Happy Birthday Little Man!

Yesterday was Haydn's birthday. I can't believe my little man is two years old! Like every other parent-child relationship, we've already had our ups and downs. Haydn's a great kid! He loves to make us happy and is usually quick to respond to anything.

We had a little family birthday party yesterday for Haydn. All of his grandparents came along with Aunt Susan, and Uncle Jake. We had homemade pizza (with PLENTY left over) and Neanie's garden salad (with all the vegetables!). Haydn ate his pizza his customary way, with ranch dressing. That boy loves his ranch. He eats it on just about everything: from waffles to pineapple, there is nothing he doesn't like ranch on. He also loved opening presents. What kid doesn't, right? =) His birthday cake was a homemade Boston Cream Pie.

Here's a few pictures!

Looking to Daddy for help to read the card.

Opening presents!Make a Wish birthday Boy!

Insomnia

What do you do in the middle of the night when you can't sleep?

I am literally bored out of my mind. I woke up about an hour ago desperately needing to take some allergy medicine. I have one huge problem with taking allergy medicine... it gives me heart burn/acid reflux. So, when I lay back down the burning starts and then I start coughing and then I can't stop coughing. I don't technically have insomnia, just can't go to sleep for a little while.

AHHH!

Baby Bump

I just wanted to let you all know... There is NO Baby Bump. I've noticed that some eyes have wandered and end on my stomach. There is no baby and probably won't be a baby for some time. As much as we would love to have another baby, it just is not the time for us.

Tis the Season

The Christmas season is meant to be a time when we are giving and share what we have with others. It may be money, service, or just some time. Today I had the opportunity to give a stranger some time and service. I'm so thankful for the opportunity and the strength to go forward with it. I hope everyone has the opportunity to help someone and to take advantage of the opportunity. I hope you can bless someone's life with a "Christmas Story".

Merry Christmas!

Go Fish!

Today we decided to take Haydn to Bass Pro to see some fish. The weather has been too wet and dreary to do anything outdoors and most of the parks have been closed until spring. So, there really is not much to do. Haydn has always loved to watch fish and we have been trying to think of an aquarium around here. I had heard someone say they took their kids to Bass Pro to see the fish and thought we could do the same. I was a little sad when Haydn fell asleep in the car on the way there, but pleasantly surprised when he woke up and was very intrigued by the fish. We walked around the store a little bit and looked at the other animals (stuffed) but Haydn found his way back to the fish. (I might add that being that close to so much water that went over my head made me a little claustrophobic.)

Haydn also has a love for all things Christmas like me! There were a few Christmas trees set up and decorated, and Haydn couldn't bring himself to leave them.

Happy Halloween!

I took Haydn Trick or treating with my parents this evening. We were in the car on our way into the nearest town so we could just walk from door to door and Haydn fell asleep. I took Haydn out of the car and a lady at the house we were parked in front of came running out so excited that her first Trick or Treater was there. Of course she was happy to see such a CUTE trick or treater too! Anyhow, she noticed that he was sleepy and wished him luck in waking up. My dad asked him if he wanted to go knock on some other doors and get some candy. At the mention of candy, Haydn was ready for this game! A couple houses later, Haydn knocked on the door and a man opened the door and Haydn ran on in. He didn't quite understand that you just stand outside and people will bring you candy! We went up and down the street and when we got back to the car to head onto another neighborhood, the first lady came out and wanted to know how Haydn was doing with trick or treating.

We decided to go down the street Adam lived on when we started dating. It was fun to see the changes there and see the people who live in his old house. One of the houses had two teenage girls handing out candy and Haydn was very bashful around them. But for all the other houses, he was very excited and energetic going up to the houses and knocking on the doors. We ended up being out longer that I had planned, but I know he enjoyed it and was so happy to share this Halloween with his Mema and Papa. I think Halloween is his new favorite holiday too!

Some of the funny things Haydn did while out: picking up acorns, picking up sticks, walking through the leaves, jumping in the runoff water and puddles, growling back to Papa, and staring a dog down at it's own home.

I'll post some pictures when I get back home, so be ready!

Latter Day Prophet

I have grown up in my church and have heard numerous 'myths' about it, while Adam has been a member for just over 18 months he is getting to hear some of the ridiculous stories. Hearing that "Mormons are weird" is nothing new to me, but Adam shares some of the stories he hears. Some of them are new to me, but the one that kills me the most is that there is no such thing as a "Latter Day Prophet."

I want to preface this with: I am not trying to convert you, just inform you of what I believe. I personally have prayed to God about doctrine and have received an answer that these things are true. So, if you question what I am about to share, feel free to do what I have done (and literally millions of people have done also) and pray for yourself.

St Matthew 7:7-8 states "7. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."

God has promised to answer these prayers.

I want to explain where these thoughts have come from (as I've been told that I can come from left field sometimes). Sunday in Sacrament Meeting the children ages 3 - 11 did a program and taught our congregation what they have been learning in Primary. They bore testimony and sang songs that Jesus is our Savior and that it is through him that we will return to our Father in Heaven. Not only will we return to Him, but we have the opportunity to go and be with our loved ones, family.

Something I have decided I'm going to do around my home is play music that teaches the stories from the scriptures. The song that started playing as I was folding laundry and Haydn started dancing to was "Follow the Prophet."

"Follow the Prophet" goes through 7 or 8 different prophets throughout history (as viewed by Christians) with the first being Adam (as in Adam and Eve). The song has a catchy tune and has a little information for each prophet mentioned in the song (these are not all the prophets). Anyhow, Noah is mentioned and it made me think about how wicked the world must have been. We think about how bad times are today, and in Noah's time the earth was flooded. EVERYONE drowned except those who believed what Noah told them (not many people I might add). I do believe in a Prophet, someone who communes with God. I want to be on that "ark" when what is going on in this world is so horrible that God has to take action again. It makes me wonder why people think it's weird that I believe in a Prophet. It makes me want to question them and ask them if they would have "Followed the Prophet" had they lived in the times of the prophets in the Bible. I also want to ask, if God is so loving and generous, why would he let us wander aimlessly without any direction? I then want to point out that everyone who belongs to any kind of religious establishment, believes in a 'prophet' of sorts. You may not have someone who communes with God, but you do have a pastor or preacher who went to a seminary or theology college to learn how to be a minister, pastor, preacher. So...what it comes down to...am I really all that weird for believing in a Latter Day Prophet? Well... you are still entitled to your opinion. =)

As always, just some food for thought. Sorry to those who are offended by theological statements.

Such a Gentleman

Last night we had our Home Teachers over. (Home Teachers are young men and older, who hold the priesthood, in our church who are assigned families to go and visit. They bring a spiritual thought to the family and offer assistance if any is required.) We LOVE our Home Teachers. It helps that one has been our friend since before we started going to this ward and the other is the Bishop's son. They're great! Anyhow, as they were leaving and shaking hands to go, Haydn stuck his hand out to shake our good friend Jesse's hand. He went around and shook everybody's hand. It was too cute and made my heart melt. Is this a hint of what he'll be like in about 17 years? =) I'm so thankful we have Home Teachers who set another good example for Haydn. Sure, Adam does his, but Haydn doesn't SEE Adam doing his Home Teaching.

Bye-Bye

Adam's best friend and his family were on their way through town and decided to stop by and stay the night on their trip. It was so wonderful to see these good friends again as we don't get to see them very often. They have two little boys just older and younger than Haydn. Haydn LOVED them. This morning when they left, Haydn cried "MINE!" He was so sad that our friends took their little boy with them because he is Haydn's friend and therefore is "his". Too cute!

