Hailey's Eight!!!

WOW!  We have an eight year old.  I can't believe it!  These past eight years have gone by so fast it makes me think that in such a short time Hailey will be sixteen and then out of the house. So many questions go through my mind.  Am I teaching her enough, am I there for her, will she be able to come to me with life's questions, do we get enough time together, the list goes on.  Of course, turning eight means she will be baptized in a couple of weeks.  I know I can't be the perfect parent.  But, I sure hope that I teach her all that she needs to be to live in this world, but not of this world.


We did presents bright and early this year because Hailey had a friend party the night of her birthday and we wouldn't have time then later.  Here she is:

 Friend parties are so fun to get ready for, but I stress so much to make sure it will be a great and memorable day.  Here are the highlights:

Invitations:

Hailey wanted a bear cake this year:

Her party:

 Silly Girls:

We ended up having cake with the family on Sunday here's what was left of the cake:

We love:

How Hailey is such a great older sister

She's so patient with her brothers

So forgiving of her brothers getting into her things

Always ready to help me out with anything

That she loves church and bearing her testimony

That she's so excited to get baptized

She loves:

Art

Her teacher Mrs. Wilson

Her family

Spaghetti, broccoli cheese soup, chicken rolls

Having her ears pierced

The color pink

Stuffed animals

Teaching her brothers school

Going shopping

Earning money

Hailey comes up with small businesses to get her brothers to pay her money for things (art galleries, saving candy, selling them anything she has that they want) the funny thing about that is that they don't have money to pay her.  Then she tries to sell me stuff. 

We love you so much Hailey!  You add so much to our family.  Thanks for always being that great girl we know you are.

And the Gender is...

A bouncing baby boy!!!

Not a huge surprise.

Good thing we love our boys :)

I couldn't help be get a little teary eyed as I thought about telling Hailey.  She was so excited and already assumed the baby was a girl.  I knew she would be disappointed.  

She rode home from school on her bike as fast as she could and ran in asking with a huge smile on her face.  I told her it was a boy and I think her heart sank.  She tried really hard not to cry, but she couldn’t hold it in.  She ran to her room and finished. Gratefully as kids do she bounced back pretty quick. She seems ok now.  

Conrad was also hoping for a girl.  He was so cute when I told him.  He said, “it is?, oh now Hailey won’t have a sister”.  He is so sweet.

I’m sure once that baby is born everyone will just love him to pieces.  Now for a name...

Les Meserables

Two girls weekends in one year!  I guess after I had my first ever in April I had to have another...

No, I really needed a recharge.  A new school year, hormones, and who knows what else had totally drained me.  My patience was lacking a great deal.  So, this weekend couldn't have been better timing for me.

Last weekend I hopped on the Salt Lake Express to the airport in Boise to meet my lady-in-laws.  It was a fun weekend.  We shopped a bit.  But, the reason we got together was the show.  We went to see Les Meserables.  It was really good.  But, we were a bit late on getting tickets so we were on the back row.  Bummer!  It was still cool to be there.  I still think Mary Poppins on Broadway was more fun to watch.  Probably just because it wasn't such a deep, sad story and we had much better seats :).

Thanks ladies!

Oh yeah, the second highlight of the trip was the ride home...the bus broke down in Blackfoot...so it took and extra hour to get home ;)  (That's what I get for choosing to travel on Sunday) :)

I Can't Believe Brayden is 2!

Brayden turned two on the 15th.  We had Grandma and Grandpa over for a party.  Here's the before picture

 During:

This is from the grandparents.  Brayden loves bananas and stole and ate two in about two minutes at their house the day before.   

 After...it looks like he had fun

Thanks for coming and celebrating with us! 

At 2 we love how Brayden;

Gives hugs and very long kisses

Is very happy

Loves his siblings

Runs to Dad when he gets home

Is just a sweet boy

He loves:

To eat

Get into EVERYTHING

Ride his bike

Play Outdoors

Climb

Say "Ow"

Laugh

To be independant

Bathtime

Taking off his pajamas (notice his pjs are on backward in these pics)

Brayden we love you SO much.  We can't imagine life without you and can't wait to see what else you bring to the family!

First Day of School

The kids started school on September 5.  They are loving it and they are already learning a lot.  It took awhile to get back in to the routine and I was struggling with tired crazy kids (it felt like all of the time).  But now they get up, get ready and are out the door on time.  After school, they come home, have a snack, do homework, chores and play until dinner time.  It's not perfect, but it is going much smoother.

1st Grade

 2nd Grade