Start Charging

Ok, so my two year is a tough one. I feel so bad that my Dad had to deal with 4 girls! I have been researching different ways to discipline Hadley. Because I have tried everything and some days can be more than just frustrating. Anyhoo... I asked my sister in law (because she has 3 angel girls) and she recommended a book called "Love and Logic from birth to six years." I was so desperate the day I got my book in the mail I read about 3/4 that night. It's has some good ideas and some not my style ideas, but I have got to try something so I have been slowly putting things into action. It's all about letting your kids think for themselves and realize the consequences of their actions. In the book it tells you how to deal with kids fighting in the car, because it is super hard to enforce anything while you are trying to drive a car with out killing anybody. You are simply suppose to let the child know that you will start charging them a fee for every minute they choose to carry on. The fee can be whatever mom chooses like toys, money, etc. So to make a long story semi short the following is the story of our car ride today.
Hadley starts bugging Hayden. Grabbing his shirt and trying to hold his hand.
Hayden is freaking out "mom! Hadley's bugging me."
Me "Hadley PLEASE leave your brother alone."
Hadley with a big smile continues.
Me "Okay Hadley if your are going to bug people in the car, I am going to start charging you! I think I am going to charge you your dolly's, I think I will charge you with your Ariel first!"
Hadley starts screaming at me and continuing to bug her brother.
Me (PS you are not suppose to ever explain yourself or talk back, but it is SO HARD not to) "Alright Hadley I am charging you your Ariel doll!"
Hayden "Mom, you don't have to charge me. I am a good boy mom."
Me "Thank you Hayden, I will not have to charge you." (Hadley still screaming at me and me trying my hardest not to start yelling)
Hayden " Mom, do you need a plug?"
Me trying my hardest to just ignore everyone and everything besides the road.
Hayden " MOM! Are you going to get a plug?"
Me "Hayden what on earth are you talking about??"
Hayden "A Plug... so you can charge Hadley's dolly."

Kylee's Blessing

Kylee didn't make a peep durning her blessing. (unlike her siblings) She did so well and than feel asleep in my arms after.

Dan gave Kylee a wonderful blessing. I am so proud that my husband is a worthy priesthood holder and can take care of his family. I was contemplating waiting to bless Kylee until next month, because both she and Hadley have been under the weather. But I kept telling myself it was the adversary trying to get to me. It probably wasn't, but I am so glad we blessed her because she did just fine, if not wonderful!


Our big family, on such a special day.

Dan and I are in love with our little girl! In LOVE! Please stay sweet and innocent forever Kylee!

First beach of the season

It had been way to long since our last trip to the beach in really warm weather. The kids really enjoyed it and so did Dan and I. It was over spring break and it was SUPER crowed! We got there early so we didn't fight the crowds, but when we left it was packed!

Had's camera skills

Smiley Ky, she did so well. Poor girl had a hard time with the wind, you could tell she had a hard time breathing when the wind would kick up so we kept her blocked with towels.

Just wanted to document

That my little girl sleeps in Mom and Dads closet. We are working on upgrading her situation, but there are always bumps in the road. Like the fact that I am totally terrified that if I add Hadley and Kylee in the same room, my little Hads will jump into Ky's bed and unknowingly hurt her sister or maybe she would place a blanket over her heard and Kylee will not be able to breath. Hadley does love her sister, but she like most the girls in my family, we have a hard time giving soft loves! I did try Hadley and Hayden together on the same bed for two nights. Which caused the problem that Hadley has to be locked in her room at night because she always gets out of bed, and the fact that Hayden has to have the door open in order to use the bathroom! OOOh! But Kylee is perfectly fine with the closet for now.

Time out for me

Me and some gal pals headed up to Orlando for a weekend away. Time out for women was a great way to get some much needed woman power! They had so many great speakers. It made me miss Utah and having institute or firesides all the time. We got to listen to Sherri Dew, Hilary weeks and like 10 other people. It was wonderful.