Perfectly Miserable

It is a perfectly miserable day. Not so much as miserable as makes one in a poor mood, but miserable weather that makes for a perfect day to be indoors. Maybe I'd have a different opinion if I were out in the wet mess we can only call rain. Calling it rain is not accurate either. We have a number of ways to describe lighter rain: sprinkle, drizzle, shower, spray, etc. But think about what rain describes. I can say it's raining and every person who is not here, has a different idea of the volume of water coming from the sky. People who live in the Pacific Northwest might think that the rain is just a drizzle, something that won't stop a game from being played but can ruin a day. People in Florida might think that it is a torrential downpour that requires one to lock up the windows and prepare for the worst. I assure you it is neither. Raining could mean anything from a gentle, steady rain, a downpour or somewhere in between. The reader gets to decide what that is, unless I specify what it is. What makes today a perfectly miserable day is that it is a downpour. There is no doubt in my mind that it is going to rain the majority of the day. I have no plans of being able to enjoy the outdoors. I also enjoy these kinds of days because they allow me to ponder what is going on in my life and seek the solutions. I love these days because they can be so enchanting in so many ways. When we are all indoors we spend our time together and enjoy each others' company. There are no thoughts of mowing lawns, picking fruits or vegetables from the garden, or raking the fall leaves. Maybe the misery allows someone to become more philosophical.

Today I am thinking about the meaning of words. Obviously from using the word miserable to describe this day that I already enjoy. I've been reading more lately and have enjoyed seeing and reading words for how they were meant to be used instead of how vulgar we use them today. How you can say a word and it means two completely different things amazes me. I was just watching an older movie last night and one of the main characters mentioned that if you knew your language very well, it would open doors for you that are closed to others. That is so true. Not only knowing your language, but being able to pronounce the words properly helps as well.

Babysitting

Last week I had the opportunity to babysit a friend's children while she went out of state to help her sister with a baby. Her husband was still here, but since he was working I was able to do the afternoon motherly things. She has four children and also babysits a little girl who is in kindergarten. My days started off picking the youngest up from pre-school, picking the other girl up from kindergarten and then waiting for the other children to ride the bus home or ride their bikes home (depending on if they are still in elementary or middle school). The day was pleasantly broken up by children coming home from school. I'm not kidding, this was the best babysitting experience EVER. I loved watching these kids. The two younger girls played very well together and even invited Haydn to play with them. The oldest basically took care of herself and then the other two got home not long before the kindergartener was picked up. There was only one boy in the family and he would do whatever chore and homework immediately and then go off and play with his friends. The oldest would help the younger sister with any homework she had. If I can raise my kids to behave as well as those kids do, I will consider myself a very blessed mother. I look forward to having more children and getting to be a parent to older children. Don't get me wrong, I love having my little Haydn, but I do look forward to him having siblings and helping him (and other children) with homework. Aww...if only we can be blessed enough to have more children. If not, I will continue to cherish the one I have!

Roe Is Defeated

I don't believe any mother looks forward to her son (or daughter) being an MMA fighter in training. Haydn started off his MMA career with a defeat. His opponent was "The" Sofa Table. Table has been fighting for a little longer than Roe and his record shows it. He's been in one fight prior to the Table-Roe fight and won! Roe proved to be an amateur in this fight. The fight lasted approximately 20 seconds. Roe's fight was decided after 15 seconds when he tried to climb Table. Table literally fell on top of Roe and smashed his head into the ground. Thankfully for Roe, he will require no stitches and only has a goose egg - black eye to show for the injuries. Roe was down for the count after Table landed on him and the fight was immediately ended.

"The" Sofa Table

Roe after the fight.

Roe shows the face of a champ!

Never Again

Never Again will I try to cut my own hair. I used to cut it all the time. I must have been in high school when I started. My sister and I would cut each others' hair all the time. I started going to a salon to get it cut after I got married. Oh how I got out of practice. We did a budget about a year ago and I was horrified at how much money I was spending on my HAIR! Thankfully my brother's girlfriend cuts hair, for fun, and has been willing to cut my hair since. She always does a superb job too! Anyhow, I hadn't seen her in a while (she's back in school and I don't visit my parents when she's there) and really needed a hair cut. SO....I got the great idea that if Adam could do the one part that is hardest to see, I could do the rest. WRONG! We totally cut it too short and had to have an 'emergency' hair cut. Thankfully my brother's girlfriend doesn't live TOO far away from me. Anyhow, my hair is much shorter than I would have ever asked for (not her fault). Thankfully it grows fast and will be about where I would have wanted it cut by the time our family pictures roll around (in two weeks)! Good thing I did it this weekend instead of next!

The Essence of Autumn

I love what Autumn brings: the cooler weather, the rainy days that make you want to curl up next to a fire and read a book, the change of color in the world outside, the earlier evenings, people wearing sweaters, and the sweet aroma of dinners cooking. There is something enchanting to me about the earlier, darker evenings. I must have always loved it because I get butterflies in my stomach when I’m out and about in the evening during the sun’s last rays of light. I love to see the dreary clouds and people walking briskly with sweaters and coats on. What mesmerizes me the most are the cars and their headlights. I love to see a line of lights, they make me think of two strands of Christmas lights winding perfectly spaced on a Christmas tree. Always two sets of lights though, one of white and the other of red. Every now and again you get the blinking yellow light as a car signals to turn left or right.

Autumn must be working her way into my blood. Tonight I thought a perfect autumn dinner would be appropriate. Thank goodness for food storage because I had everything on hand for this perfect dinner. I made a spiced ham complete with pineapple, mashed potatoes, green beans, and baked apples. One of my favorite memories while dating Adam was that his mom used to light candles for dinner when they had chili. So, I thought I’d bring that tradition on into our family. Our dinner was complete with candle light. I’m always a little nervous making something new, but Adam and I were both very pleased with how dinner turned out. Too bad it’s not about 50 degrees outside! However, we did get to enjoy fresh air.

Officially and Finally

I have officially and finally lost my 'baby' weight. Every last ounce I gained during my pregnancy is finally off. I think it would have taken me less time had I started working harder a whole lot sooner. Sure, there were pounds I gained after I went back to work after Haydn was born, but all those are gone now! Now I have to lose my 'stress' weight from three surgeries and moving. After that weight is gone I will need to work on my 'marriage' and 'college' weight. More exciting than losing the weight is seeing the numbers of inches lost going up and up and clothing sizes going down and down. =) And yes, I do blame my different life events for why I gained weight and I plan on losing them all (not the life events, just the weight)! Now to celebrate...without food!

Innocent Injuries

A couple nights ago I decided I would try to go running with Haydn (in a stroller of course). I've taken a few weeks off due to injuries and illness so now I have to start over to prevent injuries again. I digress... Haydn had been running around in just a diaper and shirt, so I really needed him to get some pants on before we left. He was in a really great mood and was jumping around. I asked him to step into his pants and he came over, put his hands on my shoulders and attempted to hop into his shorts. And that is when it happened. When Haydn jumped up, he smashed the top of his head into the bottom of my chin. I proceeded to bit the entire inside of my mouth until it bled. My tongue got it on both sides and bled. I thought that was the extent of my 'injury' but I learned last night that it was not the case. I have a bruise on one side of my tongue and another one on my the inside of my cheek on the opposite side of my mouth! I know he didn't do it on purpose, but it hurt none the less.

Yet Again...

