Christmas is Canada

I love these "jammies"
In Vancouver at the christmas train



Since we are leaving for TN tonight ( in 3 hours for the airport) ( also on a red eye with Hayden , a few prayers needed!) we did Christmas with my family this past weekend. My sister was home from college so we were all there. It was a great time. We tried to go on the Christmas train at stanley park but due to some differences of opinions we did not buy tickets ahead of time, so we didn't get to go. But we stayed at looked at all the lights and went for dinner. Hayden didn't know he was going to get to go on the train, but he looked at it with much longing.....i really wanted him to be able to go, but there is always next year. We opened presents with my fam and did christmas with my mom's extended side. So it really felt like Christmas.
Hayden now has WAY to many toys. With birthday and Christmas so close together, he is really getting to know what presents are. And today, he started asking for more!!!!!!!! just great!!! And luckily and unluckily there will be more in TN....so well see how that goes.

Birthday Party Pics

Here are some pics from Hayden's birthday party. It was alot of fun. I can't take credit for the cake. I WAS going to do it and then i showed my mom the pic and she took over/ did it for me. She is much better at that fine detail stuff than me anyways. Mine would have been much.......... lets say.....pretty!

O Christmas Tree.../ Happy Birthday

Well, we actually got our tree the weekend after thanksgiving, but like my usual self, I'm not writing about it until now. We planned on going to a farm and cutting one down, but.... we ended up just going down the street to a lot and picking one out! i know, not so christmassy fun. But Hayden did love running around in all the trees. He was chasing Nana! so cute. and when they started the saw to cut off the bottom......he was mesmerized!l
When we got home I poked Hayden in the eye trying to put on his hat, and then we tried to get a picture of him with the tree ( since we forgot to take the camera) and this is what we got. (picture above) But he did love getting the tree. There are a few more pics of us decorating the tree.
The top pic is the one we got of Hayden with Santa! That was the first time he sat down. We went to the mall the sat after thanksgiving and there was not one person in line! I could not believe it. So Hayden got two attempts. The second time he had a little more preparation from me and I told him to tell Santa he wanted Bob ( Bob the builder) . So I put Hayden down, he looked at Santa and said "bob" and then looked at the camera for one sec and then cried! So the second shot was of him looking at santa, but you couldn't really see his face, so we opted for the crying one, more true to the event!
We also had Hayden's birthday party this past sat. night. He turned two on sat so we had the party and opened gifts, did cake. We haven't got the pics on yet, but i am proud of the cake, even though my mom did most of it. Hayd got lots of great gifts and is now in love with them all. He doesn't want to nap, leave the house, or go to bed! I am very thankful for the new toys, mommy was having to be pretty entertaining lately. I think he was tired of the old ones, not that i think kids should have a ton of toys........just a newbie here and there to change it up! Having birthday and christmas together makes its hard.
And a little other news.....were expecting baby #2! Most of you probably already know but i thought i would put in on here. Were due june 4-10ish.... and hopefully find out the sex in early jan! Im glad to be done the first trimester and am feeling some ( not alot ) but some energy back!

5 am

5 am. The time Hayden has been waking up for the last week! It is EARLY! He did this all last winter so I am scared that it is back for good. Right now im just trying to let him cry it out and maybe he will go back to sleep. Most days i can do it but once i just gave in. He will come lay in bed with me for about 20 min and then he gets up .....and if he could open our door he would. We then move to the couch where he watched tv for an hour and i doze..........terrible mommy! but really, i dont feel bad for having the tv on that early in the morning. But i do pray that this stops soon. On monday we kept him up till 945pm because we had our small group, hoping this would surely make him sleep in......didn't work, just super tired boy the next day. So well see.........
Tomorrow is thanksgiving yah! We are hosting a friends thanksgiving for our friends that don't have family close! Thankfully......i am not doing the turkey. That would make me a bit nervous. But it should be a good time.....
And i am really looking forward to getting our CHRISTMAS TREE this weekend! I am dying to pull out my decorations.....but i will wait until thanksgiving is over. I want to start doing all these christmas events..... so i cant wait for friday!

