A visit to the Easter Bunny!

Hazel LOVE it! OK, maybe not. Poor baby will be having nightmares for the rest of her life. Hagen, well he was so very brave and trying to get Hazel to not be scared but a few hits from her and he stopped trying. "Mom, is there time out for Hazel here with the EB?"

Ryan was to be home Saturday night around 7:30 so I loaded up the kids and headed to the mall for lunch and EB visit. My SIL met me there with Emily and it ended up being a 5 hour outing at the mall! Hagen was SO good! Hazel and Em were too but they were in strollers. Hagen had to walk and was so much better than I would have been at his age. We ate lunch, shopped, ate lolly pops and it was SO fun!

We came home and I was planning on keeping the kids up but Hazel was zonked out. I laid her down for a 1 hour power nap and then got her up to eat. The kids took baths and then we waited for Daddy to come home! He had been gone for 12 days and we were all excited for his arrival!

We had date night on the porch after the kids went to bed and it was wonderful...we just solve the worlds problems out there.

On Sunday I went to Kristen's (Ryan's sister) to help Ashlyn clean her room. They put the house on the market and had a showing at 1:00. We worked HARD and it was perfect! The house is more organized than I have ever seen it. Ash and I went to lunch and then hung out with Ryan and the kids until she could go back. It was nice to hang out with her. I am worried about her dealing with so much...graduating HS, going to college where none of her friends are going, leaving behind her BF, parents divorce, etc....so much stress for her.

Friday night the kids and I went to eat at Adam and Rebecca's and the kids had smores! They loved it! Hazel and Emily even got to "roast" marshmallows in the smoke from the fire that was out. Such sweet cousins...

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Just got back to work after receiving a call from Hazel's school that she has a fever. Picked her up and took her to doctor. 101 fever and nothing else!! Grr! I almost wish they said, "Wow, she has the plague and here is an antibiotic and a miracle shot...should be good to go in an hour!" ...but with the random fever I can't take her to school until she is fever free for 24 hours! Hagen had a fever virus when he was her age and I missed a WHOLE.WEEK of work!! Pia has her today and Ryan will stay with her tomorrow...thank the lord!

Wish me luck!
Carrie

What is up!!

First and foremost, Hagen has been taking Hazel on rides around the backyard on his 4 wheeler...she LOVES it! He is so sweet with her and puts it on the slowest speed and is very careful with her.

I have been so busy with work lately and have had this cloud above my head about posting...it has been haunting me! Lots to update and the only feasible way is bullet points. Here we go!

1. Ryan will be home tomorrow night FINALLY! He has been out of town for 12 days. I truly don't mind him traveling, but what is hard is the weekends. That is when I have to get stuff done around the house like laundry and grocery shopping and it is easier to do when there are two of us. I have a routine during the week and of course the break of working is a huge help!!

2. Hazel has gotten a bad report this week at school. She is now not only hitting but BITING!! She bit 3 friends in one afternoon! So hard that she left marks! I have started putting her in timeout and she just sits there...quietly. She is good about it but I don't think she fully understands she is being punished?!? It's in the dining room...nothing around her and it is kinda dark.

3. Summer clothes - I have been buying dresses and stuff for Summer and next Winter for Hazel for awhile now. I come across sales and find the cutest things and girls are easier to buy in advance. I stopped because I counted and I have 25 NEW outfits for summer for her not including things I already had from last summer that were too big!! Hagen? He has 3 t-shirts and 4 pairs of shorts. Poor boy...so I am now on Hagen mode. He is easy though!!

4. My family member that is going through a tough time is getting stronger and stronger everyday! She has finally realized that he is not good for her AT.ALL and is moving forward. I am so proud of her! She is doing really well!

5. A few weeks ago Hagen was studying presidents at school. He said, "George Washington is the president that makes granola bars" I asked him why he thought that and he said, "look, his picture is on the package!" It was the Quaker dude...

6. I bought Hagen some books that are first reader books. I am SO excited! He is really into reading (although he really can't yet) and they have been working hard in school on sight words. I get sight words from his teacher and we make flash cards and work on those. At night when I read to him he wants to try and then asks for help on certain words. Now the cutest? He is reading to Hazel at night. Her books are pictures of things with the words at the bottom so he is not "technically" reading, but it is sweet. Brown Bear is the new favorite. She just smiles at him as if she is saying "you are my hero".

7. My brother and SIL are having another baby! Baby #3! They have a boy and a girl so they are not finding out what this one is which is so exciting! I am going to guess a boy...no reason, just a hunch and Hagen also said boy and he is usually right.

8. A few weeks ago I drove my SIL, and 2 nieces down to Austin to check out Texas state. It was nice to get away! To be honest, I think I enjoyed it WAY too much as I drank like a college student! I had never really hung out with Ryan's cousin Shannon and that is who we stayed with. We were up till 4:00AM!! Sad thins is I woke up at 7:00 and was wide awake...I can not sleep in anymore!

