If you have time, listen to this!

Hi everyone.....hey, if you guys have a second, listen to this following clip-its not video, just audio, so make sure the sound is turned up...its awesome, they played it during church today, and I had to put it on here-it sums it all up from the mouth of a little boy....here is the story behind it:
"(A FrankLozano.com Production) Little did I know when I was given the audio to this phone call that it would become SO HUGE. When I produced this video, I knew it was special to ME, but never would I have guessed when typing the text and editing the music that it would literally touch MILLIONS. I am proud to have put this video together for the world to see and hear. We have had a lot of requests to replay the phone call that Pastor Mike shared during our church service on Sunday, Nov. 11th, 2007. Here you'll find the video clip that I created just for you. After our church service I placed the video on YouTube so that you can watch it and share with family and friends.Logan is a 13 year-old boy who lives on a ranch in a very small town in Nebraska. Logan listens to Christian Radio station 89.3FM KSBJ which broadcasts from Houston, TX. Logan called the radio station distraught because he had to take down a calf . His words have wisdom beyond his years.Since airing the audio of the phone call and now the making of the video clip, it has taken on a life of its own. People are forwarding it all over the world. We encourage you to share the love of Christ with anyone you can.

Logan, the Sky Angel Cowboy!

Christmas with Hughes cousins

Our nephew Lucas giving a perfect smile for Aunt Nikki

Cousins Isabella and Benji goofin off ;-)

Christmas in Dallas!

My mom and the grandkids with the "birthday cake for Jesus"!

The guys sleeping...(I'm pretty sure this is while the girls were cleaning the kitchen....hmmm..)

Merry Christmas girls (alicia...where are you????)

My grandma and Benjamin

A White Christmas!!

It was so exciting to have a white Christmas, I honestly can't remember the last time that happened! The kids were so excited and Emma even abandoned opening her presents to go play in the snow! My moms house sits at a little higher elevation, so there was about a good 3-4 inches by late afternoon! Fun Fun!
Ben and Dad just as it started coming down!

My nephew Jackson checking out the snow...

Me and Benjamin-we went out just long enough to take the picture...it was cold!

My moms house covered in snow!

Ausin and Emma had so much fun....I think they threw more snowballs

at me then each other :-)

....And then things got WILD!

By the end of the day, I guess everyone got a second wind, or just got a little stir-crazy :-) The "boys" decided to play some hoops and try and outdo each other with their wonderful moves(ahem....)! The kids got in on the action too!
Dave flying through the air (so graceful)

JD going in for the slam......

....and Emma jumping into the beanbag from the 5th step up!

Oh, so sick.....

We got hit HARD with the flu bug this weekend, and let me tell you, it was NOT a pretty sight...I think Dave and I both looked at each other and wondered how we were going to get through it- its just not the same being sick when you're a parent- you basically just have to suck it up and pray that the good Lord will have mercy and take away your sense of smell :-) It came out of the blue and hit poor Benjamin first, I won't go into details but lets just say it sent Dave and Emma running from the room....Then, at 12:30am it hit Emma, and about 3 hours later it hit me.... and as I write this Dave has been doubled over in bed... the only other little tidbit I will mention without grossing anyone out is that on Saturday we changed 16 poopy diapers of poor little Benji..... Anyway, I took this picture because in the midst of it all, it made me laugh.....this is how Dave had to change Ben's diaper when it was his turn.....I love how Ben thinks its funny even though he feels awful :-) I hope none of you get it, and if you already have- I'm sorry!

Good Job Benji!!!

The only good thing to come out of this weekend of being sick is that Benjamin took his FIRST SOLO STEPS!!! We can't believe how big he's getting already, and he was so proud of himself for walking from mom to dad, and back again! Way to go Buddy! Look out everybody, here he comes!!!
Here he is getting his balance.....

And here he comes!!!......

Emma took this of me and Ben-both the kids are growing too fast!

It's looking like Christmas at the Hughes house :-)

Emma's gingerbread house!!!

Benjamin LOVED playing with the ornaments- so shiny, he just couldn't keep his little hands off em! :-)

Here's our tree...we had to put it up on a table because of the little guy :-) Emma loved decorating it this year! She was a great helper!!

