The mice will go on bike ride's to Sonic...and who knows what else. Yes--this kitten had to work this week while the mice enjoyed Easter Break! :) The highlight of my week was receiving e-mails with photos sporadically through each day from Luke that he took of the kids. Here are a few of my favorites--
If you see this lady with a pair of scissors in her hands..or a pair of clippers, RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!--or at least turn around and head back to where you came from. I wish thats what we would have done last Wendnesday night. Tubbs needed a haircut. He avoids them like the plague and we had let him grow his shag a little longer than we usually do. But with his wrestling tournament on Saturday, we knew he needed less hair on that melon to keep him cooler. So---we walked into this shop and this lady was the only choice we had. She seemed like she knew what she was doing. Nope. Poor Tubbs. He was crying hysterically. I felt TERRIBLE.
I was torn between crying and laughing as I watched her chop off his hair. After the first minute I grabbed Luke and told him to go over to her and make sure she didn't destroy his hair so much we were going to have to buzz his whole head! At one point she forgot to put a guard back on and started up the side of his head, so he had a nice bald spot on his right side. I can't say it enough.....
Poor Tubbs.
Tubbs getting to pick out his "treat" for being so brave.
He hated his haircut so bad, he wore his hood ALL DAY the next day!
Thanks goodness for Carianne! I sent her a text the next morning and we brought Tubbs over to get his hair "fixed." Now he loves his haircut again. Whew!
Happy boy later that night...drinking at a Red Robin chocolate shake.
Who knew my son could do the "robot." I don't know who he has been watching dance. I can watch this video over...and over...and over! (Don't worry---Petunia is not in that carseat next to Bubba)
With days as beautiful as yesterday, its always difficult when another "cold front" comes through. We definitely have spring fever (soon to be summer fever) around here. This is what our first day of Spring looked like:
Woke up early (yet late) for Bubba's 8:30am basketball game
Picked up our Saturday morning ritual--the Asiago breakfast bagel sandwich from Panera. I really do think I could live off of these. Seriously. Ohhhhh...its a lil' piece of heaven.
Bubba's last basketball game of the season. We have really enjoyed our first year of YMCA basketball. Bubba made new friends on the team and now he is dribbling a ball all through the house/yard on a daily basis. Yesterday he had his best game of the season and scored 6 baskets. Go Bubba! (I will miss chit-chatting on the sidelines with the moms...but I got swim season coming up to satisfy my lack of socializing)
Ran to the new Wal-Mart Super Center and picked up New Moon on DVD. The guy in electronics tried to tell me that they didn't get the "Premium" disc set on Blu-Ray with sneak peeks of Eclipse. While at the check stand what do I see stashed next to the magazines? Yeah, you guessed it. I snatched it up...and continued to talk trash about the monkey. :) Never trust anyone who works at Wal Mart ... thats the moral of the story here!
Bubba's end of basketball season party at Rusty's Pizza Parlor. Best pizza in town.
Relaxing in the backyard.....or as Luke calls it, our "outdoor living space." While Luke was trying to figure out why we had a swampy area in the flowerbed I took pictures of everyone. The boys swam in the pool for the first time this year. (Yes...they are missing a few brain cells.....)
Costco! The land of cheap gas and free samples! I think we ran into half the ward from church.
BBQ! Yes, big daddy cooked us up some grub.A steak for him and chicken for me.
Relaxing (again) in the front yard....watching the cars speed by. Luke took the top off his Jeep Friday night so now we can watch the boys use it as a jungle gym for the next 5 months. But you know what happens when ya take the top off? Yep--it should rain anyday now.
Churros! Yes, I have fallen hard for the churros at Baja Fresh. We have eaten there far too many times over the years and just tried these delights a few weeks ago. Now I crave them. My sweeeeeeet husband went to the marketplace with the boys to pick some up and he was told they were all out. (What?!) So--I called the store in Rosedale and ordered some up. Now, thats an addiction. When Luke got home he scooped up some ice cream for me and piled on the churros. Mmmmm...mmmmm...mmmmmm!
Ok---since I am the official family photographer, this is all I have of myself...freshly painted toes! Its "Mad Hatter" from OPI. Its the cheaper version of "Rock Star" toes! :)
I had to throw in this last picture for no apparent reason...
I know my hair will probably never look like this but I have been dreaming of straightening my hair and getting this cut. She used to have an afro in her Felicity days! What do you think?
"Daddy, when I grow up will I be as big as you? When you die, how big will I be? What if everyone is in heaven except one person, what will happen?". "Well Tubbs... not everyone goes to Heaven." "They don't? Where do they go?" "They go to hell." "They do? What is it like there?" "I don't know Tubbs, I have never been there!" And here is the kicker! He says....."you haven't!?" in complete shock!
Let's see--it seems like so long ago since I've felt at "one" with the blog. Busy, busy, busy is life these days since I have returned to work. A little update.....
Petunia - (aka Tooney, Tooney-Rooney, Jiggs, Baby Jiggs, Jig-wigs, Wiggy) Yes the list goes one. Every time I look at her I come up with something new. This little girl has been an amazing blessing to our family --to say the least. She is the snuggliest little bug..and frankly she is so darn happy, it keeps us smiling (at least until its time to work on homework or chores). She enjoys being packed around and I have to go on the record and say, I think she is the "poopiest" little one I have ever seen. She is very regular! I guess thats a nice way to say it. I love her babysitter! I cannot reference her name because I want her all to myself. She loves Petunia so much and takes such good care of her....it actually makes me happy when I have to leave her in the morning. Her husband also spoils baby Jiggs when he is home from work early and I love that these good people LOVE spending time with her. (Of course who wouldn't, right?!)
