They Think Their Just Fishing!!!

Today we took the girls and Colton fishing.   Colton basically ate 8oz of formula, yes that is correct 8oz and then slept most of the time!  Gracie still isn't too sure about fishing, but she gave it her all and ended up catching the biggest fish, the bass!  She lost interest very easily but still enjoyed fishing with Daddy.   Hayden is the pro, just like her Aunt Kim, she caught the most fish and was upset that she didn't land the biggest fish!  She kept telling us "Sometimes you just have to be patient"  it was so cute and today was the first time that she really fished the correct way and enjoyed it.  In fact she made sure that Mark and Gracie watched their pole too, she wasn't going to miss out on any fish!  After two hours of fishing fun, Colton decided it was time to go and Gracie too for that matter, she was so tired.   We came home and they helped Daddy clean all the fish.  Hayden wanted to eat them tonight but we told her we had to save them for another night!  They enjoyed it so much.  These are memories that they will never forget with their Daddy!

Challenges

Hayden turned in one more challenge and her site words on Thursday and she passed with flying colors.   She started working on the next set of site words on Thursday night and we turned them back on Friday morning and she passed with flying colors again!  She said Mrs. McDaniel couldn't believe when she brought them back the next day!!!  Way to go Baby Girl!!!   She is so smart and now she loves to do her words, in fact every time Mark and I sit down, she brings them to us and wants to do them.  Glad she is so eager to learn and hope that she stays that way!   We started working on the next set of words last night and she already knows all of them except one, hopefully by Monday she can turn them in again.  It really makes her proud.  You should have seen her face when we picked her up on Friday, she was just waiting on us to ask how she did and she just smiled as I pulled out the paper with 100% on it!!!  I Love it!

Colton is rolling over all the time now, unfortunately he still doesn't like being on his tummy so he kind of gets upset after a few minutes.  Guess he will get used to or figure out how to turn himself back over.   He loves to be sitting up, where he can see everything.  He just talks and talks and it is so funny because you can tell when he is being really serious. 

Gracie didn't get to go to school last week because she was sick too.  Next week she will get started back, she missed going especially seeing her best friend Madison.   Hopefully next week we will all be back to normal and Mommy can go back to the gym,  I have really missed going this week!

Rolling Over

Colton rolled over from his back to his tummy for the first time today!  I think it surprised him too!  Unfortunately he isn't a big fan of being on his tummy, so we had to help him turn back over.   He is growing so fast and will be four months old in just 2 days.  Gracie was very excited about it, in fact she is the one that pointed out to Mark and myself that he was about to turn over.   We love you baby boy!!!  This is the first of many accomplishments.

That Feeling!

Monday night Colton got up around 12:30am, which is very unusal but I got up and fixed him a big bottle and put him back to bed.  He went right back to sleep and as I was coming out of his room, I could hear Hayden gasping for air and barking.  The barking cough is horrible, she seems to always get the croup cough.  It just came on so fast, she complained a little  before bed about her throat hurting and had a little cough but nothing like it was at 12:30.  I took her into my room and got her some water but she was still gasping for air and she was getting scared and of course I was trying not to panic.  That is the worst feeling in the world when there is something wrong with one of my babies.   Mark got up too, and we put her in the shower, usually the steam clears her right up but she still was gasping and just couldn't breathe!  I learned a couple of years ago to never second guess my motherly instincts so I called Aunt Kim and she said that we needed to bring her to the ER for a breathing treatment.  Since we had Gracie and Colton sleeping, Mark loaded her up and met Kim at the Hospital.  I stayed home and it almost drove me crazy not being there with her, but I knew she was in good hands.  She received a breathing treatment and got some medicine and they let her come back home.  I met her on the porch and carried her in like a little baby and put her right in my bed!!!  Thanks to Aunt Kim for always taking such good care of us, we love you and appreciate it so much!  Oh and Aunt Kim said that Hayden is the perfect little patient, she wasn't scared and was so sweet to all the doctors and nurses. 

