Outta Space

So, Gracie is six and talks non-stop. She can make me crazy in 30 seconds or less. She always wants to be right next to me, doing EVERYTHING I do. Some days I can handle it, others NOT SO GOOD. I think I have mentioned this several times before (sorry to repeat), but I have a HUGE personal space. I want space. I need space. I love space. I need to feel like I can breathe. Gracie is in MY space all of the time. It is not that I don't love her to death. I think she is darling and fun to be around... as long as it is not too close.
Last night I was stressed out! I had to get 100 CD's burned for church this morning and one of our computers was out of commission. The other computer was so slow at burning the CD's. I could only burn 6-7 CD's each hour... that equates to a lot of hours. Well there was Gracie, trying to sit on the same chair I was sitting on, talking non-stop, wanting to touch every CD I put in or took out of the computer. It was taking everything in me not to lose my temper and scream at her. By 8:00 pm I had burned less than 20 of the CD's. My boys were crying that they were starving and needed to eat. I left the table and started making dinner. I tried to get a load of laundry started while dinner was cooking. When I was finished, I came back over to the table to find 3 more CD's burned and another on it's way. There sat Little Lou putting labels on the CD's she had burned and putting them in their jackets. I asked her if she even knew what she was doing. She walked me through the process. It was perfect. She said, "I watched you do it mom, and I know what to do". She sat at the table until midnight last night burning CD's. At one point Garrett came over to help. She told him he could put the labels on the CD's. After his first attempt she fired him. He had not taken his time to put the label on straight! She was so careful to do everything right. I just let her take over and she was so proud of the work she was doing. And I was able to get a couple of other projects finished that had been pushed aside all weekend.
I really am so grateful for this little girl. She is very smart. She is very helpful (if I will let her be). She loves unconditionally. She is witty and fun. After watching her last night, and seeing how much she wants to be a part of what I am doing... I have realized I need to focus on her good qualities more and be grateful I have her to share my space with.

Let the adventures begin...

Well we are just a couple of weeks into the new year. There is already so much going on.
Ginger- the hamster that lived
Meet Ginger, Grant's pet hamster. She has become quite entertaining. She runs around like crazy now. She lets the kids hold her without biting them. She loves the wheel in her cage (especially at 3:30 am). And she goes absolutely wild in her ball (thanks Lunds- that was an awesome Christmas gift!!!) She will get that thing moving so fast and then try and stop. She does a complete flip. It is quite funny to watch. Grant is in love with her. We are thrilled that he has a new friend.
The Caveman
Russ' scouting adventures continue. He started off the new year taking his scouts to the Klondike Derby. He had four hours before the boys had to go to bed and wanted to have something to pass the time by. So he built a huge snow cave. Three of his scouts slept in it that night (not Russ, he slept in his red snow cave - A.K.A. his car). The boys that slept in the snow cave said they stayed so warm. Anyway, they survived another campout. Russ really does enjoy his callings. He stays extremely busy and makes many sacrafices, but he loves those boys.
The Wise-r Man
Garrett started baseball and basketball this past week. He has already learned something new... where NOT to stand at 2nd base when a boy is sliding into the plate!
This is after 5 days of healing. Hopefully, we won't have too many more of these this season. His coach said he was just lucky Kyle wasn't wearing his metal cleats yet- OUCH! His coach said he was tough and only shed one BIG tear. Good job Garrett- I would have been crying like a baby for days!

Gone in the twinkling of an eye...

What happened to 2009? I swear I was just writing New Year Resolutions a couple of weeks ago! I was reading back through our blog about our 2009 events. We truly are a blessed family. I am so grateful for all that we have, all that we are able to do, and all of the wonderful people we are surrounded with. I am sometimes disappointed when I look back and see all of the things I didn't accomplish in the past year. There is always so much more I could have or should have done. But to dwell on those things would take away from the many things that we were able to do. It does help me see things that I would like to improve on this coming year.



We are SOOOO excited for 2010. We have many adventures planned. We have new challenges to face. And so much fun to be had. Here is a glimpse at what is PLANNED for 2010 (we reserve the right to change our minds at any time during the year):


Russ- This year he is taking our family to Puerta Vallarta in February. A little sun, a little tan, a little 80 degree weather- can't wait! Russ will also be travelling to Guatemala in April on a fly-fishing excursion. We are excited to see those sailfish photos. He will be taking his annual trips to the Henry's Fork and Yellowstone and probably one more big trip- to where? Heaven only knows. I will find out about one week before he departs. It will go something like this, "Oh, by the way, did I tell you I am going to ______ this Monday to fish for _______? I will be gone for about ten days. You cool with that?" He is a fly by the seat of his pants kinda guy, and I have grown to love it. Russ is also planning to run the St. George Marathon this year with Uncle Brent (This is where the "reserve the right to change our minds" comes into play).


Garrett- Is turning 12 and will be receiving the Aaronic Preisthood in February. I cannot believe he is already that old. He is excited to enter the Young Men's program and have his dad as his Scout Master and Young Men's leader. This year Garrett is playing on a tournament baseball team and will be playing all over the state. We are excited to see him improve. He has great, enthusiastic, devoted coaches. We are grateful they are willing to share their time and talents with Garrett. He will again play basketball and football as well. Rah-Rah-Rah every week filled with sports!

