Hallie's Dance Recital

Hallie absolutely LOVED doing this little dance class. What I loved most throughout this whole process was watching her confidence rise. The little smirk on her face says it all. She practiced her moves at home non-stop and would not have it if I tried to help her with anything (hence the way she puts her hands on her hips :)). She has been lovin making up her own moves as well and likes to teach them to Peyton and I. Every week she planned a new move she was going to show her friends and teacher. One week, she must have gained enough confidence to show them and lucky for me, I witnessed the whole thing. It was hilarious. Nancy was in the middle of teaching them something...they are all standing on their letter in first position listening...Hallie looks to both sides of her...has this look on her face like "I'm gonna do it!"...then takes a few steps forward off her letter, turns around to her friends (all while her hands are still on her hips) and says, "Hey guys! Watch this!"....She then continues to do this sweet spin and smiles so proud.....I don't know if anyone thought it was as funny as I did, but I could totally just see what she was thinking in that little mind of hers. I loved it.

Anyways...she LOVED dance class and has already asked me when she can take some more classes. I love my little Hallie!

For the fam...

  

P.S. They all got to bring a dog to dance with. The first day they were all asked what their dogs name was. Of course I was expecting her to say Baby Peyton because every baby she owns minus one is named that...but oh no...it comes her turn and she says, "my dog's name is Panty"! Lovely!

For proof of her confidence...this was in front of about 30 people. It was hilarious!

We Dig Sea World

I LOVE living so close to Sea World! We have been taking advantange of our passes and amazing weather. I love that we don't have to go for just one day and feel like we have to conquer the park all at once. Each time we go we are doing different things and so far we haven't gotten sick of it. The summer is great because they have the waterpark that we go to often...

Hallie often pretends she is a cat, dog or other random animals

Miss Attitude

It's great for a date night too! Aaron and I ditched the kids and the stroller to ride all the coasters there. It was seriously so fun! There were absolutely no lines so we could just go again and again and again! If I could choose my dream job, it may just be a rollercoaster rater. Not a tester because I don't want to die, but someone that could go around the world rating how great each rollercoaster is! How fun would that be! My fav for sure was the STEEL EEL! Although I did like GREAT WHITE and hearing Aaron say as we were reaching the top, "I might be just a litte bit scared" and hearing him freaking out the whole ride while tears were streaming down my face with laughter at him. (reminded me of New York New York in Vegas with Jordan! I SO wish I had that picture to show...).  (pics from Aaron's phone).

There were also freaky clowns and spooky people all over jumping out at us. That part I could live without. But it was a great date.

They also have great things going on for the holidays. We took our kids to see all the Halloween excitment. They LOVE coming to Sea World. Last week Aaron got done early one day so we ventured on over.

 

We go so often they FINALLY let Aaron fulfill his dream of teaching Shamu some sweet moves! Doesn't he look hot in spandex?

This weekend we went with some friends to see the Howl-O-Scream: Shamu's Rockin' Creep Show. We stopped by the Sesame Street Countdown to Halloween show too and it was a hit with the kids. Peyton was clapping, dancin and yelling the whole entire show and Hallie even went down to the front and got her groove on (she is surprising me more and more each day with that shy shell she's shedding! (Wow! say that 10 times:))

A Camping We Will Go...

A couple weeks ago we had two great things:

(1) Aaron had the weekend off! and

(2) finally not super hot weather

This meant one thing to my little Hallie and Aaron. CaMpInG! About a month ago we had to settle with camping in our backyard. We had a blast watching a movie, eating popcorn and hangin out. Then it came time to sleeping and Peyton lasted about 30 minutes. Which meant that I lasted that long as well. So this time we actually all got to go real camping. And it was super fun. Perfect weather, great place, delicious tinfoil dinners and smores, Hallie's first time "pissin" (fishing) as she would say...what more could you ask for?

I do recall while dating Aaron and meeting his friends they would ask if I liked camping. The way they would ask it almost sounded as if it were a "she's out or she's in" question. So of course I said I loved it and smiled as they'd nod their heads like "she's a keeper." Don't get me wrong...I wasn't lieing...just maybe not telling the whole truth. I do like camping! I just hate one thing that is surrounded with camping. BuGs! Regardless of how hard I try, I can't NOT think about them and how they are crawling all over me, our food, our stuff, etc. Aaron HATES this about me. He thinks it is absolutely ridiculous. And I'll admit, it kinda is. He used to laugh at me so hard when I would say prayers that the bugs wouldn't get me. So when Aaron suggests we go camping...well I put on my happy face get excited and try not to let him see my panic of envisioning bugs crawling all over me and eating me alive. After all, We are invading ThEiR home!

