Val Update

            

Val is 4 going on 14. I have to remind myself all the time that he is only 4. He is my stubborn, determined, loving little guy. 

-To be honest he is has been really hard for me lately. He is stubborn! Boy is he stubborn! 

-But he always knows how to make me laugh!

-When he is playing sports (whatever sport it is) he is all in! He will get dressed at 10 am for a 5 o'clock practice...kleets and all!

-He plays hard. Really hard. 

-He knows how to push everyones buttons. If there is a fight in the house it is usually between Val and someone else. 

-My pickiest eater...by far! The second I put food on the table every night it is an instant..."I don't like thisssssssssss!!!!!" 

-He is agressive. Loves to wrestle.

-Loves water but doesn't like getting his clothes wet.

-Is competitive in everything he does!

-He is all boy!

This kid drives me crazy sometimes, he won't let me give him a kiss but likes to give me a hug so tight he wants to "pop out my eyeballs"

-He is the typical middle child and craves for attention and when I give him my undivided attention he will hold my hand and stroke my hair and tell me he loves me all day long. Those are my favorite days!

-Yesterday we were at the park and Ace wasn't coming so I started walking away and said, "BYE Ace!" Val got so mad at me and started crying because he loves Ace so much he would never want to leave Ace! He was so mad at me for pretending to leave and ran over and gave Ace the biggest hug and said, Ace we would never leave you! And kissed his cheek. (Ace is the only lucky one that gets a kiss from Val!)

-He just started playing soccer for the first time and when we were driving to his first practice he said, "mom, I'm so excited that I don't have to just watch anymore!" He kills it on the soccer field. Last game he scored like 7 goals. He was so pumped!

-Although he thinks he is older than he is, his meltdowns and whining and not listening and the way he says,"everysing" reminds me that he is just my sweet little boy who wants to be just like his big brother in every way! He has the best gut laugh in the world and when he starts laughing it is really hard to not laugh with him! He has the most contagious smile! And He is SO much fun to be around. 

When he is happy he is happy!! We sure love you Valzee.

           

 

                  

 

              

 

Jade Update

My Beautiful Jade. She is 6 and is a good sport to have to hang around lots of boys all the time. She is smart, funny and kind. She has a hard time staying focused so I have a lot of tricks I use to get her to focus on what she is doing.
For example: "Jade go put on your jammies!" (usually i have to repeat myself 100 times until I actually do it for her and we are both frustrated). So instead of getting frustrated I say "Mermaid Tail" and that gets her back on track.
-Another one that I do is when we are cleaning (THE WORST THING EVER!) I tell her to put on her roller blades and see how fast we can pick up and clean the house. It keeps her focused and not so easily distracted.
-Jade LOOOOOOVVVVVEEEEESSSSS dying her hair different colors and getting her face painted. -She loves doing make-overs and painting nails.
-She is always singing and flipping around. She got in trouble all the time at school for doing cartwheels (very stupid rule!)
-She is very strong and has insane muscles! We are putting her back in gymnastics as soon as I can get a hold of life....which will probably be never. But it's on my to do list.
-She loves dogs!! one of her favorite things to do is to go to our neighbors house and walk their dog.
-She loves helping me cook but hates the clean-up. (Me too!)
-Is super adventurous even if there is a little complaining in the beginning.
-She wants to be an artist, face painter and horse rider when she grows up.
-She is very good at walking away from girls who are being rude or not making good choices. Her teacher told me that she is friends with everyone and bounces around from one person to the next. She typically will start playing what she wants to play and people will join her. I love that about her.
-She is playing soccer again this year and is getting really good at defense. She still scores goals, but she will not let the ball get past her when she is on defense.
-She has never been into dolls, she has always been a treasure hunter (aka rock collector) and anything to do with animals.
-she has gotten really good at paddle boarding.
-Loves her littliest brother (her and Val fight the most!) She is always trying to find ways to make him laugh.
-Very social and loves being with friends, around friends at all times. But she told her teacher that I was her Best Friend. And that makes me happier than anything in the whole world! I hope that we will always be best friends!

Can't imagine life without this spicy, spunky little girl! We just love her to pieces.

          

 

          

 

         

 

         

 

          

 

 

 

           

 

                 

Beck Update

I wanted to get on here and write a quick update on each kid....starting with Beck.

Beck is 7 and will be 8 in a couple months. He is still the peacemaker of the family. He is so loving and kind hearted. He can tell when I am stressed or need help and is always the first one to ask me how he can help. He is adventurous and always up for anything. He got a new surfboard this summer and has been getting better each time he goes. He is also playing soccer on U10 but is only 7. (not by choice, it is because of his birthday) He likes pizza (specifically MOD), pokemon, playing with friends, going to the beach, soccer, mario, jumping on the trampoline and doing good at school.

Here are a few stories i never want to forget about my sweet Beck.

-We tend to hang out with a lot of Boys! There are a lot of boys here and hungtington and poor Jade is such a good sport about it. But we saw a moving truck in our neighborhood and the first thing Beck said was, "I hope it's a girl for Jade!" He saw a little girls bike and came running in to tell Jade that a girl was moving in!