Best Bites gals. I got there cookbook last year, and follow their cooking blog. They were so fun to listen to. They add a lot of humor, which is what I mom needs to survive her life! They helped us realize that even though we are blog stalking and hearing about all of the amazing things in peoples lives, that those people still have set backs. Those people don't blog about the hard times, or the frustrations. It is a good thing to put into perspective, and try hard not to compare yourself. Because even as famous cooks, these ladies still serve their kids chicken nuggets!


Jericho Road....need I say more?

When I was right out of High school I used to be obessed with JR. Dan even took me to one of there concerts when we were dating. I was so excited to see these guys. Then when the moment came for me to do a meet and greet, I got really nervous. My friend asked me, "Y do you feel weird, is it because you are totally crushing on someone elses husband!? HA, it probably was why I felt kinda silly. As I was waiting to talk to them this OLD lady jumped in front of me and was like "oh, my gosh I LOVE you guys, I have been following you for 11 years now!" We are talking grandma old lady! Talk about making you feel old. I did feel kinda silly up there taking to them, but they were so nice and genuine. They made me happy! I had to crop my picture because some crazy lady decided she needed to be in my picture, even after people asked her to wait her turn, she replied "oh its ok we are friends!" What?! We are not friends, I don't know you! Crazy weird people.

Swimming Lessons

Being that we live in the pool come summer time... I put the kiddos in swim lessons. WOW! Can I say how awesome it was. Hadley used to totally cling to you in the water, pretty much choking you to death. Her confidence has improved dramatically. While she can't really swim yet, she will at least try and she will hold on to the side of the pool and swim by herself in the sallow water. She loves to do princess arms(straight arms) while kicking her legs.

Swim lesson were after nap time, this is what the wild child hair does after a nap!

Hayden started swimming the 2nd lesson. He did wonderful. He calls himself a fish. He jumps off the edge and swims to the side and just goes nuts swimming. I have to pick him up and put him out of the pool and tell him to take a rest. He loves swimming. His favorite move is the pizza (making a circle with your hands) It was such a sort session because it was so early in the season. I would love to do more lesson for the kids so Hayden can learn to lift his head out of the water to take a breath instead of waiting til he reaches the edge to take a breath. We shall see.

This was my conversation with Hayden about my upcoming girls weekend.
Mom: So Hayden, mom's leaving tomorrow and going to an overnight girls party, I am going eat lots of candy, laugh, giggle and have so much fun AND stay up way late.
Hayden: Mom, are you gonna bring your toothbrush?

Yet again...

I always have things come across my mind that want to document, but when I set down to write them I forget. Story of my life. But Dan has left me yet again for the weekend, another conference. It is odd when he is gone, only because it is not that odd. Does that make sense? Our lives (like everyone else) are crazy, and we don't have a whole lot of time together ALL together. Dan is in the process of job shopping. I cannot even begin to describe in words how horribly scarey this is. It seems like the orthodontic market in the last few years has somewhat slowed, not as many options out there are we thought. After so many years of school it saddens me that Dan has worked so hard and now will have to work hard to find a decent job. I have faith, I am an emotional wreck all the time, but I keep that faith. Heavenly Father has helped me through things, and in the end he will pull through for us.

I decided these last few weeks, that my self esteem has really taken a blow. All I worry about it, getting skinny, keeping my kids happy, keeping my grades up, making my house spotless. But Y? Mostly because I look at others and judge myself. I have kinda revamped. I am trying to keep the attitude that I need to try my hardest and if it wasn't good enough that day, than I know I did my best and I can try again tommorro, no regrets! Women have it hard, no I am not a feminist, but we do have it harder than men. I think more so for mothers. There are a lot of fingers pointing at mothers, saying they need to do this and that. Pretty much they need to save the world. Well some women may have that motivation, but me.... well I just feel bad that I am not as good as a mom as the next woman. Media and Mormon culture can be brutal on women. Well....so what....I am not going to let it get to me. I am going to try my hardest to not let it affect me AND to never make any other woman ever feel that way! I am going to use my time wisely. I am trying everyday to better myself and my family. That way at the end of they day, I have tried my best and cannot feel guilty that woman down the street is a better mother than me! It sounds like a easy concept but it really is not, but I have been trying it and feeling better, feeling happier, feeling more fulfilled.

