The BIG 10!!!!

I can not believe my baby girl is TEN!!! 

Started the morning off with Donuts!!! She was still half asleep :) 

I am so proud of the little lady Hailey has become.  She is so sweet, and caring, and loves God, her family and friends. She is smart/ wise beyond her years.   I am amazed at the things she says and comes up with.  I think I am learning more from her than she is me. I think we have it a little backwards.
She is artistic.  She loves to design things.  Hailey and 3 of her friends created a website and are making and selling hair bows. In February, all the money they earned went to the american heart association.
She is always trying out for new things at school, and even if she doesn't win, she just trys again the next time. She has been in the talent show 2 times, spelling bee twice, cupstacking team 2 times, art club, patriot patrol, Gifted and Talented Program, 2 Parts in the Nutcracker, Volleyball, and so much more. She is so busy.  I am proud of her for all she does.

She has her own style of clothing.  I can no longer pick anything out for her.  Here are some of her favorites for this year.
* Tylers shirt
* Athletic shorts
* converse high top sneakers
* colorful shoe laces
* Under armor Hoodie
* Miss Me Jeans (we have not officially gotten these, but she is about to be surprised soon)
* Justice - but she is VERY picky!!

Hailey is very dependable and honest. Which I love so much about her. She has been through so much in her life that just isn't fair and she always just puts on a smile, or lets it pass. Gotta love her.

I still can not believe it has been 10 years since the day she was born.  I am looking forward to the next ten, and all that God has in store.  I just wish it would go a little slower :)

We love you Hailey Dawn!!!

Happy 2nd Birthday Liam!!

My Little Man ready to go to his PARTY!   Elmo and "Mimi" (blanket) in hand. You can't go anywhere without these special items :)

For months in my heart I knew I really wanted to be able to have a party for Liam and invite his mom and family to come. I also knew it was a long shot on whether I would be able to get the permission from Christ Haven, but I wanted to try. I talked to Jaimee and Derek and sure enough they believed it would be ok.   We wanted to make sure that Amber felt welcomed at the party so we only invited a few close friends from church.  Didn't want any of the accidental conversations that although were meant respectfully, come off offensive.    Liams family can not know where we live, so we had to plan a party at a different location. We chose Lets Jump because it is something all the kids can do and have fun!!   Liam picked Mickey Mouse for his birthday theme. He loves "Mi Mow"!!

    Liam and his friend Cason - I think Cason was scared we would take his Lightning Mcqueen

He decided to go down the stairs instead of up. Ha!!

The cake- turned out pretty cute!! Wasn't sure what to expect.  I LOVE it though!! And Liam LOVED it, so that is all that matters!

Liam and his Mommy!  As much as I want to hold this name in my heart only for me, THIS is Liams mommy, and HE knows that.  He calls both of us Mommy! :)  I am thankful he knows who she is, and feels safe and secure with her.  That is not always the case with foster children.

So glad Amber was able to come to his party!! Hope to have many more occasions to have all of us together.

Happy Birthday Liam!! We love you to the moon and back!

Sleepovers/Playdates

January 25, 2013

The girls both invited a friend over to spend the night, and Hayden had his buddy over for a playdate.  Between Just dance, makeup, painting nails, crafts, and of course iPods I would say the girls had a lot of fun!!!

The boys spent the evening outside...playing pirates, and trains, and I honestly do not know what all. They had fun. They came in for awhile and played on the DS and then headed back outside.

Dinner choice of kids:  Spaghetti, Peanut Butter and Jelly, Chips, Carrots, fruit and cookies

January 2013

So, ANOTHER year has flown by, and I am so behind on my blog, I know.  Our life has been so busy with so many curves along the way.  We have been truly blessed, but my blogging for our own personal memories is suffering. I am going to start at the beginning of 2013  and see what I can remember and get caught up to date atleast for this year. HA! Then hopefully be able to back track and remember stuff from the previous year and a half. Oh my!!! We will see how this goes.

The kids started back to school on January 3rd.  They were all super excited! Hailey got a bike lock for Christmas and we finally felt comfortable enough to let her ride her bike to school by herself on Friday. We took a few practice rides the day before and I drove SLOWLY WAY behind her when she went. It was more because I still had to take Hannah to school then me being worried.  Hailey felt so big and was so excited. She rode like a pro and was super careful at every crossing and looking for cars. She locked up her bike and walked into class with a big smile on her face.

Hailey tried out for the spelling bee for the second year in a roll and made the team, AGAIN!!  Her spelling bee was on January 8th and she did really good. Didn't win, but we are super proud of her for trying and making the team!!! Way to go Hays!!! We love you!!

