President's Day

We had a very eventful President's Day.

 We started off the morning with a fun bike ride down the wash.

 We went to McDonalds for breakfast.  Every time we go on a bike ride the kids are getting better and better.  Well really it's Taylor that is getting better, she's our drama queen.

 Ryan just loves to be out and about.

 Taylor in a rare moment of niceness.

 Hayden, our nut.

 Hayden and Ryan do well for a bit and then they get on each others nerves.

 We went to see a movie after lunch.  They had this awesome standee.  We saw the one and only kids movie that is playing, Escape from Plant Earth.

We had such a fun Presiden's Day because we were trying to get Jason's mind off of starting climbing poles the next day.  It didn't help, climbing poles was horrible and Jason is now back in meter reading.  The work drama continues!  But we did get a new President's Day tradition started :)

Valentines Day

Valentines day!!

This year for Valentines I bought a fun Whoopie pie package.  Aren't they darling?!  Isn't it genius to cook them on paper? You pipe them onto the pattern and then they cook just how you want them to.

 I volunteered in Tyson's class.  I have all of my volunteer hours for the year but Tyson very whinily asked why I never come to school so I have been trying to get in there more often so he will stop whining :)

 Just teasing, I really do love this age.  When holidays are so fun and you still get to play all of the fun games and no one thinks they are lame :)

 The Valentine pass out.  Do you remember back in the day when you were not required to give one to everyone?  It was so stressful to see who would give you one and who "like" liked you.  Oh the memories...

 They played this fun game and had to pass the heart without tearing it.

 They have a huge heart on their classroom door and at the beginning of the year every kid signed it and promised not to "wrinkle anyone's heart".  Tyson came home the first week of school saying all this craziness about wrinkled hearts.  It is their class policy not to hurt anyone's feelings and cause a wrinkle in their heart.

The kids got through two times around the class before it was torn.  We took the kids out to Cold Stone the night before.  We aren't brave enough to go out on actual Valentines Day.  We stayed home, had lasagna for dinner and watched a movie :)

February 12x12

We started our morning, like many other mornings with the dreaded carpool.  Every seat of my car is full with crazy kids. I honestly don't know who one of them is, I was just grabbing kids while I drove down the road :)  Just kidding, we have our friends and right around the cornor neighbors the Mays and then we go across the wash and pick up Caden, and of course my crazy four!  I have to arrange my seating just right or it can turn ugly quickly.  Hayden can not be in the back row or there is major fighting.  And she is a dirty fighter she will sit and just pummel poor Zack right in the head all the way to school.

 Hayden is potty training and it is awful!  She did go potty on the toilet and this is her after celebration, she jumps up and shouts, "I pee pee in the toilet" (or the equivalent in Haydenese).

 After this triumph we went to the gym hoping I could triumph the body combat class.  I am sad to report it kicked my butt and I was defeated :(  There were tears and at one point I couldn't tell if she wanted us to jab or kick or uppercut so I did all three and hoped she wouldn't kick me out of her class :)  It was ugly, so the only way bounce back after such a sad butt kick was to go out to lunch!

 We met up with my old primary presidency member and her son at Applebee's for some needed catch up.  I think I talked 20 minutes without stop, there was so much to tell her.  After we were all done she commented on how well my girls were at a restaurant and I had to laugh, my kids are eaters so they don't really mess around too much at restaurants because they are so busy eating :)

 After Applebee's we ran to Smiths to get Taylor a watermelon.  She has to bring watermelon to her heart healthy breakfast for preschool.  We HAD to see the Valentine section too!

 Taylor found my bra and decided she needed to take a self portrait while wearing it. The girl is a nut!

 This is how Hayden shows you she's had an accident on herself.  Sometimes I don't know what she's saying until she starts backing her behind up and pointing.

 After the accident was changed Taylor decided the bra would look better on Hayden.  It is funny how long this gag can go, it went on until I made them get ready to pick Tyson up from school.  We do afternoon carpool on Tuesdays because we have music class.  Tyson and Taylor love music and are doing really well.  We love Mrs. Kim!

 After music and dinner I did  quick buzz of the guys hair before giving them their baths.  I am not a hair person but I give a mean buzz :)  Darrell loves getting his hair buzzed and walks around the rest of the night pointing at himself and saying, "bald headed".

 Jason went to the gym after I was done with the guys and in a rare burst of energy I decided to do the kids baths too.  I usually try to stagger one night kids, one night guys.  After baths the kids decided to have fun with this amazing toy: the laundry basket.

 I guess it was a rare occurrence to find the thing empty :)

 Ryan played with this freaky toy that Jason had growing up.  I don't know it's name but the kids love it.  I guess it's really old and had it's own show when we were growing up.