Where to Begin?

I stay so busy that my poor blog is getting harder and harder to update.  I love to use the blog for two reasons...1.  Everybody can keep up with what is going on and 2.  It helps me make sure that all three of their baby books is up to date!   Okay well lets see if I can remember everything from the past week...Gracie is still loving school!  Colton started laughing out loud on Tuesday and I must say it is the cutest little laugh ever.  He almost rolled over on Friday,  I give him a couple more days and he should have it.  He loves for people to sit and talk to him, especially Mommy and long as he has my full attention everything is fine!  I don't want to jinx myself but he has also slept for 12 hours straight two nights in a row.  Mommy is going to feel like a new person really soon.   Hayden is doing great!  She is the star of her Soccer team, it really is such a proud feeling when all the other parents on the team are complimenting her and cheering her on!  It is truly amazing as to how competitive us parents become watching our kids!!!  She is doing great in school and we are working hard on a couple more challenges and site words to turn in on Monday.  I know she will do great, Mrs. McDaniel says she is a sweetheart, but we already knew that!   We all went to the Pep Rally at GWA on Thursday, it is so cute to see all the little ones on the field, Hayden doesn't really understand what a pep rally really means but it was still fun.  She also went to the Homecoming Game at GWA Friday with Mimi and Kim.  They said she really enjoyed playing with all her friends and meeting the girls on Homecoming Court!  She really is getting big and more interested in big girl things.   She isn't supposed to be growing up this fast!   Aunt Kim brought her home after half time of the game and she was so tired she fell asleep as soon as she got in the bed.  

Gracie 3rd Birthday Party!

Gracie has had several birthday parties this year, but today was the last one until next year.   She was so shy today and wouldn't open her presents or blow out her candles.   My little girl has decided that she is going to be shy.  She wanted a Cinderella party, so of course that is what she got.   Mimi had the cake made by the same lady from school that has done the last couple of birthday parties and once again...it was amazing...taste and appearance.   The party was a big success and Gracie got lots of great gifts and got to play with all her friends.  As I type this at 7pm she is sound asleep cuddled up with her Pop.  She has had a busy day!!!  There are not a lot of pictures because Colton decided that he didn't like big crowds today and only wanted Mommy.  I forgot to hand off the camera in all the excitement. 

The cake was perfect, she loved it and as you can see it had the castle and carriage on it.  It takes real talent to make cakes like this!!!

Oh I almost forgot that Hayden had Community Helper day at School on Friday.  Of course she wanted to be a Doctor so we got Aunt Kim to give us one of her Doctor coats.   Looks like she was a real professional doctor.

Kendall was a Veterinarian, Abby was a Veterinarian and Hayden was the Doctor, Blakeney was the librarian.

Go Blue Butterflies!

Today was Hayden's first Soccer game for this season.  She is on the Sky Blue team and they wanted to be called the Blue Butterflies.   In one word she was AWESOME today.   She really went after that ball and I couldn't even keep count of how many times she scored.  She had to play the whole game because two of the other girls wouldn't even go out on the field.  She made us so PROUD today!!!  I think she is really going to be a great Soccer player!!!  

Yes, that is our girl #3, her daddy's favorite number and this is what most of the game looked like...she really did show off today and we are so proud and glad she had fun and enjoyed it so much!  Can't wait to watch again Monday night!

This is our big boy, wearing his big trucks and camo!!!

Gracie's Birthday Party at School

Yesterday Colton and I went to Preschool to celebrate Gracie's 3rd Birthday.  Gracie and I made sugar cookies with icing and sprinkles on them.  She was so excited to share them with her friends!  When Colton and I got there, the class was finishing their lunch,  I sure am glad I am not a Preschool teacher, just saying...I love kids but WOW it is kind of crazy in there.  There are two really, really, really active little boys, that spend a majority of their time in time out and the rest are well they are just 2 and 3 and learning how to listen.  She had colored her birthday hat to wear while she ate her cookie and the class sang Happy Birthday!  She did a fantastic job and was very shy while they sang to her!   After the birthday party, I joined the class in Music,  it was all very interesting and made me realize that Mark and I have very well behaved kids!  I was so proud of her, she follows directions very well and participated.  Then it was time to go and get Hayden from school! 

