Sping Break and 10 years of Us!

It has been a busy last few days! We have been touring schools and going to public school meetings to hopefully decide where Jesstine will be attending school next year. More on that another time. Today we had a busy morning but after lunch, we started Spring Break off right! The weather is BEAUTIFUL here! It is nearly 80 out, but it feels SO nice! Keep in mind just a few weeks ago I was posting about the Blizzard of Oz and Snowmagedon! It did throw me for a bit of a loop though. We are headed to the Dallas area for a quick Spring break trip and the kids don't have ANY shorts that fit them! I will have to remedy that at least partially because it is no fun to wear pants in 80 degree weather! (I know this from experience as this is all that I have to wear also!) Here are a few pictures of the kids having fun in the sun!

This one spent MOST of the time complaining about the bugs...It may be a LONG spring/summer!

He loves to swing, but only as long as he thinks he is kicking you and making you fall backward in (fake) pain!

"I am so OVER this pink swing Mom!"

Enjoying the playhouse (including the pool toys left in there from last summer!).

He spent a lot of time trying to figure out this slide!

It is hard to believe, but ten years ago today this little family began! Ten years ago today, we said our vows and became husband and wife in front of our family and friends. Ten years! I have something in the works for Stephen. It may not be completed today, but hopefully I can post about it soon! The traditional gift is tin or aluminum. Not a lot to work with unless I buy him a case of pop! We had planned to go on a short vacation sans kids, but our childcare provider had to bow out. So we are instead taking a family trip and plan to take a couple trip in the summer! Here is a little flashback for you:

Me MANY pounds lighter! :-)

Flower girl, Emily and ring bearer, Dylan.

Groom and his best man brother, Seth.

The gentlemen of the wedding party including ushers, groomsmen and ring bearer.

Bridesmaids. (Sister, Grace, Sister-in-love-to-be, Jenni, sister, Ola.)

Candle lighters: my younger brother, Greg and my cousin, Adrienne.

Mother and daughter.

Three generations!

My family.

Sisters (Left, Grace; Right, Ola.)

My brothers (Left, Billie; Right, Greg).

Stephen and one of the two minsiters involved in marrying us. He was also kind of a guy we went to a lot for accountability and such! Miss you Matt!

The cake! (There was a groom's cake that was the Dallas Cowboys' football field).

Big bro walked me down the aisle in his dress blues!

Me jamming the ring on his already jammed finger!

THE kiss!

Man and wife!

The rings.

The bridal party.

My beloved (albeit a Lemon!) VW beetle!

In Him,

The Hutchins Family

Long Time No Blog

Here is what we have been up to:

Some artwork while snowed in.

The driveway I shoveled by myself while Stephen was out of town.

Dentist appointment ("Look Mom! No cavities!")

Wrestling Dinosaurs in the dentist's lobby.

Preparing to be a hockey star.

Present for Jesstine from Daddy's trip.

Present for Mommy from Daddy's business trip (he WON this!!!).

A first piano lesson (photo snapped just before Emmitt's great escape and near decapitation).

A treat for school for a belated half birthday celebration for Jesstine.

Clearance pajamas that have to be worn EVERY night (if he could he would tell you that is true).

Bathing suit shopping for an upcoming surprise trip over spring break!

A new toy from Grandmom.

Hearing test and dial testing at "Count Your Kid In."

We are all suffering from cold's and since it is nearly spring break, I let the kids at school play games for music. You are not mistaken. There IS an m&m or two mixed in with the skittles on the "skittle staff!"

And this boy turned 16 months old yesterday! This is how he likes to sleep in his bed.

On his 16 month birthday he enjoyed some lasagna (and mini m&m's for dessert).

Despite having his nose constantly runny and being wiped despite his protest, he was MOSTLY smiles.

We have already noted HUGE differences in the personalities of Emmitt and Jesstine. Jesstine was MUCH more responsive to the word, "NO!" and seemed to appreciate boundaries. Emmitt....finds "NO!" to mean a challenge! He is so funny! And today there was a moment of Emmitt that made for a great Facebook status: "I know I shouldn't laugh. Admit, there is something funny about my son throwing a fit because he can't hold two cars AND a snack cup in his hands at one time! LOL!"

He is quite cuddly and loves his family! He is constantly asking for "Grandmom." At lunch on Sunday, we joined my parents at Texas Roadhouse. Of course he eats his finger foods and fills up before we even get our food. So he spent most of the time begging grandma (my mom) to pick him up and kicked happily as she hoisted him above the table and onto her lap!

Jesstine is playing and working hard on reading. We are touring some schools trying to find out where to take her next year. She went through dial testing to determine if she is on target in the areas of fine motor, gross motor, speech, and interpersonal/social development as well as hearing and vision. She scored off the charts for her age!

Hope all is well with our few blog readers!

In Him,

The Hutchins Family

Still here!

We are still here! Last week was just super busy due to snow days (a second blizzard hit early in the week), a business trip for Stephen, and finally back to school and work for Jesstine and I. Also, my laptop is having issues and my phone doesn't allow me to post pictures very easily. So for now, know we are here and well! Just a little unplugged for the time being.

In Him,
The Hutchins Family

Day 2 of Snowmegedon

No, he's not melting. He is being buried in more snow! This was shortly after Stephen had shoveled the walk and driveway for a second time!

While Daddy shoveled for a third time, the kids climbed in the snow that was almost as tall as they are!

Trying to help Daddy shovel!

Decided to take a rest from crawling and rolled over!

He absolutely LOVED the snow! He cried when I would pick him up!

This snow was more powdery so Jesstine was able to make a snow angel.

This was in the back which has the most flat area to check for the snowfall total. It was blocked by the house so the actual total was slightly deeper than this.

There are clothes and shoes drying everywhere in our house!

Also, forgot to post this picture from yesterday. This was before most of the snow fell. The final total as of today is 14.2 inches which is only .8 of an inch from the all time record snowfall!

In Him,

The Hutchins Family