Well...it turned out to be super fun. After I sprayed us all down with bug repellant and aside from a huge enormous spider I saw spinning a huge ginormous web (I actually thought it was pretty interesting and watched for awhile until I made Aaron kill it before we ate), I don't think I really thought too much about bugs at all! And we did make a compromise that we could stop at the outlets on our way home (yes Aaron, I still would want to shop being gross and smelly like a campfire! When do I not want to shop?)

Here's how I found Hallie waiting after we got done loading up the car

Peyton was just lovin being able to roam around and get dirty

This little guy joined us by our campfire. It was quite entertaining watching him catch his dinner. Hallie named him Freddy.

Diggin for worms to go "pissin".

Nothin like a little princess filling her pink tackle box full of worms.

Hallie has been such a stinker about getting out of her bed. It got to be quite ridiculous. So we changed some things around and it has been working SO great. With our new rules intact, we told her if she could stay in her bed all week long and no arguing then she could go get her fishing pole she'd been talking about forever. Well she did it and had a blast fishing!!!

She was a little hesitant to touch them at first but pretty soon she got those little fingers in and got dirty. She loved it.

Too bad they didn't catch anything. Maybe next time. It was still so fun to watch.

Hallie's September Captured Sayings

“When I grow up I want to be a Mommy Artist.”

“You can be a Grandma Artist when you grow up okay?” 

“Oh crap!” (Not proud of that one but…at least it wasn’t the other word!)

“I miss Heavenly Father and Jesus.”

“I don’t like strawberries!!!”
(takes a bite after being told she won’t get her cookie)
“Mmmmm…I like strawberries!!!”
“Mamom, Don’t (aren’t) you glad Heavenly Father gave us strawberries? I am!”


“Mommy, know what? This is the best day ever!” (says this a lot)

“I did a bless you.” (says this after every sneeze)

“Mommy, Heavenly Father is my friend…Mommy, I miss Heavenly Father. Do you think I can go to  heaven someday? I think Peyton really misses Heavenly Father too.”

“Mommy I can’t go to sleep! Peyton is laughing at me and I’M NOT FUNNY!”

Mom: “Where did the sun go?”
Hallie: “I think it went to go get some lunch.”


Ahh…I’m losing my patience!” (says this when she can tell that I am.)


(Says the s sound instead of the f sound).
“I want to go pissin (fishin). Please can I go pissin (fishin)? I wanna catch a piss (fish)?”


“Mommy, can you please put some milk right in a pissy (sippy) cup?”



Hallie has really been understanding a lot more about prayer and says the cutest things in her prayers. Here’s a few…

Heady Totter (Heavenly Father). Thank you for the greatest day today. Thank you for everything you give me. Please help me to go to sleep cause I just can’t fall asleep. I miss you so much. Name of Jesus Christ Amen.”

(I had put Hallie to bed and heard some sounds coming from her room. I peeked inside her room to see her kneeling in her bed and saying the following..) “Heady Totter (Heavenly Father). Please help my coughs to go away cause I just can’t stop coughing and I need to go to sleep. Name of Jesus Christ Amen.”

“I going to say my morning prayer. Heady Totter (Heavenly Father). Thank you for helping me go to sleep last night. That was really nice of you! Name of Jesus Christ Amen.”


Heady Totter (Heavenly Father). Please help me to go to sleep tonight. Because I know I just won’t be able to. Okay, thank you! Jesus Christ Amen.”

(can you tell that she doesn't like to go to sleep? he he)


We’ve been teaching Hallie about faith and it’s so neat to see her understanding it and really gaining a testimony of it. She says to us on numerous occasions, “Heavenly father helped me with ____.I prayed to him and he helped me.” “Heavenly Father will help me. I just say a prayer." So sweet!

I guess I could also mention that she always says thanks for "Baby Peyton" (her doll. who she literally thinks is a member of our family. But that's a whole other post in itself."


I have been guilty numerous times of hearing/seeing something cute from Hallie or Peyton and forgetting it two seconds later. So..I started doing an idea awhile back that I had and thought I'd start posting some on my blog too. Each month I put a paper on the fridge with the month written at the top. Anytime Hallie says/does something cute that I want to remember, I just jot it down really quick on the paper. At the end of each month, I type it all up and add it to her book. Peyton doesn't say much yet, but I also have a paper for her that I write down cute things she did or major milestones that are fun. It's been fun! Kids are so cute at this age!

Do a Little Dance

Hallie is ecstatic about DANCE class! A friend from our Church teaches and it is the perfect thing for Hallie right now. Hallie's been wanting to take a dance class. I didn't want to spend a ton of money because I assumed she would just sit in the corner and watch with shyness and because she is 3. So...this was perfect. Super cheap, with friends from her nursery, and a small environment. Much to my surprise, Hallie is NOT shy! She absolutetly loves it. She gets right in there and doesn't miss a beat. It has been so cute to see how excited she gets. From picking out her leotard and skirt, to practicing all her dance moves that she wants to show her teacher, she is in heaven. She asks me everyday if it is Thursday yet.

