Spring Break Didn't Break Me!

Best Spring Break EVER. 

My honey took off work for all of it plus one day... SWEET!

We begged Amanda to play hooky from school on Thursday so we could get a head start on all the festivities. And then we begged friends of ours to take their 4 boys out of school that day too and join us in our insubordinate behavior. gasp. I'm pretty sure that less than a millisecond lapsed between the begging and the agreeing to our absurd idea.

days 1-3:

Camping as a whole family for the first time ever. We arrived at Kelly Park a day before spring break started and thank goodness. The place got c.r.o.w.d.e.d. on the afternoon of day two.
The Casablanca kids and the Gove kids got along wonderfully. They kept disappearing together but we always knew where they were... I'll let you know how later on in this post.

We spent the first day setting up camp and then went for a walk to check out the spring. We didn't think it would be warm enough to swim in yet apparently we were wrong. After much begging by the children we agreed to come back the next day (at the warmest time of the day) and let them test out the waters.

All hands on deck! It took a village to set up this tent!

They all wanted to jump in SO BAD!

The only thing that would lure the kids away from the spring was the promise of time at the playground...

But the kids weren't the only one's having fun! Go Jocelyn!

Samantha spent most of camp with her shoes off. Most heard phrase at camp: "Sammy-Sue! Where's Your SHOES!??!?!"

That's one happy camper!

Daddy and Sammy hanging out together


On day two another family joined us for the afternoon.
We went on a hike around and through the park
and ended up at the spring again. 

The uh-oh moment

So later on that afternoon, after naps and some Disney movie time
I went to give Hayden a hug and heard a little jingle.

Hmmm... what could that be?

I don't have any change that he could have found... hmm...

So I ask him, "Hey Hayden, what's that you got in your pocket?"

Then this look, this unmistakable look of guilt washed over his face
and I knew.

I reached into his pocket and found 6 shiny
WASHERS.

Yup.

Guess who was going BACK to Home Depot with his momma.

When we got there, I discretely asked to talk to
the largest most intimidating employee in their store.

They gave me the largest teddy bear of a man, lol.
But he did what I was hoping for and I think Hayden got it.

Hayden handed him the washers and told him that he took them.
The man said, "ohhh. that's not good. You won't do that again will you?"
Hayden said no and that he was sorry.
Then in his quietest voice with his big brown saucer eyes he said,
"Will you porgit (forgive) me?"
(or was it forget me... hmm, good question)

Hayden is NOT a shy boy. But he was timid and shy
and well, I think the word is contrite?

Anywho...

teaching moments in public places - gotta love 'em.

Watch out world. Here comes a rant!

Yesterday was one of those days where I said to myself, "Why. why.why. WHY???"

Every time I come home from grocery shopping with more than 1 kid in tow I vow to NEVER do it again. I say that I will shop at midnight at Walmart if I have to. And then, just a week or two later I find myself saying the exact same thing... in another parking lot... 'cause I'm pretty sure the employees at the last grocery store I went to are still talking about that time the crazy lady with three unruly children came in and (fill in the blank).

Yesterday was totally my fault. I should have gotten an earlier start and broke a big rule by taking them all there when they were hungry. Who knew picking up milk, bread, peanut butter and jam after 11:30am could cause so much drama?

But that's not all. You see, before I even got to the grocery store I had to make a 'quick stop' at Home Depot to pick up one thing. It should have taken a total of 5 minutes. But then my ATM card had expired so I had to call in my new card to have it activated ---right there at the register--with a touch screen phone--while holding Samantha--and yelling to Hayden to stop running in and out of the EXIT to Home Depot. And then as he's making another run for it I see out of the corner of my eye some crazy loon who is backing her car up into the loading lane and inches from the front door...

DEEP BREATHES....

There is more, much more. But I will save it for another post.

My little heroes!

Introducing:

Super POWER diaper babe!


Super SPIDER MAN!

and
Laser Eyes FIRE Girl!

The chicken came first

Today Hayden called the kitchen what it is:
The kitchen.
Pronounced b.e.a.u.t.i.f.u.l.l.y.

That place where we cook
and Hayden drives matchbox cars
and steals treats out of the pantry
used to be emphatically called
the "CHICKEN".

it was annoying and cute at the same time.

I'm gonna miss it, I'm sure.

Will you be my Valentine? x2

This years Valentines Day cards for Amanda and Hayden -
Amanda's turned out so cute last year that we just had to do it again this year!

I had intended to send Hayden to church with his Valentines
to give to his teacher and classmates but we ran out the door without them :(

Ohhhh, to have a camera for moments like these...

