Fall Weekend Activities

Sorry again for the delay in blogging, I just can't seem to get my act together.

This past weekend, was by far one of the most fun weekends we have had at home in a while. I took some pictures to show you what all we did and how much fun Hayden had. First on Saturday morning, we got up (after Hayden and Daddy had a breakfast date at McDonalds, that is becoming a habit for the two)and went to a local farm - Barber Berry Farm and picked berries or muscadines rather. We all like to eat them, but the main goal was to do something a little different and let Hayden have some fun.

Picking them off the ground, just at her level.



I decided to pick her up and let her pull them right off the vine.



But she preferred the ground, more fun I suppose.



On the golf cart after we were done with a full bucket.




Next up, during Hayden's nap I made a strawberry pie for Brian. I had never made one before and I don't particularly like them, but Brian said it was wonderful. He even said it tasted just like Shoney's and that is saying something because he loves those pies!



If you are interested in the recipe, I found it on Pinterest. You can click here and go straight to the blog where this yummy dessert came from!

Next up, after Hayden's nap, we had Arts & Crafts time. Hayden was so excited, I wish I had a video of her running around the house so excited to start arts and crafts. She was running up and down the drive-way saying "I'm So Happy". I can't tell you how my heart felt! I am hoping to do a craft with her every Saturday. For this one I choose a Sunshine, since the weather was so pretty. It was very easy as well, and again if you would like to know how to do this - click here. I got this from Pinterest too! It was so much fun. Here are the photos as we progressed through the craft.

First we started by painting the sunshine (it wasn't until we were about to start when I realized I didn't have any yellow paint so we improvised and used Orange)



Still painting...



And while the sunshine was drying, Daddy realized we were having arts and crafts and he wanted to join in on the fun. He went and found some blue paint and painted Hayden's face Orange and Blue in honor of Auburn! Hayden loved that too. By the way was football on this past weekend? I wouldn't know, we never slowed down a bit. I never even saw a single down of the game, not really a bad thing I don't guess.



The finished product! We used yellow tissue paper and glued it on the back in little squares and little funny eyes and a little fuzzy ball for the nose. The project called for black construction paper for the smile and that would have been cute, but I opted to just draw it on there. I thought it turned out perfect nonetheless.

Georgia Aquarium

Last weekend we decided kinda spontaneously to take Hayden to Atlanta for the weekend and enjoy some of the sights the City has to offer, like the Aquarium.

We really enjoyed ourselves every step of the way, it was crowded and it was hot outside, but that didn't matter to Hayden one bit. She loved everything we did - which included a whole lot of eating, all weekend. We ate pizza, (and Hayden got to make her own at a great pizzeria called Max's Coal Oven Pizzeria)fruit, pancakes, eggs, more fruit, cereal, homemade granola, cheeseburgers, more fruit, french fries, ice cream, and sandwiches. We ate a lot and Hayden thought she was in heaven.

Here are a few pictures from the aquarium. I have to tell you though, not to be negative, but I wasn't extremely impressed with the place - but I had really high expectations. It it rather large, but for some reason I was thinking it was going to be much bigger. It was crowded, which I was expecting, but I am not sure why I thought there would be more, but I did. Needless to say Hayden loved it and I am sure we will be making more trips back there in the future. It was still a great place to see lots of marine life.

When we fist walked in there was a penguin and Hayden wanted to get our picture made with him, he was really nice!



In our first exhibit - "Look Up Daddy, What's that?" It was a huge whale shark, and by huge I mean HUGE!



One of the touching pools.



Not sure what it was they were touching, but Hayden liked it and that was all that mattered at the time.



Hayden found a mermaid to play on, we stayed here for a while.



At another touching pool - what are we waiting to touch? You'll see...



Yep - and by the way, in case you were wondering, it was super slick and sort of gross feeling.



Lots and lots of fish, they were so pretty though.



With Daddy



Pure Joy! She was playing in bubbles right before we had lunch! This is the face of happiness...



We loaded up on goodies on the way out the door - which by the way is excellent marketing on their behalf. The only exit out of the aquarium is all the way through to the other side of the gift shop. We ended up with a pink dolphin purse, a penguin (Hayden's favorite animal) a bubble gun that the workers were playing with to show all the kids, and two books one about the ocean and one about penguins.

I am already trying to plan our next venture - stayed tuned :).

Hayden's First Day of Preschool

Yesterday was a big day in our house, not only was it my birthday, but it was also Hayden's first day of K-2. She is attending Frazer's Preschool two days a week and I was so excited for her yesterday. She acted like such a big girl and wanted to carry her lunch box and her back pack all by herself.

Mommy did good too, no tears were shed, but my eyes did water up once while we were climbing the stairs to her classroom. I know she will love school and will learn so much. When I picked her up yesterday after lunch she hugged my neck real big and told her teachers bye and while we were walking out she started talking about Humpty Dumpty - so she is already learning, my sweet girl.

