Booktastic

I am a strange gal. I have some kind of anxiety? Is that the word I'm looking for? No...phobia is better. I have a phobia of empty time. If Dave is leaving and I am unprepared with something to do I have been known to flip a bit(just a bit). Okay, it happens most mornings as Dave is leaving me to go to work. Some mornings I hold on to his neck (I am usually still in bed) and plead with him not to go. I fight the urge to do that every morning. If I have a full day of things to do, someone to see or chat with, I am a happy lady. Otherwise I have been known to call Dave at work and...whine. What can he do? Nothing, it's my own strange deficiency. Now, before you start to feel bad for me and call me to hang out, this isn't a sob story. I have something that is heaven sent to chase my troubles away. BOOKS. More specifically good, well written, engrossing novels about human triumph, with a dash of romance. Books, I am discovering more and more, are kind of an escape for me. Not that I want to escape from my life, I love my life. Good books make me feel like I am having these adventures and triumphs myself. When I have a good book, off you go to work honey I have important things to do! It would be better for my family if cleaning were my escape. Darn. If anyone has any great book recommendations, don't hesitate to make my day.

Any little memory will do...

1. Add a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember.


2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses.

Family photoshoot

Pictures, pictures, come see some pictures...(I wanted to post a bunch more but this will do for now)











Our good friend Joe Weiderhold took some pictures for us. I really like how they turned out. It's about time!!! We haven't had a decent family picture since Scarlet's been on this planet. I want to bite Scarlet's little cheeks. Dave looks like such a hottie.

Bless my soul

This is Scarlet's baby blessing dress! I pulled it out to maybe use it to decorate her wall and she demanded I put it on her. I couldn't believe it still fits...better that it did almost 2 years ago. It's a good thing she can be so darn cute because she can be a little stinker doodle noodle. Some of her favorite things right now are:

*watching "Munan" translation Mulan,
*looking through Ensigns to try and spot "je-jee" which is Jesus,
*dancing to the songs from baby signing time(while Dave and I go insane).
*She loves to hold any baby she says "I hode."
*She's into putting her own clothes and shoes on and eating by herself, we hear "I do-ey" alot.
*She loves to sing her own version of wheels on the bus where we insert her favorite people ie; Mom sings: "Jack Jack on the bus goes..." Scarlet comes in: "mun-mun-mun" which is run run run.
*She tells the BEST secrets, it's usually something like tsspptssstt and always finishes it off with a BLOW.

She is the highlight of our whole lives so far. Every night as Dave and I snuggle up in bed together we tell Scarlet stories and ooohh and aahh over how much we love her and want to wake her up to play. My greatest hope as a Mother is that I feel this way about her every day of her life. I always think when Scarlet's older, like even when she is my age, I hope I will still pull her up on my my lap and whisper secrets in her ear.

Sisters

This is a newer news article about my friend Stephanie who was in the plane crash. It is so touching. It made me think about my own family and sisters, and I know they would do the same things for me. My sweet, beautiful sisters, they are my best buddies. Even if we can't spend oodles of time together at this particular phase of our lives it doesn't matter. My sister Cami has decided to go on a mission! When she told me I cried. Most of my tears were elated tears, only a few were sad because I couldn't go with her. What would we ever do without our families!!?? I love you.

Watch out for Witches

Oh Halloween where did you come from, do I really want to know? I love you for your candy, candy and more candy!! We had fun watching our little witch participate in this interesting holiday. She was in a daze most of the time we were trick or treating. She said thank you a zillion times to strangers putting candy into a bag. Sooo...maybe we went trick or treating for her initially but after visiting a few friends and neighbors, it was all for me. Like a kid again, I had to fill this bag!!!! Scarlet was the perfect excuse for why I got a bag full of treats. Of course I'll share. Come on. And I thought my trick or treating days were over...wrong-o. Anyway, it was great fun and our little witch was adorable. The best part however was during the weeks before when we'd ask Scarlet what she was going to be for Halloween? She can't always pronounce that darn "Wh" sound instead its a "B". We got a kick out of it! As did any of you who saw us and got to ask her "the question." Here are some pics and a vid. Don't be offended with Scarlet's innocent cursing.

Yearbook Day

What I wouldn't give! I'd be curious to know if it was just me, but one of the things I loved most about high school was yearbook day. Call me crazy, but just thinking about it today gave me a rush of excitement. I couldn't wait till the end of the year to:
1. Look up my name in the back and see how many pages I was on.
2. Look at all my pics to see if I looked hot or not.
3. Do a quick browse to see who stole my thunder (got on more that like 4 pgs.)
4. Go Hog WILD signing and being signed.

The logistics of yearbook signing was where I got my thrill. Picture it...You see someone you have a crush on...he sees you...should you ask him...but then he'd think you like him...you wait...then it happens...the exchange...it doesn't even take a word you have his yearbook in your hands!! WHAT'S HE WRITTING???!!! You make sure to write just as long as he does, not more, not less. Then you wait...ITS LIKE CHRISTMAS. When you are finally alone, you read " Heidi you are HOT, call me" You knew it all along.

