What happened to 2014?

Really! What did happen to 2014? Apparently I was too busy to write anything on my blog. Kudos to all of you avid and consistent bloggers out there! I look up to you. However, I realized that I enjoyed reminiscing over my kids being so little, so here I am again, ready to write some more. Problem is, they are all so grown up!

Now that it is officially 2015, I thought the most recent happenings with the Hollis crazies would to be the best place to start.

Kyle, the freshman

(Soon to turn 15)

Where to start with such an amazing young man? He never ceases to amaze me. Car fanatic, electronic enthusiast, great big brother, Priesthood holder, great example, sweet fast runner and my favorite first child!!!

I am thankful everyday for his willingness to help others around him. He will be a great leader some day!

 

Christopher, the 6th grader

(Soon to turn 12)

Easily enough, I can describe Christopher in one word, CRAZY. I can honestly say it is in his genes. He is the most driven and hardworking kid, STILL. Xbox finatic, iPod junkie, football player, runner, Straight A student, sweet big/little brother and my favorite second child!!

I cannot wait to see him receive the Priesthood. I think he will take the responsibility serious, for sure.

Jenna, the 5 year old princess

Oh the joys of having a little girl, because honestly, she is still littlMomOf course she is still sassy (and fluent in whinese), but she is cute nonetheless.  Bugger of the brothers (great job to have), pewter playing fool (aka the computer, sometimes it is hard to fix the mistakes because one day they won't be there anymore), sugar muffin, great giver of hugs and kisses, always says I love you, loves bedtime stories and my favorite little and only girl!!!!

P.S. She's her Pop's favorite. He's been caught giving her her favorite drink, vanilla milk when Mom already said no. Oh well! Such is life, right!? Daddy's Girl fits well here.

Ethan, the 2 year old monster

Yes, I say monster because he can be a different monster every second of every day!

Crazy monster, lovey monster, screaming monster, giggly monster, kissy monster, car and truck monster and my favorite little monster, EVER. He has a little bit of everyone wrapped up in that little monster body of his. His most common phrase these days is a plain, Okay. He says it to everything. We agree to disagree sometimes, but we are learning. 

He is a much needed addition to the Hollis crazies. What a well rounded joyful bunch of crazies we have. 

(Insert Proud Mom moment here) 

The Littles

Jenna bean, or Knee bean. Lately she has been a little sassy pants! But I guess I am sassy right back to her. Mainly because we are so much alike. (yes I said it) I love that she is a girly girl, though. She loves to put on sparkles, and even lets me do her pretties. I feel the most joy watching her grow and learn. She is a smarty pants.  We are practicing letters and she loves to color.  She loves to color so much that it has somehow made it onto the walls, chairs, her bench and some on the coloring pages.

 

 

Her favorite movie right now, Little rascals.  I find her quoting the movie all the time.  Her most common quote, "Dear Darla, I hate your stinking guts. You make me vomit. You're the scuuumb between my toes. Love, Alf-Alfa." I recorded it but it won't let me post it here. She is so stinkin' cute. (that is why there are squiggly marks all over the back of the chair) I need to research how to get pen off of the chair!!

 

I would like to start writing the little things down that she says. So here is one for starters. After going to the doctor for Ethan, I decided to get Jenna the chicken pox vaccine. Sneak attacks are not the funnest way to get shots, but the most productive.  After the shot one single tear ran down her cheek.  She looks at me with the saddest face ever and says, "I have one rain drop on my cheek." I love that she relates similar things together. I hope she stays this imaginative always...



 

 little love bug

 

 See, we are alike....
 



rain drop sad :(

 

 

Ethaners...or Boogity bum, Boogy bummers (or even biggity bum).  Yes, he has an official nickname now! The kids tend to call him Efan. He has such a cute little personality.  Walking is his new found love, and getting into everything is right along there with it. Actually, I think walking may be a close second because the kid is into EVERYTHING!  He shakes his head 'no' a lot and he always has a smile to go along with it.  

 

His chompers are getting big in the front. No sign of more quite yet.  He is enjoying the four that he has, eating everything he can get ahold of.  And I mean everything.  It is as if he is saying to me, "I just needed to taste it to see if it was okay, Mama." The nerf darts are his favorite.

