'I just used my really strong hands'

We have always referred to Hailey as freakishly strong, and she really is! She has an insane grip, a ridiculously high pain tolerance, and a unique control of her body/muscles (she is also a bit on the clumsy side but that's another story) and I think the other kids have picked up on it. After the kids birthday they were desperate to get into the gifts they received and Jer and I were working on something else and I let them know we would help them when we were done, but that they needed help cause kid toys are complicated and kind of frustrating to open. Well, they already knew that because they had been trying to get into them with no success.

When we made our way into the room we were greeted with victorious shouts...and the toys were free. When we asked how they got into the impossibly packaged toys they informed us that "Hailey really is strong" "Hailey got our toys open for us" and Hailey looked at us like this...

And said..."I just used my really stwong hands"

Yes these pictures are with her new haircut, I just asked her to show me her really strong hands and this is what I got!

Shortened Up The Scragles

Hailey's hair had been growing for a while, and while I love that it's long enough to fix, the time had come to shorten it up. So Jer called and set her up for an appointment since he has always been the one to take them in. Then Hailey had a little freak out and wanted me to take her, which I'll be honest...didn't bother me one bit! So here she is pre-cut...

And after...

And we had a coupon for a free kids ice cream from cold stone and she picked cotton candy and marshmallows...

She is so beautiful!

Girl Time

This summer as Jer has been leading Son's of Thunder up at Tadmor he's been able to take Lincoln along and those guys have had a great time. There is another one this weekend at Elkanah and yesterday when we were in the car Linc 'I'm going to Sons of Thunder with dad it's where dad's teach their kids, teach their boys to be men, it's where I, it's where I learn to be, to be, learn how to be a man' (sometimes he stumbles over his words and he gets distracted, that is a direct quote to give you a glimpse to what listening to his stories can be like).
While Lincoln's been carving his walking stick the girls and I are getting some rare time alone together and I decided to embrace it more than ever. The way I like to shop, lets see I should start over, when I HAVE to shop I go in get what I need and get out, it's a very direct process. So when the girls and I were at Payden's eye appointment and realized there wasn't anything else on the agenda I decided to go to the mall, I was feeling crazy! As we pulled into the parking garage Payden asked if we could park on the top floor because we weren't in any sort of hurry it sounded like a fun idea. It was a hit! And kind of creepy with every turn we went up and there were no cars after about the 2nd  floor and I suddenly realized this is why the scary stuff always happens in parking garages because they are quite deserted. Well needless to say it was a really cool view and they loved being up so high, and getting to ride the elevator down.
Once in the mall we went and enjoyed the kids play area for a while...





Lately Payden either tries to hide because she doesn't want her picture taken or...

Poses like crazy! Mommy threw in a curve ball and let everyone have their own quarter to pick out candy from the always attractive candy machine


After walking around the whole thing everyone decided what they wanted. Payden settled on Mike n Ike's


Hailey couldn't stop moving with excitement after she picked Runts


And Taylor wanted Reese's Pieces


The 'I'm only smiling cause you said I had to before I get to eat my candy' smile


Ummm, I didn't know that you could get only the banana's from runts, these are hands down my favorite little treat but runts are never worth it because there are so many that aren't my favorite, so when I saw this was an option I joined in on the excitement!

Back to the car we go

Observant?

Hailey is so funny. I know that is a broad statement but she is for so many reasons, what I'm thinking of right now is her perception. Every single time we drive by someone who is out for a run she feels the need to tell me 'mommy there's someone going on a run, like you!' Now my sweet, bright articulate child must not be too observant because I haven't gone on a run in 3 months! Every time she says it I think to myself about how I do want that to be something she associates with me, but I have yet to change that. Maybe I need to sign up for another half marathon to get myself motivated...maybe!

Settled

I am fully aware this was my fault for leaving the temptation out and ever so, well...tempting. In the time it took me to load the washing machine the other night Hailey continued her habit of training Taylor in her way's, the speed and amount of mess she can make in a short period of time should start to feel normal to me, but I am always shocked. I know it could have been worse but seriously, my poor game!

