Hailey's Birthday PartIES

Jona is in Mexico for a conference and he took the laptop...turd. So I am stuck with our desktop which moves at the speed of molasses going uphill in the winter. Lucky for you, that means I can post pics from Hailey's multiple birthday celebrations...

Sean, Shawna and Hayden were here for New Year's and Hailey's birthday. We had a great visit and Hailey loved playing with her cousin! On New Year's Eve we headed to the Phoenix Zoo.

We love our zoo and invested in a membership. We've been at least twice a month since then!

Hailey and Hayden rode a camel. Oh the thrill.

On New Year's Eve, Shawna's parents (who winter in Phoenix) came over for a BBQ and s'more fest!

Parker was determined to light himself on fire. Mommy was very nervous.

Hailey had her first fire grilled s'more and she is hooked ladies and gentlemen.

January 1st, 2006 little miss Hailey Beth made her debut.

Can it be that she is actually FOUR?

Luckily she is not at all spoiled.

And she definitely didn't start the day by licking the beaters I was using to make her cake. That would be unhealthy.

She is officially a big girl in her BIG GIRL bed. This has lead to me falling asleep with her almost nightly when I tuck her in. I think I love it as much as she does.

Her birthday outing lead us to the Arizona Science Center. Very cool, interactive, educational. Got a membership there too!

They learned how to build damn and, well, get wet and dirty inside.

Parker went to space.

And then that weekend we had yet ANOTHER party at Chuck E Cheese.

Again, not at all spoiled.

(Bianca, Hailey, Ella)

Another cake. This one brought to you by Spongebob Squarepants.

Chuck E. even sang and danced with her. He was a little lame but I'm pretty sure she didn't mind.

(Hailey, Ella, Bianca, Alexa, Emily, Lisa, Zoe, Me)

Hailey and Chuck E...BFF

There you go. Life is a party around here.

Crazy Kiddos

2010 has started with a bang! Its really so fun to start every new year celebrating my daughter's birthday. Hailey Elizabeth is now officially 4 years old...HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?!?! She is 4, she is fabulous, she is smart, she is funny, she is beautiful, she is way too verbal, she has awesome attitude, and she is in all too many ways my daughter. And I'm lucky, and we have fun, and we fight, and I often don't win. I would post pictures from her multiple birthday celebrations, but they are all on the other computer and I can't handle how hideously slow the desktop is so just trust me, every party and happy birthday singing was super fun and exciting and worthy of my gorgeous girl.

Moving on...Hailey and I had a garage sale in January. She worked really hard, helped me decide what to sell, what to keep, which of Parker's toys were disposable, and stayed outside with me all morning while we sold off our clutter. This was her snack break in the front yard while we cleaned out the garage.

Parker has changed so much just in the past few months. He has fluffy, frizzy, curly, bleached blonde hair, and plenty of it. He sings with Hailey, dances with Hailey, follows Hailey every.where.she.goes. He really, really wants to be Hailey. See...
This time of year has shown us why people live in Phoenix. Clear skies, and I mean not a single cloud to be found, 70 degrees, gorgeous. We are outside daily, and the backyard toys that felt so much love in Nashville are finally feeling it again!

Parker, following Hailey's lead, has really taken to the Maupin family love of books. He reads all day, or begs to be read to, or carries around books, or sits with Hailey on the steps, in his rocking chair, on the couch, on the floor, wherever they stop moving and sit still, and read together.

So we've been busy. And, of course, LOUD-