The year in Review

I have been contemplating about doing a Family Christmas update on my blog for awhile. I feel a little bad not sending out Christmas cards but I knew I wouldn't get to that this year so I decided to go ahead with this!


This has been a very busy year for us! It has been full of blessings and wonderful experiences. We decided to start the year off with a bang by having Michael leave for his deployment to Afghanistan. He had so many interesting experiences there. He had the opportunity to witness the opening of the first District in Afghanistan! We felt like we were watching history happen. He also had many opportunities to share the gospel and his testimony. He made friends he never would had and learned about a culture and people as he lived among them.

Laurie loved/loves watching Michael Dunn grow and learn. It's amazing to see the world opening to your child and see things start to make since and connect in his mind. Michael Dunn was such a comfort and distraction to his mother during this time.

In June Michael was able to come home for the birth of our second Son Hyrum. It was such a joy seeing him and having him be a part of our little family. Hyrum has done well from the start. He slept most of the time, willingly went on a schedule and was sleeping through the night at 6 weeks. He has such a cheerful disposition that makes him an easy target for attention-as well as Red hair and good pinching cheeks!

A few months after Hyrums birth, life was interrupted by 2 hurricanes. Laurie and the boys high-tailed it up to Utah to stay with Michaels parents. Once she got there she decided to make a trip of it and stayed for a month. It was a wonderful time for her and the boys. Michael Dunn was in heaven with all the attention he could ask for and people who loved him.

We came home because Hyrum decided it was time for the vacation to be over. It was such a blessing to come home and see that our house was still fine! Our life retuned to as normal as it gets for us. The next couple of months were filled with Doctors appointments and Medication as we tried to figure out why Hyrum had a Urinary tract infection. Through it all he still maintained a mostly cheerful attitude.

Michael came home a week before Thanksgiving! We had so much to be grateful for. The transition for the boys was almost seamless. Michael Dunn jumped enthusiastically into the role of Michaels son. He LOVES his daddy. He has transitioned quickly into becoming a daddy's boy. It was such a joy to watch. Michael Dunn is happier then he has ever been before.

We have so much we have to be grateful for this year. It is hard to think back and see the trials because mostly all we can see are the blessings that came from it. We are so grateful to have Michael home safe and happy. We are grateful for the home we have and the love that is in it. Mostly we are grateful that we are a forever family.


Merry Christmas!

Little man of the house!

MD has become determined to be a BIG boy! He mimics Michael and I all the time and is always trying to help us.

Here he is trying to help us feed Hyrum his bottle
Its alot easier when he lies flat on his back
The other afternoon Michael went to get Michael up from a nap and surprised MD by joining him in the pack and play.

MD enjoyed it for about a minute before he started getting annoyed. And then he crawled out and left his daddy all by himselfGuess what MD is starting to learn? To go to the potty! However right now anything can be the potty.....

Round and Red

That is what my dad has decided to call Hyrum. I think the name is pretty appropriate
Laying down the Law! Well in reality MD has hit the terrible two pretty hard and hears the word no alot. He also gets alot of time-outs as he vents his frustrations through random acts of violence. Right now he is big into hitting. But we wanted MD to see that it wasnt only him who gets into "trouble" so after Hyrum ripped some hair out of my head we decided to put Hyrum in "time out" for MD to see. Hyrum actually really enjoyed it :)



Our sweet little man. He is growing so fast! He is scooting and lunging and is SO big. He is now about 20 pounds and a little over 29 inches and I am loving it! it is nice to have big babies-gives me alot to hug and snuggle.

Peek-A-BOO!


Mommy you're so funny!

The Show

Yesterday my dad came over and asked for Michael to hlp him out on the roof. After Michael left I thought it would be fun for MD to see his daddy on the roof and to be outside! MD really wanted to be up on the roof with his daddy and was a little whiny when I kep pulling him back, but after Grandpa got him his own little chair he settled down and watched the show!
I let Michael pick out his shoes when we go outside or to Grandma's. This was yesterdays choice :)He put the black shoe on himself

On Tuesday Michael and I went on our first date in a very long time! It has been years since we have gone ANYWHERE without the kids so it was so nice! My parents kept the boys because we were doing a long date. Thanks Mom and Dad!

