Emma's 5th Birthday!

Emma had a very fun Birthday- thanks to everyone for making it so special! The phone calls, cards, presents and thoughts sent her way- we appreciate them all! She had a tinkerbell birthday party, had friends and cousins over, got to play games and a pinata, and eat lots of good food! :) Here are some pictures from her big day...

The birthday girl! She's 5 today!

Me, Emma and Steph

Me and my mom

All the kids!! Paige, Preslie, Emma, Bella, Finn and Benjamin

Emma's new bike from Daddy and Mommy

opening presents

Brian, Bella and Finn playing the Wii

Daddy and Emma (dave was so tired by the time this picture was taken- he went to work at 5am)

Isabella and Emma- best friends!

Benny and Emma with Nana and their build-a-bears (thanks nana!)

St. Patricks Day

Emma was supposed to wear green to school for St. Patricks Day, and so of course, Benjamin had to do what Big sister did! I was just goofing around with the camera, but this one of Emma turned out really good. I can't believe she will be 5 YEARS OLD on Monday!!!


this smile gets me EVERY time :)

We are crazy

Playing catch up...

Well, things have been pretty busy as usual here in the Hughes house, so I haven't posted anything for awhile. Nothing too crazy going on, just life as usual. Our biggest accomplishment in the last week is getting Benjamin off of pacifiers. Our hope was to totally take them away, but night time is proving to be very difficult for him (and us!). But he has been very brave, and no longer uses any pacifiers during the day, only for sleeping at night! The other day we "mailed" his pacifiers to new babies that need them...I also put some other pictures on from the last couple weeks. Hope everyone is doing good!

Making the long walk down to the mailbox with his envelope of pacifiers :)

Mailing off the pacifiers

Emma and her rabbit buster..

Ben has been learning to blow bubbles

....and he got it!

After a couple staright days of rain, I had to think of creative ways to burn off some energy... the mattress worked great, the kids had a blast jumping down it...

Partners in crime...

I told Emma and Ben to play in Emma's room while I vacuumed the house... I came to check on them 10 mintues later and I see this:



Looks suspicious... this is what they looked like when they turned around...



I guess its time to take away Emma's play makeup....

JJ Jump

Emma's class had a field trip to JJ Jump in Vancouver, and she had a blast. It's a big warehouse filled with bounce houses, slides, and bouncy mazes. I didn't get too many pictures, it was kinda dark in there, but here's a couple...we'll definatley have to go back sometime!

Here's her class- this is classic Emma- 1) she doesn't like to take time for pictures, and 2), she was SO SAD that it was time to go... oh, the drama :)

Our new way to burn off some energy!

We got the kids an excercise trampoline to burn off some of their ENDLESS energy... they really like it and of course, have already used it for jumping off the bed, doing gymnastics, taking naps, and putting on "jumping shows" :) Anyway, here they are showing me their muscles.. and they have homemade capes on (I think they were pretending to be batman and supergirl during their "show"....

Hit the Pause Button

I came into the kitchen to see why it was so quiet. Emma was sitting with her arm outstretched over the table, not moving...
I said, "Emma, what are you doing?"
With only her lips moving, she said, "I paused myself"

Wow, has she been watching too many movies???

what do I even say??

I hear the kids singing at the top of their lungs in Emma's bedroom...oh, i think, they are getting along so nicely....
... then I hear screaming and yelling...
Emma runs into the kitchen crying.
I say "Whats the matter honey?"
Emma: "Benjamin will NOT let me praise the Lord and its making me so mad!"
I stare at her and have no idea what to say... this happens to me a lot :)

Our new nephew, Charlie David Winters

On Monday evening, My little sister and her hubby welcomed their third little boy into the world! Charlie weighed 9 lbs, 9 ozs, and he's beautiful! I will never get over what a miracle little babies are...Congratulations Winters Family!

All of Charlie's cousins, brothers and Grandma's in the waiting room

Austin and Jack waiting for news on their baby brother

....and here he is, Charlie David!


Emma LOVED holding Charlie

I love this picture- Crystal just loves her boys so much..

The three winters brothers with Nana

The kids at Multnomah Falls

Weekend at Cannon Beach

We decided to be spontaneous this weekend and headed to the beach- the kids were so suprised! We took advantage of the awesome winter rates at our favorite hotel, and we were off... It was amuch needed little break, we have a big month ahead of us. The kids had so much fun swimming and combing the beach for treasures.. Roscoe got to come too, and besides getting sick from drinking too much sea water (I thought dogs were supposed to be smart??) he had a great time too... here's some pictures..



Haystack Rock

The kids go crazy when we drive by the candy store...

The guys contemplating the meaning of life... or wondering whats for dinner, Im not sure..

Roscoe and Me

Wow, my hands are HUGE

Our little daredevil.. (I just call her little Dave :) As she says it- "Swimming is my favorite thing in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD!!"

Benjamin loved the water this time- he tries to keep up with his sister I think..

5 minutes after swimming.. Ben fell fast asleep

Just one of those mornings....

Ben is usually laid back, pretty mellow, and kinda does his own thing most of the time...that's why it catches me by suprise when he has an bad and naughty morning :) You moms know what I mean... i could see it the minute he woke up, and without going into detail, i'll let you know what our little angel was up to this morning- all in a days work, right??

*leaked his bottle all over the couch
*tore pages out of Emma's book
*peed on the carpet- and then on the bathroom floor :)
*gave 9 bones to the dog
*"decorated" the table and chair with his yogurt
*climbed up on the bathroom sink (I had no idea he was doing this), plugged up the sink, and then filled it with water... I heard him saying, "mommy, come, wa-wa!" and by the time i got in there, water was running everywhere...
*got into the DVD case and was running around with a DVD in each hand..
*jumped on emma twice
Ok, so i will let it be known that this is rare :), but oh, man...this momma is tired already... we did have one awesoem thing happen though-- Ban peed in the toilet for the first time, and he was SO proud of himself!
So, here to all you other moms and dads out there with 2 years olds- we will survive this stage- i hope :)!!