Adam is in Columbia again helping his brother-in-law. I really do not like those trips. I get very lonely even though I have Haydn here. I feel like a single parent when Adam is on these overnight trips. I start to feel sorry for myself that my husband is gone and that I have to do everything by myself, including taking the trash out. I'm not afraid of cleaning and taking care of my home, or raising Haydn mostly by myself. I know that it is a sacrifice Adam makes for our family. He works a lot of hours and is always willing to help when needed.

To get myself out of the 'poor me' attitude, I think of single mothers. It makes me thankful that I am not a single parent and that I do have Adam to help me the majority of the time. Adam is a great father and a wonderful husband. I have to remind myself that at least he's only gone two nights instead of forever.

Even with those thoughts, I still feel lonely.

Serving Others

The Boy Scouts of America have been sponsored by our church for a very long time. A large portion of the young men in our church also participate in Boy Scouts. This weekend they had a camp out and needed an additional leader just for today. Adam got up bright and early, on his day off, and went to help. Adam is always volunteering to help when he can. He does not have a lot of spare time to do much, but is always willing to help. This is an attribute I love very much of my husband. I'm so thankful for his example and his willingness to always serve others. I'm also very thankful that Haydn has a good example to follow.

Finally...

After three days of being sick, waking up sick in the morning and going to bed sick at night followed by sleepless nights, I am finally on my way to getting better! The last three days have been pretty rough. I have no idea what it was I had, nor do I wish it on anyone. I have not been down this long since I had the flu just a few weeks after Haydn was born. By no means was it as severe, but debilitating none the less.

Haydn was the best through it all! We had our rough moments, but overall he let me relax when I really needed it. (After all, a mother must go on even when she's sick.) One of the evenings while Adam was working, I let Haydn play outside. My head had been pounding so hard, and no relief in sight, that I could not longer stand the sound of his voice ricocheting off the walls any longer. Not that it was bad, but anything sounded 10 times louder than what it probably was. Anyhow, after letting him play outside this is what I found....




Okay, so it's not really what I found. I was a little too slow to getting or thinking about getting the camera to get a picture of Haydn. Just as an image you can think of, he looked like one of those little boys who worked in the coal mines sorting coal. But, this is what his clothes and the bath tub looked like after his bath. He really is 100% boy!

Adam was a trooper too. I think I felt the worst last night. After a very long day at work, Adam came home and made dinner for us all, let me go to bed and took care of Haydn the whole evening! My two guys are the BEST!

I'm still not back to 100%, but at least I can read something and comprehend it as well.

Now, to get the house back in order from my little 'vacation.' Wish me luck!

Life Vest Sleeping

I should have known that he was going to fall asleep any minute by the look on his face in this picture. That squinting look is not flash induced either. (Look how brown his arms and legs are! He definitely does not get that from me!)

Here's that photo I mentioned a few days ago of Haydn in his life vest. He watched the water themed Baby Einstein that day, so maybe he was afraid of a great flood.

Haydn's Too Cute

Today I was dressing Haydn for church and he's not complete until his hair is combed. He has to use "Daddy's comb" for him to be willing to comb his hair, which isn't that bad since it's just a comb. Anyhow, when I comb his hair I have to wet it down with water. It started sticking to his head and looked like what my brother-in-law calls "Poindexter". So I put the comb under the hair that was plastered to his head to lessen the Poindexter look and this is what resulted.

Doesn't he look happy here?

Don't worry, he didn't go to church with his hair like that!

Comedian

Haydn has discovered that if he does something we find funny, we'll laugh. He'll then proceed to do what he thinks we laughed at over and over again. Last weekend we went to visit one of my best friends and her husband. Haydn quickly became the husband's shadow. He warmed up to him because the husband asked for a 'five'. By the end of the weekend, Haydn was giving everyone a 'five' anytime someone asked for it. Again, it's probably because we laughed at it he first time. Anyhow, last night he did something to make us laugh again. I will warn you, it's not as funny describing it as seeing it. Adam asked Haydn for a 'five' again. Haydn just looked at him and then looked at me. So I asked him for a 'five'. Haydn proceeded to look back and forth at Adam's hand to my hand. What was so funny was the jerking movement of his head. He was exaggerating his head movement. We both started laughing and Haydn continued to do it the rest of the evening. He'd be sure to stand where moving his head back and forth could be exaggerated. Funny kid!

Today we are getting together with Adam's mom, step-dad, sister and her family along with a cousin and a few other people. His mom and step-dad are staying the night up here but opted to get a hotel with a pool so the kids could swim. The guys are going to a football game (they do this every year...I hear it's the last time this game is going to be played up here) and the women are staying back with the kids so they can swim.

Haydn LOVES to swim. We told him that he gets to go swimming with Grandma Nene. So yesterday he found his infant life vest and wanted me to put it on him. He waddled around the house for a while in it and once he fell over. The life vest did it's job, he couldn't flip over and be face down! Of course he couldn't get up at all either. When I got him back on his feet, he took me to the door to get to the car. He was whining "Nene...Nene, now....Nene!" Haydn doesn't say his grandparents' names that often so I thought my mother-in-law would love to hear him saying her name. So we called her and I told her about what Haydn had done. The phone call wasn't that long and by the time I hung up, Haydn was asleep in my arms, with his life vest still on! I laid him down so he could take a nap. I guess he's afraid of a big flood or something. =) He only slept for 40 minutes. When he woke up I took the life vest off and his shirt was soaked! Sadly, he didn't go back to sleep until we put him down for the night.

Another sad note, I didn't get to take a picture of him sleeping with the vest on with my camera. My camera died from the time I took pictures of him standing in his life vest to when he fell asleep. However, I did get it on a cell phone and a video. I'll post the pictures I have as soon as I figure out how to get the pictures from the cell phone to the computer.

Chivalry is Not Gone

I go walking about 5 days a week with a good friend of mine. We love to walk outdoors and try to find parks that allow us to walk around them and get some good mileage and also good play equipment for the kids to play on afterwords. When the weather does not cooperate, we go to the mall and walk there. I had taken a week off from walking because of shinsplints and wanted to give them the proper amount of rest they needed to heal. So, today we walked indoors. While the kids were playing I received a call from my mother-in-law saying that she and my sister-in-law and nephew were driving by Lake Saint Louis (very close to us) and wanted to know if we wanted to meet them for lunch. Sure! We don't get to hang out that often and Haydn is awfully shy around them, so we'll make the effort especially since they were here. On our way to meet them, Haydn fell asleep. The poor kid. I ordered my lunch and was waiting for it before I went and sat down. While I was filling up my drink and holding on to a sleeping child, a man walked up to fill his drink and asked if I needed any help. I thought I could do it, but when I went to pick up the tray I almost dropped it. So he carried it to the table where my family was already sitting. Chivalry is not gone! I am surprised every now and again by how kind people really are and was amazed that a stranger was willing to help me when my hands were already full.

Thank you kind sir!

Always be Suspicious when they're Quiet

The other day I was doing a little reading and enjoying the peace and quiet of the day. Haydn was happy and was playing with his bikes and trucks. He likes to drive them all over the house and pick up toys and put them in whatever toy he's playing with. He drives them around to different destinations. More often than not, Haydn finds one of his zillion balls and takes it to a basketball hoop his Grandma Nene got him. He had been 'gone' for a long time and the house was quiet...too quiet! So I went around the house looking for him. He wasn't in his normal places. I started to see if he was hiding or something like that (we sometimes play hide-n-seek when Adam gets home from work). I couldn't find him! I noticed that the bathroom door was closed (Haydn LOVES to close doors, it makes him feel like a big kid. If I'm on the computer, he'll close the door to the computer room and wave as he walks backwards out the room.) I open the door and sure enough...there is Haydn, in a pile of toilet paper! He was standing so innocently in the corner. I wish I had thought to grab the camera before I went in.

