September Photos

Don's 33nd Birthday

Eldon is 6

Eldon decided to not have a friends party this year.  He decided to do Chuck E. Cheese instead.  We invited one friend to come along.  He had a blast and felt really special.


Eldon's Favorites 
Color - Blue & Red
Food - Pasta Salad
Thing to do - Play with Friends
He loves to ride his scooter and bike.
He loves his little sister and is always helping her.

Catching bugs with his bug catcher from Aunt Cathy and Aunt Lisa.

Eldon is doing great with school and it has really boosted his confidence.  He doesn't love reading very much but is good at it for the time that we put into it.  

The Struggles of a Utah Ute fan

Jaron has turned into his father. Meaning he is a super Utah University fan.  The boys each get to do a special outing with Dad once a school year.  Jaron wanted to go to a Utah football game again this year.  Don thought that the game on the 11th would be a good one and told Jaron he would take him.  Then he started looking into tickets.  The tickets were more than we wanted to spend.  This created a huge problem.  The day before the game Jaron sat to breakfast and said,"I can't wait until tomorrow! I am soo excited to go to the game."  I felt it was best to break the bad news to him so I said, "Jaron, I have bad news.  Try and not get upset, but the tickets are too much and Dad won't be able to take you.  He is still looking, but it isn't looking good. I am so sorry son."  The look on his face broke my heart.  I hate the moments when I have to tell our kids something they don't want to hear. He tried to be brave but then ended up having to cover his face so he could cry.  Oh man, it was bad.  He kept trying to think of solutions, "How about we buy one ticket and I sit on Dad's lap."  Jaron continued to ask every time he saw me or Don if we had found any tickets yet.  He tried to explain to Don how you can go online and find tickets.  I told Jaron he could go to another game and that we would work something out another time.  His reply, "But it won't be Utah State playing them and I really wanted to see Utah State play football, I haven't ever seem them play before."
This story does have a happy ending.  Someone Don works with had an extra ticket and Aunt Lisa was nice enough to give up her seat this game so the boys could go. But I write this down because as a mother it was just one of those moments that I didn't want to forget.

New Recruit to the Hughes Team

You counted right, there are 8 jerseys.  Baby Hughes #6 on its way.
Let's talk about a few questions that I always get when we say we are having another baby. The following might be TMI for a lot of people.
And I know there are typo's but let's be honest, English isn't my strongest subject.

Due date?
Short answer: Sometime between March 29 - April 4 I would say. 

Long Answer: I am not a huge fan of due dates.  I like a due month, because that is more realistic really.  The baby could come 2+/- weeks from the date that is calculated.  With me this is even more true since my cycle is never exactly the same from month to month.  Mine run 27-30 days.  So by that standard the baby could come April 1 - April 4.  But guessing from time of conception, due date would be in the last few days of March.  I also usually have the baby 4-7 days before I am due. I had an ultrasound on August 27th that measured the baby at 8weeks 3days.  These tend to be rather accurate.  The ultrasound suggests that April 4th would be my due date.

Was it planned?
Short answer: Yes.
Long answer: Don and I have always had complete faith in the Father's plan for us and our family.  We both knew that another spirit was meant to come to our home.  We just weren't sure when that would be.  I have been completely against another baby since giving birth to Kayla.  Her labor and birth was extremely more painful than any other and since Bryson's epidural did something crazy to my back I am always afraid of doing another one.
I also have felt that keeping up with the five kids I had was just too much.  But with Don's job change and a larger home I felt like another might be possible.  We also moved into such a great ward, I felt like the support I needed would be there.
Like I mentioned above my cycle is kind of random and it appears that I had a VERY short cycle and a baby will be coming as a result.  We were however planning on trying for another baby soon.  Don and I both agree that God thought we just needed a little extra push, since I was so hesitant about it.

