Ready, set, JANUARY!!!!

Rmember us: the Hynes family? Well, we've had a crazy couple of weeks (in April....I'll get to that in a few posts), and in order to fill you in on that fun, I have to first catch you up on the last 4 months!!! WHAT!?!?!? Four months?!?! So, again, so sorry it has to be this way, you are going to get the short version of January. Lots of pictures, not so many words. Even looking at these pictures makes me cold...I DO NOT LOVE THE COLD WEATHER!!! But, if I have to endure looking at them, then so do you! Let's get it over with then, shall we?

Something you may not know about Archie is that, although he is quite picky about the things he eats, the boy LOVES BACON BITS!! However, this love of processed swine does not carry over into actual bacon, as seen here. I can't tell if Mike was more disappointed Archie doesn't share his love, or more happy that there is now more bacon for him :)

We LOVE having Lily over for slumber parties!!! There is just something about her that makes life around here MUCH more fun. Maybe that's why she has dubbed them "awesome-overs. Because I'm awesome, and I'm over." Right on Lily, right on. There was Monopoly marathons, and fun at Jump Time, an indoor trampoline zone.

There are no words that describe how much I love this picture of Archie. This is how he entertains himself while mom tries on one million pairs of running shoes. I love the proportions of his body in his giant coat, and his casual gait as he strolls in super-sized shoes. This kid :)

Hmmm, what else happened this month.....OH YEAH, LUCY GOT GLASSES!!!! I almost forgot that this happened, because she looks like she was made to wear them!! Maybe it's all the reading, but they look like part of her. My gorgeous girl.

We were able to go to a high school basketball game, which was extra fun since Elliott just finished his season, and Lucy was about to start hers! I love how Elliott can't even stop watching the game long enough to take the picture!

See! Here she is!! First time basketball girlie

At her first game, they asked for volunteers to run the scoreboard, and before I could object, Elliott's hand was in the air. This boy :) He is always ready to help, and he is always so curious about how things work, this job was perfect for him. It started out with just him and his friend, Jake, but by the end of the game, there were about 5 boys gathered around watching his super-cool score boarding action.

This #9 blur is Lucy. She was a master-rebounder (it helped that she was head-and-shoulders taller than all the other girls), and she would throw her hands in the air in celebration each time she made a shot. We loved watching her run down the court because she always had a giant smile on her face. So did we.

One of Lucy's best friends, Alayna, moved away last year, but she was able to come up and visit!! She caught one of Lucy's basketball games, then they were able to get together with some other great friends for a playdate. Now they are cute, little email pals.

While eating out at Red Robin, we spotted our own little celebrity on the counter there: Elliott's baseball picture!!! He wasn't there to see it, so we took a little picture for him.

FINALLY, we get to the real reason we have January....MY BIRTHDAY!! Mike arranged for a babysitter, and he took me on a great lunch-date to a new restaurant, shopping, and ice-cream!!! Time spent with my man is the best gift ever.

Finally a little break form the winter-blahs...quick, get outside and enjoy it while it lasts!!!

It was so nice of the National Football League to plan a party on my birthday, it helped us all get together and enjoy ourselves watching the SuperBowl and eating my birthday cake. Thanks again NFL!

Goodbye 2013, you'll be missed...

Let me clarify: the majority of the year will be missed; this last week….I think I'm pretty glad to see you go! What a week!! On saturday, Archie was his usual, crazy self, but when I was getting his pjs on, I noticed he felt warm: 103 degree temp! WHAT?!?! He's the funniest kid: most of the time, you can't even tell he's sick, he is still so happy and energetic. Then, on Sunday, he started to point to his mouth and say, "ouch". Great. Still 103. On Monday, he refused to eat or drink, and still 103, so we took him into urgent care. We always have his eosinophillic esophigitis in the back of our heads, and the sore throat had us worried. Better safe than sorry...

 The above picture just shows you how sick he was. He hasn't fallen asleep in my arms since he was weeks old. He screamed through the whole doctor's visit (again, very strange for him, he loves the doctor!), but he was happy afterward; it's amazing what a lollipop can do! Nothing came up, just a cold, go home and wait it out (but maybe stop the dairy and egg experiment until he's feeling better, just in case).

 Whew, Monday is over, no more drama, right? Not this week. At Elliott's tongue-surgery checkup, they noticed his tongue wasn't fully released. With our deductible met and only days left of the year, Elliott was back in surgery on Tuesday. HE. WAS. NOT. HAPPY.

 But, even though he wan't happy, and knew how it hurt, he did it anyway because he knew it would help. You guys can't begin to know how amazing this boy is. We are so proud of him.

