YOGURT LOVE

What do you do when you are two, you want yogurt, and your mom isn't fast enough? You help yourself of course. The joys of having an independent two-year-old around who absolutely loves (and I mean LOVES) yogurt!

I guess I should be glad that she only opened one!

It cracks me up that they are all still attached together and that she picked a middle one.

BTW - thanks for all the comments due to my last post. I wasn't trying to fish for comments, but thanks all the same.

DARN GOOGLE READER

I have to admit that I have a love hate relationship with Google reader at this point.

Loves:
1. I was having a hard time keeping up with all my friends blogs. Some people update daily, some monthly, some yearly. Now I don't have to click on their links anymore to see who has updated recently. Google does all the work
2. Order, order, order. I love anything that organizes my life.
3. It's so easy. I need a little simplicity in my life.

Hates:
1. NO ONE LEAVES COMMENT ANY MORE!!!! I guess I should feel special if someone leaves me a comment. That means that they actually clicked on my link and did an extra step to leave me a comment. I am just as bad. I don't leave comments much any more either. Bad Stacy! Bad Stacy!
2. I wish that I could put the links on of those who have gone private. I always forget to look at their blogs.
3. NO ONE LEAVES COMMENTS!!! This is really my biggest complaint about google reader. The organization has made it harder for us to take that extra step to leave comments on each others lives. I admit it I love to hear what you are all thinking. It makes me realize that people out there care about what I am doing and thinking.

Maybe you are all just trying to tell me something....

I am going to try harder to take that extra step and leave more comments. I am not a lazy friend. I want to be a true friend and leave you all some love. If I start slacking off again let me know. I can take it!

FAVORITE MEMORIES

The last few months have been a blur. It all started with Kevin's parents coming for a visit and just ended a few months later with my sister and her family coming. I knew that it would make the time go faster, but didn't realize just how fast it would go. August is nearly over!

I want to remember some of the things we did. Here is my top 10 list!

10. Dera trying to capture the sound of the kookabura on her video camera. Every time she got it out they would stop singing. It was pretty funny!
9. Watching everyone eat Vegemite for the first time - priceless!
8. Watching Dera's collection of sea shells grow and accumulate. She did kill a poor crab when boiling her shells.
7. The possum I killed on the way home from Wiseman's Ferry. Kev saw it skid across the road, since he was behind us on his scooter. I guess I am a killer like Dera - remember the crab (#8)
6. Madi's surgery = one stressed out mama bear.
5. Getting tagged on the train. Brandon and I accidentally rubbed up against some fresh paint on the train. Darn taggers! Those were my good pants!
4. Meeting the Barrs and going to the Central Coast - Australia is a beautiful place!
3. Seeing Cairns, The Great Barrier Reef, and parasailing with Madi - still think I am crazy because of that one. It was special to do those things with John and Susan.
2. Staying up late and laughing until the tears began to flow. It was so much fun to spend time with my sisters.
1. Madi's baptism - she was so happy and the Spirit was definitely with her. Plus watching the DVD our families made for Madi on her baptism. It was nice to feel the love our family has for us, and feel their presence on her special day.

LOOK AT ME!

I figured it out!!!! I will make a few more dish cloths for practice and then it is onto bigger things. My mom sent me some yarn and hooks with Julie as well as a pattern she created for a hat and flower.

I am so excited and I just can't hide it!!!

It is so fun to learn something new. Such a sense of accomplishment!

CENTRAL COASTING

Last weekend we spent on the Central Coast. Brandon's mission president and his wife, the Barrs, live up there and we were privileged to meet them. They were lovely. Words cannot describe the generosity and love that they shared with us. Madi has already made plans for us to go up there again in the summer and spend the day with them. It was great to have someone who has lived in the Central Coast for 40 years show us around. Here are a few of my favorite pictures.

A SPECIAL GUEST

Today we had a special guest in our home all day long!

Baby Claire spent the day with us hanging out and tagging along. Her mom and dad went whale watching and I volunteered to have her stay with me. Secretly I am hoping that they don't see whales. If they don't they get a return voucher, which they will give to us since they are returning to the States. Don't tell them that though...hahaha! Ok, so I already did - OOPS!

I couldn't resist getting all the kiddos together.

All in all it has been a good day. Every once in a while Claire will crawl around crying looking for her mommy, who can blame her right?

Maybe having four kids wouldn't be so bad....

MADI'S BAPTISM

Friday August 14, 2009 is a day I will never forget. Madi entered the waters of baptism and was confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was such a special day.

