MEET GEORGE WASHINGTON

Tonight was the Wax Museum at Stevie's elementary school. Stevie chose to be George Washington. She did a super-duper job and even looked a lot like him. (minus the false teeth) I was curious as to why she chose George Washington to represent and her reply? "Because I thought it was cool that he had false teeth made out of ivory." Okey-dokey, whatever floats your boat!
George Washington strikes a pose
Daddy and Stevie

FOR AARON

This post is in response to an email Aaron sent me the other day...

1. What is your occupation?

Wife and mother

2. What color are your socks right now?
White with PUMA in grey

3. What are you listening to right now?
Ben's compressor - used for his humidification

4. What was the last thing you ate?
Mexican corn chowder and corn muffins, YUM!

5. Can you drive a stick shift?
Learned to drive with one - so YES!

6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
Probably yellow because that color makes me feel happy:)

7. Last person you spoke to on the phone?
Kayla's AAU Basketball coach's wife - calling to tell me about her scrimmage for tomorrow night

8. Do you like the person who sent this to you?
Not only do I like him, but I LOVE him!

10. Favorite drink?
Vitamin water

11. What is your favorite sport to watch?
College basketball - men and women or Olympic Gymnastics

12. Have you ever dyed your hair?
No and if my genes hold true I just might not have to! (thanks mom:))

13. Pets?
2 very cute but annoying PUGS

14. Favorite food?
I love a hearty chowder and fresh fruit

15. Last movie you watched?

We are Marshall - in honor of my brother-n-law Jarrod who works at Marshall University (the movie is based on a very sad but true story)

16. Favorite day of the year?
Probably the last day of school - can't wait!

17. What do you do to vent anger?
I'm not really one who needs to VENT my anger. I just deal with and move on.

18. What was your favorite toy as a child?
One that I remember fondly is my Batman Pogo stick. I would jump for hours on that thing

19. What is your favorite season?
Definitely Fall although Spring comes pretty close this year after the winter we've had

20. Hugs or kisses?
HUGS! (especially from my husband - he's the best hugger EVER!)

21. Cherry or blueberry?
Mostly cherry unless it's a muffin then I'd rather have blueberry

22. Do you want your friends to email you back?
No because I'm using this as a post

23. Who is most likely to comment?
Probably Aaron - he always has something sarcastic to say - it's his way of showing me LOVE, right Aaron?

24. Who is least likely to comment?
Um...probably my sister Amy Jo

25. When was the last time you cried?
Tonight at Family Home Evening. I gave the lesson on Elder Bednar's talk from General Conference last week on PRAYER. I re-told the story about the little girl who died.

26. What is on the floor of your closet?
Oh...treasures! Actually due to lack of storage space for all of Ben's equipment, I keep all of his extras (that don't fit neatly into his rubbermaid drawers) packaged into boxes on the floor.

27. Favorite smells?
Newborn babies and homemade bread baking in the oven

28. Who inspires you?
People who are selfless

29. What are you afraid of?
Losing my children, car accidents

30. Number of keys on your key ring?
4 I think

31. How many years at your current job?
Oh...about 15

32. Favorite day of the week?
Fridays

33 . How many states have you lived in?
4 - Colorado, Massachusetts, Idaho and New Hampshire

34. Do you think you're funny?
At times

35. Have you decided who you're voting for President?
No - not since Mitt dropped out

MY HALF BIRTHDAY

Happy half birthday to ME! Yep...today is my day...well, atleast half the day was mine. After church I celebrated with my children and friend Kathy since my husband had to work a whole day on my half day. (rude) Half of the dinner was made, half of the dishes were cleaned, half of a (church) movie was watched and half of a cake was made to finish the celebration off. It's now official...I'm 34 and a half years old.
HOORAY for HALF BIRTHDAYS!!!

Oops...lest I foget my other HALF? Happy HALF birthday to you too Ben!

