Softball, School, Baton and Cars

Well, we have had another busy couple of weeks.  Finally, finished celebrating Hayden's 9th birthday.  She has so many friends and family we celebrate for weeks! 

Hayden has officially started softball.  The one thing she really wanted was a new bat and that is what she got for her birthday. Along with the bat she is taking hitting lessons and pitching lessons for a little while.  She is very serious about both and so excited to be learning new, helpful things to use.  She did fantastic at her pitching lesson but she is going to have to practice, practice, practice to really get it down.  She is a big hitter so the hitting lesson went very well and she is knocking the fire out of the ball.  I can't wait to watch her on the field.  Due to our extreme weather conditions....we have only been able to hit in the batting cages!  She will be playing third base again this year, pitching the first inning of some games and hitting at all games.  I am so excited for the season to begin.  On another note,  Hayden had her first big book report last week.  She had to be Clara Barton.  She had to dress up and memorize a two minute report for this in first person.  She did fantastic.  In fact, she did so well that she made a 100!  She was so proud of herself.  Once again, Mommy has been making her work really hard for weeks to master it all and now she has seen how hard work pays off.  She was the only one in the class that truly memorized hers!!!


Gracie is loving baton.  She is really been practicing for her recital.  It looks like it is going to be so cute.  She is really coming out of her shell.  She has even been showing the routine to Mark and I for weeks.  Every one else has to wait until May sometime.   She is also doing great in school.  She completed her red site words last week. This was the last set she had to master this year.  She was also the first one in her class to complete them, which made her very happy.  She might have an overachiever as a MOM.  She loves to read and it is all started to come together. 

Colton was asked to be a model for Spring Street Studios last week.  He did a fantastic job just being his adorable, handsome, and silly self.  He was the cutest little thing I have ever seen in my life.  He was out for winter break last week so he didn't accomplish any school stuff but he did build lots of ramps for his cars and tracks for his trains.  Our other big news for Colton is that he got into GWA.  He will be in K4 next year.  Hard to believe all my babies are finally at one school.  He was so excited to get to go to Hayden and Gracie's school.  He is one of the youngest but I know that he is a genius and they will all see it too! 

9 years old

Be still my heart.  How can it be that my sweet baby girl is 9 years old today?  Today we will celebrate you,  my sweet, beautiful, intelligent, caring, loving, athletic, determined, confident and perfect baby girl.  Nine years ago today you changed me from just Jennifer Stancil to Mommy!  You stole my heart as soon as they placed your sweet face in my arms.  I knew that my life had changed but only for the better.   You have no idea how much Daddy or how proud of you we both are!  We feel that we are the lucky ones because we get to be your parents.  It is funny how at nine years old you have taught me things, like sometimes you just have to ride bikes through mud puddles or jump in puddles or just sing in the rain.  I love that you love to sit up later than Colton and Gracie to watch special shows with just me....we love The Voice and American Idol!  I love that you copy every thing I do...like the way I get ready.  You don't know that I watch you but I do....you put your clothes on the same way, put your makeup on the same way (only for play).  I love that you want to wear all of my very special jewelry, even though you are not supposed to touch it.  I guess what I am trying to say is that you are really growing up!  Even though I think you are growing up way too fast, I enjoy doing all of these new wonderful things with you.    I hope you have the happiest birthday ever.  This is the last year of single digits for you!    As always, reach high and aim for the stars sweet girl.  You can do anything and every thing.  You are the most determined, confident person I know and you are going to achieve some really wonderful things in the years to come.  You just always know that we love you to the moon and back and infinity.   

Hayden's 9th Birthday Party

The title of this makes me realize that my baby girl is growing up way too fast.  She is such a sweet, intelligent, caring, loving, happy, athletic and angelic little girl.  She wanted to have a big party this year, so I found the perfect place for a cold, rainy February birthday party.....a POOL!  We rented the Morgan County Aquatic Center for her party and in her very own words  "that was awesome best party ever"  then in her own words "thank you Mommy for letting me have a big birthday party".  I told her that we would do anything for her but to make sure she told her Daddy how much she loved it too.  She is such a thankful girl and it makes me so happy that she appreciates what we do instead of expecting us to do things. 

She had a pretty big turn out at the party.  She had so much fun.  There were lots of laughing and squealing.  There were lots of climbing on the inflatable, some were racing, some were just hanging out and some were just being silly.  Colton had a great time.  He was so worn out that he was sound asleep by 6:30 last night.  They all swam hard for close to 2 hours.  After lots of swimming we had cake and they all had two pieces of cake.  This is the first cake that has ever been completely gone at a party.  It was Yummy!  She also got lots of really great gifts including lots of gift certificates.  She wore all of her new earring, necklaces and bracelets today to show off at school.   I am planning to take her shopping on the Monday she is out of school.  She is going to have so much fun!