HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAYDEN !

Friday was a big day at our house. It was Hayden's 11Th Birthday Party and it was busy! I had ten kids varying in age from six to fourteen! I was hoping I would have another adults help but it didn't quite work out that way! Kurt had to work, my little sister Debra was having some trouble with a shoulder of hers and was laid up with it and Chris wasn't feeling good so I was on my own! If you feel shivers down your spine - you know what I am talking about!

Here is a neat sign that Hailey and her friend Kaycee had made for Hayden. I thought it turned out really cute!




This is Hailey and Kaycee. They didn't want me to bother them with taking pictures but I made them deal with it anyway! Kaycee is a great girl! She is about six feet tall though and makes me feel quite dwarfed. . .

Here is Chris dropping off Jonathan - notice how she is smiling? It is because, even though she was feeling sick she was going to drive far away from ten rambunctious kids!

I have to admit when Brodie walked in the door I couldn't believe it! Wow! Has he changed! He was soooo much taller than the last time I saw him and he doesn't have a "little boy" face anymore! They grow so fast!

Jonathan had an interesting time. The boys were playing football out front while everyone was arriving. He tripped on the curb or something like that and hurt his foot. At the time I didn't know it but he had actually sprained his ankle! We didn't find out for sure until two days later.

Poor kid - he hobbled around a lot and was crawling too. I thought he was just acting goofy so I kept telling him to get up and stop acting so silly. In all actuality, his ankle was really hurting him and he couldn't walk on it. Boy, do I feel bad!

I tried really hard to get a "regular" picture out of Isaac but for some reason he kept pulling faces while I was taking pictures so . . . here is Isaac!

Hayden was loving having all his friends over! Emmett was very good at avoiding the camera most of the night. He was just about to put the pillow over his face but I was just a little too fast for him this time!

Here is Brodie and Dylan! They posed nicely!

Ryan was trying to avoid pictures too! Blogging is really hard - it is amazing how people don't really want you taking their picture! But, Ryan was patient with me. Thanks Ryan!

Tyler is synonymous for : hyper, excitable, action, energy, oh and exhausted mom!

This was our first game! You suck up smarties with straws and move them from one bowl to another. The first one to accomplish moving all of their smarties is the winner! The kids love this game because it is fun and you get to eat the candy when you are done. I like it because the kids get really quiet while they are playing it and then when they play it for a few times they are hyperventilated which makes them quieter and almost motionless!

On to the next game. This game can be really fun too! It was called "Name it- pass". The first person picks out a category and whoever they throw the ball to has to name something in that category as soon as they catch the ball or they are out. This game for some reason got completely out of hand! People were saying things like Yoda to the topic of Mammals . . . needless to say it got so loud that even with a raised voice I couldn't be heard. The kids were laughing and being so silly that I decided at this point to forgo the rest of the games planned and just go straight to the present opening! I needed to get control of the group!

Hayden took a minute to "eye" the candy I had put in the "thanks for coming" cups.

Hayden got everything he had hoped for and more! He was pretty thrilled!

Sometimes Jonathan scares me! Yes, he had this straw stuck on his tooth! I am not sure what he is doing to Emmett. Up until this time I didn't believe in Vampires . . . .

At times like this is when you take advantage of an opportunity. Hayden is so happy and disoriented by pure birthday joy that he actually let me hug him for a photo opportunity! Normally he is at that stage in life that you are not supposed to act like you are his mom. I think I will have this picture laminated!

In case you want to know, yes, you can fit eleven candles on a cupcake!

After presents and cupcakes and ice cream I decided that the best way to spend the last hour of the party was playing board games. This was an excellent idea! The kids really had a good time (plus they were in smaller, quieter groups)! Do I keep mentioning quieter? You would think I was obsessed with the idea of that or something?

I love this picture! This is Hayden. Football, friends and legos!

Dylan and Tyler enjoying a game of LIFE!

After everyone left and only Jonathan remained (he was spending the night) for some reason this weird monkey that belongs to the Baker family showed up. . . oh yeah, I sat it up on Hailey's bed earlier in the day to scare her half-to-death when she finally went into her room. Mission mostly accomplished. I didn't get as big of a scream out of her as I had hoped but, it did creep her out. I can live with that!