We started the evening by dropping the boys off and having MD cry and cry. I think he knew we were going off and leaving him (Lets face it- I was so excited for the date I got dressed two hours early and we wern't getting MD ready for anything so he knew we were ditching him :) He followed me around screaming until we finally left- Then he watched us through the window crying pathetically. Our first stop was dinner at Carrabbas. It was SO GOOD!!! Michael wasn't to thrilled about going there. He is a big believer in sticking with what he knows works- So his choice of restaurants would have been Fuddruckers, but he was sweet and let me choose. He was glad he did because he really liked it as well. Then we walked around the mall for about an hour while we waited for the movie we wanted to watch to start. I felt like we were dating again. It was so much fun walking hand in hand looking at things and joking around.
We got to the Movie Theatre early and we were excited because it looked like we had the theatre to ourself. (It was for the movie twilight so I expected a much bigger turnout) We went in with really low expectations- I wanted to see it because of the books and because My family has been discussing it since it came out, but not with very good reviews and I wanted to see for myself (Michael really is a good sport-first carrabbas and then a chick flick) Honestly the movie in my opinion was AWFUL!!!!!!! I went in knowing it wouldn't be like the book, so that part didn't bother me, it was everything else! The uncomfortable relationship between Bella and Edward that made me cringe and just wanted them to get it over with and start dating. The weird side looks Edward would give Bella. The depressing music that reminded me of the movie Labyrinth starring David Bowie. Honestly though even though the movie was awful, it was so much fun to watch it with Michael. We giggled and joked about the movie as we talked. Made up alternate endings and just enjoyed the evening.
When we got home we both were missing the kids. I dont think that we are as ready as we thought to leave our kids for long periods of time. We both missed them tons and were so excited to have them home the next morning!

Quick update on the boys

MD is so good- He is so much happier with his daddy home. He follows him around like crazy and is always giggling. He said his first sentence (That we have understood) "look what I got" (Not near as clear-probably more along the lines of "ook wa I gau" and then followed it my "stop daddy!" ("stau daee!") He is such a smartie! Every once in awhile he will sign the word please when he wants something. He has moved on to singing "ee I ee I oh!" from old MacDonald and loves barking like a dog. He knows where his eyes, ears, nose, mouth and belly button are (He loves lifting up his shirt to show you his belly button) His favorite toy these days is his cousin Jane's cell phone which he loves to open up and jabber away. It is really cute to see him with a pink cell phone that says "Hello! This in Cinderella!"He goes balistic when we try to take it away. Sweet Aunt Meg and Gavin bought him his own phone as a Christmas present.

Hyrum is scooting! It was amazing to see our little slug decide to get up and move! Now he wiggles his way all over the floor. He loves eating food and is getting to where he can pick things up and put it into his mouth. He is still our happy little boy ! He smiles and laughs and loves peoples attention. He prefers being held and loves whoever is holding him. He is teething (Has been for months) and loves to latch himself onto facial features and knaw away. I love his beautiful red hair and big blue eyes-in all honesty It was such a shock at first that I didnt know what I thought, such a different look then what I expected him to have, but I am loving it more and moreevery day! he is such a joy in our family and I love what he has added to our home!

Busy Busy Busy!

I have been living the life of the very pampered!!! Michael has come home determined to make up for the year that he was gone (regardless of the fact that he has nothing to make up for) and has pretty much taken over all the household chores and has been playing non stop with the kids. It has been a really fun time for us. I had forgotten how much we laugh as a family when he is home! I love our little life, our little "bunk house," our sweet little boys and the happiness that is in our home!

Here is what our life is like these days!
Daddy and MD taking out the trash (Michael has also decided he likes to dress his sons-hence MD wearing Hyrums pajama bottoms with MD's polo shirt :)This bag of diapers is too heavy!
So daddy switched it for a bag of paper!
Snack time!!!

Michael is wondering why we switched cucumbers for his pretzels

MD has really loves wearing shoes! He picks out his own to wear daily (Usually one black crock and one blue and red crock) and in the evenings he tries on every one-elses :)

Trying on daddys boots!
They almost fit.....

Michael took this picture this morning-I think it is funny-with Hyrum peeking out from behind him to get in the picture!What are you doing back there???

Happy Thanksgiving!

From the Huishs
Well Michael has stepped out for a minute to call his family and I took this opportunity to catch up and Blog before Michael and I begin the cooking for today.