A few days later, I was doing something on the computer and Haydn laid on the floor behind me. He was singing and I didn't think anything of it. Then it got quiet...again. I don't really know how long he was quiet, but long enough to express his artistic side...again. This time he colored on his legs! Earlier that morning I was making breakfast and he started coloring on our refrigerator right in front of me! I made a sad pouty face and he tried to wipe it off. I hope he won't do that again, but who knows about the skin.

Haydn has discovered his artistic side. He makes sculptures out of...

toilet paper.

Proud sculptor here.

Haydn was very proud of his masterpiece. (I think he looks a little like Jeremy here.)

Haydn's next medium was...

Flesh.

Every mother needs to have pictures of their child's 'flesh art'. I'm pretty sure my mom has a picture like this of everyone in my family.

Again...the happy artist.

The day Haydn discovered that pens write on flesh was the same day that he discovered you can see orange crayon on a black refrigerator. I talked to my mother-in-law that night and she told me to tell Haydn to put his artwork on paper so Grandma Nene could see it. She's very good at giving ideas like that to help stop potential disasters. I hope it works! Those faces he made make me a little nervous for what's to come next.

Fund raising

I am not a fan of fund raising. I actually look forward to the kids in the neighborhood going back to school so that the evenings are quiet and I don't have to fret that they will wake Haydn. I know...I sound much older than my actual years. I digress...when the kids go back to school, EVERY SCHOOL in the area starts fund raising. I think they don't stagger it because the fund raising in the middle of the year will be pointless and everyone will have already emptied their pocketbooks on the kids who were fortunate enough to do their fund raising at the beginning of the school year. So, we get every kid in the neighborhood stopping by our house asking us to buy something. Sometimes it might actually be worthwhile, but more often than not I do not want to spend the extra dollars on some fancy wrapping paper, over priced food or even magazines "at an all time low price that can't be beat". What stinks even more is that I know that I'll have to help Haydn out with his fund raising when he gets to school age. So word to the wise...CLOSE YOUR GARAGE DOORS! If the garage door is open, they know you're home.

Mimicking Habits, Appendicitis, Meals on Wheels

Haydn is really good at mimicking us lately. Of course he has done this his whole life, but he does it more so and more exactly like us as of late. When we leave the house, I usually take a water bottle with me. I am very particular in the flavor of water (yes, water has a flavor!) Last night I wanted to show Adam a neighborhood and it required us to get into the car. So we were getting our shoes on and Haydn grabbed his water bottle and was ready to go. "Just like your mother" Adam said. At least it's a good habit right? Now, to get him to go potty on the toilet.

Thursday morning we received a call from my brother. Let me restate that...in the middle of the night on the Thursday date side, we received a call from my brother. He was in a lot of pain and was asking me to come pick him up and take him to the hospital. I'm not kidding, the phone rings supersonic loud in the middle of the night and you get an adrenaline so everything seems soap opera-ish dramatic. I tried to keep my cool with my brother and let him know that I'm always here for him. On my way to pick him up, I lose my cool and panic call my parents. If my brother is in enough pain to warrant a call in the middle of the night, my parents probably need to know as well. After going to the ER and being released, we went home and tried to get some rest. Not too much longer later, Jared comes over and rings my door bell. I thought this was a little weird because I KNEW how much pain he was in. I couldn't believe he drove to my house! Anyhow, his doctor called him and told him that he really wanted to see him that day and was concerned about him. To make a long story short, his doc call him in because he thought that Jared's pain was more associated with his appendix than anything else. So, he requested a room at a hospital and called a surgeon to talk to him and see what he thought. He ended up having his appendix taken out and all is well now.

Since Jared is down for the count, I have turned in to his personal Meals on Wheels program. I try to cater to his needs and wants, but it's hard to do so when he doesn't request anything! I had my gall bladder removed a few years ago (almost exactly 4 years) and recently passed a kidney stone. I can sympathize the pain and know the need for help. I'm quickly realizing how many 'sick' dishes we make for people that have noodles or some kind of pasta in them. I'm planning on making hamburgers and meatballs for him in the next couple days. So, if you have any ideas about meals to take to someone who is healing, let me know!

Good Night Kisses

Haydn has been giving kisses for a long time. You just had to be prepared to kiss an open mouth! Adam and I have been really exaggerating how to kiss with your mouth closed ("nobody wants to kiss a cookie" hahaha). So recently Haydn has learned to purse his lips and give kisses this way, which we love! Now he'll even kiss us on the cheek and head. It's really quite cute. Anyhow, Adam is gone again over night working (which I really hate...we really miss him when he's gone). Adam is really good at getting Haydn to go to sleep with little to no fight. I used to be the one who could get Haydn down for bed, but now it is Adam. So, being a defeatist I decided that I'd let Haydn go to bed with me. He laid down on a pillow, pulled the sheet up and over him and curled up like he was going to go to sleep. Excellent! This was going to be the easiest night ever! A little while later I felt Haydn move... and then he was leaning over my head and kissed me on the cheek. He mumbled something which I'm assuming was either "Good night Mommy" or "I love you Mommy". He crawled back to where he was before and nestled in for the night again. A few more minutes and he did the same thing. Only this time he had to kiss me on the lips! Again, he repeats back to getting all situated to go to sleep. He did this a few more times and I finally decided that I was going to have to try to get him to go to sleep in his own bed. As annoying as Haydn was being, I sure did love those Good Night Kisses. I'll cherish them now because I know some day he'll stop giving me kisses.

Worth Repeating

I appologize in advance, this is long, but please read all the way through! Be informed.

My sister wrote this on her blog and I don't know how many people go and check her's out. So, I'm going to post something she wrote a few days ago.

First, a few of my thoughts. I do not agree with the National Healthcare Reform. I think it's more or less a crock! I've heard time and time again about how it will provide health care to the "unemployed and underemployed". This really bugs me and has bugged me for several years. There is already a national "health care" plan in force and has been for many years. You might have heard of it...Medicare/Medicaid? WIC? Food Stamps? Those all provide necessities to those who are "unemployed and underemployed." I first started getting frustrated with these 'national' plans when I worked at a grocery store one summer. There would be people who would come in on food stamps and they would eat better than many people who were not on food stamps. Sometimes you'd find a person who was ashamed to be on the food stamps, but more often than not they were so proud to be on it. The WIC program works like this...the mother and her children are 'interviewed' and checked out. The program has come up with what things those people need in order to grow appropriately and have the appropriate nutrition. The mother is then given vouchers or 'checks' which she has to sign upon using. The vouchers have a list of foods and beverages that are 'acceptable' to this plan. Depending on the age of the children, the vouchers have things from formula, baby cereal, juice, milk, eggs, beans, peanut butter, cheese and regular cereal. When a family is on WIC, the mother (assuming she is pregnant or nursing) and children are also covered on Medicaid. To be on these programs, you have to have a certian level of income or less. The income each family must not exceed is based on the number of people in the family.

There are currently problems with these programs, so why are we going to go and throw another problem into the mix? I firmly believe that a national health care system is not something we need or WANT. Just ask any person over the age of 65 how much they like their medicare. There are so many loop holes and decisions to make with that! Please, if you are reading this...think about the best interest of you, your parents, your children AND your grandchildren. A national health care program for the "unemployed and underemployed" is already in place!

