Four

 Hayden Baby turns FOUR today!  This past year you:

Started preschool

Endlessly tormented your brother

Eventually grew out of tormenting your brother

Moved on to learning Abbey's hot buttons

Started an obsession with baking

Learned how to write your name

Talked about your birthday at least 3-4 times a week

Went into Sunbeams at church (but sit with Abbey's class every Sunday)

Learned to duck your head under water and swim a few feet

On Thursdays we drive to Abbey's school to help out in the afternoons.  Her classmates love you and you just soak it in.  I can tell in your face how special it makes you feel.  

Your memory surprises me sometimes and you'll say the funniest things.  The other night, Abbey asked what we should do if there is an earthquake.  You said, most seriously, 'Don't Move.  Stay Calm.'  Oh, you crack me up.  You just ran in, shook Bennett's shoulders, then said, "I wish I was a door frame."  What?!  I assume this is a leftover thought from our earthquake conversation a few nights ago.

 

This year rocked you a bit with the arrival of the new dude.  I didn't know how to make it better for you, but you finally accepted it a few months ago :)  Now you insist on sitting next to him in the car and holding his hand for the ride. I'm so glad you warmed up to him.

You are such a rock star. You are getting so good at negotiating, problem solving, and compromise.  You explain your feelings so well and usually listen to what someone else wants.  Yesterday in the car, you and Abbey got in an argument about where you would sit when we go to her school today.  (School will be out for the summer before Abbey's birthday, so she convinced her teacher to let us bring treats on your birthday instead :) )  Anyway, she wants you to sit by her the whole time and you want to sit by another little girl in class.  It took about ten minutes, but I let you guys argue it out and just stepped in to referee when it got heated, and eventually the two of you figured it out on your own.  You did great at explaining that you don't get to see these kids every day, so it is fun to sit with them when we go.  You came up with some plan that Abbey was happy with (amazingly--that girl was not budging!) then let her play with the new birthday present you had just received.  I was so proud of you!

You make us so happy, sweetheart.  I was looking over your quotes this year and these were some of my favorite:

 It's late but you took a nap today so we are letting you hang out while we get the house clean for the night.  You were chattering away and I said, "You have the cutest voice I've ever heard, where did you get such a cute voice?" and you said, "I don't know!  I have cute everything!" (Feb.2012)

You are sitting on my lap, acting a bit clingy and whiny.  I said, "Seems like you could use a nap, don't you think?"   You said, "Why would you say that to a woman who just doesn't know what to do?!" (Feb.2012)

I just finished snuggling you and Abbey and Abbey said, "I'm going to dream about my boyfriend!"  Then you, just as excitedly, said, "I'm going to dream about princesses and butterflies!!"  Love it.  Keep dreaming about that, no boyfriends! (Oct.2011)

Saturday Is Just Right

 Saturday seems even more great after this lame night.  Maybe it is that Justin is back on call and I'm on my own.  Maybe it is because Hayden was mad we decided to play 'Memory', went to slam the door, and didn't realize Bennett's head was halfway through.  But now all the babes are sleeping and I'm getting some photoshop rejuvenation.

Anywho.  Saturday.  It ended up being one of those days where we had nothing on the schedule, but we headed out early and didn't come back until the kids were ready to crash right into bed.  Love those days!  J played some baseball, so happy dad.  The girls ended the night with ice cream, so happy children, of course.  I was feeling like I wanted to do a photoshoot with the kids, so happy mom.  One of them was not having it, can you guess which one?

 So, whatevs.  When we got back in the car, I said, "One nice thing about having three kids is that at least one of them is up for taking pictures if the others are being pills."  And surprise!  It was Hayden today--the one who typically has no interest.  I was happy about that.  And her new boots I picked up at the second-hand store--those also make me happy.

After a few stops, we wandered over to the fairy woods to build some houses:

 

 

As we were leaving, I was able to grab the two of them for a minute.  I stared at this picture for so long and got choked up seeing Abbey's protective arm and Hayden gently starting to hold her other hand.  Love these two, love that they are sisters.  I hope they figure out early how lucky they are to have each other.

 

 

The dude was crashed in the stroller but was looking rather handsome that morning, I think.

Smells Like Cabbage (6.25.11)

Time to backtrack.  Like, a year's worth!

I found myself with time on my hands this week.  Like, three times!  

It's been such a treat to have a little free time after the last busy...year.  I've been printing books with old blog posts and am loving how they turn out.  So don't want to miss out on 2011!  On to catching up...

.

 

A new couple moved into our ward last summer and I would invite Chelsey along with us for the day if she was off work.  My girls adore her.  She took them for an afternoon after Bennett was born and Justin broke his ankle; hearts were won with a huge collection of nail polish!  She and her husband like to drive to Detroit to wander and explore.  We.  Don't.  She was surprised we only went there for Tiger's games, so we wandered with them one night to a carnival.

I love the next two photos.  Can you picture these two in about eleven years?  Cruising around together, Abbey focusing more on waving 'hi' than actually driving, Hayden happily lost in her own thoughts.  Scary :)

 

Not much more to say--just a fun summer night.

Wanderlust

Justin had a week off which means we have to get out of town!  He will go crazy.  So off to Chicago.

 

Cousin Jen lives in an adorable suburb of the city and I'm so glad we had the chance to spend a few days with her.  I love that girl.  She had the perfect insight and perspective on some struggles I've been wrestling with and was willing to stay up half the night discussing it :)

 We hit up a Jelly Belly factory.  Bonus: you can sample every single flavor.  Double bonus: even the Harry Potter gross flavors.  Abbey wouldn't go for it, but Hayden was up for a try:

 

Lately, Hayden is really into 'surprising' me with tasks she should do anyway (getting her shoes, coat, pj's on...)  It's awesome, actually.  She wanted to surprise me by brushing her teeth by herself and built a towel tower to reach the sink.  Love it.

Our day in the city was a bit of a bust.  Hayden got...car sick...two minutes before we parked.  She has the uncanny ability to hold it together until we pull up to our destination.  My main objectives for a Chicago trip would be to sit in on a taping of Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me and a visit to the Aquarium.  I knew the taping wasn't going to work out this trip so my excitement aimed at checking out those beluga whales and jelly fish and it. was. packed.  Chicago Public School spring break.  Great.  Two lines stretched halfway to the next museum and after 90 minutes and about 10 yards of line advancement, we cut our losses and hit up the American Girl store.  Big hit with the girls, of course. 

 

(abbey picking out doll shoes)

I'm not sure where I land on the American Doll thing.  I simultaneously felt annoyed at moms giving in to spoiled girls throwing tantrums because they couldn't get two $30 outfits, disappointed that Abbey noticed immediately that these dolls have better hair than hers, and totally enchanted with the sweetness and little details (you can buy your doll a violin and/or grand piano?  come on!)

Then it was off to shop for some church clothes for the boy, deep dish pizza for Justin, playgrounds off the Magnificent Mile for the girls..it turned into a nice day. 

Although it is exhausting to travel with kids, I'm glad Justin has the need to roam.

A Year of Bennett

I printed these out this week and we laughed that it doesn't look like he's changed that much.
(saw this idea on Emily's blog--Happy Birthday to Ms. Lucy, too!)

Happy Birthday, sweet boy. We are all CRAZY about you!

My Spring Chickens

Happy Easter!