To our #1 Dad!

Happy Father's Day Andy! Thanks for always making time for the kids, and for being the greatest dad ever. We love you!

A battle I can't win.

Ava's preferred outfit right now is her Hannah Montana t-shirt with a pink polka dot skirt and silver headband. This is actually a big step up from the princess pajama dress she use to have to wear everyday!

Cael on the other hand loves to mix all patterns, especially plaids.

If you saw my kids on pretty much any given day, you could easily mistake them as orphans. They insist on dressing themselves entirely, which wouldn't be so bad if they knew what looked good together. I used to get so angry with Ava when she wouldn't put on what I wanted her to wear. I'd bribe and beg her till I was blue in the face, but she'd never give in. So I've come to the realization that it's not a big deal, and nobody else in the whole world cares what they're wearing but me. There are some days however (like Sunday), that I make them let me help pick out their outfit. And even when Ava will allow me to do her hair or get her dressed all cute, she ends up taking her hair out and changing a few hours later anyway. I've decided I'm going to save my energy from now on and just allow them this freedom, because it's not that big of a deal. Right??

Some thoughts on Motherhood...

It's so true when they say that the things you have to work the hardest at in life, will be the most rewarding. I've never known happiness like I do now that I'm a mom, but there are often days when it's SUPER hard! But once one of my kids smiles at me, or does something cute it makes everything I'm doing at that moment all worth it. I truly love being a mom, it's the greatest blessing. I'm grateful for such amazing examples in my life that help me to know how I can be better. I fall short so many times every day. But I also pray daily that I can be more patient and loving to the kids and Andy, because it can be hard to do when the house isn't clean, and the laundry is piled up to my chest, and the dishes aren't done, and so on...But I know I will be helped by my Heavenly Father if I just do my best, and always rely on Him. I'm so grateful that Andy has made it possible for me to stay home with the kids. He really works so hard to give us everything we need. I love him so much. I'm getting to live out my lifelong dream of being a mom...growing up that's really all I ever wanted. I love the family I have, and never knew that I could experience this much happiness.

Leave 'em alone for 5 minutes and...

someone had put my address labels on Will,

Ava was hiding in her room with a half eaten carton of whip cream,

and Cael was doorbell ditching the neighbors in his underwear.

I'm learning that when things get REALLY quiet around the house, it's probably not a good thing.

Partying with the Mangums

Jen, Matt and Max came to visit us this past week from Wash. D.C, and it was so much fun to get to hang out with them everyday. It was the first time we've been able to see Matt since he got back from his job in Iraq. Jen's pregnant and due in September. We went to a Cougars baseball game, Jumpin'Jacks, and of course lunch at Chucky's one day. The highlight for all of us was being able to go take a tour of Scott's fire station in Orem. Right now Scott is a head paramedic and fireman and so Cael, Max and Ava got to try on all the gear and pretend they were driving the ambulance. Our little field trip was cut short however when they had to race off to help someone in a car accident. It was impressive to see how quickly they actually respond once the 911 dispatcher tells them the situation over their radios...they were all outside in their vehicles and gone in about 5 seconds, we couldn't even say goodbye to him. He's truly our family hero!
We'll miss Jen and Matt, they had to fly back home today. But we sure had a good time!

SwImMiNg LeSsOnS!!!

Cael got to start swimming lessons this week. He loves going and loves his teacher Juleen. Ava was a little sad that she couldn't be in the class (4 & 5 yr. olds only), so I'm going to try to do a "mom and me" class with her next month. Will was a good boy and slept through the whole thing.

Welcome Baby Will!

He's here! William Van Hokanson was born this past Monday at 1:45 p.m. (named after Andy's older brother and Dad). Andy and I got to the hospital around 8:00 a.m., but things didn't start progressing until about 10:00. So I had time to get my epidural while the contractions weren't too bad. The scariest part about the entire process of having a baby (for me) is getting the epidural, but I think they're such a blessing. Once my doctor broke my water things started happening quickly, and then I only had to push for about 20 minutes before he came out. The delivery was a dream. If I could've moved my legs I would've jumped off the table and kissed my doctor. He and the nurses did such a great job. Later that afternoon once the numbness wore off and I was able to get up and walk around, it didn't even feel like I had just had a baby. I'm so thankful for how smoothly everything went. So, needless to say my recovery has been practically pain free other than those HORRIBLE after birth contractions that happen when your nursing. WoW! They get worse with each baby it seems. My wonderful mom has been here everyday, all day helping me until I get a handle on things. Cael adores his new baby brother. He's always wanting to hold him, and doesn't like anyone else to get by him. Ava on the other hand is a little indifferent. Sometimes I think she's happy he's here, but usually she acts a little jealous. So Andy and I have really been trying to make her feel special and let her know she's still loved. :) Andy took Cael and Ava to St. George this weekend to see our niece get baptized, and to give me some time alone to rest and be with the baby. He's such an amazing dad and husband, ALWAYS helping out wherever needed. We're so excited to have Will here- finally! We're thankful for all of the support shown to us from friends and family. Thank you for the meals, gifts, prayers, and love that you've given. Now if we can just get him to sleep more in the night than in the day things will be great!