I am so grateful for day set aside to just express gratitude. This year has been a year full of wonderful experiances, choice blessings, trials that have made me grow and tender mercies. I cannot express fully how grateful I am to My heavenly father for his wonderful gifts handpicked for me

What I am most grateful for is my wonderful family

Happy Holidays!

little helper

(This is the face he makes everytime I try to take his picture)

Michael Dunn has turned into one of the busiest and intense kids I have ever seen- I am sure he will follow in his mommas footsteps with some OCD tendencies. Here are some of the things he MUST accomplish, usually daily.

• Bring the trashcan into the bathroom ( He saw me do it a couple of times when I wanted him to stop digging in it) So now I guess he assumes that is where the trashcan is suppose to be
  
• Load the washer up with clothes (Or the dryer-once I was unloading the dryer just to come back and find dirty towels on to of all my clean clothes)
  
• Help me wash dishes-He stands at the sink and swirls a spoon in the water and tosses dirty dishes into the sink if I am not washing fast enough
• rotates my food storage. Despite all my best efforts he continues to get into my food storage-now he goes further, he moves the cans into the kitchen and puts them on an empty shelf next to the sink. He really is SO observant! He watches me when I get food out of storage and always head to the sink where I drain the cans
  
• cleans out my bathroom drawer-He constantly is digging my drawer trying to get out all of my q-tips. They started out in the box I bought them in, but now have been scattered all over the bathroom
• Helps Grandma at her desk. He sits faithfully beside her and moves things he can touch and tries to wedge cards into the printer

Everything he does he does it so seriously and deliberate-it is almost like a chore he must complete before he can go play! It cracks me up to watch him in action and to see him mimic me so much!

any recommendations

I have been trying to look online at 2009 upcoming half marathons in Texas, and have found a few but want to participate in one that is going to be something I can accomplish- I am not good with running up and down hills-at least not for long distances, and since I live in a town that is flat I dont really have a way to work on that. So i am looking for a first timer freindly, mostly flat half marathon in Texas-Any ideas?

my cowboys :)

We had fun with Uncle Ammons hat! some of the pictures are washed out-but here we are as the TRUE Texas Huish family


not a great picture of me-but one of the only ones of MD in the hat-he isnt in trouble, i was trying to keep him in my lap and just happened to grab his arms that way
I have some cute kids!!!

Angels to surround you

Wendsday I took Hyrum in for his circumcision and voiding cystogram. Neither was very serious but I was pretty nervous- I hated the idea of having my 5 month old go under anesthesia. last week I asked my dad to give Hyrum a blessing and in the blessing Hyrum was told that "Angels would Surround him" during this time. It was a huge comfort to me.

When I got to the hospital I found out that his nurse was my neighbor down the street and a member of our church! We also had as his anesthesiologist a member of the bishopric in the ward I attend. I felt overwhelm when I realized that quite literally the Lord had surrounded Hyrum with "angels" it was a sweet blessing and a wonderful comfort to me.

"I ask everyone within the sound of my voice to take heart, be filled with faith, and remember the Lord has said He “would fight [our] battles, [our] children’s battles, and [the battles of our] children’s children.”
"But when we speak of those who are instruments in the hand of God, we are reminded that not all angels are from the other side of the veil. Some of them we walk with and talk with—here, now, every day. Some of them reside in our own neighborhoods." Elder Jeffrey R. Holland October general Conference


I am so grateful for this sweet gift to our little family.

Twilight Spoof

OK my sister found this HILARIOUS website- I hope this isn't too offensive to the true twilight lovers out there, but since it is all in fun-I hope you enjoy!
twilight spoof
remember to click on more to read the full dialogue

Who would have thought?

Hmm sometimes it is funny to me when I look back at Michael and my pictures and think that we ended up together. I know I was not the type of girl he would have dated in high school-with my bleached hair and orange skin :) it was probably good I didn't marry anyone who knew me then. Funny thing is He swears he would have fallen for me in High school-Ha I DOUBT that!

I think I am 13 - my freshman year-YIKES!!!

getting older....

I believe this is him in His Senior, my Junior year. The basketball hunk, and the gimpy soccer player (I believe I was out this season due to a torn ACL)
And the year before we met-Him on his mission, and me in my Sophmore year of college


And we evolved into this :) I think this picture is funny- It looks like I am posing-which I wasnt :)