Yes, I know it's pretty pathetic that I am doing bi-monthly updates now. Welcome to the mind of a procrastinator! To be honest, I probably wouldn't have even done this today if I hadn't promised my ma-in-law I would. I don't know why I can't keep up with life in general. I used to have so much time for the computer but now it is a serious luxury if I get 5 minutes in front of it. The only reason I'm doing it now is because I stationed the kids in front of a movie for some peace of mind. I have an issue with my kids watching TV--don't know why. It really is such a heaven sent. So here's the Hutchings Update:
We gave Ethan his first rice cereal! Yeah! I've been dragging my feet because it takes so much more time than propping a bottle, but I finally gave in. It's so messy and he doesn't love it so I'm not very faithful at it.
I love this picture because it looks like he's in heaven, but he really was just enduring and hoping he didn't choke yet again:).
I LOVE IT! We've been trying to get Cooper to be more aware of what goes on down south in the diaper. He's so not even close to potty training, but we're trying to get a little closer! It would make you sick to see the amounts of diaper we go through each day. We've started giving him a treat if he sits on the potty and then a big treat if he does something in the potty. Well, this time when we took his diaper off he had gone poop and then Jake sat him on the potty. We don't know if it was just remnants from the bum or if he actually did go poop in the pot, but we decided to give him a big treat. I think he left most of the chocolate on his face instead of in the tummy!
Their favorite place until I have to wash their hair. They hate that part--it drives me nuts!
Rare moment. Cooper doesn't fall asleep in the car much so we try to document it when it happens. We have church from 1-4 and this was on our way home. He finally gave in to the sleep!
Happy family. We took some photo ops on Mother's Day. Check out the cute family!
Ew!! Yes, this is on our roof right outside the kitchen door. Ella Moe spotted it while eating lunch. I about had a heart attack because I didn't know what kind of snake it was and it had to be at least 6 feet long. I think it's living in the attic--which is okay because it's just a rat snake and they eat nasty rodents. However, my poopy diaper pail is right under here so I definitely glance up before I go out there now!
Okay, on to CRAFTS!! Yeah!
Here are out letters, M N O:
M is for Monkey!
Cooper dipped a half potato in paint and then made the heads with his thumbprint. I decorated them later--check out my lack of artistic skill-->
N is for Numbers!
I looked over after we finished and Cooper had drawn an "N" on his own and pointed it out to me. Warms a mother's heart!:)
O is for Octopus!
We just painted all of his fingers except his thumb, pressed them down, and then added some eyes. Kids get a kick out of painting their hands and feet--always a winner!
Okay, here are Monday Book Projects that we've been doing. Really, all I do is go to the library and grab some books that look like fun and then make a project up (usually from the internet--I am NOT creative on my own).
Cute monkey book about making music and such. We made monkey puppets and did some coloring pages. We also did "M is for Monkey this week" so we had a whole theme thing going on. Yes, Curious George was part of it, of course.
This was really cool and really easy stuff. We read a book about what the moon is made of called "The Moon Might Be Milk". I threw together 1 1/2 c shaving cream and 1/2 c glue to make this fun feeling puffy paint. Cooper painted it and then we later cut it out in a circle. It has a really unique, fun texture to it that really looks like the moon.
We read "Where the Wild Things Are" and then made these leopard prints. The book didn't go very well with the leopard thing, but leopards live in the wild, right? Ever since we've read that book Cooper keeps talking about the vines that are growing in his room and bringing out his "terrible claws". I love it when the kids really take to the book.
Just spread foil over a rolling pin and then attach foam shapes to it. Brush them with paint and get a rollin'!
Okay, we had Linc and Ella over today and to preserve my sanity (which becomes a thinner and thinner string every day) we did 2 crafts! We made sheep out of their hand prints and popcorn (which ended up mostly in their mouths).
Then we made butterflies out of their handprints. Once again, painting their extremities is always a winner and actually a lot cleaner than you would think.
Aahhh! So much pressure off of me now that I've finally updated. I really want to be able to do it more but who knows? Life is pretty busy right now. Jake's finishing up on his post office so goes in early and comes home late. Then he has school until 11:30 on Monday and Wednesday. The other nights he usually spends studying, etc. Poor guy, huh? Well, poor wife, too, since that means I'm all by my lonesome a lot! It keeps me pretty busy. Hopefully it will all be worth it when we get into dental school. We might be moving up to north Atlanta soon so we'll be in transistion for a while. We have family coming for several weeks and then I'm driving out to Utah (yes, without Jake and with Claire, kids, and Mom=5 carseats in one car!) for a while. Summer's crazy, huh? Until next month:)...
p.s.-If anyone watches "The Bachelorette" isn't the Jake guy your favorite?:) Something about those "Jake's"...
My hair has been giving me such a pain! I have been losing it by the clumps lately. I have a huge handful every day after I shower, then more after I brush it, then more when I go to bed at night. It's so gross and a little unsettling. Then....then....then....Yes, it's true....Jennefer found and pulled out my first GRAY hair! NOOOOO!! I feel so old!!! I'm sad. Very, very sad.