Grant- Is starting basketball this week with his cousin, Gavin. We love basketball season as it is short and sweet. Grant started in braces and has a mouth FULL of metal and rubber bands. We are anxious to see the results of his first phase. He has also entered into the blissful experience of pet ownership as he got a new hamster (after our terrible Christmas day experience). Ginger is his new hamster and she is very boring thus far. She stays buried in her wood chips ALL day and comes out at night to eat her food, drink a little water and then hide once again. She hisses if you stick your hand in her cage and tries to bite if you pick her up. She had a near death experience tonight when Garrett tried to hold her. She bit, he dropped her, she went back into the cage- under the wood chips. (We are not good pet owners!!!) But Grant loves her. He says she is a "cutie pie". If she ever comes out of the wood chips again, we might snap a few pictures.

Gracie- The poor little girly has been supporting her big brothers and their numerous activites for years. She cheers for them. She travels for them. She endures weather of all types for them. Well it is her turn. She will enter some sort of activity of her choice this year. I think she is wanting to try gymnastics. I would like her to begin piano as well... we will see. It will be entertaining I am sure. She is so enthusiastic about everything.

Happy 2010 to everyone!

Tis the season to be...

I am not quite sure how to complete this sentence. I can think of several words that apply. Here are a few:

JOLLY?

1. Russ and I were able to go and see the play "A Christmas Story" at the Electric Theater with his boss, Todd, and his wife. The play was fun and well performed. That movie is a true Christmas classic.

2. We loved listening to our favorite Christmas CD. My friend Mindy gave us a Christmas CD last year and we absolutely love it. Our favorite song is Mamacita, Donde esta Santa Claus? It also has a great song by Rob Thomas, Merry New York Christmas. We really listen to it occasionally throughout the year, but at Christmas time we get to listen to it everyday.

3. We love spending time with our families. We were able to have family home evening and make gingerbread houses with my parents and the Ellsworths. We spent some of Christmas eve with the Brooks and then had a Mexican Fiesta with my family. On Christmas morning Grandma and Grandpa Brooks, and Jill and her kids came over for Christmas breakfast. We had Christmas dinner with the Little's, the Ellsworth's, Harris and his daughter- Kristen, and Jill and her kids. Later that night Kurtis and his family came to town. We all congregated at grandma Brook's home. Grandma and Grandpa Hyde came to town on Saturday and we all got together again. It was crowded, loud, and fun!

DISAPPOINTED!

1. Grant asked Santa for a hamster for Christmas. Unwillingly, we obliged. Christmas morning as the kids woke up and ran to see what Santa had brought them, we soon realized that something was wrong with the little rodent. The thing DIED within two hours. It ruined Christmas morning as we watched the little guy kick the bucket. (no pictures of the morbid experience)

2. We bought grandma Hyde a watch for Christmas. I set it on the kitchen counter Christmas morning to wrap it. Gracie jumped up to the counter with her new DS and knocked the watch on our tile floor. The watch face shattered. SO SAD! Anyway, we have had to order a new watch-face and will now have to mail grandma her present.

3. Let me just tell you about our Christmas tree. Last year, I hit the after Christmas sales. I bought some really cute decorations for our tree. I was so excited to decorate our tree this year. Well, our fake tree was falling apart last year so Russ took it to D.I. We were going to buy a new one this year. Russ' secretary at work has a bunch of land up above Cedar City. They asked us if we wanted them to cut us down a tree this year. Russ said that would be great. He gave them $35 and they cut down for us a 14 foot PIECE OF CRAP tree. It was bare at the top, really full in the middle, and very sparse at the bottom. We ended up cutting 4 feet off of the bottom of the tree. It helped a little, but not enough to get us excited. Kami came over to our house and laughed hysterically for 30 minutes. She then made a phone call to my mom to tell her she needed to make a special trip to our house just to see our tree. Every time I made a comment about the tree, Russ said I was hurting the tree's feelings. Unfortunately, these pictures do not do justice... it doesn't look half bad in the pictures.

4. We once again didn't get around to sending out Christmas cards. So don't feel left out... nobody got them. We are losers in that regard. We try, but we are rarely successful.

EXHAUSTED!!!

After being up late every night making gifts for co-workers, wrapping presents, shopping, and enjoying the festivities. Then getting up early to exercise, work, clean, and prepare for more festivities. We were completely exhausted.

GRATEFUL

I am so grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ. I am grateful every year that we are able to celebrate His birthday, remember His life, be more giving, be more forgiving, and feel His love as we serve others. I love the Christmas holiday for that reason most of all.

WELCOME HOME

We were able to spend the past weekend in LOVELOCK, NEVADA. Where in the heck is that you ask? It is in northern Nevada, an hour outside of Reno, in the middle of somewhere. It is where my darling husband was raised and where his dad (Bill) and step-mom (Connie) still reside. Bill and Connie just returned home from serving a mission in Mexico City! We are so thrilled to have them home. They faced many challenges while they were there, and are facing many more upon returning home (they came back to a flooded home- so much ruined). They are now beginning the process of remodeling their home... which could be fun... if it wasn't so much work.