In honor of my dad....

Well, today is my dad's birthday, and just like every other day, I miss him so much.... we all do...But on a day like today, I just really wish I could give him a huge hug... My mom and sisters and I were able to spend this weekend together, and it was so fun to have a couple nights kid free and hanging out with the girls :-) My dad was never really into birthdays, but he loved being together, so this is the best way we can think of to celebrate his birthday! Thanks girls, it was a fun weekend :-) So, in honor of my dad, I have posted a Roger Miller song, who was one of his favorites, along with Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, and the list goes on and on.... he loved the old country music.... And, for those of you who knew him well, this will make you smile....Here's to you dad!

Roger Miller - King of the Road / England Swings

Charlie Brown Christmas Tree

This is a classic- thought it would get us all ready for the Christmas season!

For all you mothers out there.....

Just thought I'd share this little story-I had heard it before but it always brings a smile to my face...so enjoy!


When God Created Mothers
by Erma Bombeck

When the good Lord was creating mothers, he was into his sixth day of overtime, when an angel appeared and said, "You're doing a lot of fiddling around on this one."
And the Lord said, "Have you read the spec on this one? She has to be completely washable, but not plastic; have 180 moveable parts, all replaceable; run on black coffee and leftovers; have a lap that disappears when she stands up, a kiss that can cure anything from a broken leg to a disappointed love affair, and six pair of hands.
"The angel shook her head slowly and said,"Six pairs of hands...no way."
"It's not the hands that are causing me problems," said the Lord."It's the three pairs of eyes that mothers have to have."
"That's on the standard model?" asked the angel.
The Lord nodded. "One pair that sees through closed doors when she asks, "What are you kids doing in there?" when she already knows. Another here, in the back of her head that sees what she shouldn't, but what she has to know, and of course the ones here in front that can look at a child when he goofs up and say, "I understand and I love you," without so much as uttering a word."
"Lord,"said the angel, touching his sleeve gently, "Rest for now. Tomorrow..."
"I can't," said the Lord. "I'm so close to creating something close to myself. Already I have one who heals herself when she is sick, can feed a family of six on one pound of hamburger and can get a nine year old to stand under a shower.
"The angel circled the model of the mother very slowly. "She's too soft," she sighed.
"But tough!" said the Lord excitedly. "You cannot imagine what the mother can do or endure."
"Can she think?"
"Not only think, but she can reason and compromise," said the Creator. Finally the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek.
"There's a leak," she pronounced. "I told you, you were trying to put too much into this model."
"It's not a leak," said the Lord. "It's a tear."
"What's it for?"
"It's for joy, sadness, disappointment, pain, loneliness and pride."
"You're a genius," said the angel. The Lord looked somber, "I didn't put it there."


About the Author: Erma Bombeck (1927 -1996) published more than four thousand syndicated columns in 900 papers nationwide, wrote 15 best-selling books, and became one of the world's most popular humorists.
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Thanksgiving pictures...

We had a fun Thanksgiving... lots of food, good company and relaxation! Mark, Thuy, Lucas and Thuy's sister came over, and I actually cooked a turkey for the first time :-) Luckily, it turned out ok... the kids had fun and we even got to watch a couple good movies...so heres a few pics from the day!
Emma helping me get ready by making her own "pies"

The kids playing with the electric train

Uncle Mark and Ben

Lucas playing football

Emma and daddy

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!

Professional Pics?? You tell me.... :-)

My sister Alicia is now working at Sears Portrait Studio as a photographer! Very cool, and I think she likes it a lot.... And the plus side is, she likes to get some practice in on willing participants (no, Dave is NOT one of them :-) ) So, the last time the kids and I were down in Dallas, she took some pics of the kiddos with her own camera, and I think they turned out great! As you can see, Benjamin LOVES to ham it up in front of the camera, and so most of the pictures are of him....he was definitely a willing participant. Emma, on the other hand, acts like her daddy whenever a camera gets close to her, so the only way we could lure her in was if my mom sat with her :-) Thanks mom.... you guys look cute! Anyway, thanks Alicia, they look great!