-In first grade Beck liked this girl named Saige. She was very sweet. They passed letters to each other in class and on Valentines Day he wrote her a special note saying that she was beautiful, but on the back of it wrote..."don't tell your friends?" haha they liked each other for a while, gave each other little gifts. But then she got to be a little too touchy. Beck was starting to get annoyed by her because she was always around him. He came home one day and told me that they "broke up" I ask him what he said and of course sweet beck said, "Hey Saige do you mind finding another boyfriend!" ha I seriously love him!

-It was the second to last day of school for Beck (1st) and Jade (K). Jade was out at recess playing hula hoops and she tripped really hard and fell right on her forehead. I got a call from the nurses office saying that Jade was not calming down and that she needed me to come to the school. I had Ace and we got there in a few minutes. We walked in and all her tears started coming again. Because I had arrived and she needed to cry it out with me and Ace (who gave her the bigest hugs ever!) But then I realized that school was almost over and I would just grab Beck on my way out. They called Beck up to the office and when Beck walked in he looked at Jade and imbraced her with all he had. She cried on his shoulder for a solid 5 minutes while Beck held her. The office was dead silent. The nurse and I were both crying. It was the sweetest moment that I will never forget. Jade needed her brother and Beck was there to help her out and just listen to her cry. It was a very proud moment for me.

-Another thing I love about their relationship! They had recess at the same time but the 1st/kinders were seperated by a fence. Whenever Jade is having girl problems or the girls arent playing nice Jade will go over to the fence and have someone get Beck for her. She would tell him that her friends arent making good choices and he would just say, "well Jade, go make some new ones!"

-He just started second grade. It has been an adjustment. Beck's teacher is great, but has been a little faster than his last teacher and just getting back in to the swing of things is hard. One night I could tell that something was going on with him. He was super emotional, and really sad. I asked if I could lay down with him and he really opened up to me. There were a lot of tears, he told me his teacher does things too fast and that he feels stupid that he cant keep up. He even told me, "mom, maybe school is just not my thing!" but what got him the most was this packet that he had to do. He could not figure out how to do this one page, but he was convinced that everyone else figured it out. Beck was so distraught that night and sick to his stomach because he lied to his teacher and said he finished so that he could go to recess. He didn't know what to do. I told him that he should go back to school the next day and tell her the truth! He was so nervous, he wanted me to do it. But I told him that he could do it and that she will understand if you tell her the truth. The next day after school he ran up to me and told me that he figured it out and that he told his teacher and that she was really nice about it! I am so grateful that he has a conscience and was so worried about lieing to his teacher but mostly I am so proud of him that he told the truth and that he worked it out!

I'm sure there are a million things I could say about Beck but mostly how grateful I am to be his mom. He has the best smile and these two little dimples that melt your heart. He listens to his teachers and tries his hardest to always do his best. He knows how to be goofy and have fun, but also knows when to stop. He is a good kid and surprises me a lot the time about the patience and love he shares with his siblings.

       

        
 

     

 

Ace August Hawkley 8.8.16

My body created another human and I was lucky enough to bring another healthy baby into the world and to experience the pain and beauty that happens while having a baby.

                  

Here is Ace's birth story....

August 5th was the anticipated day for Ace to come. But with my past history I should've known better. The day came and went and there was still no baby. I did a lot of walking and moving around to try and start this labor. After two days of contracting pretty regularly it started to get more intense on Sunday night. My contractions were about 2 minutes apart and we decided it was time to pack up the car and head to the hospital. My parents came over to watch the kids. We got to the hospital and again my contractions were 2-3 minutes apart. I was dilated to a 4 and was addmitted aroud 1:00 am. They gave me a tiny bit of pitocin to keep my contractions close together. Around 7:00 am my doctor came in and said that I was a 7 maybe 8 but that he wanted me to wait until he was done with another surgery to brake my water cause he knew that once he broke my water it would be quick. That was the hardest part for me. I was just waiting for my doctor to finish. I was pretty comfortable still. Contracting every 3 minutes for about 2 hours. He came back, broke my water. Then the party really started! I was in full labor. Lots of water coming out of me and lots of pain. I sit on a ball through the contractions, I stood up, I bent over....the pain was getting really intense. I decided to go without the epidural again because I knew my body could handle it. But at this point in labor I am always rethinking my decision. I am a quiet laborer, I have to remind myself to just breathe through each contraction and to focus on something else (usually its the prize at the end and seeing that sweet new baby). About an hour after he broke my water I knew the baby was near. I got on the bed and said that I needed to push cause he was coming. The doctor asked Pehrson if he wanted to deliver the baby. Of course he did! So he put on some gloves and in one contraction I started to push. I pushed two times and out he came. The moment that we had been waiting for for the last 10 months. My prize! A beautiful healthy little guy came out and Pehrson placed him right on my belly. The tears came streaming down my face and I literally could not have been more excited and relieved at the same time. I did it! I had accomplished a goal that I made for myself and had all of my babies naturally. I have never been more grateful for a healthy body and for 4 beautiful children that I get to hang out with everyday. 

