The Fog and Sickness

We've had a real fog issue around here the past week and a half. When I looked out my front window and saw the fog hanging low and creeping in, it was enough to make you wonder what kind of creature was out there lurking around, just waiting for the chance to pop out and get you.....

Or maybe it's just me who wonders that. Maybe my love for horror films is catching up with me. 

I took these photos, before the hoar frost really built up here, and on a day the fog was off at a distance. It got much worse than what is presented in the photos.

As pretty as it is, I am glad to finally see it gone. The fog has lifted, the sun is shining, and everything has now melted off. 

Good riddance. 

I hope it takes with it all this sickness that has gripped my family. On Monday I thought everyone was getting better, but I was very wrong! It has been one of those tough and trying weeks that makes you question your sanity and sees you curled up in the corner crying. I wouldn't relive this past week, even if you payed me to. Between my own sickness and headaches and nights of 0 sleep, Sam having the flu and being bedridden for 2 days, Molly being constantly sick and missing 2 weeks of school, Timothy being sick and feverish and then developing croup.....I'm wondering how any of us even survived the week.

Thankfully, I think I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I opened all the windows in the house today and have spent a great deal of time cleaning and disinfecting everything in the house, including washing all the blankets and bedding our sick faces have snotted on. Now I am just praying that this weekend will see Timothy's full recovery from being sick as his hernia surgery is schedule for this coming Monday!

With love,
Mama Hauck

Tub Time Fishing

One of the gifts Timothy got for Christmas was this super fun fishing kit for in the tub! It took him no time at all to figure it out, and it makes me giggle watching him try to fish in the tub. What a cutie pie!

It's been a rough week and a half in the Hauck household with us all taking our turn being sick. For the most part the majority of us are on the tail end of being sick with just some snot and coughs lingering, but I'm still concerned about Timothy. His surgery is now less than a week away, and if he isn't better by then, his surgery will have to be canceled and rescheduled. And this morning while changing his diaper, his hernia is the biggest I have ever seen it. Ugh. It just makes my stomach sink. Come on, Timothy....Mama needs you better so we can get you fixed.


With love,
Mama Hauck

Keein' It Squatchy

Anthony, what a lucky boy he is! We took him to his 2nd Bigfoot presentation and exhibit at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center in The Dalles, OR. This time the presentation was put on by Cliff Barackman from the Discovery Channel's show Finding Bigfoot. To read about our first Bigfoot presentation and exhibit click HERE.

We are very fortunate that the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center has this exhibit going on right now and is playing host to a few Bigfoot presentations. How awesome to be able to take Anthony to these, and it's only an hour from our home! 

We had an amazing time! Cliff was very friendly and lively and talked about his travels, findings, and what's to come. Anthony just ate up every single word. After the presentation, we had the chance to talk with Cliff in the hallway and Anthony chatted with him a bit:

Anthony, "On Christmas Eve I heard 3 Bigfoot howls, but I didn't answer him back." 
Cliff, "Well, it's a good thing you didn't answer him back....it was Christmas Eve and you didn't know what he wanted!" 

I asked a few questions too.....like where do Sasquatch sleep and has he ever found any "bedding" and what about Sasquatch poop? Yes....I did....I asked about Sasquatch poop....because everybody poops, right? So where's all the Sasquatch poop? haha 

We got a photo with Cliff and Anthony purchased a Bigfoot 1/2 foot casting. Super cool. He loves it. 

 

I'm glad we can help nurture something Anthony is so into. I guess you can say he's turning us all into "Bigfooters" around here. We'll be keepin' it Squatchy over here in Goldendale, that's for sure! 

With love,
Mama Hauck

I Was About To Cry, But Laughed Instead

This morning started out with me writing to my girlfriend complaining about Mama stuff. In my e-mail, I complained that all my children are sick, I'm running on 0 hours of sleep because Timothy got up a million times during the night, and my car won't start. I used the words, and I quote, "Fuckity fuck fuck!"

And just to add a little cherry on top, I will share with you that Timothy picked a tick up off the floor and handed it to me. A tick. On my floor. In January. Thank goodness he didn't think it was a crumb of some sort and eat it.

I remember before Anthony came, I had all these grand visions of how Mamahood would be. I pictured sitting in a rocking chair singing my little one sweet songs, just rocking away while the sun went down. I pictured myself blissfully cooking dinner in the kitchen with a cute apron on while my baby played quietly and kept himself entertained on the play mat. I pictured painting my toe nails and doing things for "me" while he napped or was off to a friend's house.....just like everyone always advised me to do. I pictured lovingly helping him with school work at the kitchen table when he got older.

