Haircuts for kids, and pony?

Recently I took Sadie to get her hair cut. I was tired of combing her long, tangled strands and hearing the cries of an unhappy child. Her hair was just and inch or two shy of her waist, so it was time for a change. I finally convinced her to cut it to her shoulders, which two days in has been a dramatic change. Green Canyon will be a little easier without so much hair to do each day for lessons and wash every day as well.
While I took Sadie to the salon in Salmon, Cory took pity on our pony Willow. Bangs were covering his eyes in front so bad he was running into the fences. I came home to find hair all over the lawn. But he looks much better. If I had done it I would't have cut his bangs quite so short though. . . . . . . . it makes his head look bigger than it really is.

Second Chance

Sadie got a second chance at skiing this week. We went this time with the Tendoy school (another school thirty miles down the road with about fifteen kids in our district). We had lots of fun this time too, she was really good at skiing this time. She didn't fall too much and improved a bunch. I was really proud of Sadie.

Basketball and Consequences that Follow

Sadie has been playing in some basketball games this year. During the half-time of the JV and Varsity games at the schooll, they let the little kids play a game to help them get acquainted with the game. Leadore doesn't have much for sports to offer, just mostly basketball. It's fun to watch how they learn the game rules and grow from trying to dribble and shoot the ball. We take the whole family to the school and watch Sadie play, we don't get out much.
This particular night, Lexi found some friends of hers to go play with while Sadie was playing ball. I told Lexi she could go out in the hallway with her two friends (there was an older cousin out there watching them). Enjoying taking pictures and watching Sadie, out of the corner of my eye I saw the older cousin come running into the gym, a little panicked. She stopped right in front of me rushing to get out that Lexi had blood running all over her. I handed Haylee off to Cory and ran to investigate. She was really bloody, but it was a nose and mouth wound. Lexi and her friend were chasing each other and one decided to stop the chase, the other failed to notice until she slammed in to a still shoulder. Just an accident but Lexi was pretty upset over the deal. I got her home, changed her bloody shirt and then took the pictures. Her two front teeth were loose, her nose swollen, mouth swollen and the makings of a pretty good black eye turning colors, but she still smiled for the camera! What a trooper!

Sadie had yet to learn sometimes you need to move around a bit on the court but she still did a good job and even got to take a shot!

Lexi and her sore face.

Sadie's First Ski Lesson

I had the opportunity to go on a school ski trip with Sadie this year. Our school takes the elementary kids skiing a couple times a year and the price is very affordable! We went to Maverick Ski hill in Montana which is about a 90 minute drive from here. We left at 7 a.m. and got to the ski hill around 8:30. By the time we got all the kids in their gear ready to ski, it was almost time for their lesson. Sadie was on the bunny hill with her class and instructor for the lesson but did really well for her first time. It took here a bit to understand how to maneuver in the skis but I was really proud of her. By the end of the lesson she was snowplowing really good on her own and could get up after she fell. We went to eat lunch after her lesson in the lodge with all her friends. It was fun to visit with the moms and have the girls together for a fun outing. After lunch it was back at it! Sadie couldn't wait to get back on the hill-she very impatiently waited for me to finish my lunch. There were five kids on the bunny hill that just stayed there using the rope tow to go back up the hill and then ski on down. Sadie enjoyed it so much she asked me if we could go everyday! After a full day of skiing though, she was tired and slept most of the way home on the bus. We didn't get home until 5:30 p.m. She slept really well that night, she even snored. I enjoyed having some down time with just Sadie and sharing something I enjoy with her. I look forward to many more ski trips with my kids through the years.

Happy Bithday Sadie!!!

Sadie is six years old!!! She is soooo tall now, and I can't believe how she's changed. Kinderarten has made her seem so growing up! AHHH! Sadie is my biggest helper, she is also my comedian. We have found the joy in "knock, knock" jokes and she is a riot! I love that she wants to help me out when she can before I get the chance to ask for her help. Coloring, cutting and glueing are our favorite pastimes. Creativity she lacks none of, and I am continually impressed by the ideas and pictures she comes up with. Playing anything pretend is her favorite game, lately horses, thus all the holes in the knees of her jeans. Sadie you are a joy to our family and congrats on your special day! We love you sweetheart -
We celebrated her birthday with all our family close by. Grandma and Grandpa Bird, Uncle Cody, Uncle Buzz and Aunt Julee were all here to help us celebrate. She wanted a princess/candyland castle for her birthday this year and this is what we came up with:

Pre-School Graduation

I knew this day would come but it has raced upon me fast and furiously! Sadie is getting so big now. I didn't cry at her graduation but a part of me so wanted to. Here in Leadore they just hold a ceremony the last 25 minutes of their last day of pre-school. Which works out just as well, all the parents have to come and get their kids anyway. I was almost late though because tackling two tantrum kids at the same time can be time consuming! But I did get there to see the ceremony and get a couple pictures. I am so proud of you Sadie, you are such a fun, happy kid and you challenge me every day with YOUR knowledge. I love you Sadie.


Sadie with her three best friends, Jordan, Ady and Brooke.

Sadie and her teacher, Julia Matson:

That Song In My Head

After the kids were put in bed tonight, Cory and I were enjoying our time just sitting in our chairs watching a little TV when we suddenly hear a thud, thud, thud from the girls' bedroom. Cory got up, ready to pounce our children for the third time becuase they apparently didn't feel like it was time for bed yet. He entered the girls' room to find Lexi sound asleep and Sadie bee-bopping on her bed. When asked what she was bee-bopping for, she replied "I have a Chucky Cheese song in my head that I like and I can't get it out!" Hee, Hee! What a kid!

April Fools'

How's this for April Fools' Day? My kids were soooo excited that they stayed outside for two hours!!!! Sadie was turning cartwheels in the snow she was so happy. We retreated finally to the house for some hot chocolate and marshmallows. What a fun day!!!!!

Fun Pictures

The argument of what is better Pepsi or Mountain Dew is

finally settled. Grandma Bird will be so proud:

Lexi fell off the couch at Grandma Bird's house but I am still mystified as to how this happened on the ceramic cookie jar on the floor next to the couch. Her ear was pretty sore for a while but she was a trooper. I gave her some swedish fish for sitting there while I bandaged it up. Cory said she looked like a little lamb with her hear like that.

Proving why we nicknamed her "Smiles":

Sadie decided to make good use of the baby car seat readily available for her own needs:

A Time of Firsts

03/20/10 Sadie: The moment she has been asking for and waiting for has finally passed! Sadie lost her first tooth a few days ago!!! She has talked of nothing else since. She took a bit of her lunch and out it came. Back in the first of February she went to the dentist and he told her it was loose so we have been waiting, and waiting, and waiting until now:

Her Tooth Fairy Box to put beside her bed:

03/08/10 Lexi: For a two year old she still has no hair but we did give her her first haircut three weeks ago, it was annoying me the little tail of hair on the back of her neck so I just cut it one day on a whim.

Here is her face after I told her what I did:

I'm not sure if that is excitement or shock or a combination of both. Lexi has become the independent two-year old lately. I let her try things on her own until she eventually asks for my help. Her excitement was so contagious the other day when she came out and told me she put her coat on and zipped it up "all by myself". I think she got a little to excited to remember she wasn't all done yet. . . . . . . .

03/18/10 Haylee: My little baby is sitting by herself! Still a little tipsy, but she can do it when she's not mad and throws her head back. She's reaching for her toys and playing sitting up. My girls are growing up!

Flower Pot Thief

The other day I thought I lost my mind. I admit that I don't get my dishes done as promptly as they should. . . . . . . so sometimes I dig through the sink to find what I need, wash it and use it again. I was searching for my 12 inch saute pan which wasn't in the cupboard where I always keep my pans. Groaning, I realized that it must be buried under the pile of dirty dishes in my sink. Sticking my hand in the mound of gross leftover plates my children clear off the table for me (bless their hearts);they seem to forget to dump the food first. My mind brainstorming as to where, if anywhere, else this pan could be! Being prone to "blonde moments" at times it was only a matter of figuring out where I had put it. After emptying out the sink to no avail I grew very concerned to where this pan was. I use it often enough that it couldn't be in the very "outer darkness" of the cupboard, but I looked there anyway. When Cory walked in from work I just casually mentioned that I had misplaced my pan somehow. Sadie sitting at the table coloring suddenly slaps her hand over her mouth and shrinks in her chair. "The one with the gray handle?" she innocently asks. All my pans have a gray handle so I wasn't too excited when I answered "Yes. Do you know where it is?" She nods her head yes and immediately disappears outside before I could ask her where it was. Out of breath she runs back in the house and says,"I took it outside in the dirt because I was planting my flowers in it. It made just the perfect flower pot mommy!" I was stunned to silence. Then I just had to laugh at her imagination. She was using sticks as her flowers so I was lucky my pan didn't get scratched. It all turned out in the end though. However Sadie's flower garden has a different flower pot that can permanently stay outside!