I LOVE TO EAT!

Benjamin has reached that fun stage when he can try most anything.....and boy is he enjoying himself now! This kid can sure eat, and we're pretty sure he can out-eat Emma already! He pretty much will eat anything, but he does have some interesting tastes.... Aside from all the normal foods, he absolutley loves pastrami, of all things, and Elk sausage...and cheetos(well, all chips really :-) He loves crackers but lately we've noticed he has learned to feed Roscoe from his high chair, so thats where most of the food goes that Ben doesn't like :-) Anyway, its fun to see him having fun with new foods...

Thanks Gracie!!! We love you!

Hi guys! Emma got the package in the mail tonight and she was soo excited... She loves her new pencils and stickers and candy, and Gracie, that was a great drawing! Anyway, she says thank you soo much! And Amanda, it was great to see your handwriting again.... Oh, brings back memories...lets keep it up....its fun to get mail, even though we already know everything we write each other about.... love you guys and we were praying for you today!

Bedtime......sort of ....

Benjamin feels left out now if he can't be a part of Emma's bedtime routine.... It takes us twice as long to get them to bed, but he likes to do what big sis is doing...Once in awhile Emma even lets him snuggle in her bed, and tonight they she got him giggling pretty hard :-)

A Day in the life..... :-)

Life is never dull, even when we stay home ALL day and play :-) I think Mommy gets a little bored once in awhile, but the kids always find stuff to entertain them!

Ben has taken it upon himself to help me unload the dishwasher every time I do
the dishes....hmmm...he's not supposed to climb up here, but while I was out of the kitchen he climbed on :-)

I think Emma played with the hamper for over an
hour the other day, hiding in it, jumping off it, and
rolling it around.. oh, to be a kid again............

Disney on Ice-Princess Wishes!

Wow, the night finally came, and Emma was so excited...she had been waiting for this for almost 2 months. I don't think she had any idea what to expect, and she loved it! When it first started, we weren't to sure if she liked it or not. She sat staring at the ice with huge eyes and never said a word. The other little girls were screaming and waving at the princesses, but Emma just sat still and soaked it all in (she is SO much like her daddy!). At the intermission, Dave took her to the bathroom, and he said she just started talking a mile a minute about the princesses. She told him, "Daddy, we better hurry up because we don't want to miss the next princess!" Her favorite part was the Seven Dwarfs and Little Mermaid, and of course, when Cinderella's carraige comes on the ice! It was a fun night with Emma and Dave (thanks Auntie Alicia for watchie Benny)! We were only able to take a couple pictures because of the camera policy for the show, but here they are!
Before the show started!

She loves cotton candy!

The grand finale with Cinderella's carraige!

Our kids love the mall- we're in trouble :-)

It's getting colder outside, and time for us to be a little more creative with fun ways to wear the kids out :-) Emma and Ben love going to the mall, there's lots to do and see, and of course, the big carousel...you throw in a stop at Baskin Robbins or Paradise Cafe, and its a hit :-) So, here they are riding the carousel and the fire truck!

Happy Halloween!!!

Hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween! We headed to downtown Battle Ground and got some trick-r-treating in, and Emma loved it. She couldn't decide whether to be a fairy or a princess, so she went as both :-) Here are the kids are getting ready to head out on the streets!

Winters Family Halloween Party

My sister Crystal and her hubby always throw a fun Halloween party, so this weekend we headed down to Dallas for the party and also to see my sister Alicia's new place in Salem...it was a quick trip, but really fun.... here's some pictures from the party...thanks Crystal and Jd for a fun time!
Emma doesn't look happy, and you'll see why in the next picture :-)

Here's Dave in his mask with Benjamin....Emma wouldn't look

at him or be in the same room with him all night :-) Ben

thought he was funny......

Alicia and Benny

Austin with Charlie's Angels :-)

Jack, my mom, JD and Dave

Sisters

Benjamin was in heaven as soon as my mom

started making animal balloons for the kids..... he thought

they were soooo fun!

Love you mom!