Our Life

Hello Family and Friends,

     I thought I would give a lovely little update on our Hurst Family Life.

Ray-O-Sunshine has entered the 4th grade and is loving it despite  her initial fears. She does say that her class is the most misbehaved 4th grade class out of all of them and that she is disgusted by them. But I am sure that is subject to her perception of things...LOL. Raya got braces put on the 2nd to last week of 3rd grade and she absolutely loves them! She enjoys picking out the new colors of ruberbands at her appointments. Raya loves horseback riding and art as well as piano. During the summer Raya was involved in a Summer Fitness Camp that made it possible for her to go on field trips and swimming and playing sports as well as yoga and zumba. She also participated in Swim Team and dive lessons during summer break.

Landina (which is what he is called by his loving mother...hehehe) has entered 3rd grade and is liking it so far. He is currently reading Diary of a Whimpy Kid . He is on book 4 and thinks they are hilarious! He is getting baptized in October and we are excited to celebrate with him :-) Landon want's to start archery very soon and plans on playing baseball again in the Spring, he also started playing piano during the summer and was involved in swim team and dive lessons!

KyBugs is beginning 1st grade and is thinking that maybe Kindergarten is better. She has yet to be won over by 1st grade. But I know her teacher very well and think that she will probably be  more intrigued very soon. Kylie is begging to play the piano like her older siblings and she also wants to dance ballet. Hopefully we will be starting those adventures soon.

Aubs is still at home and enjoys doing preschool with her mommy. She loves to sing and make up new songs. Aubry is always pushing to learn more and do new things! She would love to do gymnastics and ballet.  Aubry is spunky and cute and has a real excitement for life and she is making sure to take me on her adventures with her :-D

Nix...oh what to say...?  Nixon is 19 months old and into EVERYTHING! He enjoys standing on the table and counter tops, getting off his bed at nap time and coloring on himself with any marker he can find, because he's not picky. He also loves to get into the shower anytime anyone is in the shower, whether he has been invited or not. SO needless to say he is a squeaky clean little boy.  He enjoys giving fist bumps and high fives, jumping off the couches, running as fast as he can, throwing and catching balls and he blows kisses when you tell him to say "thank you" ;-)

We are a crazy family and we love each other dearly! We hope that all of you are doing well and enjoying your adventures in life.

May Peace Be With You,

Leila

This is my something special :-)

There are certain things in life that make me giggle. One of those things is a hot chocolate from starbucks. But it has to have extra whipping cream with an extra shot of chocolate and vanilla.  Now I know what your thinking, hot chocolate in the summer time in ARIZONA?!  But, if you know me well, then you know that hot chocolate is something so special to me. I L-O-V-E it :-)  It doesn't matter what the weather is like or what I have had to eat, it always makes me feel happy inside. And sometimes you just need to have those thingsthat make you giggle and grin from ear to ear, because that's the best. So find something to smile about it'll be a game changer.

LOVE,
Leila

This Morning

How did your morning go? ... Good? Oh, that's great. How did my morning go? Well...
Let's recap how this morning went... My alarm went off at 5:30 so that I could go pick up Utah peaches and raspberries. I quickly turned off my alarm and went back to sleep. I finally got out of bed at 5:50, brushed my teeth, got dressed, grabbed my sleeping baby out of his bed and strapped him in and off I went. Right now your wondering why I took my 8 month old sleeping baby out of his bed instead of letting him sleep while I just went...Well, the odds are that he would of woken up while Phil was getting the 3 kids ready for school and himself ready for work and I wanted to help him as much as I could by taking that obstacle out of his morning. So I drove the 25 minutes to get my delicious fruit (which is still in the car) and held my baby in his infant carrier while I stood in a very long line waiting for my turn to pay. My baby isn't one of those petite little things, He ways about 20 lbs. So you can imagine how ripped my arms are now. So I finally got my fruit and was driving home when I noticed that I missed a call from home. So I call home and Raya answers the phone. She proceeds to tell me that she has made Kylie's lunch. My first initial thought was, That is so sweet. My second thought was, where is Phil... So then as it always goes when I call my house, every child needs to talk to me. Once that is finished, I hang up the phone. Then in a about a minute, my phone rings again, its Landon, asking if he can have a capri sun. I might sound stingy, but I said "No, those are for Kylie's lunch." He gets mad and hangs up on me. So I call back and Raya proceeds to tell me that Landon has thrown her backpack over the back fence... WHAT?! Hold on a second...Who is running the show over there, and where on earth is PHIL! I told Raya to get Dad on the phone NOW! By this time it's 7:19am. She tells me he's in the shower. Now I'm thinking to myself, this is SO not good. When I do finally talk to him on the phone he sounds like he can tell what I'm thinking...yeah he knows that Momma is not happy. By the time I get home, Raya has already gone around the to the street behind us, and knocked on our neighbor's door (at 7:20am) and asked for her backpack back. Landon is finishing getting dressed and Kylie is getting her shoes on. 
Now maybe I am unrealistic, but I didn't plan on things going quite like that. In my head, I planned on my hubs getting ready and getting the kids up @ 6:30 and getting them ready. I figured that by the time I walked in the door they would be finishing eating breakfast and we could have a peaceful family prayer and even possibly read scriptures. I did not imagine a cranky 3 year old, and fighting children with a pile of nesquick powder on the floor. 
So, How did my morning go? It went. Now on to the rest of my day (with my fingers crossed).

Life Lessons

D&C 10:4  Do not run ^afaster or labor more than you have ^bstrength and means provided


     I am the person that doesn't question why something needs to be. When I feel prompted to do something, I do it. It doesn't matter how it will effect me, my husband or my children. I have always looked at it as blind faith and obedience and have always been proud of myself for that. 
Now 10 years into marriage with 5 wonderful kids, I have been blessed to understand a little more of my Heavenly Father's desires for my life and my feelings. 
     The verse up top speaks volumes. I am starting to learn that life is not just about go and do, no matter the consequence.  My Father in Heaven wants me to be happy. He wants me to explore what makes me, ME.  He wants me to embrace my husband and our family with happiness and excitement for what is and what comes next, instead of girding up my loins and muscling through what needs to get done.  I am suppose to find what I am passionate about and invest in that.  Not just as a fleeting thing, but as something that lasts, that will bring accomplishment, fulfillment and will be an avenue of growth. 


     SO, now for the SCARY part...well for me anyway. How do I have fun? I am usually to scared to start a project because it takes so much time to go through the trial and error and the ins and outs. Even though I know that brings the pride and satisfaction in a job well done.  It's still scary and gives me anxiety. But I really truly want to dive in and do it! So how and where do I begin...?  

I wish I may, I wish I might, Have this wish I wish...RIGHT NOW!

I was just talking to my sister Millie, who happens to be a great photographer, and I was telling her how badly I want a new camera. She suggested a Canon. But sadly I will be dreaming for quite some time! or...maybe I can tell my hubby I want one for our 10 Year Anniversary gift :) 
Blogging is fun and rewarding, but when I don't have good pictures to work with, it's kinda frustrating!  Some day over the rainbow I will have myself a nice Canon camera...someday...hmm..Anybody need their pants hemmed or curtains sewn? Maybe that's how I'll earn money for a new camera!


Cross your fingers & Wish me LUCK!


Leila 

I Love/ Want This

So from time to time I just have to share what my cousin Shelley is up to over at House of Smiths. Now is one of those times! I LOVE/WANT This! Shelley has put together such an amazing Gallery wall. The way that Shelley decorates her house, that I love, is everything looks clean and fresh. It makes for a happy start to every day. I have just started to take the steps into making this type of transformation in my own home. Now with 5 kids this is going to be a serious stretch. But a clean and beautiful home is a place where my family can be happy together and play and create together and grow together with peace and love.

I am going to share some other photos in the transformation process as soon as I have a few things taken care of. But just remember that everyone grows at their own pace and that each persons life, situation, mentality and abilities to cope are completely and totally different. So love me and I will love you and we can all be friends. Okay?!...Okay.

'via Blog this'

Life is good when your kids can read the scriptures to you :- D!!!

So this morning, my two little ones might be classified as driving me crazy : ) The have almost literally been on top of me all morning long & if they haven't been on top of me, they have busted open the yogurt container on to the kitchen floor or getting the block of cheese out of the fridge skewering it with a shishkabob(sp?) stick & taking bites out of it. But just a second ago, Aubry went to the bathroom & washed her hands & then came up to me with a questioning look on her face. I asked what she needed & she said..."Can I dry my hands on your pants?"
Even just typing that makes me laugh out loud! Ahh, those hilarious moments as a mother! They make each day laughable & fun, regardless of my childrens distructive hands.
Leila

I think I might actually be ready for the Christmas Season to start soon. My friend Ashley & I went boutique hopping last weekend just for the fun of it. I actually mean, just for the fun of it. I didn't even take any money with me. When I was done, I felt so excited for the holidays. I went home & baked cinnamon rolls...lol So needless to say, I have felt "inspired", for lack of a better word, to start a project. I was looking at a fabulous home decor store's website & saw a picture of some amazingly CUTE Snow Man Hats. So I went to the store & looked @ the price tag & almost stopped breathing. They wanted $79.00 for ONE of them! Well, rich or poor, there is no way I am paying $79.00 for one christmas decor. Unless it's a tree! So I went home & made 3 of them :)
Leila

This is my fabulous cousin Shelley :) She has the most amazing vinyl business and home decor blogs. Check it out houseofsmiths.blogspot.com She really is amazing!!!
Leila