Trying to guess the prices on some groceries. He won a father's day coupon for this one!
(The Hole-in-One game from Price is Right. Yes, he did get the putt in!)
Enjoying some root beer floats-this was right before Lukey spilt it all over!! I forgot how good these actually taste...yummy!
Lincoln had a really fun 3rd birthday party and I once again swore that I would not give my child a party until he was old enough to remember it. It's just too much work for someone so little! They had bbq-ed hot dogs and then hit the fire station for a tour and such. When they turned the sirens on every kids started crying and I nearly jumped out of my own breeches. It was definitely a not-so-smart move on the fireman's part. However, the overall experience was a blast and super cheap.
Home sweet home for those firemen! 
Check out that cake. There was so much red dye in the frosting that none of the kids ate it! It looked cool, though!
Everybody loved this part. Jason and London came out with fire colored streamers and the kids "put the fire out" with squirt guns and water balloons. It was really fun!
We've had lots of family in town so we've gotten a chance to do a ton of fun things. We've gone swimming, to the zoo (see above pic), to a jump place, and of course on girl's night out. I love it when family comes in town--never a dull moment!
For those of you interested in the craft section my life, here you go (we've taken it easy with crafts with family in town and all):
I cut a potato in half and then made a handle to hold on to. Coop stamped the body and then used the handle discards to make the wings. Then we glued on a tummy and drew on a beak and footsies. 
Kate and Taylor Crofts helped us out with this book project. We read "The Enormous Crocodile" by Roald Dahl. Then we made life-size (sort of) crocs of our own from a cereal box with foam claws and teeth. Now his croc is taped on the wall eating our butterfly from a few weeks ago. It's all the circle of life, right?
I love this picture because it looks like he's in heaven, but he really was just enduring and hoping he didn't choke yet again:).
I LOVE IT! We've been trying to get Cooper to be more aware of what goes on down south in the diaper. He's so not even close to potty training, but we're trying to get a little closer! It would make you sick to see the amounts of diaper we go through each day. We've started giving him a treat if he sits on the potty and then a big treat if he does something in the potty. Well, this time when we took his diaper off he had gone poop and then Jake sat him on the potty. We don't know if it was just remnants from the bum or if he actually did go poop in the pot, but we decided to give him a big treat. I think he left most of the chocolate on his face instead of in the tummy!
Their favorite place until I have to wash their hair. They hate that part--it drives me nuts!
Rare moment. Cooper doesn't fall asleep in the car much so we try to document it when it happens. We have church from 1-4 and this was on our way home. He finally gave in to the sleep!
Happy family. We took some photo ops on Mother's Day. Check out the cute family!
Ew!! Yes, this is on our roof right outside the kitchen door. Ella Moe spotted it while eating lunch. I about had a heart attack because I didn't know what kind of snake it was and it had to be at least 6 feet long. I think it's living in the attic--which is okay because it's just a rat snake and they eat nasty rodents. However, my poopy diaper pail is right under here so I definitely glance up before I go out there now!
Cooper dipped a half potato in paint and then made the heads with his thumbprint. I decorated them later--check out my lack of artistic skill-->
N is for Numbers!
I looked over after we finished and Cooper had drawn an "N" on his own and pointed it out to me. Warms a mother's heart!:)
O is for Octopus!
We just painted all of his fingers except his thumb, pressed them down, and then added some eyes. Kids get a kick out of painting their hands and feet--always a winner!
This was really cool and really easy stuff. We read a book about what the moon is made of called "The Moon Might Be Milk". I threw together 1 1/2 c shaving cream and 1/2 c glue to make this fun feeling puffy paint. Cooper painted it and then we later cut it out in a circle. It has a really unique, fun texture to it that really looks like the moon.
We read "Where the Wild Things Are" and then made these leopard prints. The book didn't go very well with the leopard thing, but leopards live in the wild, right? Ever since we've read that book Cooper keeps talking about the vines that are growing in his room and bringing out his "terrible claws". I love it when the kids really take to the book.
Okay, we had Linc and Ella over today and to preserve my sanity (which becomes a thinner and thinner string every day) we did 2 crafts! We made sheep out of their hand prints and popcorn (which ended up mostly in their mouths).
Then we made butterflies out of their handprints. Once again, painting their extremities is always a winner and actually a lot cleaner than you would think.
Aahhh! So much pressure off of me now that I've finally updated. I really want to be able to do it more but who knows? Life is pretty busy right now. Jake's finishing up on his post office so goes in early and comes home late. Then he has school until 11:30 on Monday and Wednesday. The other nights he usually spends studying, etc. Poor guy, huh? Well, poor wife, too, since that means I'm all by my lonesome a lot! It keeps me pretty busy. Hopefully it will all be worth it when we get into dental school. We might be moving up to north Atlanta soon so we'll be in transistion for a while. We have family coming for several weeks and then I'm driving out to Utah (yes, without Jake and with Claire, kids, and Mom=5 carseats in one car!) for a while. Summer's crazy, huh? Until next month:)...