This delivery was probably my easiest one. I wasn't in very much pain until the end and my body had remembered what to do. I am so grateful for my body and for the beautiful things that it can create.

Once again it was love at first sight.....

  

Hawaii

We went to Hawaii in October (2015). We decided to try out the military airlines to see if we could fly over there for free. We drove up to Sacramento for a couple days with the Hawkleys, visited the beautiful Lake Tahoe and then we luckily made it on a flight to Hawaii. For our whole family for free. We were so thrilled and so excited to spend some time together and with our friends. While we were flying over there Pehrson was starting to get really swollen and itchy. Every time I looked back at him he was more swollen and his eyes were geting smaller and smaller. When we landed in Hawaii we got to a hotel room and Pehrson went straight the ER. Poor guy had an allergic reaction (we think) to some poison oak that was airborn up in Lake Tahoe and so they gave him some steriods to help it feel better.  He was the most comfortable when he was in the ocean or in some AC. His reaction was getting better but it still wasn't 100%.

But we still had a great time. Went on a fun hike, played at the beach, surfed waikiki, ate at some of our favorite spots, played with our friends, enjoyed some time with each other and told our kids all about this special island that brought Pehrson and I together.

Pehrson had another reaction on our flight back to Sacramento and had to go to the Hospital again. I had a very strange moment while this happened. 

So we had been traveling all day long....our kids luckily did awesome, but still we were all worn out. We finally got off the plane, got our luggage and I dropped Pehrson off at the hospital on base. Then because of the time change it was dinner time for us. I was trying to stall the time so Pehrson could get more medicine and I could pick him back up without putting the kids to bed and then waking them up to go get him. By the time we were done eating (its about 10:30 at night) the doctors still hadn't even seen Pehrson. I went to the hotel. Got a room then went back to my car and started unloading all my bags. My kids were so tired. I was tired. I was on the phone with my mom, worried about our situation, worried about Pehrson! I might have cried a little bit and then this lady came over to me. She was very odd. She didn't have any respect for personal space, she talked a little funny. She came up and asked me if I was Mormon, i said yes and then she flashed me her garments and said that she was too. She asked me how she could help me and honestly I needed help. I needed to park my car and bring all my luggage and kids upstairs to our room. I would have never left my kids with anyone but I needed help and I said about 500 prayers in my head. I walked her into the lobby with my luggage and Beck & Jade. I made eye contact with the people working there and they kind of realized the situation. I ran back to my car with Val, drove so fast to get a parking spot that was of course SO far away and then sprinted back to the hotel with Val delighted to see my two sweet kids sitting there telling her their favorite colors. My heart was racing. I thanked her and just wanted to get into our room. But I didn't want her to know which room was ours, so I kindly gave her the hint that I was grateful for her help and that we are good from here. She walked me to the elevator and started walking away when Jade fell and started crying and then Val hit the bright red alarm button in the elevator that they put at perfect eye level for kids. Remember we are at a military hotel, so they have to follow protocol. It calls the security and I tell the man that all is well my son just accidently hit the wrong button. He is freaking out..."remain calm, don't move, we are sending someone over right away...i repeat do not move!' "Sir...Sir........we are fine." A few minutes later, I think every one of my kids has had a meltdown at some point, the man comes sweating cause he was running over to make sure that all was ok. The Lady finally left us once he came and he carried my bags to my room. I have never felt so happy to be in a hotel room with a closed door behind me. I needed a pack n play for Val so I called down to the front desk and asked if they had one, she said, "Oh yeah, we have one, why don't you come down and grab it..." I said...I'm the one with the three kids who probably shouldn't go back in the elevator right now. She quickly realized who I was and said, "don't worry, I am on my way!" THANK YOU! Nothing sounded worse than leaving that room again. It is about 12:00 at night. Pehrson called and said that he found a taxi that could bring him to the hotel. Thank Goodness. That meant I could put my sweet babies to bed and not have to wake them up to leave and get daddy. I got off the phone and looked at my kids. I suggested we say a prayer and it was one of the most reverent, spiritual moments I have had with my kids. We were being watched over immensely and I was so exhausted and grateful that that day had come to an end. Pehrson made it back eventually we all slept really well and then woke up the next day and drove back to Huntington Beach. 

It was an adventure I will never forget and will be forever grateful for this sweet family of ours. I can't thank Heavenly Father enough for always watching out for me and sending me guardian angels daily. 

Preschool

These two cuties started preschool September 2015. Beck goes 3 days a week and Jade 2 days a week. Same school. Same teachers. I know I am biased but I just don't think they come much cuter and fun than these two. I am jealous of the teachers that get to hang out with these two cuties all the time. I am so proud of them and the people they are becoming and the choices they are making. I love watching them grow but I also want to freeze time and never let them grow up. 

Soccer mom & a Mini Van

I became a Soccer mom/coach and a Mini Van driver all in the same month. I am like a real mom now. And I love it more than anything.