Allergy shots!

This guy started shots today! We’re praying for some relief to his eczema!

He didn’t even flinch as she administered the shots, yes shots...one in each arm.  He’s awesome!

Throwback Thursday

This little guy is sporting a Midway Panthers t-shirt!  Gary graduated from Midway 24 years ago.  

Who knew he'd be attending Midway schools 7 years after this picture was taken?   It's crazy how much our lives have changed from when this picture was taken when we lived in Haslet. I wouldn't have it any other way.  I'm loving Waco and do not miss the big city at ALL!  

Hayden is 8!

This sweet man is 8 today.

We went to Roadhouse last night to celebrate with a steak dinner.  He ordered steak and potatoes.

Saturday we celebrated at the lake on the boat.  He was so excited to splash in the water and ride in the boat.  We had a fun day at Lake Waco.

Gosh, this little man is just the sweetest most caring guy I know.  I'm so proud to be his mother.

I feel so bad for him lately.  His eczema has been bothering him since we moved back to Texas.  I was hoping by now he'd have outgrown this skin issue, but so far he is still struggling.  He loves to swim, but the water drives him crazy and dries his already dry skin.

We are on day 7 of being Red dye free.  We are hoping he'll see a difference, but so far he still has itchy red spots.  He scratches all the time.  I'm forever getting unsolicited advice from friends, family and strangers and nothing has worked so far.  When I mean we have tried everything, we have tried everything we can in the last 7 years of his life. He has a positive attitude and thinks he will be free from itchy skin in 3rd or 4th grade.  Gosh, I hope he's right.

He doesn't really let his itchy skin get him down.  He's a fast runner and a baseball lover.  He spent all day playing with Legos.  He bought a set with 664 pieces and he's been building like crazy today. 

 He still enjoys Minecraft and loves all his Nerf guns.  He asked for chocolate cake with white icing for his birthday cake and my mom made cupcakes for him last weekend.  They are all gone so I made him monkey bread this morning with 8 candles.  It was a wonderful birthday treat!

Happy Happy Day Hayden Cole!

a school cafe lunch date

We got to have lunch with the special guy today.

He asked us to come have lunch with him and told us he eats at 12:20pm.  Well I thought I'd check his teachers website just to be sure, and it said his lunch is at 11:55.  Gary and I met at the school with Bush's chicken at 11:45.  (Hayden said he was feeling like chicken...lol)  

Wellllll.....guess who was correct.  Our neighbor works at the school and she saw us sitting at the parent table.  She mentioned that half way through the year the lunch schedule changes.  hahahaha!!  You know what?  It was ok.  It was so fun to sit in an elementary school cafe and tell stories about school lunches of ours.  We had a nice little break and even saw a few kiddos we know.  It was God's way of telling us to slow down and just enjoy the moment.  Even if it was in a loud cafeteria.

As the clock struck 12;20 guess who giggled and laughed and said, "told you so!"   His little face was so cute as he entered the cafe doors.  He ran-walked up to the parents table and sat right down so happy to have us there.  He scarfed down 2 rolls and several pieces of chicken.  He pointed out his friends and where he usually sits.   He gave us the scoop on how many servings of tater tots you can get away with eating.  

Oh that boy is just such a good little man and so full of sweetness.  He has a friend who gets food sent home from the school with him every weekend.  He was so carefree as he told us the story.  It sorta broke my heart, but Hayden doesn't care and the little boy doesn't care either.  We all need to take some tips from pure hearted kiddos.  God love them all!!

I'm thankful for my soon to be carefree 3rd grade little man!

you may as well be laying on glass ... wordless wednesday

[tape on carpet for practicing round-offs]

7!!

Guess who is 7!!  I love this guy!

Netsie is in town for the week and she made him a chocolate cake with vanilla icing!

Today he tried to see how many different ways he could hold up 7 fingers!

He cruised the driveway on his new glider and we swam all afternoon!

He rode home in the front seat of the Jeep (all of one mile) like a big guy.  

We ended the day with a yummy dinner of steak, as usual.  Steak is always his go to favorite meal!  

Happy Birthday Hayden!!

they're all falling out!

Hayden lost another tooth at school today!  He was so excited when he ran home after getting off the bus.  Yay!  It took him forever to lose his first tooth and now they are all falling out!  It's a busy time for the tooth fairy!

And goodness gracious the Georgia spring has his forehead all broken out.  His eczema is out of control!

yay!

Hayden lost his tooth this morning while eating breakfast!

Finally!

He has been playing with that lose tooth for WEEKS!

He is thrilled and so happy it's finally out of his mouth.  He was so worried and scared of the unknown.  He thought it was going to hurt, but it didn't. 

I was packing lunches while he and Layla were eating breakfast and all the sudden he screamed, "I lost it!  I lost it!  I thought my waffle was crunchy, but then I saw my tooth!"  Then he sprinted upstairs to show dad who was in the shower. 

