Smile

Oh no, I’m a cheater again this week!!  But I have to say aren’t you glad I did. Don’t you love this picture? I love my little Hayden. I wish he could stay small forever. But despite my pleading he said he can’t, he has to grow up.

I guess I have to let him too. But I want to remember this smile. He has the best smile and gives it away freely. I hear it over and over again. He has the best smile!! and I agree!!

Money for Good Grades

I started with Zachary. Wanted to reward him for his hard work. My kids don't get an allowance so I thought that would be a good compromise. Jeff and I decided that we would pay Zachary $5 for every A. So when Josh started middle school this year, he gets the same deal. Well, Hayden couldn't be left out when he heard what was going on so he asked if he could get money for his 4's. I couldn't resist. Everyone seemed really happy. Hopefully it's a great incentive and a feel great reward.

Lucky Boys!!

Snow Fort Sunday

Oh dear before I even knew it the boys were up, in their winter clothes and outside playing in the snow again. They were up before I was and out before I was. Their plan, to build these snow forts today (I think they were more like walls) and come back here tomorrow, after school, for a huge snow ball fight.

I thought it was a GREAT plan. Didn't want to burst their bubble, but the snow will probably be gone tomorrow.

Snow Family

Josh and Hayden couldn't wait to get out in the snow today. When the sun came up the put on their snow pants, gloves and coats and went to town. They told me they didn't want to just make a snowman, they wanted to make a snow family. <3 it :)

Anything You Put Your Mind To

The boys had a blast playing all sorts of relay races at Pack Meeting tonight. They played games that I’d never played before and it seemed like they had never played them either.

Hayden practiced and practiced this game before it was his turn. Okay, so the object of the game was to put your hands behind your back, bend at the waist. You could not let your knees touch the ground and you had to pick up paper sacks. The first one was the whole bag, then the next bag had about one inch cut off and the next one had two inches cut off etc. You get the idea.

Poor Hayden was struggling.  He couldn't seem to get his body to cooperate. In fact he kept falling when he'd try. So. . . when it was his turn, he was so nervous.

But, a funny thing happened. Somehow when he was "really doing it" he just did it. He just went to town and did it like a pro. And guess what?  He ended up winning!!  He was the fastest one.

It just goes to show that anything you put your mind to, you can do it!  I need to remind him regularly that anything he puts his mind to he does it and he does it well. :D  Way to go buddy :)

This was also the night the cat followed them home.  Oh boy!!

iPhone Fun

Hayden loves my iPhone. He asks me if he can play with it. All the time. Because he asks me I found myself finding fun little Apps for him to play with. This picture is from a little App that is obviously an App that lets him make a face on a pumpkin. AND, it was the ONLY picture I had for Nov 6. So, here ya go. Woot ~ Woot for the iPhone Apps!!

No Syrup Necessary

This morning we felt like doing something fun. Something a little different. So we made pancakes, but not your all around normal pancakes. We made Cinnamon Roll Pancakes!  Oh ya baby!! They were DE LeeSee Oso!! Yum-O!! Hayden took some into Jeff and asked him if he needed syrup. Jeffrey took one bite and said, "No, bud. No syrup necessary."

Fun!!

Porsche Ride to School

Today was my Friday off. Last time I had Friday off Hayden asked me to take him to school. Okay, so admitting this doesn't make me very happy, but I told him no. I was being just that lazy. So, when he asked me if I'd take him to school this time, I couldn't resist and wanted to make up for last time too.

Jeff made the suggestion of taking him in the Porsche. That decision was the best one yet. Oh, how happy that made Hayden. He had a smile ear to ear the whole time. He couldn't wipe it off his face.

He had to wave at EVERYONE!!  He yelled and yelled at some of his friends that he saw walking. They didn't see him. But Mrs. Nelson was out front when we pulled up and he ran to tell her about being brought in the Porsche today. She was so cute she stood and waived with great excitement to see me pull away. I think that made his morning!!

I know it made mine Ü

Fall Soccer in Swing

I had to snag this picture of Hayden sorta taking a nap here at soccer practice. He just wasn't into it today. We had been there about 5 minutes and he told me he had to pee. Oh great! This park doesn't have a restroom. He then proceeded to tell me that he was hungry. Then, with all the pleading this boy could muster, he said, "Mom, I just wanna go home."  So, this mom, with all she could muster, explained to him that he was the one that told me (over and over again, I might add) that yes, he did want to play soccer again this year. That even though he complained he really likes soccer and he assured me that he wanted to do it again. So, even though he didn't feel like it today, I knew deep down he really likes it and knew that he could make it for another half an hour at this practice.