9. Hazel still isn't talking much...while I was on the trip my parents were watching her (Ryan was out of town surprise surprise) and I called. Mom had me on speaker so she could hear my voice. For the first time I heard her say "hi" in the sweetest most angelic voice I have ever heard! It was clear as day and she said it a few times. She is trying REALLY hard to talk...just not there yet...I am totally fine with that.

10. Pink eye invaded our house! Hagen had it SO bad in both eyes! I felt bad because usually I am very smart about not taking sick kids to school...I never really do it! That morning I noticed he had goopy eyes but they weren't red. I took him to school and before I left the director said she thinks he has pink eye. She said if I needed to run to the office for a few hours I could. I went to sonic to get my tea and then was going to go in for a few hours, but I couldn't...I felt SO bad for being THAT parent. I went to get him and took him to the doctor...

11. One night while I was giving Hazel a bath, Hagen wanted to fix my hair. He was so gentle and I LOVED it...I swear I could have fallen asleep. He told me how beautiful I was afterwards which was icing on the cake. I think he was just admiring his job...not me.

That's about it! I am planning my perfect beautiful home on Pinterest...I have so many ideas but can't put them together in a CHEAP way! I need to start saving for college for the kids after I saw how much it is now! Geez...I feel behind.

Tata,
Carrie

Mattress gone bad

OK, so Ryan and I decided we wanted to do a bed makeover for our loved one that needs some love and support right now. We split things up:
Nana - new sheets and blanket
Ryan and I - new comforter, mattress pad, and pillows (and using our old bedroom lamps)
My parents - new mattress and box springs

Well, Ryan and I loaded up the kids in the truck after dinner, went to Sams and got her a new mattress and box springs from my parents. We didn't have the tie downs but it seemed to be pretty secure. Ryan was driving slow...it was dark. We got on the service road and planned on taking the backroads to be safe.

Ryan kept checking the rear view mirror..."still there" "still there" "WE LOST IT!"

It was no easy u-turn so we had to take the longest 2 minute drive back to where it was dropped! Traffic, cars and headlights everywhere...we popped the curb, parked the truck and ran out into traffic to drag the new but demolished mattress out from the road. It was ruined....had tons of tire marks on it and it was ripped bad.

I called Mom and she was laughing...it was funny but it was the most stressful 2 minutes of my life! Someone could have died dodging the mattress in the road!

So today we are off to buy another new mattress. The good thing is we got a great deal and didn't spend as much as we originally thought. So even with buying another new one it will be about what we thought it would cost...

I can not WAIT for her to come home from work and find her new soft comfortable bed...she has needed one for YEARS!! She deserves the world...

Carrie

Hazel's 15 month doctor visit

So Hazel doesn't want to talk. To be honest? Hagen talks enough for the two of them so I am not concerned. She kinda does the caveman language which is grunting and pointing.

She walks very well and LOVES her new doctor!!! When she wants you to pick her up she comes up, grunts, and puts her paws in the air and opens and shuts her fists over and over until you pick her up.

Here are her stats:
Weight: 18 pounds 1.5 ounces
Height: 30 inches

She is in a size 3 diaper, in 12-18 month clothes, and a size 3 shoe! She goes to bed around 6:30 and wakes up on the weekend around 9:00 (7:15 on the weekday because I wake her up). She LOVES bath time, loves putting lotion on her belly (and eating it), Books, yogurt, raisins, crackers, and really any carb I put in front of her. She is learning her body parts. She knows belly, nose, hair, and almost eyes and ears. Oh and she knows where her toes are...I have already started painting them.

She HATES being changed (diaper or clothes) and it has become a wrestling match between us!! She also HATES Dappers tail...it is at the height that it wacks her in the head/face when he walks by.

She is a little pistol...knows what she wants...and loves her Daddy. She calls me Mae Mae...kinda like Mama in a southern drawl. It's pretty cute.

Carrie

Happy Valentine's Day!

I have 3 of the best valentines. I will talk about each one separately now:

Ryan (my number one valentine) - You have been out of town for almost a week and came home late last night and I could NOT have missed you more! Just having you in the house and around is nice. You are one of the most genuine people I know, you are a good person, and I just love you to bits! You treat me well, know me well, and go along with my nuttiness and I appreciate you for that. Not only all of the above, but you have blessed me with my babies...THAT in itself is the greatest gift of all. I love you so much!

Hagen (not that he is the favorite kid...I don't have favorites...but he was born first) - You are my sweet boy. You are very emotional and loving but are trying to "man up" lately and have a crazy spark in you that is sometimes hard to put out! You love to cuddle with me before bed and watch Dr. Phil (if appropriate), you like to sleep in my bed in your sleeping bag when Daddy is out of town (only one night), you are very good with your baby, and I just love you to bits too!!

Hazel (the baby) - girl, I don't think I will ever have to worry about you sticking up for yourself. You are one strong little girl. You have really enjoyed working with using a fork lately and it is darling!! Your hair is getting long and I'm just dying to trim it, but it just got to the point of going into 2 ponies so I am waiting. This morning when your Daddy woke you up your face just LIT.UP. You snuggled with your paci on Daddy's shoulder for awhile and when I tried to take you to get you dressed for school you threw a fit...I felt loved.

