Spring is in the air....

Boy, where has the time gone? I can't believe it's spring already! Probaby because it's been colder than normal. But we are slowly inching up there in the temperature department.
In the Georgia school system they allow three "snow days" throughout the year. And if they never have to use them, then they place the days off where they can in the Spring. Last friday was one of those days. It wasn't super warm, but it was nice and sunny, so we thought it would be fun to do a little hike. Where do you hike in a place the really doesn't have any "mountains" per say? We live really close to a preserve area called Sawnee Mountain. By georgians standards it's a mountain, but Utahns standards, its a hill.
The hike is about 2 miles long and fairly easy. However, it was the first day that Hailey was really feeling like herself after a long bout with the stomach flu, so she pretty much complained the entire way that she was tired and wanted me to carry her. But I made her walk, and when we got to the bottom I told her how proud I was that she did it all by herself, and she realized that she had, and was quite proud of herself. Now all she talks about is "remember when I walked all that way by myself!"

Hailey, Max and Gabby on the trail.At the top you could see the entire valley. It's amazing all of the home building that is still going on in this economy. Braxton and Zach and Max looking over the cliff.
There is a legend that the indian cheif (don't know which tribe) would come up here and watch for the enemy. You can actually see where the rock is worn by people sitting there. This rock is actually called "indian seats"

Hailey and Gabby

With the Sampsons, came a trampoline. The kids really enjoy going out there and jumping on it.

Pinewood Derby #2

We just completed our second pinewood derby....this year was different because Mike put off making the car until two nights before the race. After painting the car he didn't wait long enough for the paint to dry before he sprayed the top coat on it, which made all of the colors run off the wood. But he repainted it quickly and pulled it off. They styled the car after a ferari, painted it silver with flames up the sides. He even made a tail fin for it. Braxton was so excited. He only won two races, (which I was glad, thinking we would be leaving soon, cause these things can go FOREVER!) but to my dismay we made it to the second round. However that was as far as we got. Braxton was a little disappointed, but took it in stride. Watching his car race.
Waiting for the next race.

Braxton at the church with his car.

Braxton

Photo Shoot

The little girls and I had a little photo shoot at home last week. It was rainy and cold outside so we were stuck in the house, and I thought it would be fun to have them dress up for pictures. They were really excited about it. It was cloudy outside, which made for perfect lighting conditions. Here are some of my favorites... Gabby
Gabby

Hailey

I love this one, it's so them, trying to make each other laugh.

Saga

Unfortunately, last week we were faced with the decision of putting Saga to sleep. She'd really been going down hill the past few months, not eating, loosing a lot of her hair, not being able to walk very well, not being able to hear or see very well and she'd become very very skinny. We put it off for as long as we could, but came to the conclusion that we were just being selfish, and it was her time to go. I've never had to make this decision before, and it was very hard. You don't realize how much an animal can become a part of your family until a situation like this occurs. She was a really good dog and we all loved her, but we know that she's much happier wherever she is.

(this picture was taken a few months ago, when I was trying to figure out something on the camera. Seeing what she looks like here and remembering what she looked like when we took her to the vet, reconfirms that we made the right decision.)

Braxton's 9!

I am now the mother of a nine year old. There is nothing that makes you feel older, then when your kids grow up. And they grow so fast! He's becoming such a loving, helpful, smart young man.

The week before his birthday, I was asking him what he wanted to do for his birthday, hoping that he wouldn't say he wanted a party. To my surprise he said that he just wanted to be home with his family and closest friends. So, we met up with the Crosby's, Maddox's and the Sampsons at the Golden Coral. Braxton and his two best bud's, Jake and Zach.
Braxton getting ready to blow out the candle on his birthday cupcake.

Noah, Seth, Gabby, Kira and Hailey

Everyone eating dinner.

Happy Birthday Braxton!