Long time

SO! I know it has been a long time since i have written. And i have been thinking that for weeks, but i just feel i never had anything to say. Not that i have anything that great today.
We have been super busy lately though. Hayden and I, and my parents went to TN for my sister's senior night, for soccer and of course saw and stayed with Thad's parents. We were there 6 days and had BEAUTIFUL weather, sun everyday and i think hayden spent 90% of his time outside. Which was great.
Then we came home and had our good friends Andy and Natalie come from TN for a long weekend. We had a blast with them and went up to Vancouver for one night. It was a busy fast visit but lots of fun. We were all supposed to go see Elton John and Billy Joel when they were here, but Elton John got e-coli and the flu, so the show was cancelled! so that was a big bummer. But we still had alot of fun.
They left about a week ago and we have just been catching up and getting back to life. It seems that with the holidays coming things are going to stay busy. But i am so excited for christmas and christmas things to do. Get a tree, see the parade, see the lighting of the tree here in seattle, go to this caroling thing downtown.......etc. And one of my favorites is going to the christmas train in Vancouver, i think Hayden would love it this year, so well see if we can squeeze that in.
I haven't put any pics on the computer in forever sorry!
Not to much is new with Hayden. I swear he wakes up dancing ,he is a dancing machine. He LOVES LOVES music, so that is alot of fun. Once again, i love this stage he is in! it just gets better and better!

Time well spent

Wow. Have I been MIA for awhile. I have loved reading everyone else's blogs and have known that mine needed some updating........
Well, i was thinking about how i spend my time here.....when Hayden and I are at the house. So i think it breaks up to
70%- pretend "night night" on our pallet of blankets in the family room (this includes putting our stuffed animals to bed, reading books, and doing 2 puzzles)
10%- blocks
10%- fireman puzzle
10%- racing, aka, hayden and i having a running race
ok so that is 100, but i have to add dancing/drumming, he LOVES this as well. I swear if i could get him one thing to have lessons in right now, it would be drumming. He just runs around the house saying "drumming drumming drumming" of course, not that clear........
So when were home, were always doing the same things. I try other things, but he just loves what he loves!

Lost and Found!

This is the best pic i could find out our precious blanky!
So, as some of you know, Hayden is pretty attached to his blanky. I am trying to just use it at sleep time and car time, but it usually gets dragged around other places also. Which is why this happened!
Yesterday I went for a run pushing hayden and we brought our blanky, along with another blanket to actually keep warm, cheerios, cup, toys, etc. all to keep him content so i can get a run in. So we get back and have a busy morning trying to get ready for our first playdate at our house. So were showering, vaccuming, picking up, etc. Our friends come, we have a great time, kids get tired, moms get good socializing. good time. So our friends leave and its time for naptime. I am looking for his blanky everywhere and realize i haven't seen it since our run.I check the whole house, drawers, hiding places, can't find it. So off we trapse into the car to drive my run from the morning. The problem is Hayden is almost asleep in the car and i cant see the sidewalk becuase of parked cars. So we race home and I decide to walk it later. WELL, then it decides to downpour right when i want to walk it. But my LOVING husband says he take his bike and look for it in the rain. I have big hopes, surely he'll find it!
After Thad being gone a long time,......no blanky! I couldn't believe it. At least hayden hadn't noticed. I think i was more upset than he was. ( since he hadn't noticed). I just know how much he loves to cuddle with it and put his fingers through the loops, he loves that thing. And i was so sad it was gone! I could not believe it. really
So this morning i trapse off to retrace my steps again. I do the whole route and no blanket. I can't believe it. Then i realize maybe i didn't go up 24th but 20th, so i go back to check the only 2 blocks i haven't looked at , and sure enough, on the first block i look,ITS THERE! perfectly laid outand soaking wet. Some nice person hung it up for us! I was so Happy!
So for moms out there. At the beginning i didn't want Hayden to have something that he was attached to because i didn't want to lug it around, and then I decided i did want him to have something for times when i wasnt' there, like nursery etc. SO, I am so glad that we do have our blanky and that he is attached to it, because he loves it so much and that is all worth it. Now if it was gone.......that might be another story! hopefully we could have found a replacement!

Daddy's!

So, Hayden quite often lets Thad and I know what is "mommy's" or what is "daddy's". For example, he points to the guitar and says daddy. He points to my clothes or something and says mommy..... ( now that i think of it, not alot of things are mine). So today we are at the grocery store and we buy chips like we do every week and Hayden says "Daddy". When we check out he also tells the attendant Daddy when she scans the bags. It is so cute. Really, the chips are for daddy, he eats them in his lunch and shares with Hayden when he gets home. If Daddy is having chips, you better believe hayden is having them too. But its so cute.......One thing they share that mommy is not apart of ( she gets her own bag sometimes!)