Hailey has been having Talent show practices in the mornings once a week before school, ad cupstacking team practice once a week after school.  She stays super busy.  She also starts Art Club after school on Wednesdays on January 16th.

We finally were able to get Hannahs wart/lesion removed off her neck on January 11th. Thankfully is was benign and hoping it doesnt return.  She really had a tough time with that thing. Sadly kids are not very nice even at 7 :(

I had my follow up MS appointment on January 14th.  The medicine that was suppose to be available in January was delayed until March. Hoping it really does become available because I really need to get back on treatment.  My doctor wanted me to start another treatment in the mean time, but I tested positive for a virus that makes the immune suppressant therapies more risky.  One risk being a brain infection that can kill you, or cardiac arrest. WHAT??? Do you think I am taking my chances on that? NOPE.  I am waiting it out until March. If I was in a more advanced stage of MS and having trouble walking, swallowing, etc, then maybe I would take the chance. But, I am not there right now.  So, praying medicine becomes available soon and I can get started.   We are also hoping to move to cooler climate one of these days. That will greatly improve my relapses as well.  We shall see where GOD leads us, and IF he leads us somewhere else.

January 17th was the BPE Talent Show! Hailey, her friend Baylee Spraggins and her little sister Emily Ann danced and sang to the song No Compromise by CPAC Unity.  They did a really good job.  We were proud of them!

Hailey had her 10th birthday party on January 19th at Laser Quest.  She had a great time. They got to play two games.  I played the second game with them, and it was fun watching the girls.
Hailey chose a cookie cake and cookies and cream ice cream, lemonade and water for drinks!! She had black and white zebra stripe and purple for her plates, napkins, etc.
Madison Flynt and Baylee Spraggins both rode with us to the party. We were running late, due to an incidence with Miss Hannah, so we stopped at Sonic (girls choice)  for a quick dinner.  Then headed over to Laser Quest.
Hailey was so excited about her gifts this year. She got lots of gift cards to Justice, Claires, iTunes, and Target.  She also got a Tylers Shirt, converse high top shoes,  Justice athletic outfit (Jacket, capris and tank top), Justice plaid shirt, Under armor sweat shirt, and so much more.
We went on a birthday shopping trip one night with her birthday money. She was so much fun to watch shop.  She bought an wallet/ iPod case, ipod button stickers, 2 Justice Shirts, shoestrings, Justice bag, Just Dance 4 Wii game and I think a few other items.  She only had $70. I think she did pretty good. :)

                                   
                                                               The party Crew!

                                   
                                             Morgan and Mariah, Hailey, and Madelynn

January 21:  Hailey had an ortho appt today. They said she needs to get her two loose teeth out, and the next time she is in they will plan a date to get the braces off. Yah!!!!!

January 23: Guess Who is TWO today??!!  

We celebrated with M&Ms at 9 in the morning! Ha!!! That is what he wanted.  

 BLESSED BLESSED BLESSED is all I can say!!  I LOVE this little boy!!  He is such a joy! He is always smiling and so happy.  He calls us Mommy, Daddy, Sissy (hailey), Hannah, and Bubba (Hayden), although he now can say Hayden.  He loves his Mimi (blanket) and carries it EVERYWHERE. Sometimes he carries more than one.  He sleeps with about  6 stuff animals at night. Most of them being monkeys, an elmo, and a puppy (sandy). He is very athletic. Can jump with both feet really high and far and off of anything without falling.  He loves baseball, soccer, football, and even tries to play volleyball with the girls. He likes to play "fight" with Hayden. You better watch out because if he hits you it WILL hurt.   You can talk, let me tell you. You repeat EVERYTHING we say.  You like to pray and you put your hands together and "pray". It is so cute. At night, you have to give hugs and kisses to EVERYONE, and then mommy prays with you, and then you pray. You put your little hands together and start yelling, "MOMMY, MOMMY, MOOOOOMMMMMMY!!" You are lifting your head up and shaking it as you pray. You are like a little evangelist.  It is the cutest and funniest thing ever. I guess you are praying for mommy since she just prayed for you. :)  And, obviously I need LOTS of prayer. HEHE
You love to go to school... once you get there. You love to color and all the fun things you get to do. You have cute little friends, and you tell them goodbye each day when I pick you up. You love to play with blocks, your kitchen, and work bench.  You can really turn a room into a tornado QUICK!!  I could go on and on, sweet boy!!! WE LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK!!!   Happy 2nd Birthday!!!

Liams 2 year well check.  You weigh 30 pds 4 oz and 33 inches long.  You are getting SO big!