A day to remember: Sadie's Birthday

There are a lot of events to catch up on so I will try to break it up a bit. December 16th was Sadie's 5th birthday. The day started out as a trip to Salmon for Haylee's four month shots and running errands. As we headed away from the District Health Department, Sadie was talking to me about her party that night and asking me questions about the details. I looked up in the mirror to look at her and smile without noticing the stop sign in front of us. We collided with another vehicle and thus ended our carefully planned day. Nobody was seriously injured, Sadie got the worst of it with a bruised up eye.

I was sore from whiplash but we were really lucky. The other two girls were just scared. My car was totaled and we had to wait for 90 minutes in the laundromat before Cory could come get us and take us all home. We were very blessed and I am humbled to think what could have happened if we weren't all wearing our seat belts.

Sadie still wanted to party when we got home. So the guests arrived and we had a great time. Her friends Brooke and Jordan came with their mom, the Herbsts, Whittakers and of course the Birds were all there. She requested a Barbie cake which I was planning to do when we came home from town but because of the events of the day, I ended up with only an hour to do it in.

Sadie was pretty shaken up over the accident, I think the party helped her put it out of her mind though. Opening presents was a major highlight along with the toys, clothes and candy she got. She will always remember this birthday for good and bad I guess. But the day turned out enjoyable for us all.

Lies, Lies, Lies

I cannot believe what a liar parents become! You have to of course to make the whole Santa thing work but it doesn't help my telling more lies to cover up my misfortunes. I did so bad this year with the whole Santa thing. Sadie has seen three presents this year somehow, (not all hers) but asked questions and I stink at covering it up. Now all those gifts she saw will have to be from Mom and Dad insted of Santa or she may just get suspicious. She seems to have a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time for me. Oh well, I guess ithis whole Santa thing comes with a learning curve right!

Blessings in Disguise

It has been said that the mother of the household sets the tone of the rest of the house. With that being said, I was having a particularly hard day a week ago or so and was having difficulty putting it behind me so I could be a happy mom that day. It was a day that I didn't get in the shower until 1 p.m. because of business demands, crying and tantrum children, etc. So as I was in the shower, contemplating how I was going to snap out of this mood and get happier when I heard the door to my bathroom open. I just sighed, asked Lexi what she was doing. Nobody answered me so I hurried to finish my shower and go check on the girls, who were supposed to be coloring at the table. I came out of the shower and there on the counter were two folded pieces of paper. I opened them to see Sadie had helped Lexi draw and color a heart on the paper for me. The other piece of paper Sadie had colored a heart with my favorite color and tried to spell out I love you on the paper. I just stood there as the tears started to fall and I realized I have much to be happy about , which two of those reasons just did the most thoughtful thing for me. When I later asked Sadie why she did that for me she said "I just thought you needed a picture to show you I love you." What a blessing she is for me!

What a weekend!!!

Last weekend was really crazy around here. I somehow got asked to help with the Super Saturday crafts from my friend Aubree. We did some cute simple crafts but it still takes lots of effort and time to get everything ready as many of you probably know. We took a trip to Idaho Falls to go get all the supplies which ended up being an all day trip. We left about 8:30 a.m. and got home about 6 p.m. Four hours of that was driving time but the rest was running around finding everything. Of course getting the right amount of everything is the key here. We had sign up sheets but you just never know who might show up and want to do something so be bought plenty of extras as well. I turned out to be a great day on Saturday. We had a good turn out and sold most of the extras we bought. My kids were neglected all day at the church getting to eat snacks of all kinds and watch movies but they had fun running around the rooms and playing with Aubree's kids. We were the only ones with kids there. My two big girls and little Haylee were SOOOO GOOD though. Haylee was just a happy baby all day even when I thought she should be getting hungry, she never screamed or cried too much all day. Sadie and Lexi played and had a few moments of disgruntlement but all in all they did pretty well. And it was another long day too, we were at the church from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ( 6 must be the magic number to get home by). Now I just have to have a day at my house to do my Super Saturday crafts, I was helping people or cutting things out with my Cricut that day!

