Happy Spring

These last two weeks have been pretty good, weather wise. Last week, we were outside a lot. The boys are doing very well with riding their scooters, and Matthew has figured out how to get up enough speed so he glides for a small bit with both feet on it. They have been playing outside with their neighborhood "girl" friends. Halle and Maddie are out a lot, so the boys always want to play with them when they see them. They are quite the little social butterflies. Last weekend, my sisters, my mom, and I went to the Carrie Underwood concert. Since I love American Idol, I was very excited to see her in concert. It was a great show..speaking of shows, we bought tickets last night to take the boys to see "Go, Diego Go!" live on stage. I hope it will be great. It is coming to the Palace Theatre in Columbus. We have been going down to the "pond" a lot to see if there are any ducks.

School has been rather routine. Nothing too exciting there. The boys continue to learn about picking and choosing friends. A conversation I had with Lucas about going back to school after spring break went something like this:

Me: "Lucas, your friends are going to be so excited to see you after being on break. Are you excited to see them?"

Lucas: "Well, mommy, we only have two friends...Shawn and Paul."

Me: "What about Jacob? Isn't he your friend?"

Lucas: "No, he's mean to me. Like when I was napkin helper, I was passing out the napkin and he just yanked it out of my hand. So when he was napking helper, I yanked it out of his hand."

Me: "Well, you should be nice to everyone."

Lucas: "When he makes me mad, I call him 'Jakey'.

Me: "Why do you call him 'Jakey'?

Lucas: "Because it makes him mad."

Pretty much the end of that conversation! I was of course laughing inside because Lucas has figured out what makes this kid upset, and therefore is creating preschool drama.

This last weekend we accomplished a feat I had been wanting for awhile. Since we have moved back to Marysville, we haven't been able to use the beautiful, wooden dining room set my parents gave us for our wedding. It has been in the basement, and then in the spare bedroom. It's main purpose has been to wrap presents on or collect junk. At any rate, I talked Derrick into humoring me and trying to put it in the kitchen, as I was upset that he was going to take it and store it in the basement until we have a bigger house. Well, it worked and I am very excited! We also took the boys to Toys R Us on Saturday to spend some birthday money. They thought that was very cool....we never take them to the toy store and let them pick just about anything they want. They each decided on a Star Wars Jedi fighter ship thing. No batteries, no pieces to lose...we were happy! Friday night we went to the Bickel's for a bonfire and to hang out, and Sunday was church.

This week the boys have Donuts with Dad on Wednesday night. They sing a song, have donuts, and then come home. Should be fun!

I am so sorry I haven't updated. When I looked at the date of my last update, I couldn't believe it had been that long. Our life has been so crazy these last few weeks. Matthew and Lucas had both been battling fevers and coughs, etc. Lucas had a mild case of the croup, and Matthew was waking up with very stiff legs in the mornings. Both are fine now, and have been enjoying their spring break this week.
The boys had two birthday parties this year, to spread the family wealth. It actually worked out great. We had Derrick's family over on Friday for pizza and mine on Sunday for a roast. I can't believe they are 5! We registered for Kindergarten....WOW!

A few weeks ago, we also enjoyed the "blizzard of '08". Let me tell you, lots of snow! We had an early release, and then we were snowed in for the rest of the weekend. It was over the course of a weekend, and it was great. After the winds died down, we went outside to play. Matthew and Lucas were eating snow by the handfulls. Derrick built them snow burrows so deep they could get down in them and stand up, and still only their heads stuck out.

This week we went to the Air Force museum in Dayton. My sister, Lindsey, met us there. It was VERY cool! The boys (Derrick included) thoroughly enjoyed the restored planes. I really can't describe how very cool they were up close. They were intact, restored original planes. The beginning of the museumw was the early days of flight, and then as you kept walking, it became more and more advanced. I think the favorite of all of us was the B-2 Stealth. When we pulled into the museum drive, there are some planes on display outside. Lucas's words were, with a dramatic tone, "Holy mac and cheese!" We still aren't sure where he picked that up. But it's cute! Matthew's eyes were quarter sized at almost everything. They really enjoyed the planes where you could sit in the cock pits. Also this week, they painted the pieces to their wooden model airplanes my parents got them for their birthday. We took them out to Derrick's parents' house to ride their four wheelers, and they are really getting the hang of the scooters they got for their birthday.

We had a great Easter. We celebrated at my Aunt's house and then at Derrick's parents' house. The boys definetly did their share of egg hunting! They sort of thought it was time to get presents, but overall it was great.

Have a great day!

