Baby number 5 is almost here!

We kept it a secret till I was 12 weeks, but we did take some pics asap when we found out for fun!

First midwife appointment, always fun

Dating ultrasound confirming there was only 1 baby!!!

We told the kids by giving Nathan a BIG BRO shirt, he is so excited to be a big brother!

8 months pregnant on our anniversary July 18/16

We planned for baby number 5. Well I did ha ha, it took alittle convincing for my husband but we are both so excited now. We got pregnant November 2015 and now are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our last baby, due date is August 18/16. I say last because I AM TIRED!!! Growing a tiny human is hard work and my body is pretty much done.
I am so so grateful for the opportunity that I have had to grow 5 tiny humans within my body. I always find it a miracle and so crazy to feel all that life inside of you.
I will miss feeling all the movement, the kind words, my kids snuggling the baby in my tummy, talking to my tummy and all the cool things that come with being pregnant.
I will NOT miss the achy hips and body, the braxten hicks contractions that trick your mind into thinking you are in labour, the food cravings where nothing really satisfies and you are constantly hungry, the "funny" and sometimes annoying comments from people and all the $$ I've had to spend on chiropractic to maintain this tired body.
We have talked about names, gotten as much as we can ready, washed and folding unisex clothes/blankets and done what we can do and now we WAIT. The waiting is hard! I am so done with being pregnant and can't wait to meet this little one. But on the other hand I just want to keep this baby protected and safe within my womb.
This is an ever changing world and I have fears for this child. But I am also a woman of faith and values and I know Steve and I will do the best we can with all of our children.
I am so excited to finally meet this little person who waited alittle longer then I thought they would have to (remember Emily in Saturday's Warrior....) Our family will finally be complete and I am so looking forward to this next stage of life for us!
Hopefully the waiting won't be too much longer........

A Parents Voice Matters

In the last little while I've been reminded once again how much my parent voice matters. How one parents voice can make such a huge impact for many around them. Sometimes we don't think to speak up and ask questions. We are afraid of what the response might be or that we might sound uneducated and so forth. But I am learning that change only comes when people stand up for whats right.
I am my child's advocate and spokesperson. I know them and know what they need. They will not get lost in the "system" and I will stand along with them on their journey through childhood. I will stand up for them if something is not right. I am okay feeling slightly uncomfortable in a conversation if something needs to be said. I am a parent. I am not a friend but a guide. I hope to be friends with my children as they grow but right now I am their teacher. I will do my very best to help them the best I know how. Sometimes I will make mistakes but I will always be there.
I am grateful for the opportunity I have to be a parent and learn and grow.
I am a Mom and my voice matters! My child is the most important thing to me and I will never leave them. What a gift it is to have children, never take that for granted!

That's what friends are for......

"What is a friend, 1 soul dwelling in two people"

I am generally a private person. I don't easily open myself up to others. I am quite content living in a world where I have a few close friends and my family. I have 4 kids and a husband. I don't have much time to socialize and party every day of the week with play dates and nights out. My husband is working away right now. My life is very simple and fairly quiet. AND I LIKE IT THAT WAY!

Even as a child, I would come home from school crying because too many people wanted to be my friend and I didn't like that. I don't know how to maintain so many friendships, lets face it, I can barely maintain myself and my family ha ha.

I appreciate the friends that know me and love me anyways. I keep my circle small because that is how I feel safe. I am not a snob, I do not think I am better then anyone else. I try to be kind to others. 

I am imperfect. I am a work in progress. I make mistakes everyday and I have for my whole life. I put my trust in people who I find out I shouldn't. I am often sarcastic sometimes, I believe it is a coping mechanism (some enjoy this others do not). I am a sensitive girl whose feelings get hurt from time to time. And all of this is OKAY. 

I am so happy that there are a group of women that I can trust to be my friend. To laugh with me and cry with me. To eat healthy with and to dig into the treats if needed. To give me a hug or help me with my kids. To let me serve them and reap some blessings. They are examples of strength, faith, courage, softness, love, compassion, laughter, kindness and everything I need in my world.