That's all it took. I didn't hear one more plea from him. Somehow, even though he had to go to the bathroom and was starving, he persevered and made it through the rest of his practice. He even got to play soccer with another team there, which he seemed THRILLED about.

Hayden teaches me how to be happy all the time. LO♥E this little guy so much! I'm his biggest fan!!

Dress Shoes

I’ve been looking for dress shoes for Josh and Hayden now for about a week - while shopping for school clothes. I have had no luck. Today was my last chance. We’re going to Mandy’s this weekend for the baby blessing and baptism and Hayden just can’t wear his old ones anymore. Last week he wouldn’t wear them at all. He wore Josh’s black crocs to church instead.  That’s something I didn’t want to repeat. Today was my last day before we went to Mandy’s. We were going to leave about 12:00 tomorrow and I was going to work in the morning before we left and I was sending the boys to school and checking them out early.

We hadn’t hit the mall yet so I thought that’s where we’d go. We usually find great dress shoes at Dillard’s or Nordstroms. Only thing is we only had time for one mall. So we hit South Towne. We started at the Macy’s end so we went there. They don’t sell children’s shoes there - LAME. So then we walked all the way to Dillard’s we got upstairs and they had 3 choices. They were all LAME. So we were out of luck. Then we went over to Nordstrom Rack. More of nothing - literally didn’t have a pair of dress shoes in their size.  Then we hit Factory Stores. I’m surprised that store is around at all - there really isn’t anything left out there but a levi store and a kitchen store. Sad. Then we decided to go to Payless Shoe Source. You have to understand that I have had really bad luck at this store. But I thought we’d try. After all it was our last ditch effort or black crocs it would be.  So we ran in. In a matter of 10 minutes we had two new pair of shoes and they were buy one get one half off to boot. Wahlah!! We did it!!

Happy Hiker

Today we went to Timpanogos Cave and Hayden was quite a trooper. He didn’t even complain at all - on the way up that is. Going down was a little bit harder I guess. He like the cave though he had a great time, but I guess it got a little too cold in there for him. He also had to “go” on the way down which made it hard to keep walking because with each step it was shaking him and felt like it was going to come out. Oh dear :D  Well, decided to sing a little song, music usually makes me feel happy pretty fast and it worked with Hayden too. After I finished my song, he shared a couple of songs with me. He had learned them at school this past week. He even did some actions to the song. We were the last one off the hill and I have to admit that bugged me a bit, I hate being last. But he and I made some cute memories coming down the hillside together, it was hard to be bugged for too long.

This smile melts my heart :D

First Day of Homework

I would love this to be a standard for the rest of the year but I bet you his teacher is just starting out slowly. Today was Hayden’s first day of homework. Oh yah! I could get use to this! It was only one little math sheet.

He actually had it done before I got back with the camera to take this picture, but he posed for me anyway.

First Day of 4th Grade

Today was Hayden's first day of 4th grade. His teacher this year is Mr. Jordan Oswald. He goes to Herriman Elementary. He's the only one in our family that's in elementary school this year. That is different.

I asked him how his first day went. The big thing he wanted to talk to me about was how different lunch time was. He was so bugged that he had to go to recess BEFORE lunch. He said he had to wait in line forever!!! I told him to give it a try. I told him that I love the idea, it’s going to make him eat more instead of hurrying through his lunch to get outside to play. He said he’d try but it was sooooo hard.

Trying to get him off the lunch subject, I asked him if he had friends in his class from last year and he does. I asked him if he liked his teacher and he said ya he’s good. He thinks it's pretty cool that he “finally has a boy teacher.” He said that his teacher is pretty nice. Mr. Oswald likes to work with wood and he made a stand that has bendy/twisty sticks to put beads on when he does good things.

Hayden’s favorite color this year is sky blue. His favorite food is Chicken Alfredo. His best friends are Alec Godfrey, Skyler Letham and Isaac Peterson.. He is 4’ 2½” tall and he weighs 52 lbs. His favorite hobby is playing video games with his brothers and friends.

I love that Hayden is the youngest in our family. We often call him our little Nephi. He is the first one to do what he's told when he's been in trouble. He's the first one to say sorry. He never lets us forget about family prayer and wants everyone to do what's right. He needs lots of loves. He still wants me to tuck him in bed at night. I've noticed how much he is listening and learning in church too and I love it! I've noticed him feeling the spirit. He has a very loving heart. We love him so much and are grateful he’s part of our family.