The Ups and DOWNS of the Hurst Family

Hi, everyone. Well, where do I start. First of all, I went to WalMart last Wednesday to get a few things. It was a finally sunny day, things had begun to melt, and I was nonchalantly walking into WalMart to get the much needed pull ups, milk, etc. Before I knew it, I had stepped off the driveway, onto the sidewalk, making my way to the entrance, when down I went. Yep, that's right, down on the ground, feet up in the air, wet bottom and all. Apparently, there was black ice on the sidewalk. At any rate, I also caught myself with my right hand. Well, being the devoted shopper that I am, I got right up, and continued to shop. Got home, cried all the way home from embarassment and and hurt arm, and continued on with my evening. My arm was swollen a bit, and wouldn't straighten all the way, but I figured after a couple of days, it would stretch back out. Contacts, teeth brushing, hair washing, etc. were major struggles. Well, we got a good laugh out of it that evening, and my sixth graders thought it was hilarious, and I went on with my day Thursday. My sweet husband sent me roses to school for Valentine's day, thank you very much! Well, my arm wasn't really healing too well, but getting better. So, I took Friday off to spend with the boys on their birthday. My sweet husband had also made me a doctor's appointment to get my arm checked out. I went, he said it was probably hyperextended, gave me a prescription for some pain pills, an x-ray order (at my convenience, it was up to me to go), and I was out the door to get ready for the birthday party.
The Hursts came over Friday night for pizza and presents and all that fun stuff. Saturday, Derrick and I went to Jeffersonville to the Outlet Malls and out with some friends later, and Sunday was church and my family over for roast, presents, and more cake and icecream. Monday I took my President's Day and went to school for a little while to do some grading and get caught up from not being there Friday. I debated on going to the gym or to the hospital for the xray. (I still didn't have full range of motion almost a week later). So, I went to the hospital, got an xray, and it showed I had fractured my radial head in my right arm. Tuesday started out as a 2 hour delay, and I had just dropped the boys off at Derrick's mom's house, when he called me and said we had moved to a cancellation. So, I worked for a little, Derrick and I went to lunch, and it was off to see the orthopedic doctor in Marysville. He said my fracture was a 1 on a scale of three. That means it will hopefully heal on its own, a 2 or 3 is automatic surgery. So here I am, under the restriction of not lifting anything more than 8 oz for the next two weeks, and then back for a check up. Looking back, I had been lifting a lot more than that, and I could have broken it all the way! UHHHHHHH!!!! God is definetly looking out for me. Also, no pushing or pulling motions, (like vacuuming...and Derrick was sitting right there to hear that) and I am doing almost everything left handed. Well, that is my story, we are home again today for a snow day, and I will post some birthday pictures when I get them developed. Have a great weekend!

Happy February

Well, as you can see, we are heavy into Star Wars. Matthew and Lucas have decided on a Star Wars theme for their birthday party. Last Friday, Derrick and I took advantage of the snow day that was called and went birthday party shopping. About $65 later, we were out of the party store, stocked with napkins, plates, stickers, banners, etc., for the parties we are having this upcoming weekend. Hey, this is what I get when I give them the options of Hot Wheels, Star Wars, or Diego for their birthday party. Whatever....

Derrick spent Thursday through Saturday redecorating their room with a Lightning McQueen/Cars theme. It looks really cool. The walls are a two tone blue, as well as we put up those "wallie" wall stickers. They look very fun! The boys sang in church today out at St. John's, and we didn't get home until after 12:30, which is unusual for us on a Sunday. We are usually home by 11 at the latest. So, today seems to be flying by. Matthew and Lucas are enjoying Noggin being broadcast 24/7 now, and I have to be more diligent about their tv time. It is so cold here today....14 degrees when we were driving home from church this morning.

This Friday the boys will be 5! My mom did such a cute job putting their faces on the Star Wars characters, and I think I am going to print them off as Thank You notes to send after the parties. Friday night we are celebrating with the Hurst side, and Sunday is with the Carfrey side. Have a great week, and Happy Valentine's Day!

Where is the time going?

Hello everyone! I am so sorry I haven't updated lately. Things around here have been crazy. We had a great New Year's Eve. We had several families over for the evening. We played the DVD version of Family Feud, ate, and the kids played and hung out in the basement. We all made it up until the New Year, kids and all. Of course, the next day we were exhausted and happy to stay home and relax.

Suddenly, it was the 3rd, and time for me to go back to school. It has been a tough adjustment, as I enjoy my time at home with the boys. Maybe someday I will find a job that allows me more time at home. Who knows. Anyway, nothing exciting happened until we had the National Championship Party at our house. Of course, we were disappointed that Ohio State lost. It was fun, nonetheless, to have about twelve people in our garage, watching it on the "big screen" Derrick had rigged up with his stereo system and the projector. I guess it's all about the atmosphere.

