goodbye stella

After 8 1/2 long years, we finally said goodbye to our Stella.

This has been a long time coming.

Kent has threatened for years to get rid of her.

I laughed each time because it never happened.

After this third baby, I was done and finally gave him the okay.

Having three young kids and a dog is a lot of work. 

Stella isn't a BAD dog.  Her barking was extremely annoying and she ate every little piece of food she could but over all she was a good dog. 

But dogs are work.  They need to be walked, fed, need attention, taken out to the bathroom, taken to the vet, bathed, you have to find some place for them when you go out of town, and the list goes on.

I was just worn out and couldn't give her that love and attention any more. 

So, we looked for her a new home...for almost a month.

I had strict requirements.  I wanted her to go to a home with a family who has had a dog, who knows the min pin breed, who possibly even has a dog (preferably a min pin), and a person who will give her back to us if for what ever reason they can no longer care for her (I didn't want her being passed around and around).  We finally found that right person who not only has a dog but has TWO min pins and LOVES their min pins.  They seemed like a wonderful fit and so off she went with her new family. 

I cried.  I still cry thinking about it.  The boys cried (surprisingly) and they sometimes randomly will ask for her.

Our 8 1/2 years with a dog ended almost as quickly as it started. 

I will admit it is nice leaving out of town and not having to stress about who to have watch her and its nice not having to take her out to the bathroom and put her up each time we leave the house.  But I do miss the crazy protection you feel with having a dog. She may be little, but it's funny how much more safe I felt having her around to hear EVERY little sound (and sometimes, yes that did get annoying).  I also miss the constant vacuum that she was in our kitchen.  I never realized how much food got dropped onto the floor and how quickly it got dirty until she left!  I'm sure possibly one day FAR, FAR, FAR down the road, we will get another dog but for now, its one less stress in our lives with a family of three small kids.

 We love Stella and I only pray the people we gave her to love her as much and even MORE than we did. 

september wrap up

September was a CRAZY month in the Hooper house. 

It was full of chaos, stress, and cries as we all adjusted to the life of three.

After being at our house for THREE weeks (yes, I said three), this amazing mother of mine left us to head back to Louisiana.  She helped out SO much while she was here and I got so used to her help that I had no idea how we were going to juggle our regular lives between school, extra activities, church callings and regular every day happenings without her.  I told her she was welcome to stay longer but my begging didn't work this time.

Boston's football season was in full swing.  Three nights a week, 2 hour practices or games keeps us busy. Kent is helping coach again this year and because of that, I have usually stayed home with the younger two during practices.  Usually, we have all gone but this year, it's just not worth the stress to rush everyone back out the door to for the night. 

Between Boston's second grade homework load PLUS football, it has been quite busy.  I have NO idea how we will juggle multiple kids in sports one day.  I am SO glad I made the decision to keep Hudson out of sports this fall.  We will try for spring.  He doesn't seem to mind or know the difference.

 Speaking of the little Huddy Hud, he has been so patient with a new baby around.  He's always been a very easy going kid.  He has spent his time moving from dress up clothes to dress up clothes sometimes even piling 3-4 on top of each other.  He's my kid with an imagination.

He HATES hearing Nolan cry and tries to be a big help when he can.  After a minute or two, he's done helping feed.

 I hit the big 3-0 this month.  I have definitely been dreading this day.  I really still feel 20...although I heard the saying once that went something like this, "I'm 30 but feel like I'm still 20...that is until I talk to a 20 year old, then I realize that yes, I am 30."  Not quite sure if that's exactly how it goes but there is definitely truth to that (I wonder if my 40 year old friends feel the same about me...).  We woke up that morning to some wonderful decorations my friends left to help make me feel loved and welcomed into those dreadful 30's.

 That evening Kent took my out to Morton's (with Nolan in tow) .  It's one of my favorite steak places.  You can't go wrong with a Cajun rib eye.  I love a night out with just Kent and Nolan slept the whole time so he helped make it feel like it really was just the two of us.  I needed that after all the chaos at home.  Here's to the start of a new decade!

This decade started with the 10 years marriage and a 3rd child!

Big year around here.

 Nolan hit the ONE MONTH mark.  This sweet boy. 

This picture is the FIRST time I've ever looked at any of my boys and seen Kent.  People tell us they look like him but I have just struggled to see it until this picture!

Kristin also came for a visit.  With the craziness of three, she was so sweet to offer her help. 

Plus, she helped grant Hudson's wish of wanting Lan Man to come play.  These boys are the CUTEST and were so happy to be able to play together in person and not just over facetime anymore (although that is still pretty cute).

We accomplished making 10 freezer meals.  This is probably something I would have never done without her motivation and push.  She also helped feed, clean, cook and keep me calm.  That's what sisters are for!

And the rest of the month was spent sleeping any chance we could get. 

 

 

You forget how much a newborn can wear the WHOLE family out.

 By the way, this man has been amazing post baby and has done whatever possible to make life easier from cooking meals, taking boys to school, feeding (I'm exclusively pumping so this allows for him to pitch in), grocery shopping, waking up at night with the baby...you name it, he's done it.

The rest of September seems to be a blur. 

I've now learned why people say three is the hardest.

But I think as we start to get more sleep and more into a better routine, life will get a little easier because the crying, whining, fit throwing and insanity of life isn't working for this family currently.

I can't seem to keep up on laundry, house cleaning, meals, grocery shopping let alone be patient and give everyone the attention they want/need...I pray this is just what happens in the first month or so and that it will quickly be over and I can reign life back in.

1st day of preschool

This boy couldn't have been more excited to start pre-school.

Backpack-check.

Lunchbox-check.

He thought he was one special kid to be able to go to school like his brother.

Cornerstone Pre-school is such a cute little school and from what I hear, his teachers are amazing.

This boy had NO problems going in the first day.

Since then (a month and a half in), we have encountered a little struggle which makes me so sad.

We're still trying to figure it out but when I pick him up each Tuesday/Thursday, he's got a huge smile on his face and has had a great day!  It's just the drop off part that seems to be a little difficult (all very surprising from this boy who's never had fear of anything like this).

Hopefully it will get better.

I love this kid and his excitement for life, creativity and his imagination. 

I know he will thrive in pre-school.

nolan's blessing day

Two weeks after Nolan was born, we had his blessing day.  Yes, I may have been a tad crazy to commit to that day so soon after his birth BUT we had so much family there that it was totally worth it.

My parents, Kent's parents, my siblings (minus Kelli) and Kent's siblings (minus Ivan) all came in town. 

 It was a special day celebrating sweet Nolan Dee.

 Sometimes it still blows my mind that we are a family of FIVE.  I'm completely out numbered but seriously, I LOVE these BOYS. 

 Boston was a little grouch during pictures...

 Kent gave a wonderful blessing to Nolan and he's our FIRST baby who didn't CRY through the whole blessing.  I actually got to HEAR this little guy's blessing instead of panic over his cry during it all.  Kent said that during his blessing he could tell that he was starting to get worked up and ready to cry when all of the sudden he felt the craziest thing happen.  He said it was like something just swooped right in and completely calmed Nolan down.  He said it was the neatest experience (and later my dad said he felt the same thing).  Then as soon as the blessing was over, he started to cry.  He's a special little boy.  I'm so glad the Lord blessed our family with him. 

We sure do love him.

Special thanks to everyone who stood in the circle to help bless him:

Randy Bluth (Papa)

Chad Withers

Brandon Combe

Mike Bluth

Bishop Eric Brown