Baptisms in Australia are not done the same as in Utah. In Utah there are so many members of the Church that baptisms are typically held on the first Saturday of the month and whomever has turned eight during the previous month goes to the Stake Center and gets baptized and confirmed. However, in Australia there are not as many children in a typical month who are at the age of accountability to get baptized. Therefore, Madi got her own special day. She was also baptized on her birthday which is even more special. We planned the entire program and made treats to share for after. It was a busy day, but well worth all the effort.

Here is the program so that we don't forget:

Chorister – Katrina Gledhill
Pianist – Carli Jeffrey

Conducting – Nick Murphy


Opening Song – Seek the Lord Early
Opening Prayer – Rosa Bale

4th Article of Faith – Cooper Hutchinson
Scripture – Stacy Hutchinson
Talk – Brandon Carlson

Baptism performed by Kevin Hutchinson

Song – I am a Child of God performed by Natasha and Antoi Nel

Talk – Joanne Carswell

Confirmation performed by Kevin Hutchinson

remarks - Nick Murphy

Closing song – When I am Baptized
Closing prayer – Julie Carlson

When we left the chapel and headed to the font I left Rylee by the glass to go help Madi. Rylee started screaming as soon as she realized I wasn't there. Lisha brought her to me in the bathroom where I was watching through the door. She whimpered through the entire thing.

Madi said she was a little nervous when she looked up and saw all the kids with their faces pressed against the glass looking at her.

Madi was a trooper. She had to get baptized twice. The first time Kev forgot to say her name - just practicing...hahaha! Not only that but her dress bubbled up out of the water. The second time went off without a hitch.

She came into the bathroom to change and was shivering. I couldn't get her dressed fast enough.

Madi, our little missionary, invited four friends who are not members of our faith. They all came and brought at least one member of their family with them.

top row: Antoi, Madi, Bethanny, and Isabella

bottom row: Jaimee and Sophie

My mom made Madi's white baptism dress and another special dress she could wear that day. I am going to take her out sometime in the next couple of weeks and get pictures in her special dresses. Thanks mom!

We were so glad that Brandon, Julie, and Claire were here to share it with us. (Somehow we didn't manage to get a picture with them) It was a little sad that the rest of our family couldn't be here as well. We wish you all could have been here to share in our special night.

I asked Madi after we got home how she felt about her baptism night. She said that she just felt so happy. It was obvious to me that she felt happy. She was glowing. She could hardly sit still and she was giggling and smiling all night long. Madi is such a special spirit, one that we are blessed to have in our home, and we are so proud of her decision to be baptized and confirmed a member of the Church.

Thanks to all who helped to make her night a very special night. It was nice to share it with so many of you and to have so much support since we didn't have family here.

A night to never be forgotten.

SUNNY DAYS

Today was a beautiful day.

I was adventurous again and drove to the beach. Twice in two weeks has got to be a record for me. I get a bit anxious driving a car - espcially here with the narrow lanes and the fact that I am not sure where I am heading most of the time. I have grown up so much and can now drive myself to the beach - who knew. Now I know what Rylee and I can do on our free days when the kids are at school. Madi told me that I need to take her to the beach every day during school holidays. Not sure that is going to happen, but a girl can always dream.

This time we headed to Mona Vale beach for some

sunshine,

crashing waves,

and sand lots of sand.

Claire loves the sand - especially by the fistful straight into her mouth.

There are no dogs allowed on this beach - but they never said anything about kitty cats.

Not a bad way to spend a few hours.

ANNIVERSARY

Today is my anniversary. I have been blessed to be married to this amazing man for 11 years. How did I get so lucky?

He sent me an e-mail today. I am going to share so you can see how he cracks me up every day. He loves to make up songs and poems for us.

It's our anniversary, shout hooray! One year older with me today.
Come tonight and we will play. I hope you enjoy this wonderful day.
I love you are the words I will say. In the future come what may.
SO HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, HOORAY!

Thanks to Brandon and Julie for taking the kids tonight so we can go on a date!

KOALA PARK

Since I have family in town we have been doing a lot of touristy things as of late. Lucky for me there is a fabulous transportation system in Sydney so I can take people to the train station and they can get where they need to go. It has been fun to get excited about the things around me and to show them to other people.

However, last weekend we did something that our family has never done before. Crazy because this place is located literally 15 minutes from our home. We went to Koala Park. It was such a fun place to go. Cooper and Madi missed out because they had to school - we will have to take them another time. Kev had taken the day off of work to spend with our visitors and it was fun to be there with both Julie and Dera. Several times I missed Wendy very much and wished that she were here too.

