Our in town Vacation

William and I decided to take the kids on vacation, and we were going to go out of town. Of course, plans change depending on circumstances, and our plans got changed. We decided to still take a vacation, but stay in town for it. We decided to go to Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine. I have said since we were in New York in Nov. of 07 that Great Wolf would be our next vacation. So it just seemed like the perfect plan. We went on Monday afternoon and stayed till late Tuesday afternoon. We ate tons, swam a lot, and had a great time at two different story times. The vacation wasn't with out problems though... coming down a slide, I got my foot caught in a handle and bruised it up quite a bit! Then on both days, Hailey fell in the exact same spot and was pretty bruised up! She even had a small lump on her head! We had so much fun though! The kids loved sleeping in their own 'room' in bunk beds! Both kids love the wave pool (once Harris got a life jacket on). Harris loved the jet skis. And it took some time, but Harris has a new love of water slides. He kept wanting to go on them over and over again. Hailey loved the big water bucket drop. They were so cute! After we left the lodge, we went to Grapevine Mills to walk around, ride the carousal, and eat dinner at The Rainforest Cafe. And can you believe after all that we took the kids to their swim lessons?! They were so wiped out when we got home that they fell right to sleep and slept great!

Since there are so many pictures, I put them in a video. I got some really cute shots of the kids, so enjoy!

Tooth Money!

The Tooth Fairy came! Yay! Hailey was so excited that she got "4 moneys"! The tooth fairy left her 4 four - one dollar bills and one gold dollar coin. Hailey loves the tooth fairy!!

Tooth!!!!

Well, it happened.... the tooth has come out! No, it didn't fall out. Jamie pulled it out. Yay! I didn't have to pull it. She didn't swallow it. The scare of the first tooth coming out is over. Hailey and I are both are so happy! She is thrilled. I'm relieved! It was crazy, but now it's over. Here's the story...
A lot of our family went out tonight for Nana's birthday. At the restaurant Jamie started feeling Hailey's tooth. Hailey asked her to come to our house to pull the tooth. It was already getting late, but Jamie said ok. After we got home, I left Jamie and Hailey in my room while I went to change Harris into jammies. Jamie was telling Hailey to wiggle the tooth. I didn't really think it would come out tonight. I got Harris' jammie top on him and sent him to get his pants out of my bathroom. As he rounded the corner out of his room, Hailey came running to get her cup out of the bathroom and BOOM! They collided into each other! About then, Jaycie started yelling 'She pulled it! She pulled it!'. Then Hailey and Harris were both crying and I sat in the floor trying to console both of them. See when they collided and Hailey started crying, it was then that she saw the blood from her tooth. I don't know that she even realised that the tooth was out yet. Jamie got her and took her in the bathroom for rinsing. I took care of Harris and then passed him off to Cameryn. Hailey was scared to death! She was shaking uncontrollably and crying! She spit tons of water out and then Jamie told her to stick her tongue in the hole. She did and started laughing! Now she can't keep her tongue out of the hole! She loves that it is finally out! After everything calmed down, Hailey said the part that scared her was just the blood. It didn't even hurt when it came out. William & I had tried to prepare her for the blood, but she panicked. HHHMMM, I wonder where she gets the panic gene???
So, until the next tooth...
To Hailey: I'm so proud of you! You're such a big girl! I know it scared you, but you were very brave! My baby is gone now! I love you so much big girl!!!! Mommy

Checking the tooth at the restaurant..

After the tooth came out & the crying stopped.

Jamie & Hailey (Hailey got a new book for being so brave!)

Hailey's hole

The new smile.

Posing with the tooth. So cute!

The tiny tooth.

Finally getting to use the pillow! (look carefully, the one beside the hole is due to come out soon.. it's not even standing up straight!)

Waiting for the tooth fairy!!! I wonder how much she will get!

Nana's Birthday

Happy Birthday Nana!

My whole family went out to Hoffbraus for Nana's birthday. It was so yummy and we all had a great time!

Harris signed his own name!!

