Big Kids (aka adults) striving to lead the little kids!

This morning after I placed Hallie in time-out for excessive whining, I had a talk with her and explained that now that she is 4 years old, she is getting big enough to talk to me about how she feels instead of crying or hollering.  I proceeded to give her examples of how she can nicely explain to me how she feels when she is sad or upset.  At the end of my little spill, she looks at me and in a rather matter-of-fact tone reminds me that Kailan (who will be 15 next month), still cries when I get mad at her!  I'm the mom - which supposedly constitutes me as much older and wiser and when I'm upset I unfortunately find myself raising my voice rather than nicely explaining why they (usually the children) are causing me to feel upset. It's so hard to raise these children when you often feel so hypocritical! 

As our conversation continued into an entirely new subject, she asked me if she was going to die when she was really old.  I basically told her that would be the best time when she said, "But you're very old and you haven't died!" She quickly followed it with "because you're my mommy!" Perspective!!

Hallie has a Pet!

Our friends, the Codner's youngest son Spencer, just turned one! We went to his home for yummy food and lots of coaxing while he poked at his one year old birthday cake.  Emily (Spencer's mom) went all out on the decorations - super cute! 

As a party favor, Hallie was given a fish and a cute bag with a bottle of fish food! She has named her fish Sparky Fire.  If you are extra nice to her, she'll let you have a turn feeding her fish!

Boys will be boys!

Yesterday we had a big neighborhood Bar-BQ.  After the boys ate, they, along with Dallin Codner and Tanner and Quinn Mickelson, went into the woods to build a fort.  After they finished, they came back to our house and played for awhile in the back yard.  Then, they decided they wanted to go to the duck ponds!   The duck ponds are right behind the Codner's house.  They stopped by there first and got ziplock bags so they could try and catch some fish.  After awhile, they came back (quite proud of themselves), with each of them carrying a fish in their bag! Emily (Dallin's mom), told them they needed to hurry and put the fish in their fish tank before the fish died.  That is when they explained to her that all of these fish they caught were already dead in the lake! Taige was especially proud that he was able to catch not only his, but 2 of the other boy's fish for them as well! GROSS! After Emily took a picture of all of them with their bags of fish on her back deck, she immediately made them scrub their hands in scalding hot water! Boys are so fun!

Quinn, Tanner, Chase, Dallin & Taige

First Class!

Tonight at Chase's Court of Honor, he was awarded the rank of First Class.  

He is pinning the 'Mother's pin' on me.  Brooklyn is the photographer!

The Scouts are being awarded their Merit badges that they earned at Scout camp this summer.

Chase earned 8!

Seth Strand is the Scout Master and Mark is his assistant as well as the 2nd counselor in the Y.M.'s Presidency.

They survived the 1st Day!

This is Chase with his good friend Mason Gilliland after their first day at Sinagua Middle School! They walked down to Fox Glen Park where we met and picked up the other kids.

Jordynn's Gift...

Jordynn has planned for a very long time to take Hallie to have her ears pierced on her 4 year old birthday since that is when Jordynn had her ears pierced.  Although mom was a little reluctant, Hallie was very excited! After her birthday party we went to Claire's in the mall and Jordynn paid for her to have her ears pierced.  

She's holding so still!

Here we go!

Ouch!

And now we have to do the other ear! I wish they would do them at the same time!

I almost couldn't even blog this picture! Isn't it so sad?! Poor thing - and this ear was much worse since she knew what was coming! I held her for a moment and we showed her, her ears in the mirror.  She stopped crying and claimed she was happy to now have pierced ears!

As a reward for being so brave, Jordynn let her ride a couple of the riding toys outside of Claire's.

This one is a virtual roller coaster!

Birthday Party at Bear Paw

After all of the kids left for their 1st day of school, we (Hallie, Grandma Jackie & myself) went to Bear Paw and celebrated Hallie turning 4 years old with some of her friends!

Hallie

Mallory Bliss

Ava & Kristy Bliss

Olivia & Delaney Fox (their mom Valerie and Grandma Fox came as well!)

Hallie & Claire Strand

Spencer Codner - Hallie loves this baby!!

Spencer gave Hallie 2 cute rings that his mom made!

Yummy pizza!

It started to rain, so we went inside to finish our pizza and have cupcakes.

Mallory & Hallie

I think the kids had more fun jumping on the bean bags in the movie room than swimming in the pool! They were pretending to be frogs jumping on their lily pads!

Hallie, Claire, Olivia & Mallory

Hallie opened her presents & then we gave each of the girls a little princess purse with chap-stick & candy.  Lots of fun!