Chocolate, Pretzels, and Cars oh my!

My new favorite place is the craft store!!  I am way too addicted, but am so excited to try so many new things, now that I am home full-time!!  On our last trip to Michael's, we found chocolate pretzel molds, and given Hayden's fondness, ok, more like an obsession, with racecars we had to try them!!  They actually were pretty neat, and turned out VERY yummy!

Little Gardeners and Ladybugs

Last week, Hayden started a 2-day a week daycamp through the park district.  Every week there is a different theme, this week is Little Gardener's.  To start his day on a positive note, I made him a Garden Breakfast.  I love doing theme foods with him... 1) He will typically eat all of his food when I do that, and 2) The look on his face says it all :).

Today at his class, Hayden was so excited when I picked him up.  They planted a flower in soil (which he loved of course, playing with dirt).  They also read some books about Ladybugs and made a Ladybug.  His teacher told me that Hayden wouldn't stop talking the Ladybugs we have at home, and said he was making all kinds of connections to the read-aloud... that's what I like to hear!!! :)  Since they were focusing on Ladybugs today, I thought it would be a good day to finally let the Ladybugs free.  It went better than I thought, and thankfully no tears were shed!!

Time to be free Ladybugs!!

He was giggling so much and kept saying, "They are tickling me!"

Back to the ENT

Today, was Hayden's post-op appointment with his ENT.  THANKFULLY, his tubes and nose look great!!! Even better... he passed his hearing test!!!! WOO-HOO!  That was the best news yet!!  We celebrated by meeting Daddy for lunch at Egg Harbor Cafe (yummy).  To cap off our lunch we walked to the fountain and made a few wishes!

My adorable little guy!!

What could be better than water and trains?

Fun Weekend With Cousin Chandler

Last night, we were lucky enough to have Chandler spend the night at our house while Aunt Nikki and Uncle Corey went to a Jimmy Buffet concert.

We had a fabulous time hanging out with Chandler! 

(Click on the collage to see larger pictures... then click on individual pictures to make them larger.)

Hugs and Kisses

Enough pictures now, Aunt Crystal! :)

 

Hot Wheel Car Wash

Today we looked over our Sandpail List and decided the beautiful weather would be great for a car wash... for Hot Wheels that is! :)

Look at all of those clean Hot Wheels!!

Finally, we have Ladybugs

Two weeks ago, we received our Lady Bug Larvae for our Lady Bug Land.  We have been able to watch them grow from Larvae, to pupas, to now LADYBUGS!!!  The past few days have been very exciting.  We plan to release them in the backyard this weekend after the last few pupas change!!

Pupa changing into Ladybug

Chore Chart

To go along with his Morning Routine Cards, I also created a Chore Chart for Hayden. He always wants to help out, so we came up with some "chores" for him to complete. Since it is new, he seems very willing... curious to see how long this novelty will last. :).

Hayden's Morning Routine Cards

Hayden has taken HUGE steps with wanting to be more independent and do more things on his own.  So to help him out, I made Morning/Night Time Routine Cards.  I created 6 cards with different things he needs to do when he wakes up, or before he goes to bed.  I hung them on his bathroom wall.  After he finishes each task, he turns the card over.  Right now, he is super motivated to use them and turn them over.  He likes to see the star on the back! 

I love his little tushy in this pic. :)

First Day of Summer!

  Today is the first day of Summer!!! Unfortunately though, the outside water activities I had planned, had to be put on hold for another day due to the rain! :(. But we managed to have some Summer Fun inside!!  We had a yummy breakfast and lunch!  We also made a cool sun craft and played with our Summer Sensory Bin. 

For Dinner, thankfully the weather was a little better, so we cooked out on the grill and made a Summer Sand Pail To-Do list!!

Happy Father's Day!!!

I asked Hayden the Questions in Bold and typed in his answers in italics.

What Makes Daddy Happy? When we do things that makes Daddy happy, like listen to him sometimes, by laughing
What is Daddy's Favorite Thing to Do? Play with Hayden
What is Daddy's Favorite Place to Eat/Food? Choo-Choo Johny's with us- Hot Dogs and French Fries (That's actually Hayden's favorite place/food ;)
What does Daddy Teach You? Sometimes he teaches me to throw Rocks in the Pond
What are your favorite things to do with Daddy? Well, Playing with Hot Wheels/Cars/Trains, Play Rough, and its fun to go to Bouncetown with Daddy, but we haven't been for a long time (they just went last week :))
Why do you Love Daddy? Because I like playing with him and I like reading books with him

(Jake's all dirty after finishing the Warrior Dash)

We had a great Father's day!!!  Jake ran in the Warrior Dash, and did a FABULOUS job!!  Then we gave him some presents to thank him for being such a good Dad! We gave him new pictures/frames to put on his desk at work.  We also bought him a new shirt and a few Wii Games!  Hayden also drew a great portrait for him!! We then celebrated Father's Day at Choo-Choo Johnny's for lunch and then went to see Toy Story 3!!

Warrior Dash Hat/Shirt... LOL!

(Hayden's portrait... Hayden on the left, Jake on the right, along with an orange heart and yellow truck)

Hayden and I are SOOO lucky to have Jake!  He has been an awesome Dad!  He is Always willing to play with Hayden, even after a long day at work.  When Hayden asks him to play rough or to chase him after he gets home, he always plays with a smile (even if he is really tired).

 Jake will always try the silly games/activities I plan for Hayden... he seems like a kid himself :). 

Jake always listens to my Hayden stories from the day, even if they aren't the most exciting! 

He is such a great role model for Hayden by being super active, hard-working, and nice to his mommy :)!  Happy Father's Day! We Love you VERY much!

Summer Reading

Hayden is participating in a few of the library's Summer Reading Programs.  One of them is reading to Therapy Dogs.  He was so excited to read his construction books to Fritzie, the miniature Schnauzer!

First Day of Soccer

Today was Hayden's first day of Soccer! He did a nice job... Maybe the next David Beckham?

Rutherford Family Movie Night- Toy Story 2

Since we are going to see Toy Story 3 on Father's Day, and due to the Rain causing our "Camping Night" to be put off to another night, we are having our 2nd Family Movie Night... another super fun night. We had a yummy Toy Story dinner that consisted of Pizza Party Rocket Shaped Pizza, Jessie's Cowboy Hat Tomatoes, Woody the Sheriff's Star Cheese Bread, and yummy Alien Cupcakes!

Before the movie, we played a "Claw" Game and Army Men Memory Game. :) Of course, we couldn't forget his name written on the bottom of his slipper... similar to Andy writing his name on the bottom of Woody's boot! Thanks to Momma's Playground for the cute idea!