Hayden's 9th Birthday Party

Hayden had a GREAT birthday!  In the previous posts, I forgot to mention that Hayden really wanted a big party this year.  Big party= invite everyone he knows to Gattitown/Elite Air/ or Bob Walthers.  Kevin and I talked about it, and with our upcoming beach trip + the bigger gift we planned to get him, we didn't think it was doable.  We broke the news to him that we were sticking with just a family party, and he was fine with it.  We told him that hopefully next year on his 10th birthday we could do a bigger pay. 

Another thing... since Hayden was born, I've been getting weekly emails about milestones and what to expect at that particular age.  When you turn 9, the emails stop.  I was so sad because I love reading them!  Maybe 9 was a bigger birthday than I thought?

We normally open gifts in the morning, but since Kevin had to be at work extra early (4am), we waited until his party to open any gifts.  I made his favorite breakfast (sock-it-to-me cake).  When he woke up, the only thing on his mind was playing with our new dog, Grayson, so he didn't even seem to mind that we weren't doing things the way we always had.  He requested a cookie cake for his class.  I ordered one last week, and picked it up yesterday afternoon.  I took it to his class, cut it in sections for the kids, and they seemed thrilled with it.  We also took in rock candy on a stick.  I needed some for his birthday cake, so I just went ahead and ordered 36, and had plenty to share with the class and the cousins :)

I made a baked potato bar for his birthday dinner, since that's one of his favorite meals.  He had such a fun party.  He loved all his gifts - seriously - every gift he was thrilled with.  We lit the candles, sang happy birthday, and ate cake and ice cream.  He finished the night by playing with his new legos.  He had a great day! 

Thank you to everyone that sent him birthday wishes!  I read them to him throughout the day, and he just smiled ear to ear!  He loved hearing from so many people.

I love their friendship!

And theirs :)

And theirs :)

Allie took on the job of showing Hayden's gifts to everyone

He got his first pocket knife - and he's already used it several times and thinks it's so great!

He got his very own geode

Kevin went to get his guitar out.  This was his face when he saw the case coming!

Can you tell he was surprised?  It's a red electric guitar.  He quickly closed the case because he didn't want anyone playing with it!

Kid picture

I knew for months I wanted to make him a geode cake.  I'm happy with how it turned out!

We couldn't find a working lighter so we improvised :)

Happy Birthday to Hayden!

I got sparkler candles and didn't realize they didn't "sparkle" very much - and they kept relighting!  He thought they were trick candles.  Good news it we have 8 more, so Allie can have some on her cake in a few months too!

Kevin's parents with Hayden

My parents with Hayden

Papaw giving Hayden birthday spanks.

Austin wanted in on the picture taking too!

And I just realized I forgot to do my own picture with the birthday boy!  And our families picture!  Bummer!

Hayden's 9th Birthday Interview

Saturday, I sat down with Hayden and asked him these questions.   I love these little birthday interviews!

I will be this old:  9

The best show on tv is:  uh Disney Channel

My favorite things about school is:  having friends

The thing I'm best at is:  uh running

If I could change my name it would be:  Kade

My favorite color is:  red

My favorite toy is:  legos

When I grow up I want to be:  a paleontologist and a scientist

I like to take these things to bed with me at night: old meow and my brown blankie

My favorite book is:  uh is the one that's your favorite, that one.  (It's Time to Sleep, My Love)

My favorite movie is:  Jurassic World

My favorite season of the year is:  mmm May

A food I really like is:  cake

My favorite animal is:  dragon and dinosaurs

My favorite sport is:  baseball and basketball

My best friend is:  Kade

My favorite hobby is:  play legos

My favorite thing I did this year:  make new friends
  

And here's a few more pictures just because :)

Hayden is 9 Photoshoot

How can Hayden be 9 years old?!  

Saturday afternoon I took him out so I could snap a few pictures of him.  

I love this age because he's getting so responsible (he made lunch for everyone on Sunday!), he wants to talk to me about any and all problems, he's so good at taking care of kids or pets when I need an extra hand, but he's still little enough he wants tucked in at night, he still likes me to hold him now and then, and he asks for hugs. 

He's really one of a kind!  He makes me so proud to be his momma!

This past year he's really loved anything science.  He has also started reading for enjoyment, which thrills me!  (I didn't start doing that until I was in my late twenties!)  He tried wrestling during the winter, and he liked it, but I don't know that he will want to do it again.  He plays basketball with our neighbor boy, but doesn't want to play in a league.  He passed on spring baseball, which surprised me, but he's getting a birthday surprise this evening (a red electric guitar) and we will be starting him in lessons soon!  He's not ever been a big sports player, so maybe music will be his thing.  Or maybe not.  He's always been a sensitive kid and I think it's one of his best qualities.  He's so thoughtful, so sweet, and such a good care taker.  He also loves helping his dad with any projects he's working on.  This past weekend they installed a new toilet and he was running in and out to get tools as they were needed.  I'm glad he's learning how to be a Mr. Fix It!

Hayden,

Thanks for making me a mom.  Thanks for all your patience as we learn to do this parenting thing with you!  You're a great kid and I can't imagine a better big brother to your three siblings.  Everyone adores you.  And I adore those freckles.  

You're the best!

Love, Mom

 

Our Easter

Easter looked a little different for us this year!  Usually Sunday morning is a bit chaotic trying to get to Easter service at church on time and then going from one get together to the next.  Our church changed services times and they offered Easter service on Saturday night (which is when we usually go).  Sunday morning was so much more enjoyable this year!

We usually do an egg hunt Saturday, but weather and premade plans made us switch the egg hunt to Sunday morning.  I was also able to make resurrection rolls as well, and usually Easter breakfast isn't that elaborate! 

We dyed eggs Friday night, and I do believe that's a family favorite for everyone.

