Easter Fun

We had some fun Easter activities around here. Here's a few:

My friend Brittanie had a fun Easter party at her house. The girls loved the egg hunt. Hallie was all about it. Peyton was done after she found her first egg and realized there was candy in it. She plopped right down and ate her candy while all the other kids ran around getting the rest. She was content. Hallie was nice enough to collect her eggs too :).

(Do you like Hallie's "ankle warmers"?)

I made and ate these delicious cookies. YUM!

Dyed some easter eggs. (yes we have jammie days quite often lately and poor Peyton's hair shows it :))

                                              

Best invention ever for kids dying eggs : Eggs in a wisk. It is so less stressful! We were all happy.

I swear our luck this year is crappy because it seems like Aaron is on call (30 hour shift) almost every holiday. He did make it home in time to...

make robin egg lips/play with the girls, eat our ghetto bunny bread,

I'm embarrased to post this because it is by far my worst bunny, and looks so gross, but it makes me laugh and remember that day. Note to self for next year: Don't wait till the night before to go buy dough. Don't settle for HEB and buy the last Rhodes dough mix that is half opened and partially already unthawed. Just go to another store no matter how tired you are and how loud Peyton is screaming. Remember to buy raisins so you don't improvise with jelly  beans that end up melting and looking like bloody eyes. Make sure your cooking oil isn't expired. (can you tell it was an awesome day?) It still tasted good though.

have an egg hunt in the yard, and search for easter baskets that the Easter Bunny had hid in the dryer! 

Then he hit the sack and "we" watched a wonderful session of General Conference and took an Easter Walk (thanks Mom).

March Captured Sayings

Hallie’s Captured Sayings
March 2010

• When talking about loving our family:
   Me: “Did you know some kids don’t have mommies and daddies?”
   Aaron: “Can you imagine your life without a mommy or daddy?”
   Hallie: “Ya. That could be dangerous! Like who would help me cross the street?”

• Hallie and Peyton love to pretend they are dogs. Aaron jokingly said, “ahh! There’s a dog in our house!”    Hallie yells back, “Daddy, CALM DOWN! It’s not a real dog!”

• Hallie was helping me do something and Peyton came up pretending to be a dog. “um…sorry Mommy, but I have a puppy to go take care of.”

• “My favorite colors are purple, blue and golden. Because golden is such a beautiful color.”

• “Do your best.” (Hallie says this to me in a very motherly voice if I ever tell her I’m trying.)

• Started adding the ED sound at the end of her words. It’s funny.
   Me: “I love you Hallie.”
   Hallie: “I love you too. Hey! We just love ED each other.”

She pretends that she is pregnant a lot by putting a baby up her shirt and walking around. Then all of a sudden, WOW! A baby falls out and Hallie says, “I hatch ED!” (I think we’ve been watching too much of the owl)

• “I’m worried” or “I’m worried about you.” (Great. She already has the Benson gene. I swear I don’t say that!)

• Gave her first scripture and prayer at church in Primary. She was so excited and it was so cute. She said the prayer all by herself.

• Talks in a motherly voice a lot. This isn’t new, but has been way more than usual this month. I overhear her saying this to Peyton a lot when they’re playing. “You’re so sweet. Yes you are. You’re so sweet.”

• While packing a lunch to go to the park for playgroup: “Well Mommy, let’s bring a cookie for each of my friends. Because if they see me eating one it will make them sad and they would want one.”

• “Did you know I’m the only Hallie in town? That is so special!”

• “Mommy, what was your dance teacher’s name?” Me: “Colleen” “Oh! Did she look just like a queen?”

Peyton’s Captured Moments
March 2010
(20 months)

• Says, “Hal” all the time. She finally learned to say “Howie” (Hallie) and Hallie said, “No Peyton, you can just call me Hal.”

• Saying new words every day. Her vocabulary has really taken off this month. Some of her favorites, Bugel (bagel), Bebe (baby) , Melmo (Elmo), buckle, whale, show, birdie, peas (please), all her body parts (belly butt is her fav.)…

• When we are out in public every man she sees, she points and yells, “dada”!

• Has “the look” down and gives it proudly when she’s mad. Also has “the stare down” mastered. She could win anyone in a staring contest and when she is not happy about something, she will stare you down until she feels that you know she’s mad.

• LOVES to pretend she’s a dog. Every morning when I go to get her out of bed. She is on her hands and knees with her tongue out panting like a dog. And it continues throughout the day as she comes barking at me until I pet her and say “nice doggy”.

• Started singing. Can’t understand a word she’s saying, but it is so cute.

Shrieking Screaming STINKER

I love my little Peyton. But there is something I do NOT love. Peyton screams. LOUD! I can take a lot of things, but screaming is definitely not one of them. Which is probably why I was blessed with a child that has a huge set of lungs that can make me cringe with her shrieking scream.

At home when she screams, we do time outs. And I am consistent. As soon as she's on time out, she'll sit there and wait. It's actually pretty funny. Then when I go to talk to her, this is usually the face I get when I tell her to look at me.

She closes her eyes, tries not to smile, finally smiles and laughs and thinks she's so funny. I'll give her the little speech, she'll say, "saw" (sorry), kiss me and run off to play. It works for a bit but then as soon as she wants something or Hallie did something to her, the shrieking scream is back, the time out begins and we do it all over again.

The real problem however, is in PUBLIC! She HATES to be in the cart/stroller. And starts screaming bloody murder as soon as I begin to put her in. Now if I pick her up and hold her, she is as happy as can be. But do you really think I'm going to hold her in one hand and push the cart with the other? I don't think so. I've tried a few different things but am really struggling. I REFUSE to give up my shopping all because I have a screaming child! She will learn to love to shop dangit! Hallie is my best shopping buddy ever! Maybe I didn't start Peyton soon enough :). j/k.

And it's not just shopping in public. Libraries, doctor's visits, church, restaurants, etc. It is embarrassing. My patience is running out.

I know she thinks if she screams loud enough or long enough, she will get what she wants. Timeouts are somewhat beginning to work at home but in public what do I do? I've tried ignoring her hoping she would eventually give up and stop. But seriously! People look at me like I'm abusing my child. The other day some worker even came into my isle giving me dirty looks while pretending to straighten things just to make sure I wasn't abusing her or something. I've taken her into the car for time outs numerous times but as soon as we are back in the store it starts all over again. And if I give her the look and say, "don't scream!" She gives me the look right back and screams even louder while hitting me in the face. I've packed fun toys, snacks, etc. But those only last so long.

HELP! I know I need to just have a plan and stick with it and eventually she will learn. But I need a plan. Does anyone have any tips/solutions/encouragement on how to stop this? Much appreciative for any advice! Because I am about to lose my mind.