Here's what my sister said:
I know this is a public forum. I know someone is not going to see this the way I do. Scary. Perhaps tomorrow I will wake up with FBI agents on my doorstep...it wouldn't be the first time (although, it would be more threatening this go-round)!
When I first read this, I was shocked, and, to be honest, scared. This might be the single most frightening thing I have heard or read about the health care reform. Seriously, if someone wanted to be intimidating, they accomplished it. If not, well, someone went about this in an incredibly wrong way. And, by the way, I HAVE sent inquiries to Obama's Whitehouse in regards to this issue and have not been answered, not even the cordial "we've received your email but due to the amount of inquiries we've received, it may take awhile before we can get back to you."
What, you ask, am I talking about? The latest briefing on The Whitehouse blog. Now, I can guess that they didn't really want this to come across as being a new twist on McCarthyism, but that is what it did. Tell Big Brother about your friends, family, and neighbors who are anti-HCR so they can investigate and document those involved in the proliferation of these sentiments and alleged evidences hedged against the passage of this bill.
What happened to the First Amendment to the US Constitution? This infringes upon those rights. We are allowed to disagree with bills and proposals. We are allowed to congregate and discuss our pleasure or displeasure with current affairs and ideas. We are allowed to publish (paid or unpaid) our thoughts and feelings. All of these are permissible through the First Amendment of the Constitution. Do not restrict us, or you are disregarding the reason for the establishment of this country in the first place. Things taken out of context happen on both sides. Perhaps there are things that have been misconstrued on one end, but they can be held up legally in court due to interpretation of those same words. Yes, Pres. Obama makes promises (verbal are the only ones advertised) that we can keep our private insurance/private doctor and all, but, assuming this is true, what is the cost? How much MORE does the average John Q. Public have taken from his paycheck to cover the cost of this program? We've already been paying into one that apparently hasn't fulfilled the need. There is more to this issue than a quick full-court press.
Those I have encountered in my life who have insisted upon a "now or never" deal were people who knew that what they were trying to push or sell was not worthwhile in the long run, and, given the chance to research, ponder, and pray about it, I would discover the whited sepulchre it truly was. I can only feel that this is much the same way. Don't force it. If it is all it is cracked up to be (or not to be) it will become apparent in the long run. So, my advice to Pres. Obama and his Whitehouse, relax. Enjoy the "game". Don't pressure sale the public. Don't intimidate. Don't make YOUR public feel as if they are under the Nazi regime unless that is where you want this country to be.
And, if making a statement like this qualifies me to be imprisoned, I hope someone will claim my children while I spend time emulating some heroes of mine.

Grandpa Tacos

My grandfather made the best tacos, hands down. In fact, after my friends tried them once they always asked if they could come over the next time my grandpa made tacos. I am not kidding, they were the most delicious tacos one could make. I was sure there was a secret to making them and I couldn't figure it out. They weren't your ordinary run of the mill ground beef tacos...they were shredded beef tacos. The kind with lettuce, tomatoes, onions and you HAD to have this one type of taco sauce. (No special ordering...you had to have it all, that's what made them so delicious) The flavors worked together like nothing you can imagine! They quickly became a family favorite and we would ask my mom to make them. She made them very similarly to what Grandpa did, but they never were quite the same, something was missing. I decided that there must have been a 'secret' ingredient he used in the process. A few years ago my grandfather passed away and I never did get the chance to ask him what the 'secret' ingredient was. I was also sad that Adam was never going to get to have authentic "Grandpa tacos." I'm sure I could ask my grandmother, but there was something about those tacos that my grandpa made. I decided I'd try my hand at "Grandpa Tacos" this evening for dinner. (I wasn't running tonight, so it was probably the best night to try making them) I was prompted to make the tacos by a couple ingredients my mother gave me...1) the roast (most important) and 2) the special taco sauce. They turned out exactly how I remember Grandpa's tacos. They are still making my mouth water! MMMM so good. I think I figured out the secret ingredient...you cook a roast, you need corn tortillas (the kind you fry yourself), cheese, onions, lettuce, tomatoes, the special sauce...it's very difficult to find around here, so I won't even bother with what kind....and the secret ingredient I'm convinced my grandfather used was... LOVE. He absolutely LOVED to make them for us. Grandpa didn't cook much, and this was one meal he could make from start to finish. I remember him asking me how many tacos I wanted and I always had like 8-12 (I was much skinnier then and could handle eating that many). He always laughed and was so delighted to make those tacos. He would cook until our hearts AND stomachs were content. I must say, tonight I made my tacos with the same kind of love. Adam was very hungry when he got home from work and I wanted him to be completely satisfied with dinner. (Adam did special order his tacos...I'm working on him with his vegetables) I think it was the attitude of making dinner tonight though...I didn't see it as something I had to do, it was something that I was ABLE to do. I hope I can keep this attitude towards meals, and if not all the time at least most the time. We are so blessed to have an abundance of food and the fact that we get to choose what we are going to eat every day instead of wondering IF we get to eat makes cooking seem like a luxury. If there is one thing I am to learn from my grandfather...Love is it. I still feel his love today and know without a doubt that he watches over me. I miss you Grandpa and I love you very much! Thank you for the life lesson.

High Jumper in Training

Two of my younger brothers have done the high jump on the high school track teams. My youngest brother is still in high school and still doing high jump. I've gone and watched him a time or two and it's pretty interesting to see that you can jump over a bar backwards and jump literally over my head! Haydn has gone with me to watch my youngest brother and I didn't think he was watching at all. I also have to let you know that Haydn has loved climbing into our pack-n-play. He can climb in, but can't climb out. I think he can, but haven't witnessed it yet. Anyhow, he was just trying to "high jump" out of it. He had his back arched over the side and was crying because he couldn't get out. Maybe he'll be a high jumper...I think just about anyone who knows him will testify that he will definitely be an athlete. He is very coordinated and can balance. What do you think...a high jumper in training?

Haydn Counts

I've been a bit worried that Haydn doesn't really talk that much. He has a very small vocabulary (compared to other kids his age we hang out with). I know I shouldn't compare him to other children, but it is very difficult. I look at his motor skills and am always amazed at how advanced he is. I'm quickly learning that he does pick up a lot from our environment. Before we let Haydn get into the bath tub or pool, we count to three and then tell him it's okay to get in. We also count to three when we bounce him off his bed, and before he jumps from anything to us. So, I shouldn't have been too surprised when he was sitting at the foot of his bed, feet and hands on the foot board and saying "Un, oo, EE!" and then jumping backwards as if he were diving into the water to do the backstroke (where he learned to do this, I have no idea...we haven't watched any swimming competitions since the 2008 Olympics). He was doing this over and over. I'd say he definitely was doing it for about 20 minutes one afternoon. Adam called that day and was asking for directions. So, I went to the computer to figure out where he was and how to get him to the next destination. While I was talking to Adam, I could hear Haydn in his room counting "Un, oo, EE!" I was a little surprised to see Haydn like this after I hung up the phone.


I was on the phone for maybe 5 minutes, but apparently he was tired! I moved the blanket and he slept for 3 hours. Apparently pretend backstroking is very exhausting...and counting!

