Two Wheels

We've been talking to Hayden for a while about learning to ride a two-wheeler. He wasn't too keen on that idea. He'd say "It's too hard" or "I'll learn when I'm 5" or "Only if you put training wheels on it." We didn't want to put the training wheels on and have him become too dependent on them, since that's what happened with Bryson, and he struggled to graduate from those training wheels! Hayds just needed to believe that he could to it...

We went outside early on Saturday. I was turning sprinklers on in the backyard, and Hayds followed me out. I asked him if he wanted to practice a little on the bike. He wasn't too sure about it. I told him "We'll just go to the corner and back. I won't let go." So we went to the corner, and he kept leaning to one side. I told him that he needed to keep the bike straight, like when he rides the scooters. He straightened out, and I could feel him balancing. I told him he was doing great, and we turned around and headed back the other way. I had him go out into the street (just on the side by the curb) and we got going a little faster. I said "You know you I'm barely hanging on!" He tried to look back at me, which of course threw off his balance, but I had a pretty good hold on him. I told him to just look straight ahead. I could feel that balance coming back, so I let go. I ran along with him, with my arms around him but not touching him (just in case he needed a quick catch) and he was off! We went 3/4 of the way down the block! He was so excited. I got him started when we turned around, and he went the whole way back without me touching him. (I could barely keep up... but I needed to be there, since we hadn't really talked about how to stop!) He quickly learned to start and stop perfectly, and only had one teeny little crash. In fact, I had to tell him to slow down, because it was his first day and it was making me nervous. He practiced off and on all day, and it about killed him that the next day was Sunday and I wouldn't let him ride. Monday couldn't come fast enough!



This is the proud face of a newly labeled "two-wheeler-rider!"




He was so cute. He rode back and forth for HOURS! (Well, there were a few breaks for meals and rests).




The hardest part for him was figuring out how to get started all by himself, but it didn't take long before he was a pro.




He had to tell everyone he saw "I can ride a two-wheeler!!" He couldn't wait for daddy to come home and see him.

Happy Dad's Day!

When it comes to dads, I've sure been blessed... WE'VE sure been blessed. My dad, my grandfathers, my father-in-law... all great men who have given us more than could ever be repaid. And I can't forget the awesome father of MY kids. Jared is a great dad! Dad's are a special breed. Tough on the outside, soft on the inside. While there's nothing worse than knowing that your dad is mad about something stupid you've done, there's nothing better than making him proud :) I hope I've made my dad proud.

I'm so grateful to him for raising me right... even though I'm sure he had his moments when he wondered if what he said was going in one ear and out the other. I'm also thankful to him for teaching me how to play softball, how to hunt, how to drive (thankfully we all survived that one), and how to appreciate what I have. I still remember a time when he said that even though we didn't have very much money, he was the richest man in the world because he had us. I have never forgotten that, and it's something that I have told my own kids :)

I'm thankful for Jared's dad for his patience in raising such an wonderful son. I'll eternally be grateful for his example that Jared continues to follow. We miss him dearly, and wish that he could see the amazing dad that Jared has become.

Happy Father's Day. Dad's are awesome!

Here are a few pictures of my dad that I have on the computer right now. He has a great smile :) LOVE YA DAD!

Girl Scout Special Forces

K has been in Girl Scouts for the last couple of years. She's been in a troop with some of our neighborhood girls, and has had a great time. We've even suffered through... I mean thoroughly enjoyed selling Girl Scout Cookies each Spring. Actually, it's kinda been fun. She's sold lots, and we always end up with a whole bunch for ourselves to eat (mmmmm.... Samoas!), because I end up buying so many. The best part of selling all those cookies, is that they earn credits that they can use for girl scout gear, or to pay for their yearly Day Camp. This year she got to go up to Camp Williams for three days. She had so much fun! They got to go rapelling off a 45 foot tower, they went swimming, had a scavenger hunt, did a service project. And she came home after the first day looking like this:

Stormy Weather

Once, when I was little, my sister and I were sleeping downstairs in our unfinished basement. I remember waking up and needing to use the bathroom, but it was dark and I was a little bit afraid. I got up, and as I got to the door to go up the stairs I saw a flash of light. It scared me half to death, and I ran as fast as I could and jumped back into bed with the covers pulled up tightly over my head. My heart was pounding so loud it sounded like thunder. Oh wait! It WAS thunder. Whew! It was just a storm. I walked up the stairs and noticed that the front door was open and my dad was sitting just outside the door watching the lightning and listening to the thunder. He let me sit out there with him for a while. It's a great memory for me, sitting with my dad, lightning flashing across the dark sky, then a BOOM! I LOVED IT! I still love a good, strong thunderstorm, and when I hear thunder I quickly open all the windows, or go sit outside, so that I can hear it loud and clear. You can imagine how I was feeling last week during the awesome "fireworks" show that Mother Nature put on. I grabbed my camera and tried to capture some of the awesomeness (is that a word?). My kids stood out on our front porch with me. I'm so glad that none of them are afraid. The pictures don't do justice to how the sky looked that night. It was absolutely amazing!

Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

It's America's "favorite pasttime!" It's been hard to believe, because of all the crazy weather we've had this Spring, but baseball season is upon us. We've got three kids playing this year. Kaitlyn is playing softball... Bryson is playing "coach-pitch"... and Hayden is playing T-ball for the first time. If you have never been to a T-ball game, you are certainly missing out. It is hilarious! They are so funny trying to hit the ball off the Tee. Half the time they actually HIT the tee, and sometimes they get a little frustrated. Then when they finally get a hit, you just cross your fingers that they will run the right way and make it to first base (and not third base). And then when they are out on the field, when someone on the other team hits a ball, the entire team runs after it! After a couple of innings, they lose interest a little bit and start picking grass, watching their shadow, or socializing with the other team. Well, okay, not EVERYone... there area few little kids who really seem to just be naturals... either that, or they have older brothers and sisters who play that they have learned a thing or two from. Either way, it is entertaining. I thnk the majority of the time I'm either laughing, or calling to Hayd telling him "stand up and get ready!" He loves it, though. He always says it's so fun :) That's what matters, right?


Hayden's coach is SO CUTE with these kids. I love watching them before the game... warming up, getting ready, and then gathering around to hear some last minute words from their coach.





I love that they all line up to wait their turn to bat. They do get a little bored and start messing with eachother. Sometimes there is pushing involved, smacking eachother's hats, or just pulling goofy faces.




Seriously, is this not the cutest face? I know, Hayd... superstars don't like paparazzi in their faces!


Batter up!

It was a base hit. This was the last inning, and Hayd had just about had it.

It kinda looks like smack-talk, but seriously... Hayd is just kinda social. I couldn't really hear what he was saying, but I do know it was friendly. He almost didn't see the next batter hit so he could run to second base. We had to yell "Run Hayden!!"

... and he ran! The funniest thing of all, is that they slide into home plate! It's a little bit hard to slide on grass, so sometimes they don't quite make it to the plate and have to get up and walk over to touch it. I couldn't get a pic of him sliding, because his team was kind of in the way, but it was funny.


There are still plenty of games left to see. I'll be posting pictures of the other two kiddos at their games soon :)

Graduation Day

I have no more preschoolers! My sweet Hayds has graduated and is moving on to the Big School! Kindergarten, here we come. It is so hard to believe how fast the time has gone, how fast he has grown up. I keep telling him to stay little, and he says "okay, mom... but only until I turn 5." That's coming up a lot sooner than I would like, and I would love to find a way to make time go just a little bit slower. He has been attending "Let's Learn Preschool." His teacher, Miss Kim, is amazing and has done a fantastic job. Hayden has learned and has grown so much over the last two years. When he first started, he struggled sometimes with "earning his stamp" for the day. Two years later, he has learned to share, to help clean up, to obey all the rules, to play nicely with his friends, to sit still and listen... and of course all the academics like letters, sounds, motor skills. He is definitely ready for Kindergarten... it is his mom who is not quite as ready! :(

Hayds was in HEAVEN this year, since the preschool theme was all about trains. "I think I can..." was their motto, and everything revolved around railroad! So of course, they all wore a cute conductor hat and marched in to "I've Been Working on the Railroad." They were so cute. Of course I chose a seat on the wrong side of the room, so I ended up having to stand behind everyone to try and get some pictures of him singing. They performed their favorite songs, then went back to another room to put on their caps and gowns!

I loved when they all came walking in all decked out in their caps and gowns. They had decorated the tops of their caps. So cute! They each received a diploma, and then we watched a cute video with tons of pictures of all the things they did this year. Kim always does an awesome job with the DVD (which we got a copy of), and of course she always puts the song "Let Them Be Little" on somewhere, and without fail, I bawl like a baby!

What does my kid do with his diploma? Uses it as a telescope of course!

After the ceremony, I made Hayds come outside to snap some pics of him for a few minutes. He looked way too cute!

The best part of the last two years was getting to have his best buddy and cousin, Justice, in his class with him.

Thank you Miss Kim. We love you and it will be hard not sending a preschooler to you next year! But we can't wait for Pirate Camp next week!!!