8

This cute boy turns 8 years old this week. Time is just flying on by. In honor of sweet Hayden and turning 8 here are 8 things about him.

1: He loves to build things out of legos, magnatiles, sticks. Anything. He is really good at it too.
2: He loves to read .
3: Boy loves to eat. He is never ever full. But he's fun to eat with because he likes foods that adults like such as Korean food or sushi.
4: He is a friend to all. 
5: He is the best big brother to his siblings 
6: He loves to play games. He loves to play strategy games like Risk or Chess.
7: He HATES sleep. Like HATES it. He avoids it at all costs.
8: He has an old soul. We often tell him he is a 30 year trapped in a 7 now 8 year old body. 
Happy Birthday Mister Man! Thanks for making me a mommy. It's the best thing ever.

Grace's Birthday

I'm a bit behind on my blogging, and eventually I will get myself caught up, but until then I'll post the most recent of our comings and goings.

Happy Birthday to my now favorite 4 year old! 

We celebrated  this sweet girl all day long yesterday, and had so much fun! We were just sad that daddy was stuck in Indiana yesterday and couldn't be here to join in on all the birthday fun!

We started off by getting up super early in the morning, and going up to pine valley mountain to go fishing with my brother and his son Kyler. We didn't catch anything which was a bummer, but the cool temperature and the views of the mountain and kids playing made up for it. The kids had a great time and were covered in dirt by the end.

The kids napped on the way home, which allowed us to bathe them as soon as we got home. We headed straight to the movie theater afterwards, where We saw secret life of pets. The kids loved it.

That evening my brother and his family came to my parents house to party. We ate pizza, salad, and root beer for dinner. Afterwards we opened presents, and followed up with cake and ice cream.  We ended the night hitting a piñata which the kids loved!!

Grace hit the jack pot when it comes to presents and still has some waiting at home in Indiana for her. She got Disney princess magic clip dolls. Which is basically an easy way to change the outfits of the princesses. She got the talking big book of boo boo's from doc mcstuffins. She also got Legos, a stamp/art set, a memory game, and a little decorate your own magnet set.

This year Grace was a bit wishy washy on the type of cake she wanted. All year long she wanted doc mcstuffins, but then a month ago she said she wanted a frozen cake. She kept going back and forth. Finally, I decided on doc mcstuffins after I found the figurines on clearance 50% off.  It turned out cute, but most importantly Grace Loved it.

I ended up taking a video of Hayden at the piñata because he was using his baseball skills  and really going to town on it. I'll post it later.

Happy birthday my little Gracie girl!!! We sure love you!!! Thanks for choosing to come to our family.

Rosie's 1 year photos

Since Rosie has been so sick (more on that later... It'll be a long post) I wasn't able to get her 1 year photos like I had hoped while we were in Utah (post on that later as well).  

Yesterday I got Rosie all ready for the day and she was just hamming it up for me so I decided to get her photos done like I had been planning. Of course the moment we get to Targer photo studio she freaks out. Ever since she was in he hospital she has had major stranger danger. I don't blame her, but this was the one time I didn't want her to have it.

We did manage to get a few great shots which I am thankful for!

My little Rosie

My dear little Rosie Posie girl,

You have officially been with our family an entire year. It has been a wonderful year.   We love you more than words can say.  You are the happiest little girl. You are truly a ray of sunshine and always know how to make those around you happy. You are always smiling and doing your silly stink faces at daddy and I. You love to cuddle, be held and rocked. I love it too. You love to play with siblings. There are times when you are with me and you fuss and fuss. I can't figure out what is wrong and then I finally realize you just want to play with the big kids. You instantly stop crying the moment I put you with them. It's what you wanted all along. I love how much you love each other. 

We sure love you Rosie and all the wonderful things you have taught me. You have taught me to be patient and how I just can't control everything in my life. You have taught me to love deeper and more unconditionally. I am so grateful for that. I love you baby girl. Happy Birthday.

Love,

Your mama

28

Happy 28th Birthday to this handsome boy. 28 looks good on this boy.  

Our started by me waking up early Friday morning and sneaking out with Hayden and grace to get donuts at the Famous Mary Lou's donut shop in downtown Lafayette. We came home, I made eggs and cut up some fruit and then I piled the donuts onto a plate and stuck candles in it to make a donut cake. It's basically going to be a new tradition at our house. It helps that Mary Lou's is the best donut shop on the entire planet (not exaggerating). 

Anyways we sang to our daddy and had a great breakfast eating together as a family. Ron then sadly had to go to school for the rest of the day. On the plus side it was his last day of classes so I guess you could say a birthday gift 

To him would be finishing year 2 of his PHD. Hallelujah!!!  So while Ron was at school the kids and I had to Run to the store to get a few things, and then spent the rest of our day making a cake and cleaning up house.

Ron came home around 6 and unbeknownst to Ron I had arranged for friends to come for cake and ice cream around 630 for a little surprise birthday shin dig.  It was lots of fun we talked, ate 

Cake and played badminton while the kids ran around and played together. 

After our friends left we put kids to bed, and went to the second portion of our evening Chinese take out (one of our favorite things to do together) and watched Night at the Museum 3 while we gorged ourselves and then cuddled. 

It wasn't even my birthday and I thought it was a fun day, so needless to say Ron thoroughly enjoyed it. 

I'm sure glad that boy was born 28 years ago, and I am even more glad that he chose me to be his wife. Happy birthday babe! I love you!!!!

Grace's Birthday

Grace's Birthday was pretty low key. I really don't see the need to do extravagant parties for a 2 year old. Is this bad? We still had fun and I still went all out for her, I just didn't want to host a big birthday party.

