Hailey's 2nd Birthday!!

My baby is turning 2!!!

I cannot even believe it is possible that she is 2 years old (technically not until Tuesday but it might as well be today!) We had her birthday party this weekend and she did such a great job! I think she was a little overwhelmed - she jumped into Juella's arms when she got there! The house was decorated in "The Backyardigan's" - we even had the character balloons that were bigger then her. Our backyard looked like a mini carnival - we had over sized horseshoes, a Giant Basketball, and of course the famous Jump-o-lene!!

Coming downstairs when she woke up from her nap - little surprised (especially when Larry and Ashley jumped out and yelled "Surprise")


The basketball court


Baby Peyton holding on to Larry

I was so worried about us singing "Happy Birthday" to her - at other parties Hailey did not enjoy everyone singing. Now I'm thinking it may just be our singing because she sure liked it at her party!! She sat there all by herself - even knew to blow out the candles and clapped when we were done. She is such a big girl now!!

Blowing out her candles

Yummy cake!


Ashley really wanting to help her.

more presents..


Her own bike! We went for a ride with her helmet later that night! It has a handle for the parent to steer and help push. She likes steering like a maniac and laughing when I try to keep her from crashing - good thing we got the helmet!

Dance Time

Ashley had her 1st Dance recital! She did a great job - it was a lot to learn but she handled it very well. I was a little nervous if she would even go onto the stage - but again she amazed me and didn't even hesitate! Hailey was excited to see her on the stage too. We are so proud of her!

Larry had the camera and didn't focus very well but it's ok - we took video too - just didn't want to kill the computer by loading it all up!

She walked out with no problems!


We bought her flowers when she was done - she is a star!

Working at the Car Wash!!

Larry wanted to wash his motorcycle and of course the girls wanted to help! Water, soap, outside - what's not to love!! Except they like to wash the driveway with the brush and then use it! I saw the horror in Larry's face when that thought crossed his mind. So we decided Daddy would wash his own motorcycle and Ashley and Hailey would wash their jeep (you know the expensive vehicle just sitting in the garage that both of them are too afraid to ride!)

Time Off

We took some time off this month - just to stay around the house. We took the girls to the Children's museum and to the zoo. It was a lot of fun and very nice to do it on a weekday - it's just too busy during the weekends to do all this stuff. We found out that our girls really have different interests. When we were at the Children's museum we had to split up because they both wanted to do different things - which is good. Hailey REALLY enjoys painting and Ashley liked to put the trains together (or maybe that was just Larry). Ashley liked to play basketball and was even pretty good at it! (just hopes she grows a little more if she really wants to play)

They did play house together!

Hailey was an angry player!

She has great form!

Hailey probably did 4 pictures - and I wore tan pants - which weren't tan when we were done painting!

The zoo of course is always fun - I think I like it more then anyone. It's just nice to walk around and see what's going on, and have Larry call to the peacocks and try to chase the ducks. Are you seeing a trend with Larry being more of a kid then all of us? LOL - we love it! (Oh ya - we went to the zoo for my birthday - then cake later that day yipee!!)

So not a good picture of me but I had to add it. We have taken the girls on the carousel lots of times and they want to go. Today however, this thing took off and you would have thought we were on a roller coaster. Hailey jumped off hers into my arms and Ashley couldn't hold on to Larry tight enough - who would have thought!



Little miss attitude leaving the zoo - she had her arms folded all the way to the car (even in her cute new shoes!)

Evening Hike

We have decided that we are going to try to break out of our night routine of vegging out. It helps when the weather is nice enough to actually get out and do something! We have a canyon close to our house so we have decided to start going there more often during the week. The girls really enjoy it - even though I carry Hailey most of the way. Even Max likes it - there is water!! Although I think he is the only Yellow Lab that can't swim! He sure tries - the last time we went Larry had to "fish" him out of the stream by the leash otherwise he would not have made it! Scares the crap out of me! Yet he keeps jumping into the water!

Larry, Ashley and Max at the beginning of our hike

WHAT? an actual picture of me?? Yep - and Hailey!

Max before Larry had to rescue him again!

On the ride home - having fun with the camera

Hailey letting us know her feet stink - GROSS!!

Praying For Whitney!!

Juella's daughter Whitney was in a very serious car accident early Saturday morning. Her car hit an elk, the elk came thru the windshield and Whitney's face took a direct hit. Amazingly she survived the crash but is in bad shape. She has over 40 fractures in her face. The most amazing part is when I went to see her on Saturday she was alert and talking - just like Whitney always is!! She went in for surgery on Sunday but they had to stop because her eye is in worse shape then they first thought. They transported her to a different hospital and is supposed to have surgery again on Monday. It's going to be a very long road ahead but we are just so thankful that she is still with us and amazingly enough there are no injuries to her brain, neck, etc..
With all of this going on we are so blessed to be a part of Juella's life - along with her extended family. Ashley heard the 1st phone call I received from Juella and has been very concerned. We took the girls up to the hospital on Sunday to see Juella and Brad. Ashley and Hailey were so happy to see them - along with Grandma and Grandpa Dewey - and Mandy (Whitney's sister). We are so blessed to be a part of this amazing family - the love my girls are showered with is amazing - even thru this tough time!
We are sending Whitney and the family good thoughts always and praying for a quick recovery for Whitney. This is going to be so hard on her being the teenager she is and always talking!! We love her so very much!