It's ok for me to surround myself with the people that bring me up and encourage me to do my best. It's ok for me to eliminate the toxic people and relationships that drain me and bring me down. It's ok to take care of me. My friends know this and love me for being me. 

I am grateful for learning about boundaries to protect myself and my family. We cannot control others around us but we can do our best to control ourselves and how we react to others or situations.

We learn, we grow, we forgive, we progress and we continue on. I am grateful for all of this. 

Sisters, Sisters, there were never such devoted sisters!

I love that song from White Christmas where Betty and Judy sing about how much they love and need each other but also how to make sure "you don't come between me and my man!". It's a favorite at my house and my sisters and I will sing it for fun sometimes.

I have two wonderful sisters by blood. Dana and Megan. One older and one younger. They have both taught me a lot and continue to remind me about learning and growth. I am grateful for both of them. We don't always see eye to eye on everything and we certainly have different beliefs and opinions in life. But when all is said and done I know that I have 2 pretty awesome ladies who have my back.

I'm grateful for the journey we've been able to take through childhood, the teen years and now into our 30's. We've all changed a lot over the years but there are some fundamental things that may never change. Like Dana being the bossy oldest, myself being the pot stirring middle child and Megan being the "baby". We all play a role in our family. Sometimes an appreciated role and other times we'd like to rip each others heads off. But that's what we do. It's the dance of our relationship. Ever gliding, turning, dipping, falling, and changing.

I see my Mom with her sisters and I see the relationships around me of my friends or relatives with their sisters. I see things I love and things I hope will never happen to us. I want to be close with my sisters for always. We are ever connected (whether we like it or not ha ha) and we are forever!

It's Dana's birthday today, Megan's tomorrow and then my Mom's on Thursday. Growing up, I felt like everyone had a birthday except me and I would sometimes have the "birthday blues". I don't feel like that anymore (haven't for quite some time). I enjoy being able to celebrate them and reflect on our relationships and look at pictures.

I love them all so much and I am so grateful for amazing women in my life to love me no matter what!

Happy Birthday to my January girls

It's a New Year 2015

Sometimes I make a goal and achieve it and other times I fail miserably. That's just life I suppose. I am an imperfect person as we all are because hey lets face it, we are still here!
I've made some mental goals for the new year and one of them was to do better with my journal writing. Much happened with our family last year but I did a terrible job of documenting those things. BUT, I am great with taking pictures so I took a million and one pictures so I guess I didn't fail miserably as I said before. Pictures = Journal :)
I am very blessed! I have so many blessings it is hard to count them all. I need to focus on them because it is easy (especially during dreary January) to feel down. So my goal is to try to blog more. Take time to recognize the good and enjoy the moments. Life is going by in a blur and I want to keep up.

Some of my goals for 2015:
-blog more
-update (hmm hmm or start) baby books for my kids
-organize my pictures
-paint, paint, paint (living room, hallway, etc...)
-read more books
-read my scriptures more often
-keep in better touch with friends I've lost touch with
-spend more outside time with my kids
-improve my physical, mental, spiritual, emotional self

We make goals because that is what this life is for, to learn, improve and grow!

I CAN DO IT!!!!!!
WE DO HARD THINGS!!!!
YOU GO GIRL!!!!! (That's for you Chelsea ;) )

Photos from Sept 2015 Vanessa Lust Photography

LOVE xoxoxoxoxo

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Love never fails.

I am so grateful for my husband, children, extended family and many friends who I love and who love me back.

Happy Valentines Day to whoever reads this but also to my beautiful family!

I am also so grateful for a loving Father in Heaven who sent me here to Earth at this time and who gives love unconditionally even when I make mistakes and falter.