Sweet Hayden

Sometimes it still surprises me when my boys are good through sacrament meeting. Today was one of those Sundays that surprised me. It was ward conference Sunday and that means instead of just an hour in Sacrament Meeting it was an hour and a half. I’m not sure why that made me so nervous, but it did. There was no need to be nervous my boys were great. They actually listened too. Hayden laid on my lap several times. Which makes me think he’s not really listening, but he was. Lately I’ve been telling him he needs to start sitting up through the whole meeting. He’s 9 now and he needs to be sitting up straight so he can listen. Looks like that theory was wrong. lol :)

The thing is, I’ve decided I’m going to let him “be little or act younger than he maybe should" as long as he wants to, because all too soon it will change. I need to feel loved by him as long as I can. Being the lame, uncool mom is coming all too soon.

I hope my Hayden stays my sweet boy for a LONG, LONG time. I don’t want him to grow up too fast.

Hayden's B-day

Today we celebrated Hayden's birthday all day long. He was so cute. I bought him this hat to wear while he was eating and to help him feel extra special today being we were camping and all. He wore it mostly all day long. It was super hard to choose just one picture for the day - there were so many great moments.

He patiently waited to open his presents until after lunch and he got a present from each family that was represented there, which made him feel really special. Thanks again family and friends.

Then we went to the Lehman Cave Palace Tour. Which was so neat - see more pictures from that tour here it's AMAZING!! You'll have to plan a trip and go - we might even want to come with you again. Our cute Park Ranger/Tour Guide had the whole group sing to Hayden for his birthday. I got the end of that song recorded and you can watch it here. Our Park Ranger said that was a first for him. WOW!! That made Hayden feel pretty special too.

Then we had cobblers and roasted marshmallows for dessert. How could you top a birthday like that?!!

Hayden, I can hardly believe you are 9 now. You touch our family's hearts in so many ways. Everyone we know comments about how much they love, love, love your smile. We do too. Something I've noticed about you lately is how great of a friend you are. You also have a great imagination. Dad and I have noticed how much you are  like our family "Nephi" and we are so grateful for you. Love you so much!!

Sweet Hayden

We've been slowly packing for our camping trip next weekend. So. . . we had all the camping totes out and we've been filling them up as we think about those things we need to take with us. Well, tonight Hayden came up stairs and asked me to come downstairs and take his picture.So cute :)

So cute :) I ♥ this moment!!  I ♥ this boy :)

New Hammock

Okay, I know, you've for sure had enough of these posts, but I'm so impressed with Jeffrey. He made a new hammock today. A blue banana hammock and I love it! He did this all TODAY! The other hammock got put to the side. It's turning out to be a pain in the rump! But look forward to a post about it when it's done :)

For now here's the new one. With me and Hayden in it.

Happy National Donut Day!

Happy National Donut Day!!

We celebrated with Hostess Donuts, Nestlē's Strawberry Nesquik and a movie! :)

What did you do?

Native American Indian Scouts :)

Tonight was scouts again. Den Meeting to be exact! These meetings always make me nervous. Did you remember that I have 10 scouts? Well now I have 13!  Yes, that's 13 eight year old scouts!!  Well each time I meet with them it gets easier. This last meeting we talked about Native American Indians. I found a great story about Indian families online. Each scout took a turn reading. Then we'd talk about the paragraph they read. After that was done, we made Indian vests.  Each boy needed to come up with an Indian name to put on their vest. They had to use the pictures from their books. It turned out great. I think they really liked it.

And their favorite thing?  To play tag after while we're waiting for the parents to pick them up. I helped by being it - talk about great exercise, those boys run fast!!  AND. . . . . I forgot to take my camera, so Hayden posed for me in his cute Indian vest when we got home.

Mikee Dee's

Hayden said that his friend asked him if they'd eaten at the McDonald's yet? Hayden told him no. That isn't right, we have eaten there twice already. Then he went on to explain, well he wondered if we'd eaten inside. Which we haven't. So. . . when the boys asked me if we could go inside McDonald's tonight for dinner, I caved. 

You have to know that McDonald's is not my favorite place to eat. I think it's fun for the kids. I like the food - it tastes sooooo good to me. However, if I'm honest about it, I never feel so good after I've eaten there. Which makes not want to eat there.

Like I said before though, I caved. I should've taken pictures "inside" since that was the point of going there tonight, but they wanted a picture in front of the fountain.