Mini Mail: Itty Bitty Pen Pals

I'm linking up with Meredith from
The Tichenor Family. When I saw her post about mini mail and itty bitty pen pals, I knew I wanted my kiddos to be a part of this as they LOVE getting mail, even if it's just an Oriental Trading magazine. They even love to walk to the mail box with me so I knew this would be a big hit!

Even though Emerson is only 2, in this house, what you do for one, you must do for the other! So, I signed both kids up to have pen pals. And you know what? I thought Emerson might not get it but she actually totally loved sending her package and receiving hers and seemed to understand the concept a bit. She'll even say "my pen pal," in her own special way.

So we did as Meredith suggested and raided the Target dollar bin aisle! Here's what we came up with:


We got markers, stamps, gummy bears and m&m's, a book, pencils, coloring book, pictures of the kids, and a personalized note and card.... all Halloween themed of course!

We packaged them up with fun Halloween tissue paper and sent them off!

Emerson got her package first and admittedly, Hayden was a tad jealous. But he got over it and was so excited to check the mail the next day to see if his had arrived, which it did! Yay!

Emerson got a sweet Fancy Nancy Halloween book and a cool witch hat headband. She enjoyed fun facts about her new pen pal. She loved it all and was so happy! Thank you sweet Manning!!



Hayden seems to have been paired with the perfect friend as they are close in age and have similar interests. Hayden really understands the concept and had a lot of fun participating.

H got a pack of cool new cars, a green light up pumpkin stick and a cool pez dispenser. We have JP's picture hanging up and Hayden constantly says "JP is my friend!" He also asks if we can go to JP's birthday party and if JP is moving here to near where we live. When I say "probably not," he says "but why not?" Too funny! Love that boy! Thank you sweet new friend JP!!!


We are looking forward to next month's mail and thank Meredith a ton for organizing this!!

Hayden Bo-Bayden

So much on my mind lately I can barely get my wheels to stop spinning!!! I've been up since 5:30 a.m. just thinking about everything and anything under the sun. I need to get my thoughts out so hopefully I won't be up that early again!

I recently took down my spiritual reflection post b/c when I go to make this blog into a book, I want my reflection and random entries to be separate from the kiddo related posts. Still trying to organize that!

Hayden has been on my mind so much in the last few days! With his 5th birthday fast approaching, I find myself wanting to bottle his innocence and never let it go. I want him to always be this age, to stop growing. My baby will be 5 in less then a month!

He is such an amazing kid. I always joke that he doesn't need me b/c he's so independent but I know that isn't true. When he falls, I comfort him. When he comes into our room in the middle of the night, I snuggle him. When he's scared, I hold him. When he vies for my attention, I give it to him. He does need me. And I need him.

He reminds me a lot of myself when I was his age and I think that's pretty neat. He has a huge heart for his friends and is as social as they come.

In the last year, I've really embraced raising boys! When I was pregnant with Sawyer, I think I was really nervous to have two boys. But this past 9 months with 2 boys has been amazing and feels so very natural. I love my sons!! So much so that I wouldn't mind a third boy! But that would mean I'd have to do pregnancy and post-partum again so we'll stick with our two little boys for now!

I think I obsess a little on where Hayden will start Kindergarten. I want it to be perfect and I want him to have as much opportunity for success as possible and this Mama is on a mission to get him set up in just the right place. If not, I will have no other choice but to home school him!! I think home schooling is a great option but I'm afraid I would disappoint him to the max if I told him we were doing that. Not only that, but me as a teacher? Laughable. I would fail him greatly!

I'm such a planner that I like to know these things (where we will be and what school he will attend) and with our housing situation not finalized, it's hard for me to not think about it. I think we are getting close though. For a while we had settled on this great neighborhood we fell in love with. The school that it's zoned to is new and I had heard good things about it so that was reassuring but recently the large scale of it that I've been hearing about it has me hesitant.


1500 students and something like 15 Kindergarten classes!! That makes me nervous for some reason. And lately, I've been a little jealous of the school that will have my child 5 days a week, all day. And, I find myself feeling very picky over who is going to be influencing him day in and day out. It won't be his perfect, sheltered Christian preschool with amazing teachers that I so love. :( This is SO hard but the school/neighborhood we have our eyes on now makes me feel not so nervous. I get a good feeling when I think about him going to this one and I'm huge on vibes and feelings. I'll probably just be unsettled a little until I know it's for sure happening.


My Mom told me that back when she was a kid, her parents always picked their house based on the school they wanted their kids to attend. This is the approach we are taking. While it means saying goodbye to an amazing neighborhood (and high property taxes) that we really loved, we are saying hello to one that the school will suit my son and has a cute country charm!

I'm excited about the move but at the same time, if for some reason it doesn't pan out, I'm at peace with that, too. I've been learning to trust God's will. I know I am so blessed with what we have right now and we can make anything work. We will pursue a new home and if it's His will, it's going to work out. If not, I am beyond fortunate and I won't complain and the schooling situation will work itself out!

But 5 years old??? In awe. I went to the top bunk last night just to lay with him. We are starting to plan his 5th birthday party and I love that he has so much input and involvement! There are so many exciting things about this age that I love. He is a little boy now and I am enjoying him so.

I love you with more then I have Hayden Kristopher!

Let's Go Fly A Kite

We went to a little boy's first birthday party last weekend and as party favors the kiddos got kites. They were so excited and wanted to fly them right away but us adults kept telling them we would do it later. Well finally, after they kept asking, one of the guys said "actually, it is a pretty windy day, let's give it a shot!"

Let me just say, it was a huge success and the kids loved it! Silly adults for not doing it sooner. Shows us. It was fun to watch and the kids were entertained for over an hour. We had three kites up at once and they all got really high up in the air. The guys had fun flying them. We had spider man, sponge bob, and of course barbie for Emers!

The next day Hayden really wanted to fly his again and since it was still windy that's exactly what Kris and the kids did when he got home from work. What a great party favor!!






We have had the perfect weekend!!! On Saturday we had a showing on the house and I took the kids to the park during it. Daddy met us there after his first morning hunt of bow season. We did lunch at Sonic after wards and when we got home we all napped. After naps we cooked out as a family and played outside all afternoon. We threw the football, played hot potato, listened to music, sipped some red wine and enjoyed a super yum smoked, beer butt chicken with artichokes and rice! It's been gorgeous weather so the outdoor time was perfect.

This morning we went to Church with some very sweet new neighbor friends of ours. We ate lunch with them following service and Hayden absolutely loves them! They are so great with kids and I think he senses that!





And after a perfect week including many home cooked meals, relaxation time at home, a clean house, a new Bible study, a baby play date, I'm feeling very blessed! Don't get me wrong, there are many bumps along the way and it ain't always easy b/c let's face it, I have a very HIGH energy almost 5 year old, a two year old ALL GIRL and a bouncy 8.5 month old boy, and there are some super tough moments but I wouldn't change a thing and I'm a very lucky and happy gal! I thank God A LOT.

And just to show off my big kids, here are H & Ems before school last week. Tuesday was spirit day and Thursday was picture day for Emerson.










I will say though, I'm super tired and can barely keep my eyes open. I'm ready to snuggle with my man and relax!