So Much Going On

Hello Friends!

OK, so I am officially addicted to Lincoln Logs. Hayden and I pulled out the box yesterday and had a blast! I had forgotten how fun, yet intriguing they were. Is it wrong to get them out again after the Babies are in bed so that I can get ALL of the pieces that I want?

What an exciting, and busy, several weeks it has been. Hayden completed his second year of swim lessons and did an outstanding job. Since he ended up being the only one that signed up for that certain class, he only had to go for one week instead of two, and received one on one, private instructions. Some of the time, I was able to swim on my own while the sweet instructor passed her skills onto him. My thought, simply because several have asked, is that no matter where my children go in life, and no matter what they do, water will ALWAYS be around in some form or fashion. I long for my children to have fun in the water, with much respect and an ounce of fear.

WAY TO GO HAYDEN!

A gigantic "Thank You" so much to all of you that helped with Jared's little birthday surprise last Saturday! I honestly think that he was completely and totally surprised, which is great since NOTHING gets past him. We had a wonderful time honoring Jared and his incredible 30 years. He has made such an impact on so many people and on so many lives, and I just thought that he deserved something special. It was wonderful to be able to have family and a few close friends come together for such a special occasion. We were excited to have his Mom and Dad, as well as Luke and Amy here for the weekend. Good Times! Thank you, all, for your help.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LOVER!

Last week, we made a fun filled trip to the San Antonio Zoo with my Mother, Sisters, nieces and nephews, as well as several friends. HUMMM, Three adults to eleven children (yes, I said 11.) I'm not sure if we were crazy or brave. None-the-less, we had a wonderful time having a picnic, riding the train (or the "do-do frain" as Hayden calls it) and seeing all of the animals. The children were all really well behaved and each of them made the day exciting in their own way.
Despite the ratio, I would do it again given the chance.

This past weekend, we attended a birthday party for a friend of ours. The kids really enjoyed getting to play on the play scape and getting to hit the pinata (we so need to work on Hayden's batting skills.....) The theme was Thomas the Train, so immediately, Hayden was thrilled!



During the last several weeks, our house has been full of some exciting and surprising changes! Kaylen has begun pulling up on everything that she sees, stable or not, and she is so close to walking. I'm thinking that any minute now, she is going to take off! She has decided that #2 baby food is her enemy. Occasionally, she will tolerate a few bites of #3, but truly, she just wants to feed herself. She now eats what we eat, plus a few more heaping helpings of her size. There is nothing that she won't eat. She has begun to wave bye, bye and likes to say, "MaMaMa and DaDaDa." She also gets a thrill out of her big brother. She grins ear to ear every time he comes around. Which leads us to him....

He has become so excited about "Baby," that he takes it upon himself to wake her up from her naps when HE deems ready. I caught him in there today grunting, and trying to lift her out of the crib from the outside. It's true. If we are carrying her, he wants her down, so that he can play with her. He loves to sing to her, and she loves to listen. It is absolutely amazing to watch them interact like they do.

Hayden has recently taken an interest in dressing and undressing himself. He does a pretty amazing job at this life long task that he will endure forever. Occasionally, the shirt is inside out and backwards, or the underwear is backward, but we don't make any comments, we just high five and go on our way. I am so proud of him. The other afternoon in the car, I was telling him all about Tuesday school in the Fall. We have been talking about it for months, so I guess he understands in his own way. I was explaining to him that I was having second thoughts, because I like him at home with me (OK, it's only two mornings a week, but I am already sad.) I told him that he could just not go, that they could give his tuition to charity, and that he could stay home with myself and Baby forever. As I turned around to look at him, he looked at me and waved while saying,"Bye-Bye Mom." Alright, the tears were already on the verge just discussing it, but here they fell. I know, I am absolutely pathetic and pitiful. Any other Mother's having these thoughts or am I nuts?

They are both growing up so fast, and Jared and I are so proud of them equally. I could not ask for better children. Thank you to all of you that love them so much and treat them with such kindness and respect.

I pray that everyone has a wonderful rest of the week. Stay safe and enjoy the possibly of rain. We are off to the beach in several days!

Good Night.