Happenings with the Hughes :)

So, I have been pretty sporadic with my blogging lately..we have had a lot going on! I need to think back over the last few weeks to even remember :) Dave had surgery to remove his gall bladder on May 9th, and he is finally getting back to normal. Everything went great and hopefully he will be pain-free now! The night after his surgery Katie started acting funny, and was up all night long crying and miserable. Luckily my mom had stayed the night to help with the kids anyway, so we took turns with Kate. In the morning we were exhausted, Dave was in pain, and katie was not looking good. With Dave on meds we took off yet again to the dr. and found out her strep throat had returned.. poor little thing..they're not sure why she is getting strep throat, especially being so little. So, needless to say, the next few days we were just in survival mode!
We've had some school programs, church activities and day trips. And some sad news. My Uncle Pete passed away last week, and we'll be going to his service soon. And just last night my moms puppy Layla was hit by a car and died this morning. In the midst of it all there are many blessings, the kids make us smile every day. We are very lucky to say the least. I hope you all are doing good and enjoying life to the fullest- here are a few pictures of the last couple weeks..

Here's Dave getting ready to head into surgery!

Hiking at Battle Ground Lake

Our chickens- they're getting big!

Kate enjoying an ice cream cone :)

Dave and Ben love making fires in the backyard...

This is the field where Dave goes to fly his remote control plane. the kids love to watch and pick flowers :)

We got to go to the Coast Guard base on Swan Island to watch some demonstrations and tour the boats. Our friends Mike and Renee invited us (He is in the coast guard). Emma and Ben had a BLAST and at the end of the day we got to see the Coast Guard Helicopter fly in and do a rescue on the river with the divers and everything! Ben's eyes were like saucers :) So fun!!
Emma trying on a life vest

Ben sporting his new Coast Guard shirt

A bunch of the kids lined up with life jackets

Emma with some of her friends on the boat

Future helicopter pilot?? Or rescue swimmer?? who knows :)

Tooth Fairy in training

A couple of days ago Emma lost another tooth. Bit into a caramel apple and it popped right out. Of course she was SUPER excited about getting money that night from the tooth fairy (I think we're going broke because of these teeth...but thats another story). So, even though it was the afternoon, I told her it was ok to bag it up and put it under her pillow.

Well, fast forward 5 hours and its now bedtime. We've said prayers, brushed teeth and read books. Lights are out. Then, Dave starts to hear a bunch of commotion coming from Ben and Emma's room. He hears Emma jump down from the top bunk, panicked whispering, and doors opening and shutting. He goes in and finds Emma crying at the edge of her bed, clutching her little baggie. Ben is nowhere in sight. That is never a good sign.

"Whats going on?" Dave asks. Emma holds out the baggie which contains one penny. No tooth in sight. Just one little penny. She is devastated and starts crying harder.

Then Ben walks in the room, big smile on his face and walks by Dave to climb into bed. Suspicious, you say...and you are right! Dave asks Ben whats going on. Ben just smiles and says he helped the tooth fairy today. Wanted to make sure Emma got her money. So, now Dave is torn between many emotions. He wants to laugh (and does), but also feels bad for Emma, and doesnt want to get mad at Ben (I'm tellin ya, they don't make enough parent handbooks on stuff like this!).

By this time I am in the room. Dave asks Ben where he put the tooth. "I hid it" he says. "Ok, where did you hide it?" we ask. He puts his finger up to his chin and contemplates a while. "I really forget now, I'm not sure". Not suprisingly this sends Emma into fits of sobbing, and Dave and I out into the hall to get all our laughs out in secret. So begins Operation find the tooth. "Ben, think back to where you might have hid it." I say. "Well, it could be in my treasure box, or under the bed, or maybe its just somewhere on the floor. Visions of me vaccuuming an hour ago flash through my head and I cringe at that thought. We look and look. Dave starts to look for old teeth we could play the switcheroo with. Finally, we find the tooth (on the floor under Ben's dresser), and things calm down.

After tucking Emma back in, tooth safely under the pillow, I kneel down to say goodnight, again, to Ben.

"So, that was pretty crazy, right?" I say to him.

"Yeah", he says shrugging his shoulders. " I don't know why she was crying, I gave her money."

"Maybe you're gonna be a tooth fairy someday." I say.

"I'm not a fairy mom". He says. Can't argue with that one.....

Arizona Trip!

We had an awesome trip to Arizona! So fun to see Dave's parents and the SUN! Very relaxing and the kids all did great on the plane ride! Here are some pictures from the trip....

The sun!! It's so bright!

At the Desert Museum

Me and Emma

Grandpa and Katie

The guys

Ready for the tram ride up Sabino Canyon!

Wow..they are all looking at the camera!