It was an exciting morning in our house indeed!!

fall soccer is in full swing

Let the games begin!!!  Hayden was so thrilled for his first game today!

I love to watch him run and play.  I'm so glad to report that so far we have his asthma under control. Last spring he had a few issues, but he's ready to play and we have his rescue inhaler if we need it.

Go fight win!  I'm sure I'll post many more pictures of fall soccer!

i love my silly boy

So, I'm washing dishes, minding my own business and turn around to see this....

I don't know if I should feel afraid or safe. heeeheeehee!

all boy and then some

Hayden is loving his bike.  Once he learned to ride he's been on it every day since, even in the rain!

He was overly thrilled to ride his bike through every puddle he could find.  He got super duper dirty and asked me to take pictures to send to Gary at work.  He knew daddy would be proud of his muddy back!  

no more training wheels!

I'm so thrilled for Hayden!  

This morning he decided {with about 5 minutes of help from dad, and Lily} he was going to ride his bike like a big man!

He's so pumped that he is now officially a bike rider!

We have such a fun summer ahead and now with no training wheels he won't get off his bike at all!  He'll be riding from sun up to sun down!!!

More Yogurt!!

Hayden begged me to take him for frozen yogurt since Layla and Daddy went on Sunday!

Coincidentally the new frozen yogurt place in town is right by Layla's tumbling studio, so while she was flipping around we got a cold treat!

I got cake batter yogurt and I also got salted carmel pretzel.  Mmmmm!  It was so good.  

Hayden also got cake batter and a flavor called tart.  He was making the funniest sour faces.  He ate every single bite of his yogurt.  He's a growing boy with a big appetite.  I was actually shocked, because he doesn't have a big sweet tooth.  I guess he was hungry from a long day at school.  I too ate every bite, but that isn't rare for me!  Mmmmm!  I love yogurt!

goose-egg

Yesterday afternoon I got a phone call from the school about Hayden.  He fell outside on the playground and hit his head.  

{I remember getting that call a couple of years ago about Layla getting hurt at school.}

  It's a scary call to get, but I know the teachers and staff take great care of our kiddos.

Hayden was doing tricks on the monkey bars and he fell and slammed his head on a pole and then fell to the ground.  I'm so thankful he is just fine.  After a very calm afternoon and evening, and a good night of sleep the swelling was gone by this morning!

He is a rough and tough little guy who needs a haircut.  ;)

Last basketball game of the season

Today was Hayden's last game! He played great defense. I'm so unbelievable proud of the improvements he has made in basketball.

Hayden really never even picked up a basketball when he decided he wanted to play. He could barely dribble.

He didn't care. He was ready to learn and boy did he. And so did I! Upwards is a great program for kids and I'm glad he played!

I'm sure all spring and summer long he will be practicing on his new basket ball hoop Santa brought. I think he will be shooting and perfecting his game so he can play again next year!

He had an amazing season and met some great friends along the way! I think his teammates are all pretty cool guys.

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Columbus Day giggle

This morning over strawberry oatmeal flavored PopTarts we were talking about it being Columbus Day. I saw that flavor PopTart on a TV commercial and couldn't resist. Sometimes a processed pastry is the perfect breakfast. 😳 Or NOT!

Anyway,

Gary and I reminded the kids about Christopher Columbus and how he sailed the ocean blue and we told them they'd talk about him today in class.

Right before he headed into school Hayden came back out the door and said,

"What's that guys name again?"

I completely spaced. I thought he forgot one of his buddies names.

He said,

"The dude we're celebrating today?"

I reminded him of Christopher Columbus' name and he ran off ready to tackle the day.

I'm just thankful he was listening! Most days I get blank stares from sleepy faces in the morning.

Happy Monday!

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Heaven for a little man!

The smile on Hayden's face says it all. He loves visiting Gary at the motorcycle dealership. Hayden decided he wants one of each vehicle in the place!


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Big boy!

Hayden needed a haircut so bad! We let it get wild and out of control. I've had the hardest time styling it in the mornings because it has gotten so long.

I took him to Sport Clips this morning. While we were waiting his turn for a haircut he told me he was a big boy and I didn't need to stand beside him while he got his hair cut.

I agreed to let him sit there all alone. He looked so sweet sitting there. He looked so big and he acted so big too. He told the stylist we were moving. He told her his favorite football team was Baylor. He also talked to the man sitting next to him about the Ryder Cup. I was blown away! He acted 14, not 4.

Sniff Sniff!

My little boy is turning into a little man! I'm so proud!

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rough & tough 4 wheeling dude

It is no secret Hayden loves all things with wheels.  He loves his battery powered 4 wheeler and he drives super fast laps around our backyard anytime he is outside.  I remember last year at this time he loved all things Toy Story.  That's the thing about kids...their phases and loves change so often.

Gary recently gave him a pair of motorcycle riding glasses with flames on them.  They match his 'flames' helmet.  Hayden is one happy matchy matchy boy!

I am thankful for that helmet.  As you can see we have a little dare devil on our hands!