Happy Birthday Week Hailey - 5 Years Old!

Tuesday was Hailey's official birthday. She woke up to a room filled balloons, and her mommy standing at her bed with presents in hand. She was excited to see that she got the movie, "Tangled", which she has been begging for, and a Hello Kitty backpack for school.

Hayden thought it was great to wake up with balloons everywhere

For her day activity I took Hailey Classic Water Slides. We met up with Talitha and Mila. Later that night we had a little birthday party for Hailey. Talitha, Mila, Grandpa Gary, Aunt Heidi, Tia and Austin came to celebrate. Hailey was so excited to blow out the candles on her cake. When she did, we asked her what she wished for. Her reply, "I can't tell you, or it won't come true." Pretty smart little 5-year-old I must say!

All the day of her birthday Hailey kept asking when her "friend" party was going to be. I felt so bad because I hadn't planned a friend party. She said she wanted to have a slumber party, so on Friday night we ended up having ALL of her friends for an hour to have cake and ice cream, and to open presents. The boys left, and the girls stayed to have a sleepover. In a nutshell, it was a little chaotic, but they all had so much fun!

My Attempt at Hailey's Hello Kitty Cake for her Friend Party

All the cute kids (notice Katelyn screaming in the background)

Hailey, Addie, Mila and Elena

Abi and Abby
All the crazy kids

Hailey opening presents

Slumber Party Time!

Neighborhood Birthday Party 2011

Since there are so many kids in our neighborhood we celebrate everyone's birthday on the same day. Hailey had been look forward to this party, and was so excited. The morning of the party our internet was down so I couldn't see my email to double check on the time. I was about to text one of my neighbors, but I thought, "No, it's got to be at 11am...All the other activities are". Well...we showed up at the park right at 11am, but the party was already going on! Oh great! It was at 10am! I sent Hailey and Hayden down to join the other kids. Unfortunately, they were on their last activity. Hailey came up to me and said, "Mom, I thought this party was going to be longer". I've never felt like such a failure as a mother. I secretly broke down in tears to one of my neighbors. Luckily Hailey's real birthday is this coming Tuesday. Hopefully I will be able to make it up to her.

Back To School Night

This week Hailey got to meet her teacher, Mrs. Telford, and to see her classroom. I have to admit, I got teary-eyed watching my little girl sit at the table with all her little classmates.

She is so excited for this new adventure in her life. She asks me every day when she will get to go to school. I can't believe that day will be so soon!

Mila and Hailey (with a bunch of candy in her mouth)

Hailey was excited to see there was an apple with her name on it

The Ni-night Game

Katie has been playing this silly game we call the "ni-night game". We say, "ni-night", and she closes her eyes like she's asleep. She's such little goofball.

Here's Hailey and Hayden getting in on the action...

Lately Katelyn has also loved pointing at the light fixtures. Here she is showing me the light over our kitchen table...

Herriman Lake

After hearing for some time now about what a great lake they have in Herriman we finally were able to go check it out. We love it! We love it so much that we've gone there 3 times in the last 2 weeks. It has the perfect sand. The kids could seriously spend hours there, and not get bored. The best part is that it's only about 20 minutes away! It's a great place to go on a hot day.

Getting Ready For Kindergarten!!!

This week I went and did Hailey's final registration for Kindergarten. She is so excited to start school in a few weeks. As so many mother's say when this time comes, I can't believe my baby is going to be starting school!

I could have held Hailey back if I wanted because her birthday is on the border, but we felt right about her starting now. She is definitely ready, and it will be good for her to be in the same grade as a lot of her friends.

To get ready for the big event we had a special mommy/daughter outing with her friends Abi Daniels and Abi Newman up in Park City, and bought a few clothes for school. It made this upcoming event more real, especially when we bought her backpack. I'm really excited and a little nervous at the same time, but we are ready for this new adventure in her life to begin!

Pirate Party

In Primary this year the kids were able to earn a "Pirate Party" by being reverent on Sundays. Hailey has been looking forward to this for a long time. She had a blast! They had games, they taught them a dance, they had a treasure hunt and made their own eye patch. I'm sure Hailey would tell you her favorite part was when she got a ring pop. :)

Getting ready to learn the pirate dance

Learning the dance, or just standing there staring?
Making eye patches
Rrrrrrr.......

My little shadow

Silver Lake

For our weekly neighborhood outing we took a drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon to Silver Lake. I was so grateful I went! It was so beautiful up there, and the kids had a blast! We fed ducks, walked around the lake and had a picnic.

The ladies (Melodie, Valerie and Heather)

Helping Katelyn feed the ducks. She absolutely loved them!

Crazy group of kids :)

Feeding the ducks

Cute kids having fun

So Much For Pictures

I've been procrastinating getting the kids pictures done. I have the outfits, but finding the time has been really tricky with our busy summer. So this week I was excited that Wednesday we finally had an open day.

Tuesday night we went to Kenny and Melodie Newman's house (our neighbors) to finish up some left over fireworks. Not 5 minutes after getting there I see Hayden running down the driveway, tripping and then face-planting.

This was the end result...

Poor boy! Everyone told me I should still get his pictures done, but after seeing how he looked in the morning I decided it would be best to wait...
It even ended up looking worse once a full-on scab appeared. Now we are just worried about it scaring. Especially because he keeps picking at it. Oh well! I should just get over it. I'm sure this won't be the last facial injury Hayden has.

Big Girl in a Little Body

Katelyn has been loving the fact that she can walk...almost a little too much. She has been trying all sorts of new things that her big brother and big sister can do. The other night she even climbed onto this big rocking horse all by herself, and was rocking like crazy on it. It's the most hilarious looking thing because she's so small. I have a feeling she will have her training wheels on her future bike off before Hayden and Hailey. She's our little dare devil!

Swimming Lessons for Hailey!

Hailey started swim lessons this week. These lessons are long over due, but I'm happy we finally signed her up. She loves the water, but she's always been afraid of getting water in her eyes and jumping into water. Thanks to these lessons, she's finally overcome her fears!!! She learned how to hold her breath under water without plugging her nose, she hasn't been panicking about getting water in her eyes, and she even jumps right into the water! I'm so proud of her! She has been loving the lessons, and can't wait to go every night.I've had to bring Hayden and Katelyn with me to her lessons because Ryan's been working late. I was dreading having to take them, but luckily the lifeguards haven't minded me letting them play in the shallow end during the lesson. It definitely keeps them entertained.

Splash Park

Every Thursday during the summers we have a play date with all the moms and kids in our neighborhood. Last year when we went to the splash park it was a complete nightmare for me. Katelyn was still a newborn and cried the entire time, Hailey didn't want to get wet and I was stressed the whole time about Hayden getting trampled by all the kids running around. So when I found out we were going again this year I was a little hesitant. It ended up being one of the funnest activities we've done this summer. Hailey actually got wet, Hayden was loving waiting for the water to spray him in the face, and Katelyn had a blast just wandering around.

Hailey and Sydney Bell

All the neighborhood friends

Play Dates with Hudson and Stryder

We have been so lucky to have Hudson and Stryder as neighbors. We love having these cute boys over every week to play. Hailey and Hayden always look forward to having them, and Katelyn is in love with them! They really are some of the sweetest little boys I've ever meant.

Katelyn giving Hudson a hug...She really, really loves them!

Mila joined Hailey, Hudson and Stryder to build a nest for a caterpillar on the porch.