Merry Christmas!

Hull Family
Christmas 2010

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11
　
We Are So Very Blessed!!!

Dear family and friends!

What more can or do I need to say??? We are! It has been another year of excitement and change. As usual, I take this time of year to reflect back, not only on the last year, but at the last several years. I’ve started keeping our Christmas letters in a binder so that years from now as a family we can look back and read of the blessings God has given us.

With two little ones and a big black lab our house is filled with endless energy! I can’t say there is ever a dull moment. I am amazed at how they are changing… a new accomplishment, a new word, growing inches taller, etc. But what I love the most are the cuddles, snuggles, hugs and kisses, and giggles. I recently shared that I don’t think I have smiled as much in my life as I have in the last three years… and the previous 35 were great with lots of smiles, so you know the last three have been incredible.

Cooper (2 ¾) never ceases to amaze us. I love this age, but then again, what age haven’t I loved!?!?! We can actually have a conversation and understand each other. He is so loving… especially to his sister. He tries to help her and will comfort her if she is upset. He still calls her “Baby”, but we are hearing him say “Tess” more and more. Cooper is like a little sponge soaking up everything around him. And he is an incredibly observant child! He has full sentences and puts concepts together that I didn’t even think he could. He has mastered the upper case alphabet and is trying to learn the ABC song and the letter sounds. He has most of the lower case letters figured out, too. He can also accurately identify most numbers (0-9) and is trying to count. His love of balloons continues and his new favorite show is Super Why on PBS. He loves big trucks with fire trucks being is favorite. He takes after his daddy in his love of being outside and could spend endless hours on the swing set! Nothing melts my heart faster than hearing him say, “Luv you.“ What an incredible child!

Tess (16 months) is so incredibly special herself. She is our snuggler. The last 16 months have been a blur. She is changing so much it is hard to keep up with her. It seems like she went from scooting to crawling to walking to running… in fast-forward. There isn’t a toddle to her walk… she walks like a little girl. Of the two, Tessy is the mischievous one!… not bad, but very mischievous. J She keeps us on our toes. I can’t count the number of times she has made my heart stop… climbing the kitchen table, the coffee table, the basement stairs, the swing set ladder… oh my… she loves to climb. She, too, is very observant! We are amazed at how much she understands. She has a few words with “pup” probably being her favorite as Cierra is her constant companion… or maybe more accurately she is Cierra‘s companion. She has an incredible smile and gives the best hugs and kisses!

Our biggest news this year is the blessing of another baby that should arrive the end of May!!! Wow! I’ve seen our little one on ultrasound twice so far and it is such a beautiful little “bean”. Steve will get to go with me for the anatomy ultrasound the end of the month. God has blessed us with two very special kids and now He is entrusting another child to our care! I can’t imagine what it will be like to have three to cuddle, three to share smiles and giggles with, and three to watch grow! As I said, WE ARE BLESSED!

Cierra is our boundless energy of a pup… well she just turned two, but in Labrador years that is still a pup. She is so wonderful with the kids! She lets them do things that we probably couldn’t do to her (trust me we watch to make sure no one gets hurt). There is a very strong bond between Cierra and Cooper and Tess. It is the ultimate “boy and his dog” and “girl and her dog”. I don’t think there is a Lab more loved! She, like most Labs, loves to chase the tennis ball and SQUIRRELS! Oh to have the life…

Steve continues to work as a Process Engineer with Kerry. He keeps very busy and seems to enjoy the problem-solving challenges that type of job can bring (except maybe the calls during the middle of the night). Cooper gets very excited when he sees “Daddy’s towers”… someday we’ll have to teach him they are called silos. Steve is also very busy when he comes home as he has two little ones that are sooooo excited to see him! It is non-stop hours of “Play, Daddy!” He is a wonderful father! He takes great care of our home and yard and is such a great gardener that we get to enjoy yummy produce throughout the summer. If I could learn to can we could probably enjoy that produce throughout the year.