Blessings - Friendship, Chocolate and FAMILY

This is for Sunday ;)

Yes I have 2 things I am grateful for and blessed with today. We received a dinner invite for today and it came at a really good time because I had no idea what to make (which basically means that we'd have pancakes) and I was feeling slightly ummm hormonal and irritable shall we say. Not only was the meal super yummy but the dessert was chocolatey and amazing! It was totally the craving I was wanting and I'm so grateful for a wonderful friend who invited my crazy family over but shared a delicious dessert too!

and today.....
Today is family day so naturally I am so blessed and thankful for my family. My little family, my Tyskerud Family and my Hobbs family. All of my extended family. I have so many people who I love and care about. It is wonderful that we have a holiday now to set aside a day (especially in February when it can be kind of blah out) to celebrate FAMILY!!!!

Feb 1/14 - My niece Elena's baptism

Aug 2013 - Tyskerud Family at Lindy's baptism

May 2013 - Hobbs family at Clarissa and Justin's wedding

Blessings - Laughter

Well, good intentions.... I had every intention of blogging a blessing everyday and since Tuesday I have done it once LOL. I have been mentally counting my blessing every day just not making it to the computer.

Wednesday - My Mom and Aunt for coming for a visit. I've had a bit of a down week and I really needed a Mom Hug and a visit with them. I found myself feeling a million times better after they left. It's easy sometimes to have a pity party when things aren't going well but it's also important to allow yourself to get back up and that's what that visit did for me. I am so blessed with a Mom and Aunt that care for me so much!

Thursday -  A husband who works so hard for me so I can replace things that get broken (that I deem very important for me). I went with my other Aunt to the Hair Supply store and got a new FLAT IRON. I know my 1st world problem is slightly ridiculous but I enjoy having the option to straighten my hair.

Friday - My helpful and beautiful Lindy girl. She stayed home from school yesterday and it was so nice. She offered to help with the little kids if I needed and it was nice to just have her around. She is my little Big girl and I am so grateful for a daughter like her!

Today  - Beautiful Sunshine on the crisp, snowy day. We still have snow on the ground from last Monday. It is kind of fun considering we don't often get snow here. The kids have had so much fun with it this week. But I am so grateful that the sun is out too because then it's not grey (blah). The sun warms me up and warms my heart!

Counting my Blessings - My Kids

I made a goal this next week to count my blessings, one thing every day for the next 7 days that I am grateful for.
Today I am grateful for my 4 beautiful children who make me laugh and smile. They bring so much joy to my life and even when we have a rough day, one of them can make me smile.

Things for me to remember...

“Women of God can never be like women of the world. The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind. There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined. We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith. We have enough greed; we need more goodness. We have enough vanity; we need more virtue. We have enough popularity; we need more purity.”

(Margaret D. Nadauld “The Joy of Womanhood,” Ensign, Nov. 2000, 15)

I love this quote. I remember hearing it back in 2000 and thinking "Wow, I need to remember that!". I want to be a woman of God. I want to be someone that people look at with with positive feelings, not negative thoughts. I want to become the best version of myself and I am so grateful for the people around me and all that I experience in life to learn from and grow.

I also really like this quote too. (A friend shared it with me yesterday and I want to remember it) It is so easy to jump on the crazy train but it is never a good idea. We will not grow, we will not improve. I need to decide who is toxic and who is nourishment for me in my relationships. AND IT"S OKAY to have limited relationships with people who I deem toxic for me. I am in charge of my life and my family. And I get to decided who I let in, I make the invitations. 

AND of course with a new year upon us I am making a couple of goals for myself...

1. Be a more kind, patient and compassionate person

2. Read my scriptures more (which won't be hard considering I hardly ever read them)

3. Exercise 3 times a week (walk, run, whatever I need to be more active)

4. Give all of my children enough hugs and kisses to sustain them through their days (this might be the hardest goal of all because for one in particular it never seems enough but I am going to try!)

Spreading things a little thin...

