Aaron is 3!

Aaron's 3rd Bday

Aaron is 3 and I can't believe it has been that long since he was born. He loved his birthday and was happy to have a party "just like Tyler had". His friend, Brandon, came and they had a lot of fun even though it started kind of rough. Aaron took a nap while I finished decorating the cake and my mom was cleaning up. Then everyone started to come and the man of the hour was still sleeping away. So we had to wake him up which is not a good thing. Aaron likes his sleep and doesn't normally bounce awake like Tyler does. After some time though, he finally started playing and interacting with everyone so we did presents first, then cake. His first present was the truck Mack from the "CARS" movie. He wanted it out of the package but we said to open the others first. After each present he kept going back to Mack and wanted him open! He would have been happy with just that persent. But now he has so many cars and trucks we need a new toybox for them all. We got him a bicycle that looks like a dirt bike and he is trying to learn how to pedal now. Since we have a bigger house he has a little room to practice and Daddy will take him in our huge basement to ride until it gets nice outside. His cake was Lightning McQueen (which took me almost 2 hours to decorate) and he liked that. I asked him to pick which part of the cake he wanted to eat and what part do you think he chose? You'll have to see the pics to find out if you are right! After everyone left, my parents were still here, so we were just relaxing and talking them realized that no one had seen or heard from Tyler in a little bit. I found him at the dining room table, quiet as a mouse, stuffing his face with leftover cake that Aaron hadn't finished! He was very proud of himself and just kept grinning at us with frosting all over his face! It was pretty cute and you can't help but laugh at that! It was a great time. Also to top it off, Aaron didn't want to put on a pull up for bed, which he wears now only at bedtime. He wanted to keep his underwear on. So I decided to let him and I would just clean up the mess in the morning. But there was no mess and he was dry. He is doing pretty good on the potty training now and only occasionally has a mess usually at someone else's house. Thank goodness it is working so well because it saves a lot of money in diapers too!!

Grace Heidi Hale

We have another addition to our extended family. My brother, David, and his wife, Melisa, just had their third child and yup.. another girl!! Lucky him in about 12 years, right?? Her name is Grace Heidi Hale. As my sister, Heather, pointed out this is an appropriate name as her start to life was a little rough for everyone. Melisa had a fall on the ice about a week before the baby was born, which triggered some contractions on and off for a couple days. Who knows if this is actually why she was born early or what but she was due Feb 21 and Grace was born Feb 7. Thru some other trials and minor problems, it finally was time for the baby to be held up and admired for the first time. But instead she was quickly transferred to the baby table under the light and more people were called in and much activity was going on. The baby was not breathing!! I was travelling down with my dad from NY at this point and Heather texted me from the hospital room and told us to pray. It was SO scary and we were all crying and praying. Fifteen minutes after she entered this world, Grace took her first breath and was finally able to be hugged and loved by her anxious mommy and daddy! Her first day she didn't really make any noise but by the end of her second day, all worries were put to rest as she showed everyone that she really does have a good set of lungs! By God's grace, our little Gracie is now doing great and being well loved by both her big sisters! Click on the pic to see more.

Grace Heidi Hale

New Job

I started a job working 5 hours a night for 4 nights a week. I take catalog orders over the phone. It is not the most interesting job but it makes a little extra money to pay off our bills and gets me out of the house for a little while. It also allows Wilmer and I to "switch places". Have you ever wanted your spouse to know what you go thru at your job or home all day? Well, Wilmer does phone tech support so he is on the phone the majority of the day. I stay home with the boys and deal with them all day. So from 6pm to 11pm, we "switch". I am on the phone the entire 5 hours and Wilmer is with the boys (well they sleep half that time but still..) so we get to experience "being in the other's shoes" a little bit. I think it has actually helped each of us to understand the other a little more. Now, we are thinking of the possibility of getting another car also. We have been with only one vehicle for two years but it is getting difficult esp with gas prices so expensive, to be driving the truck exclusively.