Tubbs - My kindergartner is not such a little boy anymore. Even this last weekend, Uncle Bobby pointed out the roundness of his cheeks (on his face people) and asked what we were feeding the kid. He is actually a little "machine" as Luke says. His little physique is completely different from Bubba's and he seems to have the perfect "little" compact physique for wrestling (and Luke is loving it). He is wrestling two nights a week at a high school close by and this Saturday will be his first tournament. We should have plenty to laugh and talk about that is over. Nothing like watching a bunch of 5 and 6 year olds try to pin each other down using "rules" and without hurting each other. We'll see how that goes....
Bubba - Recently turned eight and seems to be trying as hard as possible (by Bubba's standards) to make good choices. His life over the past few weeks has consisted of trying to make his "Accelerated Reader" points for the quarter. This quarter his goal is 24 points. For crying out loud! Specific books (not every book) is on an "AR" list and point values are assigned. After they read the book they go to a computer in the library or in the classroom and take a test on the book. Based on the point value of the book and how many questions they get correct, they earn points. Let me just tell you that tonight Bubba got about 2/3 through a 175 page book and Luke figured out it wasn't on the AR list. I could have flipped out. The book was part of a series and apparently not every book makes the list. Whatever. Bubba is still playing YMCA basketball and picking up a few necessary skills to survive...like knocking people out of the way when he goes after a rebound. It makes his mommy proud! :) Just kidding. Its actually very entertaining... except when its someone else on his team.
Mama - Well...what can I say. I am pretty boring...but yet I seem to be amazingly BUSY. A few months ago I became the Cub Master for the Den in our ward at church. Bubba's first pack meeting was the Blue and Gold Dinner two weeks ago.I am still trying to figure it all out since I have obviously never been through the scouting program. But Luke has been a BIG help! He also really likes to see me in my uniform. Funny guy. As far as work goes, I am attending a conference in Orlando in May....which means an impromptu "discounted" family getaway. The conference is four days so we are staying an extra two nights and trying to squeeze in some fun. Woo-hoo. (And this time we are sooooooo going to the doctor the day before we leave to get EVERYONE checked out for ANYTHING that could cause one of us to wind up in the hospital for 4 days!)
Big Papa - A few weeks ago the Secretary of Education called Luke at his school to congratulate him. (Pretty cool) Luke's school is one of three schools in the county that received the Title I Academic Achievement Award. http://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr10/yr10rel20.asp In April he gets to go with his boss and a few co-workers to attend an awards banquet at the Disneyland Hotel. We were hoping for a free park ticket out of the deal, but I guess Disney must of been too hard up to make that kind of significant donation! :) Instead he get "discounted" parking at the hotel and has to pay to attend the banquet.
Whatever. Thanks for the recognition....
Ok--thats me being cynical and grouchy.
I am very proud of my husband. He works very hard and it is nice to get recognized once in a great while.
Saturday was a special day for my family! Bubba was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on March 6th. He is such a blessing to his family and the day was so special to all of us. We had family and friends there to support him.... Thank you! We felt so loved! He was fortunate enough to be joined by two of his two classmates in primary, who were also baptized. I think that made it even a little more special for him. After the baptism we had lunch and dessert with family and friends. Luke even took the boys and their friends out in his Jeep and let them drive around in an empty field. He also received his first set of scriptures with his name engraved on the front. We can't get him to stop reading them and/or carrying them around. A very memorable day!
Bubba I am so very proud of you and the decision you made. I know your Heavenly Father is also very happy!
So the Hogue's made it to Florida for our first official family vacation. It was Sawyer's first plane ride....and Simon's first plane ride that he can remember. We were excited....the boys were stoked. We had everything we needed! But it seems that Sawyer packed something with him that wasn't on our checklist: a big case of pneumonia. Yes, the little fella made it almost one whole day in Florida before he started heading downhill fast. Our 2nd day in Orlando we were in the Urgent Care south of Cocoa Beach. (By the way, to see a doctor more quickly, it helps if you vomit all over the waiting room in front of the receptionist. Little tip for ya) After chest x-rays they advised us to head to the ER in Melbourne, where they eventually admitted him to the hospital. So, we had 3 night deluxe accommadations at the Holmes Regional Medical Center. The little whipper snapper was a trooper though! The nurses loved him, thankfully, and made us all feel right at home. We were going to send postcards out with pictures of the hospital since we spent 40% of our trip there...but they didn't have any. Imagine that!Hmmm.....maybe its something they should consider.
Established October 9, 1999, we met in March of 1998 when Katie was "hanging out" with Luke's loser roommate. Although Luke didn't let Katie in on this fact until much later....Katie eventually kicked the loser to the curb the summer of 1998. We started dating later that year in December and were engaged in May 1999 when Katie could no longer resist the Hogue charm! What a whirlwind!
Our first "bug," as born in 2002 and was joined by his partner in crime in 2004. Often referred to as the "Hogue Tag Team" these boys are mischievious, snuggly and always up for a good time! Our third bug shook the tag team up with her pink bows and frills. She was born in August 2009 and has turned our tag team into a trio!