On last Sunday we finally blessed Haylee. We had plenty of family come and friends that traveled too. I have never seen a bigger circle around an infant, and they were all family. We even had a few family members missing because of being sick. But we had a great time visiting with everyone afterwards and having a nice lunch. I love the fact that we can use the church for having those kinds of gatherings, there is only one ward here so it works out rather well considering our house wouldn't fit everyone anyway. Here are the best pictures from the day. Again my camera needs to be fixed or broken so I can get another one-the pictures are dark again. We took LOTS of pictures to get some good ones but you know how it is to try to get some with kids-they don't always turn out!!!

Below: The five birds in the Bird's Nest!

Below: Engberson four generation picture.

L to R- Cory, Grandma Engberson, Jan, Haylee

Below: Bird four generation picture

L to R-Kurt, Cory and Haylee, Grandma Bird, Grandpa Bird

A Happy Halloween

We had a fun time for Halloween this year. I let Sadie and Lexi decorate the house with me. They loved putting up the static window clings and coloring pages to hang on the walls. We bought pumpkins to carve, but we didn't get them carved to I let the girls help me make pumpkin pie instead!


Sadie couldn't WAIT until she could put on her costume. I bought costumes on clearance last year so it was great that she loved it so much! Sadie was Alexa from Barbie and the Diamond Castle, Lexi was a pumpkin princess and Haylee was Eyeore. I takes a lot of effort to get three girls ready for Halloween and out the door! I have pitty for those mothers out there with more than three kids! We went to the trunk or treat this year at the church and after that the YM and YW in our ward put on a Halloween carnival at the church. It was a big hit. The kids had lots of games to choose from and play. There were prizes at every booth so they had TONS of candy. We went back to Grandpa and Grandma Bird's house afterwards for family time with Cory's sister and her family. It was a terrific Halloween. The weather even cooperated and it didn't snow (which is a first for the last 6 years)

My Ranching Crew

This pictures turned out darker than I thought, Sorry! It's still cute though-

Kung Fu Princess

Recently we are getting a free three month preview of the HBO movie package on our satellite package. While we are getting it I'm recording anything I think the kids would like to watch on our DVR. I came across Kung Fu Panda which my kids have never seen so I recorded it and they watched it one day. They absolutely loved i!!!!! Now I'm so sick of Kung Fu Panda that I could vomit, but my kids love it so I guess I will stand this phase until the next one comes. It has been very fun though. They pretend to be characters on the movie and Kung Fu the air. Lexi gets such a face of determination when she does Kung Fu. Sadie likes to jump and twirl and kick all simultaneously off the spare bed. Lexi is also into a princes stage however so one day she was doing her Kung Fu and I asked her if she was the Kung Fu Panda. She said "No mommy, I Nun Fu Prwincess". I got a good chuckle out of that one!

Sadie is pretty flexible and imaginative doing Kung Fu.

Lexi is so serious and stern looking when she does her Kung Fu.

How to be like Daddy

Sadie came out in the living room last night after I had asked her to get her pj's on and was only half dressed. I asked her why she didn't have her pj top on and she said "I'm going to be like daddy". I was puzzled and didn't make the connection so I asked her how that was going to happen. She replied " I'm coming out in the living room to button up my shirt." Cory has a habit of putting on his work shirt but not buttoning it up until he comes out to sit down and put on his shoes at the same time. I never made the connection until Sadie pointed it out!


This morning she was watching Cory build a fire (we had such a high temperature this morning of 8 DEGREES!!!!!) when she said to him " I need to be careful around the fire don't I? If I caught my hair on fire then I would look like you daddy." I get such a chuckle out of Sadie when she shocks Cory into silence! :)

Fudge

We have a new addition to our family, and he is such a cutie! Sadie and Lexi got a new puppy this past week. He has been the topic of conversation whereas he is so short. Sadie named him Fudge and he is a blue heeler/corgie cross. He won't be a working dog so he gets to stay home with us and get spoiled by the girls. They wake up every morning and come to the window so find Fudge. I'm not that crazy about having a puppy for the cold winter months, but I guess we'll make do. He is adorable though.