Grandpa Hibbard

Brant and Geneva's dad, John, flew in from Phoenix to visit for the day. The kids were so excited to see him. He came bearing lots of really cool gifts. This was his Christmas trip. It was fun to visit and catch up. Unfortunately, he could only stay for the day and flew back this evening.

In Memory

I was so sad to hear the news a couple of days ago that my Aunt Donna was killed in a car crash. She lived a good, long life and had lots of family who truly cherished her. It reminds me to make the most out of every day and love everyone in your life like it is your last day. Then, you will have no regrets. She started a blog this year and talked about how she was going to commit to keeping everyone more connected. That's the second time I have come across a blog who shared those commitments and then experienced a death in the family that same year. Wow! You just can't take anything for granted.

No wonder I haven't lost weight

I have tried to improve my health by exercising for the past four months. Granted I mostly "just" briskly walking for 45 minutes five times a week. Guess how much weight I've lost? Not one stinkin' pound. I've heard all of the sympathizers say, "It could just be muscle. You build muscle when you first start to exercise." Yeah, I must still be building muscle.
I decided to try a green drink as a daily supplement. The first week I felt so much more energy. I'm not usually a person that gets more energy from something like this, so I was happy. Being so excited about the product, I decided to get the cleanse and their pH-Balance test kit. For two days you have to test your urine and your saliva to get a composite pH score. My test is so low, I am almost in the first quadrant which is the worst spot to be in. I barely scored into the second quadrant.
According to their research, too much acid and not enough alkaline will keep you from losing weight no matter how much you work out. Toxins are stored in fat cells and cannot be cleansed without a rebalance. So I am going to continue with the green drink and retest in a month. Of course, I'm adding the cleanse, and I've decided to do the colon cleanse as well. Unfortunately, sugar, meat, and carbohydrates can add to an imbalance as well. So I am cutting back on those as well. I know--duh, don't eat bad food and you'll lose weight. The testing is making me more motivated to not put bad foods in my mouth. I want my pH balance!
BTW, this is the product I am trying: www.pH-ion.com

Moving blues

I wish we could find some place to live for a very long time...I don't want to have to move ever again. It is so hard. I don't even have alot of stuff. So, I feel for those people who have to move who have more stuff and more kids. It makes me want to keep things light, because I know this house we are renting is going to be temporary too. Hopefully, we can at least get two years out of it. The twins will be four by then. And, Lane will be two. That seems hard to imagine. If I don't blog much, it's because I'm packing, cleaning, and tending to kids.

I am strong!

I was moving a desk and Porter wanted to help. I said, "Oh, Porter you are so strong!" He said, "Yeah, I am strong like my Dad!"

Just a thought

It occurred to me that lately I've had a bit of trouble remembering what day of the week it is. I realized that because Brant usually works six days a week, I don't always get a "weekend." I guess no one mentioned to Lane that there are weekends when you get to sleep in. He's up at the same time everyday. I'm up at 4 a.m. starting laundry, cleaning, feeding kids etc. Today, it's the same thing. Lane wakes up at 4 and the twins at 5. I know it sounds early but it's not so bad. Brant gets up at 4 too. The kids go to bed at 7 p.m. and we go to bed at 8 p.m.

January pics

These are recent pictures of the kids. Lane is pulling himself up on everything. His crawling has greatly improved. He is going faster and wanting to venture farther away. He pulled himself up on the toilet yesterday. Oh no! Porter and Madison still love going outside even though it is very cold. The twins often join Lane and sit to play with him. They really love their little brother.

It's Moving Time

We found out yesterday, we have to move by the end of the month. The house we are renting is going into foreclosure. Moving is not fun. Unless, there is some sadistic person out there that enjoys it. If you do, please come over. The good news is that we have a house to go to in Summerlin. So it's box-up time. I wish we could have stayed here longer. I was really getting to like the ward. I hate having to meet new people. But, it always works out. This is the longest we have been in one place since the twins have been born. Hopefully, we can stay at the next house for awhile.