My friend Summer organizes a huge Easter egg hunt every year up at Rock Canyon Park. The kids absolutely love it. Cael wanted a picture with the easter bunny who made an appearance at the end.
Cael was so cute to help Ava find eggs for her basket, even though he had every opportunity to run ahead and leave her in the dust.
The kids got a really fun Easter package in the mail from Grandma & Grandpa Hokanson. They are always so cute to think of us on every holiday.
The Easter Bunny left a trail of eggs for Cael and Ava to follow that led to their baskets.

Happy Birthday Cael!

Cael turned 5! We had a party for him at Jumpin Jacks, and then brought everyone back to our house for lunch/cake and to open presents. He felt so special, and had such a great time (this was his first party with friends). His little buddies that came were Cade, Brock, Bo, Trent, and Xavier. Then on Sunday (his actual b-day), we had a fondue dinner with his cousins. We love you so much Cael, you are the BEST big brother, example, and son we could've ever asked for.

a BIG week for Cael

Today we went to kindergarten registration, and Cael was so excited to be able to walk around the elementary school where he will be going. We peeked in every classroom, the library, the lunch room, and he just HAD to go in the boy's restroom to use the urinal. :) I think it's going to be really hard for me once he starts in the fall, and it's not that he's going to be gone from home much longer than he is with pre-school, but it just means he's really growing up and it makes me so sad at how fast that happens. Also, his birthday is on Sunday along with Easter. He's really excited to have a party on Saturday, and he loved passing out invitations to his friends today. At pre-school they did a fun little activity where they were given a newspaper page and a magnifying glass, and they had to look through it and highlight any letters they could see that appear in their name. He spent a few hours working on this even after he came home from school that day.

Is this Utah or Alaska?

I seriously can't believe how much snowfall we've received this year! It seems like every morning we wake up to a few new inches. The snow banks on our street in some spots are 7 feet high! Morning, noon, or night the kids want to be out in it playing, which wouldn't be so bad I guess if I weren't so pregnant. Anyway, I'm trying my best to enjoy the rest of the season, and trying even harder not to let my bad attitude rub off on Cael and Ava. I'm just so ready for the Spring, and for the new baby to be here.

In Loving Memory

President Gordon B. Hinckley -What an amazing Prophet he was. He will be missed greatly, but I know we will see him again someday.

It's her party she can cry if she wants to!

...and boy did she ever live up to that phrase. The whole day was a little bit rough. Anytime we would sing "Happy Birthday" to her she would get mad and scream "NO!", and if you happened to be standing close enough to her you took the chance of getting punched or kicked. Cael really found it amusing that he could get her upset in that way, so as you can imagine he was reminding her all day that it was her birthday. I'm still not quite sure why she was acting that way, maybe she just didn't want the attention. That night we all met at Brick Oven for dinner and a little party. She enjoyed that part of the day because of ALL the presents she got. She's so into princess stuff right now, so it was really easy to find gifts she would love. Thanks to everyone who made her day special. We appologize to any of you who called her and didn't get quite the "warmest" responses like you may have expected from a birthday girl...at least YOU didn't get kicked! :) We'll let her off the hook this time, because I think she was just trying to live up to the title of the "Terrible Two's". We love you Ava. You have brought us so much happiness!

Hooray for Uncle Scott!

Congratulations to the newest member of the Orem City Fire Department! You're awesome Scott, we knew you could do it!

12.05.07

Cael and Ava got together with some of their best little buddies and decorated ice cream cone Christmas trees. They had so much fun putting on the icing and candy, but even more fun EATING them afterwards.

We're having a....

Sorry... We'll all have to just wait and see! I had my ultrasound today, and the baby looks fine, but we didn't have the sonologist tell us the sex. Orginally Andy and I were both TOTALLY for leaving it a surprise, but just since last week I've been wanting to know. But he would NOT give in and let me find out. Since we do have one of each, and I have all the clothes I'll need for whatever it turns out to be, we thought why not do something different this time. I think it'll be fun. (Although deep down I was hoping she'd slip and say "he" or "she", but no luck.) We let Cael and Ava come with us, and they thought it was so neat to see. Cael REALLY wants it to be a boy or a dog. :) To those of you who said you're going to call the Ob Gyn yourselves to find out?...they said they won't tell anyone over the phone. :) So, we'll just have to be patient until April.

Halloween '07

Ava was a witch. (If she knows I'm going to take a picture, she'll hurry and look away - what a stinker!!)

Cael was a pirate again this year. Here he is at his pre-school Halloween program.