Uh mom, what's this?

For my sanity and the well being of my children Jer and I have talked about putting up a baby gate from the kitchen to the family room during meal prep times. There is a pocket door there but it's nailed shut and he have yet to free the thing. The little chairs have this magic ability to jump in front of my feet whenever I turn around even if I was just walking in that very spot moments before. Taylor and Hailey especially are obsessed with bringing their little Ikea chairs over to the counter. I've suffered many foot injuries and frustrated outbursts from these little wooden objects sudden and regular appearance.

We've had the gate for a while and gates are pretty foreign to my kids, they've seen them at other peoples houses but we've never had one up in ours. Tonight after Taylor was throwing a fit and I was on my own making dinner I decided to embrace the gate. It was a welcome help, to me at least. The little girls didn't know quite how to feel about it. Actually they were quite offended...want the proof?

Mom, I'm so thirsty! Let me in! (and not at all dramatic right?)

Hmm what do you think, can we go over?

How about under?



Needless to say there was a different sort of chaos in the air tonight. We'll refine how we do this, and everyone will learn the new setup. Don't get me wrong the kids still help me cook, they love it, there is just a time and a place and tonight? My feet were thankful.

not surprised

Tonight we found ourselves in the ER because Hailey got knocked down in the front room and banged her head on the brick/rock stuff around the fireplace. I was in the other room finishing up clipping coupons minutes away from going and turning off the Pandora station the kids were dancing to. When I heard her start screaming. Now, Hailey has this scream that isn't abnormal but it's very dramatic and she doesn't hold back from using it in the slightest scuffle. So when she came down into the family room with a tiny bit of blood on her face I assumed it was a bloody nose because she just had one yesterday. And then she kept touching the back of her head screaming that Lincoln pushed her down and she was bleeding, and her hands turned BRIGHT red! I jumped up with a trail of blood and children behind me. I couldn't tell where or how big her cut was, but we have never had anything very serious and I assumed this would be the same, but there sure was a ton of blood. I asked Payden to get me a rag because Hailey and I were both quickly covered so my eyes spotted the wound and I couldn't believe it I was watching her head be pumped of it's blood! That may seem like a dramatic statement but it was a dramatic sight. I used my hand while I was waiting for Payden and I just about lost my dinner. My thumb found the gash and I could feel the beating pulse against my skin. Okay I'm getting grossed out thinking about it. Blech.

I know that I'm not the most useful in emergency situations and plenty of you have heard my less than heroic stories to prove my point. I carried her with the blessed rag to hold pressure to stop the bleeding up to get my phone which I tried to grab with my mouth because I was holding Hailey with one hand and the rag with the other, sure enough I pushed it too far back and had to grab it with my bloody hand. Called Tammi, the closest Grandma and burst into tears with all of these beautiful big brown eyes staring at me! Pull it together Heather. Deep breath! She said she was 15 min out but could meet me at the hospital. My child was going to bleed to death in my arms, I was sure of it! I couldn't think, my brain was boggled, my kids looked like ragamuffins in their half dress up-half pajama clad bodies and I didn't want to move my hand from her head. I hung up the phone and called my mom (breaking into blubberdome once again) to see if she could meet me or I don't' know I temporarily forgot I called Tammi, who knows what I was thinking? She said she was on her way. I called Jer who was still at work and the farthest away to be of immediate assistance, who reminded me I had no car to meet all troops I had just called in, a pretty important piece of the puzzle. I then called both moms directing them to my house one, to stay with the 3 non-injured kids and the other to take me and hole-in-the-head-Hailey in to the hospital.

So I waited.