That's just one example of what yearbook day meant for me. The next best thing was writing clever, witty remarks. If only I could read all the things I wrote!! I know they were good, some of them too good and after I wrote them I'd think wait I need to copy that. It just so happens that David and I wrote in eachother's yearbooks. Here is my entry in his, it's a fill in the blank letter:

"Dave. Potatoes don't express the way I feel about you, I_____ you. I've waited my whole life to tell you that I _____ you. I can't _____ with out you! My heart goes____ when I see you, please say you'll never ____ me. You are great fun. I'm glad we are friends let's chill in the hood ok -Heidi H. your x"

Not bad eh? What's really great is I had the opposite of a crush on Dave in high school, so who knows what I would've put in the blanks then...I know now. Anyway, I wish we still had yearbook day. I miss it. Hey maybe we should get together and call all the people who wrote their numbers in our yearbooks, just to say "hi."

Come Join the FUN!!

We're gonna run and hopefully raise some money to help our dear friend Stephanie. It's going to be alot of fun. Help spread the word to anyone who would want to come join in the cause! Sorry the flyer is a bit tiny on here...go to 5kfornie.blogspot.com for more info.

Home Parade

Hi, wanted to show you my house...I helped my Mom paint that door green a few days ago(I helped by taking a loooong nap)

Follow me into my favorite backyard where I play. Yes, this playground is a little too big for me but that doesn't stop me from trying to break my neck.

see...I like to hang over this ledge.

Let's go take a look inside, this is my small kitchen...so small I cry and throw tantrums.

Surprise, I painted the living room!! I got a little hungry...sorry Mama.


We really like how it turned out!! Sorry another tantrum...

Whew feeling better, here is Mommy and Daddy's room. This one got painted in the spring

Now for the best room of all...MY ROOM!

Hope you enjoyed this parade...come visit us and I'll take you for a personal tour of the basement were I watch my shows and play with my toys.

Dear Da Da

Daddy...um I have a secret...I love you...
I Know sometimes I play hard to get...don't be mad
Mommy's right it's just what girls do, we want to make sure you'll love us like crazy no matter how naughty we are
I want to be your favorite so I have to get between you and mommy when you hug so you don't forget me
You are the best Daddy in the whole world, you sing the best songs, read the funniest stories, and make me giggle till it hurts
Be patient with me because one of these days mommy will have to pry me, kicking and screaming, from your side because I've given up the game. I'm Daddy's girl, I'm just waiting till the right moment to come out and tell you.
I Love you Da Da. Don't you forget it!!!

Love you forever and ever...feel free to sneak into my room when I'm all growned up to rock me to sleep,

Scarlet Olivia St.Julien (age 20 mo.)

Cutest Cousin

This is a tribute to our favorite little girl in Austin Texas. Charlotte Bailey Hofheins is her name. Her Daddy is my favorite older brother, Timothy "Scott" Hofheins. The bread baking, chicken coop buildin', art creatin' mommy is Lindsay. We love our family in Austin and wish they could be closer to us so we could squeeze them. We would squeeze Scott and Lind's occasionally but we would SQUEEZZZZZE their little Charlotte every second!!! You would too...


Squeeze who? Me? I dare you to try it...



Charlotte you are irresistibly cute we miss you and your Mom and Dad. Please don't get any cuter until we can see you again!! Love, Scarlet

Girls will be girls

It is true. Call me crazy, but I sometimes lump male and females genders together. All that "men are from mars women are from venus" stuff makes me roll my eyes. I feel like the line gets drawn and compassion, nurturing, and caregiving goes to women; cars, sports and rowdiness goes to the men. I never liked this notion much and I really think we are more alike than different...and I still do. HOWEVER; the longer I am married and the older Scarlet gets, the more I have to admit there are definitely differences...besides the obvious. Scarlet is pure GIRL!!! If you put a ball and baby in front of her, no hesitation that baby will get a love, a kiss and probably a diaper change. The ball may get a kick or a throw later, once the baby goes down for nie-night.





Scarlet is so fun to watch. She loves clothes and dress ups. At the store when we pass by clothes she reaches out to hold them and says "cute" and hugs them when I let her hold them. I swear I didn't teach her these things.


She found make-up at a friends and put lip stick all over her cheeks. Obviously I didn't teach her that one. I love this little girl, I love watching her learn and grow and become who she is.

She will sit with her "friends" and watch "a show". Her favorites are Elmo and baby signing time.

A Friend in Need

My dear friend Stephanie "Clark" Nielsen was in a serious plane crash with her husband a few weeks ago in AZ. They amazingly survived, the pilot did not, Steph and Christian were severely burned (80% of Steph's body) and are in the hospital sedated, with a long and painful road to recovery ahead. They have 4 darling little kids. Its such a tragedy! It is a real quick reality check to have someone you know be in this kind of awful situation. Stephanie is such an amazing, talented, sweet, friend who needs a lot of prayers. I found a way to donate to help with medical expenses etc...I decided to also post this so that anyone else who wanted to help could do so. Hug your friends. Hug your family. And count your blessings, we have SO MANY!!!

This is her darling website