Our little Hayden is always keeping us on our toes and laughing hysterically. He has no fear and often wanders off quietly, scaring his mother to death. He frequently "disappears" at church and Saturday night at our ward talent show we discovered, once again, that Hayden was missing. Our church hallway is "in the round" so Michael and I started at the same point and searched in different directions. Michael was the one to find him... this is how it all went down:

Michael was walking past the men's room and heard a little whisper "Dah Dee... Dah Deeeee!!"
A little Hayden face was peering out from behind the bathroom door. As the door opened, there he was buck-naked standing in the doorway. Michael asked his where his clothes were and why on earth he was naked! Hayden pointed to the pile of his clothes next to the urinal and said, "I go potty, daa-deee!" Seriously. Could this get any funnier?

Why, yes it could!
He proceeded to straddle the urinal on tippy-toes, trying sooo hard to do it like the "big boys". That's my boy - the over acheiver...

at least he didn't go streaking through the gym... I doubt anyone would have considered that a worthy talent.

Blackmail Photos Rule!

These little beauties should secure Michael and I free lodging at Hayden's future home... or a freakin' awesome retirement home in a gated community... you know, when we get really old.

because you can never have too many blackmail photos of your kids

With a kid this cute, you've got to add a little sprinkle of "super dork" to keep him on a even playing field with the rest of the less adorables. Thanks to the "Sewing Queen" A.K.A. Alissa, Hayden is sporting an ever so handsome handmade bowtie. And thanks to me, he has a haircut that is sure to be imitated by many a kid on the playground. LOL...

samantha at 1 month

So these pictures mark the 1 month birthday of our little Samantha. We got her all dressed up for some quick pictures. She was a totally sweetie about letting me take her picture - I think she is going to be like Amanda - always lovin' the camera!

and a few pictures of Hayden and Amanda as well!!

Big Boo Boo!!

So my parents just got into town late last night and they are on their way over to our place. They haven't seen Hayden since he was itty bitty and this is what they are going to see when they get here.

He's NEVER gotten such a horrible boo-boo in all his life. It's totally freaking me out - he won't let me put ice or a bag of peas on his head to help it feel better. He's not even complaining about any pain. Doesn't it look just awful!??!

How, pray tell, did this happen?? He had a blanket over his head and went running into the corner of the couch. OUCH!

The 3 D's of Hayden

These days Hayden can best be described with these three words: Defiant, Destructive and Dirty! He's pushing buttons (on the tv and mom), asserting his 23 month old power of outrunning us around the sofa with the remote, and enjoying every moment that includes spilling, dumping or throwing milk. Oh - and he's really starting to smell like a boy. Not a baby, a BOY. You know the smell.

I miss my little baby boy...

Being Sick

I am sick.

I can't stand being sick, but being prego and sicko and having this vein thing/alien growing out of the side of my leg is totally debilitating me. Add to that Hayden, AKA GREMLIN is up to his old tricks and has now caused the malfunctioning of the door locks on the kids bedroom and bathroom doors... which happen to be upstairs... far, far away from the comfort of my living room sofa. So I have been making a gazillion more trips up the stairs than I normally would to rescue him from the baby-eating dresser drawers, soap drawings on the bathroom floor that have trapped him in a *stand up, fall on butt* sequence, and the play make-up that belongs to his big sister.

Put up a gate you say? Oh please, do I really need to re-educate you all about the advanced mechanical and just plain brute force skills of my 18 month old Weapon of Mass Destruction? In great desperation I did attempt to put up a gate. 5 minutes later after much banging and wailing the gate came tumbling down the stairs in 2 pieces.

But alas, all this whining and griping will soon be over, for my knight in shining armor will come home in less than 4 hours and install new locks on the doors. I know he will do this without a complaint because he is completely aware that it is all his fault. Hayden got his advanced dexterity and mischievousness from his father - and his father, I am certain, received the "mothers' curse" that all naughty children receive at times of critical frustration. You know the one. "I hope you have a son as naughty and yadda yadda yadda as you!"

I will try to find something to be grateful for today... Okay. I am SUPER grateful to have my friend Carlee for a babysitter. My kids love her - probably more than they love me at the moment - and she loves my kids... And I am grateful the have the gospel in our lives. And I think it's very sad when wolves in sheep clothing use tricker and lies to *teach* people about Jesus Christ and how to be saved (according to the word of the Wolf). It's just wrong in so many ways and if I wasn't hired as the photographer at the wedding where said Wolf went off on a 45 minute sermon/born again revival extravaganza, I might have confronted this quack with a few choice words of my own - but I was STARVING and tired and working my way back towards being a quiet, tolerant person... and I REALLY, REALLY needed chocolate.

(...sorry for the rant)


So like I said, I am grateful for the gospel and for knowing the truth... and chocolate.

Pictures!

I know. It's been forever. And there are none of Amanda. She's going through a stage that I will lovingly refer to as "the grungy, fake smile, Hannah Montana poser stage"... and no I am not referring to the Annie Liebowitz photo session for Vanity Fair. YIKES!

But anyway, back to the pictures!

This would be Hayden and his first rice krispy treat. Yummy! Couldn't ya just eat him up?

Hayden - after the clean up, before the haircut...