Food on the Run

Every Day toy truck-bike

Haydn's "Stash"Haydn Enjoying his "Stash"

Haydn used to be the greatest eater in the world until recently. He would always eat what we put in front of him and would be happy about it. Now, he shakes his head "no" all the time to us and decides he doesn't want to eat anything we give him. So, I quit trying to please him and make him eat what I've prepared. We had some chips with our lunch earlier in the day (again, he didn't eat them) and I found the bag....empty. At this point, I was actually relieved that he ate something. I was starting to get a little worried about him. I decided I wanted the living room to be spotless before we went to bed. So, we picked up the toys, moved his rocking chair and vacuumed. I went to go move his truck bike (above) and found all those chips in the truck! So, I decided to get a picture of it...as I was doing so, he grabbed a handful of chips and shoved them in his mouth right as I went to go snap this picture. I guess he doesn't want to stop and eat, he needs to eat on the run!

Expensive Taste

Adam has always 'accused' me of having expensive taste. What can I say, I like the finer things in life. I picked him didn't I? hahaha I have apparently passed the "expensive taste" gene on to Haydn. We have moved Haydn to a 'real' bed now and we were looking for the railings you can put up so the child doesn't fall out of bed, as it would be a BIG drop. We thought we'd check out Bed Bath and Beyond. So, while we were walking around Haydn and I stopped at the sheets and bedding section. Haydn walked down an isle with his finger on his lip and every now and again he'd tap it. Since Haydn's room is a "Nautical" theme, I'd like to get some navy blue bedding with maybe some red, yellow, and white pin stripes in it. Anyhow, Haydn found some "bedding in a bag" and grabbed it. It would have been PERFECT for his room. I told him to go show it to Adam. So, Haydn immediately turned and started running for his daddy! When he got to Adam, he shoved the bag at him. Adam asked if he wanted it and he kind of made a noise that sounded like "Yea". I think Adam might have purchased it for Haydn if I hadn't warned him to check the price. When I saw the price I just about died laughing. The set was like $140 and we'd still need sheets! I guess we're in for it!

Talking While Asleep

Some of my favorite childhood memories and stories include Liz and I talking or fighting in our sleep. My mother would wake me up in the mornings and I would tell her that I would get up, 30 minutes later I'd still be asleep. This frustrated everyone in my family through the years. Well, it didn't stop there. I continued to have conversations with Adam in my sleep. Apparently Haydn has inherited this amazing skill. The other day I was on my way home from my daily walk and play-date for Haydn. He had fallen asleep on the ride home. I picked him up out of his car seat as a motorcycle drove by. Haydn popped his head up and said "Vrooom", and laid his head down. I was a little disappointed that this motorcycle had awakened Haydn, but much to my surprise, he was still asleep and slept his usual length of time. I started giggling thinking about it.

A couple nights ago, Adam was snoring....really LOUD. I shook him to get him to move so he'd stop. Nothing. I shook him again...NOTHING. This time I really shook him hard and said "ADAM, you're snoring!" He popped his head up and said "That can't be, I wasn't snoring, my eyes weren't asleep." I started laughing at the statement and then he started to get angry...in his sleep. He asked me why I was laughing. I told him that he denied snoring. Again, he said "I wasn't snoring, my eyes were not asleep yet!" I had to roll over and try to control my laughter so he'd quit talking. Too funny.

Since I'm telling stories about everyone else...I have to share one about myself. As of lately, I've been dreaming I was different people. I don't know why, but I'm in different people's bodies and their thoughts are mine. It's weird. Anyhow...last night I had a dream that I was Pam from The Office. (Scary...I know) Anyhow, Jim (Adam) and I were talking and making jokes. They often giggle together on the show. Well, we were laughing and having a good time. I woke myself up laughing...literally laughing out loud! I won't share the jokes because they were actually lame, but I laugh now thinking about laughing in my sleep and then really laughing. It really must have been a good joke!

Pictures of Haydn on Memorial Day

These are some pictures of Haydn on Memorial Day. We went to a picnic for lunch and then we came home and had our own BBQ. Can you tell Haydn loved his hot dog...or is it ketchup?

Haydn's First Day of School?

Does this look like Haydn's first day of school or what? Haydn has this backpack that we use to carry his necessities while we are out and about. He loves this backpack, mostly because he can carry it himself. While we were getting ready for church a couple weeks ago, this is how he looked. He was so excited to have that bag on his back!

Memorial Day

This is probably the first time since Adam and I have known each other,we stayed home. We have always tried to visit everyone during the 'long' weekend. When you go to visit so many people in such a short time, it starts to wear down on you. Now that we have a little one, we opted to stay home and enjoy the time as a family (especially now since Adam is working 2 jobs for the time being). We had the opportunity to go to the lake and spend the weekend there, but we had some responsibilities here with our church which also required us to stay close to home. (One of the things I love so much about our church is that we are taught the principle of Service, one of those ways we are allowed to serve is by cleaning the church building twice a year.) Since cleaning the church only takes an hour or so, we didn't think much of it. However, we had several other things we needed to do that were church related. Before we went to the Temple, we took some Temple Prep classes. There was a follow-up class that we needed to do after going through the Temple. It was very interesting. (Temple work is also another way to provide service.) Adam had also requested to receive his Patriarchal Blessing. (Patriarchal blessings are given to worthy members of the Church by ordained patriarchs. Patriarchal blessings include a declaration of a person's lineage in the house of Israel and contain personal counsel from the Lord. As a person studies his or her patriarchal blessing and follows the counsel it contains, it will provide guidance, comfort, and protection.) It was very exciting to hear his blessing. It's exciting to know that we are promised wonderful things from the Lord as long as we do what is asked of us. Since we are not perfect, it makes the Atonement that much more meaningful. (I could go on and on about the Atonement.) After hearing Adam's blessing, I am excited to go through this life and the next with him. I know it will be bumpy as all lives are, but it will DEFINITELY be worth it.

Since we were home, we also decided to join our ward in the Memorial Day Picnic. (our church is divided up in branches and wards. Branches are the equivalent of wards, just smaller and the president of branches does not have all the authority a bishop does over a ward. A bishop is the president over a ward. The groups are decided by physical boundaries. A branch has fewer members who attend church on a regular basis. Once the branch reaches a certain number on a regular basis, it is then called a ward and the president is then ordained a bishop and given the authority of other bishops. Several branches and wards belong to a Stake. A stake also has a presidency and presides over all the wards and branches.) Anyhow, it was very fun to spend time with our Church Family and enjoy in the festivities the ward had planned. It was a great social event and I was very surprised to see how many people showed up on a day predicted to be stormy. The rain did come, but we were able to get the games in before it came.

Good people + good food + good conversations = a fun day!

Backyard Shenanigans

Adam was able to spend some time at home with us before he went into the office this afternoon. Since the weather is so beautiful, we decided to fill Haydn's wading pool. We set it up on the deck so we didn't have to move too much stuff around and wouldn't kill the grass. Anyhow, we're hanging out and Haydn's having a ton of fun. Our next door neighbors had a run of the mill teenage daughter and mother spat. Haydn stood up in his pool facing their yard and started yelling...JUST LIKE THEM! It was too funny. We both started laughing. I wonder what it was he was telling them.

A few weeks ago we gave Haydn a plastic golf club set. He's really enjoyed them. The only problem with them is that the heads of the clubs have fallen off. Haydn developed a new game with them. He takes his bag of giant legos and stabs them with the stick portion of the club and flings them down the steps. He's really enjoyed this game as all the legos are on the steps.

Sleeping

We've been having a tough time with Haydn going to bed. He would like to quit taking naps, and I'm not quite ready for that. Since he wants to stop taking naps, he needs to go to bed earlier. Well, that's the tough part, especially with the sun going down later and later. He's also waking up in the night. I'm not sure if he's uncomfortable in his room or what? So, this morning I get up around 6:30 and I see that Haydn is already up...at least out of his bed. He was/is sleeping in the hall on the floor. I felt bad for him, so I went and got a blanket and covered him up. It's about 2 hours later and he's still asleep on the floor. Maybe he's going through a growth spurt, but I do like that he wants to sleep!

