Freedom Day Balloons

This year we all got up and left with some friends at 6:30 to go and see the Freedom Festival Balloons. We all had a fun time and it was fun watching the kids watch the balloons. Hallie couldn't keep her eyes off of them and kept trying to run after them to catch them.
Jackson had this great idea as he told Brian. "Dad, when the balloon comes down again, we can hurry and get in it before it flys up in the sky" If only it were that easy. :)
Our cute little family. We had decided to do the balloons on Friday morning instead of the 4th because it would be one less thing to pack into our busy day. After we saw the balloons, we went and had a yummy breakfast at our friends house and then went home for naps. (We were all a little ornery by 11:00, so the naps were a must) :)
At the end of the balloons this is how Hallie felt... Daddy, just take me home and put me in bed.

How do you discipline your kids???

Last night we had some friends over for dinner and I think the kids had a little bit too much sugar with their 4 pieces (each) of watermelon and cake and icecream. I had a Primary meeting at 8:00 and Brian put the kids to bed. He thought they were asleep until Jackson walked out in the living room and I got a glimpse of his face. He ran back to his room really quick & he went and grabbed him to show his pretty face to my friends. I then went and handed him off to Brian, but not before seeing their room. Morgan and Jackson had decided to play Maids & artists and had taken off all of their sheets & comforters. However, I don't think they had any intentions to actually wash the sheets and put them back on again. Jackson's whole body was covered with a nice green dry erase marker (which thankfully came off very easy & thankfully it wasn't a permanant marker... that would give something for people to talk about this weekend as I'm sure it would still be on for the 4th of July) :) So anyway, as Brian put all the sheets back on he told the kids they had lost the privelage to sleep in their beds (which is something they hate) and that they needed to sleep on the floor (since I was using the living room, they couldn't use bathtub as you remember from a previous post) This is how we found Jackson. We couldn't help but take a picture. Brian is so much more calm then I am. I think he counted to 100 to calm down before he decided what to do. I would have counted to 2 & still probably would have lost it. :)
The other night Brian and I were talking about how sometimes we feel as though we live at the Circus. This all came because Jackson was outside and had a number 2 accident in his pants. Morgan was being the big helper sister and decided to bring in the dirty shorts & underware, of course dropping the evidence on the kitchen floor. She then accidentally stepped on the evidence (of course wearing tennis shoes with a thousand grooves) and began walking around the kitchen, (not sure where to sit as Brian & I were telling her to sit down) until I finally pushed her down & she stayed. It was SOO much FUN cleaning this all up, and I used almost the whole bottle of Lysol (not really, but close) :) So with these past 2 experiences, you can see how sometimes life does feel like the circus. Although, we wouldn't trade it for anything. It adds more adventure & humor to our lives. :)

You can't help but smile and the pose and the artistic job. Jackson will have a full book of funny pictures & experiences about himself, which is what life is all about... right? :)

The best way to fix a bloody nose

According to Jackson, this is the best way to fix a bloody nose. The other day he and Hallie were playing & she bumped into him causing his nose to bleed. He immediatly came in to get a band-aid and put it on his nose & then came and sat down to eat. :) ha ha ha It was so funny watching him trying to breath with it on. He soon took it off as he realized that he couldn't breath. What a funny kid!

Don't you wish you could get a kiss from him. ;)

My cute kids

Hallie's new favorite game is to get in her cupboard and hide from us. As soon as we find her she does a little whine so that we'll close the door again and play all over again. She loves hiding in here (as did M & J at that age) She is growing up so fast... where did my little baby go? She is so quick & funny & is constantly entertaining us.
It's official!!! Morgan has now learned how to take showers by herself and she loves it and I LOVE it! However, sometimes I feel that she is a teenager and I have to go and tell her it's time to get out of the shower. :) She is really good about getting out and getting herself all dressed. The only problem is she usually gets dressed before I can check her hair and multiple times there is still shampoo at the top of her head, so I play hairdresser and we wash her hair in the sink. I am so glad she can take showers now! Yay! (This is her look she gives when she is teasing) :)
My 3 cute kids. I set up the bear and Hallie came and posed herself right next to it. The other 2 joined it and I got this cute picture. I'm so grateful for each of them.
Yesterday Morgan's friend Mckenzie came over and they played dress up (Jackson is usually included and he dresses up as the handsome prince using these prince clothes) :) Hallie decided she wanted to play too. I love the dress and the smile. What a funny little girl with personality. Usually when they play, the handsome prince kisses the princesses, especially to wake them up. So yesterday Morgan and Mckenzie each got kissed (don't worry, I'm trying to teach Jackson to kiss on the cheek) while laying down on a little bed. Hallie decided she wanted to be kissed as well. So she went and layed down and waited for Jackson to come and kiss her. What a good brother. ;)
*One more thing so I don't forget. On Sunday, my sister Brianna had her mission farewell and afterwards we were having a nice lunch and Hallie came into the kitchen and saw some spilled lemonade on the little table where the punch bowl was sitting. So she put her fingers in it, and then scrunched the back of her hair as though it was gel. It was so funny watching her do it over and over again. Her hair was nice an crusty, but at least the curls stayed in. Maybe that's what I should start using. ;)

Our Little Bride...