Sometimes I feel like I've had enough. Enough of EVERYTHING! I don't want to be the Mom, Wife, Sister, Daughter, Friend, etc.... Some days I am just too tired (emotionally, physically, mentally) to do everything cheerfully and efficiently. Some days I just don't feel I am enough and can give enough of what other people need.
I recently asked to be released from one of my callings at church (I had 2). I felt bad initially because I know I was called for a reason, the Lord knows me better then I know myself so I felt I was letting him down. BUT, I was not serving in my other calling as effectively as I could be and I was spreading myself too thin. Sometimes just one extra task is the thing that makes life too much. I felt so much better after I was released because then I didn't feel like I was letting people down for not actually doing the job I was asked to do but just not being able to do it because of my life circumstances.
I know in the big picture this is a small thing, to be released from a calling. But once again it was a good lesson for me to take care of ME. If I am spread too thin I am not able to take care of my family and they are my world! It is so important to recognize when to take a step back and re-evaluate when changes need to be made. Change is GOOD! Sometimes it is hard but change is a good thing.
There was a talk given at conference a few years ago, it is so good, please read if you have time!
http://www.lds.org/ensign/2007/11/good-better-best
There are good things we are doing, better things we should be doing and recognizing the best we can do and where we need to make the change. I've been thinking about this the last couple of days. What are my goals and where do I need to be going from here. Something to think about with a new year approaching. I am not one for making "resolutions" but I am one for making goals. So keeping that talk in mind, I am going to take some time in January to make short term and long term goal. I don't want to be spread too thin, I want to accomplish as much as a can and be useful to my family always.

 Just putting one foot in front of the other is how I get through some days and that's okay for now, but it will get better!

10 Years of Wedded Bliss!!!

July 18, 2003 - Just before we got married

Steve and I were officially married for 10 years this past July 18. I cannot believe it has been 10 years! It has gone by way too fast but has been such an adventure all the way along
10 years has seen 4 different house situations with us purchasing our home in 2009. It has seen Steve finish his Electrical apprenticeship schooling and training, him moving along in his career at Houle Electric. He is now the Super-Intendant in the Nanaimo Branch. It has seen multiple callings at church, many days travelling away for activities or assignments. It has seen 4 beautiful children come into our family, each one presenting different blessings and lessons for us along the way. It has seen a trip to Utah, 2 trips to Edmonton for family weddings, trips to Vancouver and around the Island. It has seen ups and down, mountains and valleys, sickness and health. We are so grateful to have each other and even on the days where we feel frustrated, we love each other and count ourselves blessed!
So proud of us for making it to the milestone in our marriage and I can't wait for the many more along the way!
I love you Stephen Hobbs!!!!!!

October 2013

We still love each other, its a miracle!

July 2013

July 18, 2013

 For our actual anniversary, Steve took the day off and my Mom came down to stay with our kids. I didn't want to leave Nathan overnight (he was just 1 in May) but we quite happily just spent the day together. We went and checked out the Nanaimo River, having a swim without kids was heavenly (ha ha sorry kids), we went for dinner at the Keg, went for a walk down by the waterfront and were just together. We talked, laughed, cried, yelled, kissed, laughed some more, we just had such nice time reconnecting. It gets so busy with 4 kids, school, work, callings and life that sometimes we forget why we are together.

Lindy turns 8!

Well at some point in life my children will know how far behind I got with recording important events in our lives but for now they are totally oblivious and think I am ever so wonderful!

My beautiful Lindy turned 8 on August 27. I cannot believe I have an 8 year old!!!! I didn't feel old till this happened. Now I do know in the big scheme of life I am not old but still there you go. This was a mile stone for me, having a daughter who was 8 and old enough to get baptized (that post will be coming).

For Lindy's birthday party this year she wanted to have some friends over, play a few games, eat pizza, dance and have fun. So low key, yeah!

Beautiful Lindy

She still loves to get stuffies

playing water balloon games with her friends

group hug!