Kisses

This will be short, but a very funny moment for me today. I asked Haydn if he would give me a kiss. He usually does, but his kisses consist of him opening his mouth like he is singing "ah". He then leans in and gives me a kiss, being sure he touches my lips. It's very sweet. Anyhow, today he gave me a kiss and then I kissed him again on his cheek. He looked at me as if I stole the last cookie from the cookie jar, pinched his finger and thumb together and touched my lips. I was a little confused and then he put his pinched fingers back to his lips and did a backwards kiss. He took his kiss back! Too funny. I love that boy. I'm so amazed at his personality and skills he has already developed.

Summer Time

I'm afraid I will be getting nothing accomplished this summer. Yesterday, I took Haydn outside to play and get some fresh air. He didn't really want to play much so I took him back inside after only about 20 minutes. Mind you, he can play with something for over an hour and not get bored. When Adam came home from work, he decided to mow the lawn...it definitely needed it. Anyhow, Haydn was fascinated with what he was doing and wanted to be out there with him. So, I stood on the deck holding Haydn and watching Adam mow. Anytime I needed to go back inside Haydn would scream. Not just scream, but "bloody murder" scream. (FYI - Lasley family...that's a horrible description, but I digress) We also grilled some burgers last night for dinner, and again Haydn was angry when we would make him come inside. He really is a funny kid! But...I think I'll be spending my days outdoors this summer to enjoy the summer in the eyes of a toddler! Maybe I'll get a tan too!

And Then They were Gone

It's been awhile since I posted anything, but for a very good reason...or few. A week ago I had the privilege of having all my siblings and their spouses and children (minus one sibling and her family), my brother's girlfriend, and my parents at my home. It was so nice for us all to get together. Today the last ones left. It was bittersweet. It's nice to be able to get everything and everyone back into a routine, but it's so sad to see my family gone. I'll miss you guys until next time!

While everyone was here, we were able to enjoy a few things together as a family. The most important was that we had the privilege of going to the Temple together. It was most exciting, because it was the first time for Adam and myself to go. We believe the power of Sealing has been restored on earth, and so Adam and I were sealed together and then Haydn was sealed to the both of us (Matthew 16: 18 - 19 "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Marriage is usually stated as "until Death do us Part", thus being "loose on earth" and "loosed in heaven". Being Sealed to each other allows us to be married after death or "[bound] in heaven".) It was a very exciting and spiritual time for all involved.

We also had the opportunity to go and visit one of the houses we lived in when we were young. The owner of the house allowed us to walk through and let us reminisce about our past in the home. The house was very different from what we remember (besides the fact that they are remodeling it and attempting to make it look more like it did originally). However, it was very neat to walk though and have an adult perspective of the house.

Another event we were able to do was to go to Nauvoo, IL. For those who don't know, Nauvoo was a very large city in late 1830s to early 1840s. There is quite a bit of LDS church history there and sites to see. We learned a few new things about the city and were able to take the horse and wagon ride through the city. It's about a 50 minute ride in a Constenoga wagon, pulled by two horses. Riding in the wagon gives you an idea of what it was like to travel by wagon. Of course we rode on paved streets and not dirt roads. The ride allowed us to go through Old Nauvoo and hear some information about the houses and shops/businesses that have been restored or reconstructed and about the people who lived in the houses or ran the businesses. This was very inspirational to me as we rode down Parley Street. Parley Street is the road that the early Saints had to take to get to the ferry dock to leave Nauvoo in 1846 and later to leave their beloved city. There is a walking trail parallel to Parley street (Trail of Hope) with plackards that have excerpts from a few citizens of Nauvoo about leaving. I was touched when thinking about how the early Saints must have felt sitting in or standing by their wagons waiting for the ferry to take them across the river. There had to be feelings of excitement and sadness. I was literally sitting in a wagon in the same place they had been sitting 163 years ago. I do think it's a great place to visit and think all should take the opportunity to visit whether you are a member of the LDS church or not. Nauvoo is special to me because of the history of my "church family" but it is also everyone's' American History.

Sorry for the lengthy post, but I thought I'd try to catch everyone up on where I've been and what I've been up to.

Rise and Shine

I am SO excited that my sister will be getting here really late tonight/really early tomorrow. I'm so excited, I had a hard time sleeping. I woke up before Adam did! Let me explain a little as to why I am so excited. It's not just because she's coming...She has a new baby! I have not had the opportunity to meet this niece yet, and can hardly wait to meet her. Another reason is that the last time I saw her and her family was when Haydn was just a few weeks old and Haydn cried all the time. (I promise Liz and Eric, he doesn't cry like that anymore!) Another is that Adam and I have done a few things to our house and I get to share them with her. The weather is warming up, so this time we can take our children outdoors and play. The most important reason for my excitement is...We all get to go to the Temple together! To say I'm excited about going to the Temple is a major understatement. I am thrilled to be able to go with my sister and two of my older brothers along with their spouses and my parents! We will greatly miss my oldest sister and her family, but we will definitely be thinking of them. What a perfect time of year to be going to the Temple...Easter Season!

Cartoons

Did you know there are no cartoons on Nickelodeon at 4am? Neither did I. Haydn has decided that he's hungry and would like to be up for the day now that it's 4am. It's not like he went to bed early last night either. Thankfully we have TiVo and have started recording some shows for him. He loves Backyardigans and watches them ALL the time. So, in my time of despair, TiVo has come to the rescue. I thought I would never purchase cartoons just so my child could watch them...WRONG! I will be looking for some cartoons on DVD now, just for this situation.

I hope you all are enjoying your wonderful sleep at this moment! I'm a bit envious of you. Don't worry, I'm not upset. I get to read my book for that much longer this morning. Hmm, at least I didn't stay up late last night to read! Glass half full, right?

Sunburned?

So today we went to the park again to walk and let the kids play. I never thought that it would be sunny enough for us to get sunburned (I know the sun doesn't have to be out to get sunburned). As you can figure, my face has is sporting the hue of summer red. =)

When we got home from our walk, I noticed my daffodils had started coming out. A few hours later I was looking out the window and notice that some of them started to bloom! I couldn't believe it, so I've included a picture! It literally changed in just a few hours.

Typical flower picture.

Feels Like Spring

I started walking with a friend from church and our children (she has two and my one). After the kids are so good and let us walk for about an hour, we let them play. Sometimes we walk at the mall...mainly when it's too cold to be outside, but we'd prefer to walk outdoors. So, she told me about a park that would be perfect for walking and for giving the kids a place to play. She wasn't kidding! This park has the coolest material around the play area. It's kind of like rubber, but solid, but cushy. I'm not sure if I can describe it any other way. The best thing about it is...it's NOT muddy. So it's great for a toddler who falls over still and her little one who isn't walking quite yet. Haydn likes to keep up with her older girl and he doesn't understand that she has more skills. He also doesn't understand that if he walks off something, he's going to fall and get hurt! Anyhow, the funniest thing happened today at the park. Haydn has decided he LOVES slides. (He's not too fond of swings, but loves the slides.) So he's ready to go down a slide, but is acting a little scared. So, I run around to the other side to get up there and slide down with him. As I was running, my friend's little girl decided to 'help' Haydn go down the slide...face first. I actually saw the whole thing, and she really was just helping him. He also flew off the end and landed face first on the ground. Naturally Haydn cried, but he was perfectly okay since the ground is cushy! I'm sure it hurt, but mostly he we scared. I wished we could have recorded it! That would have been funny. A few more visits to the park and he'll learn the laws of gravity a little better.

