pumpkin patch

We made it yet again this year for our pumpkin patch visit. 

This time as a family of FIVE (sometimes I still can't believe it).

I love to go for the pictures.

The boys love to go to spot the biggest, smallest and strangest pumpkins.

They also seem to have energy that SHOOTS through the roof and this year they definitely ran around acting quite crazy.

Meanwhile, I try to stay calm....

 I'm super impressed I got any good shoots (if you only saw the outtakes).  Basically the boys' silliness ruled the night.  Luckily we got out of there without busting a pumpkin or breaking a wagon.  I'm sure this will only get worse the bigger ALL the boys get...because really, why can't you lodge pumpkins back and forth at each other?  That's what they are for right?  Boys will be boys.

2 months

Little (I use that term lightly) Nolan hit the 2 month mark.

 At 2 months, he weighed in at 13 lbs 6.5 oz (90%) and was 22.75 inches long (50%).  Each baby continuously gets bigger and bigger.  We love his chunky cheeks and gave him tons of kisses after the nurse gave him 3 shots!  Always so sad to see.

This kid has always taken that binky like a champ! And boy and am I grateful for it.

 He loves laying on his play mat especially when Hudson rearranges all the toys into one BIG mess in the middle.

 He enjoys his tummy time and never complains.

He also has figured out how to give us sweet smiles and is even trying to figure out how to talk to us.  He always seems surprised after a noise comes out.

He started sleeping from 11:30 pm-5:30 am and we are all very grateful for a little more sleep.  Sleep does wonders in my life. 

He has also been eating about 4.5 oz every 3 hours.  I am not much of a nurser.  In fact, I hate it.  So after a massive struggle with Boston, I resulted to pumping with my other two.  I love knowing how much they get every time I feed them and I also love that if needed, someone else can help feed.  I also seem to produce a plethora of milk.  This is 300 bags....and we're still going.

Now that Nolan is two months, I think we are starting to get the hang of three.  Life was CRAZY at first.  Kent and I would often laugh when Boston was whining, Hudson was wanting attention and baby was crying to be fed or wanting to fall asleep.  With our house in what seemed to be utter chaos, we would jokingly say that three might be our max. 

Now we are on a better schedule with Nolan sleeping better (which means we are all getting more sleep) which has really changed the whole dynamic of our home.  So even though we aren't ready to have another one anytime soon....we will definitely try for another one because why wouldn't you when they have sweet faces like this  

oh dallas

We took our first road trip with THREE kids to Dallas.  It's always a good time spending time with cousins and family.  The kids really are best friends and there's not much else that makes me happier.

Boston missed school that Friday (such a sacrifice for him...) so that we could leave Thursday night and enjoy an EXTRA long weekend. 

Friday evening, Kristin got a sitter and we took Nolan in tow to see "Meet the Mormons".  I LOVED it and left there wanting to do and be better.

The next day we got to see Sophie at her volleyball game (the kids all wanted to join in when it was all over).

 We also got to watch Charlie's football game in the COLD!  It was already a chilly weekend but in Prosper you get QUITE the wind chill too.  It was worth it to see Chad's undefeated team for the second year in a row win again!  Boston was completely envious of their turf they get to play on and STILL tells me he wants to play football there....

 The REAL reason for our Dallas trip was Kari's baby shower.  Kristin and I wanted to help celebrate sweet baby Savannah before her arrival at the end of October.  I'm upset that I didn't even get pictures of all the décor OR of Kari!  I was NOT on top of it that weekend.

 

 

 

 

 

 Sunday, we got to attend their Stake Conference where Nolan got loved on from brother and cousins (Boston LOVES to hold his little brother).

 That weekend, Kelli was also able to fly in from Utah.  Her husband, Tanor, surprised her for her birthday with a plane ticket to Dallas so she was able to join in the festivities.  That means that Nolan got to meet his Aunt Kelli for the FIRST time.

 That also meant that little Dakota got to meet him as well.  I can't wait to see what kind of trouble these two will get into one day.

Our time in Dallas came to a close a little TOO quickly.  We said goodbye on Monday.  The boys were pretty bummed about it and while driving away Boston said, "The Wither's house is almost as fun as Disney World!"  It made both Kent and I smile.  We love that they love and cherish those cousins so much!

preschool open house

Hudson has been going to preschool two days a week (Tues/Thurs) from 9-1 pm at Cornerstone Preschool.  In the beginning, he LOVED it.  After about a months time, he has really struggled going each day.  I'm pretty sure it's got something to do with separation from us having the new baby around and all because he's starting acting like this at church AND friend's houses.  I'm really hoping he outgrows it soon because it's so sad!  It's really hard to walk away from this sweet little face in tears!  The upside is that he's ALWAYS happy when he gets picked up but when asked if he wants to go back, he says no...

You would have never guessed that he's had this new found struggle with preschool with how EXCITED he was to show our whole family his new school on open house night.  He showed us proudly where his classroom was and every aspect of the classroom.  He kept asking Boston if this is what his school was like.

 

 

 

We got to see and hear all about music, bible and their play ground too!  He was pretty proud of himself by the end of the night.  And in true brother form, kept saying "Boston, my playground is bigger than your playground!" (it's not...but whatever makes him happy).

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.