This is Madison, Gracie's best friend!

 Baby Boy in Camo...

Labor Day Weekend / Gracie B Day

Friday was Gracie's birthday and Hayden, Colton and myself had to go get her birthday present.  So I dropped Gracie off with Aunt Sheri and Jessica to play with Maeleigh while we went to Athens after school.  Gracie was a good girl, and she took a long nap on their couch too!  Good thing because she still had a lot to do on her birthday.  All she wanted was a Minnie Mouse scooter, so we got that first and it was  a bargain because it was only $25, so we went to Toys R Us to find a few other things to go with it.  Hayden had to have a zhu zhu pet and case, so we went ahead and picked Gracie out on too...no fighting that way!   We also got her a Minnie Mouse apron and chef hat and a tea set, yes another tea set but she loves them and they are all so exciting for different reasons!  When we got home Hayden distracted Gracie while I got everything wrapped for her to open when Daddy got home. 

 Mimi and Pop took us all out to eat Japanese to celebrate Gracie's 3rd birthday.  Gracie really eats good when eat there, she blinks the entire time that they cook it though.  She is easily scared and absolutely doesn't like loud noises, but she sat in her chair the whole time and enjoyed it.   I had made strawberry cupcakes with sprinkles earlier, so we ate those when we got back home.  We also gave her some birthday presents since Friday was her actual birthday!  She was so excited when she opened all of her presents, she liked all of them but she really loved her Scooter!!!! 

Saturday, we took it easy around the house and watched Georgia Football.  I personally like the later games because I actually get to watch and enjoy them.  The girls wore their cheer leading outfits and Colton wore his Georgia attire too! 

My good looking kids!! As Hayden and Gracie would say "Go Bulldogs"  Mark corrects them everytime and says it should be "Go Dawgs"  oh well it is cute no matter which way they say it!!!

To bad he wasn't on the team, I bet they would have won!

Sunday, we went to Mimi and Pop's house to celebrate the holiday with all the family.  It was supposed to be a pool party but the weather had other plans.  The pool was a little cold, so the girls enjoyed the hot tub and they got to play with Katelyn. Gracie really enjoyed playing tea party with Katelyn and showing her how to run all around Mimi and Pop's house.  This year Hayden played more with the boys, they played a lot of TAG and for some reason she was IT a lot.  She will figure out how to trick those boys too in just a couple more years!!!  We had lots of good food and fun. 

Today, we are getting ready for back to school.  Tomorrow Hayden is turning in her second set of site words and 3 challenges.  I hope she does good,  I know she knows all of it as long as she doesn't freeze up!

Also on May 24th, which is Colton's birthday, we went to have some professional pictures taken, which we just got a copy of.  I had to stop at my Mema's house to shower before my doctors appointment and thank goodness I did because my doctor sent me straight to the hospital.  It was fun though and something they will never forget, they got to paint Mommy right before baby brother made his arrival!!!   Wow, I sure was BIG and I knew he was coming that afternoon!!!

