Maybe a little Impulsive

 I have been wanting a change for quite some time now, the change I really wanted was to drop 20 pounds but since my will power is a little lacking I settled for a much easier change. Or is it easier? After a lifetime of long locks I let my hairdressers "assistant", talk me into a major butch. She had recently chopped her hair and was gushing over how much she loved it, how it only took a few minutes to dry and style and how I too would love shorter hair. After an hour, literally, she had me convinced.  Now I realize this tacky self portrait does not reveal the true state of this cut, it does give you an idea.  I actually really like the front of it, the back however is a whole different story.  As far as easy, not so much! I did have it dried within a couple minutes compared to my old 20-25, but the actual straightening and styling is going to take some practice! Weston is out of town and has yet to see me, and I am a little nervous since my brother-in-law told me that I "instantly lost my "hot" factor". (I take it that must mean I used to at least have a hot factor in his book) Compliment? not so much, but I will take it! Kallie also had a "nice" comment for me saying "it's a good thing your hair grows fast"! Oh well, it is just hair right? Nine inches will only take a year or two to grow back! As for me, one day into it, I think I probably look better with long hair but the change does feel good. Even if it was the easy change!

Hagey Paygs Turns One

 Hagen had his first birthday. I am usually so excited about the kids birthdays, it is so fun to see them get excited and to anticipate the next phase of their life.  For the first time I didn't experience any of those good feelings. In fact a dark knot began to develop in the pit of my stomach as the big day neared.  I don't know if it is the fact that chances are I will only get to experience a baby's first year one more time, if that. Or if it is that Hagen being the third child, now I KNOW just how fast time goes by. I can't stomach the thought of him heading off to school. I don't need to be excited about the next phase, I know what it is.  I want him just the way he is (maybe minus the sleepless nights) for awhile longer. I haven't got enough of him being a baby just yet. Enough of my sob story, onto the big event!

 We had the grandparents over for Chiz's and cake and ice cream. Have I ever mentioned how awesome it is that Weston and I's parents are good friends and have been for years? It sure makes get together's fun and stress free! Hagen was getting tired by the time smash cake time came around. He wasn't nearly as excited as the big kids, but he didn't disappoint!

 He was having a blast playing in is cake, until he whacked himself in the forehead with that butter knife that he insisted on holding. Then the tears came and it was game over!

 After a quick bath in the sink and a cracker for some added happiness, it was time for a  few presents! (This is the little head tilt thing he does because of his vision impairment.  He does this when he is really studying something. It is pretty darn cute!)

 Hagen was overjoyed by the little ride-on toy from G&G Crapo and I was overjoyed by the giant box of diapers from G&G Angell! The kids got Hagen some new bath toys and told me a was a bad mom for scheduling a photo shoot for Hagen's gift! (Seriously people you can only get away with that on the first birthday and I was taking advantage of that)

I had to snap a shot with each set of Grandparents, and yes I realize my pictures could use a little red eye editing. I may get around to that a little later:)

Nanny McPhee and the New Baby

 This is my daughter Nanny McPhee.  She had this stellar tooth dangling by a thread for over a week. She refused to pull it out for fear we would laugh! (which we did, cuz it was just so darn adorable!) She had this great trick she could do with her tooth, but poking it out of her closed lips she really mirrored Nanny McPhee to a T! (And look at that I can rhyme!)

 My sister Chelsey gave birth to this GORGEOUS baby girl named Raegan. We cannot get enough.  My older sister Misti also had a beautiful baby girl they named Bentley.  We, mostly me, smother these two babes! I am truthfully a bit jealous.  The girls a sweet, tiny, quiet and immobile:) They cuddle and smell divine. Now don't get me wrong, I adore my now one year old but there is just something about a newborn that tugs at my heartstrings.  While I chase (literally people) a toddler, my sisters are enjoying the sweet calm a newborn brings.  On the bright side, one year from now they will have the out of control one year olds and hopefully I will be nestling into an easy routine with a two-year old! (That is assuming Mr. Hagen will follow the two older kids behavior patterns:)

An Un-Ferdette-able Weekend!