Hayden got yet another hair cut. Poor guy sat there for an hour playing on my ipod, moving his head this way and that while I snipped away at his hair. SO much cuter, I have to give myself props....while not a pro, I am definitely getting better! Hayden is mom's little buddy. He is learning so much everyday and asking so many questions. He is dead set on marrying his sister. I actually talked him into marry Hadley's friend Ava(Ava has a baby brother Tanner.) Hayden said, "Okay mom, I will Marry Ava in the Temple and will have a baby tanner!" He loves Primary! The first time he went was the only time he struggled. Now instead of me asking him what he learned in primary he runs to me and starts jabbering away about the holy ghost or saying your prayers, etc. Periodically throughout the day Hayden will come wineing to me about how Hadley is NOT choosing the right. He loves watching the nature shows with Dad at night when mom is at school. He also has become very sensitive to things on the TV, freaking out in any part of a show that gets dark or the music becomes more intense. Which so many little kids movies have. The last few grocery store trips the grocery cart is a train and apparently mom is a crazy train driver, and don't forget your tickets for the train or you will get an ear full! I feel like we have finally gotten out of those horrible tantrums stage(oh, we still have tantrums just not NEARLY as often and mostly they can be talked through) and into more understanding and explaining of things. I love that he is so interested in his little sister, he always wants to involve Kylee and he likes to talk for her. So when mom is jabbering baby talk to Kylee he will add in "Mom.... I think she says yes." I think I could go on and on about this boy. He has had a complete transformation from a toddler. He is more out going and interested in everything. Dan and I are enjoying this stage with Hayden.

Final Hair cut

Hadley is my little struggle right now. Of course I love her, but is now in that tantrum stage. If you approach anything in the wrong way there is a very good change you get a reaction of falling to the floor, bawling and screaming for mommy! She has stopped sucking her thumb, except on occasions. She has caught on to mommy's road rage and randomly starts screaming at cars "go cars GO!" than when they start to move..."Mommy, that car did it, that car GO mommy!" Did I mention that Mommy has to be mentioned about 200 times in every sentence. She can be quite the perfectionist. If there is a little spot on the floor, she will go off "oh, no mommy, that dirty mommy, that poop mommy, that bug mommy...." until I say no Hadley its just dirty go get a rag and wipe it up. She will proceed with the rage and say " I did it Mommy!" She caught onto Potty training crazy fast ( I guess I am comparing her to Hayden) She practically potty trained herself, but she has a really hard time with relaxing and going #2. I get frustrated with her because she is on and off the potty ten million times when she has to go #2 but I am learning to go easy on her when she has an accident. She is a mommy's girl through and through. Hadley is so special to me, she always has. She is very concerned about her sister and loves to tickle and pinch her checks.Hadley has now grown attached to her blankets, but can be talked into leaving them in bed. She is adimit that she does NOT like the new SUPER cute blanket grandma made her for Christmas. But I keep trying to sneak it on her in her sleep! She loves getting her nails painted (I now know how to get finger nail polish out of carpet :)! ) She always yells at me when I am doing her hair, even if I am just pretending to do her hair. She has wild crazy curls that I have no idea what to do with. Hadley goes down with no resistance for naps. But eats almost nothing for breakfast and dinner. Oh, and she loves to bite her brother. I have tried everything thing to get her to stop, for a week straight Hayden would receive a new bruise everyday from a Hadley bite. I have tried a new direction of discipline and we are 2 days with no bite, please let this last. If it is princess anything this girl will be happy!



Kylee is growing up quick. She has started sucking her thumb ALL the time. It is wonderful at night, but if you lay her down during the day she will find her thumb and put herself to sleep before you even know it. I think she is also getting more fussy during the day because she thinks she needs to be sucking on something all the time. She loves being held and puts up with her sister pinching her cheeks and pulling her arms around to hold hands all the time. She is liking her car seat less and less everyday. She can be fussing and hear the sound of water running and hush right up and frantically kick her legs in excitement for a bath. She is still such a good baby, even with some fussiness. We love her and the special bond she brings to our family.