 

Just yesterday we took him in for an MRI. They had to sedate him and the test took an hour.  Well, the whole experience was a little longer than expected because they had a brand new computer system! He was such a trooper :) His nurse Kierstyn was the best and stuck with him and looked out for him the whole time.  She even got the IV in with just one try! (thank goodness there, because I was a little nauseated while it was happening). He amazes me every day.  Such a tough little buddy.  No sad tears while they put in the IV and when he had his blood drawn at his last appointment, he sat and smiled at the nurses.  I would be on the floor passed out! We are still waiting for the results. (but the results from his blessing prior were good, so I just need to trust and have faith)

 

 
 

Always smiley 

 

 

      

 



Those Big kids

I suppose this will just be an updated status, for my writing has been put off since June of 2013! Oh for the Love, Mandi. (I know). There, I yelled at myself.  There are so many things to talk about. Slacking does not seem like a grand option when you start a blog...why? Because there are too many things to rewind on paper.  So where to start.  Intros are covered! That was the easy part. Now it is October... and nearly the middle of the month. Halloween is coming!

Vacation happened, school happened and insanity happened somewhere in between. All within 4 months!

Kyle is a big 8th grader now. (seriously, he has sprouted! 5 foot 6 inches to be exact). Cross country is a big accomplishment for him right now (grades...well, lets say we are working on that one).  I am so proud of him! Junior High definitely has it's challenges, but he takes them on like a champ.  When he is not consumed by running or homework, he loves to play on his iPod, the Xbox, and with Ethan. They are buddies. Well, I cannot forget Hunter! They are friends, too.  I am glad that he works hard to make right choices because sometimes that is a challenge. Oh the joys of being a teenager... 
 

What a handsome boy! 

                                                                       Go Kyle!!!!

 3rd place at districts!!!

 

 

Oh Christopher. The crazy one of the bunch, but so loving an caring all the time.  He is working on getting everything in 'on time' and remembering 'stuff'. Being a 5th grader is rough!! He ran for sheriff in his class, but he was not voted in. A bum deal, but a great lesson in trying. One thing that I appreciate about Christopher is that he is driven.  He puts his all into everything.  A good example, Cross country.  Yes, he is a runner too.  (proud Mama moment...two boys who run...cause I am a runner as well).  They only have one meet in elementary school, and he did AWESOME! He came in 5th. His mile time was 6:32! Never in my lifetime, ha ha. He is not afraid to stand out and be himself.

 

Sheriff Christopher

Ahhhhhhhh!!!!

 5th for the entire 5th grade!! Amazing...

He is blurry, only because he is so fast!

 

Introductions

Yay! I decided in my own right mind that I would start a blog so I could record my thinking down on paper.  Although, my abilities for writing are limited, I have time to get it right.

It is honestly hard to chose a heading. After much deliberation I came up with: Not ready to grow up just yet...well, who is really? Mostly I would say my husband is definitely not. I tend to be the grown up crazy person in my house most of the time, but I feel that possibly it can fit me, too.

AND, how do you choose what to write when there are so many things to talk about?  Those who know me know that I am a tadbit chatty. So let me start with an introduction of my fam:

My Husband: who responds to, Sugar Daddy, Babe, Honey, Justin Paul (when I am angry or attempting to be), Julio and Pop...This is the biggest kid you will ever meet.  Plain and simple, I Love him.

Next up, Me...I'll tell you what I tend not to respond to. Mom, Mom, Mom like you have pushed the repeat button.  Well, I do eventually but not willingly. But I do like Mama, Sweetie and sometimes people call me Mandi or even Hollie. 

Kyle-the oldest, always called Kyle. Or even Kyle Leland (When I get mad). There will be an on going trend here with middle names.  I must get mad alot...oh dear howdy. The normal every day name Kyle has just stuck with him since he was little, no real nick name. That is probably because his real one is cool to start with! I love that he has a tender heart (I know the mush is coming out) and he is an awesome big brother!

Christopher-the dreaded middle child! Well, i shouldn't say dreaded but I think it is true sometimes. He goes by Christopher, or even Chris with his buddies, Ristopher (which he does not love anyone to call him that but Jenna his little sister, and she can't say it proper) and sometimes I might call him that when I want to give him a little of the el crape`, and last...Christopher Lawrence...self explanatory there. I love his drive, literally he puts his all into whatever he does!

Jenna-the only girl syndrome slash princess of the Kingdom.  There are plenty of knights in this kingdom that will be looking out for her! She also goes by Nenna Bean, Nenna Beaners, Sugar bum, Sweetie, Mom (when me and her switch rolls), Jenna Lynn (yes, i use the middle name with her, too), Knee bean-which is a special name that only her Pop calls her (she has him all figured out!) I love that she is so good at pretending even when she is by herself. And that I have a little girl!!

Ethan-the baby. Ethaners, Little buddy, Sugar muffin. I am admitting that he is the only one that I don't use the middle name branding on, he is too little yet. He will grow into it, I am sure of it. Especially when he shows so much interest in non toy items...paper and tiny specks that are not identifiable to the human eyes, only super magnifying baby eyes. I love that he is so smiley and happy all the time!