 Mr. Hagen Man had his eye appointment in SLC one weekend in January.  We were excited to take him down and learn more about his eyes.  We were even more excited when we scored some sweet, Jazz vs. Jimmer tickets for that same weekend.  We left early Friday morning and headed to SLC, with just one "quick" stop in Malad to purchase a few bulls. (It is never a trip to the big city with Weston unless we have a KSL, or ranching purchase to look at) Hagen was so good in the car, he slept almost the whole time. We put him in a forward facing carseat for the first time thinking that maybe he would like to watch a movie while he was awake.  He didn't so much like it, I honestly don't think he can see the picture very well. 

His appointment went well, the Dr. told us he is textbook Ocular Albinism.  We have been excited because we really think he sees pretty well, which he actually does.  His condition is not degenerative, however when babies are small their brains grow and change so rapidly that it is difficult to tell what his vision will be.  Even though he sees pretty well now, that may not be the case in 4-5 years.  Even so, we are confident that he will survive just fine:) We really didn't learn anything new, but were instructed to bring him back in six months.  He will be seen in SLC every six months and in Rexburg every six months, so he gets a pretty thorough check quarterly.  This will be the case until he goes to school and then we will see from there. 

 After Hagen's appointment, we had some more KSL purchases to make:) and then we got some take out and went to our hotel.  I was excited about having a really nice sit down dinner but by that point the wild animal portion of my 12 month old had risen to the surface and I realized that that was out of the question.  I mean honestly what restaurant allows unleashed baby racoons in? As cute as our boy is, he is just not public broke yet!

 Saturday, after a morning of fruitless shopping (I really need church clothes, where do you people get them?) we picked up these two love birds and toted them along to do a little more shopping, dinner and then the game.  They were lots f fun to hang out with and provided us with a lot of laughs. We were pretty early to the game and by the time is started Hagen was tired and had had enough.  I was shocked when fell asleep in my arms, but some CRAZY Jimmer fans behind us woke him up with their hooping and hollering every time Jimmer touched the ball.  Lucky enough he fell back asleep in between each time! All in all it was a great weekend except the part where we drove home in the middle of the night!

My Boys

These two boys are truly a joy to my life.  We have so much fun together during the day while Kallie is at school (not that we don't love her, we do) but I think this time with the boys is special.  Cole is so imaginative and fun these days.  He is smart as a whip and very creative.  He really likes to watch T.V. so I have to monitor closely or he sneaks off to the tube.  When he plays though, he really plays.  He created a sled to ride down the stairs recently and his newest invention was a punching bag.  His very favorite thing to play with is string or ropes.  In fact we were at KMart the other day and they had a big spool of nylon string and he wanted it so bad, I told him no but he is now asking for it for his birthday.  Cole sets booby traps all over the house too, string mazes and different traps.  The other day I heard a loud thud and then Hagen screaming.  I ran in the living room and Cole had this huge grin on his face. "My booby trap really worked mom!" Indeed it had, he had cut a hole in the top of a box and then set the cut out piece back in so it looked like it was still attached. Hagen had climbed right up onto the box and fell right through.  Cole felt bad that Hagen was hurt but was so excited that he trap actually worked! 

Goals Improve Grades

 First off I forgot to post about our little darling losing her front tooth! That is a huge deal to a first grader by the way! She really wanted to loose it before Christmas so that she could tell Santa all she wanted for Christmas was her "two front teef". Her wish came true and I maybe shed a silent tear. I have always felt that as soon as kids loose their front teeth they no longer look little. I want Kallie to stay little for just a bit longer:( Kallie's baby teeth are super tiny and really spaced out so when she lost her front tooth it left a huge hole, I am sure her "chicklets" coming in will fill it right up though.

