It has been a year.....

A year ago we took Brayden to the ER because we were freaking out over a nasty rash he had all over his body and it had spread to surround his mouth. After looking him over a few times they said it was Erythema Multiforme which babies can get when they have an infection they are fighting but it eventually goes away. Brayden had a fondness for his apparently and he experienced a breakout about 50% of the time in various forms until an allergist down here put him on Zyrtec which he takes daily. He has been tested for everything allergy wise and nobody knows what aggravates it. The allergist said the longest he has seen it in a child is 8 months. He is doing better but last month if I was off by even a few hours the ugly thing would return. The doctor's just shrug and say hopefully he will grow out of it. I hope too, at least before he starts pre-school. He is going to have more blood work done soon. Maybe next year it will magically disappear just as it magically appeared a year ago.

I do it...see....SUPER FAST!

Brayden suddenly just got the hang of Hailey's old Dora bike. He would yell," Look mama! I did it Super Fast." Unfortunately after a while he went super fast towards the trampoline that was parked at the edge of the patio, post tractor fun. The bike went under the trampoline. The agile little guy that he is grabbed the edge of the trampoline and hung there while the bike continued under the tramp. He hasn't wanted to ride it much since. I am sure he will change his mind soon though.

We are having......

... a girl! Hailey really wanted a baby sister. I hope she is going to really want to share a room too:) She said she already has a baby brother and now she needs a baby sister. She should be arriving the last week of February. I think it will be strange if she doesn't have Hailey's hair or complexion. She could be brown haired and brown eyed ... maybe even look like me!

A Day with a Tractor

I have decided renting a tractor for a day can cause many different emotions.....

Pure Elation
Excitement

Madness - Yes you want to stay away if you see my dad on a tractor.

And finally....

Sadness

No not from Brayden, but from Hailey

"But.....but....I love that tractor! Why is daddy taking it back?"

Her tears made me sad too.

Family Picture

Hailey needed a family picture for a project at school. It is really pathetic but we haven't had a decent one since Brayden was bald. So we took one tonight and it actually turned out okay. Nobody was crying or closing their eyes so I thought I would post it. If all else fails you might see it again at Christmas.

String Bean and the New Truck Book

Yes, Hailey started dance again. She took dance last winter and quit after two months. Actually I quit because I was done with the drama before about her tights etc. She asked and asked this summer to take dance again. So I signed her up and she promised all would be good. So after a large registration fee, new tap shoes, new leotard, new tights, and 1st month's payment it was time for the first day. Tears, wailing, knashing of teeth and many attempts to rip off tights later she arrived and I was sooooo mad at myself for giving in again. Each week she has a great time while she is there and is in a good mood afterwards. I told her she has to go for the full month I am paid up. So before class she kept clarifying, "So I only have to go two more times?" Then after class, "Maybe I will go eight more times." My prediction for before class next week, " So I only have to go one more time?" Who knows how the dance saga will end. Will my cute little string bean ever become accustomed to tights? The conclusion will come at the end of week four.

Meanwhile, my easy going child wanted a picture taken with his new book. He has a tractor book already that he has loved but it does not compare with the truck book. He shows it to everyone and thinks it is the best thing ever.

Feeling a Little Ripped Off...

Over labor day weekend Brian and I went to the BYU vs U of A game with our friends Ward and Lisa. They flew in on Saturday morning and we had a great day eating out and watching the game without the kids (thanks to grandma Judy). We had a chance to take a little tour of the new campus. The library has been transformed from a the dark dungeon atmosphere to high tech and full of light. Each table had internet access and power for four or more laptops. What happened to the good old computer lab days? The basement had this beautiful wall of windows looking up at the administration building. I use to go down their with one purpose - to sleep between classes. Most of the grass has been removed and their are all of these great landscaped areas between pathways with benches etc. No more stupid little signs, "Cougars don't cut corners". This meant - don't walk on the grass, traitor! The new Joseph Smith building is also gorgeous with an awesome courtyard. So we felt a little ripped off. The last couple of years we were there everything was under construction and stuck in the seventies. At least it made me a little more proud to be a coug - that and we beat Arizona 20-7. Brian wore a U of A hat and a BYU t-shirt that he bought at the bookstore, come on, Pick a Side!

Bowling

Finally there is a decent bowling alley close by. It has been open for a few months and I just found out about it. Anyway, Brian had Labor Day off so we decided to polish our skills - Ha Ha.

Dancing to the music

Hugs

Chubby Chin

While Hailey was at kindergarten my mom and I drove to the towns north of us to buy fruit at all of the local fruit stands. Afterwards we found out it was still cheaper at Smiths but I think the fruit was definitely tastier at the stands. Anyway Brayden fell asleep in the car and I happened to have my camera. If he is anything like Hailey his double chin and chubby cheeks will disappear soon and I will miss them. So I had to take a picture.