On Father's day we went & ate a quick lunch with Brian's family & then came back home to cook dinner for my family. It was so nice being able to spend time with both Dad's on Father's day. After we were done eating dinner, I realized that the kids were downstairs and being really quiet... which is usually never a good thing. I came downstairs, and this is what I found. Morgan had found my wedding dress and decided she wanted to try it on & wear it. I could tell she felt like quite the princess. I told her that I didn't want her to try it on unless she asked me, but that she could wear it when she is older. She looked so sweet & happy in it... not to mention... TINY.
On our girls night while the boys were at the Father & Son Campout she wanted to paint her toenails. I told her we could, so we painted Hallie's first and then Morgan wanted to paint her own. She started painting her right big toe, and got done with that one, and then in an exhausted voice she said, "Well, I'm done with one." I asked her if she wanted me to do the rest to which she quickly said yes. Who knew that painting your toenails could be so hard. ;)
I suppose that Jackson is the groom. I love that Morgan is squeezing his neck. ;)

One Excited Litte Boy & the Father Son Campout

Jackson kept asking me all week as soon as he woke up, "Mommy, what day is it?" He was so excited about going camping with Daddy to the Father & Sons Campout. Finally Friday came and he said, "Mommy, do I get to go camping today?" I told him and soon as Daddy came home from work they would go. The first thing he did was went and put his camping clothes on and then picked out his clothes and pajamas for the day. He was completly dressed & packed within 5 minutes. :) I told him he might need a jacket because it gets kind of cold at night so he put his jacket on and wore that all day too (even though it was 90 degrees outside) I think he was pretty excited. We went to the store to pick up some treats that Jackson & Daddy could take and then Morgan picked out some treats for her and I for our girls night. As soon as Daddy came home Jackson started helping him get the truck all loaded up with camping gear. Do you think he is excited? :)
What a funny little kid! I told him of some of the kids is age that might be going and he said, "Is Charles going?" (our 10 year old neighbor) He loves Charles and was so excited to see him at camp. Charles and his Dad took Jackson on a walk while Brian was getting dinner ready and they saw some tracks. Bro. Hirst said, "Look at those tracks, what kind of tracks do you think they are?" Charles said, "I think they are deer tracks" Jackson said, "No, I think they are giraffe tracks" They both thought it was funny. Who knows, maybe there are giraffes in our nearby forest. :)
I am so glad they had such a good time. Jackson & Brian loved spending the time together & even smelled really yummy when they came home. :) I am so grateful to have Brian as their Daddy. He is such a good Dad, and the kids just love him & love being with him. He teaches them so much & has such a neat and close relationship with each of them.

Our Darling Diva

Here are my words to describe Hallie right now... cute as can be, stubborn, determined, emotional, girly, funny, cheesy, affectionate, diva, princess, Daddy's girl, & just fun! I can't believe how much her personality has come out lately, but she is SO funny to watch!!! At church on Sunday I was helping her get out of the car & she stopped because she saw one of Morgan's dress up necklaces on the van floor, so she picked it up and tried to put it on. I asked her if she wanted to wear it and she nodded and said, "mm hmm" so I put it on her & she proudly walked into church. Yesterday I was getting dinner ready & Brian was helping. Hallie was crying because she wanted to be held & was hungry. We kept telling her that it was almost ready (as we were setting the table & getting the dishes ready) and then she gave us this look that said, "fine... your not going to feed me or hold me, then I'm leaving" and she turned away from us, still whimpering walked down the hallway to Jackson's room and threw herself on his bed (well, actually climbed on his bed halfway, gave up, and started to do a self pity cry) It was so funny! We were laughing. What happens though if she is only 16 months and is throwing these little pity parties for herself :)
Hallie has loved giving kisses to everyone lately. How could you resisit those big lips? :) The kids love giving her kisses.
Hallie's new favorite word is "NO" In this picture I asked her if she would say "cheese" and she said "No" I think I actually caught it right here. :) She is too funny! Usually she says no to Morgan or Jackson if they are trying to hold her, or take something that she wants or had. If she wants something she can't have, she keeps going after it until she can get it... that's the determination. The other day she and Jackson were fighting over a stuffed bear. Hallie had the legs & Jackson had the head, and they were each pulling with the same amount of strength. Needless to say, the bear is still in one piece. :) With a close tie.
This look says either, "Don't touch me," or "Mom, please come and save me before they climb in bed with me. " Morgan & Jackson love when Hallie wakes up from her nap and they usually climb in her crib with her and play with her. Most of the time she loves it, but every once in a while, she doesn't want them in.
Hallie is so much fun. She loves when Daddy comes home and usually laughs as she runs to him & gives him a big kiss. She loves trying on everyones shoes, and when she wakes up in the morning, the first thing she wants on are her shoes. We love her so much!