March for Babies 2009

Our March of Dimes walk went great today! The weather cooperated, it wasn't too hot or too cold and the best part was..... it didn't rain!!! All together for our team, Team Caleigh, there was about 21 people and 12 kids! What a great turnout! And as of this morning our team has raised $2971!!! That's just over $700 more than last year! Way to go to everyone on our team! But I think the best part of our walk was finally getting to meet the one we are walking for, Caleigh. She is so sweet and beautiful! Hailey fell in love with her too and was so sad when Caleigh was crying at the end of the walk. I think the walk wore Caleigh out!

Thank you so much to everyone who sponsored me in the walk with your generous donations! With out your support year after year, I wouldn't have been able to continue the walks and March of Dimes wouldn't be where it is today!

I love these walks and knowing that I am doing such a wonderful thing for such helpless babies. It's hard for me to believe I have been doing these walks for about 15 years now! I started long before I, myself had a preemie baby, our beautiful girl Hailey. And I'm very happy to have my family now join me. I love that my kids can see me doing something good for others and hopefully they will be inspired to help others too!

And I, like many others, believe that...

ONE DAY ALL BABIES WILL BE BORN HEALTHY!!!

Double Easter Egg Hunt

Our church went back to having an Easter egg hunt. The last one they did was a few years ago, right after the church service. They let the big kids go first and they went crazy! They ended up opening the eggs to see if they wanted what was inside. If they didn't want it, they just dumped it out on the ground. Chocolate ended up melting all over the ground and of course, Hailey had chocolate all over her white shoes! The egg hunt this time was the day before Easter and it was sectioned off into age groups and each group went at a different time. The kids had so much fun! They loved getting to pet a bunny again too!

Later in the afternoon, a church by our house had an Easter egg hunt too. We decided to take the kids to that one too. They got to pet different animals and Hailey got bite by a duck! It scared her at first but then she laughed. After their individual egg hunts they got to ride the John Deere tractor train. Both kids thought that was so cool!

The 1st Egg Hunt...

Harris' Egg Hunt

Hailey's Egg Hunt

Us!

The 2nd Egg Hunt...

Face Painting, Mommy doesn't like it on the face so she had a cross with flowers painted on her leg. She and I both loved it and the lady painting it said she is going to see if more people want to do that. She thought it was a great idea!

Petting Zoo

Hunting the eggs and picture with Daddy.

Tractor Ride!

P.D.O. Easter Party

Harris had an Easter party in his class on Wednesday. Their parties are always short and sweet, but the kids have a lot of fun. For this party, the kids had a quick snack of fruit and cheese, then they went outside to look for the Easter bunny and hunt Easter eggs. They were all so cute tiptoeing outside so they didn't scare the bunny away!

Enjoying a snack

Playing in the sand while waiting for the Easter bunny to hide the eggs.

Listening to the director tell us how to sneak up on the Easter bunny.

All ready to go outside!

Waiting for the "Ready, Set, Go!"

Hunting the eggs!

Ready to go through his stash!

"Mommy, I got a sticker!"

Harris with Mommy and then Harris with one of his teachers.

I'm so lucky to get to attend and help with Hailey and Harris' parties! Look at all the fun I get to have too! (Hailey's class didn't have a party this time, Hailey was so sad!)

Thomas the Train

Sunday, after church, we drove to grapevine to see if we could get train tickets to ride Thomas the Train. Boy did we have perfect timing! As soon as we got there, I was able to get tickets for the next ride at 2 pm. We went over and had pictures made with Sir Topham Hat, then got some carnival lunch of hot dogs, steak on a stake and nachos. Then we went to get into line for the train ride. We didn't stand in line very long and it was our time to board. Yay! Hailey and Harris loved the ride. I was so glad we got to ride again. For those of you who may not remember, Harris was so sick when we went to ride Thomas last year. He had the MRSA staff infection in his ear, and a variation of Hand Foot Mouth disease in his mouth (which was full of ulcers). After the train ride we headed home for late afternoon naps and chicken on the George Foreman! What a great day!

Harris waiting for us to get on the train. He's screaming "All Aboard!"

Right before boarding the train.

Our family on the train!

Harris is getting our tickets punched.

Hailey & Daddy on the train ride.

Mommy & Harris on the train ride.

My boys enjoying their ride!

Harris is thanking Daddy for taking him on the train. I love his lil' face!

Harris in front of Thomas.

Thomas