn’t make any guarantees this time (like he did with Penny).  I had had some contractions on my own, but nothing would stick around.  The procedure was mighty painful and I hoped it would work!  For the rest of the day I did have contractions, but nothing out of the ordinary.  That afternoon we dropped Penny off at Grandma and Grandpas and took the boys to dinner and a movie (Frozen).  Still nothing, so I figured we wouldn’t have a baby today.  I started to get a little anxious/upset because I was feeling really uncomfortable and was regretting canceling my inducement.  Jared and I went to bed.  Jared’s parents were planning on coming to our house if anything happened through the night.  I remember waking up every once in awhile with a pretty good contraction, but wasn’t too worried because they weren’t consistent and didn’t last.  But, around 2am I had a really sharp contraction and so I stayed awake deciding to time them just to see.  2:00, 2:07, 2:18, 2:29, 2:33, 2:44, 2:53, 3:02, 3:12, 3:23, 3:33, 3:43, 3:52, 4:00, 4:07, 4:09, 4:21, 4:26...there were a couple sharp ones so I woke Jared up and continued to time them but they weren’t close enough together I didn’t think.  Jared went a head and started to get things ready around 4 am just in case.  He got into the shower.  I got out of bed and wham-o!  The contractions were coming hard now!  And they were really close together!  Like one after the other.  I had to sit on the edge of the tub and couldn’t talk through them.  Jared was just showering away while I was crawling on the floor back to the bed.  I told him we needed to call his parents and he asked me to do it, not knowing how painful the contractions were now.  I told him I couldn’t do it!!  Finally he was out of the shower and called his parents to come.  I started to cry and shake.  The contractions were super close and I was worried that we wouldn’t make it to the hospital on time.  It seemed like we waited forever for his parents to get here!  Jared got me and my bag in the car while he went inside to grab a few things (he was making a sandwich).  Each time I had a contraction I would breathe out loudly and grab onto the handle of the car squeezing it tightly.  Jim finally arrived and walked up to the car as I was having a contraction.  He took one look at my face and knew I wouldn’t be able to say anything so I told him Jared was in the house...Jared came out and we were off!  As we’re driving down the road he whips out this pb&j sandwich he made and the smell is making me sick...so I yelled at him “what is that?, peanut butter?!”  So he kindly rolled the window down for me.  Once we were at the hospital I waited a minute in between contractions on the curb and then we made a mad dash inside.  Of course the lady admitting us had questions for me, so I sat in her chair and tried to answer her questions in between contractions.  We had a good laugh because we got to the hospital around 5am, which would’ve been the time my induction was set for if I didn’t cancel it!  The nurses were super quick and knew I was in a lot of pain, so they got me all set up right away.  I was smart this time and asked for the epidural while I was in triage...so they called the anesthesiologist  and had that set up for when I got to my room.  In the bathroom while changing my clothes I dropped to my knees and dressed on the floor because the contractions were so intense.  They checked me and said my bag was bulging and ready to break...I think I was dilated to a 6?  And fully effaced.  Next I was wheeled into the delivery room and given the epidural.   Hallelujah!!  Dr Beck was called and he came  pretty quickly.  I was at a 8-9 shortly after he arrived and he said he would be just outside if I felt like pushing. I was definitely feeling pressure, so he came back in, suited up, and had me start pushing!  A couple pushes later Eve Christine was born.   She was beautiful!  We thought she looked a lot like Luke as a newborn.  Dark hair, tiny face and features.  Her fingers were long and beautiful and her feet and toes were long too.  We were so impressed with her long toes and how she could bend them back to almost touching her shins!   She liked to tuck her top lip up and push her bottom lip out.  What a sweet baby girl!

I wanted to avoid the terrible first night in the hospital (like I had with Penny) so I got off dairy the week or so before delivering Eve.  (I ended up going dairy free with Penny because I figured out that it was really upsetting her stomach and messing with her skin and bowels).  Prior to having Penny I had an ice cream sundae every night!  No luck going dairy free with Eve.  Our first night in the hospital was pretty bad, just as it was with Penny.  Very little sleep for either of us.  I watched Sleepless in Seattle, which reminded me of mom, so that made it better.  I really dislike being in the hospital, dead tired, weak, on pain pills (not all there) and trying to deal with a colicky newborn.  Needless to say, I was relieved to have Jared back for moral support in the morning and to get home!  Just a side note, this time around I decided to go easy on the pain pills because I really don’t like the way I feel when I’m on them!  I did feel a little better because of that.  Poor Eve didn’t do too well even once we were home, either.  The dairy free wasn’t working on her like it did for Penny.  She would spit up a lot, and once it was a bright orange color.  I ended up taking her to the doctor after that, and they gave her the same stomach drops they gave Luke, but those didn’t really seem to help either.  Eventually she seemed to feel better.  

  

Reality right here.  5 crazy kids!!  

.baptism.

September 21, 2013

Today my Wyatt Henry was baptized.  I had been busy planning and preparing this day for a couple weeks in advance.  I really wanted to make a dvd of Wyatt (slideshow of pictures throughout the years with music) to play either at his baptism or at home.  I organized all of his pictures and was able to finish the video this morning.  Also, we wanted to have treats/ snacks at our house after the baptism, so I of course wanted to decorate and get the house ready for friends and family to come over.  Jared and I hoped that the day of his baptism would be a calm and good day.  We didn’t want to let anything get in the way of enjoying Wyatt and our family.  