Unfortunately, we have had two deaths since the New Year. First, baby Victoria Rodriguez was in recovery from another open heart surgery on the 7th, and she didn't make it. Derrick had come home from being at Children's Hospital all day to watch the game, and Victoria's grandma called him around 12:30 a.m. to ask if he could come back to be with the family because Victoria had died. As if God didn't think that was enough for Derrick to deal with, Pastor Dave Reiman from a neighboring church lost his battle with cancer this last week.

Just when we were hoping our lives would slow down, I am looking forward to this week and either Derrick or I or both of us have something several nights this week. At least I don't have school tomorrow. The boys are so cute lately! I can't believe they are going to be five next month. They came home from school last week acting like seals, barking and flapping flippers, since they are learning about artic animals in school lately. They are so into their trains again lately. We are looking forward to Wednesday when our new furniture will be delivered. Derrick has been wanting some new furniture for the basement, and we found some. We gave my cousin and her husband our used furniture for their house they are moving into this weekend, and now we are down to a couch and a recliner upstairs and a recliner downstairs. Good thing we all like each other, as we will be snuggling on the couch the next few nights before the furniture comes.

This weekend I took my seventh and eighth grade Power of the Pen teams to the district tournament in Tiffin. . Power of the Pen is an interscholastic writing tournament. The kids are given a prompt and forty minutes to develop it into a story. Then, they are judged and their writing is assigned points. There are about twelve schools that compete, so that's about a hundred kids or so. The seventh graders came in third in the team awards, and I had two girls come in second and third place amongst the seventh graders. It was very exciting! I am very proud of them.

Stay warm!

Merry Christmas! We have had everything Christmas this last week. It started last Tuesday with Matthew and Lucas's preschool Christmas program. It was so cute! They really sang out and did the motions this year, as opposed to last year when they just kind of stood on the stage and were about three beats behind everyone else. It amazes me what their little minds can hold. One of their songs was very unfamiliar to us and three verses long, yet they knew all of it, the fingerplay they did, and all the verses to Go Tell It On The Mountain. Then Wednesday was my last day of school for break. Our program was very cute this year. We finished up some shopping last week and I had a couple days to wrap and organize the gifts under the tree. Saturday we went to my grandma Carfrey's in Grove City, and then to my sister and brother-in-law's after. Kristin, my sister, made a great dinner and dessert, and we had a lot of fun opening presents and being with my family.

Sunday was church, and on Christmas Eve we went to Derrick's grandparents' house all day. We had lunch, opened presents, and played games. That evening, we headed to church for Living Truth's first Christmas Eve service. We had a full house! It was great. On Christmas Day, we stayed home until about 11 opening presents, then we headed to my Grandma Mae's house. It was very nice to be home Christmas morning so we could take our time and relax. The boys were very into opening this year, just to see what was in the package. Then, they would go and play with their toys. We got them a Leapster, and they haven't been away from it very much the last two days!

God bless all of you this Christmas as we focus on Jesus and His birth so we can have life with Him in heaven.

Our week has started off great so far. We have been in touch with a family whose 5 month old daughter has had two open heart surgeries and is facing a possible third this weekend. Her name is Victoria, and at any rate, we were hooked up with them through one of our parishoners. For the past several months, they have become somewhat involved with church, as much as they can since they are living at the Ronald McDonald house in Columbus. Last night, we had our Living Truth Christmas dinner, and we revealed to the family that we have adopted them for Christmas and we had a slew of presents to send home with them. It ended up being so many gifts that we brought it back home to our dining room because they didn't have room in their car. It is so great to be able to help others and they are so appreciative.

Matthew and Lucas continue to be so into Star Wars. Derrick and I spend our free time in the evening being stormtroopers with the boys and fighting off the enemy. Yesterday afternoon, Lucas put me in "jail"...aka his bedroom...and said I couldn't come out. Matthew consoled me by saying that I could go out only to use the bathroom "right around the corner".

Derrick and I had a date night Friday to my staff Christmas party, and then on Saturday I finished up our Christmas shopping. If I can get our Christmas cards out this week, that will be great, and one more thing I can check off my list! My school kids are getting very squirmy, as we only have 7 school days until our program and Christmas break starts! YEAH! I think I am just about as excited as they are!

This week we are taking the boys to the library tomorrow to see Santa...better than the alternative of the mall, which I have done the last two years. Wednesday night I have a cookie exchange at a friend's house and Thursday is confirmation. Finally, the weekend will be here!

Sorry for no pictures, but I can't get my camera to turn on. I will update soon with some Christmas tree pictures!