Jason got home from the gym tired and sweaty and that is when Tyson had to announce to everyone, "Dad looks skinnier then Mom now!"  This is Jason's face right when that comment was said.  Tyson is now dead :)  Did your Mom ever shout at you, "I brought you in this world, I can take you out of it."?  Those were the thoughts going through my head!  We are very proud of Jason he his working his tail off to lose weight, he is already down 20 pounds!  He starts climbing the poles for NV Energy on the 19th!  (For the record, he is not skinnier than me, Tyson is a punk!)

Crazy straws

The kids got a package of crazy straws for Christmas from Uncle Brandon and Aunt Darcie.  We finally busted them out and the kids got to building.

 It was a wacky way to start the morning :)

 Hayden needed Daddy to help her build.  (Side note, take a look at that awesome chair rail! Jason FINALLY finished it.  Seriously it took 3 years!  Every time I walk in the kitchen I love it!  Thanks Jason!!!)

 Ryan loves to watch the kids and all their craziness :)

Thank you Uncle Brandon  and Aunt Darcie!

Star Stallion

Tyson got his first ever student of the month award!

 The school called a few days before and let me know so I could attend the assembly.  I kept it a suprise and didn't tell him so when he came into the lunch room and saw us there he was pretty surprised.

 His teacher is Mrs. Dangleis and the trait Tyson was awarded for was "responsibility".  Mrs. Dangleis said that Tyson always has his homework turned in, and finishes his school work and is always responsible for himself and his actions.

 Even though he saw us in the audience he said he was still surprised when his name was called.

Tyson was excited about the award but I think his favorite part was the coupon for a free cookie from Great Harvest.  So excited in fact, that is where we had dinner :)

 

  Congratulations Tyson!!

Hayden's party

Hayden had a small family party for her actual birthday night.

 I usually start huge friend parties at three but they are kind of horrible and the kids never understand that they have to leave the presents. So I decided to go all out on the cake instead.

 I have to be over the top on at least something :)

 Hayden loved it!!  I had to go to a couple of stores but finally found it at Superwalmart.

 The kids were so excited for Hay Hay and her Dora cake.  Hayden was so cute during the birthday song, she sang right along and clapped for herself.

 She didn't do a huge blow out, more like little puffs.

 She totally understood present opening and did shout several times at her sister Taylor, "MINE!"

 Every present was Dora.  Her Dora haul included: chapstick, pen, notebook, necklace, bracelet, coloring book, activity book, pajamas, and the Rockin Dora doll.  From her good friend Parker she got the cutest Dora outfit and an awesome journal and fancy pen. Parker picked everything out for Hayden :)

Super fun night! Happy Birthday Hayden!!

Hayden

Our beautiful Hay Hay turned 3!!!

 Hayden is the life of the party over at our home.  She keeps us constantly entertained. 

 That is, when she is not torturing the dog or the terrible T's :)

She is full of energy and never walks, only runs :)

We are so glad to have our middle girl in our family.  She keeps us on our toes!

At 3 Hayden
-Loves Dora. I mean freakily loves that girl.  She will calm down mid tantrum if we just say the name Dora.  We use this technique often :)
-Is very tall, we don't know how this happened with Jason and I as her parents, but we get several comments while in public about her height.
-Hates to have her hair done.
-Loves to dress up. I will daily find her wearing several pieces of clothing and have to take them all off to find her.
-Is not getting the potty training thing.
-Loves to dance and sing.
-Is still a little afraid of the baby, and treats her like a pet rather than a sister.  She likes to pet her head and tell her, "Baby, all right".
-Is super affectionate and will frequently hug my leg while I am trying to make dinner.
-When we ask for a hug she always gives us a kiss. I think it's hilarious and won't correct her.
-Is not getting the speaking thing very well.
-Loves her "blanks" (Made by my good friend Misty).  She has two so they are always easy to find. Misty makes blankets for all new babies and she made a wonderful one for Ryan but Hayden hates it.  So funny :)
-She is still a thumb sucker.
-She has crooked front teeth.  I asked the dentist about braces last year and they looked at me like I was nuts.
-Is a pretty good eater and loves vegetables.  She frequently asks for carrots and will sit and eat an entire carrot.  Her next favorite snack is frozen vegetables.  She will eat a whole bowl in one sitting. (Maybe that's why she is so tall!)
-Loves toys, she will sit for a whole hour just playing upstairs. It is wonderful to have a child who can entertain herself, the other three, not so much.
-Is wonderful at the movie theater. And has been since her first movie. I would take her to a movie any day over her older siblings.
-She is a fighter and can throw a mean right hook.  She has to be with the terrible T's always bugging her!
-She loves to cuddle on the couch and watch TV.
We are so lucky to have this wonderful, loving, crazy, wacky girl in our family!  We love you Hay Hay!!!