Hailey is 2!!!

Good morning Birthday Girl!!! Hailey's 2nd Birthday was August 30th! We love, love, love her!

Hailey is never asleep without her beloved blanket. Her crib is always full of other toys and treasures too. 

 Hailey's birthday was a busy Thursday, and the night of the U of U football game that her dad and extended family all went to. That day we first went to Ashley's dance class, then Nana babysat while I went to a preschool meeting and then nap time. That evening I woke Hailey up from her long nap and we rushed to get  in an hour of fun at the Children's Museum before closing.

 
 

 Then we got some fast food and had a picnic at Canyon Rim Park. It started to rain pretty hard for about 10 minutes and we all loved that.  

Hailey had the most surprised/curious/scared expressions each time we heard thunder at the Park.

The next day we had a bit more time to celebrate and we had a family party for beautiful Miss Hailey. When it comes to toys Hailey doesn't trust kids. And being child #3 I can't blame her. Every time she got a gift she liked she'd put it in her pile up on the couch, like a little chipmunk. She tried to hold on to as much as she could and would have the nearest adult hold anything she couldn't. She would leave her stash only to come down on the floor and get something new. Poor little hoarder. 

Hailey picked out a dog pinata, and so we went with a dog theme party, just like Ashley's party 2 months ago, only much simpler.  We celebrated with presents, cake, pinata and a backyard movie night. 

Hailey's wall to showcase 2 years of being adorable

Pinata Time

Not willing to put down her new purse or bag of candy. 

 That night we had a backyard big screen movie. Since it's also Andrew's BDay weekend he got to chose the movie and we watched The Lorax. We had about half as many friends and neighbors as usual but we expected that because of Labor Day weekend and the cooler weather from the earlier rain, our kids all still loved it and felt celebrated. 

 Enjoying her new things the next morning. 

 At 2-years old Hailey sure does keep us working. She is a busy, busy body and into everything. She understands absolutely everything and is talking more and more and even using several word sentences though most start with "I want.." Thanks to her big brother and sister she also loves to say words like poop, because she knows it gets a laugh. She was my easiest newborn and easiest baby too but, once she hit about 22-months she became my most difficult toddler. She is sweet and loves to give big kisses, be held, to snuggle in close and to play but, she throws a screaming fit over just about everything and anything she doesn't like, and most the time nothing. She loves her blanket, all shoes, accessories, dogs, babies, and animals. Her favorite book is We're Going on a Bear Hunt, which we read each night. She is an excellent napper and night time sleeper and goes down in a snap. She loves slides and swings (she calls them Weee's), going outside if we're inside and going inside if we're out. She loves Nana and Papa. She loves her cousins, especially Callie and Alyssa. She loves taking tubs and insists that the water be running continuously and that she sit in the front. She hates having her hair brushed. She is more afraid of bugs than Andrew and Ashley (Ashley loves bugs). She gets hungry very often and is very unhappy unless she is full. She used to tolerate going to nursery at church but, now hasn't been for about a month. She sings cute little songs all her own but, if I try to guess what the song is or sing along she yells "no". She loves Andrew and Ashley so much, unless they bug her and she is quick to retaliate. She can be very brave and independent at times and then very shy and clingy at others. She is crazy about searching through Nana's purse for Icebreaker Mints. She calls them Ice and says "I want more ice", because I call them spicy. We love, love, love our sweet Hailey, even despite the headstrong, king-kong phase she is in. She is a beautiful girl with a strong, sweet spirit and will no doubt keep us smiling, awing and busy for years to come! 

Summer with the small camera

I have a small camera that comes along in my purse. The quality isn't as great but, it's convenient and ends up catching a lot of our fun. We've had a jam packed summer. 

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HOGLE ZOO: We went to the zoo a few times and this time was the best because the Warnock cousins came, we went to the really fun bird show for the first time and the new Polar Bear was out and performing. 

 MILLCREEK CANYON: We live so close but, don't go up the canyons very often. We should though, because the kids love eating outside and do great on short hikes. It always a fun place to go.  

 On our hike

 I came too

 CAMP-OUT NIGHT: We had a camp-out.....in Nana and Papa's backyard! That is as much camping as I'm up for. Dave's parents do live up on the mountainside with wildlife around sometimes, they have a backyard firepit, and the weather was so windy when we were setting up the tent that I felt like we were legit enough and roughing it plenty. The benefits were indoor plumbing, Hailey sleeping inside in a crib, and waking up to a delicious indoor-made breakfast.  

CHERRY HILL: We have passes to Seven Peaks this year but, I actually like Cherry Hill a little more. We went just once this year and when we left the kids were still begging to stay longer. The lazy river moves pretty fast and is the favorite for everyone and we had a great time. Andrew and Ashley love the dragon slides and pirate kid area too. 

LIBERTY PARK FOUNTAINS: We get to spend lots of days having fun with the Warnock cousins in the summer. Even our more-timid Hailey was a crazy kid in the water fountains and explored and laughed again and again. 

MILLCREEK CANYON FAMILY NIGHT WITH PRICES:

 

THIS IS THE PLACE PARK: Another fun day with Price side cousins. 

 Sweet Ashley couldn't love animals any more than she already does. 

 I didn't know until this day but, Andrew is actually a bit frightened of these tender sheep and goats. I honestly MADE him pet the sheep and he couldn't get away from it fast enough. 

Making him pose with the pig was even funnier. Meanwhile, Ashley was trying to ride the goats and pick up the baby pigs to take home. 

Strangely enough, he isn't at all nervous about riding a horse.

HORSEBACK RIDING IN KAMAS: The Nielsen's are so great to let us come ride their horses each summer. Ashley was in heaven and spent all afternoon either on a horse or asking to go on a horse again. Andrew enjoyed the horses too but, was most excited to play rowdy with friends. She rode 3 horses: Morgan, Sawyer and Hook with Daddy. Here she is on Sawyer.

Andrew on Morgan. 

 Dave and Ashley taking Hook a bit faster! The downer of the day was when a neighbor's dog wandered over during dinnertime. Ashley pet the dog and then gave him a squeezy hug and that rotten dog nipped her and gave her a tiny cut right on the lip. After calling the owner to make sure he was safe and healthy Ashley was still crying - not because it hurt but, because she was devastated that the dog didn't like her!  

THANKSGIVING POINT: We spent one morning with cousins at Thanksgiving Point. It was fun, since we had cousins but, otherwise, I think even my young family would have only been entertained for a short time if we hadn't had lots of company. 

 BEES GAME: Cute Ashley before the game

The kids like seeing the mascot, riding the train, playing at the playground and eating junk. 

DANCE: Ashley started a new dance class that is very creative, free-spirited and sweet. She really like it and so did I. She is also still in Ballet for now, though the two classes seem as different as night and day. 

 BEAR LAKE: We can't help but have fun at Bear Lake. Thanks Rowlands for a great day at the Lake! 

Andrew thought the tube was the best. He laughed at the bumps and never wanted to get off. He said "I could do this all day."

 Hailey did NOT like her life jacket. 

 RANDOM: After church shot. Andrew can be such a funny goofball. He knows exactly what he's doing. 

 Hailey the Horder.