A big change for me this year was the decision to leave my career in organ and tissue donation. It was a very rewarding 10 years that I spent with LifeSource, but my heart was being tugged at and in March I was ready to be at home with the kids. While they were being cared for by some very special people and we loved the center they were in, I wanted to be the one to spend those 50+ extra hours with them… to see Tess’ first steps, to watch Cooper’s love of letters, to watch them grow during their waking hours. It really wasn’t a hard decision to make! There is no title better than Mommy!

So there is a bit of 2010... 2011 will be interesting and wonderful, I’m sure!

Christmas blessings!

Love,
Jen, Steve, Cooper, Tess & Cierra
　

The blog...

The blog is off hiatus!!! Someday I will go back and make a few updates... a lot has happened since July, but for now we are picking up with today.

Tess' 1st Birthday!

We had a wonderful time celebrating Tess and Missy's 1st and 36th birthdays! It was quite the celebration!!! Here are the "Little Princess" and the "Big Princess".

My favorite recipes...

Here are three of my favorite recipes. They are recipes I have found and modifed a bit to meet what I had in the cupboard or what I like. I LOVE them! Enjoy!!!



Baked Dijon Salmon


Ingredients
1/4 cup butter, melted
3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 1/2 tablespoons honey
1/4 cup dry bread crumbs... I substitute cracker crumbs
1/4 cup finely chopped pecans... the first time I made this I used walnuts and love it, too
4 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley... I sub parsley flakes
4 (4 ounce) fillets salmon
salt and pepper to taste... I don't think it needs this, but that's me
1 lemon, for garnish... I didn't have any lemons, but I'm sure this would be great on it.
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
In a small bowl, stir together butter, mustard, and honey. Set aside. In another bowl, mix together bread crumbs, pecans, and parsley.
Brush each salmon fillet lightly with honey mustard mixture, and sprinkle the tops of the fillets with the bread crumb mixture.
Bake salmon 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until it flakes easily with a fork. Season with salt and pepper, and garnish with a wedge of lemon.



Spinach Quiche

Ingredients
1/2 cup butter
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1 box fresh sliced mushrooms
1 (8 ounce) package shredded Cheddar cheese
1 (9 inch) unbaked deep dish pie crust
4 eggs, beaten
1 cup milk
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
In a medium skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Saute garlic in butter until lightly browned, about 7 minutes. Stir in spinach, mushrooms, and 1/2 cup Cheddar cheese. Spoon mixture into pie crust.
In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs and milk. Pour into the pastry shell, allowing egg mixture to thoroughly combine with spinach mixture.
Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes. Sprinkle top with remaining Cheddar cheese, and bake an additional 35 to 40 minutes, until set in center. Allow to stand 10 minutes before serving.

Blueberry Dump Cake... in the crock pot! (I plan to try this with a chocolate cake and cherries next time!)

1 21 oz. can blueberry pie filling
1 package yellow cake mix
1/2 C. butter
1/2 C. chopped walnuts
Place pie filling in the slow cooker. Combine dry cake mix and butter, sprinkle over filling. Sprinkle the walnuts on top of that. Cover and cook on low for 2 - 3 hours. Serve warm in bowls. Top with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Tessy Grace is 11 months old today!!!

(Ugh... my last post was a month ago...)

Tess is getting tooth #7, but #* doesn't seem to be coming yet. She is sooooo close to walking. She can stand for about 30-40 seconds unsupported and walk with just holding onto a finger, but she haven't quite taken that first step on her own. I can't believe she is 11 months old! Just one month before her 1st birthday! Love you, Baby Girl!

Tessy is 10 months old today!

My baby is turning into a little girl!

Tessy is on the move!

Tess has been doing laps around the living room and dining room. Here is just a short clip of what she can do...

Her elbows and knees are a bit red from the carpet. I've tried the Baby Legs today, so we'll see if it helps.