 This time, because it was a little more detailed procedure, they gave him an IV, knocked him out, and put a little morphine in his drip. He looks peaceful enough, but when he woke up, he was inconsolable. He was panicking and weeping and telling me it was all my fault (worst mom moment EVER).  Maybe it's a genetic reaction; Archie did the same thing after his last endoscopy.  The nurse said it was very common coming out of anesthesia like that, she said even adults cry. 

After a few minutes, a few puffy eyes and popsicles later, he calmed down and we got to take him home.

 That is the face of a VERY brave boy.

 Lucy wanted to come support him again, and she was so great. It reminded us of our Savior, and how His suffering allows Him empathy to succor us. Lucy had empathy for Elliott, she knew EXACTLY what he was feeling, and it was so great to have her there. BEST mom moment ever :)

 Ok, Tuesday drama is all over right…RIGHT?!?! Yeah, it is. We did take Lucy to get her eyes checked, but that didn't involve any drama, just a lot of squinting, puffs of air, and fun glasses.

 Really fun glasses! But, the best glasses are yet to come!! 7-10 days to a squint-free Lucy!!

 FINALLY, Tuesday night, NEW YEAR'S EVE!!! Because of sick babies and post-surgical Elliott, we decided to have New Year's celebrations at home this year…. around 9:27. After some play dough fun, noise-makers, Martinelli's and New Zealand's pre-recorded ball-drop... 

 ...we made some resolutions, counted our blessings of 2013, and went to bed. 

When we wake to 2014, we'll find new adventures in running marathons, getting black belts and 2nd degree black belts, and (hopefully) potty-training!!! What a year it promises to be.

Christmas Traditions

I thought I would share some of our Christmas traditions this year, just in case the kids forget someday!!! We start with a progressive Christmas Eve dinner with Mike's family. The order can change, but the idea is the same: appetizer and presents at one family's house, then main course and presents at another, and dessert and presents at another. The kids love it because they get to open more than just one present of Christmas Eve (which was my tradition!!). Mike says his tradition was to go to midnight mass, and come home to the tree set up, and Santa's gifts all under the tree. Lucky boy got Christmas a little earlier than the rest of us!!

So, this year we started at Jason and Kristine's house for appetizers. Lucy got all dolled up in her Christmas dress and LIPSTICK!! You know it's a special occasion when I let her wear lipstick :)

Then we all opened our presents from the "other Hynes" family.

 Then it was on to our house for the main course, and Harmony and Had Abogi's for dessert and more gifts. No pictures. I guess I just got too caught up in the excitement and forgot to snap any!!

After all that fun, we head home, have a little (I mean like 2 minute, we're ready for BED!!) devotional or Christmas story, set up a plate of white-fudge Oreo cookies, and send the kids up to bed. I would tell you what happens after that, but it has to stay a mystery: Kids sleeping, magic happening…. it's the good stuff :)

Christmas morning, Mike and I come get the kids; NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND, we like our sleep around here. This year, Mike woke us all up at 6:30!! We must have been worn out. Then, keeping with my Christmas morning tradition, the kids line up from youngest to oldest, and they sing a Christmas song as they descend the stairs. They sang The Nativity. 

 Santa doesn't wrap presents around here, so once this kids round the corner, they see their haul. Elliott got a basketball standard and some board games, and Archie got a scooter and a Leap Pad (like a toddler's iPad),

 And Lucy got a longboard and karaoke machine.

After we've all gone through our Santa stuff and stockings, the kids have to put all their goodies away in their room (another inherited tradition from me). We then, one at a time, take turns giving our presents to each other. Here are all the gift piles waiting to be given.

 I love doing this because it focuses on giving (thanks Papa and Gramma), and it lets us see each person open and get excited about giving and getting a thoughtful present.

 These are some of the kids' favorites this year:

Elliott: to get, basketball hoop; to give, Mom's S&P shaker

Archie: to get, candy canes

Lucy: to get, longboard; to give, Mom's penguin cookie jar

Mike: Barbecue

Bonnie: to get, kitchen knives; seeing the kids see their Santa stuff

We have had such a Winter Wonderland this December, and Christmas morning didn't disappoint either. In rolls the fog. But, it burned off in time for the kids to get out there and play with their new stuff.

 After Christmas morning, we have a brunch with my side of the family and open MORE PRESENTS!!! Again, no pictures, it was just too much fun to tear myself away and take a few :)

 Christmas has been so beautiful this year. We all agreed that the Spirit of Christ was so strong the whole season. There was so much joy, service and love. We watched beautiful, touching videos on the Mormon Channel throughout the season, listened to Christmas songs constantly, and gave and received so much love. I have to say, I am sad to see it go.