The Eighth Dwarf... BUSY

My wonderful sister posted this as her status the other day and I loved it so much I figured that I would use it. Thanks Kim!! The Hoskins' house sure has been busy the past few weeks, but I think we are finally settling in and getting used to our routine.

Ryan is working two jobs right now, plus studying Spanish medical terms in hopes of getting a better paying second job. He leaves for work at 4:30 and most days isn't home from work until 6:00. He is working so hard, and I am so grateful for the husband and father that he is.

Sheldon is doing great in school. He really loves everything about it. It seems like he is gone the whole day, which makes it hard, but when he comes home and says it was awesome it makes it all worth it. He also is taking a Hip Hop class. He is doing really well and loves to get out his energy with the cool moves and great music.

Allie is busy with preschool. She loves her teacher and comes home everyday singing new songs. She is taking ballet and tap as well. She loves to dance and sing and is always doing some from of them.

Ethan is getting so big and fun. He loves to cuddle and will grab your hand and take you to the couch or bed and tell you he needs to snuggle. He loves to play with Sheldon and Allie, but also loves it when he has just Mommy around. As soon as he hears the garage door open he runs to it yelling, "Daddy, Daddy!" He repeats just about every word that is said in the house. He is always caring around a blanket and his stuff frog from Grandma.

As for me I am busy with PTA, Reflections, cleaning, cooking, carpooling and Zumba.

So as you can see the Hoskins' house is busy, but we are enjoying life and having fun!

Cornerstone Ceremony

Ryan had the chance to sing with the Cornerstone Choir for the Oquirrh Mountain temple and because it was outside the kids were able to attend. We snapped a few pictures before they started singing and the ceremony happened. I have to tell you that was the most amazing experience to watch my three little ones be a foot away from the Prophet and to feel the power of the Spirit and the effect it had on them.

Sheldon and Allie found a Prying Mantis and were telling him why they were there and if he liked to live by the temple.

Ethan just loved walking around the grounds and say, "Pretty" to everything and everyone he walked by.


Having the chance to be at both the Draper Temple and the Oquirrh Mountain Temple dedications and having my wonderful husband sing at both of them, I can say that having my kids at the temple and feeling that Spirit gave me a
small vision at how wonderful this plan really is.

Back to school (only a week late)

Sheldon is now in all day school. When I say all day I mean 8:55 to 3:50. He really does love it and I am starting to get used to the idea.

He is in a brand new school that is just wonderful. They have these pencils as all of the support beams. The bathrooms have stick figure boys and girls made out of tile instead of the signs. It is really a happy place to be.

Blowing kisses to Mrs. Moulton his Kindergarten teacher that he has a major crush on!

His attitude because he was done with pictures and wanted to just get to school already.

It really is an amazing thing to see your child growing up and accomplishing so many things. He really loves school and everything about it. I know that has a lot to do with his wonderful Kindergarten teacher. I could have not asked for a better person to introduce him to school.

Gardening

Okay, I know it has been a million years since I blogged, but we are finally settling down into a new routine and I will again have time to update. The first one I wanted to start with is the harvest we had from our garden after being gone for the weekend.

The kids enjoying the pickles we canned 3 weeks ago. Really they are the best pickles I have ever had. We can't wait to get the rest of them done.

What we picked from just this weekend. We will be canning, pickles, salsa, tomato soup and making zucchini bread and cookies this week.


Everything!

Holy cow have we been blessed!

Once we get the canning all done I will blog the products!

Happy Birthday Day Allie Grace

Time sure does fly, and as I look back over the 4 years that Allie girl has been in our life I have to smile for the joy that she has brought us, and breath a sign of relief that we have made it this far with a healthy, happy little girl.

Allie right after coming into this word. This is the only picture we got of her alone before she was taken into the nursery for her oxygen.

Sick little Allie, with her feeding tube and lights for the jaundice.

At Primary Children's at 5 weeks. For and unexplained fever.

Pictures for Daddy's birthday.

Always bright eyed and full of wonder. This is Allie at 6 months.

Allie's first birthday

Her second birthday

Her third birthday

And finally a couple of pictures of what Allie does best!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALEXANDRA GRACE!