Michigan

I’ve been promising a post about our trip to Michigan, so here it is. My grandma celebrated her 90th birthday with a party on May 8th. We thought it would a good excuse to go to Michigan to see grandmas as we had promised Steve’s grandma we would try to come when Steve’s grandpa died at Christmas. With Tess’ approaching arrival we didn’t do much travel last summer. This was her first trip meeting everyone.

My mom and dad joined us on the journey to Michigan. Having endured a childhood of trips to Michigan via Chicago, the ONLY way to travel these days is via the car ferry across Lake Michigan. We ventured to Milwaukee for the 12:30 boat. We have taken the boat several times across the lake. This was Cooper’s second trip, but Tessa’s first. What I love is that the kids don’t have to be in car seats… and we can move around, too… and you are there in 2½ hours. Cooper loved looking out the window at all the water. Tessy cuddled into Grandma and slept most of the way.


One we arrived in Michigan we were greeted by my great aunt and uncle. We had a wonderful visit with them. After a long trip, we decided not to stop at my grandma’s that evening, but instead checked into our hotel for the night.

Dick and Carolyn's


The next morning we went over to Grandma’s and had lunch.

Great-Grandma O'C and Tess

Uncle Bob and Tess

Aunt Jean and Tess


After lunch we headed to Blissfield (about 20 minutes north of Toledo) to see Steve’s grandma. She had taken a tumble a month or so before and it was great to see she was doing quite well. She loved holding Cooper and Tess. We spent a couple of days with her and we were fortune to have Steve’s sister, Tamra and husband Brian visit for dinner that Friday night. Our visit with them was too short! Thankfully Tamra was able to stay the night and we sat up and chatted for a few hours.
Great-Grandma Goetz and Tess

Aunt Tamra

Saturday morning we headed out early to go back to the other side of the state for my grandma’s party. She had a wonderful celebration. It was fun to see my dad’s siblings and a couple of cousins. On Sunday (Mother’s Day) we all went to church and then back to Grandma’s for brunch. It was nice to have a quiet afternoon.

Grandma O'C's grandkids and great-grandkids

Grandma and Tessy

Sunday evening we took the kids swimming at the hotel. Cooper loved playing on the steps of the pool. It was a bit cool and the hot tub was too warm, so I only stuck Tess’ feet in both.


On Monday, after a quick visit with Dick and Carolyn again, we boarded the ferry back. My mom and dad had celebrated their 40th anniversary the week before and decided to take a few days to go to Mackinac Island. I missed having the extra hands on the ferry as Steve had to drive on and I had to walk on with both kids, but we did it. The water was ince and smooth.

We had a great trip and the kids did amazingly well with all the travel, new people to meet, and several different beds to sleep in. I was SO proud of them!!!

9 months old!... a couple of days late.

Tess turned 9 months on Monday and had her 9 month Well Baby visit yesterday and she is doing great!!! She is 17 pounds 11 ounces… which took her from the 13th percentile to the 30th in two months for weight. She has figured out that food tastes pretty good! She is almost 27 inches long. Our baby is growing. She is just the opposite of Cooper in that she outgrows pants before she outgrows shirts. I bought Coopy a new pair of 2T jeans and we had to roll the pants up. Tess is going to catch up to him before too long.

Developmentally Tess is right on track. She is saying dada and mama all the time and I think it might be in reference to us as it seems like there is more dada’s when Steve is around and more mama’s with me. I’m also hearing babababababa. Over the weekend she has started to wave goodbye. She is on the verge of crawling. Currently it is a modified army crawl… or something like an inch worm. Trust me; she gets to where she wants to go! She loves to stand assisted and try to pull up on things. Steve dropped her crib mattress as she had started to pull herself to her knees in her crib. Oh my… I’m not sure I am ready for her to be so mobile.

Tessy’s smile is changing, too. Tooth number three (top right) is in and number four (top left) is trying to come through. She is grinding her teeth, which the doc said is just part of teething and there isn’t anything we need or can do about it. Can you imagine a 9 month old with a mouth guard??? For now we listen to the horrible noise and hope she saves her teeth.

