Hayden Swim Lesson Scrapbook Page

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Happy Boy!

I was able to grab some "authentically happy Hayden" pics in the backyard last weekend. These are the smiles that I LOVE to see!

Lovin' brother..

"Someone's Been Walking In My Crocs!"

This is something you might hear Hayden say these days. He can never find them where he left them. You see, Evan LOVES them. He slips them on at any opportunity. One day he put them on (though WAY too big) and sported them around the house most of the day.

These Crocs are too big!

These Crocs are just right!

Steve and I went and bought Evan his very first pair of
Crocs. We even got him decked out with a monkey
and Superman Jibbitz. (how fitting for little E.)
Alas, he still favors his brother's Crocs.

Hayden's Preschool Year End Program

I am very behind in posting this one! I had to edit the video to clip it down enough to post which took some time.
Anyhow, Hayden's preschool program was about Creation and they were adorable singing their hearts out about all the wonderful things God has made.

Below is video of the program titled "Before the World Began". I trimmed down to the highlights.

This is Hayden and one of his favorite preschool friends, Tommy. (He even has a stuffed bear named Tommy that he named at Tommy's birthday party at Build-a-Bear. Tommy named his bear Hayden - so sweet!)

Frustrating, Sad, Funny, Surrender.....

Those are just a few of the words I would use to describe this scene of young siblings. My camera was handy Friday afternoon for a very different purpose (stay tuned this week for a posting I think I will call "Someone's Been Walking in My Crocs"). Please, no fear, I most always intervene in the midst of a raging baby and a very frustrated older brother. However, that afternoon I figured I might as well capture a little bit o' real life for display. It is a special peek of the reality that many of us blogging mommies prefer to keep secret from those that may stumble upon our page :-) I hope that for any that may have had a tough week with a screaming child or children that perhaps this may bring you a bit of comedic relief or at least comfort to know that you share the same boat with what is every other Mommy on the planet!

Hayden wonders if I am collecting evidence for when Daddy gets home.


Raging baby gets what he wants but is still furious with the effort he
had to put forth to get it.

Dear Lord,
Thank you for our beautiful sons.
Thank you for entrusting us with the responsibility of raising them.
Thank you for the grace You have given me in the mistakes
I have made and will continue to make as I Mother these precious boys.
Please help me to be "slow to anger" Psalm 103:8 just as You are
when I find myself losing patience with my sons at times.
May we always seek your guidance to teach them to grow into
the men that we pray will know You and love You.
May I always find joy even during challenging times of parenthood.

Amen.

Little E and My Gym - The Best Investment Ever!!

From the great recommendation of friends, I enrolled Little E and I at a Mommy and Me program at a local My Gym. Wow! - There could not have been a more perfect way to expend the incredible amount of energy inside my little man and also get some quality just "E and me" time.

E is scouting out his next activity.
Little E posing at the end of the trampoline in his oh so cheesy smile that he often sports when he knows a camera is pointed in his direction.
Evan gets ready to hang all by myself from the bar just to prove he is the real life "monkey mess" we endearingly call him from time to time. (that name affectionately given by Aunt La La)


Ta da! He could not be happier...

E and His Sandbox Love Affair

Evan loves the sand table. He would play in it most of the day if he could. You would think it would get old but it doesn't. He loves it so much in fact that he feels a need to climb up on to the table so he can be closer to his beloved sand.

It all starts with innocent fun. He scoops up the sand and dumps it back in the box.

Sandy little boy hand.

I gotta get in there!
Working my way up.

What, what is so funny?
I love the feel of sand on my face!
So fun, oh what incredible fun!
I gotta save some up in my shorts. (Mommy dumped out what seemed like a whole bucket full of sand from his changing table when I went to change him afterward. He had sand in places I don't even care to mention!)

I just love to get these hands nice and dirty!

"I Pray!"

I finally got a picture of Evan starting to fold his hands for prayer as he sits at his play kitchen table with his play food. It is hard to decipher but he is starting to say, "I pray." It sounds something like "ahbre." It brings me great joy that he has taken note of this. I have to admit he even reminds us sometimes when we are hurried and forget. My mother in law told me he did this the other night when they had taken him out to eat.

Special Mother's Day Tea at Preschool

I was invited to attend a very special Mother's Day Tea at Hayden's preschool this past Thursday. I first had to pick from the wall which portrait drawing was of me. I had to guess a few times. I had not realized that Hayden's art work had improved into recognizable characters! Looks just like me don't you think?

