Jammie Day!

Tyler had 'jammie day' at school last Friday and here he is striking a pose. Then, here is how the request for Ty and Hailey to pose for 'jammie day' photos went down!

Check it out!

But I don't wanna have my picture taken ;-(

What part of 'I don't wanna' didn't you understand, Mom?

Just kidding! Can I have a treat?

Pumpkin Prowl 2009 Woodland Park Zoo

Woodland Park Zoo hosted 2009's 'PUMPKIN PROWL' last weekend and we had a blast. The rain held off and the candy gave the kids enough enrgy to last through the night...! Tyler the Brave and Hailey Minnie Mouse had a great time and were among the few kids who never ran screaming through any of the spooky events. The night ended with a play in the theatre that both kids watched with rapt attention. Especially Ty, since the main character in the play was ALexander the Brave, a Knight!

So much to say

I'm not sure I've ever actually written a blog about Hailey when she was really little?? Maybe? maybe not? Anyway, she was a very serious baby. It took her a long time to smile and she was close to 9 months old before she started to giggle. And I believe I did write somewhere that she always wanted to be held. She hated being set on the floor, especially if you planned on walking away from her or, horror, even thought about leaving the room she was in. I was thinking about all this today and decided that really she was just mad. She was mad about being immobile because all she wants to do is run, jump, and dance. And she must have been so serious because she was mad she couldn't talk. Because, I'll tell you what, she's talking now, and she has A LOT to say. Really, Dave and I were just watching her tonight at the dinner table and she had this long drawn out paragraph she was saying and all I could think was....she's really not even a toddler any more.

We have a roses and thorns game we play at the dinner table (Tyler's favorite thing...he's always so sad on the nights dad is gone for dinner). We all say our roses (good things that happened that day) and thorns (the not so good things). Hailey already "gets" it and is starting to say her roses and thorns each day too. Tyler always has a big smile when he says "I had NO thorns today!. Hailey's rose is usually "when Daddy came home from work to see me (sometimes even on the nights he's not home at dinner time or before bed)". I'm pretty sure she is already wrapping Dave around her little finger or putting him in her back pocket (whatever the phrase is). In addition to her nightly rose about Daddy, today while they were painting Dave asked Hailey if he should turn on some music to listen to. Hailey said, "No, let's watch some baseball".

Coming soon (hopefully), Tyler's blog, and out Halloween outing last weekend at the zoo prowl.

Me Too? Me Two? Sheesh!

So, Val sent me the funniest e-mail the other day documenting a hilarious exchange with Hailey that I didn't want to forget about. Recently Hailey has had some confusion over the phrase, "Me too." When we are frequently asking her how old she is and she responds, "Me two!" it creates some confusion for her. It went like this.

Hailey - I love snacks!

Val - Me too!

Hailey - You're two?

Val - I love snacks, ALSO!

Hailey - I'm not OSO!

Image - This is who Hailey states she is not.

Who Hailey is at 2 1/2

I know I blog about the little things all the time but I feel the need to capture the kids essence (who they are today) in a blog so someday they can look back and see. This one is just for Hailey (Tyler's will come another day).

I would use these words (in no particular order) to describe Hailey at 2 1/2 years old:

Smart
Spunky
Independent, Independent, Independent
Emotional
Funny
Feisty
Sweet
Talkative
Fearless
Shy around strangers
Energetic (always jumping or dancing)
Sensitive
Stubborn
Loud
Dramatic
Enthusiastic

Hailey has a fabulous smile but it has to be hard earned. She is most happy when she is accomplishing something "by herself" which she will always announce as "I did it by myself". She shares a special smile with Dave and I as she gets ready to perform or is excited for something she is about to do. But really her feeling of self accomplishment makes her the happiest. She has an incredibly funny "funny" laugh which is a laugh we hear when she things something is "ha ha" funny. It's a much different laugh than when she gets tickled.

She is incredibly independent and can really do most everything by herself. She actually insists on doing pretty much everything by herself. If we try to help her, she will throw herself to the ground in anger. And as much as we encourage her Independence there are times when it is a real patience tester from the parenting perspective. There are days when you just need to get out the door and into the car and her independence can be a very slow process. Hailey and Tyler are very different in this way. Tyler much prefers to have someone with him to work together on things. I see it daily when we play and at night when we read books. Hailey demands to hold the book and turn the pages. Tyler refuses to hold the book and turn the pages. I also am reminded of her extreme independence when we are out and about and Tyler wants "up" so he can be close and snuggle (and not walk). I find myself with this big almost 5 year old on my hip while I walk very slowly so slow walking Hailey who refuses to be held walks. I cherish every moment that Hailey wants to be picked up. It's funny because Hailey spent the first 15 months of her life as a permanent fixture in my arms. I had mastered everything one handed (even making dinner). Now it seems like I will go days without really holding her.

Hailey is very smart. She picks up everything she sees and hears (much like all kids I suppose). She has more or less taught herself her ABC's. By 18 months she could recognize most letters. Now she is easily able to identify her letters by sight and tell you the sound it makes. She knows her numbers and colors well. She is a computer addict and has all the clicking and mouse moving all figured out.

Hailey loves to jump, dance, and listen to music. She could be on a trampoline all day and loves taking her gymnastics class. Any time there is music on she is dancing. And I mean really dancing. She has created her own dance moves and on a good day she will even sing. Her rhythm rivals her brothers.

Hailey can be really happy and really sad/mad (and back again) within seconds. She has a switch and rarely is it clear what turns it on and off. She is such a joy in her happy funny moods. Her mad/sad moods are typically short lived but they are extremely dramatic and can be very challenging. She will throw herself to the floor, maybe cry, maybe scream. The best you can do is ask if she needs a hug. If she says yes, then sometimes a hug will solve the problem. If she says no, all you can really do is walk away until she decides the emotion has past.

She has just started to love all things princess or at least dressing up like one. She loves puzzles and stacking and sorting. She adores to color and paint. She is a fan of play dough. She's happy to play cars and trains with her brother. She can do obstacle courses all day long. She has thus far shown no interest in baby dolls but loves her stuffed animals. She loves reading books.

Hailey often requests a nap but it takes her hours to fall asleep at night. She doesn't mind being in her bed/room by herself at night but has little interest in actually sleeping. Similar to her brother at this age she is completely capable of climbing out of her crib but she never attempts to do so.

I look at her daily now and wonder how she grew up before my eyes. She is so big, and so able, and so verbal right now. She is her own person (who won't be persuaded by others) and I know she will go far in this world.

Rainbow

We've been having A LOT of rain the last few days. After a thunderstorm there was a break in the rain and we got to see this out our window. Tyler was very excited.

Dollhouse

Look what I caught Hailey playing with the other day. GASP :) After she had everything set up she actually sat and read the baby (that would be the baby in the house) the book that is lying next to her.

Painting

Painting has become a big activity in our house. For a while I was buying small paint bottles for the kids to use but they were going through them so fast I've upgraded to the industrial size (or at least is seems that way). It was just a couple of months ago that we really ventured into the painting at home. It took a while for me to get over the mess factor (we really don't need any more of those in our house) but this summer is was great to paint outside and this fall we've made a pretty smooth transition to the kitchen table. The greatest joy for me is to see the creations that both kids make. It is also a time when Hailey and Tyler get along really, really well. They have little conversations while they are painting and they praise each others work (heart melting I tell you). At least once a day the kids can found painting and coloring. The other day while coloring, I heard Hailey get upset and she kept saying "I can't". I watched as Tyler said, "yes you can Hailey, whatever you draw is perfect for you". I wish I could bottle up moments like that.

The set up

Tyler is really into mixing his paint into new colors and his drawing/painting is really getting very good (we may have a budding artist on our hands). He is enjoying picking something to draw and really following through on it, using multiple colors and trying to get everything just right. He especially likes it when there is a prop he can set up on the table and use as a guide while he is painting/coloring.

Hailey likes mix all her colors together (usually into brown). Then she draws circles or covers the page and typically claims it's a picture of a rock or a forest. She is funny as she paints because she typically has one of her hand propped up on her check in a very "causal painter" sort of way.

I was impressed by this painting she did yesterday. I was in a deli a couple of weeks ago and they were selling abstract art on their walls for $700 each (and they literally looked like someone just threw a few brush strokes on the canvas). So, I'm thinking we might just have a new business opportunity here :).

Left handed?

Everett Children's Museum

Ok, for the rest of the kids childhood...Yes to memberships at Woodland Park Zoo and Yes to the Everett Children's Museum. You don't have to go that often for it to be worth it but I don't know why we don't go more often! Today turned out to be a great day to go. The weather was cool but the sun peeked out enough to warm the play deck on the roof which is always a hit with both kids. There was pure joy at seeing the new addition to the train exhibit where now the train tracks wind through a rock wall. I am sure the Doman boys will love that! Also, we lucked out and there were some projects going on downstairs that were big hits and will definitely find their way into our house. Who would have thought that mixed vegetables and toothpicks poked onto potatoe or apple halves could have such artistic appeal?

The new train exhibit/station...

Enjoying said train exhibit/station....

Ride 'em cowgirl Hailey!

Man does this boy love him some art projects!

So does she for that matter...

Ty's creation...Hailey's creation...titled Carrot Monster!

Just plain happy!

Golf

This past week had a good/bad moment. Tyler was doubled over with a stomach ache for a day which warranted a trip to the Dr. After two blood draws and some x-rays he needs to cut back on cheese and up his fiber to help GET IT ALL OUT! That was great news compared to all the other things it could have been. Looking back on it I kind of enjoyed carrying him from the Dr's office to the hospital and to all the different tests. He's a little heavier than he once was but I don't get as many 'Daddy Ups' as Val gets.