So here are a few things we got to do at Koala Park.

Emu eggs (at least that's what I think they are), fairy penguins at feeding time, and a wallaby with a baby in her pouch.

We got to give the koala a little cuddle, a pat, and take a photo. Rylee was okay until Dera moved her closer, then she wanted nothing to do with the koala anymore.


Kangaroo feedings. Rylee had no fear - even the big guys didn't phase her. Claire woke up just in time to get in on the action.

Now we have to take the other kids.

LIFE GOES ON

Even though we have company here we still have to go to school and work. It has been a bit tough to keep up with home readers and spelling words, but we are managing. Bed time seems to get pushed back a bit - as does dinner time. I think I am going to need a week off after all our company comes to recoup and really clean my house.

I feel bad that I completely forgot to blog about this. With Madi's surgery and getting ready for people to come it got overlooked. The last week of last term Cooper got the student of the week award!!! We were so proud of him. His teacher said that she had the kids in her class tell her who they thought the student of the week should be before she decided. Cooper was the only one who didn't say himself. What a sweet kid. He is a hard worker in school and has made so many friends. He is always thinking about those around him and we are so proud of him!!!Last week the kids had school athletics carnival. The kids are in the house of Sturt and their house colors are yellow. Hep, just like Harry Potter they are divided into houses. They did house cheers and cheered for the other members of their house. This was the first year that Madi had to run in the 100 m race. She was up on top of the hill in the upper oval and Cooper was down below with the little kiddies. Unfortunately I was up on the upper oval waiting for Madi to run when I decided to walk and see if Cooper was up yet. I got to a place where I could see the bottom oval from the top of the hill just to see Cooper come in 2nd place in his race. No pictures, but at least I saw it!!! He was so happy. I saw him pump both arms in the air and yell YES!!! I did get a picture later of him sitting and waiting - doesn't he look so grown up sitting there? (He is wearing the green hat and yellow hoodie on the front row)

Rylee played on the equipment - lucky girl! Although the equipment at the kid's school isn't made for toddlers and there were a few "tricky" spots.

Madi was not very happy about running. It just "isn't her thing." I told her to try her hardest and she would be fine. We can't be good at everything right? How did she do? Well she didn't come in last and that was fine with her. She cracks me up! She actually didn't really want to run and was hoping the doctor would tell her that she couldn't - no such luck. He did tell her that she wouldn't have as much energy though. I thought she had enough - but what do I know?

Speaking of Madi. People have asked me how she is doing post surgery. Fabulous!! The doctor was amazed by how little pain meds she used. I told him that she said it felt just like a sore throat and it wasn't a big deal. He said that she probably always had a small sore throat and also probably had more tonsillitis than we had originally thought - she was just tough. After lots and lots of popsicles and jelly, many movies, lots of sitting on the floor playing with pet shops and polly pockets, she is fine. She even got to sleep on a mattress on her floor so she won't have to climb up into her bed. The doctor said that her tonsil beds should have healed more by now, but her tonsils were so big and deep that he isn't too surprised. Give her a few more week and you won't even know that she had surgery.

SUNSHINY DAY IN THE MOUNTAINS!

Our last trip to the Blue Mountains in April of 2008 - and our only other trip - was not a sunny day. In fact we couldn't even really see the 3 sisters in Katoomba. If you would like a review you may go here.

This time however, was completely different. It was a Beautiful SUNNY DAY!!!

Dera had a list when she got here of things she wanted to see and the Blue Mountains was on that list. Kev took the day off of work so we could drive up there. We found a place for the older kids after school to give ourselves a bit more time. It was a lovely day!

The 3 sisters are a beautiful site as is the expanse of the valley full of gum trees. The blue mountains were indeed bluish. This blue color is caused by the eucalyptus oils in the air. Kevin, Mark, and Dera started down the stairs to get a closer look at the 3 sisters. Rylee and I stayed behind to play with rocks and sticks. I have proof that my sister - who is very afraid of heights - made it about half way there before turning back. Good on ya Dera for at least trying!

After seeing the 3 sisters we stopped by the chocolate shop for some delicious hot chocolate. I want one of these sets. The hot chocolate is warmed up by a tea light inside the tall cup. Then you add more milk and chocolate bits as you go along. It is so delicious!! I love this picture. We got Rylee a little box of candies that she got to pick out all by herself. She was so proud of it and had to show it off. She is adorable!!!

We then grabbed some lunch and walked around Leura before heading down the mountain and stopping at the UGG shop. Dera and Mark both ended up with new UGGS - gotta get those in Australia!