Hurst Family News

Should old acquaintance be forgot nah nah nah nah nah nah nah! something something Old Lang Zyne.... Yeah who actually knows the words to that song? NOT ME! 2010 has been a good year. Somewhat of a stable year for us which is different. Still in school. Still working. Still staying with the kids at home. Ya know. Same ol' same ol'. But it's nice.  Especially because 2011 will bring LOTS of change! New Job. (Hopefully) New House. New Town (new to me at least). New Baby. What? I mean.... nope that's what I mean. August 2011 will bring a new baby to our family and we're very excited.  Though just to be safe I'm planning on July 2011 and will have the bag packed and IN THE CAR this time 2 months early (at least).  With number 2 I had the bag packed but didn't think to take it on vacation with us.  With number 3 there will be no vacation 2 months prior--- at least no where far. Either I'm older or this pregnancy is harder (probably both--sil...

Big brother can be awfully speedy sometimes. 

Wise Man pictured here driving a bus to visit Baby Jesus with Lazy Eyed Shepherd driving Mater.  Everyone worships the Savior differently.  (In the back are Joseph holding Baby Jesus and Mary. ) Here's the Holy Family: Joseph keeping watch while Mary comforts Baby Jesus.  Notice Wise Man's bus. Don't know where he went- but he left his bus.  Shepherd and his Sheep (see my ear?) self portrait. Our Angel even played the Piano for us! Shepheard was found hijacking the camera and playing paparazzi.  Here's another self portrait.  A Couple of Wise Men getting ready to go see the Baby Jesus.  The little Wise Man traded his bus in for a Hudson Hornet :) And here's our other Shepherd as captured by Paparazzi Shepherd.  This was our page turner/audience. He didn't want to dress up- but seeing his stylish Christmas sweater (from South America? right Bonnie?) I can see why.  He didn't need a costume. He had the whole scene r...

When 3 year olds nap at 3:30 then 10:30 doesn't even seem like a reasonable bedtime to them. NOW YOU KNOW! Anyone ever watch Bill Nye? That was quality children's edutainment right there. Bill Bill  Bill BILL NYE the SCIENCE GUY! Bill  Bill  Bill

Last week we had the chance to go to Farmington NM to honor SFC Jim Thode who was Sean's Squad Leader for a while.  It was an emotional day for all of us. Also knowing my brother in law is still over there in Afghanistan lays a shadow on life and we'll await his safe return home before we really can breathe freely again. Sgt. Thode was a good man in every way.  He had his faults like we all do- but where it really counts with his family and friends and brothers in uniform- he was among the best of the best. We won't soon forget. Two Ladder Fire Trucks flying the Stars and Stripes for Jim Thode After the funeral service all the police and military personnel stood at attention to honor their fallen brother as the casket was loaded into the hearse.  The blonde in the right corner is actually Sean's cousin. But I had never met her before so I didn't know.  Her husband was on the police force with Thode. The view of the flag from where I was in the crowd out...

Battle Buddies

I'm not very good at the game of Limbo. Even worse when they do it at the roller rink  (who can go low and not fall on their butt when wearing skates?) Not the best at it in life either. Life feels a bit like limbo right now.   More like the Catholic version of limbo rather than the game.  There will be a funeral soon for SFC James Thode who was in Sean's Unit- the one my brother in law is currently serving in (my sister in law also served in that unit). He was killed in action last week in Afghanistan.  It's so sad. Hard to wrap my brain around.  He was such a good man.  Thought the funeral would be this week but may be this weekend.  Waiting and not knowing is hard. Though I can't begin to imagine how hard this is for his dear wife and two children.   It's like waiting for the OK to grieve. Kinda sucks.  Then there's the other part of Limbo. We'll be moving this summer. Don't know when. Or what job we'll get (though we're crossing...

...Without Nat King Cole... grumbled Jo lying on the rug.... At least that's how *I* feel.  I love his voice: soothes my soul. We started decorating after Family Night on Monday: See?  I love our family of snowmen stockings.  Yes they are huge.  Yes they are homemade.  No I did not make them. My wonderful Mommy made them. We had big ol' stockings like these growing up and Oma has lovingly passed the tradition on.  I kind of love our wee bitty tree too (which probably looks tiny next to the stockings).  I love that I don't have to worry about the tree and the kids and whatever disasters that could bring. I don't have to water it. I don't even have to restring the lights every year; simply fold them in with the branches and put away.  Some day maybe we'll go back to live trees- haven't had one since I've been married.  But for now I love our little tree.  Also there's no need to feel like I have to stuff the bottom of the tree with pr...

In the last 26 years I have: created masterpieces with chalk on my Grandparents' chalkboard. worn a hat and gloves for Easter- even when at college. been homesick. realized that "home" has a new meaning for each new phase of my life. traveled to Italy, Germany which earned stamps in my passport that are barely visible and visited various states including a summer in North Carolina. loved. lost. married my best friend. birthed two sons that crack me up and have me at wits end sometimes. learned to drive in the snow/ice. made dioramas for school about space, native americans and literature. slept aboard a clipper ship. made a wind chime out of an AOL installation CD, washers, and dental floss. "sled" down a hill on cafeteria trays. sneaked goodies into the theater to avoid overpriced concession stands. (sneak? snuck? ge-snukken?) bought goodies from overpriced concession stands with the explanation that I'm paying for convenience.  found and ...

He insists on wearing THIS:  But not THIS: Silly boy.

Christie and I went to the Martha Grahm Dance Co. Performance on Saturday. It was a lot of fun. And a good excuse to dress up: Silly Faces Lando before Church: Daddy and Ian making silly faces- Landon thinking "Do I really have to put up with these crazies?"   Self portrait: Lovebirds: Sisters: (I'm wearing heels and she's still way taller- luckily I can blame it on leaning in this one.)

Made this lovely little number for a good friend of mine.  Finally gave it to her today and now I can post pictures :) I kind of love the crazy pattern on the back. Flannel and Fleece- so snuggly! 

This is what Magnolia and I made the other day: Isn't it so cute! I *LOVE* it. Alas. I have boys. Though I did try it on Landon just for sizing purposes of course. (Couldn't find my camera at the time so the pictures are on Sean's phone...) I made this for a Festival of Trees Christmas tree. It's a fundraiser for Primary Children's Medical Center .  My friend is decorating a tree with little girl things in honor of her sweet little baby,  Avalee, who spent time at Primary Children's before she died.  I love the little sun dress (though if I did have a girl I would put tights and a long sleeve onesie on her and she'd be wearing it to church today regardless of the weather.) I learned a new technique (new to me): SHIRRING It's pretty cool. My friend made a dress for her little girl a while back and said it was super easy.  She was SO right!  Are you wondering who Magnolia is? Well blogosphere meet my little Magnolia: Say Hi Mags.  Hi. See that wasn...

Ian insisted we all go as trains from Thomas and Friends. Sounded great. Until my sewing machine broke. I hand stitched a lot of the pieces so they wouldn't get ripped off. (Now I can reinforce them with my super uber cool birthday present.  More on that later. THANKS MOM!) Do you see why they chose the characters they did? It's like 101 Dalmations where the dogs look like their owners and vice versa.  Landon has that chubby cheek smile like James and Ian has the wide tooth and eyebrow thing going like Thomas. Funny how that worked.  The boys sometimes like to make goofy faces: (Landon "cheesing" for the camera)   Last but not least the parental units: This is what we had on hand.  A hick and a pirate.  Happy Belated Halloween. Next year we hope to be less humbug.