Hayden working on his X-Wing Lego - this thing was a pretty good size. He had also gotten a different set and had already put that together. Now, Ty wants one of his own!

Well, after all is said and done, Hayden said that it was the best birthday ever and willingly gave all of us hugs. He was excited and I was exhausted. There was still plenty to clean up and I will get to that later. The really scary thought is that Hailey's birthday is in a week and she wants to have a party with SIX girls her age . . . . . . . . help!

What, No Pictures?

I feel compelled to put up a new post. Maybe it is withdrawals from not writing one for so long or something like that! I was supposed to do a post on this hot air balloon project Hayden did at school but we were sidelined by the possibility that Hayden either caught a severe stomach flu or food poisoning - we are thinking the latter!
So, since Friday evening I have had a VERY SICK boy! We were hoping to send him to school tomorrow but stomach issues and his fever popped back up so, another day is needed to help him recuperate. He thinks he has lost 3 pounds through this ordeal! Also had Hailey home sick Monday and Tuesday - not as bad as Hayden but not too good for her.

Anyway . . . I will hopefully be posting on a bunch of things that were going on in our lives lately. A hot air balloon project, Hailey getting to go to a neat concert that her Dad was working at and was being filmed for PBS (go to links and hit the word "TANYA" and you can see a more in depth look into what that is all about - it's fascinating!) Also, Hayden will turn 11 on Friday - should have pictures of that too!
Just hang in there - there is more to come!

When Jonny Comes To Play . . .

When Jonny comes to play there is never a dull moment! If America ever needed a source of energy . . . well, you get the picture. ANYWAY - today is no different.
I was downstairs minding my own business, trying to repair the kitchen from making and serving breakfast and I had told the boys (Hayden, Jonny, Tyler) to go upstairs and get dressed for the day. You would have thought I told 3 elephants to go upstairs and pretend to be wrecking balls!

This is what I found. A battle of epic proportions between "camo man, guitar guy and pirate boy"! Yes, I don't know if they were battling for middle earth or what but it sounded like the house was being demolished! I will explain a little about each character as the boys had with me when I dared to ask.

This is "pirate boy", his weapon is a little rubber iguana that also doubles as a "mustache". Hmmm. Can't think of a more powerful weapon than that, can you? But I am not sure how he wields it. I think it stretches and you can use it like a rubber band. High chance of eye damage?

This here is "camo man" he has two very interesting weapons. One is a little Indian style flute he wears around his neck (not sure of what it's power is, yet, maybe to soothe and mesmerize his enemies) and the other is an electric toothbrush which I got to see in action. You hold it against your opponent and then you both stop to see what it does to your skin! (It must have stunning power because both kids stop to watch when that happens)! Thankfully, no blood!

Last but not least is "guitar guy". His weapon is more obvious. A little guitar. Here he is displaying it's power. The power to "bonk" people when they aren't looking. It also is useful when your enemy is taking a long time to get to the place you are hiding, you can just strum a tune. . . but it has a tendency to give away your location. You must be careful.

Yes, can't get more creative than that on a foggy Saturday morning.

Oh to be a kid again!

Ode to the Sun . . .

Ode to the Sun

Alas O sun, where be your shine?
with golden rays that pierce the mind

with thoughts of meadows, pure and gold

we are to see you or so we're told!

But what comes to my searching eyes

is gray and yuck - Behold these skies!

Dim and dismal, most sadly kept

Oh why O sun, Why have you slept?

Okay - I'm sorry. I couldn't help it! We were supposed to see the sun today. We were told by the trusty weatherman that this little storm front that is coming through, that dropped a fine dusting of snow overnight, was supposed to break up the inversion and clear up our skies. Well, these pictures were taken this morning and, hello! I don't see any sun anywhere!!!!
So, there is a cause for the melancholy attitude. Without sun I feel as though I am withering away. I end up feeling as grumpy as the sky looks!
On a positive note . . . at least with the snow it is a little more tolerable!
Feast your eyes on our hazy skies!

The only one here who I believe is not affected by this inversion!

I am glad I got that out of my system. I do feel a tiny bit better.