Blogging Again

I have been away from the blogging world for sometime. With the hussle and bussle of life I felt I didn't have time but realized it was a great journal for me. So I'm making an effort to try, try again.

I just love my little family. I looked at my boys today and was a little sad they are not so little anymore. I feel like I missed out on Peyton's baby years. Where did they go? I really don't remember them! They are the best kids. I have the crazy days but I really would not have it any other way. Braxton is the child who keeps me grounded while Peyton keeps me on my feet. They love each other so much and play all day long. At times they do fight, although it is mostly Peyton trying to get Braxton in trouble. Peyton's favorite thing to say right now is, "I told you 3 times!" I'm sure he hears me say that time and time again. I feel so blessed to have my family and a husband who loves me so much. These are the kind of things that I need to record more.

My favorite things that have been said this week:

Braxton said, "Dear God, this is Braxton Michael Hawkins speaking..."

Also Braxton was clearing the dishwasher and put a fork in with the spoons. I picked it up and said, "that does not look like a spoon!" Braxton shook his head and looked down and said, "sometimes I shame myself."

Peyton loves every infomercial there is. He REALLY wants the big cupcake mold for me to make huge cupcakes. He got extremely excited this week when he saw a moisturizer commercial. He ran into my bathroom yelling, "do you want this mom?" It also happened with the bump it commercial, a make up commercial and a tampon commercial.

Kerrie's Farm

The boys love going to Kerrie's Farm. There is always something to do there. They love playing with the puppies, rabbits, horses and running free. Aunt Kerrie is always really cool and has a tramp. I think that Aunt Kerrie's house trumps even the Grandma's house. They love Aunt Kerrie and her kids. Most days they both have to call her and all of her kids to talk. Brian, Michayla, Josh and Luke are their best friends. We don't know what we would do without them.

Temple

I have been going around to all the different Temples to get pictures. The boys love to go with me. At a young age they are realizing just how special it is. Braxton tells me each time he wants to be old so he can go in. Here are a couple of the things that I have been able to catch when they didn't know I was looking.

These pictures below they obviously knew they were being photographed. I just had to show you how cute my mom was!

First Day's

Braxton had his first day of school September 9th. It is his third year at Miss Tiffany's preschool and he loves it. It is much more fast paced this year to prepare them for kindergarten. He is going 3 days a week in the morning.

Peyton was really sad that he did not get to go to school. For the last 2 months of school last year he cried every single day that we dropped Braxton off and he didn't get to go in. I told him he could go to Michayla's school. She is his cousin that is a competitive tumbler. At the same gym they offer kids classes for toddlers. Peyton is a little too big for the 18 month - 3 year old class so they put him in the 4 and 5 year old class. He keeps up just fine. In a lot of cases he is better and starts coaching the other kids on how to do things. He really pushes his limits with the teacher. This is the conversation I heard this week.
Peyton: Watch this. (He was on the top of a slide ready to jump off)
Coach Katie: No Peyton, you can't do that.
Peyton: Yes I can watch. (as he jumps)
Coach Katie: Peyton you can't do things like that. You could get hurt and the other kids with follow.
Peyton: Ya I can. I'll show you. Hey kids watch this. (trying to go again)
Coach Katie: Peyton don't do it.
Peyton: But I can
Coach Katie: I know you can but if you do, you will have to leave.
Peyton: Okay. But I can.
I was just glad that it wasn't at home with me!

Braxton's birthday

I had a lot of fun preparing for Braxton's birthday. We looked at cakes on the internet a couple of weeks before his birthday and he was convinced he wanted a Wall-E cake. I didn't know how I was going to do it. When I got done making it I asked him if he liked it. He just started singing the theme song to Wall-E and pulled a stool up to the counter to look at it. I guess he did.

Braxton had his birthday party and wanted to invite all his cousins and friends. There were 23 kids there. Braxton has a lot of fun. He got so many presents and he loved them all.

We had his birthday dinner at Brick Oven. The Boxx's came with us. Him and Logan are best friends. Peyton thinks the entire Boxx family is his best friend. They sang him a birthday song and brought him out a birthday dessert.

Later that night when the kids were supposed to be in bed, I went into check on Braxton. He had all his new favorite toys in bed with him. He was just smiling.
Me: Did you have a fun day?
Braxton: Ya, I have a lot of friends that like me. Huh Mom!"
Me: Yes. You are a really nice boy so everyone likes to be around you.
Braxton: Ya, I'm just nice because all my friends like me so much. I'm just really happy Mom.