This was also the first year in the last several years I decided not to make the girls' Easter dresses.  I had already bought a pattern, but saw the cute matchy navy ones at TJ Maxx.  They were $15 each, and I knew I wouldn't be able to make their dresses for that cheap... so I went ahead and bought them! 

Hayden asked this year if the Easter bunny was like Santa Claus, so I explained that yes, it was all the same.  He wanted to hide the eggs, but I told them if he hid eggs, he couldn't hunt them.  He wasn't quite ready to give up the egg hunting, so Kevin hid the eggs.  He's done a really good job not telling the little kids the truth.

We also spent about $5 per kid on Easter baskets.  Usually I would spend $20-40, but Easter fell right during my big purging/house cleaning and I just didn't want more junk in the house.  They each got a Dollar Tree toy (which has since been thrown away) and a little troll.  And they were happy with it!  I don't know why I think I need to go overboard on the holidays because they are so easily pleased with so little. 

Enough rambling, here are some pictures!

 Sunday morning egg hunt... this was about 6:30 am!  Haha!

  Breakfast = Resurrection Rolls

April Changes

The month of April kept us busy!  I thought I'd recap some of the things that happened this month!

New Bedtimes

Since Kevin started day shift this year, he's been going to bed early.  He works 5:30-2, Monday-Friday.  He wakes up between 4 and 4:30, so he goes to bed around 8 o'clock most nights.   Normally I'd put the kids to bed around 9, then I'd stay awake and watch tv until 11ish.  

I decided this past month that I'd try to get the kids to bed by 8, so I could go to bed then too.  (I don't usually fall asleep until 9:30.)  It was a big change for us, but I LOVE IT!  I wake up on my own between 5-5:30. Waking up before the kids gives me some time to wake up slowly and unrushed.  I sometimes workout while it's still dark, but this is mainly the time I do my bible reading.  Before I started waking up early, I'd wake up in time to get the kids out of bed, rush to feed them breakfast, get them ready, and on the bus.  I'd feel all day long like I needed to get my bible reading done, and it was just very hectic and not so enjoyable!  

Another change is now the kids wake up on their own too.  Hayden is usually the first awake and he's up by 6:30.  Allie is always awake before 7.  Our mornings have become so fun and peaceful!  Some mornings they turn on the tv, snuggle together under a blanket while I make them breakfast.  I send them to school with smiles and hugs and kisses, rather than us all feeling frustrated, rushed, and upset!  

Hate Being By Myself

That hour or so I have to myself every morning is pure bliss.  Kevin is always encouraging me to get some time to myself, and I have to admit, I find it totally awkward and I hate it.  I hate shopping by myself, I hate going to appointments by myself, and I'd much rather have one or two kids in tow with me!  I feel like when I'm not being "mom" or "wife," I just don't know what to do with myself!  I just came to this realization this month when I've had to go several places alone.  I know I'm not going to have little kids with me forever, so I'm going to have to eventually get over this.  But, while the kids are still little and want to go places with me, I'm going to happily take them along :)

Minimalist

This month, I've come to love the idea of being a minimalist.  In the last few weeks, I've worked really hard to get rid of "extra" in our house.  I started in the kitchen, and cleaned out and reorganized every cabinet and drawer!  I couldn't stop, and have since gone through almost every room/closet/piece of furniture in the house.  The only place I have left is my closet - and that's going to be a big job!  (I even went through shelves in the garage!)

The kids cleaned out the play room and we took out 4 bags of toys (1 for garage sale, 2 for goodwill, 1 for trash).  I let them keep 7 toys in their drawers and 2 stuffed animals in their beds.  If they want to replace one, then one needs to go.  That may sound extreme, but they still have containers of dolls, barbies, dress up, legos, blocks, cars, and k'nex in the closet!  They can't get the containers down unless the playroom floor is cleaned, and cleaning is now a breeze with the limited toys they have available to them.  Hayden struggled the most with this purging.  I ended up letting him have one small container of "stuff".  He's always been attached to odd little things.  But even he told me last week he was so glad we cleaned out the drawers because he's found toys that went missing that he really loved.

The kids weren't the only ones to clean.  My hall closet was my craft closet and it got a total clean out.  I took out about 5 trash bags of craft supplies and fabric and put them all in my garage sale.  My hall closet use to be like that dreaded closet in the house but now it's holding just what I need.  I don't have to body slam the door to shut it, and I even hung pictures in there!  It's turned into a happy place. 

With our kids birthday's getting ready to kick off, we've been asking for giftcards from the people that usually get our kids gifts!  From here on out!  We'd much rather take the kids for ice cream, or to the movies, or to FiredUp, or Gattitown, or the kids museum, or anywhere!  We want experiences to be more valued than stuff.  Our thinking is, the gift(s) we pick out for them will be more meaningful when they aren't overshadowed by tons and tons of toys, and the giftcards from others let us keep celebrating long after the birthday has past.  Win/win in my book!

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One thing I love about the changes we've made this month is my kids have really enjoyed playing together.  Kevin's noticed and pointed it out too... (like the day it rained and they all went out back and splashed in mud puddles.  They came in with the biggest smiles on their faces!)  I know they've always loved each other, but it just seems like they have been able to really enjoy Hayden & Allie home from school, enjoy their time outside, and enjoy playing with whatever toy is out.  This may have something to do with the earlier bedtime too, or maybe that mom and dad are less stressed by stuff and they can feel that too?  I can't pinpoint what's to credit for this month's extra happiness, but it was definitely a good month at our house!

March & April Highligt Videos

I love making flip-a-grams each month with pictures I've taken on my phone.  My phone is the "camera" I usually have on me, and it's how I take most of my snapshots.  I feel like these videos really capture our month well :)

Here are March & April's videos!