On the back of the art work was a little Mommy questionnaire that he had filled in the blanks with his teacher.

She's as pretty as a "McCaw" ( I think this is a bird from Dora the Explorer.)
She weighs "25 - her number is really hard to know" (bless you child!)
Her favorite food is "meatballs". (not sure where he got that one)
When she was little she use to "draw my aunt a picture."
I wish mom would "let me play on the computer when I wake up" everyday.
I wouldn't trade my mother for a "Buzz Lightyear rocket ship"

His answers were also quoted in the preschool newsletter that goes out to the parents- too cute!

Hayden then made me a very special and beautiful beaded bracelet. I think he knows how much I like pink so he picked through to find the perfect beads.

Me and my sweet Hayden - I love you to bits!

Backyard Fort Fun

Evan loves to climb on the edge of his fort and watch the neighbors. He often waves and tells the next door neighbors goodbye as they leave the driveway. I chuckled the other day when I heard the Dad next door return Evan's, "Bye, Bye." I can only imagine the cute vision they encounter from the other side of the fence as they see his little head peaking over the railing.
Sweet baby boy foot.


They have discovered that is it just as much fun to climb up the slide and go down together rather than climbing around to go up the ladder.

The boys really love playing outside together on their fort. It is so special to see the special bond (and mischief) that grows each day between brothers.

Hayden's Last Soccer Game

Hayden wrapped up his first soccer season this past Saturday. We were so proud of him! He really was motivated to go after the ball towards the end of the season and had a blast. He would often tell me, "Mom, I am excited about my soccer game on Saturday." - too cute!
After the game we headed to Varsity Grill for some serious bounce house fun, mac and cheese, and a trophy to celebrate their fantastic season.

Hayden shoots his final practice goals with coach and Daddy.
Hayden has to get in one last conversation with his buddy during the game - ha!
Hayden has something to say to his team.

Chivalry at Four..

Hayden is such a sweet little boy. Almost every time we go outside he picks one of the purple petunias from our front flower bed to give to me. "I picked a flower for you, Mom," I sweetly hear. He remembered after so long ago his Daddy taught him to pick a flower for his Mommy. It always stuck with him. I think he always longs for the smile it brings even after sometimes difficult days. I kept meaning to post about this long ago but this was the first night I was able to get a picture with him holding the flower. He likes to see me tuck in my hair behind my ear. Little E is even starting to catch on but I think he just appreciates ripping a flower out of the flower bed without being told no - he he. I am so thankful they have such a wonderful Daddy who is setting a good example and teaching them how to someday treat their own wives.

Oh, Brother!!!

As with all siblings, we love one another but drive each other crazy sometimes. As little E gets older and is more able to play with his brother and his treasured belongings, the frustration on both sides is emerging more and more. One minute they are chasing each other laughing, the next minute and I am hearing screaming and crying as one of them flees to Mommy for resolution.
Unfortunately my little E without proper verbal skills at this age has picked up biting as a way to communicate anger towards his brother. I understand this is common in toddlers of this age but I have not dealt with this before - Of course Hayden did not have an older brother to antagonize and take away toys he wants to play with so badly. I am working hard with my boys to teach Evan to not bite but also teach Hayden not to tease or run after things he sees Evan going for. It is definitely challenging but I am confident we will get through this stage hopefully very soon.
Getting to the point of my post -Hayden was at least able to provide me some unintentional comic relief today during one of their "encounters". They were building together sweetly a fun little tower with their "Pop'ems" (kind of a baby version of legos) when all of a sudden things went suddenly downhill. Evan decided it would be fun to knock over the beautiful tower they had just built together. I saw rage come over Hayden's face as he yelled,"Mommy, WE PICKED OUT THE WRONG BABY!" It took everything I had not to laugh. I started to explain again that we did not just pick Evan out at the hospital and that God had given him a very special brother to love forever. He stills just thinks we got him from the doctor's office. (I think Hayden totally forgot about me ever being pregnant.) Before I could even finish Hayden tells me, "Mommy, we picked out the baddest baby!" This is as he sees Evan going back for round 2 of knocking down their great little tower. This of course led to a whole other heart to heart discussion between Hayden and I but I had to get this little blurb out there....It cracks me up some of the things he comes up with.
With all that being said, I can see their love growing for each other each and everyday.

These beautiful photos were taken by my friend, Tammy.
I will treasure them forever!