TEN days...

until "The Office" returns!! YEAH!!! By the way did you know Angela's Pregnant?? I wonder how they'll work that in, she's due in June!

BIG NEWS

As if I couldn't feel worse about my age, we said Good-Bye to these:



Colson picked it up in an afternoon. How crazy is that?? He's on a two-wheeler! I'll try and get a picture of him, Josh and I took turns teaching him and taking care of the girls, so it was too hard to capture the moment, but I wanted to post today his news, so this pic would have to do!!

Catching Up

This post contains a lot!! There's some easter pictures... (please note the bangs on Hallie)



Here's the rolls from my Easter Brunch... It was just the fam, but we celebrated in the morning before chuch. These are orange rolls, and seriously the best I've ever made!


Here's where I have found Hallie lately:



And Colson had his first concert at school, can you find him??




What a crazy week!!

One of those Days.

Started great, ended horrendous.

However, I am determined to find Joy in my Journey. My husband came home to me, (i was not in the best of shape), and showed true compassion. He currently is holding Laila, and talking army bases with Colson as he builds them in his room. I love that he takes time to be with them after work. He's better at this then me. Thanks, Josh!

Things have been really hard for me right now, there's strained family relationships, some traumatic things in the past that have come up, and the stress of finding a job, has taken it's toll on me, which then affects my family.

But I'd like to take a moment to tell you some of my blessings:

Josh
Colson
Hallie
Laila

I love you guys!

Vote for Brooke!!

She's my favorite!! Vote for Brooke!!

Poor Colson.

At 18 months I took Colson to his first dental appt., Young I know, but he had teeth and we had insurance, why not? The dentist spotted a crossbite immediately. For seven years now and several consultations, I've known this was inevitable. Today we had an appt. with an orthodontist. I was going to try and sneak this dental procedure in before we got out of the Army to maximize dental benefits, but it doesn't look like we'll be able to do it. Needless to say, we'll probably wait for the new job, and new insurance, but the bill 2230.00. That's right, that's not even braces. The insurance should pay for half of that. WOWSERS!!

Here's what the orthodontist said and I quote: "Very rarely do we treat children so young, but with this condition, we do." Of course, the rarity is Colson, the only child of mine, that doesn't suck fingers!!! His crossbite, needs to be fixed while the roof of his mouth still has a soft spot, this makes it less painful, and has nothing to do with his teeth, just the bone structure. If we were to wait until adulthood, he would need oral surgery. Oh, o.k. then it can be his problem and not ours!! Just Kidding!!

Apparently they treat it with an expander for four months, and then retainers for a year. This allows them to expand the upper jaw, and allow for new bone growth to take place and make it permanent.

He was such a sport as they peaked in and did all the measuring/xrays, etc. Problem is, this doesn't guarantee he won't need braces either!!

Good thing the average salary of someone getting out of the military and an MBA is 104,000. Isn't that a great statistic Josh was told at his briefing yesterday?? Sweet. Here's to hoping!!

HELLO WHAT WAS I THINKING????

Oh my heck. 30 days till T-day - How about 90 days till Get out of Jail (Army) Day!! OH yes, June 23. The end is near...

I should NOT be so hung up on my birthday - I enter my 30's with no deployments in my future. It will be great!!

By the way, Linds gave me some great advice, thank you, I needed it.

And shall I say, we need a job!! Know of one. email me!

One month till - T-day

I'm sorry. It stinks. 30 days to 30 years. How should I spend the last month of my twenties??? Suggestions Please!

This picture was taken last Easter. Is it wierd that I think I look older?? I mean I was hanging in my "late twenties". Now. well... nevermind.

I told my dad that what I wanted for my birthday was 30 one hundred dollar bills. Anyone game??? I think that would cure me of my midlife crisis. :D

Seriously, though. Today was Easter. Josh read the Easter story last night. We "buried" Christ in the Tomb (aka the piano bench) and discovered this morning that He was resurrected. What a great day, two of my kids sang I know that my Redeemer lives and another primary song in Sacrament meeting. Laila slept great at church. Thanks Josh. And we talked about repentance in Relief Society. It was a much needed reminder of where I should be headed, and what I should be doing. Although turning thirty has seriously thrown me for a loop. I'm surely greatful for my family, and the knowledge of the gospel. What a peaceful feeling, that knowledge brings.