MY SIDEKICK

It was BEAUTIFUL yesterday and so once again I dragged Ben out of the house to go grocery shopping with me. I love taking Ben. He's such a great side kick. Grocery shopping...THAT'S always an interesting time. Me pushing his wheelchair and pulling the shopping cart. You should see the looks and whispers that I get. Good times I tell you. Some will walk by and whisper to their significant other..."boy, that lady's got her hands full", (ya think?) or how about the ones that give you that sympathy smile? My favorite? The ones that steer clear from you - to the point that they will turn around and walk the other way. Someday I'll get the courage up to yell at them..."Ya...I wouldn't want to catch it either!" As if my child has something contagious.

Ben and I? We just chuckle.

People are funny that way.

(Or should I say ignorant?)

SILLY PUTTY

Can I just tell you how much I HATE silly putty??!! It makes me cranky in a BIG way. If my kids show up with it, I trash it immediately. (only when they're looking the other way of course) My kids know how I feel about this "putrid" putty. Not sure if you've had the pleasure of experiencing silly putty stuck to your carpet or to the buttons on your remote control but this stuff does NOT come off! It's hideous. Whoever invented this stuff should be punished.

It's a mom's worst nightmare.

So this morning as we were getting Kayla and Kaleb ready to leave for school, I called Stevie down for prayer. We were all kneeling at the foot of the stairs when she comes meandering down in her "half-wake" stupor. That's when I noticed it. The "stupid putty" stuck all over her pajamas. (okay, stupid is a little harsh - but it certainly isn't silly - don't remember EVER laughing at this stuff!) Of course I asked her the obvious "did you take silly putty to bed with you?" She looked at me with a dazed, confused look. I pointed to the mess that was all over her and she then proceeded to tell me that the egg was closed. Okay...first of all, we NEVER take silly putty out of the kitchen (my rule) and secondly, don't tell me the egg was closed when you went to bed because I'm pretty sure the "silly putty princess" would not have it all over her pajamas if it was. Can someone PLEASE help me with this crisis? Don't tell me to stick her pajamas in the freezer or use goo-gone because I've been there and done that. I'm afraid that by tonight if I can't find a remedy, these pajamas will be visiting the big black bag of DEATH!

(sniff, sniff)

HELP!

CELEBRATING MOTHERS

I know why I LOVE conference. It's talks like Elder Ballard's on MOTHERHOOD that leaves me SO refreshed and ready to take on the world! I am so grateful that I am a mother and one that can stay home with my children. I feel valued and important as a mother and I'm glad that I know who I am and what I stand for. I am lucky to have a husband who supports my valuable role. I am lucky that he affords me some time off when I need it.

Here's to all the MOM's out there and for all that you do for your FAMILIES!

ANOTHER BIRTHDAY!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY DAD!

(did I not mention that some REALLY amazing people are born in April?)

He's a crazy kinda guy...

...with a FANTABULOUS smile!

I love my dad! He makes me laugh. I came down today to wish him a happy birthday in person. (I know, I'm a great daughter:)) You know you're old when your birthday presents consist of:

1. upside down tomatoe plants
2. a bird house
3. a blue plaid shirt

AND...money from his daughter. You see...I owed him some money (borrowed it 3 weeks ago) and paid him back today. Did he even remember that I owed him money? NOPE! (goes along with that "old age" thing) See his face? (below) Doesn't he look SO happy? That's cuz he is! Wouldn't YOU be if someone handed you a large amount of cash? I said, "dad...don't you remember that I owed you money?" For the life of him he couldn't remember. The kicker??? He said, "I don't remember giving you money...but I DO know what you owe me for..." (he picked me up a space heater for Ben) So sorry dad, but I already paid you for that. "You did?" Gotta love 'em. He's my dad! (note to self: next time just put the money in the card and leave it at that.)