Dancing girls

Pizza Party

her animal cupcakes

Mommy and her big girl

Daddy and his big girl

Lindy at 8:

-great sense of humor, always teasing and telling funny jokes

-very good big sister, always trying to help with her siblings

-doing very well with Piano lessons

-loves to swim and really improved over the summer at Great Gramma's lake

-loves her friends and cousins so much

-still my sensitive girl, cries easily but also easily comforted

-sometimes doesn't like being the oldest, too much responsibility

-such a good singer!

-loves to play dress up, barbies, stuffies, little games with the little ones

-so good at believing in magical things, tells me she is a Mermaid! She also believes in fairies, the Easter Bunny, Toothfairy and Santa Claus. 

-gives really good hugs and kisses, also likes to give her Dad wet willy kisses

-learning so much at school. readying really well, so nice she can read books to her siblings now

-great at helping with chores

-fun to hang out with, I love going on dates with her because she doesn't ask for a million things and loves to spend one on one time with mommy or daddy

-learning to love church and comes up with answers that are so inspiring

-read her first talks in primary this past year and even read a talk for the primary presentation in Nov (we were so proud of her because just last year she got too shy and didn't do her part, but this year she got right up there and read so well!)

I am so grateful for my Lindy Girl! She is my pride and joy. She makes me smile everyday and I know that Heavenly Father sent her to me to be my daughter and friend. I cannot imagine my life without my girl!

Nicolie Rolie turns 6!

My sweet Nicole turned 6 on July 26. I love and hate birthdays for my children as I'm sure you can guess why. But we had a fantastic day together and I put on a fairly awesome little party for her. She didn't ask for much actually which is kind of out of character for her. She just wanted to dance and play with her friends, put on make up, paint toes and have cake. We also met up with my Mom and Lydia for some fun at Parksville Beach which was a bonus too. I asked her at the end of the day if she had fun and she sighed, smiled and said YES!!!!

Birthday Pie, yes I am that good of a Mom

All ready in a new outfit for her birthday, including sparkly blue flip flops!

checking out the sandcastles

Having a little treat

picking up shells at the beach

Me and my birthday girl

oooooo make up at the party

All the girls with their sparkle make up

Dance!!!

Her friend Claire

Having Pizza

the boys thinking all these girls are CRAZY!!!

opening some gifts

Birthday cupcakes

Late night pizza after everyone is gone, her and Lindy kept the party going!

Daddy and his big 6 year old

I can't believe you are 6 Nicole!!!

Nicole at 6 years old:
-always wanting me to do her hair and make up (I do not do it as much as she would like)
-singing little songs
-fantastic hoola hooper
-loves to swim and does a great mermaid dive/swim
-always needing hugs/kisses/cuddles (I can't keep up with the demand)
-very social, wanting a play date every other day but then also really enjoys quiet time
-loves to Dance and make up dances for us. (She actually did a few shows thru-out the school year with her friends for her teacher Mrs. Campbell, she could tell me afterward and love them)
-very artistic, loves to draw and her attention to detail is quite good
-is an amazing helper when she chooses to be, with the proper motivation or just randomly on her own, she could clean my entire house if she really wanted
-quite dramatic and emotional at times (look out for the teenage years)
-wanting to always be older because Lindy gets to do things she can't do because she is too little
-favorite food is PANCAKES (ha ha something we have way too much of)
-loves going to Tyskerud Grandma's, Nana's and Great Grandma's house
-really looking forward to going into grade 1 because she gets a new back pack and can wear her new boots
-she still flips her hair and smacks her tongue when she is telling me stories just like she did when she was 3, so cute!

Nicole Lynn Hobbs I love you more then anything in the world! I know our life together is going to have it's challenges but I also know we are going to get great friends as we grow together. My world is better and more interesting because she is in it and I thank God everyday for each of my children to love me and teach me to be a better person.
Happy Birthday Nicole, stop growing up!!!!