Hayden is finally big enough to play on a sport's team. We put him in soccer. Joe ended up being the coach. This was Joe's first time coaching and he did a great job. We have never played soccer with Hayden before (or during) the season. He liked it but didn't love it. So many times he and a bunch of other little boys would sit down in the middle of the field and play in the dirt.
The season was really short and some of the games were really cold. All the kids did better by the end of the season but there were two boys who definitely dominated the games. 
I sent the boys to Wyoming with my dad, Allen and his girls. They had a great time exploring fishing, and eating (apparently the kids could get enough eggs for breakfast so the dads had to go without. I enjoyed a quiet weekend at home (although I didn't just stay at home). I went to Sydney's 3rd birthday party. I went to Heidi's wedding reception. I ran errands all alone. I had a girls craft night at Ashlie's It was a great weekend for everyone!
This is Hayden's fish. He one $2 playing Dollar, Dollar, Dollar. He caught the first and the biggest fish.
2/06/2010
Hayden learned the Pledge of allegiance at school. I think he is so cute! I love how he tucks his hand in his arm pit instead of placing it on his heart.
12/15/09
Hayden learned to sing Jingle Bells at school. We had a pop up book Jingle Bells book and Hayden would sit and read the book every day.
Hayden is such a bright little boy. He remembers everything you tell him. He knew all of his letter names and sounds before he was two. Now he knows both capital and lower case letters. Here he is doing his lady bug puzzle that you match the capital and lower case letters. I love to hear him say capital and lower case.
10/29/09
When I taught school I loved seeing all the kids in their cute Halloween costumes but I HATED dressing up. As a mom it is so fun to dress my children in cute costumes. I was glad Hayden got to wear his costume to a Little Gym. The went trick-or-treating to all the doors and sang all their cute songs for the parents.
10/12/09
I have often heard, and find it true, that if you want your children to eat what you prepare then have them help prepare it. I let Hayden and Brea make their own pizzas. They had such a good time spreading the sauce, counting the pepperoni, and sprinkling the cheese. The best part is that they ate every bite.
Hayden always eats pizza but this was made on a tortilla. Hayden will never eat tortillas. 
Have you ever wondered at what age children start dreaming? Every once in a while Hayden will wake up in the morning and make a comment about something completely random that leads me to believe he has had a dream about the said subject. He doesn't have a concept of dreams so it does no good to ask him what he dreamed about. This morning Hayden woke up about 6:00 and climbed into bed with me. Around 7:30 I was awake but Hayden had his arm linked through mine so I was not able to get out of bed with out waking him up. A little bit later he began talking in his sleep. He said, "I don't want to go down the slide." I guess I can positively say that Hayden has dreams.
I looked up on the Internet as to when dreams begin. Dreams occur during REM sleep. Studies have been done on brain waves to record when dreams occur. I found out that more dreams occur in the first two weeks of life than any other time and decrease as a child develops. By age three a child dreams as much as an adult (20% of their sleep).
Hayden loves his cousins so much. As he is getting older it is fun to watch him with his cousins. He wants to be one of the big kids. Hayden talks about all his cousins on a regular basis (meaning daily). 
Jason is so cute with him and will really play with him. This picture was taken at Joe's birthday party. Hayden and Jason were having a good time together on the trampoline.
8/20/09
My parents' s stake has Stake Lagoon Day every year. My parents and I took Hayden up in the late afternoon. Joe met us there around 6:00. Hayden had such a great time riding all the rides. I had a great time seeing my little boy so excited and happy. I don't know who had more fun.
I am so glad my parents came with us. I was able to ride rides with Hayden and really focus on him. My parents were so great to take care of Parker for me.
Hayden rode almost all of the rides in Kiddie Land. My parents drove Joe's car and took the boys home for us. Joe and I stayed and rode rides until the park closed. Unfortunately, it was a weekday and the park closed at 10:00. We only got to ride four rides :( We hope to go back just the two of us in October for Frightmares and ride all the rides. 
Here are two videos that Hayden watches multiple times a day.
The Three Little Pigs
Send in the Clowns
So this is Joe writing. This is my first entry since this one I did way back when. I took Hayden camping for our Second Annual Weekend For Hayden. Last year, I took him camping in our backyard after we ate dinner at Wendy's and walked around at Cabela's.