It made me so happy to have him so happy. He is such a special boy. I love him so much. He has been a great kid from day one. He never cried as a baby. People always told me that he wasn't normal because he was always so good. We took a long flight to visit Brian's parents when he was just a couple of months old. From the time we left our house to the time we arrived at his parents house, it was 24 hours. He did not cry one time on the way there or the way back. He has always been like that. He is very concerned about other people and even when he is trying being mean, he says things like, "I'm sorry but I just don't want to be friends with you right now" That is about the meanest it gets! I love my Braxton and I'm sad that he is getting big but I'm so happy that he is mine.

Some of Braxton's favorites:

Pizza, Spaghetti-o's, eggs and sausage, chocolate milk, cheese and cheese sandwiches, brownies

The Wall-E movie, his new Wall-E toy! dinosaurs, anything that transforms, tools, reading books, animals, he loves learning about sea life, riding his bike, playing in sand, music, singing, he loves his cousins, he loves his Grandma's and his favorite Aunt Kerrie, he loves Grandpa's boat and Grandma's swimming pool, he loves riding the 4-wheeler with Grandpa Jim. He loves playing with his Dad and golfing with his Dad. He loves kissing his Mom. I kind of like that too. But his all time favorite is his brother Peyton. He loves Peyton and is a very good brother.

Family Fall Special

This time of year I always run a special for family pictures. This is what I'm doing this year.

$75 includes:
45 minute photo session
1 - 11x14
10 of your favorite images on CD with Copyright

or

$150 includes:
45 minute photo session
1 - 11x14
Custom designed holiday greeting card
25 - 5x7 holiday greeting cards (other sizes available upon request)

You can visit my website and click view proofs for my latest work in the past months.

Flippin Awesome

We were putting the kids in the car when the following conversation took place:
Brian: "This flippin seatbelt is broken."

Braxton: "Can we say flippin Mom? Or is it a bad word like freakin?"

Laura: "Ya we can say flippin, it's okay."

Braxton: "Good, cause my flippin glove is making me mad!"

Drive In Movie

One of the highlights of growing up in Sanpete is the Drive In Movie. My parents would take us there as children and I continued to go as I grew older with friends. It was a tradition to go during homecoming week when I was in high school. In highschool I had a friend that had a family business of a furniture store and he would load the back of the truck up with friends and couches. It was always so much fun. One of my favorite memories as a child was when we went there as a family to watch "The Lion King". During one of the parts when the hyenas jumped out my Dad jumped as well, honked the horn and turned on the windshield wipers. I thought that was the funnies thing. The kids loved going to the "outdoor movie that was bigger than our house". Braxton fell asleep on the drive down but Peyton made sure he was awake when we got there. Peyton was so excited he was shaking.
If you ever get the chance I would recommend this place to anyone. And while you are there, don't forget to get a hamburger. In-n-out have nothing on these guys.

Goodnight Peyton

For about 5 months Peyton has really liked me to lay down with him to go to bed. I tried to get out of it for a while but realized it made the process a couple of hours and I also really started to like it. He puts one arm under my neck and the other over my neck. He puts me in a nice little headlock. He likes me to kiss his cheek until he falls asleep. It usually only takes about 10 minutes. If I'm not home he goes to bed just fine but if he knows I'm around this is something that he won't go without.

County Fair

We visited the local county fair. The kids loved the rides, however I did appreciate Disneyland prices after that. We spent $30 for 15 mintues of fun and the kids were only able to ride 4 rides. Disneyland doesn't seem so bad anymore.

I know I am the mom but this is the cutest smile!

We thought we would get even 30 minutes of Dad's full attention without taking a call for work. No such luck!

Swim Day

I went and spent the day with my cousin Jennica this past week. She has 4 kids 5 and under. I don't know how she does it. We had a lot of fun letting the kids play. Braxton and Elisha had so much fun and were the best of friends.




My favorite was Jonah wanting to wear his snow boots. It made me laugh several times.

24th of July

We spent the 24th of July in Fairview. We started out with the children's parade. Braxton and Peyton were very excited to ride their bikes. Even though it is Fairview, I followed behind the best I could. Braxton took off trying to keep up with Luke and left Peyton and I in the dust. Peyton scooted the entire length of Fairview. He won't peddle which makes it a little bit harder but he sure had a cheering squad towards the end of town which totally embarrassed him. After the regular parade we headed to Fairview Idol where my nephew Brian stole the show and also won some prize money.

After that we headed up Fairview Canyon to one of the lakes for a BBQ with the family. It was a lot of fun until Braxton sliced his foot on a sharp rock.

Everyone ended up at my parents to roast marshmallows and hang out. We let the kids to sparklers and a few little fireworks for the store.

Brian and I took the kids to Fairview to watch the "Big" fireworks. They really do a great job and it was the first time Peyton had seen real fireworks and probably first time Braxton really remember seeing some. Kerrie and her family were there and Grandpa Jim came with us. It was a great day the kids were sad it was all over.