Merry Christmas!

Christmas with these kids is awesome. We hope you have a great one!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Hayden's First Crush

Does anyone else feel like they're drowning? I feel like everything is spinning out of control, and I've never really had that expression apply to me, but I seriously feel like I'm in one spot and everything is spinning like crazy, and that my life has become a crazy spinning chaotic thing. But that's just a normal Tuesday, with teaching lessons and everything else that goes on. One thing that helps keep me sane on Tuesdays is taking my boys to gymnastics on Tuesday mornings. I seriously look forward to it every week. I don't think about anything stressful because I'm too busy laughing and being entertained by watching these kids do gymnastics.

Jackson and Hayden go during the same hour because they have a four year old class and a 2 year old mom and tot class at the same time. ( I KNOW Hayden is 3, but they don't.) Today was Hayden's last one. I'm really sad, and he will be too. He is used to the hilarious kids in his class, especially one little girl. I noticed this month that he always tried to sit by Sophie, who by the way is the cutest little girl in the whole class. When I'm not laughing at Hayden I'm laughing at her. And the girl knows how to work it. Both of them made it a point to try to sit by each other today and after we left the class Hayden said to me,

"Mom, Sophie touched me and talked to me!"

She would seriously touch Hayden's arm when she said something to him. Good thing she'll be in the 3 year old class in February, or maybe it's not.

My House

smells like burnt peas. I burned peas tonight. I hate peas, I hate the taste, the smell, the texture, excuse me while I dry heave, but my kids need more green vegetables so I cooked peas, but they burned. Not only did they burn, they turned black and smoked and ruined my favorite corning wear dish. I thought I had the burner on low, but it was on high, and while I was in my room, they burned. And then when I left the house, I smelled like burnt peas and now, all I can smell is burnt peas and I've cleaned everything, deodorized everything, sprayed every room and it stinks. Help me. Oh and yesterday I ran over my neighbors mailbox. It's only Tuesday. I'm not having a good week.

Pictures of Hayden's Birthday

I'm finally getting around to posting pictures of Hayden's birthday. In the morning Jackson and Hayden had fun climbing like mountain goats on the rocks in my parents backyard. This is Hayden saying "Happy birthday!" to himself.Hayden loved opening his presents this year. He loved his cards too. Funny how wonderful grandmas think alike, they both gave Hayden the same card.Can you tell he's excited about his transformers?And his new fleet of planes?Ok, now I'm really embarrassed to post the pictures of my first personal cake wreck. But here it goes. When I asked Hayden what kind of cake he wanted he said, "A Jack-O-Lantern!" And so he got one. It didn't turn out anything like it was supposed to. I don't really know how to work with frosting, or how to decorate, but he was really happy with it and that's all that matters right? Jackson and Hayden were really funny opening presents this year. I enjoyed it. Please ignore my stupid comments and maniacal laughing.

Make a Smilebox greeting

Halloween

was a week ago? This week flew by. Here's Jackson as Bumblebee. He was so so so excited. I cannot even begin to describe for you the excitement this boy had for 1, being a transformer, and 2, getting candy.

This was his transformer pose. I would tell him to be a transformer and he would assume this position.

Here they are getting ready to go trick or treating. My sister came down and the boys went trick or treating with their cousins. As soon as we started I told my sister that it will be weird when one day, as our kids get older, we have to go to more houses than the ones in my parents cul-de-sac. Sure enough, we finished the circle and my boys said, "I'm not done! Let's go to more houses." It was serious business this year. At every house Jackson would say, "Thank you! Have a Happy Halloween!"

Here is Ty with my cute niece/lobster. Ty toughed out the trick or treating. Half way through he was doubled over with stomach pain, but he stuck with it for the boys and we took him home sick when the fun was done.

Thanks for the Halloween shirts Grandma Jones! This is the best picture I have of them with them on.

Happy Halloween!

Hay Hay

Dear Hayden,

Today was your third birthday, and I can’t believe it. How are you already three? You are already such a big boy. I wish I had the words to tell you how much I love you, but no matter what I say you will never fully understand, so I’ll just tell you some of the things about you that I love.

I love remembering how you fit on my tummy when you were first born. It was the best way to get some sleep you would sleep forever. I still remember it, your tiny little body fit fight over my stomach. That might gross you out, sorry.

I love how you steal my spinach salad. What three year old likes spinach salad?

I love how you mix up your words, and you pause when you are trying to find the right ones, and then the wrong ones, which are so close, come out anyway.

I love when you give me your crooked smile, and when you curl your lip up on one side sometimes when you talk.

I love your laugh, especially when it’s uncontrollable. I even love your mischevious laugh. The one that tells me you did it on purpose, and yes, It was worth it. It’s also the one that tells me I’ll look back and laugh, and I do.

I love your little voice. I love when you talk. I don’t hear it as much as I hear your brother’s, but when it comes out it’s heavenly.

I love how you have your calm, ecstatically happy, and then enraged. You get that from your dad. I feel bad when you’re so hurt that get in a sumo stance and yell until your face turns red, but I love that you let mommy calm you down, and I love that you’re a sensitive little boy.

I love how you take everything in. I see you, you know. I see you scanning the world, analyzing everything until you feel comfortable. I wonder just what you make of it all. I love it when you make something happy out of it, and quietly your eyes light up.

