Hayden I love you too

Hayden loves to leave us "presents". He draws pictures and leaves them all over for us. He usually tapes them to the front door for Shawn to get when he comes home from work. Or he will leave them on the stove so I will get it when I go to cook a meal. The other night when I went to get in to bed, I found these presents.

(Elf anyone?) His spelling gets better and better each day. I love being Hayden's mother and I know that Shawn loves being his father. We are so blessed with our wonderful children. While it isn't always easy, I wouldn't have my life be any other way.

Playtime

The Graham kids were at our house several times this week. My children have so much fun with them. Here are a couple of pictures I caught of them playing:


Star Wars is a huge part of my house. Here is Jay (Darth Vader) and Hayden (Anakin)- they are the same person just at different stages in his life.

Hadley cannot be left out. She decided that she was Padme. (look behind the chair and you can see where Hadley peeled the paint in our front room. She is so my child I love to peel too. I just wish it wasn't something that I have to fix now)

Hallie and Kaitlyn are still deciding that they like each other but they want to do whatever the other is doing. Here they playing on the piano bench.

I somehow erased the pictures of Sarah and Hadley dressed up as princesses, so I'll have to get some more to post later.

Fall fun

I took the kids to the park the other day and we had a blast. I love making these memories with them. I remember how much I loved to swing at Ross Park when I was small. Hallie may have me beat. She was in that swing for probably 30 minutes when I finally had to pry her out of it. Hayden was such a good sport he pushed his baby sister as long as his 6 yr old attention span allowed. Hadley had fun playing on the bar where the old teeter toter's (sp?) were. Hadley can make a toy out of anything.

All time caller!

I am amazed that it is already October. September is always a busy month for me. It is Shawn's hunting month. He takes almost the entire month of work to pursue this passion. This year I lucked out. The very first day that he left he harvested. Yes that's hunting lingo for made his kill. Much to my suprise he sent me a text that very night that he was now all time caller. I should, after 10 years, have known what that meant but had to ask. Here is a picture of the poor elk that crossed his path.

Shawn still went up several times with his brother but it was not a 2 week abscense as it usally is. Thanks to Heather who is always there to help fill in the gaps so that I didn't have to stress about a sitter while in school, clinicals etc.

Eastern Idaho Fair

Living in Blackfoot makes the Eastern Idaho Fair a big deal. More people, more cars, and if you work in law enforcement- more trouble. Now fair week is over. It wasn't so bad this year. I can say that because I didn't have to work it!! We went to the parade last Saturday and sat with Shane & Nicole. We rode the rides on Wednesday- actually Shawn, Hayden and Hadley rode the rides. Hallie and I watched. Hadley is only 46 inches tall-just a couple of inches too short to ride most of them. Hayden on the other hand hits 48 inches and only missed out on a couple.

Hadley measuring herself for the slide.

Climbing

Hayden Won!!

Hallie was so good, she sat in her stroller and watched the kids ride the rides. Here she is at lunch. She is such a happy little girl.

Here is Shawn riding the tilt-a-whirl with Hayden, Hadley and their cousin Carter who we caught up with at the fair.

Here is a crazy ride that both of the kids were able to go on. Hadley went as many times as she could.

Here are the kids, they are in the background. You wouldn't believe how had it is to get a good picture while these rides are going at mach speed with my fragile little ones holding on for dear life.

We went back on Saturday to eat one last time and to let the kids look at the animals. Of course, I forgot the camera this time so had to take pictures with my craptastic cell phone camera. Here are some blurry pictures of the kids with the animals at the petting zoo. Hallie did not like them up close and personal, not one bit. Hadley and Hayden on the other hand LOVED them.

Mighty, mighty preschooler

Hadley started preschool this week. She loved it. She only goes on Tuesdays and Thursdays which happen to be the same days that I go to school. Shawn got her ready for school (yes, even her hair) and I'm so glad that he even remembered to take her pictures. True to Hadley style she made some pretty great poses: