Mr. Hayes

I feel like my little Hayes man takes a back burner when it comes to the blog.  There is so much busy-ness around here that needs documented that I tend to forget to write about this guy.  Hayes is pure joy I tell ya.  Seriously he is so much fun and is definitely the center of attention at home 100% of the time.  

Hayes is 11 months old and it sickens me to think that he will soon be a year and a baby no more.  He is crawling all over the place and into plenty of mischief.  He has started having an "opinion" about things.  He will squawk at the kids if they are bugging him and will spit or throw food if he doesn't think he wants it.  He demands his fair share of turns on the four wheeler and motorbike and officially  has four grandparents wrapped around those chubby fingers of his.  

Just yesterday Hayes said his first word aside from "mama" which to my delight is heard frequently.  Hayes told the dog Spice to "get", or dit as he said it! Every day when we get back from taking the kids to school I say "get" to Spice just before closing the garage door.  Hayes piped up with that before I could even say it.  Hagen and I had a great time making him say it over and over all day.  

Hayes is just cutting his seventh tooth and it doesn't seem to bother him too much.  He now pulls himself up to things and is standing in his crib when I hear him holler for me.  At a hefty 22 pounds this little guy is bursting out of his infant seat, but I am having a hard time moving him to an upright car seat.  This is something I looked forward to with the other kids but it is just one more step to solidify the fact that I will never have a baby again.  Why is it again that pregnancy goes on for ages and then a baby's first year whizzes by at a crazy speed?

Still sleeping and eating like a champ, cruising around, making messes and flashing that toothy grin everywhere he goes, this boy has our hearts.  We are all five completely smitten!

Back to School, Back to School

I didn't have to sing the Billy Madison "Back to School" song to my kids this year.  Hagen took care of that, much to my delight! He knew all the words and the other two joined in! Success right there my friends! 

For not being at all excited the day before, Cole jumped right out of bed and got dressed and ready.  He looked so big and handsome as he headed off to 2nd grade!

Kallie, who was super excited got ready and got her lunch packed super quick. But after spending too much time on her hair and an episode with a missing earring she was flustered and near tears.  I'm afraid the years of hormonal mood swings are upon us! Heaven help me!

Kallie faked a smile for her pictures and then we were off.

In the car the kids told me that they were plenty big and didn't need me to walk them into their classes this year.  How rude! But honestly I would rather that than have them clingy and fearful.  They were ready to take on the world!

Not so Grand Finale

Cole was NOT excited about school starting at all.  He was moping around depressed about it all the day the last day of summer.  Weston had been gone all week for work and the weather hadn't been the best for our usual Rigby Lake trip.  We finally decided that a quick ride out to the dunes would have to suffice as our Grand Finale.  

Jaylynn and Jalyssa came with us and lucky for all, Hayes was sound asleep by the time we got out there.  The kids had a blast playing on the dunes for about thirty minutes before we had to head in and get ready for bed.  

My favorite part was this; Cole took his shirt off, tied it into a bag and filled it with sand.  It was HEAVY! He trudged up and down the hill a few times "working on his muscles"! LOVE that kid!

Bad Influences

As much as I adore my neighbors, especially Preston, he may not be the best influence;) But he sure knows how to have a good time.  The kids spent the good part of a morning sliding down the stairs on a plastic lid.  They built jumps and made improvements for better speed.  It looked so fun that I had to give it a try and didn't know they took a picture of me until I downloaded my pix on the computer. Lots of fun and only a little rug burn!

Cole's Birthday

Cole turned 7 and insisted on a party of sorts.  We spent the day at Rexburg Rapids where we froze to death.  When I say we I mean me.  The kids didn't seem to mind that it wasn't warm at all!  With Kallie's help, Cole found this idea for a Robot cake on pinterest.  It seemed easy enough so we whipped it up.  Kallie and cole like to decorate their own cakes now and that is fine.  I just walk away and let them do it.  I have to force myself not to be too controlling;) They had a blast decorating the cake and after eating a spaghetti dinner (Cole's fav) we had some cake and ice cream.  Cole got  a new little saddle and a sling shot.  He was thrilled with both and very happy to be 7!

Cramming

School has now started but with the rainy weather we had all through August, on the nice days it was seriously cramming the fun in for us! The kids love to float the canal and have done so for a few years.  The Forbush's decided to make a nice little dock where the kids get out and it makes it all the funner.  There is never a dull moment in this little neighborhood of ours!

This particular day we ended up with quite the herd of kids.  They had a blast playing in the water and riding in the back of the pickup to start their float over.  

Such a great group of kids! I am so grateful that we are surrounded by wonderful families and kids.  

Cole also happened to lose his second tooth this day.  It had been hanging by a thread for days, but he wouldn't let me yank it out.  I was pretty glad to have it gone!

A Few August Things

For the last few years Weston and his brother Coy have entered in the horseshoe tournament at the county fair.  They take this event very seriously and have done quite well in the past.  This year they made the mistake of practicing the week before the tournament.  This is apparently one of those sports you shouldn't practice! They got put out fairly early in the tournament and were disappointed to not be taking home the trophy this year! They still had a lot of fun though, more than they probably should have!

I posted a few pix of the zip line my brother made for the kids, but I loved these of Hagen from my camera.  He is one brave little boy and might just be my adrenaline junkie! The faster, higher, wilder the better to him! Just look at that grin!

We had a girls lunch with my niece Mataia before she headed off to college.  She was pretty excited and very ready to move on to the next phase of life.  It makes me feel so old to see her heading off to college.  She was five years old when Weston and I started dating!