Thanksgiving At The Hyde's

Concentrating on movin' dirt in the backyard.



Happy Boy! His little bandana catches the remnants from teething.



Walking off the turkey!



This picture captures Jackson's life in a nutshell...
everything is AMAZING and NEW! I LOVE IT!!!


Jackson palled around with Austin (15 months). Jackson, I think is
wondering why he's stuck in the grocery cart and not a stroller!

What an awesome day it was with all of Jerod's family! We played games (Apples to Apples), watched the kids play in the dirt and had LOTS of turkey, ham, and my favorite, Cranberry Marshmellow salad -I know it sounds great-you can be jealous! I love this season of getting together with friends and family and just hanging out and sharing family life together.

Doing my Part

Today, the day before Thanksgiving, I've continued to think about what I could do to give back. I've been thinking a lot about all that I've been given and wanted to give something. Last night, Matthew and I made cookies and cards for his and Jackson's teachers and delivered them this morning. They were so thankful. It felt so good to give and I want to continue. We always hear that it is better to give than to receive, and I'm beginning to truly believe that thought.

Since I don't have the kiddos today, I thought I would go and give blood as a way to give back. It's an easy thing to do, takes less than an hour, and I didn't even have to have an appointment. (which is great if you're a spontaneous bird, like me) Having worked as a nurse, I've been the infuser of the blood and seen how it is a life saver to many. As the holidays draw near, many forget to donate and the banks are low. So, hopefully today, I can give back and do my part to help someone who needs this life source.

"Baker Tyrone"

Matthew is "Baker Tyrone"



Here's a picture of all of the little guys from the show. Matthew's favorite (right now) is Tyrone, the orange moose.

Matthew's favorite cartoon is "The Backyardigans". Ok, So last night Jerod went to check on him and there he was sitting on his bottom bunk with his soccer ball on his head. Then he said, "Daddy, I'm Baker Tyrone!" I was called in to get a glimpse of the action. All 3 of us were howling in laughter! He is such a little ham, and I just love hearing him laugh.

Makin' snow angels with "Neighbirds"

Hilarious-my little smilin' boy and cute little Lilli!!!


Snow Angels

Yesterday, we called our "neighbirds" as Matthew used to say and invited them to the duck pond to feed the ducks, fish and whatever else will eat smashed bread, biscuits, and crackers from toddlers hands. Daddy kicked the soccer ball around and then we all traveled home for a little pizza time and dress up fun. Lilli and Matthew dressed up in snow attire and danced around the living room singing "ring around the rosy" and then splayed out on the hard-woods and made feax snow angels. Hilarious and so silly!!! It was a definite KODAK moment.


Lola and Jackson


Playing soccer with Daddy

thankful. hopeful.

So, it all began last weekend when I got together with 2 of my best friends from college. We began talking of all the stories of friends who have lost children to tragedy, friends who have cancer, or friends who are struggling just to get by in life. I began to cry at each and every story told and have continued throughout this last week just reading friend's blogs and websites about what others are going through. As I read, I realize the consistent theme of how all are coping and living each day with hope for the next-Jesus. His life and death was, is, and will be enough to cover us and carry us throughout today and every day after. So, here I am today, so very thankful for my family, my friends, and all the abundance that God has given to us.

Lamentations 3:20-33 (The Message)

It's a Good Thing to Hope for Help from God. I'll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness, the taste of ashes, the poison I've swallowed. I remember it all—oh, how well I remember—the feeling of hitting the bottom. But there's one other thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on hope: God's loyal love couldn't have run out, his merciful love couldn't have dried up. They're created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! I'm sticking with God (I say it over and over). He's all I've got left. God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks. It's a good thing to quietly hope, quietly hope for help from God. It's a good thing when you're young to stick it out through the hard times. When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence. Bow in prayer. Don't ask questions: Wait for hope to appear. Don't run from trouble. Take it full-face. The "worst" is never the worst

Fun little Sayings

So, today, we were driving in the car and on the Backyardigans video, one of the little characters said, "Oh, No." So then I hear Jackson say, "Oh, Naaao" in his little voice. It was just about the cutest thing I've ever heard. He's just started talking a TON and it's so fun listening to his little voice. I thought I'd blog about some of Matthew and his little things they say all the time.

Matthew's sayings:
He calls Jackson: Jack Jack
The other day Matthew walked into Jackson's room and put a hat on Jackson and said,"Oh, Jackson, you look so cute."
Loves to say coo coo
Told Jerod the other day, "Daddy, I need 2 things. A kiss and a hug."
Told me tonight as I was leaving for work, "Mommy, don't bump into anything in your car."



Jackson's sayings:
He calls Matthew: Bubba
When he wakes up almost immediately he will say, Bubba and point at his door.
He says Boooo for what the cow says...instead of Moooo
He calls his paci: puppy
As we drive by the pumpkins, he says, kunkuuu
To say please, he says: Peeees and does the sign for please, but almost beats his chest in order to get what he wants.
Caaa for car
Baaa for any construction site (like Bob the Builder)
Daaa for dog
Appoo for apple
Cuuu for cup

There will be more to follow on this one, for sure.

Jingle Belle

Our sweet little Jingle Belle, she is so sweet. Just alittle on the jumpy side, but what 1 1/2 year old Boxer isn't. She's so sweet and so fun, but she's our little foster dog and she'll be leaving us soon. I'm pretty sad about her leaving, but know it's what's best for us right now. The boys love her and she mostly loves them. Jackson likes her the most, but isn't the gentlest with her. He grabs her face and her skin and she kinda cringes, and just walks away. Her favorite toy is her jingle bell toy which is a little ironic and cute. So here she is...

Too Long...

Matthew telling Jackson how great they both look! And that they can conquer the WORLD!

Look at my BIG MUSCLES!!!

Jackson just happy to be a SUPERHERO!!!

So, today is November 1st and it's just been too long since I've posted. No fancy post here, just some plain old writing, but it's about our boys so it's NOT sooo boring. This week has been crazy, working 4 nights, trying to feed my kids something other than processed foods, and celebrating Halloween. It was a fun week-we actually painted a pumpkin! So there will be pictures to follow so we can remember our cute little pumpkin. Matthew named him, Nemo. His favorite little character at the moment.

So the boys were Batman and Robin for Halloween and were just about the cutest things ever. We went to the Northwest Bible Church Fall Fest for just a short visit since I had to work. The boys had a blast and wanted to stay longer. Oh well, we all had a great time and loved being together.