I promise to get our Michigan adventure up soon… keep checking back!

Not missing, but LOTS of action...

Okay, so I’ve blown it and then some. I am so behind at updating… actual words, not just pictures. First it was a lack of time… and it still is, but now I’ve gotten to a point of being so behind that I don’t even know where to start. A LOT has happened in the last two months. Not to mention the kids are two months older and in these years, two months is a lot! I was just reading about keeping journals for your kids… this has been my journal and my reference for when I actually get to the baby books. I will have to try to remember what has happened and keep at this better. I hate to say I’m now using FaceBook to remind me of what has happened.

To start at the end of February I decided to leave my job and I was done March 26th. I am so happy being home with the kids!!! This was coming for quite some time, but I was afraid to actually make the decision. I am so glad that I did. After eleven years of a career, it’s time to focus on the kids… the most important role.

So what has been happening? Lots! Both kids continue to change every day!


Cooper continues to amaze me. I know he is processing everything and understands A LOT more than we think. He is really piecing together sentences and ideas. The engineering mind continues. You can just see him study things to see how they work. He took apart my electric razor to the point that I had to call in the engineer to put it back together. I couldn’t figure it out. He still loves books. Currently, “Good Night, Gorilla”, “Freight Trains”, and Numbers seem to top the list. I am trying to learn the Freight Train book and the names for all the cars. He is excitedly starting to really starting to learn numbers. 4 is currently his favorite number. He loves to have me count out how many items are in the picture. He won’t say “one”, but that isn’t anything new. Cooper loves to also look at shapes. Oval is the hit as is looks like a balloon… his favorite thing in the entire world. He has balloon radar. If he says balloon, I am 99.9% positive there is a balloon somewhere… even if I don’t see if right away. Driving past car dealers with the gigantic balloons or balloons on the car is fun.

Cooper is going through a typical toddler diet…. We have no idea what he will eat from day to day, except that we know he doesn’t like any form of meat. The hard part is he will love one thing one day and really dislike it the next. He will squeeze his eyes shut and say, “No more”. Fruit usually continues to be a hit… thank fully! At his last appointment (3/3) he came in at 26 pounds and 34 inches tall. He is finally in 2T pants, but has been in 2T shirts for about a year. I’ve tried some 3T shirts, but they are still too big.

Cooper and I took another swimming class with Jan and Amaya. We were excited to find out that Cooper’s friend Katie (from daycare) and her mommy, Marisa (who works with Steve) were also in our class. It is the same class as before through Community Ed, but with a different teacher at a different school, so a few differences, but lots of it is the same.

It’s interesting… we hear lots, and lots of “Saarra” (Cierra), but Cooper only calls Tess, “Baby”. Cooper and Tess have started to fight with each other… typical siblings. If she is playing with a toy Cooper wants, he will take it. Tess will grab at him and make an “Augh!” sound in absolute disgust. At this point it is cute, but I’m sure the “cuteness” won’t last. The cute part is watching them interact with each other. About a week ago I was giving Tess a bath and Cooper wanted to help. He was sprinkling water on her head and said, “Shower”. Tess looked at him like she was wondering what he was doing. He then got out several bath toys for her and helped her play… such a good big brother!



Cooper and Cierra are best buds. Where one is, so is the other. Cooper loves to give her treats. He'd give her the entire box if I didn't take them away. He'll tell Cierra to sit, but often doesn't give her the treat when she does. Poor dog looks at him with pleading eyes. She is laying next to me snoring after a busy morning of playing with Cooper.



In my last real post Tess had gotten her first tooth. The second tooth came shortly after. Tooth number three (top right) is starting to pop through (4/29). Tessy loves rice cereal and is starting to like other food. I think we have successfully (no horrible faces) gotten in peas, green beans, corn and sweet potatoes. She also loves chocolate pudding and mashed potatoes and gravy! The other night she had scrambles eggs and ate more than Cooper.