We spent the snowy weekend with 6 of Russ' 7 siblings and some of their families (Sad Nate couldn't be there).

It was fun to visit, and get reacquainted with those that live far away. We went to a Pershing County High School basketball game on Friday night (that is where Russ went to school). We saw several people that Russ knew growing up. Russ loved seeing his old stomping grounds and talking about the glory days in Lovelock! On Saturday, the men helped Bill around the house and then went hunting in the afternoon.

They killed some quail and rabbits which they later BBQ'ed. Yummy? I don't know- I didn't taste any... this time. I was able to sneak away for a 6 mile run on Saturday afternoon, in the snow. It was actually very fun. My muscles were so numb from the cold, I couldn't feel them aching! I felt like I could have run forever. The kids mostly played video games since there was snow everywhere and we were not well equipped for that kind of weather (us being from St George and all). All of the boy cousins sat in the "game room", a spare bedroom where they gathered with their Nintendo DS's. I think there were 5-7 of them going at all times. Occassionally they would venture outside and throw a few snowballs (it never lasted longer than a couple of minutes).

On Sunday, Bill and Connie spoke in church and told about their experiences in Mexico. I was very impressed that they were able to focus on the positive experiences and not dwell on the hardships that they faced. They are wonderful examples for my family and I appreciate them so much. I admire them for "sticking it out" in Mexico, not giving up, remaining positive, and finding ways to learn and grow from their experiences. It was a quick, but fun trip.

We have a new favorite thing that we discovered on this trip... books on tape. We got a couple from the library and listened to them during our 8 hour drives to and from Lovelock. What a great way to pass the time, especially when you are driving through the middle of NO WHERE and you only pass another car (or brothel) every 30 minutes! Drive- terrible, books on tape- fantastic! I am not sure why we haven't done this before now.

Baby if you're good to go...

Let's go down to MEXICO!!!

Well the official contest results are in. Russ "won" (earned) a trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. We will be flying to Mexico at the end of February. We will stay at an ALL-INCLUSIVE resort for 5 days. Russ won a very similar vacation two years ago to Cancun and it was absolutely fabulous! So we know exactly what to expect and we are very excited to be able to go again. His company knows how to vacation! Two years ago, when we went, we extended our vacation and stayed to fly-fish for a total of 10 days- just the two of us- with NO KIDS. It was a great vacation, but we missed the kids terribly. This year we are taking the kids with us. We had their passports made and they are very excited. Gracie is excited to swim all day. Garrett is excited to eat all day. And Grant is excited to miss 3 days of school and fly in an airplane. It is amazing how different each of my kids are.

I am so proud of Russ who worked so hard in this contest. I am so lucky to be married to such a great man. He is truly amazing. He is a hard worker. He is so supportive of all of my crazy ideas (graduate school, running marathons, working with the Huntsman games, etc., etc.). He is the best dad to our kids. He helps coach the boys sports teams. He helps Garrett with scouts. He irons the kids Sunday clothes each week. He makes the breakfasts of champions (most mornings these days). He initiates Family Home Evening every week and family prayer every day. He rubs my back and neck every time he watches Sports Center. He works out with me every morning at 5 A.M. He warms up my ice cold hands and feet every night when we go to bed. He paints (and re-paints) the rooms in our home. He fixes my crashed computers (spending 4 hours on the phone with some guy in India). He sends me funny texts and calls me during lunch everyday I work. He listens to my continuous complaining about my pieces of crap, lazy, ignorant, selfish co-workers. I have become completely SPOILED!!! He is dedicated to serving the Lord and devotes so much of his free time to his THREE callings. He is always happy and positive. He is funny, clever, and easy to get along with. ALL of this wrapped up in one handsome package! The greatest thing about Russ is that he continues to put up with ME!!! Just two more years Hon! ;-] My point being... if anyone deserves this vacation... it is Russ! Congratulations!

I also need to give a huge SHOUT OUT to his employees that also worked so hard in this contest. We would not be going on this trip if it were not for them. Thank you "Johnny Lingo", Kurt, and Mike who went all out this year. Also to Richard, Tracy and the Vegas crew. Thanks for making Russ' job easier and enjoyable. I wish all of you were coming with us!

one FLU over the CUCKOO'S nest

WATCH OUT EVERYBODY! The swine FLU has hit the Hyde home (okay, I know it is not called swine flu anymore, but H1N1 is a lame, non-fun name). Garrett has been LAID OUT for two and a half days now. He has only gotten up three times in two days- once to go to the doctor and twice to pee. Poor kid hasn't had anything to eat and very little to drink in two days- if any of you know Garrett, you know what a HUGE deal this is. Gracie started coughing tonight. If she gets the FLU, this momma will be CUCKOO!!! However, Garrett has only said about three sentences in two days. Maybe it would be nice for Gracie to get it?! That was terrible of me!!!! I really would never wish this upon anyone. Garrett is absolutely miserable. Anyway, if you don't see us around for a week or two, you'll know why! Happy quarantining to us!