Hayley's School Picture

Fall 2008

5 1/2 years old

The Art of Scissors

Picture from July 08

I wanted to share this idea because I think it's brilliant (even if I do say so myself!)

This summer Maya was learning how to hold and use scissors. I sent her outside with scissors to cut the grass almost daily. It got the urge to cut out of her in a safe way and she went from two-handed cutting to one-handed in no time!

Pumpkin Patch...Amusement Park

October 11th, 2008



We made our annual trip to a local pumpkin patch farm that is really more like a fall-time amusment park. So fun!

They have soooo many huge slides. Wahoo!

Cute sisters. I love how Hayley took Maya's hand in the pictures and showed her through a little slide. It's cute to see my cautious little Maya trusting her big sister.

Happy Cinderellas! How did they learn that princess wave...naturals!

We just label our kids!

[The party-planner in me has to make a sidenote: they had a great face painting station if any of you ever plan a big event. Instead of providing face painters, they just had lots of mirrors and paint and brushes and you did your own. Yes, we know we're not great artists...but they don't care...and no lines!]

Can't get enough of that gummy smile! I want those teeth to pop through but I'll miss that little empty, open mouth when they do!

Uncle Joe

Uncle Joe (JaNae's little brother) came to visit for a week on his way to BYU this summer. Yes, these pictures are from August! Better late than never!

We visited the Marine Corps Museum. On our way out we saw this massive moth on the wall of the museum. It was the size of my hand! Joe is fascinated with bugs and small creatures. I definitely don't share his passion but as long as he keeps them out of my face and doesn't leave dead specimens at my house, I do appreciate all the creatures that he notices and points out when he's around. The girls of course love having an uncle that will play with bugs with them!

We love the national park that's just a mile or two from us. Most summer visitors that we have end up there at some point. We had a picnic and went on a hike. Kids are always happiest in the dirt...I think we even had time to play a card game...rare, nowadays!

On our last day with Joe, we headed to a little water park. The best part: a cold Maya-girl likes to cuddle!

Splash!

Alice is a little fish! This kid loves to splash -- she tops the "soak-mom factor" of the other two put together. I think it's all made possible by the fact that she doesn't care if water splashes in her face. In fact, she thinks it's funny!

So while Maya starts into a melt down yelling "Towel! Towel!" and stops splashing as soon as a drop touches her face, Alice just splashes more because she thinks it's so funny. It results in a very wet mom and bathroom. Unfortunately, I can't dodge too much because I have to be within arms reach to grab her when she goes under. Hopefully her wrecklessness in the tub doesn't transfer into other areas of her life...even slipping under the water just gets her excited!

If nothing else, it makes for entertaining bathtimes!

Daddy Adoration

One Sunday morning in September, I had a moment of apprciation for what a great Dad Ryan is! Don't get me wrong...I appreciate him everyday...he's amazing! But on this day I captured the moment on camera which makes it blog-worthy.

While I was getting ready for church, Ryan was getting all the girls in their dresses. When I walked in to begin doing everyone's hair, I saw these 3 cute girls surrounding their daddy. He had them captivated with some game. Their little eyes just sparkled with pleasure from the attention they were getting from their dad.

I love that Ryan has these girls wrapped around his finger just as much as he is wrapped around theirs! They are all big fans of dad and I love that. What better thing could I give my daughters that a daddy that they adore!

Words to describe Ryan, the Dad: attentive, caring, patient, sensitive, fun, imaginative.

Halloween 2008

We pulled off our first family theme ever: Strawberry Shortcake and Friends!

Dad: Huckleberry Pie (the only boy in Strawberry Shortcake...and our family!)

Mom: Ginger Snap

Hayley: Angel Cake

Maya: Strawberry Shortcake

Alice: Frosty Puff

The girls are really into Strawberry Shortcake right now (especially Maya). I was excited when they both got really excited about picking characters for everyone. I had a lot of fun getting into Halloween for once. It was fun to make the hats and figure out everyone's outfits--the girls were so excited to all have stripe-y tights. Ryan's costume was especially-hard...I cut out an "H" and pinned it on his hat! He was a good sport!

We had a fun Halloween night trick or treating in our neighborhood then running over to the party at church where we played games and did a trunk-or-treat. Alice would have rather been in bed but by the end of the night was excited that she learned about suckers...and joined her sisters on their sugar high!