Ben LOVED the Pima Air and Space museum...

A family pic!

Dave and the kids at the Space Museum

Kate


The kids love the AWESOME mall in Tuscan :)

Grandma and Grandpa with the kids

Wow..another family pic!

the kids loved playing with Grandpa and Grandma's Lincoln Logs

...and of course, they loved all the cactus plants!

Listening ears

On the way home from the park today it was loud as usual in the car. Emma talking, Katie yelling, music playing. I glanced in the rearview mirrow and Ben was just staring out the window.
Me: You ok, Ben? You're sure being quiet..
Ben: It's so noisy in here, I decided to put my listening ears on for awhile".

Japan

Emma has been very worried about whats going on in Japan. Yesterday while I was cooking dinner she was in her room for a long time. She came out and gave me this letter to mail to Japan, and she had made a list of stuff we should send them.. Bandaids, granola bars, water bottles and fancy shoes...i love her so much!

It talks to you??

At the store I picked up a fancy digital scale to replace our other one. But after thinking it through, i decided to put it back..
Ben: Why are you putting that back, mom?"
Me: "I don't like what it says when I step on it."
Ben: (eyes wide) "You mean it talks to you?
Me: "Um, sort of..It's like its screaming at me to get off.."
Ben: "That's freaky."
Me: I know, thats why we're putting it back.."

Ben at the library

At the library today I told Ben to go and pick out 5 books for his storytime at night. He was gone a long time and came back very excited, big smile on his face. "I can't wait to read these tonight mom!" And here they are folks, in no particular order: Modern Architecture, The Growth and influence of Mormonism, How to cook the Brazillian Way,United States Navy, and A Visitors Guide to Mt. Rainier National Park. Anybody else want to come read to him around 8 o'clock??

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Weekend in Seattle!

Dave and I actually got to go away for the weekend!! It was AMAZING...I will say it again...It was AMAZING :) We really needed it, a little bit of peace and quiet can do wonders! We got to go up and stay with Adam, Bridget and Brady in Seattle, and it was so fun! On Friday they took us to a Sushi restaurant by the water, and then we got to stop by the Hutch (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research) to check out where Adam and Bridget spend half their lives :) Dave and I walked around Seattle, and actually had entire conversations without interuptions!! Saturday they took us on a beautiful drive up north through Whidbey Island. It was so pretty and relaxing! Then we ended the day with a ferry ride. Thanks for the great time guys, and thanks to my mom and Alicia who held down the fort here in the 'couv :) Here are some pics...

Happy Valentines Day!!!!

A few funny things the kids have done this week- I gotta write them down or I'll never remember them. This is what makes life interesting and fun in the midst of the chaos!!



The kids and I were driving home the other day when we passed Starbucks.

Ben: "I want to get Starbucks! I'm soooo thirsty...PLEASE!!"

Me: "Nope, we're going home, we've got drinks there."

Ben: But I need a drink NOW... I'm sooo thirsty right now! It's NOT FAIR!"

At this point I am taking deep breaths trying to remain calm and not use my
mean mommy voice...

Emma: Ben, it's not all about you all the time. You're not the only one in
the world. You know there are kids that don't have anything to eat or drink
ever. Think about that..

I just smile and think to myself, "wow, they do listen to me..and she's gonna love being a mommy someday..



A few nights ago Ben came into our room and said he had a bad dream. I carried him back to bed and talked to him about his dream. I asked him what would help him forget his dream and go back to sleep? Maybe a prayer? Rub his back? Drink of water? He just looked at me and said, "Chocolate candy always makes me forget my bad dreams. I think you should get me a couple of those."



We were in Fred Meyer and passed one of those coin cashing in machines. I had told the kids they could pick out a treat after we were done shopping. Emma ran over to the machine, all excited, and said, "Mom, instead of a treat, I think i'll just get some of this cash out of this machine!"

I really wish life worked that way.....



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Benjamin turns 4 years old!!

I can't believe Ben is 4! He had a fun birthday week: he celebrated at preschool, we had a little party for him, and then went and saw a Winterhawks hockey game! Benjamin is such an amazing kid, it's so fun to see him grow up. He is so thoughtful of others, so loving,energetic and imaginative. He still loves to cook and bake, do crafts, watch airplanes and build legos. His new favorite things are learning about tornadoes, space and sea lions. He makes us laugh every day, and gives the best hugs ever! Happy Birthday Buddy!

Dave found these Seahawks Jerseys at GoodWill for himself and Ben. Ben thinks its so cool that they match!


Our birthday party at home...cupcakes from Battle Ground Bakery, Ben's favorite!





Winterhawks hockey game!


Emma got to have her picture taken with some of the Rosebud cheerleaders..made her night!