At the first of January Weston went into super charge mode and decided to take charge of his life and ours.  He sat us all down and made us write out yearly, monthly and weekly goals.  He has held us accountable and brings us together for a family council once a week to take note of how we did on our goals for the week. He is super organized and has it all written out.  I secretly mocked a little inside at first thinking "this will last for a week tops". It was truly inspiration on his part as head of our household, I now have to admit.  We have to report to each other so we put more effort into completing our goals. Kallie is the one that I have really seen a big difference in.  At school they take comprehension tests on the books they read, she reads really well but wasn't doing too hot on these test. Her week 1 goal was to get 100% on every test. She was 4/5 for that week, but 31/2 weeks later she is 17/18. I am sure slowing down and taking her time on the tests is key. I have loved the boost of confidence she has gotten from this.

The kids goals have also eased homework and bedtime routines by making goals to not whine and do things the first time they are asked. (they make up their own goals by the way) which brings me to the funny parts. Cole is smart, a little too smart and he doesn't really want to leave his comfort zone.  His goals are hilarious, he makes goals to do the chores he is already assigned. For example he has to feed the dog and the goats every day. He made this his week one goal, and was proud to report that he did his "goal" every day! Nice, he also made the goal to take his scriptures to church every week. Instead of actually carrying them himself he put them in Kallie's case and lets her take his scriptures to church. Seriously that kid??

Goal setting has improved my life as well.  I feel like I am accomplishing more and am being a better person. However my goal a week or so ago was to get all the ironing done.  I had just put the baby down for his nap and Cole was playing in the living room. I sat down on the couch to take a break for a minute and Cole looked up at me and said, "Why are you sitting here? have you done your goal yet? Don't be lazy Mom"! If he wasn't so cute (and right) I would've slapped his hind end.  All in all I would say super charged dad was inspired, we are a much more organized and peaceful family at the moment. I sure hope we can keep the momentum!

January Overview

 Hagen got properly introduced to The Candy Man (aka Uncle Brett) He has been stuffing my kids pockets with candy for nearly 7 years now and they all love him because of it.  It is kind of a joke, and he is mostly trying to irritate me but win the kids as friends too.  One time he handed Cole a giant size Symphony Bar as we were getting in the car to go to a dance recital. It was hot outside and I didn't know Cole had the candy until we got to the recital and he was wearing it.  I was livid and Brett still laughs about it.  Anyway, the other night Hagen was being a bit grumpy and Brett handed him a whole ding dong.  Hagen was in heaven and ate every last crumb of the thing!

 Cole and Creed got to play a few times this month and that was a treat for Cole.  They are frienemies those two are, but they are sure funny.  They decided that they are going to be sheriffs when they grow up. 

 The kids played outside in the sand pit and rode their bikes most of the month as we have had literally NO snow.  (I haven't minded too much but Cole wants to go sledding, I told him I would pull him on the grass behind the four wheeler.) This picture is dated January 3rd, but we really haven't had snow until this week and we now have an inch or so.

 Weston turned 31, we went to dinner and had some cake with his mom and dad. It was rather uneventful until the weekend when him and I left ALL the kids and went to I.F. for dinner and some entertainment at PetCo. Now if you are really bored and don't want to spend money to go to a show or whatever people do for entertainment, just visit the pet store.  I don't know how we ended up there but it was pretty fun!

 The kids surprised me by having 5 cavities between the two of them!! Lucky Me!! They were great though and have since promised to brush better.  Cole was hilarious on the gas. He was waving his arms all around weird and talking really funny.  Then on the way home he said, "Well it really isn't our fault we have so many cavities, all Grandma has to eat at her house is pop and candy." Perfect Grandma can pay the dentist bill!! (She was a little offended though and says she is not buying junk food anymore:( ) I hope she is lying!

 

Hagen is really something special these days! He is one busy boy and it truly makes my heart happy, but gosh it is a lot of work to clean up after him all day.  He is the master of disaster.  He says "mama" and "dada" and waves and claps his hands.  The kids are trying to teach him some sign language but his is a little stubborn. He shakes his head "NO" if he doesn't want to do something.  He is super fast, he can escape and crawl to the top of the stairs in about 3 seconds. He unwinds all the toilet paper in the whole house and plays in the toilet.  He is a mess for sure but we love him lots and enjoy every second we are with his slobbery face and disaterous messes!