And while these things do happen sometimes, in truth....I can't sing, cooking consisted of spending 5 minutes whipping up a tuna casserole while the little one screamed in his johnny jump-up, "me" time was spent falling asleep on the couch, and I suck at math. A lot.

This isn't what I dreamed Mamahood would be. Is this what I signed up for?

Yes. Yes it is. Even if I didn't know it at the time.

With 3 children under my belt now, I have a much clearer view of the realities of Mamahood. All I can do is laugh out loud when I find myself hiding in my bedroom sneaking a candy bar just so I don't have to share it.   

You want to hear some Mamahood truth?

I pee in the shower to save time. I totally do. I don't want to waste my time sitting on the toilet when I know I'm just going to get right in the shower. Saving those precious seconds matters. Truly. Besides, it's pretty cool to be such a great multitasker.

Mamahood....it's everything I never dreamed it would be. And I love it.


With love,
Mama Hauck

Self Calming

Last week I was playing outside with the kids, but decided Timothy was getting too cold so it was time to go in. Anthony got mad and threw a fit because he had wanted me to throw the football with him. I explained to him that I know I said I would, but it was indeed time for me to get Timothy inside, so I would make sure to play football with him next time. 

Lessons: shit happens, sometimes plans go astray, you don't always get what you want, and compromises can be great.

Anthony crumbled in on himself, but instead of getting angry over the continued fit, I left him outside with the instructions to come in when he had calmed down. 

A few minutes later, after getting Timothy and Molly's shoes and coats off and put away, I glance out the window to find this...

I peeked my head out the door and asked him what he was doing. He told me he was calming down by watching the sun set and asked if he could stay out to watch it. Of course! 

Lucy decided to join him....

And then Papa came home and sat with him....

How awesome to be able to chill out like that. Proud of my big boy. 

With love,
Mama Hauck

Fritz Mother-Daughter Photos

I took some photos for a friend back on December 14th and I have no idea how I could have forgotten to post them! Gosh, December was just a busy month for our family.

The weather cooperated and the shoot was wonderful. My friend and her daughter were just a pleasure to work with! Aren't they just the cutest!?

With love,
Mama Hauck

2014 Goldendale Calendar

This past fall, my town's local paper, The Goldendale Sentinel, was asking for photo submissions of scenic areas in the greater Goldendale area for it's 2014 calendar. I submitted a handful of photos, then hoped for the best and waited till the calendar came out in December to see if any had been selected. 

One of my photos was chosen for April (my wedding anniversary is in April, so good month!).... 

And I also got two honorable mentions in the back (bottom left and bottom right)...

Pretty cool, huh? I dig it. Stop on by the Goldendale Sentinel and buy one for your wall. :) 

With love,
Mama Hauck

Living in the Moment with Spaghettio's

I do a lot of reminiscing over days gone by. I also do a lot of dreaming of the days still to come. While both of those things are quite nice, I've found that sometimes doing this makes it hard for me to concentrate on and enjoy the present moment.

I want to do more of that. Way more of that. Truly, honestly, it's my heart's desire to live in the moment more. 

I feel as if the days are passing me by too quickly and instead of being able to enjoy them in the present moment, I'm either missing them after they are gone or dreaming and preparing for the ones still to come. 

Why, why, why! 

Spaghettio's. 

Spaghettio's helped me live in the moment today. Usually this is something I would choose to feed Timothy myself so there wouldn't be a huge mess to clean up and it would just make life easier....because I'm a neat freak and the thought of spaghettio's everywhere was enough to make me want to scream, you know? But instead of worrying about a mess and thinking about the clean up and all I had to do to get him ready for nap time so I could have some quiet time to myself, I decided to let my little guy try his hand at feeding himself his spaghettio's. How is this living in the moment? I don't know....it just is. At least it felt like it to me anyway. 

And because he did it all himself (wonderfully I might add!), I have a few wonderful photos and a cute video of this living in the moment feeling I granted myself. 

I promise to try more. I promise to stop being so wrapped up in the past and so set on preparing for the next day. I promise to take a deep breath, take a break, take a chill pill....and enjoy the moment more. I promise. 

With love,
Mama Hauck

P.S. For those wondering....Timothy's hernia surgery consultation in Portland went well. His surgery is scheduled for Feb 3rd. I wish it were sooner, but I understand there are other surgeries that take priority over his. We will just continue to watch him and wait for his surgery date!