Family Party, Superhero Birthday Bash, and Canyon Party

I think Birthday's are a big deal. I love celebrating and it's a great reason to get together. With a small house and lots of people to involve, we break things up a bit. The night before his actual Birthday we met my family and Brian's mom over at Mountain Mikes for some pizza. Hayden loves cheese pizza because the Ninja Turtles eat it. Afterwards, everyone came to our house for some chocolate Dunford donuts and gift opening.

At this point, he is pretending to eat for the picture. He is still a very "light" eater.

How cool is this. It is the Ninja Turtle Van. Not easy to come by. Thanks Trevor and Heather!

This gift was saved from Christmas from my parents cause we all thought he was getting too much. Well, his Birthday wasn't much different. He loved it!

Can't ever get enough of this!

He kept asking for sketchers. I am pretty sure he saw a commercial. He still believes these ones light up when he jumps really hard. Luckily, he believes they do and luckily, my mom knows I don't allow those shoes!

He's real excited about this one...

Favorite Present. Still plays with it daily. It is a "Batcave."

Blurry, but cute. Loves himself a box!

Again, thank heavens for Uncles! I love them too!

For the big #4, we decided on a superhero themed party because that is the new craze around here. I love that boys just naturally love this stuff! It was so much fun. We invited his neighbor friends and of course, his buddy Cooper. Here are some pictures from the day

My brother Jeremy is super talented. He drew some villains for the boys to throw grenade water balloons at!

Playing "pass the krytonite"

Brian worked during the day so I enlisted some help! I seriously could NOT have done it without Mary, Kacey, and Steve! It really does take a village!

Super Teagan checking things out.

That throw went the wrong direction...

Super Steve, he really is a hero around here. He comes to the rescue if Brian is unavailable.

Coops has a hard time sharing his buddy Hayden. So cute! They have always been very protective and possessive.

One kid didn't show up which worked out great for Rosie. I so wish I had made her a pink cape!

I'm no Betty Crocker, but this is my masterpiece...

These two can cause more shenanigans than anyone I know! They are cute little stinkers!

Wonder what he wished for...seriously, I do wonder!

Getting a birthday kiss from his "future wife." This is not an arranged marriage. We maybe jokingly said it once, but he came up with this on his own. You cannot convince this kid there are other fish in the sea. If you even joke about him marrying someone else, he will tell you he is marrying ROSIE! Very loyal man already!

This crime scene is quite frequent. First, you find some pants and then you find...The pants-less child. He loves attention!
Very fitting outfit for the occasion.
We did a little white trash party-after party! Babies-nude, Coop and Hayd-underoos!

Later that evening, we wanted to see some other friends of ours so we headed up the canyon. Brian's work was a disaster and he wasn't going to be able to join us after all. He got things arranged FINALLY and he came with us. I am telling you, we need a new career path!

BarkersThe Yergensens and Kacey

He opened our gifts to him up there.

Group shot.

The SomersClara, Benjamin, Gavin, Me, and Hayden-a goofy Hayden.
The Campbells and Steve. The Campbells live right next door to us on the north side. I am so glad they are nice and mellow. They may not feel the same about us. I hope our walls are soundproof and that the windows aren't too see-through! Haha, sorry!

He really NEEDS a sister. He WANTS one too!

I hope you had a Happy Birthday Hayden!

Hayden Turns 4!

That's right, you heard it right, 4!!! These even numbers just about kill me. It was no big deal when he was born or turning one but 2...that was a different story. It felt so weird to have a 2 year old. He was no longer a baby! Age three rolled around, no biggie, he was still a toddler. Well, his fourth birthday rolled around and I just wanted to cry! He is a kid now, a kid! I have LOVED the past 4 years as a mom. He is so much fun. He is a dream child. He has become quite famous around the valley for his quotes and stories. Always keeps me laughing!

Hayden at age four weighed 36.2 pounds and was 41.7 inches tall! He was quite nervous for his Doctors visit because the numerous ones he has been to for Teagan with me. He did so good though. As always, he is still a smart little guy and shows more ambition to learn more and more than any kid I have ever met. He knows all the letters and their sounds. He can write all the letters and some names and words. He can read short words and is counting higher and higher everyday.

I could watch Hayden play all day. He can and will play with anything you hand to him. He is the most creative boy around. His superhero action figures are his favorite thing to play. He is constantly mimicking things I say in his pretend play. Many of times a ninja turtle or Spiderman has paid their time in time-out!

He loves movies. Great, I know! He has an amazing attention span and has ever since he was a little guy. More than we can say for his brother.