Hope you all had a Happy Easter!!

Gray Hair?

Say what? Yes thank you I found my first one last week. Yes I'm turning 30 in less than a month, and yes I'm in the middle of a mid life crisis.

Thank you for asking.

For Joshi.

1. What's his name: Joshi (a nickname from a Korean family in Bloomington)
2. How long have you been married: 8 years
3. How long did you date: 4 DATES
4. How old is he: 30, flirty and fabulous.
5. Who eats more: I plead the fifth.
6. Who said 'I love you' first? I don't remember!! :)
7. Who is taller: He is
8. Who sings better: He does, by far
9. Who is smarter: Joshi.
10. Whose temper is worse: Mine.
11. Who does the laundry: Both of us
12. Who does the dishes: me, mostly
13. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed: We switch it up
14. Who pays the bills: Me
15. Who mows the lawn: last summer me, this summer him.
16. Who cooks dinner: I do
17. Who drives when you are together: 90% of the time it's me.
18. Who is more stubborn: Me
19. Who is the first to admit when they are wrong: I'm never wrong.
20. Whose parents do you visit the most: Toss up, they're both in Indiana
21. Who proposed: He did
22. Who has more friends: I do
23. Who has more siblings: Him, 3 siblings
24. Who wears the pants in the family: Me.

Wait a second, I think this was supposed to be about Josh, it looks like it's mostly about me!!

Getting Sick Stinks.

The family has been bogged down with illness. Thanks Sarah for jinxing us. Me, and all the kids at some point the last two weeks has been sick. It's such a pain in the neck. I'm ready for spring, with fresh air, exercise, and yard work. It just feels good, to get outside!

POLL - Tell me what you think of this.

I won't name names, but I recently called a friend's cell phone, and talked to her child while she was in the store... ever so briefly. I confess. I do it, too. Is there an age when this is o.k.? I could seriously be on trial. Should this woman be hung out to dry or what?? I've so done worse. Let's get the debate going!

READ THIS ARTICLE!

Free Hair Cuts. (From my 4 year old daughter)

Just throwing that out there. I thought since this is the second time she cut her own hair (she wanted bangs, this is what she told me) I could just offer her services to all those out there. Sigh.

We're in the midst of FHE and she's playing with my hair and takes off right before closing prayer. I call for her and say it's time for prayer. Mom, I want bangs she shouts from afar... I run to find her, the deed is done, with her long locks laying on the floor.

I was able to straighten them out, and they're a bit short. But thankfully could be worse. Why? we literally just grew out her bangs from the last episode with scissors. I don't like bangs for one reason and one reason only, they're ridiculous to keep up with, I don't want to trim bangs every two weeks. So here we go again.

No, I don't have a picture, I didn't want to turn it into a big production. I didn't want her to think her escapade was going to be rewarded. I'm sure a picture will be up soon, of her new found hair do.

My latest DT entry...

Wish me more luck, remember this is the lucky month, right??

It's not a great picture, cloudy day today. I'm not in love with the white letter title, but what can you do?

Laila at Eight Months

I love this girl. I love that she is just happy "being". She doesn't need to DO anything. She's moved up to having eight teeth, loves her toes. (they're still painted from our Florida trip) She's pretty close to sitting up, doesn't want anything to do with being on her belly. Absolutely loves her siblings, and oatmeal. This year is flying.

Here's a couple pictures from Hallie's Birthday, isn't she gorgeous?




I just barely caught daddy, you know he's a sport (he has to be, he's got two girls), he just wasn't as excited about a picture!



And here's a few more from Colson's Birthday. I loved that he was reading his birthday cards, he's doing so awesome!! And see if you can see the excitement with Colson's gift, he really wantd the long shot. This super annoying gun toy thing, that's as big as he is! He loved it though.

Who's raising hoodlums? Not me.

Or so I thought.

Hallie was changing into pajamas the other night, and informed me that she peed outside. You're not wet, you didn't pee your pants. I know I took them off. What do you mean you took them off? I peed in the grass. You peed in the grass? Yep. You mean to tell me you took off your pants and peed in the grass. Yep. Where did you go? Right there. Colson why didn't you tell me that Hallie was peeing in the yard. I tried to tell daddy but he wasn't listening. ah ha. Mom's sick. The house falls apart. Um. sorry to the sweet old lady neighbors that witnessed said event. I so thought I was doing better at this parenting thing.

