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.

We Miss You Lisa

My sister Lisa lives in Nebraska. It sucks. The boys miss her, and so do I. There is a serious void without "Aunt Lisa" around.

Who else can turn grandpa into a pirate?

We love you Lisa! (Does this help make up for me never calling you back?)

Tyler's Graduation

Tyler officially has his Master's Degree. It finally came in the mail, and since the degree comes in the mail, Tyler saw no point in walking. Well, that and he didn't have a job, just like when he graduated with his Bachelor's, and he didn't walk then either. But come on! He was getting his Master's and he HAD to walk. So we staged a mock graduation at my mom's. My sister graduated in April and her cap and gown were in the basement. We made him put them on. And since you get hooded or something like that we used my brothers scouting sash thing as his master's hood. Then my mom played the piano while we made Tyler walk. We made him walk twice. So, Ty, would it really have been more trouble and more embarrassing to just walk with the rest of your graduating cohort?
His response: "5 minutes of torture versus two days of butt-numbing fun? It was definitely worth it."

Congratulations Tyler! We are proud of you and all your hard work.

oh, p.s. Tyler has a job now. He is teaching at his old school and is very happy. Hopefully he'll be an administrator soon, but for now he is LOVING his job.

First Day of School

Here is Jackson on his first day of preschool. I didn't get a picture of him on his first day last year. He started in January, and pictures didn't happen. But this year he wanted a picture and he was so excited to go back to Miss Dawn, and to have his picture taken with his backpack on. He doesn't really even need to bring a backpack, but he gets really sad if he doesn't have it with him at school because he likes to have his new best friend, Rachet, in the backpack, at school, the whole time. He promises me he won't take it out. He just has to know where it is. Whatever gives you comfort kid. My boys is growing up too fast. (sigh)

An Episode

"How you doin?" Hee hee hee. "How you doin?" Hee hee hee. This is what Ty keeps asking me because I may or may not have just had an episode where I "freaked out." I'm sure this happens to more people than just me. Ty has learned to just laugh at it, well sometimes he just laughs. He really is completely baffled that I can just freak out and run all over the house while frantically looking for Hayden's "Green blanket". I can't find it anywhere. I don't know where it is, or where it could have gone and it is essential for bedtime, and nap time, and for Hayden's various sad moments throughout the day where he needs comfort. I was tired, I was done and it was my turn to put the boys to bed, and I freaked. I stomped up and down the halls, said a few choice words, threw things around frantically and groaned and arghed as dramatically as possible. And then I got over it. I felt better and Hayden went to bed without his Green Blankie, (even though it's making me nervous right now just thinking that I really don't know where it is, and neither does Ty.) Ty doesn't understand that I can just have an episode/childlike temper tantrum, and then feel much better. He has them too, just in a more adult way I suppose. At least I think I'm over it. If he asks me how I'm doing again I might just knock the fan right next to me to the ground.

And thinking of my "episode" reminds of Jackson's "episode" of yesterday. It was really quite sweet. He continues to amaze me at how sweet he actually is. Lately, Jackson has developed a thing for mosquito eaters. There are two that seem to hang out around our door. At first Jackson was scared of them, but I told them they were good and they eat mosquitoes, and after that, they instantly became his friends. On Wednesday, one of his little friends flew into my house during a piano lessons. (Oh, I'm teaching piano lessons now. It's been quite an adventure. Good thing I like adventures.) My student caught it and threw it back outside, but I think the M.E. was hurt, because when we were walking up the stairs Thursday, Jackson got to the top, looked down, and gasped, not once, but twice, and then I heard a whispered, "Mom, loooook." I looked. It was one of his friends, a mosquito eater, flattened on the ground. Jackson was frozen, he looked up and I could tell he was holding back tears.

I tried to make him feel better and said "Look, his friend's still here. Maybe he'll invite another friend over and there will be two again. Come on inside. Don't step on it. It'll be ok." Jackson slowly went inside, slowly made his way down the hall, and then turned around and looked at me and said, "Mom?" And I could tell he was going to cry. I gave him a hug and said, "Oh, are you sad?" And that did it. The waterworks were on. It was the saddest cry I've ever heard. I've heard his mad cries, his tired cries, his cries of injustice, but never just plain sorrow, and I almost cried too, over a mosquito eater. "Mom," he said, "I'm (gasp) just (gasp) crying (gasp). I can't (gasp) stop (sob). I'm so (sob) sad (sob) (sob) (sob).

It was so sweet. And I just sat there and held him, until finally he said, "I can't remember why I'm crying." And then I knew he was really tired, and that he was ok. When Ty got home we showed him the M.E. Ty picked it up with a tissue and ceremoniously flushed it down the toilet. Jackson couldn't watch, but he did cry again. Somehow I made him stop by telling him at least no one can step on him anymore. And Ty made him smile by saying that his friend probably had a lot of baby M.E's before it died. Jackson is now really excited for the babies. So if one day we have a whole load of M.E.'s around our door, you'll know why, and you'll know that Jackson is in heaven.

p.s. I apparently lied to my child. After researching the mosquito eater, or crane fly, I have learned that they in fact do not eat mosquitoes. They don't eat anything at all (well some eat nectar). They mature, mate and die, and are actually considered a mild turf pest. Now I have no real affection for them, except that my child loves them, but maybe he'll feel differently when I tell him the real truth about the crane fly.