You are my sunshine

my only sunshine, you make me happy, when skies are grey! okay, so Hayden is my sunshine! i dont have alot to say this time so i thought i would just tell some of the funny things hayden has done lately.
I had just dropped Hayden off at the nursery at church when his friend Joey came in. Joey got a little upset so Hayden walked over and gave him one of the two half eaten pretzels he had. Joey accepted, and then ran off happily to play! my little sharer!
I was brushing my hair yesterday and hayden was brushing his teeth ( which he does ALOT). i was putting my brush between my legs and then brushing etc. all the sudden hayden is smiling and i look and he has his toothbrush between his legs!!!!!!!! so cute..........i died laughing!
I asked him to go vacuum (with his popper) by the window, "it was very dirty". so he went and literally vacuumed the window!
We have also developed this bad habit of watching a "show" before bed or nap. Well, we are breaking it now, but the other day while watching "bob" (bob the builder, our ultimate favorite!!!! always wants to watch it and its on demand.....so that doesn't really help) he looked at the tv and said "all done" did the sign, and then walked up and turned it off and went into his room to get his jammies on! i nearly kicked myslef! really? okay...lets go to bed! hilarious!
Thats my cutie for you! Like i said.....i am really loving this stage were in, talking, communicating, listening ( also disobeying and timeouts) but its really good!

Making Friends....

So, Hayden and I had a free day the other day so off we walked to the park. Alot of the times we meet friends at the park but today we just went ourselves. And the funniest thing happened. We were going up the stairs and down the slide when another little girl came to use the stairs. Hayden wanted to play with her but she was scared and ran away. So after a minute hayden followed her to the merry-go-round and she was scared again and went to a different toy.
So we left that and after a while we found ourselves at the teeter totter. Another little 3-yearold outgoing girl came and went on the teeter totter with Hayden and Hayden loved it. She went and sat really close to him ( it was a double) and he loved it. She moved away and then hayden moved closer to her. It was so cute. Then she ran off to play with her friend. And Hayden patted the seat and wanted someone else to come sit with him. So he saw another boy and was pointing at the boy and then the seat. I told him if he wanted to play he should go play with the boy. So we got off and played, (well best we could). But, in the past, i have seen other moms tell their kids to go play with others but i never thought i was there with Hayden yet, but sure enough, here we are!
And today at the beach another boy just came up and started playing with Hayden and he loved it. I don't know why i didn't see this coming, everywhere we go he stares at other kids so....... dumb me! But its so cute, everyday i say i love this stage more than the last, but i really love the age he is at now!

Potty Training/ Helmet/ scrape Face

So, i have decided to attempt a little potty training. We first started putting Hayden on the potty before bath and he would pee. ( and if he didn't we would pour warm water over it and that always did the trick!) Also he has seen many of his friends going to the potty which really sparked his interest. So when i catch him pooping i just try to throw him on the potty. It works when i catch him, but I am working with him to try to tell me before. But i am expecting this to be a long process. But we went on and got the underwear and rubber pants and try to wear them when we are at home. M and m's are a prize that he loves....... one time i told him he would get 5 m and m's for pooping and he instantly starting pushing. It was hilarious!!!!!!! So it was going pretty well but i have lost some motivation lately. We also need to get rid of the Pacifier (soother) so, i was debating which to do first, potty training or paci, and now have decided that potty training will take a long time, so paci will have to go soon. so......im hoping next week? but don't hold me to it.
This is what he does when i tell him to smile. ( He copies what i do)


We also have gotten Hayden a helmet for his trike. ( In the pic above he wanted his blanky with him so i threw it in the back of his shirt, he doesn't usually wear it like that. But he does love it!) At first he did not want to wear it but then i told him it would make him go fast and he put it on. Ever since he points to his helmet and says fast! so cute. He also really likes it, as you can tell he wanted to wear it when his friends were over!
We also got a seat for him on Thad's bike and he definitely needs the helmet for that! It makes me a little nervous for me to ride with him.....so for now, Thad gets to. Which is a welcome break for me!
Also, i found this pic from early july. We were walking back from dinner out and Hayden got a little to excited and took a fall. It didn't look bad that night, but the next day it was not so good! But he recovered just fine!

Heirloom Tomatoes...$$$

So my new favorite thing are heirloom tomatoes. My friend brought some over for us and I fell in love! I don't really even like tomatoes, but they were so good. Then a few weekends later some other friends of ours got some fresh veggies at a farmers market, and they were so so good! way better than regular. And i also got some heirloom tomatoes.........little did i know 4 tomatoes would cost 11$. i almost had a heart attack! I definelty learned my lesson. But after having those costly tomatoes,.......i almost would by one a week for $4/lb. They are so good. you could say i am obsessed. So now i am a believer in farmers markets. i always knew they were good, but i always thought pricey. Which i still think, but i will make the sacrifice for tomatoes ( not heirloom..) cucumbers and a very light green, almost clear pepper! so good! And last time i saw a purple pepper......what treasures i will find next?

long awaited pics

At the train museum in Snoqualmie Falls. He love loves trains!
Doesn't his Doc have the best camera!

Cozy in Osoyoos
Family mini golf










We had teh best time when Thad's parents were here. Doc has such a great camera so he got some wonderful shots of Hayden! Hope you enjoy them!