Splash Park with The Richards

We have some really good friends for our Draper ward that we love dearly, and a couple of weeks ago they came our to our house for dinner and fun. We started out at the splash park and had a blast!

Ethan was more interested in eating the watermelon than actually playing in the water.

Cute Aubray and Austen. We love hanging out with them.


Ry-ry. Isn't he so darling. He's my boyfriend!

Azlyn was brave and actually got in the splashing water.

The girls getting it started. Allie and Azy are best friends!

We had a blast and were glad that the Richards could come and play with us!

Garden

So the Hoskins' house sure has been busy this summer, but I am finally getting around to posting pictures of the garden... these are about 2 weeks old so things are bigger, but it gives you the idea at least.

The yummy peas. We have picked all of these since this picture. I think we did a great job for our first attempt at peas.

Starting from the left we have carrots, green onions, red onion, and white onions. Next to that are the cucumbers, but you can't really see them in the picture.

Tomatoes, 26 plants in all. They have all grown up and over their cages now.

The zucchini.

First row of corn, we have 10 total. We planted 2 rows from starts and at the same time planted 3 rows of seed. When the seed grew to about 3 inches tall we planted the rest of them.

Along with all of these we have, pumpkin, spaghetti squash, crock neck squash, cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon, crenshaw melon, Anaheim peppers, jalapeno, Serrano peppers, banana pepper and finally a red potato and a russet.

It has been a lot of work, but it sure has been fun!

Growing up to fast.

I try to teach my kids Independence and allow them to so things that are a bit of a stretch for kids their age. I like them to pour their own drinks (if the pitcher isn't to full) I let them make their own snacks. I have them make their own beds (and I don't go in and fix them when they are done.) Today Allie asked if she could have a carrot. I told her that she could help herself. Now mind you that I'm not really a big fan of the baby carrots. If I have my choice I will always choose the regular ones. Well after she asked me, while I was putting Ethan down for a nap, this is what I found.

Okay, again ignore the stuff on the counter, I'm still finding a home for everything, but look at how big she is. Not one carrot skin was left on the counter, and no fingers were injured. Some times I look at her and wonder where the time has gone. She is almost 4 and growing up to be so big. Time sure does fly!

Dancing Allie

Allie takes dance at a great studio run by one of my friends. This past weekend was their dance recital so I snapped a few pictures of Allie before we left for the recital.

Um, don't mind the box of pictures in the back ground. We moved everything out of the Draper house Saturday because the buys are closing this week and I didn't have time to put it all away before the recital.

Some days I look at her and just can't get over how darling she is. I just love this picture of her.

It was a great recital. She did a great job too!

Animal report and end of year program

Okay, it has been awhile, but we have been having a blast the past few weeks. First of all, Sheldon did his very first report for school. He chose to do it on giraffes. We had a chance to go up and watch his report and he did a really great job.

Sheldon being crazy!

On Tuesday Allie had her year end program. It was darling! I love New Castle School and will be sad next year when she doesn't go there anymore. They sang a ton of songs and had props and musical instruments. It was awesome!

Here she is waving at the camera!


Isn't she cute?

I just love how excited she was for this day!

All and all we have been pretty busy. Next on our list is the Princess Festival with Nana, then a dance recital, Sheldon has his school field trip to the Zoo and his year end program. So watch for some great posts. Plus I will be posting pictures of the wonderful things that are happening in the garden!

T-ball field trip

Allie's T-ball coach is a helicopter pilot for the army or national guard, and because we didn't have a game on Monday he invited us to take a tour of the Army Heliport. It was really very cool. We got to climb inside a Black Hawk Helicopter. Here are some of the pictures that we took.

Coach JT, Allie and Sheldon next to the Apache helicopter

Ryan and I kissing in the Black Hawk Helicopter

The members of the team that came to the tour and Coach

Sheldon "flying" the helicopter

Allie talking to the other helicopters on the mission! :)

Allie and Sheldon on the top of the Black Hawk

Allie and Coach

Ethan even thought it was awesome... he talked my ear off about everything he saw.

Sheldon flying

Isn't she just so dang cute.