Changed out of my pajama pants and I'm glad I did cause I hadn't realized they were inside out, and into jeans. I got informed by Payden and Lincoln that I didn't look very nice and the other told me I didn't look very pretty. I agreed but was making an exception to leave the house without makeup (something that rarely happens) to save my daughters life! Pardon the melodramatics, it is in reality how I felt at the time! Not my normal state of mind at all but you're getting a glimpse into the mind of 'freaking out' Heather. I overheard Lincoln tell Payden that he felt like he was about to cry! Which got me going again. My sweet son and the reason this was all happening in the first place, but still, my sweet son! In all of that, Jer beat us there! And that is when I finally calmed down. I think my freak out was intensified because I realized I was alone, with no way of fixing her immediately! It was terrifying! All of these pictures are from our phones because we obviously didn't think quickly enough to grab the camera. Hailey covered in blood while we were registering.
In the waiting room. She loved her anklet. We were very traumatic looking both of us covered in blood from our clothes to our skin! I can still smell it...I could never be a nurse or Dr that deals with blood regularly!

Wearing her cool 'headband' that held the topical numbing stuff (I literally can't think of what it's called right now! I guess it is 12:49AM and I worked this morning at 6) After her 'skin went to sleep' as the Dr put it, they washed out her wound and her hair. We said she looked like Ariel cause her hair was so red...she LOVED that!

All cleaned up ready for more numbing stuff, seriously why can't I think of what it's called?

When the Dr gave her the extra shot she did awesome they didn't have to strap her down or anything she got to sit on my lap the whole time and held my hand and just barely started to clench her muscles when they finished.

Three stitches later and she is all ready to go.

Later she told us that it started stinging when they did the stitches. It was a strangely fun (albeit expensive) night, Hailey with just mommy and daddy, till 11:30 when we got home. The Dr. was really sweet he said she was his best patient all night and he didn't want to discharge her because she was so delightful...we weren't surprised. It could only have gone that well with her...she is so lovely and all sowed up, good as new!

Scary Hippo?

Tonight we were sitting in the front room doing the bedtime routine with the kids. The rule is if you disobey after a warning you go to bed before we're done. Taylor is typically in bed before we're done. Tonight Hailey had to leave early. I cuddled with her for a bit while she tried to convince me she should stay awake. After I tucked her in and went back downstairs she cried for a little while then stopped, and was quiet for a bit. And then, all of a sudden, she started screaming and crying from her room and came to the top of the stairs. I hear her say 'mahhhhmeeeeeEEee! there was a sssscaaarrryyyyy hih hih hih hippooohhhhh' What? Payden, Lincoln, Jer and I all look at each other none more confused than the next. So off we go, big kids headed to bed and I scoop Hailey up to tuck her back in bed. Trying to figure out what she was talking about. As I tuck her in I see this book in her bed.

And she sits up frowning/pouting telling me the scary hippo was in here. I asked her to show me. So she starts flipping through looking up nervously at me after every page. Until we get here. She says 'mommy see the scary hippo?' Yep I see it!

Boom

No wonder she was freaked out to the point of tears in her dark room by herself...that is one scary hippo! So I explained that hippo's aren't anywhere near us and then we prayed and now she's sleeping soundly. I'm just not sure how I'll sleep, that thing is frightening!

Why I don't talk on the phone much

It is hard for me to have a phone conversation when the kids are awake. They sense my lack of attention as soon as they hear the phone ring and it tends to be an uphill battle from there. Trying to parent and be a good conversationalist, talk about an oxymoron. I know every mom out there knows what I'm talking about, kids have a sixth sense when it comes to mommies on the phone.

Tonight my mom called and within a minute I was giggling at the utter chaos that engulfed me. Granted, it didn't help that when she called I had just gotten rashy bottom Taylor out of the tub and was trying to keep her in the bathroom to air out her toosh without making a mess on the carpet. Also trying to multitask and clean the bathroom while the three big kids were running around the house playing together...yeah that didn't last long. Lincoln fell on his hand, I assumed he was tired, he cries easily when he's tired. So the phone rings, about a minute into the conversation I'm trying to hear my mom over Lincoln's whimpers at my feet.

Here is a glimpse of my, oh I would say minute and a half, case and point as to why I don't talk on the phone much. Yes I added to the hullabaloo by taking pictures while on the phone...this silly blog runs through my mind especially when I question if this is really happening to me.

