Hurst Family News

Remember when Mr. Rogers went to the crayon factory? I LOVED seeing the crayons and could almost smell the waxy newness of them. My kids are BRUTAL on crayons.  No point in buying new ones- they'll just end up busted 5 minutes after opening the box. Stepped on. Snapped in hand. Tips broken off.  Normal kid stuff.  So I tried kid-proofing the crayons by melting them together. We'll see how it works after naptime.  At least it's something novel.  (FYI the "washable" crayons will end up giving you a clear coat that rises to the top-- sort those out if you can.  I didn't but I doubt the kids will notice they don't color as well as they used to) Step 1: Sort crayons by color. You want to do this before you peel the paper off because many of them don't look like the color they are when they're naked. Step 2:  Peel all your broken crayons.  Hire the kids to help. Mine didn't help much until I figured out cutting the paper with a razor blade FIRST he...

In our Bountiful Basket this morning we got 2  pamplemousse (Mooses? Meeces?)  In their honor I give you: Pomplamoose. 

Good Idea: Organizing the mass of toys (most of which we don't need- and the kids have forgotten about). Bad Idea: Organizing the mass of toys with the "help" of the 3 1/2 year old and 20 month old who are so overjoyed at all their "old toys". It's like ADD central over here. I'm hoping I can keep the world domination to a minimum.  (I'm pretty sure that's what the toys are plotting.)

Stay awake, don't rest your head Don't lie down upon your bed While the moon drifts in the skies Stay awake, don't close your eyes Though the world is fast asleep Though your pillow's soft and deep You're not sleepy as you seem Stay awake, don't nod and dream Stay awake, don't nod and dream From: Mary Poppins Music: Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman Lyrics: Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman Performed by: Julie Andrews [Mary Poppins] Two posts in one day- geez. This one is mostly so I have a reference point: It calms the wee one down and he's asleep now. Ah. 

It may not be fish lips- but I think it fits in the flow of your post OMA .  Love you. And Tootsie too. 

Can you guess what this is? TOW! (cow) That's what Lando thinks this is.  He was so excited to see a picture of a horse that he got a smidge confused. His brother still has trouble with them sometimes.  He was also very excited to see a picture of his aunt this morning.  Evidently she's busy with school so we don't see her as often anymore.  " Te-Te" is her name according to him.  It's fun to watch and listen to him learning to speak.  So much easier to communicate.  When his brother was this age (and younger) he wanted to communicate SO badly. We taught him a few signs in ASL and it helped a lot.  The little brother never really felt the need to learn sign and we didn't push it so he's made do with speaking (or grunting). Some of the things he says now are: Pi-Pi (pickles) Talta (salsa) Dog, Tity (kitty) Tow (cow) NahNah (his cousin) NoNo, Up! (he's very enthusiastic about that one) Don! (gone- which is important  to know for food as well a...

I took this morning with a break in the weather to do some much needed cleanup around our yard.  Things that should have gotten put away months ago before the snow started flying were finally lugged down stairs.  Another day they'll all get a good cleanup. But for today my work is done.  So what got hauled down to Fraggle Rock?  (That's what we call our basement- though it would be MUCH more inviting with a bunch of muppets.  Maybe the muppeteers would be a bit much but it's the price you pay for singing fraggles.) 2 Bikes. One with front flat tire. The other with back flat tire. 1 Bike trailer. Evidently it's been out in the elements a bit long because the plastic on the front "window" cracked when I touched it.  Next trailer we'll save up and get a better quality one AND we'll bring it in BEFORE it snows.  Reading reviews this one is made with very low grade materials.  Live and Learn. 1 Double Jogging stroller.  Meant to bring it in a w...

Currently... ...wishing for husband's dream job to magically appear on the job posting sites. ...grateful the wee ones let me sleep a bit longer this morning and are mostly getting along-- no bruises yet. ...love hearing #2 talk: "Mor! Mor!" The kid ALWAYS wants more food. ...enjoying the sunshine and clear air.  Here's to hoping it'll last for the day. ...in my exercise clothes/jammies and have little to no plans of changing that. ...wondering where I can get boxes. ...a bit antsy to sort my belongings; what I love, and what I can live without. I'm ready. ...thinking about printing out pictures for my jewelry box/picture frame-- can't decide what theme. ...also thinking about the super weird dream I had about my grandparents remodeling their house-- all inspired by the blind rooster our neighbor has so thoughtfully placed in our back yard. ...now thinking about cock-a-leek-y soup. (Chicken and leeks and barley- soooo yummy) ...enjoying a non-ra...