Dear Gracie,

Dear Gracie,

I can not believe that you are already 3 years old today.   I guess it is true time flies when you're having fun.  Three years ago at exactly 2:01pm God blessed us with you, a beautiful, smiling baby girl.  You were perfect in every way!  Mommy gets kind of emotional on your birthday and as you and Hayden get older, you will both understand.  It was a perfect September in 2008, and I thank God everyday for all of our many blessings.  You were so patient making your arrival but not anymore, when you want something, you want it right then.  You can be a little demanding at times, but we all love you for that!  You tend to pitch a fit when you don't get your way, but we are working on that because we don't want you to be that kid that no one wants to play with. You started Preschool this year and even though you cried everyday for the first week you absolutely love it now and can't wait to go.  I love the way that you follow Hayden around and do everything and I do mean everything she does, you are the true definition of a copycat!  The good thing is that Hayden loves it too, well most of the time anyway.  You have had so many accomplishments in the past three years....rolling over, crawling, walking, talking, running and finally potty trained...you were a little hard headed about it but we finally got through it!   You are a very beautiful, determined, intelligent, loving, and smiling little girl now.  I guess even though you will always be my baby, you are a little girl now!  Some of your favorite things are riding your tricycle, scooter, playing babies, and dress up.  This year not only did you start school but also Ballet, I love your excitement about Ballet...everyday you ask when you get to go back again.  Your Daddy thought you were going to be the tomboy but I think you are going to be a prissy little girl instead.   The funniest things you do are dressing up in silly outfits and singing and performing for us in front of the TV and when you act like your the baby and Hayden is the Mommy!

You picked Cinderella for your 3 year old birthday party theme.  We are going to have a pool party at Mimi and Pop's house next weekend to celebrate with everyone, but for tonight it will just be our perfect little family celebrating.  This year you also became a big sister, which you made you so happy.  You are very sweet to your brother and always trying to help Mommy take care of him.  He is going to love you and he will probably be following you around pretty soon, just like you do Hayden!  Everyone was so worried that you would feel left out since you are the middle child, but you absolutely make sure that doesn't happen, which is truly something I love and admire about you.  See the way I see it is you are very lucky because not only do you get to be a big sister but you also get to be a little sister, you get the best of both worlds!!! 

We all love you so much baby girl!!!  We hope you have an amazing 3rd Birthday!

We will always love you bunches,

Mommy and Daddy

Week 3

This week has been great for the girls.  Gracie is absolutely loving school, in fact she was disappointed that she didn't get to go today!  She is learning so much and it has been excellent for her to be around other people besides me all the time, never thought I would say that, did you?  She has made so many friends and can't wait to tell me all about her day.  Yesterday, Aunt Kim went with me to pick Gracie up from school and then we met Mimi at Chick-fil-a so that Gracie could play for a while.  Then since Hayden is feeling a little left out, Kim also went with me to pick her up from school.  You should have seen the smile on her face when she saw Kim in her car.  The first thing she said was "Can we eat Chinese" had to tell her no since it was almost 3pm, then she wanted to go swimming, but since I hadn't planned to, I didn't have any swim suits and Gracie and Colton were both sound asleep.  She was a little disappointed, but she gets to swim at Mimi's this weekend so maybe she will forgive us.  

Ballet and Soccer are both going good.  They love all of their activities!  Mommy is a little tired but I will survive.haha.   Mommy also started going to the gym this week to try to get back those abs I had before I got pregnant with Hayden almost 6 years ago...wish me luck!   I have enjoyed the gym even though about 30 minutes is all I can do for now, Colton travels along and watches me for the most part...sometimes I wonder if he is laughing at me lifting weights.  Another busy week down and now a busy weekend coming up....A little bit of Georgia football Saturday, a pool party at Mimi and Pop's Sunday, and then a much needed holiday Monday!!!  Let the fun begin! 


Here are some other updates, I stay so busy that I haven't been updating as much as I need to..to be able to keep up with everything.   I had to ask Hayden some questions for school.  One was "what do you want to be when you grow up"  Hayden said "I want to be a doctor just like Aunt Kim".  At least she has big goals and she has a very good role model!

My Happy Boy!

Silly girls playing dress up!

Sitting in his Bumbo seat!

Hayden's teachers send me pictures which I love because I can see what she is doing in class.  The whole class completed their challenges for August so they are dancing on the red carpet.  They got to dance individually and all together. I can only imagine the excitement in the room!  See if you can find my dancer....