The first time we went we were walking to our car after it was over and Hallie stops in the middle of the road and is just distraught. She says, "OH NO! I forgot to show Nancy this move! (as she does this intense move she made up :)) I have to go back and show her!"

Making sure she gets that first position just right!

Feeling so cool that she gets to demonstrate

(And yes, she HAD to wear the purple necklace so that her teacher would think she looked beautiful! (her words, not mine)).

I'm sure I won't be able to resist more pics as time goes on. There is just something so cute and magical about little girls dancing. I love it!

Peyton wishes she could join right in. She tries to sneak in and shake that little booty! I can't wait until she's old enough to dance. She LOVES it!

Toilet Obsession Tragedy

This little stinker has a bad obsession...

TOILETS!

We have a VERY important rule in our house. KEEP THE BATHROOM DOOR SHUT!

Well... little Hallie tends to forget that "small" rule sometimes.

I have found the bathroom covered in toilet paper, hands splashing in the toilet, fingers smashed in between the lid with a screaming child because she can't figure out how to stop smashing them (lift don't push down more).

The other day Peyton came into the kitchen with her hands full of tampons and laughing hysterically. I thought she had just gotten into the closet and found some. Well...later that night I found this little mess! What a stinker. But.......it gets WAY WAY WAY WORSE!!!!

A few nights ago we were in the kitchen just finishing up dinner. Peyton was in the toy room playing. Hallie had to go potty in the middle of dinner. She goes, comes back and we continue on with dinner. Peyton was doing her usual roaming around the house. Aaron and I got talking and I realized that it had been awhile since we'd heard or seen that little stinker. That only means one thing

TROUBLE!

I call for her.

She comes running into the hall way with a big grin (just like the first pic).

She's holding something in both hands and I realize she has a huge wad of something in her mouth.

I can't figure out what it is from that far away.

She starts to book it across the living room...

and then I realize.......

Hallie went pee pee in the potty! DIDN'T FLUSH! DIDN'T SHUT DOOR! Peyton had pee pee toilet paper IN HER MOUTH! IN HER HANDS! And now all across my LIVING ROOM CARPET!

I thought I was going to puke!

SICK SICK SICK! SERIOUSLY! Or in words of Avery, "GROSS GROSS GROSS!"

I seriously about died! Let's just say, we are taking extra precautions around our house about FLUSHING and SHUTTING DOORS!

Who is this little stinker?

I guess she is her mother's daughter. (Love the decor Mom :))

Utah Trip Refresher

So...I've neglected this sad little blog a lot. I am going to try and change that. To start...here's a super long post! (I am aware that most people don't care this much about stuff, but it's for us. I like to document :))


The girls and I had a WONDERFUL trip to Utah a few weeks ago. Last month was pretty rough with Aaron's schedule and I think my Mom could tell it was starting to wear on me. Usually I'm good, but I think with just moving here and not quite knowing many people yet and not having the support like I did with my Iowa family was hard. Thanks Mom and Dad! I needed that refresher!


We did TONS of stuff. And of course, I have TONS of pics. I can't resist. Here were the highlights:

Slippin Slidin & Outdoor Movie

I don't know who had more fun. The kids or myself. This was a blast. We did this twice. Nothing like a little fun in the sun. Later that night my Dad set up an outdoor movie and the kids and us all watched a movie. So fun! They all seemed pretty tired and then I'm not sure what happened but Hallie and Macy got SO wired. It was hilarious. I think they bonded that night because they were pretty good buds ever since that night.

Princess Party

Hallie, Avery and Macy had such a blast having a Princess Dress-up Party. It was so much fun to watch them. They just thought they were so special and pretty. They decorated their shoes from Grandma, applied their own makeup ever so beautifully, got their nails done and hair too. The curlers used to be my Grandma's. It brought back so many memories to me and my sisters of putting her hair up in these and having great chats. Macy was my favorite during this. She was so serious while applying her makeup. I love it!

Princess Tea Party

"Bawnyawd"

The Thanksgiving Point Barnyard (or bawnyawd as Hallie would say) was a hit. Apparently she doesn't remember one ounce of living in Iowa and seeing any barn animals. She is constantly saying to me, "I never seed a cow (or a horse, or a pig, etc, etc)." I think to myself, "Are you kidding? We only went to a bazillion farms, barns, fairs, in Iowa." Needless to say, she loved it. She said at the end. "I like the bawnyard. I finally seed barn animals. Thank you for letting me see them! This is the greatest day ever!"