The Times Of Our Lives!: February 2010

You gotta love 'em!

This was something that Tyler created for me late one Monday afternoon. It came just in the nick of time. It was one of those days that I felt like I was being pulled in different directions helping different kids do different things while I was trying to accomplish something myself!

We had Jonathan over and he and Hayden were working on a model and Hailey was really bored looking for things to do and ended up trying to work on a craft project. Tyler was feeling really left out and somewhat pouty because no one wanted his help and the things I got out for him to do weren't keeping his interest. I was busy trying to catch up on dishes and people kept asking me what they could do or help me with this or with that.

Someone had mentioned these little plastic dominoes for Tyler to play with and that was just the trick. He actually ended up setting them up with Jonathan and it kept them busy for quite awhile. But, even better was the fact that Tyler found out the white dominoes were really glow in the dark dominoes and he immediately took a handful into the closet and created a picture of Jonathan. It was really cute. But then he called me into the closet because he had something to show me. This is what it was . . .

I absolutely loved it! It made my day! Thanks Tyler!

Gingerbreadmania!

This is a little late in "posting" but things have been busy! About a month ago for a Church babysitting we had a lesson in being different and the differences in people and thought it would be fun for the kids to create their own different people.
Instead of the "paper route" of creation - we chose every kids favorite - FOOD!

I think the kids had a blast! It was fun and tasty!

Things started out fairly simple early on with the decorations but as you will see in the following pictures that they became more elaborate.

Ingrid with Tyler in the background.

Jayden

I think the person who made this wasn't caring so much for style as to maybe getting as many M & M's that they could eat!!!

Here we go . . .

Alayna

Tyler made these. It's supposed to be me and Kurt!

Alayna made this and took the time to take M & M's and crush them into teeny, tiny pieces to make her dress . . . yes, it was messy. But it's art - it's supposed to be messy, right?

That was a lot of fun. We will have to do that again. Oh, just a word of wisdom. When you make the recipe and double it and think it doesn't look like you have enough dough, don't despair. I was so worried that we didn't have enough dough and by the time I was done rolling, cutting and baking we had cookies coming out of our ears (not really). There was A LOT. You know it's at that point where you are offering them to ANYONE who will take them! I could have put them in a box next to the box that says . . . "Free Zucchini" that you find out on the sidewalks in the summer.

Hailey, the Big 1 - 5 !

Hailey was really excited to turn 15. She wanted to celebrate her birthday with her High School colors for her theme. So, her colors were Purple, Yellow and Black. She had asked everyone to come dressed in at least one of her school colors. It was a cute idea.
I think I had tried to get a closer up picture of the cake but it didn't come out.

Hailey decided just to have some girls her age over - some from school, Church and family.

Here she is at the presents part, her favorite!

Emma, Kelsey, Alayna and Rebecca.

Dana and Tyler. Hayden "got out of Dodge" the night before and went to hang out with Jonathan at his house. He didn't think he could handle the "girl party". Tyler on the other hand really enjoys these. All the girls always think he is cute and they spoil him.

Kurt even came and hung out for a bit.

Kurt checking out a gift Hailey had gotten. This thing is called an Ipod Shuffle (or something like that). I had never heard of it and I actually thought it was a fancy paper clip or something. This thing that is a little bigger and thicker than a postage stamp and can hold up to 1000 songs! I know! I'm still shaking my head.

Tyler checking out the pretty smells.

After presents we played some really fun games. Whatiff, Scattergories and of course Twister (this was after cake).

On to the food. Hailey wanted a cake, Ice Cream, Punch and this very tasty dessert called Crescent Roll Ring. Mmmmmm.

I am mad at the camera for this one. I took a picture of her blowing out the candles and it took too long to click and this is what I got. . .

The girls had fun with Twister too!

This is Dana and Alayna - say that three times fast!

Emma and Kelsey. Ooops! Emma fell.

Hailey and Dana.

One of Hailey's gifts was an awesome picture frame so we made sure to get shots of her with everyone so we could get them printed and put into the frame.

Here is Hailey with Rebecca, her "Big Sister"! We love Rebecca to pieces. She loves to clothes shop and go to the Mall so her and Hailey really get along!

To me the word Mall is synonymous to the word Ugh!

Dana and Hailey.

Cousins Kelsey and Emma.

Hailey and Alayna.

Oh, and here is Tyler lovin' up the attention he is getting from Dana. Dana has a brother the same age as Tyler but has actually mentioned she would like to take Tyler home.

Here are two pictures of the fantastic Crescent Roll Ring. MMMMMM mmmmm MMMMM!
Before we fold over the edges.

After it is folded and baked!

Well, this was another successful birthday! Problem is, Hailey's next birthday is her 16th and she has some crazy notion in her head that it is supposed to be some big event. . . . I guess that at least gives me a year to prepare for it!!!

Another Saturday . . .

Although this is out of date sequence, it's okay. I just like the pictures.
I think these were actually taken the last Saturday of January.

Hailey has Festival coming up again this February. One of the songs she is playing is absolutely beautiful. It is called "Sea Voyage". You just want to close your eyes while you listen. I really need to take lessons so I can play some of this music too. She doesn't always want to play for you!

Johnny was hanging out with the boys - doing guy things!
You know, light sabers, Wii, Gamecube and RC cars!
Did I mention eating everything you have in the kitchen?

I was glad they got out because the weather has been so cold. We are all looking forward to Spring!

12, Already?

I think they say that when kids hit the age of about 10 they are now called "tweens" instead of kids. So I had told Hayden since he is turning 12, he is officially a "Senior Tween"! I think he liked that. This is our last year of somewhat normal behavior before he hits the actual teenage time frame where I grip onto something tight and hang on for the ride!

Hayden loves football (still) so for (I think) the third year in a row we have done a football theme. I found these cute little gold foil footballs this year. Made it quite easy to decorate.

Hayden had a small party this year. He just wanted his boy cousins over and Grandma made the trip down to also help him celebrate. I think he had a great time!

Grandma and Brodie

Oh, Chris, Emma and Kelsey hung around for just a little bit after they dropped Jonathan off. We girls love to chat! - Except Kelsey here - she found something interesting on her fingernail I think!

Hayden says he has to wear his Brett Favre football Jersey for these birthdays and if you look back you will see that he has! After seeing it on him though, I told him this would probably be the last birthday to get away with wearing it!

Brodie, Ryan and Dylan - waiting for this party to get started.

We actually bought the game "Twister". I remember playing this when I was a kid and loved it. Nothing better than to get a bunch of teen boys to sweat . . . what was I thinking?