Miscellaneous Blog Dump

 I'm so lucky I get to kiss this little face all day.

Hayden is a great big brother, protector and leader.

We've been reading Captain Underpants and as you can see, they like it.

The next three pictures were loaded backwards but I like the expressions on Hayden's face.  He knows he's got a cool dad.

After a while he set up something permanent.  Now the boys try to launch it over the fence.  They've done it a couple times and think it's hilarious.

What a CUTE profile!

This is his absolute favorite chair.  He'll jump for over an hour at a time, and he gets himself swinging pretty good.  It's fun to watch.

Yes.  We still have our Christmas tree, in it's stand.

Easter Twenty Twelve

I'm not sure if my boys believe in the Easter Bunny or not.  They must not.  Or, maybe they think he's a cheapskate.  He didn't come to our house.  It's true.  I didn't fill baskets this year.  We got them a group gift, originally a basketball hoop, despite our hatred for the sport.  I wasn't too bummed when it turned out to be feces.  We took it back and got a croquet set.  It's fun and better than candy and junk toys!

Anyway, we spent Easter with Grandpa and all had a great day.  The pics...

 These are the faces I get lately when I say "Smile!"  I love it.

The End.

Saint Patrick's Day

I'm new to the idea of leprechaun pranks so my first year of tricks was sort of lame.  BUT, the boys believed every bit of it and thought it was hilarious.  Bottom line, lame equals cool around here.

 I'm such a good mom for boys (good thing), hence the underwear on the chandelier. It was their favorite.

 It took them a while to find the bananas.  Listening to their ideas of how on earth the leprechauns got up that high was fantastic.

 My personal favorite, still cracking me up months later, was the good old rubber-band around the sink sprayer.  I knew I'd forget about it and sure enough, I did.  I flipped it on, all the way, while walking by to get Bastian's food, so although I forgot, it still got my intended, unsuspecting target!  It. Was. Hilarious.

Good for nothin leprechauns! 

Fat Princess

I can't believe he's seven!  Hayden is a great boy whom I'm proud to brag about for the next few minutes.  Words cannot express our love and admiration for this boy, or his brothers for that matter.  Hayden has a strong spirit and a lot of faith.  He will make one heck of a missionary, all too soon.  While talking about "real" school, as we call it, meaning public school, he asked me lots of questions about what you do there, what it's like and so on.  During the conversation I brought up that there are good kids and bad kids there, but that he doesn't have to be friends with the bad ones.  He then gave me several solutions for changing the bad kids into good ones.  "Well, why don't I just teach them the gospel so they can be happy?" and "Well, I can share my lunch with them so they'll be nice".  He is kind, wise beyond his 7yrs, and will be a strong force for good in his life.  He adores his brothers and cares for his family and friends, praying for them by name every day.  He's a leader and a helper.  He's incredibly funny, talented and bright.  He, like his father, has been blessed with great artistic abilities and never ceases to amaze me with his creativity and attention to detail!  Being a parent is a privilege and we are overwhelmed with gratitude each day as we get to spend our time with him, and his sweet brothers.  Hayden we all love you so much!

 He looks so grown up in his new coat "just like daddy's". 

 We shuffle a lot around here Heidi.

 Fat Princess

Hayden has had a lot of cool parties but this theme was my favorite.  Based off a video game, Fat Princess is very much like capture the flag.  The princess is the flag and the fatter you get her, by feeding her cake, the harder she is to capture.  We had three mini-games first and then combined them for a big one at the end.  We had workers gathering cake and feeding the princesses, warriors defending their castles, and rangers trying to break through the castle walls with giant sling shots.  We had a great turn out with 28 kids showing up and though a tad crazy, we had a blast!!

Our friends and festivities, not exactly in order, are below.

 

Happy Birthday Hayden!