Birthday Girl

Here she is my baby girl. Not so much anymore. She turns four today. Can you believe that?? FOUR. So I've already crossed the threshold of being a mother when I had this little one, but your first girl. What can you say about that?!? My dad always said I would have SEVEN boys to make up for me as a child, I honestly pictured myself with four boys, no girls. Maren, this is you!! I knew that was my future. Josh and I never find out what we're having, we love the surprise. It keeps me from spending unnecessary loot, on cute sales clothes, and well, it gives me something to say when the baby comes! With Colson I knew it was a boy. With Hallie, deep down, I kind of thought she was a girl. I made a baby announcement with both a boy's version/girl's version just in case! Sure enough, my little girl had arrived. And dad, I didn't need seven boys. I needed one Hallie. Oh my is she a mini me. (personality wise)

Hallie was born in Indiana, while I was living with my mom temporarily. Our lease began March 1st. Yeah, you do the math. Another exciting adventure for the Heaths. She was born I think at 2:30 p.m., My water broke as soon as I got up, actually it's what woke me up. That was fun. Thankfully my mom was still home, and took me to my sisters who was going to be with me through the process of it. This one I had to do alone, Josh was at the end of his training in Texas getting ready to deploy to Korea, and we didn't want him to miss the final tests. (hindsight, we should have said screw it flew him home, and delayed him, he would have then missed the Iraq fiasco, but whatever, it was meant to be)So Bec and I headed to the hospital, where they basically induced me because nothing was happening. This was by far the worst doctor on the planet she was a disaster. Originally an English Teacher, decided to go to med school, and here she was an ob. I begged the nurse to not call her in time. I promised not to sue. BUt to no avail she arrived in time. Although here's a warning to you all that don't find out, it doesn't happen very often so they foget to tell you that it's a .... So finally someone said it was a girl, and Becca was amazing, she called Josh right away and he was able to hear all the first cries of Hallie, somehow he missed the next eighteen months of them!! Lucky duck. Anyway, this was by far the most emotional of deliveries. It is no fun doing it alone. The emotions are intense no matter what, and to throw the absence of dad in the mix, is like a perfect storm for an emotional women. Brandee I'm coming!! :) Either way, my sister was fun, she was definitely the person that brought me some good laughs, right when I needed it. My mom came through for me then too, and showed up with all kinds of fun things for the kids and I. I think secretly she was ready for me to move out! :)

Well about Hallie. If you know me, then you know Hallie. She's intense, passionate, strong, opinionated, loud, rash, and all those wonderful things that are me! Josh recently pictured me as a little girl in his head and had started laughing out loud. He could totally picture it. She's really me.

She is loving gymnastics, has started "writing", can shoot a gun as easy as Colson, while wearing princess shoes, and jewels. I love her ability to communicate, and her great laugh. She drives me crazy with her finger sucking, and her attitude. Oh, and well her incessant demands. i am not wearing that, I not going to the grocery, I not want a pony tail. She often hides her brush from me, while we are getting ready in the morning. She used to hoard food, which was funny, I don't know why she would do that but I would find half eaten cookies, crackers, or bars in her drawers, so wierd!

She is a fantastic eater, she's the favorite to cook for because she will eat anything. Oh except worms (shrimp).

I've been meaning to do a scrapbook page called "Swimsoups and Sunscream." I love her little words, like Squares. What are those, nope not the shape. The things in the yard that run around and collect nuts. Yup, you got it. Squirrels.

She too has been a sport, and considering her dad showed up when she was eighteen months, she's bonded well. She resembles her Grandpa Heath, and I love it. I can totally picture him sometimes when I look at her, and I just love that she's a great combination of heaths and me.

So here's to the princess turning four today. We love you, and happy 4th.

The Fam at the Beach

I have some friends wanting to see my tan - there was only one picture taken of me all week, because poor Josh doesn't know how to use my fancy camera. So here it is, I would run into position and here we are the night before we left. Oh I wish I was there now!