Derek's little mind

As many mothers know, getting in the shower can be a dangerous time because you never quite know what your children are going to do while your out of site for a few minutes, even though you may turn on their favorite show or bring out their favorite toy sometimes it can just be down right frightening.  Derek is no exception to this, the other day this is what I found, not that he was being naughty it just amazes me how his little mind thinks.

Derek's Friends

 Derek loves to play with his friends and I'm so lucky to have great families living around us.  They are wonderful people and even help watch Derek while I'm at work.  I love just watching Derek play with other kids, and especially love that most days they play so well together.  I'm so blessed to have such great neighbors and friends and know how much they have helped Corey and I in raising our little boy.  Gotta love little boys and playing in the wet fresh cut grass.

Derek is not so sure what to think about this green monster.

Happy Birthday Cedar!

Today is my sister Cedar's birthday and I just had to do a post recognizing all the ways that she is such an amazing person. She is and always has been such a wonderful mother sister, and friend.  I love her so much and can't thank her enough for all that she has done to help me and my family.  She loves my son so unconditionally and that means the world to me.  I love you so much and hope that you have such a wonderful day.  Happy 25th Birthday!

 

Yes, I'm extremely jealous, she looks this good, right after having a baby!

Pumpkin Carving Contest of 2010

So a little while ago we had the Hatch Family Pumpkin Carving Contest.  Yes, this is another event that we have started after we all got married, but it is a very competitive contest.  Actually everything in my family is competitive but hey we can at least have fun right.  Each year, each couple brings a pumpkin and then we have a set time limit to carve our pumpkins, and don't worry it is later voted on.  Again, I'm sorry for the quality of the pictures, but I forgot my camera, so we are just using the phone.   

Are you noticing the "science fair project dividers" I told you we are a little on the competitive side, don't worry we also use these for the Gingerbread house contest.

I thought our turned out pretty good, but unfortunately we didn't win.  Corey forgot to take a picture of the winner but it was really cute.  Who knows maybe next year we will be the victors.  Man I love my family we really do have so much fun together.

Fire Academy

The fire academy is finally done!  As many of you well know, back in Georgia Corey was a full-time firefighter and was even an instructor.  When we moved to Utah his certifications didn't transfer, so unfortunately that little hobby of his came to a screeching halt, because honestly I just didn't have the couple thousand dollars it would have taken to send him to the fire academy nor did he have the time off available.  When we moved here, things had a pleasant turn of events.  First they had a volunteer department and they were more than excited to have Corey (an actually experienced firefighter) join their department.   Secondly, they sponsored him to attend night training and regain all of his certification.  I was so happy to be able to let Corey go back and be apart of something that he loves, and honestly had wanted to do since he was a very little boy.  It was a lot of sacrafice in hours away from  home, but honestly I have to say it was worth it.  I won't lie and say that I loved having him be gone so much, and I won't lie and say that I don't worry about him at all while he is gone, but I know Corey is loving this and I love to be able to support him on it.  Corey has sacraficed so much for me, including his hometown so that we could live in my home state and be closer to my family.  I love him for that, and if I can "reward" him with giving him his favorite past time, who am I to say No.  Isn't he a good looking guy, don't worry he has already warped Derek.  Derek loves Firetrucks and thinks his Daddy is just the coolest guy alive.

Isn't he so sexy, I particularly like the boots!

Derek loves to go down with Corey to fire station so he can see the trucks.  Corey would take him down when he had to get his gear for class.  This at least gave them some one on one bonding time, and some along time for Mommy.

Sorry these pictures aren't the best, they were taken with Corey's phone.

Dressing Himself

Does anyone notice anything wrong with this picture?  Yes, this is Derek who came in after using the restroom and being so proud of himself because he even got his pants put on all by himself, just like a big boy.  I know they are on backwards, but hey I had to take a pictures, not only because of how silly he looked but also because he was so proud of himself.  He was really mad at us when when we made him take them off and put them on the right way.  He was so insistent that he had done it.  Just in case your wondering his hand is behind him because he was desperately trying to zip up his zipper in the back, I guess he figured that if he could get it zipped up that, we couldn't make him take them off.

Our 5th Wedding Anniversary!

Tomorrow is Corey and I's 5th Wedding Anniversary.  It is really crazy to think of us as being married for 5 years, yet there are so many times when I think it is only 5 years. Five years ago, I was sealed for time and all eternity to my soul mate in the Mount Timpanogos LDS Temple.  We were surrounded by many family and friends who were there to support our decision to dedicate our lives to each other.   I feel like Corey has always been part of my life.  These past 5 years have been amazing filled with happy, sad, difficult, and some easy experiences.  We have been blessed with a son, that just keeps growing up way to fast.  I feel every time that I blink I'm missing years of his life. Corey is my very best friend, I tell him everything.  We have our days of difficulty where we don't always get along as well as we should, but they don't last long, we just can't stay mad at each other.  How grateful I am for a husband who treats me with so much respect and love.  I know that he will sacrifice everything if he has to for his family.  How lucky am I, I think I'm the luckiest girl in the world.

 This day was so awesome!

 

The circumstances that created the framework for our relationship might have been a little unconventional but who really cares we were happy, and just loved talking and being together.

It is amazing how much this family has changed, 4 grand-kids, and everyone is now married!

It rained and we didn't get to take all the pictures that I wanted, but that was OK because it didn't matter.  We were finally married!

On the day of our wedding I woke up and the power was out, but I didn't panic.  Instead I thought about it and realized that there would probably only be about 2 showers worth of hot water, in the water heater so I hurriedly got up and showered so that I would be one of them that got a warm shower.  This day was my day, and I enjoyed every moment of it.  I love my family and everything they did to make this day perfect.  Thank you Mom and Dad for all the hard work that you put into it.  But of course most importantly Thank you to Corey for taking me as your bride and staying that way.  These days it seems like so many bug out and leave when things get tough, thank you for not running away when it gets hard, or especially on those days when I'm especially difficult to live with.  I LOVE YOU!

My Dad surprised me with Sparklers and a Limo, this was my first and only time I've ever been in a Limo.

 

We were so happy to have our families be apart of this day!

 

Yep, he was broke, but he gave me one of the happiest days of my life, THANK YOU!

 2 1/2 years later we welcomed this sweet little boy into our lives.

 And this is what that little baby looks like now, man he has gotten so big!

 We look a little bit different, we may be a little bit  fatter, still just as poor as we have always been, but we are so happy.  I wouldn't change anything.  Thank you Corey for being my wonderful, amazing, loving husband.