I love it when you share. You’re really good at it, and it’s funny when you don’t understand how other kids aren’t. You even shared your new prized airplanes today with your brother. You asked him if he wanted to sleep with it, which was definitely an ultimate act of kindness on your part.

I love how you know when I’m not really listening, and just agreeing with you when I’m busy. You make me stop and pay attention when you tell me to “Talk loud!”

I love how you suck your thumb. I’m scared for the day when you will be too big for that to be cute. I could spend all day holding you and your blanket while you suck away at your thumb. Did you know your thumbsucking saved my sanity your first year of life? And don’t worry, we’ll fix your teeth.

I love your attachment to your green blankey, and all your other crocheted blankets.
I love singing songs with you every night. You are now up to wanting 3-4 songs before bed and I love how you request them with your thumb in your mouth. They are, Jingle Bells, your favorite song from Tarzan and Mary Poppins, and sometimes Book of Mormon stories and I love to hear you sing. Just thinking about it makes me cry.

I love how you run want to run around naked and I love your little body.
Did you know we call you mountain goat? You are the best climber, especially the best climber of couches, and then you always have to jump. I love to watch you jump. I always pray you don’t get hurt, but you’re so coordinated and when you’re flying through the air you’re look exhilarated.

I love how when you’re tired, you hunch over and walk around with your arms swinging like a gorilla. And the faces you make. The happy ones are so happy, the serious ones are so serious, and the sad ones tear me apart.

I love how you copy your brother and look up to him, but don’t worry I know you are your own person. There’s only one Hay Hay.

Thank you for being my little boy. I wish you could always be little, and always mine.
You make me happy.
Mommy loves you.

The Carving of the Pumpkins

On Saturday (Halloween) we still hadn't carved any pumpkins. We've had pumpkins since the end of September, and they're still on my kitchen table. I should probably do something with those. But my dad had some pumpkins for the boys to carve, so we went to carve them before we went trick or treating. Or should I say, Tyler carved as the boys mostly watched. That's what happens when you're in a hurry and you're a perfectionist I guess. Look at Jackson's Face! He's so mad.

Right here he's mad because he didn't want his pumpkin throwing up. Did you know that Hayden is obsessed with pumpkins? He LOVED The carved pumpkins, he LOVES his pumpkin costume. He has asked for a Jack-O-lantern cake for his birthday. He was supposed to be a dragon this year, but he found his pumpkin costume the on Friday and wouldn't even think of being something else. That pumpkin costume has been used every year for 5 years. I think I need to put it to rest. Good thing it's cute.

"Look! Mom! The Pumpkin lights!" My parents neighbors had pumpkin lights on their porch and ever since they turned them on we had to drive by them so Hayden could say hello. He was so happy to finally be right next to them.

If we have one family tradition it is going to Hee Haws every year. Tyler has to pay tribute to Leroy the pig, the biggest pig I've ever seen. This is an old picture of him and his friend in front of their favorite pig, wearing a Leroy shirt.(Their shirts say, "People go nuts over me.")

Anyway, the kids love Hee Haws now too so we went this year on a perfect day. I love October.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

It's Not Funny

So it's very possible that my son might have just come up to me as I was checking blogs on the computer and said, "Mom, there's something funny on your back." poke-poke-poke. What was he possibly poking? Well apparently my sweatshirt was riding up a little in the back, and he was poking my sides, where the back fat is. I said, "That's my back fat, leave it alone." And pulled my shirt back down, but Jackson thought that was the funniest thing ever and laughed until he almost peed his pants. Guess what the new game is at our house? Find mommy's back fat.

Don't worry, I put the cookies back in the freezer, instead of in my mouth like I was originally planning.

They're SO Happy, and I'm . . .

Freezing! (to say the least)

October

It is 11:05 P.M. and my kids are still awake. They keep saying they have to go potty. They have come out saying this at least 3 times. Their need to excrete has exhausted my patience, completely, and I'm not even potty training Hayden yet. If my kids don't sleep until 9:00 in the morning tomorrow, let's just say I won't be happy.

Anyway,

I love October. I didn't used to love it nearly as much as I do now. I didn't pay any attention to pumpkin patches or corn mazes or things like that before I had kids. (Did they even exist before? I swear I don't remember them in high school, or maybe I just wasn't in a festive crowd) But my kids love them, and now I do too. Jackson had a field trip on Wednesday. It was interesting to say the least. It rained the whole time, but the boys had a blast jumping into mud puddles and walking around the corn maze. Jackson wasn't too happy when I made him strip down to his underwear to get into the car.

Then on Thursday my sister came down and we went to another pumpkin patch place. This one was so cute. They loved it. They boys and Madi were thoroughly entertained by the princess carriage.

Jackson insisted on putting on the pirate hat, which was much too small. I thought it was a pilgrim's hat at first, but then I saw a skull and cross bones on the other side.

They also loved the cow ride,

and racing ducks,

jumping,

and riding bikes.

Then Hayden got stuck in the chair at Kneaders.

After naps, we went back.

The boys did some more jumping.

Jackson made friends with a little boy his age, aaaaaaaand his older sisters.

Then we went down some slides,

shot corn out of a cannon, went on a haunted hayride, played in the a corn box, watched pig races, and kept on playing until we were exhausted. We had tons of fun. The next morning Hayden woke up with croup, and threw up all morning. I wonder why.