Teddy Bear Parade

Hailey's preschool, comes up with some of the silliest things for the kids to do....and the worst part is it's always parents participation. I have been to Hailey's preschool more this year, than the entire two years that Braxton was in preschool. But the kids enjoy it, and Hailey is always excited when Mike and I come and watch. Just before Valentines day they had a "teddy bear parade". The kids decorated a shoe box, like a float, and put their favorite bear in it to pull around. They also were able to wear their pajamas to school that day. It was pretty painful to watch kids pull around shoe box's for 30 minutes and then sing songs about bears. But it's all for the kids right? Some of the boxes the kids brought were amazing! You could tell that the parents had put a lot into the creation of the "float". Hailey and Gabby's boxes were pretty simple, I just covered the entire thing in glitter, so they sparkled. They LOVED them! Hailey and Gabby with their floats, you can't tell, but they really sparkled.
Hailey pulling her float.

The Princess and the Diva

Hailey and Gabby have been "kindred spirits" since the day they met, which was when they were babies. They've always enjoyed being together. Whether its playing dress-up, putting on make-up or riding their bikes, you can always hear them joking and laughing. Since Gabby's family has moved in with us they are inseperable. They share a bedroom and pretty much everything else. It will be a sad day when the Sampsons move out.

We call Hailey the princess, because she loves anything "princess", pink and sparkly...we call Gabby the Diva, because she can have attitude, loves clothes and is obsessed with her hair. showing attitude
Superstars!

A Break From Winter

Last weekend we were fortunate enough to join Mike's Mom and Step-dad, down in West Palm Beach, FL, for some R and R. Unfortunately, they were having record low temperatures for part of our stay. We did get a couple of days of sun, and not so much wind, which made it feel warmer. It didn't matter, however how cold it was, the pools were heated, so the kids were still able to swim and that was all they cared about. Dave, Cheryl, Braxton and Hailey, on the balcony of our room.
Our Fam....notice Mike lookin skinnier...he's lost 40 lbs so far.

Me and my sweet little Hailey.

The water comes out of the tap that color......it tastes just as yucky as it looks.

The resort. It looks so sunny and warm.

Braxton looking for shells. The water was COLD!

Hailey was so excited to find shells. Too bad I threw most of them away before we left.

Looking for shells.

Playing in the pool

Good thing the water was heated.

Grandma and Braxton playing Idiot. Braxton is the reigning champ, and quite the trash talker....wonder where he learned that?

Our little fairy princess

Nativity

This year for our Christmas Eve program, we had the kids reinact the nativity. It's the first year that they've done it, so Braxton and Hailey were a little confused, at first as to why they were wearing a costume. But once I explained, they were excited. Hailey was the Angel, Kira was Mary, Braxton was Joseph and Noah was a sheperd/wiseman. Brady was a little too wiggly to be baby Jesus, so we settled for a doll.

Happy New Year's

Another "low key" New Years, this year. We spent it at home with the Sampsons and the Crosbys. We ate, played games, ate, and ate some more.

This year instead of watching the "ball drop" as we do every year....Mike wanted to check out another show that was on ESPN. I guess every year in Vegas they have some kind of stunt show on the strip. So we watched a guy flip his truck 360' and another guy jump on his bike and land of top of an attraction I think it was 100 feet high or something like that, then he jumped back off. Very exciting.....

Hailey and Kira helping themselves to the food.

Watching the stunt show.A little smoochy smoch at midnight....

At midnight all of the kids went out and did sparklers....it was SUPER COLD!

The princess turns 4!

Unfortunately for Hailey, her birthday is 3 days after Christmas day. By the time Christmas is over Mike and I are both done with the celebrating.....this year I was in bed the day before her birthday, passing a kidney stone, so we got a little sidetracked. Thank goodness we were able to quickly decorate the kitchen the morning of her birthday before she went down to see. We also promised her a party at Chuck e cheese, which was supposed to happen today, but seeing as I'm in bed once again with more stones, that has been postponed.
We did have a birthday cake for her and she opened her presents. A few weeks before Christmas she saw a disney princess vanity that she absolutely fell in love with. And she would tell everyone that was what she wanted for her birthday.

Hailey asked for a white cake with strawberry's, so mike made the cake and then mixed berries with cool whip. It was really good.

Hailey's princess vanity. She was so excited!
Putting on her make-up.