Where I started the conversation. 5:27pm I turn and see Taylor has escaped, as she looks to the ground I realize she's about to foil my plan for keeping the carpets clean I scoop her up and plop her on the toilet...she was only interested and no she didn't use it. But we tried 3 different times. And here comes 'Blow horn' doing who knows what with that cord...but I don't like that look in her eye. Actually, I kind of love it but sometimes it does scare me. Go put your pants on! Oh were you running from climber girl with her own look in her eye? Lincoln was no longer at my feet so I walk in to see how he's doing and he looks pitiful (and not at all appriciative of having his picture taken) because he can't use his hands to build with the Lego's...after all was said and done I really think he sprained it to some degree. Payden caught on to the fact that I was taking pictures and decided to add to the variety and climb and cheese at me.
And Hailey was convinced that she suddenly lost the ability to put on her own pants.
5:29pmAnd this is tame, I just happened to be in the middle of it, usually they go silent and conspire against me with some mess somewhere. Tonight it was just a bit of chaos. Sorry Mom if I seemed distracted...I know that you of all people totally understand :)

Just Because

I caught Hailey's husky voice singing a bit of Away in a Manger and I just love it!

Three Years Old -Hailey Ann

Happy Birthday to our spunky, beautiful, strong willed, bold, 'Blowhorn', lovely, bright, animated, third born Hailey Ann. We love you and treasure exactly who you were created to be!

From a perfect beautiful baby to a perfectly beautiful young lady

Hailey entered this world at 12:37am on December 17th 2007 after a couple days of laboring at home and many hours in the hospital. A successful VBAC after the twins were born by C-section. I was pretty proud of myself and my 9lb 9oz baby girl. She has grown into a fantastic and entertaining intelligent compassionate little girl.

For months Hailey wanted a Cinderella cake and being the obsessive recipe driven crazy person that I am, I decided it would be fun to make it myself. Well many hours later and we came out with a pretty fun cake!

The grandparents were all able to gather, living in town now makes it so wonderful for gathering and celebrating together.

The sugar cookie spread.

The birthday girl hard at work.

Payden had a hard time saying goodnight to the cookies. She made many cookies for people at the party and only ate one or two herself. I had to teach her to ask someone if they wanted a cookie before just making them. Taylor was the gracious recipient of many of Payden's cookies
and was very upset when she wasn't allowed to have anymore.
One happy creative little girl!

Training On The Go

Potty training...not fun. But with Hailey we're on round number two. About six months ago we gave it a good run and she did well, not fantastic but well. Then we got super busy and then we moved and we were not stable enough to give the attention needed to make her successful. Granted she was doing well. Last week Our beautiful, spunky, hilarious, freakishly strong third born decided she wanted to go to the bathroom on the toilet, and so she did, number two and everything, just because she wanted to.

Well now for two days we've changed her into underwear once she wakes up in the morning and she stayed in the same pair all day. No timers, no giving her constant drinks, she's seamlessly incorporated potty training into everyday life. Even going to Costco. So much so that I forgot until we were there and I got her out of the car seat, that's when I remembered she was in underwear. And that's when I broke into a nervous sweat. I don't know what I expected, an accident in the middle of tasting samples, running to the bathroom with 4 kids in tow and getting kicked out of Costco for bringing unpaid merchandise into the bathroom, or utter complete success from my big girl, I'm still not sure. But we made it home, in fact she told me she had to go while we were in the car and I was ever so thankful that we were only 5 minutes from home instead of 45 like when we lived at camp. And she held it. She held it till we got home. Ah my big girl. Of course she wanted to wear just underwear to bed tonight but mommy is too nervous for that. Who wants to wash an extra pair of sheets when there are already 4 basket full of clothes waiting silent yet dauntingly to be folded...not me. I hate laundry, it's my least favorite chore.

And I'm fully aware that now we're going to digress just because I've bragged about how great she has done. But for now, that's where we're at.