Everyone give a SHOUT OUT to my dad...after all...it IS his day!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEN

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BENJAMIN

Ben's BIRTH YEAR

(Ben in the ICN at Dartmouth)

FIRST BIRTHDAY

(RSV)

(receiving nebulizer treatments)

(my baby)

SECOND BIRTHDAY

(the traditional "Hutchins' Bite")

THIRD BIRTHDAY

(Ben's birthday celebration with the Billin Family)

FOURTH BIRTHDAY
(Ben's surprise birthday party)
.
(Ben missed his party - over 150 people came)

(Mass General Hospital in Boston)

(Mass General's PICU)

(Transferring Ben from Boston to Dartmouth)
(See all my birthday cards?)

FIFTH BIRTHDAY

(Ben being airlifted to Dartmouth)(Ben is the KING of the PICU)

WE LOVE YOU BEN!!!

If you have a minute, we would love to hear how Ben has touched or made an impact in your life. (You can click on comments and choose annonymous if you don't have a blogging account.) Thanks for supporting us through this incredible journey!

I GIVETH AND I TAKETH

Would you LIKE to come live at our house? I'm known as the "MeaN mOM"! Apparently we are the only house on the planet where messy rooms are frowned upon. According to my children, "other parents don't make their kids pick up their rooms". I'm tired of asking, I'm tired of begging. I am now officially known as the "mEAneSt MOm" because what I giveth, I now taketh! Today I dutifully proclaimed to each one of my 3 lovely cherubs that when bedtime is announced, they will have 10 minutes to pick up their floor or said items will be TRASHED! Oh the wailing and gnashing of teeth!! When the timer goes off, out comes the big black bag of death! Hopefully this will instill upon them the responsibility (I know...it's asking A LOT) of keeping their rooms somewhat decent. Yes...I AM asking a lot, I've been told...3 times over! Since we are the ONLY house on the planet where the "MeaNEst mOM" lives, I would be more than happy to send her to YOUR house!

THE BIGGEST JOKER

Ahhh...you probably thought I was talking about my dad, didn't you? Nope, I'm talking about me. Yes, I know...mostly I'm the silent type but I'm entitled to humor while here on earth aren't I? For example, I'm well known for my "playing hookey to avoid going to my birthday parties", I've pulled that one off twice now. (not sure if my family thought that was funny though) So, to celebrate this day of FOOLS, let us revist the past and I will show you what I am talking about...


Take this look for instance...do I pass for a girl? My big sister's, who keep begging my mom for a little sister, got what they were asking for - if only for a minute or two. (by the way...that long hair stuff is for the birds)
Here I am on my third birthday - you might ask yourself why this picture is funny? Well, my mom decided to take me to a professional photographer to have some really nice pictures taken. She spent about 20 minutes getting me all situated, fixing my hair, staightening my clothes (the way all good moms do) and explaining to the photographer that I do not smile on demand. (obviously I do things my own way) After she was all done fixing me up, she turned around to walk back to where the photographer was situated when the picture man exclaimed, "I thought you said he wasn't going to smile?" My mom turned back around and saw me grinning ear to ear - boy did I get her good!

This one still makes me giggle. My mom (mostly the recipient of my practical jokes, poor thing) had a friend over one day when she decided to show off all my beautiful teeth. She opened my mouth and was touching my front teeth to show her friend, when I let one loose - tooth that is. Out it popped right in front of their faces. My mom didn't know whether to laugh or cry it happened so suddenly.

My brother and I take Karate - okay, he takes and I watch. I was still learning though - he just didn't know it. One day after class I got to go into the DoJo so he could practice some moves on me. Little did he know, I had some moves of my own and before he could say "UNCLE", I had him pinned! To this day I am known as "Grand Master Ben" at the studio.

This one is probably my favorite prank to date. We were visiting my Mimi and Grampy down in Florida while they were on their mission. My Mimi loves to hold me because I am the cutest thing ever! On this particular day we were waiting for Kaleb and Stevie to get their hair cut. As I was sitting on Mimi's lap she noticed that I was smiling really BIG! She told my mom to quickly get the camera which she did. What Mimi didn't know (until the smell was overwhelming) was that I was passing gas...hee, hee. (I'm still cute though, aren't I?)

HAPPY APRIL FOOLS DAY!