Wow, is Tess changing. She has gone from sitting up on her own to rolling to now trying to crawl. She can crawl backwards. I’ve even seen her the last couple days trying to pull herself up on things. She was in the bathroom with me while I was brushing my teeth and managed to get the middle drawer open (with the lock only about two inches) and pull herself onto one knee. I noticed the other day that when sitting in the crib she can start to pull up on the rail… time to drop the mattress. She has graduated from the carrier in the stroller to sitting up like a big girl. We still need to get her a new car seat and stop using the carrier. At her last appointment on 3/3 (almost seven months) she weighed 14 ½ pounds and was 25 ½ inches. I love watching her play. She has started to take little people out of the vehicles and will put them back in… sort of. Of course the most interesting game is drop EVERYTHING on the floor and see how long it takes Mom or Dad to pick it up. We need a few more pacifier leashes. She is just an incredible little girl that loves to snuggle.


I spent some time going through the kids’ closets and drawers to pull out the small stuff. This is a task I really struggle with. I’m just not ready to put away clothes they have outgrown. The idea of getting rid of them is too painful to think about. Steve said to think able the garage ale we could have… not yet! But the reality is my babies are growing up. I have to remember that I have loved every stage and as they get bigger, they will change and I know I will love it, too!

I’ve enjoyed being at home. For those that know me very well, know that I have been challenged I the kitchen most of my life, but I think it was a lack of time that factored into much of it. I have found a new love for the crock pot and I am trying new recipes all the time. It is so much easier than making thing in the over or the stove. Usually I can get them started once Tess goes down for her morning nap and by the time Steve is home, it’s done!

Oh, I’m sure there is sooooo much more to share, but this is it for now.

Bunny pictures!!!

Never Alone

Dedicated to Cooper and Tess...

This seems to be the perfect Irish Blessing for my babies...

Never Alone (Lady Antebellum and Jim Brickman)


May the angels protect you
Trouble neglect you
And heaven accept you when it's time to go home
May you always have plenty
Your glass never empty
Know in your belly
You're never alone

May your tears come from laughing
You find friends worth having
With every year passing
They mean more than gold
May you win but stay humble
Smile more than grumble
And know when you stumble
You're never alone

Never alone
Never alone
I'll be in every beat of your heart
When you face the unknown
Wherever you fly
This isn't goodbye
My love will follow you stay with you
Baby you're never alone

Well, I have to be honest
As much as I want it
I'm not gonna promise that cold winds won't blow
So when hard times have found you
And your fear surround you
Wrap my love around you
You're never alone

Never alone
Never alone
I'll be in every beat of your heart
When you face the unknown
Wherever you fly
This isn't goodbye
My love will follow you stay with you
Baby you're never alone

May the angels protect you
Trouble neglect you
And heaven accept you when it's time to go home
So when hard times have found you
And your fear surround you
Wrap my love around you
You're never alone

Never alone
Never alone
I'll be in every beat of your heart
When you face the unknown
Wherever you fly
This isn't goodbye
My love will follow you stay with you
Baby you're never alone
My love will follow you stay with you
Baby you're never alone

Happy 7 months old, Miss Tess!

(Thanks for the pic, Jackie!)

This little one is now rolling over!... and rolls and rolls. Both bottom teeth are in. Loves cereal... but acts like I am killing her with peas, pears, bananas, or other fruits or veggies. She weights 14lbs 5 oz. She is just starting to wear 6-9mo. clothing. Tessy is facinated with her big brother, too!

Love you, Baby Girl!
Mommy

Happy 6 months old, Miss Tess!

... a day late.

Cooper's birthday...

Cooper's birthday in photos...

His "Backy" (Backyardigan's) cake

Blowing out the candle

Yummy cake!

Cooper got Backy ballons. Can you tell that he likes them?!?!? :) Five days later he still carries they everywhere he goes.

Mommy's attempt at making Backyardigan character cookies... Tasha and Tyrone. (Hey, they tasted good!)

I got him to read one card...