Politeness first, please

Porter wanted to play "horsey" with me yesterday. Meaning, I get to be the horse he gets to be the cowboy. I crouched down so he could mount the horse. I said, "You have to talk to the horse and tell 'em what to do." He said, "Okay." I prompted him again, "Say, get up horse." He said, "Get up horse!" I said, "Okay, now what do you want to say." He said, "Thank you, horse."

Smith Family

Everyone on Brant's side got together for Heather's Baby Blessing.

BACK: (l to r) Wayne Smith, Heather Smith, Isabella Rosales, Rhonda Smith, Breanna Mills, Kendall Smith, Nathan Smith.

FRONT: (l to r) Mead Tenney, Cambry Tenney, Gene Mills, Zachary Mills, Melissa Mills, Jantzen Tenney, Brant Hibbard, Porter Hibbard, Liz Hibbard, Madison Hibbard, Geneva Tenney, and Aundra Tenney. Not pictured: Lane Hibbard. (He was sleeping.)

Pics of Lane

Lane loves his Grandpa. He wanted to go to him this morning and kept cuddling with him. It was very cute. He doesn't even do that with me!

Now that he can get around so much, it's a little harder to put him to bed. He stands up, sits up, crawls around. Last night I put him to bed and when I came back to check on him, he had fallen asleep while he was sitting up. He looked like he just folded over and fell asleep.

He can crawl!

Lane finally did it! He just looked at me yesterday afternoon and started crawling to me. He's a little "unsmooth" but he's getting it. He got around all over yesterday. But didn't venture out further than right outside our door. And...oops!...he crawled of the bed this morning. I forgot I am going to have to be more careful with him now.

"There are two naked babies in the upstairs window."

Said a kindly stranger who stopped by our house to let me know. Apparently the troublesome twosome who were supposed to be taking a nap, decided to strip and dance naked in their window sill. I knew I shouldn't have let Grandma and Grandpa take them down to the strip for Christmas. I'm going to have to have talk with those two about dancing naked in Vegas.

Conversations that have to be recorded

Madison has started closing her eyes when she doesn't want us to see her. She was getting in trouble for taking something away from Porter and tried this trick.

ME: Madison, just because you close your eyes doesn't mean we can't see you. Watch. I'm closing my eyes. Can you see me?

MADI: No. I can't see you.
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ME: What sound does a cow make?

PORTER: Mooooo

ME: What sound does a chicken make?

PORTER: Quack, quack (He can't figure out the difference between a chicken and a duck)

ME: What sound does a frog make?

PORTER: Rip it! Rip it! Rip it!

ME: What sound does a Wolf make?

PORTER: Let me in! (From the Three Little Pigs)
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The other day Kendall started wrestling with Brant. Madison stood as tall as she could with her finger pointed at Kendall and said:

Kendall! Don't fight my Dad. You go to time out right now!

He did. She's so in control of everyone.
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I was instructing the twins on cheers and being silly. We were dancing and just having fun. Spontaneously, I say: "Can I get a Whoo-Whoo?" Madison stops dead in her tracks. Turns to me and says, "No, Mom. You can't get a woo-woo."

Glenn Beck's "The Christmas Sweater"

I received this book as a Christmas gift and really enjoyed reading it. I just finished last night. Glenn is a master storyteller as he relates the story of a young boy who struggles with some of life's most difficult trials. It is a great read! I recommend it to everyone. It is based on personal trials from Glenn's childhood. However, he adds fiction to the story as well. My favorite part:

"A-tone-ment," he said, punctuating the word. "It's a chance to fix the unfixable and to start all over again. It begins when you forgive yourself for all you've done wrong and forgive others for all they've done to you. Your mistakes aren't mistakes anymore, they're just things that make you stronger. Atonement is the great redeeming and equalizing force that leads to the fulfillment of all things: every hug you've ever longed for, every Ferris wheel, baseball game, and walk in the snow you've missed. Everyone you've loved and lost. Atonement, Eddie, is heaven on earth."