Hurst Family News

Smee : I've just had an apostrophe. Captain Hook : I think you mean an epiphany. Smee : [ gestures his fingers to his head ] Lightning has just struck my brain. Captain Hook : Well, that must hurt.  I like blogs.  I like reading them.  I like writing them.  This morning I was thinking about why I like blogs.  (Who thinks about this stuff while munching Raisin Bran?  Me evidently.) Well I had an epiphany (A piffy what?).  I love creative non-fiction. LOVE.  I've known this for a while now.  In fact in my Senior year at SUU I thought that if it were cost effective to add another year or two to my degree and change my major to creative writing--I would have.  Alas I decided it was not wise to amass much more in the way of debt so I graduated.  Moved on.  But my love for CNF has not died.  I'd say it has even blossomed to the blogosphere.  I have always considered myself a writer whether I have had readers or not...

The title has no witty reference other than it's what is on my mind right now.  It's a quote from the Italian movie Life is Beautiful .  Great movie.  You NEED to see it.  In the original Italian with English subtitles.  A truly wonderful story of the optimism and wonder of children in what would otherwise be terrible situations.  When life gives you lemons- make lemonade.  Or when life stings you in the leg- suck out the poison.  Or when you're stuck in a concentration camp- win a tank. Watch the movie.  Trust me.  If you've seen it, you can testify to its splendor.   My little brother used to say Buongiorno Principessa! to my mom all the time.  It was pretty darn cute.  (Yes Matt- it was cute- still is- don't argue.)  I've been thinking a lot about my mom lately because I was reminded recently that Mother's Day is coming up... and no I didn't forget-- I didn't have any idea when it was.   (...

THIS ^ is our garden. Well- it was our pre-garden dirt really. (One might even call it a "garden plot")  Now we have plants in it (see the little box near the hoe? It has said plants in it) Boy child LOVES playing in the dirt.  Which is funny because he doesn't really like to get dirty (initially- after the first bit he's good to go) The soil is so rocky so we took a buncha rocks from our garden and dumped them (with the aid of the here-pictured dump truck) to the side of our house where we get nasty mud every time it rains.  Ew.  Good solution.  Too bad we lost momentum and only got about 4 feet covered. Oh well. We have some CRAZY BIG worms in our garden.  I hope that is a good omen. Especially after the bad smell from probably someone's pet that had been buried near by.   Oh and if you know me: you know I don't really garden.  (I blame allergies and a black thumb) We'll see how it goes this year.  Two years ago we participate...

March 15th 2006 Sean and I tied the knot.  Good times.  Great Oldies.  March 15th 2007 Sean and I tied the knot FOR-E-V-E-R! (Yay for temples!)  March 15th 2008 Sean and I had recently been to Monticello/Blanding for Dani and Fielding's wedding.  (Don't you love getting married during Spring Break?) March 15th 2009 Sean and I were in Logan looking for housing. March 15th 2010 Sean and I celebrated out 4 year anniversary with a photo shoot and enjoyed the beautiful warm weather of California.   There you have it folks.   4 years.   4 Spring Breaks.  Only one Spring Break left and so many more years to celebrate.   There was more to spring break: Fresh Squeezed Lemonade, visits with LOTS of family, Road trips with less seats than people (shh), Pismo Beach, Swimming in the pool (yes it was FRIGID), finding a cool hat and remote control Submarine at Goodwill, Playing with the white dog (Yay-Yaeg as Ian refers to him) TOGO's, Californi...

Ok peoples, here are the long awaited quilt pictures:  I made this for my niece Ari.  I *LOVE* how it turned out.  It's a good thing I like her already or I probably would have kept it (hey my boys like pink too).  It's mostly a knit fabric quilt focusing on textures.  AND I thrifted all the materials so it was cheap (ish).  The satin squares are from an old 80's style tank I had. The green bumpy ones are from a cool shirt I found at a thrift store when I was shopping for textures. The fuzzy purple muppet hair is from a remnant I bought a long time ago and was SO excited to finally use it- though it left purple hair all over my carpet and clothes when working with it.  The pink heart fabric comes from some cutie little girl jammie pants that I also found thrifting.  The pink on the back was from the same trip- I found a knit receiving blanket and fell in love with how soft and snuggly it felt.  Last but not least (because this was my fa...

Lando has learned to sign "More"... we taught it to him using pudding as the reward.  He seems to use it ALL the time- This kid LOVES FOOD.  (He's eating green beans here.) Happy Boy. Anyone for some biscuits and gravy? Cookie cutters aren't just for cookies anymore! And finally: The boys in the bike trailer.   "Stop taking pictures already Mom! Let's GO!" With the weather getting nicer (read not snowing OR freezing YAY!) we broke out the bike trailer and went for a family bike ride.  It was wonderful.  Sean pulled the boys and I led the way to the park.  We had a grand time.  Then the other day we went to go play at the cousins' house and let Sean take the car to school.  So I pulled the trailer with my bike.  Woah Nellie! 50 pounds is a LOT to add to any work out.  I'm still sore and it was 3 days ago.  I also decided NOT to bust out the camera because the boys would behave better if I didn't.  "Let's DOE...

In true avoidance fashion guess what I did today? Hint: I SHOULD have been putting away laundry and straightening up the place..... But that's not what I did. Started the morning with a little sleeping in.  (Thanks boys). Then while Daddy was at school and little brother was napping- big brother decided to help me pick rocks out of our garden. The soil here is SO rocky and we happen to have a solution for all those rocks: We're putting them to the side of our house by the driveway strips so that when it rains the side you walk on won't be all nasty muddy.  Brilliant no? Today we got 4 dump truck loads full.  :)  It's a good thing we got it all done before the rain came. Then while the boys were both down for their afternoon naps I went to the Case Lot sale at Macey's and stocked up on loverly things for our food storage.  (PS- Sean was home at this point-- I did NOT leave the boys unattended, thankyouverymuch) Later- Ian and I went shelving shopping (to ...

Why do I feel the need to apologize to you out there in the blogosphere?  I dunno.  Maybe it's the narcissistic side of me that thinks people read this and wonder where has she gone?  I'm back.  I'm sorry I haven't written lately.  Life happens.  Sometimes I feel like blogging.  Sometimes I don't.  Almond Joy has nuts. Mounds don't. Just sayin'... Also there are pictures sitting on my loverly SD card just waiting to be uploaded.  But alas my excuse for today is that the husband is on his computer which has the good SD port.  So there ya have it.  Pictures next time.  Maybe. To those of you still reading (see I AM narcissistic)  my purpose in blogging this fine evening: It was sunny today.   AND warm(ish) We found a great kitchen table at the thrift store.  YAY- it's wooden- round- and has two leaves to add to it thus making it big enough for my oblong fancy table cloth that I pull out on special occas...