The boys all got up early and mowed the lawn with Jared.  I stayed inside decorating the cake and finishing up the dvd with Levi and Penny.  Once the boys were done they ate breakfast quickly and everyone got ready for Wyatt and Luke’s soccer game.  Both boys did great!  It was fun being outside and together.  Jared then took Levi and Luke to Costco to grab last minute things while me, Penny, and Wyatt headed home.  I finished preparing food, laid Penny down for a nap, and wondered where Wyatt was?  He was building Legos in his room, so I wanted to take the opportunity to talk to him while I had the chance.  I asked him how he was feeling?  Was he nervous?  He told me he wasn’t, but I knew he was.  Earlier that morning he had walked into my room while I was watching the dvd slideshow and saw me crying.  So, I asked him if he knew why I was crying earlier.  I told him how much I loved him and how it does make me sad to see that he is growing up so much.  But, I told him how exciting it was that he was growing up and taking this big step in his life today.  He wanted to know why he was special?  I told him all of the reasons he was special to me.  I explained that he is a good example to everyone and that everyone loves being around him because he’s happy and kind.  I reminded him or how much his brothers (especially Luke) look up to him and how grateful I am that he is a good boy and someone they can look up to.  I am constantly impressed with Wyatt’s choices and with his love and compassion.  I told him that I love how he is always happy and laughing.  What a special boy Wyatt is and how grateful I am that he’s mine and a part of our family!  I love him so much.  

I felt like the day went well and I myself felt happy and stress free most of the time.  Right before the baptism it got a little stressful trying to finish last minute things and trying to get everyone, including myself ready, but we managed to all arrive early and even took a few pictures.  The baptism was beautiful.  There was 1 other boy (who happened to be from our ward) that was baptized as well.  We met in the RS room and it was filled.  I was happy to see people from our ward, school, and neighborhood.  Georgia from Jared’s office was there and Grandpa Don and Grandma Jeanne came as well.  Jordan and Jessica sang, If The Savior Stood Beside Me.  It was perfect.  Grandma Williams talked about the Holy Ghost and did such a great job.  She presented both boys with a soft blanket to represent the Holy Ghost and how he makes us feel.  I loved her talk and I am so so thankful that my children have such wonderful grandparents.  Jared baptized Wyatt and Grandpa Williams and Webb were witnesses.  Wyatt was then confirmed.  Jared, Cameron, both Grandpas, Ladd, Wade, Troy, Porter and Bishop Baird all stood in.  I wasn’t able to hear much of the blessing (no microphone and noisy children), but I liked how Wyatt got up and gave everyone a hug.  Such a sweet boy!  I then got up and bore my testimony.  I got emotional and heard Luke laugh nervously at me.  I explained how I had the chance earlier to talk to Wyatt and let him know how special he was, and now I was grateful for the chance to bear my testimony of the things I know are true.  I bore testimony of the Book of Mormon, a living Prophet, my Savior, and eternal families.  

After the baptism was over it was nice visiting with everyone.  Grandma and Grandpa Hunsaker weren’t planning on coming over after, so I wanted to take the time to visit with them (it had been almost a year since we last saw them!).  We visited until Bishop and the primary presidency turned the lights out on us.  

Mostly family came by afterward.  I know Wyatt felt special when I turned on his dvd.  He sat down and watched most of it (it is 35 minutes!).  I thought it was really cute that Wyatt thanked me for making a cake for him (I wanted to make cupcakes because they would be easier).  Jared and I planned on going out after everyone left, but we asked Wyatt if that was ok and he really wanted us to stay home and play games.  So that’s what we did!  Penny went to bed and we stayed up and played several games together as a family.  It was a lot of fun.  Right before bed Jared gave Wyatt a journal to write his feelings in.  He wrote about his soccer game and how they won.  He also wrote  about how he felt happy after he was baptized.  

Those in attendance:

Christian Godfrey (friend from school)

Gavin Goodman (friend from school)

Amy Nyman (Evan was sick/neighbors in our ward)

Phil and Brittny Tew (neighbors in our ward)

Sharon and Mackenzie Black (neighbors)

Amber Balle (primary pres)

Jenny Stephan (primary 2nd counselor)

Georgia (from Jared’s office)

Williams

Webbs

Cam and girls (Jenny was out of town)

Wade and boys

Troy and family

Ladd and family 

Jordan and Jessica

Grandma and Grandpa Hunsaker

Merrills

Carrie and Drake

Porter and family

.preschool.

First day of preschool (August 21, 2012) vs last day of preschool (May 1, 2013)

It's always a surprise to me how much these kids change and grow through the year!  Levi went to preschool with Mrs. Melzer on Tuesday and Wednsday.  When Jared and I lived with Jim and Ola Mae, after moving back to AZ, I met Kathryn.  She lives in their neighborhood and is in their ward.  Levi was super excited to start preschool (wanted to be just like his brothers) but as the year went on he would often (and still does even though he's on summer break) ask if today was preschool, and when it was he would say that he didn't want to go.  "School is boring!" (learned that one from Luke!)  He even tried telling me that Mrs. Melzer was mean.  I think he was just upset that he couldn't play with the toys the whole time!  Mrs. Melzer was a great teacher and she had some pretty extravagant parties.  The last day of school she gave each child a folder with pictures, drawings and stories of memories they made through the year.  Levi was really excited to look through the folder.  It was really fun having cousin Reed in his class too.  Levi and Reed really became great friends this year.