Husband Tag

Where We Met?

In Mexico...the town in Missouri. More specifically, at a grocery store. I sometimes tell people I went shopping for a husband! =)


How long did we date before we were married?

Just under 4 years.


How long have we been married?

Again, just under 4 years...it will be 4 years in a few more days!


What is my favorite thing about him?

The way he is a father! I love to watch him play with Haydn and carry him to bed when he falls asleep somewhere other than his bed.


What is your favorite quality about him?

His love for his family and that he wants the very best for us!


What is his nickname for you?

Honey, Baby, Sweetheart...when he's being ornery he calls me "Lady Friend."


His favorite food?

Fried Chicken and Mashed potatoes or biscuits and sausage gravy (YUCK!)


His favorite sport?

That's a tough one...I'd say Tennis or soccer, but he loves to watch quite a few different sports.


Who said the "L" word first?

I really don't remember...that was a LONG time ago.


First Kiss?

This is actually funny...it was when were just friends and it was July 6th. There's more to the story, but I don't feel like sharing that!


Favorite Couple thing to do?

Anything that allows us to be together...but if I had to pick one thing it would be between laughing together or reading scriptures together/talking about the Gospel.


How many kids We have?

1, I think I want like 4 more, but he says 3. We'll see...someone in his generation should be having a set of twins! (His grandmother was a twin) That might make or break how many more we have.


His hidden talent?

He's actually a great housekeeper! I would pay him to clean my house if he wasn't my husband! (I thank his mother for teaching him!)


His age?

28 years on his next b-day.


His favorite music?

The real Rock and Roll! He doesn't really listen to music much...I often tell him he's an old soul. He listens to more talk radio than anyone I know...including my dad!


What do You admire most about him?

His testimony. Because of him, I no longer hide mine.


His favorite pass time?

I would say spending time with family or golfing.


Will he read this?

Absolutely...he loves to read our blog! Hi Honey! =)


I tag anyone who wants to do it...it's kind of fun to purposely think about your husband!

Happy Birthday...to ME!

Today was my birthday. It was one of the greatest birthdays ever! I loved getting to spend it with my two favorite guys. I also was able to spend the day with some girl friends from church. It was so nice to get out of the house and have adult conversation with other mothers and not have to worry too much about Haydn. Adam made dinner tonight and surprised me with some lilies too!

Thanks to everyone for the Birthday Wishes and making it such a great day!

A Good Night's Rest

One of the first times Haydn slept through the night as a baby, was for eleven hours straight. I remember waking up and asking Adam if he had gotten up with him. It was wonderful! Now that Haydn's a toddler (and sleeps through the night) we aren't all that surprised when he sleeps ten or eleven hours straight. What surprises us now is when he sleeps for fourteen or fifteen hours straight. When he does this, he falls asleep between 4 or 5 pm. Every single time I think it's going to be just a catnap. Not that he does this often, but probably once a month or so. Yesterday Haydn decided he was so tired and fell asleep at 4:30. We went ahead and had dinner without him, and waited to see if he'd wake up. Since he didn't, we decided to go ahead and go to bed early. What a treat! The down fall of him going to bed this early is that he might wake up anywhere between 6am - 10am. Sure enough, he woke up around 6.

Since he woke up so early, we played peek-a-boo with a blanket. He even does this in the car!

I thought this was an adorable picture! He still has breakfast on his face. =)

The Benefits of Being a SAHM

What is an "SAHM?" That's short for Stay At Home Mom. I have thankfully been blessed to be a SAHM for the majority of Haydn's life. I love that I get to be with him every day. I'm not saying that there are not challenges and I do not get frustrated, but over all, I love to be home. I do feel sorry for the mothers who have to work and have to allow someone else to care for their child. No matter how great the financial burden has been and still is of being a stay at home mother, I do not regret staying home. I'm not going to list all the benefits of being a SAHM, but there is one in particular I will point out. I do not have to wake Haydn in the mornings. Most mornings, he sleeps until he wants to get up. (I no longer have to wake up to an alarm clock and feel so much more refreshed my self!) Now that church has moved to starting at 9am, we have to wake Haydn to have plenty of time to allow him to eat, bathe, get him dressed, as well as getting ourselves showered, fed, and dressed. He also does not get the best nap in on Sundays either. Haydn's naps usually require him laying down in his bed so he can stretch and move as he needs. At church, we must hold him while he sleeps. So, this evening at approximately 8pm, I wasn't surprised to find Haydn like this...

Poor guy is so tired! Hopefully he'll sleep through the night. FYI Adam did put him in his bed.

Wall-E Political?

I'm not a very political person, but I do think 'media' has turned political by putting their own spin on how the things we are doing will end. For example...the kids' movie "Wall-E." I have nieces and nephews who love this movie. I think just about everyone I know got the movie for Christmas this last year. I've seen the movie, and sure, it was kind of cute. I've noticed since being an adult, that the movies intended for children have innuendos and conversations for the adults to get a chuckle. (Don't we as adults have several other movie ratings we can watch and get chuckles from those? That's another point.) I know the 'concept' of Wall-E was on the drawing boards several years ago. However, the movie didn't come out until recently, so the writers had time to change the direction of the film to accommodate current events. Seeing how 'involved' media is in our decisions, I truly believe the movie was to encourage those watching it (including our children) that we need to recycle and reuse more! If we do that, then the human race wouldn't be sent to space for thousands of years as the planet is being cleaned (from Wall-E). To me the movie was a political soap box. I have found this in recent shows on tv as well.

Why should I watch a show that is pretending to have similar problems as me? While watching a show, what is the portion of time the characters are actually working and sleeping (two things we commonly complain about)? So, with this 'economy' I don't see why my entertainment has to relate current events. I also am very annoyed at movie stars thinking they have a leg to stand on. I'm sorry Hollywood, I don't care what you think! Do your job and entertain me! That's what you get paid to do! I don't call the phone operator to tell me who I should vote for in the presidential elections, why should I hear what you have to say! Do you get the opportunity to share your feelings and thoughts because you have the money? If you have so much money, then share with your fellow citizens who do vote for the same things as you! Help out those who helped you get to where you are! (International charities? Really...help your neighbors!)

In short, I'm hoping that anyone who reads this will develop your OWN opinions and feelings for what needs to happen with our country. Just because someone is famous, doesn't mean they have the best interest of you in mind.

Valentine's Day

Don't be expecting some sappy story from the Roes. We don't celebrate Valentine's Day. In fact, we believe it's a lame excuse for people to send flowers, get chocolate, and show their love the way they should every day. Adam thought he hit the jack pot when I told him I don't really prefer the holiday (it's too close to my birthday...make my birthday special, not a Hallmark holiday). However, I do enjoy the discounted candy after Valentine's day (as long as you aren't giving it to me for my birthday!). So tonight, we decided that we were going to have a junk food/movie night as a family. We got some candy hearts. I know, they're disgusting...but there's something nostalgic about eating them (along with candy corn and candy canes). Haydn LOVES them too! It was a nice end to our usual Family Walk at the mall (yes, we are mall walkers...don't be hating us that we didn't gain the usual winter 10 pounds!). [FYI - The economy looked awfully stimulated tonight at the mall!]

I do want to wish my Brother and his Wife a Happy Anniversary! Congratulations on Five years! I hope you had the opportunity to celebrate, even with the crowds at the restaurants.