We woke up on her birthday and immedietly went right to the presents. Between Mom and Dad, Grandparents, and missionaries this girl was spoiled rotten!!! I couldn't believe how many gifts she got!! This year we (as in Ron and I and grandparents) gave her a Magnatiles set (invest in them now if you don't have them. They are the only toys really played with at our house) She also received a ton of new puzzles and books. Really the only toys she has any interest in.This year I also took a different approach to decorating her presents. I decided instead of spending money on gift bows, that I would decorate them with really hair bows! A girl can never have enough right? I also didn't feel like I was throwing our money down the drain.

After presents I made her and Hayden's favorite breakfast: Pana-cakes (italian for cream cakes... thinking crepes but thicker and on steroids. yes they are that good!) with strawberries and real fresh whipped cream. I shaped them into a 2 and a 4. They are on cloud nine and gobbled them right up!

That afternoon after naps, the missionaries came over to celebrate with us. They adore both Grace and Hayden, and couldn't pass up the opportunity to garner party it up. We ate cake and Ice cream... which I didn't get a picture of?!!! How on earth did this happen? She requested a Minnie mouse (her favorite) The missionaries were so sweet and brought her a couple of gifts as well. They knew her so well. Elder Nyman and Elder Rowe bought her a Disney puzzle pack: Including a Tinkerbell puzzle, Minnie mouse puzzle, and Disney princesses puzzle. She was on cloud nine to see all of her favorite characters in one gift. Sister Place and Sister Munoz got her a stuffed badger. We all about died on that one, cause that is what they called her. We partied up for a while, and then headed over to a friend's house for a ward party that night.

That evening we roasted hot dogs, smore's and played outside at our friends house. It was so great and such a fun way for grace to celebrate her birthday. She loved it.

Over all I believe Grace's birthday was a success. She tells everyone how she had a Minnie mouse birthday and how she is two. It was so fun, and exactly what my little badger needed. Happy Birthday Little Miss!

2!!

2 years

730 days

17,520 hours

1,051,200 minutes

63,072,000 seconds

That is how long this little miss has graced us with presence. She has made life such a thrill and so fun. We can't imagine what life would be like with out our little firecracker baby. She is a pure joy to have around. We love our little Gracie baby.

A little bit about her from mommy's perspective.

She is total mommy's girl.  She loves daddy for playing but everything else she comes to me.

She loves stuffed animals

She is a wicked genius at puzzles. Not kidding she can put 35 piece puzzle together by herself with out even thinking about it.

She is a definite homebody. She just loves to be home.

She loves to sing and play the piano

She holds a mean grudge. Seriously don't make the girl mad if you want her to keep talking to you for the rest of the week.

She loves nursery

She has already kissed a boy and has her first crush. It's funny!

She is a daredevil!!! She isn't scared of much, and it scares me!

She has a mind if her own. She is a very determined little girl and hates being told what to do. (We have lots of battles).

I decided to interview her and let her tell you about herself at 2 years old.

How old are you?  Mmmmmm 1........2!

What is your favorite color? Peet (pink)

What is your favorite food? Dwapes (grapes)

What is your favorite movie? Mmmmmm.... Rio

What is Favorite thing to do? My Mama

What is your Favorite thing to play: toys

What is your Favorite toy?  Peet (pink)

Grace what is your favorite to to play with. Pussles!!! (Puzzles)

Favorite movie character ? Tastle

Where do you sleep? I sleep in a twib (crib) (we actually just switched to a big girl bed)

What do you want to be when you grow up? Mmmmmm Haynen! (Hayden)

What is your favorite animal? Mmmmmm.... Titties and doggies!!! I like toshta!!!!  (Kitties and doggies, I like koshka!!!! ) (who is our cat btw)

Happy Birthday Gracie Girl!!!!! This mana lives you with all her heart!!

Out West Part 2 - Hayden's Birthday

Terrible....Terrible Mom. I took Hardly any pictures on my boy's Special day. Again it was one of those days where we were having to much fun playing and visiting to stop and pose for a picture. Thankfully My sister who is much better than I (I am so grateful too) Took some great pictures of Hayden's little party we had at the splash pad.

We started the morning off by decorating graves for memorial Day. Hayden loved learning about his family, and decorating the graves with Flowers. After wards my Grandma wanted to take us all out to lunch to say thanks for helping her, and to celebrate little Man turning 4. We went to Breakfast at Tiffany's this little crepery in downtown st.g.  The kids were absolutely starving. Hayden just wanted a root beer and a PB and J on his special day. He was so happy he got what he wished for. The food was amazing!

That evening we met up with a few friends, Both sets of Grandparents, my sister Steph her hubby Chris and my Nephew Luke for a little Birthday Bash at the St. George Splash Pad. The kids had a ball playing in the water and riding on the Carousel. After we wore them out playing in the Water we ate Cake and Ice Cream! We ended the evening with Dinner at Dairy Queen.

This year Hayden Requested a Jake and the Never land Pirates cake. Mom tried to deliver.  St. George on the other hand made me fail a bit. Cake decorating and heat just don't mix. You end up with quite a mess. It was cute for a while though at least. He loved that he got to keep the toppers to play with. Later on when we got home he took his birthday money and bought "Bucky" Jake's trusty boat to go along with it. He was so excited! Now he tells me he just needs to save his money for "The Jolly Roger" Which is Captain Hook's ship. He is a little obsessed with pirates right now.

I asked Hayden if he had a great birthday, and He told me that it was "THEE BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!" So even though we didn't do crazy partying or take lots of pictures; it just goes to show that the simple things are always the most fun!