I hope.....

this lasts for a lifetime.

One of these things...

is not like the other, one of these things just isn't the same....

These pictures were taken yesterday. I'd have to say they turned out very well. Who knows, maybe our parents might end up with copies of these for mother's/father's day this year.


It's not very often where my siblings and I are all together. The first picture is of myself and my sister Tammy. The second one is of my brothers, Jay and Matthew.

Would you believe we're all siblings? We don't all look alike.

Merry Christmas!

I'd have to say that I think both of my children are pleased with what they received as gifts this year from us.

Kianna was wanting a kitchen set for Christmas so it worked out well that we were able to get her one even before she had suggested it. The picture of her standing there looking at the kitchen was her first look at it. What a look of pleasure. The toque on her head was in her stocking. She obviously loves it. As of right now, she still hasn't taken it off.

It was nice to see the kids pretending to cook together. Hopefully this sharing attitude will last between the two of them for a long time to come.

Spencer quite likes his rocking cow. Yes, I said cow.

I got Lyndon a poker set. He didn't see it coming. He likes it alot.

I got a digital camera from Lyndon (his parents went in on it too). I quite like it. I needed a new one seeing as how the screen on my other was stomped on last christmas.

I know that Christmas is more than a bunch of presents. But I must say that I got so much joy out of watching my kids and their reactions to what we gave them. It's wonderful to see the thrill on their faces (as you can see Kianna's look in the above photo).

Merry Christmas everyone.

Wedding Memories....

My sister is getting married in just a couple of weeks. It's a very exciting time for her. This picture is of her singing at my own wedding over 6 years ago. It'll be neat to see her as the bride this time around. And no, I'm not singing at her wedding. I'm nowhere near as talented as her in that department.

Congratulations Tammy and Drew. I hope for all the best for you.

The Next Generation....

I was looking through my photos and found these.

The newer one was taken in early January 2004. It was only 2 weeks after Kianna was born. There are 5 generations of women here.

Of course, Kianna is the baby in this photo. My great-grandma is holding her. I'm standing behind them. Standing next to me is my mom. Sitting in front of my mom is my grandma.

The older one was taken in 1982 with 5 generations of women (all of whom are the oldest in each generation). Of course in this one, I'm the baby.

My mom sitting in this one and holding me. My grandma is standing behind my mom. Standing beside my grandma is my great-grandma and sitting beside my mom is my great-great-grandma.


I just thought it was really neat that I had a piece of history such as this. I believe this to be a rare item to possess.

It's almost here...

and I'm not ready.

I am feeling more and more that Christmas has become too commercialized and full of empty traditions.

Why do we have to buy a gift for everyone?

Why do we have to eat a big meal that only ends up being more work than it's worth after it's gobbled down in less than 15 minutes? It only leaves a whole lot more dishes to clean up after supper than it would on any other given day.

Why is it so much more important to get together with family at this time of year than it is at any other time of year?

I guess you could say I'm a little like scrooge this year. I'm just so overwhelmed with all of the things I'm expected to do that I don't have any joy in this season.

Everyone has their own expectations of what Christmas should be like and is about.

My expectations just don't exist anymore as I strive to (for some crazy reason) fulfill all of the things expected of me by others.

This year a good Christmas present for me would be to have no Christmas.

Christmas equals stress, disappointing at least one family member (although it could be a different person every year), making a big meal that no one really appreciates in the long run so it's just more work, and buying meaningless gifts for people that they don't really need.


So that's my rant.

Who knows, I may feel different about things in years to come, but for now...let's just get Christmas done and over with.

How to wear a child stylishly

This is similar to what I look like when I'm wearing a child on my hip. But this is just a much better looking picture, and without the lack of winter wear, it almost looks like it's a breeze to wear the child there.

So....picture me wearing a child in a snowsuit in noe of these things on my hip. I'm also pushing a stroller with one hand because my other arm still has to support the other kid. Then add a 3 year old to that who I insist holds onto the stroller.

This is what I look like 2 days a week.

This is why it's exhausting.

We set it up

Our christmas tree is officially set up for another year. It will be up for a record of 2 weeks this year. It will be coming down on the 27th as has become tradition so that we can celebrate Kianna's birthday with a little more room in the house and make it feel like her birthday as well.

We usually have the tree up about the first weekend of December, but the time just wasn't available. Also, the thought of telling 3 pairs of hands to stop touching the tree didn't thrill me either.

The tree has only been set up for less than 24 hours and I'm already ready to take it down.

It's going to be a long December.....

A New Addition......

It's been a challenging couple of weeks.

Last week I started babysitting a friend's little guy full time. He has just turned one so now I have my nearly 4 year old, my 19 month old, and now another one year old. It's a full and busy house!

It didn't help that me and the the rest of my family have been sick as well as our new addition. So that's been something to get through. Most of us are feeling better. Kianna had to miss preschool on Tuesday because she had been throwing up but she seems to be okay now.

There have also been many new adjustments made around our home with the presence of this third child. I think that time is the biggest factor. It takes longer to eat meals, clean up messes, and getting them all down for nap time after lunch.

Kianna has preschool 2 times a week in the mornings. I tried a different way of transporting all of the kids to school today. Kianna can walk of course, but the other two can't handle that walk. I put Spencer in the stroller and I put Liam in the borrowed wrap that I acquired. I still have to get used to tying the wrap just right and Liam has to adjust to being in it. He wasn't crazy about the idea of being so close to me.

I think I'd have to laugh if I saw myself walking down the street with these 3 kids. One walking and holding onto the stroller, the second one in the stroller, and the third one slung onto my hip.

These walks to school and back are quite the workout!

Anyway, it's a new way of life around our household. We're still getting used to it but I'm sure that once we've all adjusted to this new routine, life will be a little less chaotic.

And less chaos means I'll be able to start thinking a little more clearly instead of just trying to make it from day to day.

Team Hoyt - Redeemer

I was inspired by this today.

Just watch and reflect on the love God has for us just as this father cares and loves his own son.