This year I took him for two nights of adventure at the Spruces campground in Big Cottonwood Canyon. Being the classic father I am, I forgot to take the camera. I did take a few pictures on my cell phone, but for the life of me I cannot figure out how to get those pictures from the phone to the computer. So this all-text post will have to suffice. I apologize.
We went up on late Friday afternoon. Jessica made it no secret that she wanted us out of the house so that she could have her quiet weekend begin. We got up to Campsite #2 and got some stuff ready. I decided to take a chance and I didn't pitch the tent, instead opting to sleep under the stars.
Before we slept under the stars, though, we hiked up to Doughnut Falls. I didn't realize the hike was a whole lot shorter from the Jordan Pines trailhead, so our hike was about three times longer than it had to be. But he had fun anyway. Hayden hiked a little bit, but I carried him on my shoulders most of the way. He kept yelling something like "Silver lie!" I had no idea what he was saying. He shouted it over and over. The other funny thing was that whenever we'd see a squirrel or chipmunk, he'd call it a fox. I guess he's only seen a drawing of a fox and doesn't know that they are reportedly as big as a bear (I've actually never seen a real fox, either).
We fell asleep while looking at the stars. Even though there were literally well over a thousand stars up there in full view, Hayden counted exactly ten stars and then went to sleep.
In the morning, we had raspberry-filled doughnuts and milk for breakfast. We then drove the car up to Brighton and began our ascent to the famed Lake Mary. Hayden hiked about a third of the way up to the lake; I was impressed! I carried him the rest of the way on my shoulders.
We made it worth the hike by going to four lakes on this hike: Dog Lake, Lake Mary, Lake Martha, and Lake Catherine. I actually thought that Dog Lake--despite being the smallest and pudgiest lake--was the prettiest. The link above does not do it justice. Hayden apparently thought so because when we were sitting there on a rock by the lake, he said, "Heavenly Father made the lake for us, huh?" I said that he did, and we said a quick prayer thanking Heavenly Father for the pretty lakes. I love the Brighton Lakes and highly recommend it. It is not that hard unless you have a two-year-old kid on your shoulders the entire time.
After lunch, we went on another hike on Days Fork Trail. The trailhead was right by our campsite at the Spruces. I don't know where it eventually led, but after a long time I decided that it wasn't worth going any further. We turned around, and the two highlights of the hike were 1) seeing a mommy moose with it's twin baby moose (or meese or whatever the plural of 'moose' is), and 2)on the way down the trail, we stopped at the river and dunked our heads underwater. It felt extremely good.
Later than evening, we went on yet another 'hike' to Silver Lake between Brighton and Solitude. It is an easy stroll from the parking lot where you walk on a boardwalk around the lake and see ducks and other animals. I originally intended to hike to a couple of other lakes at Solitude, but they were further away than I originally thought, so I guess I'll save those for another time. But I recommend Silver Lake for a fun family activity.
We got back to camp, and met up with Jessica's parents and sister/brother-in-law, who were going back from the Jazz Festival in Park City. We happened to see the three moose again, and Theron took pictures, so maybe we'll have those pictures up soon.
Later that evening, I built a fire (I'm not even an Eagle Scout, so there!). Hayden threw a couple of hot dogs into the fire instead of roasting them, but I'd be darned if I didn't make the best s'mores ever that night. I ate about four of them; usually I'm good with just one.
We slept under the stars again that night, woke up at 5:00 in the morning when it started pouring rain unexpectedly, slept a couple more hours in the car, ate a quick breakfast, and then went home.
8/14/09
Hayden loves to climb this fence in my parents' back yard. He does it all the time. The other day I looked out the window and could tell Hayden needed to go potty so I waled out on the patio and told him to come in and go potty. He started on his way but then decided to climb the fence on his way. I turned around for a second and the next thing I knew he was on the ground crying. I told him to hurry and get up so he could go potty. He got up and started running over to me. Just as he got over to me I saw the blood stained shirt. 
Thankfully, my mom was right there and able to take Parker from me. We quickly went to the pediatrician's office to get stitches. When I called to see if they did stitches the receptionist said yes and I told her I was on my way. She asked who my doctor is and I told her. The stupid girl responded with, "Well he doesn't have any appointments available until later this afternoon." Are you an idiot lady. I told her AGAIN that my son cracked his head open and I needed to come in immediately. She said I could see someone else if I wanted. I said I didn't care who I saw but I would be there in less than five minutes. 
Two staples. He said ouch as each staple was put in but that was all. No tears! Hayden is one tough kid!