He still enjoys an occasional good read but his favorite thing to do it make up stories. We all take turns coming up with a new story. He loves his made up character Drackin Nackin. He is a Dragon we made up. Drackin Nackin and his owner/friend Jack have many adventures together. He also enjoys scary bear stories thanks to his Papa.

Hayden has some imaginary friends. Their names are Gru and Puap. He came up with them all on his own. According to him, they are about an inch tall and they come most places with us. They are usually found doing the things I have told Hayden are inappropriate or wrong. They say naughty words quite often :)

Hayden and Teagan get along sometimes but Hayden is obviously the more sensitive one. If Hayden is found hurt and crying, Teagan will go claw him and make sure the tears keep streaming down. So sad! Hayden also likes to follow Teagan and copy the things he says and does. Interesting? I think so.

Hayden really, really wants me to have another baby. He insists that it needs to be a girl. He wants to cuddle her. Didn't get the teddy bear he was hoping for in Teagan. Although, Teagan can be quite affectionate. I think he will be very upset if the next babe is a male. Hayden loves his "lists" and has made a few with baby girl names. None of which are very flattering.

His best friends are still Cooper and Max. He makes friends very easily and is really starting to be more outgoing. He also loves playing with his Uncles, Dad, Grandma and Papa! He enlists me to play superheroes daily as well. Hayden and his cousin Rachel have become inseparable at family functions.

He loves going to Primary and I have been told he is very attentive and involved.

He is still a picky eater. He loves to tell us that "I loved that when I was a baby," and "I'll eat that when I get bigger." For now, apparently those things just aren't good enough for him. His diet usually consists of mac & cheese, peanut butter and honey sandwiches, waffles, pop tarts, cereal, chocolate milk, cucumbers, cheese, chicken nuggets, grilled cheese, quesadillas, turkey, grapes, apples, oranges, bread, pasta, corn dogs & hot dogs. He is becoming a little braver when it comes to trying new things. It's a bit of a rule to try something new at Sunday dinner. This kid loves Sprite too!

Hayden still wants to be carried everywhere. We have quite a few power struggles around here lately.

Great Sleeper still. Can fall asleep lots of places, sleeps through lots of commotion, and will sleep a long time. Unless he has leg aches, which happen often. Poor guy!

We love our Hayden! Here is to another fun year with our little man!

Memorial Day Weekend 2010

Ever since I can remember we have gone to the good old state of Idaho for Memorial Day Weekend. We have relatives up there. They are 6 feet under. Sounds exciting huh? Well, somehow the trip is a fun tradition shared with my Mom's side of the family. We haven't been for a few years and everyone was just itching to get back up to Pocatello. My mom planned a little over-nighter up there. We left of Sunday morning. Brian was just going to drive up for the day but ended up staying with us and leaving at 5 in the morning to get to work on time. Jobs...just can't get enough of them!

Here are some pictures of the infamous trip...

My sweet little guy hanging at the cemetery.

You don't have the opportunity everyday to have headstones as your backdrop.

I can't tell you how big of Papa's Boys Hayden and Teagan have become.

Handsome Fellows

Little Joseph Smith reenactment.

Hayden and Trenton playing. I believe Trenton was thrown down by some web shooting by Haydenman. I feel VERY lucky to have 4 brothers who will play endlessly with my boys. Uncles are the best playmates EVER!

This Poor Old lady couldn't figure out her GPS. First of all, your in a cemetaey, secondly, a GPS won't tell you where your deceased companion is buried. Haha, just joking, but Jeremy is seriously such a champ to help anyone who needs it.

Pretty sad that a lot of the excitement of visiting graves comes from these creatures. Pretty fun to watch!Looking right at us. Couldn't have been the millions of sticks thrown at it to get it's attention.

More play time with his uncles!

The other climax of the trip...swimming. When we were little we couldn't even wait to unpack before hitting up the pool. Why oh why??? Guess it's the fresh scent of chlorine, the delicious cookie you grab from the lobby on the way down, the awakening of the cold water, or perhaps the unveiling of who is sitting in the hot tub. Not quite sure what it is.

Look at that form! Typically I don't flaunt my swimsuit edition of pictures. I don't have that luscious sheen on my hair and rockin' body as I come up from the water like the commercials. So why post this? To give everyone a little chuckle!

While, to everyone who may read this may think this all sounds ridiculous, it actually is fun. Guess it brings out the kids in us. Lame, I know! Oh well, see ya later Idaho. At least for another year :)