Oh yeah, that's why I do this.

It was another crazy weekend filled with sleepovers, Father's and Son's outings, and family parties. Thirteen year old girls up until 2 a.m. and one year old up for the day at 5 a.m. I also spent a couple hours packing my two boys (the one I married and the one I gave birth too,) for their big outing. I crawled into bed around 11p.m. for what I have started calling "naps." It just doesn't last long enough to be called "going to bed." I woke up at around midnight to check on my sleepover girls and to my surprise, my boys are tucked soundly into bed...after all my efforts, they only lasted 6 hours at the campout. That's what happens when the ward chooses a sight 10 min. from here! It is probably all for the best, when I called to check on them around nine, Christopher hadn't seen Milan in quite awhile. When I asked Milan the next day what he had done the whole time, he informed me that he had been watching the mountain lion and her cub! I tried to remain calm and tried to sound excited for him.
Anyway...I had eliminated all the extra kids by this evening and my kids begged me to go to the park. It was almost dark and the kitchen was a mess, but I decided to be spontaneous...for once! We all jumped on the swings and then raced around the entire park. We laughed the whole time. It was one of those moments that I realized why I signed up for this crazy life of mine. I signed up for it because in spite of the constant exhaustion, bad hours and sometimes lack of gratitude, I LOVE it, and wouldn't trade it for the world!

Spring Break!

Spring break was full of me trying to find things that fit the following criteria; It needs to be fun for kids age 1-13, boys and girls, able to work around two naps, a boy that doesn't like to leave the house, oh....and it has to be free! Needless to say, I was not too terribly succesful. Just ask the kids!
The end of our week was about celebrating Great Grandpa Arnett's life. On the way to the funeral, Lauren commented that you can't spell funeral with out "fun." Grandpa would be proud of his family. He taught them to laugh their way through life. Christopher, commented that Grandpa Charles Wallace Arnett truly was about as perfect as a person could be. He did everything he was sent here to do, by the book. It was such a gift to have him in our lives!

Today was Easter. We made it pretty clear to the kids that the Easter Bunny has also been hurt by a week economy and couldn't do a lot this year! I guess I feel like I need to not let my kids get their hopes up on special holidays. It was how I was raised and I don't really know any other way. They are always letting me know, "Ya, we get it Mom, we're broke!"
It was a good Easter in spite of financial difficulties. Lani was just happy to eat foil candies...foil and all and spent the day begging anyone who would listen to open candy for her.
We spent the afternoon at Jimmy and Tiffany's and had an easter egg hunt with the kids. There isn't anything cuter than watching a one year discovering Easter for the first time.

Okay, so there is never a good time for a Mom to start a blog....so here goes. Starting this month, the Haws family will officially have a teenager, two pre-teens, and a baby. We aren't really sure how we are going to pull this off, but I atleast had good teachers. Thanks Mom and Dad. Come to think of it, that is what Mom had when she fell asleep at the wheel and drove into the desert.....they tried :) I am up at 4:45 a.m., attempting to run (my latest hobby.) I usually make it to bed by 11:00 p.m and start over again the next day. It is a little crazy busy around here, but life is good.
Our little Lani turned 1 this last week and we couldn't be more in love with her. She was worth every stretch mark, varicose vein, and even all the throwing up! She makes it nearly impossible to be sad or grouchy. She isn't walking yet but manages to find her way into all of our lives and hearts for that matter. We taught her to say "Jesus" which we were so proud of, but unfortunately she says it inappropriately, like when she drops her toy or hits her head. We will work on that one.
Lauren turns 13 this next week and really, couldn't be a greater kid, okay, she could be cleaner, but she is amazing for the most part! She is so smart and so talented, she doesn't even bother to ask for help from us with homework or life. She has already surpassed me in height and intelligence! Ellyse is still itty bitty with a huge heart. She loves everyone and makes everyone around her happier. She works so hard to do what is right and will do almost anything we ask of her, sometimes, we don't even have to ask! Milan is nearly 8 and holding his own as the only brother around here. He puts up with all of us girls and loves that baby sister as much as if she had been the brother he desperately wanted.
Christopher continues to fight the fight everyday at work! We couldn't ask for a harder working Dad and Husband. He still loves his tv time on the weekends, but finds time to come up with things like "the secret family handshake." If you don't know it, you are not one of us. Ellyse finally agreed to do it. She was the last to agree to be in this slightly crazy group we call the Christopher Haws Family!
On a sad note....we lost our sweet Grandpa and Great Grandpa Arnett this week. We all adored him and will miss him so much. He was one of the last of the great generation that gave us all the freedom we somethimes take for granted today.
We will love you forever Grandpa Arnett and can't wait to see you again!