Time with the Grandparents

So, Thad's parents have come from TN for the week. We spent a few days here and then went to Osoyoos to see my parents. Thad's parents and my parents get along great so they wanted to see eachother while they were out here. We were hoping for HOT weather there, but we didn't get it. It was grey and still warm, most of the time, and we did get some nice pool weather for a couple hours the last afternoon. None the less, we had a great time and enjoyed the relaxing and good wine! The drive back was a little long. It was about 6 hours, and about and hour to long. I think we were all done in the car at the end, and then Hayden decided to scratch my eyeball the last 45 min so that was not to pleasant.

Were not back in Seattle and going to do all the touristy things here and celebrate thads birthday a little early with his parents.

Hayden has really taken off talking. I know i say that every time, but each time he just says more and more. Doc and Gigi are really surprised how he understands everything we are saying and can follow commands so well. I look at him and wonder when he got so big! Its really crazy. And he is one crazy and wild man also. i call him my wild man all the time, mostly because he hair is always kinda crazy and then he flails himself around and acts zany, so its quite funny. He also has this picture in one of his books with a "zany baby" and they have their tongue out and whenever he sees it he sticks his tongue out, its so cute!

We are goign to upload some pics soon, sorry for none this time!

The New House

Hayden's room

When you enter the house


The steps before. Thad has just ripped off the "outdoor carpet" that was on them to prevent slipping. The picture above is the after.

So I have been talking about some projects at the new house. I have never had a green thumb or even been interested in gardening. But this house had no flower beds or anything. So actually, today Thad put in some bushes and flowers are to come. Earlier this week he hoed up some beds from basically nothing. The soil is not so great. But i will get some pics of that soon. But anyways, this is expanding my green thumb. I remember in TN one day at our old house, Thad basically had to drag me out one spring day to plant some flowers. Now I can actually appreciate. Curb appeal does so much for a house!

Also, we are looking for some patio furniture for the front and back deck. Nothing fancy, we are hounding craigslist and good will almost everyday. But does anyone have any other good ideas of how to get cheap patio furniture, that maybe doesn't look cheap? I am waiting for 2 responses on craigslist now, but........

Also, were looking for a trike for Hayden. We would LOVE a radio flyer steer one( with the parent handle on the back) but just any kind with a handle sounds good. But also, other parents out there, do you think its wise to get one with a handle. Hayden is 19 months, so do you think he can actually peddle? I kind of don't think so, but he might surpise us. And any suggestions where to get that?

I think the to pic is of Golden Gardens Beach which is like 1.5 miles from our house. WE went there last week and loved it! The computer is almost dead and HM has been sleeping for 4 hours so i think i should check him.....

Poolside Vaca!

Just eating some popcorn at the pool!
With daddy
Nana and Papa
After
Before

At the spray park in Kelowna that he loved!
At a winery with "mum" and dad

Walking in Kelowna!
Swimming in Kelowna!
At the Canada day parade!
this was how we travelled at the zoo with Evangaline! They didnt do much riding!

We gave HM a mohawk one day!

Hayden at the old house having a popsicle
Okay, so once again, the computer savy girl that i am. My pictures uploaded in the wrong order so the most recent are at the top.

Well, at the end of the month we moved from south seattle to Ballard. The move went really well, my parents and brother came up to help, and they were a HUGE help! Then , they took HM home with them until we came on wed, so that was greatly appreciated. Thad and I unpacked and got in a date night. It was very nice. We then went up to Canada for 2 days and celebrated Canada Day!

On Friday Thad and I got to leave HM again and go to Kelowna for 2 nights for our 5 year anniversary. We also had a great time and relaxed by the pool and went to a winery for lunch and out for dinners! Then on Sunday my parents come up with Hayden for the week. So then we were there for the week together. We had so so weather but then it got nice the last day and half, so we did end up getting some, i say some sun. Hayden had such a good time swimming and hanging out with his Nana and Papa. We were on the third floor so we didnt have a yard, so that was a little different for Hayden. I think he wanted to be outside alot.He basically wakes up saying outside.

After our lovely vacation, we got to come home to our new house. We LOVE living in Ballard because of the location. We can walk to alot, restaurants, shops, grocery store, the water. It is great. We have had wonderful weather since we have been home also. Thad has stripped and repainted the front stairs, hoed flower beds, repainted the railing, and organized all his office "junk". And the last was probably the hardest for him believe it or not! We are also going to repaint the bathroom, so we have had a few projects for this house, but we really do love it. It has a very open floorplan, a great kitchen, and the rooms are really big. The bathroom is lacking along with the yard so.........were doing our best to improve those.

Anyway, i will get pics of the house up soon. Sorry for ignoring the blog for so long!