Here are a few pictures:

Hayden's new lunch box and book bag - she loves them both!



I have stressed over what to pack Hayden for lunch for weeks now. I knew this would be a big adjustment for her because being at home every day Hayden gets to "snack" pretty much whenever she wants and this girl, eats all the time! She loves fruit, so I packed watermelon, cantaloupe, white cheese popcorn, animal cookies, gold fish, and some yogurt fruit snacks. When I picked her up I checked her lunch box and she had eaten everything, except for a few pieces of cantaloupe! Ha!



Before heading out the door, I wanted to get a couple pictures of her just in case she didn't want pictures at school. She looked adorable, if I do say so myself. She loved holding her lunch box and book bag.





Here we are walking into Frazer, she was getting just a little apprehensive seeing all the people walking around. But she still wanted to walk all by herself.




When we walked in her classroom, she hugged one of her teachers Ms. Stefanie!



And then sat in Ms. Beverly's lap for a picture with both of her teachers, that face is priceless. She was itching to go play.



She told me bye and then went straight for the baby dolls - this girl loves to play.



And finally, here is a shot of Hayden's play/nap area at my office. On the days when she goes to school she will be coming back with me to my office - to hopefully rest, take a nap and watch movies. Yesterday was a success, she explored a little bit, had a snack, watch two movies and took a long nap while I worked. Doesn't this area look so nice and cozy? She has a tv, dvd player, a basket with movies, toys, and a comfy area to lay down and nap!

Leave of Absence

Unintentionally as it might have been I took a leave of absence from writing on my blog and from reading anyone else's blog. Quite honestly I didn't mean to do it, but I just never found the time to sign on. I suppose with Fall right around the corner maybe I will get back in to the swing of things and a little routine.

It's not that we have been super busy or jet-setting around the globe, nothing fantastic like that - I just haven't felt like sitting here and typing. It has been over two months since Hayden's birthday party, which was my past post and we have done lots of things, but I won't bore you with all our everyday adventures. But I would like to mention that early in the summer we did head down south to the beach with most of my family and we had a great time, some pictures are included.

I have been loving summer tv programs, almost more than the Fall which means at night, after Hayden has been tucked in bed, I would rather watch Covert Affairs, Rookie Blue, Expedition Impossible, or the Bachelorette than type. I have also been reading books, lots of books and I am so pleased to tell you that Brian has taken up reading too, it fills my heart with joy when Brian and I are both in bed with our table lights on reading separate books - together! Brian thinks I am such a dork, but I have dreamed of this since we got married, here's to answered prayers.

Hayden is starting preschool, technically it is Mother's Morning Out, but for her sake we are calling it school. And I couldn't be more excited and happy for her. I think after the initial adjustment period she is going to love it! She needs this quality time with other children her age and the time away from the house to learn and thrive. I can't wait to share with you everything she learns. On and we are in the throws of potty training - ugh! I knew I wouldn't enjoy this part of motherhood and I was right - not fun for me. But on the bright side, Hayden loves it and is doing really, really well with it.

Lots of things coming in the future and I can't wait to share them all with you, if anyone is still out there in cyber world after my break.

I hope you enjoy some of our beach pictures.

Birthday Party

Hayden's 2nd Birthday party was Saturday, May 28th at our house. We had such a great time and were so thankful for family. For Hayden's party, we kept it simple with fun outdoor items for the kiddos to play with and the decorations were bright colors - purple, red, yellow, green, blue, etc. Everything was polka dots and stripes.

For Hayden's birthday we got her a playground set, so that is what I decided to go with for her invitations, they were adorable. And the very talented lady who made Hayden's cake designed it with the colors and playset - it was amazing and tasted awesome too.




Here are a few of the decorations...







Hayden's birthday wreath, that I made.



And now for a few action shots of the party!

In the bouncy jumper



And on the new playset



Present time had to come before we ate because Hayden was pitching a fit...





With Nan and Papa



With Gram and Pap



And finally with Mommy and Daddy, playing with new toys



Thanks everyone for making Hayden's birthday so much fun.

Catching Up

I apologize for not posting anything sooner. It seems as though we have been so busy and I honestly have not had a free moment to post anything. But Hayden is now officially two and we had a great time at the birthday party.

I will post a few pictures of the days leading up to her actually turning two, but because it has been a couple of weeks since I have blogged I can't remember which days are which.

But here are a few of my favorites from those last few days of her being a one year old.

After bath time Hayden insisted on putting every single bow she could find in her hair and then "had" to show Daddy how pretty!



Following in Ariel's footsteps on her graduation day.



staying safe from the soccer ball!



She loves my hat, funny girl.



I have so many photos of her birthday party and I can't wait to share them with you, but I have to organize them first.