Today was a nice sunny day and I needed some supplies from Lowe's for some shelves. I was able to bribe Ty with hitting balls at the driving range so that I could have some company. I don't know why I have never brought the camera before but I am glad I did today. He had by far his best day hitting the ball and I was quite impressed.

The takeaway and load...

Contact and drive...

The big admire.....

The Farm's of October

We've discovered over the last couple of years that October is a pretty fun month to live close to Snohomish and the Valley. There are multiple Pumpkin/Corn Farms around and they go all out for the fall season. We are not talking just a little pumpkin patch. It is a big pumpkin patch, a huge corn maze, hay rides, train rides, playgrounds, corn pits, bikes, the whole deal. Since we had a sunny fall weekend we decided to go to Bob's Corn Farm. We hadn't been to this particular farm before and the kids had a great time.

Just to set the mood

As we walked in from the parking lot, we were able to see some of the LARGE pumpkins.
First stop was the cow train. We arrived at the farm right around opening time and were able to get our own private ride. The train is pulled by a tractor at a pretty high speed...the kids loved this. It went around and through a barn, up and down hills, over bumps....good times.
After our cow train ride we hopped on to the hay trailer hooked to this....
The tractor took us over to the corn maze. We took some pictures of the boys and the girls.

I mentioned the mazes around here are serious business. I believe they told us this one was 2 1/2 miles. Here is the corn field from far away.

And here we are getting ready to start. Tyler and Hailey ran most of it. Tyler thinks that corn mazes are the best ever. He loves it when there is a turn and you have to choose which way to go.
And they're off

A little side note story on Hailey. She's been going through a yelling/hitting phase for a while now. Everything is fine and then she gets upset about something (typically having to do with Tyler or myself) and the screaming or hitting starts. When this happens we ask her to go sit on the stairs until she's ready to be sweet (a sort of timeout). She is free to come out when she decides she is ready to be sweet. So these "timeouts" last anywhere from 10 seconds to 5 minutes. When she's ready she says "I'm ready to be sweet" and then we ask her to say sorry to whomever she hit/screamed at. Usually she's ready to be sweet pretty quickly but sometimes she sits on the stairs a really long time. Occasionally after she's been there a while I'll walk over and ask her if she's ready to be sweet and play and she's typically says "NO" in her angry voice. So she stays there :). She's pretty good a regulating herself. If only I could figure out how to get her to stop the hitting/screaming in the first place. I'm totally off track on my side note (ha, ha). My point really was that Hailey has said "sorry" a lot of times in her short life and she has started holding the rest of us accountable. When she sees someone/thing hurt she tells us to say sorry. It's starting to get a little out of hand. While we were walking through the maze (I was carrying her at this point), I stepped on a smashed fallen cornstalk. Hailey immediately said, say sorry to corn maze mommy. " Sorry, corn maze". Thanks, she said.

After the corn maze we spent some time at the john deer biking track.

We spent a few minutes at the playground (no pics.....I was drinking hot cider and trying to protect myself from the swarming bees that also really wanted some cider) and then a few minutes on the tire swing. I'm sure we will be visiting Bob's Corn again before the month is over. And we will like visit The Farm too as we had great fun there last year.

Oh, and we did come home with some fresh sweet corn that was very delicious.

Favorite phrases

A quick note about some of my favorite Hailey phrases:

Here goes me! (Here I go)

Little Bidit (still a favorite)

What you talkin about missy

actually

Anymore (she just has a certain way of saying it that I can't even explain with words)

I also love how she makes words plural right now. She adds an "is" to the plural word and it ends up just sounding so cute. So for plums she says "plumsis"

Can't say these are my favorite but I still constantly hear:

Hailey do it

I do it by myself

I'm a big girl

I did it all by myself

Mommy go away (so I can do it by myself)

Mommy go see Ty (so I can do it by myself)

Screaming (because I accidently tried to help her....it's an automatic mommy response, I can't help it sometimes)

I don't care:

A couple of weeks ago we had a two day stretch where Hailey was constantly saying "I don't care". I was very funny to hear from her because it just doesn't seem like something a 2 year old would say. (she wasn't yelling it in frustration it was used more to mean "it's ok if you do that").. It was also funny to hear it from her because she actually DOES care, about everything, ALOT!.. She has since stopped saying it. Maybe she figured out that, in fact, she does care.

Sweet dreams my 5 year old, I mean 2 year old sweet fiesty funny independent girl

Can't turn it down

What do I do when my 4 year old asks for a lettuce and tomato sandwich for breakfast? I give it to him of course. I added a little cheese for fun and thought "how strange" but who am I to pass up a request to eat vegetables, even if it is for breakfast. I'm pretty sure this was inspired by a Franklin show but regardless, he ate it!