Hayden @ 18 mos. of age. What a handsome little cookie-faced guy!
He's such a sweetie pie. He loves to give you full-on-lips smoochies and tickle your belly.
He plays so well with his sister.
It's really amazing how well they get along.
He says Thank you, uh-ohhh!, uh-uh (as in NO),
Amanda, Dad-deeeee!, and *sometimes* Momma.
He has a special way of saying shoes that comes out sounding like a
bad word, but we all get it.
He can fall asleep almost ANYWHERE just like his mommy.
He's just starting to learn to jump and has skinned his little knees quite a bit lately.
He's growing up so fast!

Proof of Life

Just some random recent photos - nothing exceptional - just proof that my kids are still alive....


in spite of the toxic McDonald's french fries...


... and lack of regular dental care

...and close supervision.

Hayden is our little daredevil. He'll climb on any toy and stack up toys to climb on just to get closer to those "no-no" items that mommy and daddy keep up high. And he does it with a smile!

That innocent little face...

This morning was a wild one. Little Man Destruction woke up before the rest of us at some ungodly hour and quietly made his way downstairs - where he stood screaming bloody murder. I think he thought we'd all be down there to greet him and got freaked out by the dark silence. I went downstairs picked him and and he promptly fell asleep in my arms. I put him to bed.

Sometime around 6:30 this morning when Michael and I are usually *sort of* awake he made his way downstairs and into the kitchen. I heard him but didn't quite register the danger. Normally the baby gate is up and he can't get into the kitchen so I didn't see much harm or reason to run down the stairs. Not so this morning. We could hear him moving a chair to climb on the table and Amanda went running down the stairs to help. Hayden knew he was in trouble and decided to go for broke. He threw a glass that was on the table at Amanda! Glass shattered, Kids screamed, Mommy screamed and ran down the stairs in record time. Oh the drama! Oh the TERROR!

Fortunately the only injury was a small pin-sized cut on Amanda's foot.

I guess it's time for ANOTHER gate!

all tuckered out...

Little man (A.K.A. gremlin, WMD, little booger...) finds the oddest places to fall asleep. I'm afraid this location was the result of his mommy ignoring him while reading blogs in the kitchen. Poor little guy.

Lest you believe he is terribly neglected, here are some cuter pictures of him...

Catching up...

1. CHRISTMAS!
Christmas was super fun this year with Hayden. He really got into the ripping of the paper and enjoyed all the wonderful toys that family and friends sent. Amanda and Hayden were both very much spoiled this year - we'll be toning things down next year for sure! Amanda even commented that she thought she got way too much - that's what happens when your birthday is only days before Christmas!

2. THE MOVE
I do believe this has been the most physically taxing move we have ever made...and we only moved approximately 2 miles down the road! I'd go into all the details of the move, but they'd be quite boring and recapping it all would be almost as painful as the actual event. But as of today EVERYTHING is moved into the new 3 story townhouse and we are beginning to settle in.

Hayden is sleeping in the bottom bunk - sort of. He still wakes a couple times per night needing a little comfort, but then he's right back to sleep in his bed. Amanda doesn't seem at all phased by the noisy nighttime habits of her brother. She is on the top bunk and sleeping like a rock, as always. So it seems that the new sleeping arrangement will work out just fine.


3. New Years Eve was spent with family down in Melbourne. We all had a blast with funny hats and noisemakers!



I'll add pictures later when the other computer is up and running...

So I didn't make it to Sam's Club...

... but I did make it to the Tax Collectors office to get my car registered. Yes, that right - here in Florida you go to the Tax Collectors office to get your car registered or renew a registration. And the office is like the size of a small bank. AND the lines are short. AND the people who work there are super nice and helpful. SO REFRESHINGLY WEIRD!

I got Mod Podge, 4 cute outfits for Hayden, a Steam Cleaner and 2 gallons of paint all within an hour! Gotta love strip malls! And I got the steam cleaner we really wanted at Linen's N Things with a 20% off coupon from Bed Bath and Beyond! I saved $60 WOO HOO!!!

When Amanda got out of school we headed over to my favorite thrift shop - Sweet Repeats. We always find great stuff for her there for super cheap. We got a beautiful Christmas dress for her that I am sure was originally like, $80 for just $13. She also picked out some tap shoes (because she "wants to dance like Chim Chimney Chim Chimney Chim Chim Charoooo" from Mary Poppins) for $4.00. Hayden got a bunch of stuff too - toys, more clothes for $2.00 a piece.

Tomorrow morning it's back to work painting this place. I can't wait till it's all done and I can sit back and enjoy it all.

Sam's Club will have to wait till tomorrow I suppose...

Blast Back Six Years

With Hayden's first birthday coming up I just had to search the hard drive for some pictures of Amanda on her 1st Birthday. What a contrast! Amanda had a mouth full of teeth when she turned one...Hayden barely has his two bottom front teeth.










Amanda was very wild and animated. Hayden is wild, but more curious and determined. I wonder what Hayden will think of his first taste of cake?