Recent things have gone on in the family...not my immediate family, but very close family. It has me realizing how precious a good strong marriage is. To be honest, the hardest part of my marriage was when we could not get pregnant. We were both down in the dumps because there was nothing wrong with either of us. But we remained strong and a force together.

I feel very fortunate that we have not ever had a rocky patch in our marriage and we are coming up on 10 years. I often hear the first couple of years are hard work, but it wasn't for me. We did date for 5 years before we got married and never lived together so I wonder if that had anything to do with it?!?

Anyways, I am very happy...I want to get this family member of mine that is going through a VERY tough time where I am. It will take time, there are alot of factors, but this person above anyone else deserves nothing but the best because they are simply one of the best people I have ever known.

Happy V-Day!
Carrie

Tubes are in! Adnoids are out!

Miss Hazel is doing fantastic after her surgery on Thursday! She had taken her last dose of her antibiotic the night before to clear up the ear infection she had. When the doctor went in he said her ear was SO infected so the antibiotic wasn't doing anything. It was perfect timing.

She also had her adenoids out. I can't remember the exact wording he used but it was basically blocking 80% so that explained why she always had a gross nose...like not normal..sorry for TMI but ALWAYS green!!

She had some Tylenol with codeine before I dropped her off at Pia's for the day and she was so lovey and sweet...she even fell asleep on my mom which is unheard of! Mom had the knitting girls over and they got to see her. I'm glad she was kinda drugged because she was calmer and sweeter...ha!

That night she was just so excited! It was like she felt a TON better. Love that baby.

Hagen felt kinda left out I think because she got to hang with Pia for a day. He just seemed kinda sad, so Ryan took him for a man date yesterday to Cabella's and to lunch at Fuzzy's tacos. I think he needed some man time or at least some quality time with one of the parentals.

Ryan will be traveling again. It is a short project but he will be gone 3 different times and one of the times is for 10 days...I am so bummed. He will miss 2 date nights. Honestly, it is what I look forward to all week...to miss 2 of them sucks. I may get a babysitter and go to a movie by myself! It sounds wonderful to be honest and I need to get use to using babysitters...it will be good for me and I can try it out when he is out of town because the Mr. doesn't like to go out.

OK, so a few weeks ago I was freaking out because my Dad went missing...he was REALLY sick and was just passed out. Well, last week he was on a well again. He hit a deer. it didn't do much damage but still...scary! The next day he was exhausted, driving out to the well and fell asleep!! woke up driving into a ditch. Thank GOD he didn't hit anything or anyone...it could have been so bad. I told him for as smart as he is he needs to be careful...not very smart to die from falling asleep at the wheel! Scares me to think about it...out in the middle of nowhere...he could have been there for days.

I went all granola this weekend and made some homemade laundry detergent! I think I am in love. It only uses a tablespoon and cost me about $28 to make...it looks so cute in a jar on the shelf above my washer instead of the big plastic jug of my old stuff.

Last week was such a busy downer week so I am excited about starting over!! I didn't go to the gym all week, we had doctor appointments and crap all week, work was slow...not many people looking right now, and I didn't eat as good as I should have. It's a new week!!!

Tata,
Carrie

She's a toughie!

Hazel that is...my sweet darling little girl is a holy terror lately!

She is screaming at any given moment...from delight, being angry, not getting what she wants, playing...you name it. Screaming is her game!

Changing Clothes/Diapers...if she was potty trained I would make her a nudist. Honestly, you would think I am trying to put her in a vat of acid the way she fights me to change her!!

HITTING...I am SO over it already! It is mainly me that she hits. She does it quick...like Bap Bap...think machine gun rapid. I tell her no, she cries, and does it again. Ryan suggested I start telling her no and putting her down. What a novel idea...why didn't I think of that before? (No, I'm not being sarchastic...I didn't think of that) I just held onto her, said no and thought that she would be like, "OK, you are absolutely right my beautiful Mom".

I am thinking of doing timeout...prayer please.

Now, even though she is showing her dark side lately, she is pretty cute...and smart. She puts her old diaper in the pail and flips it, puts her dirty clothes in the hamper, and her shoes in her shoe box.

Hagen never went through this hitting stage. He was the one that was hit, bit, slapped by his friends. When Hazel is acting up he covers his ears and has the saddest look on his face. He is so sensitive...it's kinda sweet. He tells her she needs to be nice in the kindest big brother voice.

I am enjoying that kind big brother voice for now because I know it is soon going to change to "Shut up you big baby" very soon...until then...

Hazel is getting tubes in her ears and her adenoids out tomorrow. We have to be at the hospital an hour early even though I have filled out all the paperwork. So that is 7:00...no food or drink...she is going to LOSE.HER.SHIT. Prayers for me and my sanity.

Tata,
Carrie