A- Age: 26 B- Bed size: Queen- I doubt a king would fit in our room and I don't really want one.  C- Chore I love: ....THAT's a hard one. I hate all chores. Maybe the bathroom- small room and such satisfaction when it's done.   D- Dogs name: Gretel was the dachshund we had growing up.  Now we have a toy weiner dog named Hansel.  E- Essential start to my day: scriptures with Sean then back to bed. (Sorry babe but it's true) F- Favorite color: Yellow G- Gold or Silver: Gold H- How many times have you been outside the USA: twice Italy and Germany I- Instruments I play: Used to play the Clarinet in6th grade. Not even very well.  J- Job Title: CFO Hurst Family Corp., CEO, HR department, Nutritionist, Personal Shopper, Royal Butt Wiper, Head Nurse, etc aka Mom K- Kids: 2 and jellybean L- Living arrangements: We're renting a house that's around a hundred years old.  I'm less fond of it's quirks today than when we moved in but I'm gr...

So I saw this chain letter-esque trend that started on FB (facebook) and has now moved to the blogosphere (then again maybe the chicken came first).  Either way.  I'm in. I promise to send something handmade to the first 3 people who leave a comment here. To be eligible, you must also post this in your blog, offering the same thing to 3 other people. The rules are that it must be handmade by you and it must be sent to your 3 people *sometime* in 2011. Even if you posted on Facebook I don't see why that would cause you to be ineligible here- though I can't promise cooler stuff because it's my blog.  Then again....   Maybe later I'll post pictures of crafty things I've made just to inspire you. 

While their cousin was vacationing in Cabo  the boys thought they'd  add a little joy and merriment to these cold winter months.  "I can't put my arms down!" Who turned out the lights? His glove fell off and Daddy is helping him get it back on.  His other arm had a little mishap... Complete with raisin eyes and mouth and buttons and a carrot nose. Happy fellow for being stuck out in the cold. I dare say it might have worked.  Though I'd still like to play at the beach sometime soon. Sandmen are harder to make I think. Good thing we have plenty of snow. 

We don’t discover humility by thinking less  of  ourselves;  we discover humility by thinking less  about  ourselves.  -Dieter F. Uchdorf  from a talk found HERE .  Do I really need to be hit over the head with a brick?  I've been ruminating on this thought (the quote not the brick). I've always struggled with depression and self-esteem.  This makes sense to me.  Often we are taught that pride is a sin and we should do everything in our power to not be prideful. That doesn't mean we are to belittle ourselves in order to rid us of our "pride".  Another good point:  " The very word  pride  seemed to become an outcast in our vocabulary... I believe there is a difference between being proud of certain things and being prideful. I am proud of many things. I am proud of my wife. I am proud of our children and grandchildren. I am proud of the youth of the Church, and I rejoice in their goodness."    Here's on...

Another one of those days. Funny- I tried to post this earlier and magically the universe decided I needed time to cool off.  Ok Cosmic Universe: I could use a hot bath about now- whatcha gonna do about THAT ONE?! Do I hear water running? Hm. Cool.  Thanks universe.

Lately life has been a bit overwhelming.  We had an unexpected expense that tightens out financial belt a bit more.  This pregnancy with having two wee ones is tiring.  A blessing to be sure but tiring all the same.  My calling at church takes a lot of time (though less than others I've had).  Still in Limbo for jobs and housing and figuring out packing--- basically anything not in the immediate future of today.   I keep thinking of the scripture "Be still and know that I am God." I'm ok at being still- when I want to sleep or read.  But being still in my core is much harder.  Then I read a talk I love by President Dieter Uchdorf. Not president of the US--he's in the Church 1st Presidency.   He talks about trees and years when resources are scarce or times are hard because of fire or other things they slow down their growth and focus on the essentials for survival. As humans we often don't look at life that way.  We see more thin...

Today is a writer's block kind of day. So let's try a few lists to keep things interesting and see if maybe it'll get juices flowing for another post... Haven't you ever wondered: "What does she keep in this thing?" You know what I'm talking about: the 50 lbs. purse.  There's no way all of that can possibly fit in there right?  Well let's take a look at my own purse and see what treasures we can find. Green Wallet with the usual wallety things: cards- reciepts- and change.  Cash?  What's that?  Used tissues- it's a Mom thing.  (I hope). (Into the trash they go finally.) Actually I think it was a dried wipee used for cleaning a Cheeto-faced-kid.  Fresh bottle of Ibuprofen 200 mg- good for what ails ya. Mine is usually joint pain. Left Hip- thanks for asking.  Travel sized Baby Magic with just a smidge of lotion left. Mmm- smells like babies.  2 packs of Bubble Yum Gum- 1 original flavor and 1 cotton candy.  Why does it have a p...

I don't really bother with those at the new year I usually do them at the school year start.  But I'm not really doing either of those this year. There's a whole laundry list of things I can improve on.  Oy. Speaking of Laundry... ;) Gain weight? Lost Weight? Save more $? Spend less? Be kinder? Remember birthdays and send cards? spotless house? It's overwhelming.   My goal this year:  SURVIVE and LOVE IT.  Maybe a better goal would be to get rid of a buncha our stuff so I don't have to pack it :) That'll probably be in the mix.  Or to cook dinner once in a while instead of letting hubby do it :) (That's a good one right Sean?) Or blog more consistently.... Well off to life. See ya around.