How are you feeling?
Short answer: Like crap.
Long answer:  I started having morning sickness at just 3 weeks.  By 7 weeks I was completely unable to do anything.  My energy was 0.  I tried all the tricks, believe me I know a lot.  But I just couldn't get food to be my friend and never could get enough sleep.  I even missed church, and for me that is saying a lot.  The boys became concerned with how sick I was so at 9 weeks we told the kiddos.  I think having emotional support has actually helped a little which is another reason we told people so early. The past few weeks I have started to have bursts of energy and been able to get a few things done that really needed it. I still need lots of sleep, but that's much better than before.
My emotional health has not been too great this time which is odd.  I never have suffered from depression/anxiety before during a pregnancy.  I think a lot of it steams from my insecurities which I am working on. I am trying to cope with things without medication for now.  Because those that know me know how weird I am about talking anything while growing a human.  
Lastly I have already had some rough days when I try and do too much.  The past two pregnancies I have had problems starting at 32 weeks, but this time I really think that it is going to be really important for me to take it easy the whole time and not just at the end.
So if I don't answer your phone call please forgive me.  My introvert self just isn't always up for dealing with other humans.  I struggle to deal with myself most days.

Why tell people now?
Short answer: I can't keep acting like I am not sick and the boys have told a bunch of random people already, so we thought everyone should know.
Long answer:  Yes it is true that the boys have been telling random people that I was really sick and/or having another baby. So we thought we should just spill the beans to everyone.
We believe in equal opportunity for everyone when finding out about such big news.  This is why we didn't say something to those we talked to earlier this week/day.  Everyone gets to find out at the same time. We realize we can't control this perfectly, but we try our best to be fair.

Are the kids excited?
They are REALLY excited. They tell baby good night every night and talk about it all the time. Landon, isn't as much into it as the other boys, but he says he is excited. Kayla of course has no idea what is going on.

We know that not everyone understands why we choose to keep having more children.  Many worry about my health.  Sometimes I will admit I don't even understand why I am asked to have another child.  But I do know this, I try my very best to do what my Heavenly Father would want me to do with my life, and being a mother is what I was by divine design made to do.

Summer 2015

I have not written for several months. Summer was wonderful. The boys had fun playing with great friends and doing fun things around here.  I usually do lots of learning activities and outings to keep them happy.  This summer that just wasn't needed.  They did reading every day, but then they just wanted to play with friends, on the trampoline, or in our little swimming pools.  
Jaron loves piano. He probably won't admit it but he practices several times a day. We have hit a big wall with him though.  He is so stubborn I guess is the word.  He just refuses to do what others want and when he doesn't get what he wants, it turns into anger.  He has become rather destructive.  I am trying to figure it all out.  I can't just let him do whatever he wants while the other kids are required to do their chores and be kind.
Bryson does not love piano, but he does it. He does not love going to school or homework, but he does it.  He might be overly silly, but he is considerate and tires to help out.
Eldon is rocking Kindergarten. He loves going and can't wait until it is time to go. He is doing really well sharing a bedroom with older brothers and I think this has helped him to feel better about himself now that his is a part of the big boys.
Landon is feeling left out not being able to go to school.  He is doing Upstart (a state funded preschool) and a little joy school thing with a few friends.  He and I are having quiet afternoons together and I think that he enjoys that a little.
Little Miss is sure a silly girl.  He shrugs when she is unsure of herself or doesn't know what she should do. She also has found she can roll her tongue and does that all day.  She waves to everyone, but doesn't really want them to talk to her.  She is saying a few words like Mom, Dad, Mine, and Ball.  She is into everything, so watching her is become more important than ever. She enjoys jumping on the trampoline and is one tough cookie.
Don's job is going well.  He is busy and not home by noon like we had hoped. He often doesn't get here until 2 or 3pm.  Which isn't bad, but he is so tired.   

August Photos 2015

Her mullet was getting too long.

Kayla's first haircut.

Kayla got a black eye from Landon throwing a car at her. Her black mouth is from eating a marker.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL! Eldon - Kinder., Bryson - 2nd, Jaron - 4th