Payton wasn't feeling too hot this weekend, but we still managed to have some fun! Luckily after giving her some medicine she was able to sleep through the rest of the night on Friday night, and she woke up Saturday morning ready for breakfast and play. Her temperature spiked again though after her nap and she was pretty lethargic... hard to tell if it was just a bug or maybe her two year molars coming in. She wouldn't really let me see in her mouth to take a peek.

I decided to keep her out of gym class Saturday morning just in case, but I thought it would still be fun to take Payton over to the civil war reenactment in Lebanon. Sue went with me, which was a good thing because she was able to get some pictures since Payton wouldn't let me put her down! I was a little nervous as to how she would react to the cannons and stuff, and after the first two went off she started saying "go home? go home?" We explained to her on the way over there that we were going to hear a lot of booms, and that it was going to be very loud. She wasn't thrilled about it at first, but didn't cry, and after a while she got used to it and eventually starting saying stuff like "that loud boom!" and "he got one!" After Kyle died in battle, she told me "Daddy lay down in the grass". Sue was able to get some great pictures of the boys, they were right up front! Kyle has a new hat, not his usual glengarry, so it took me a minute to find him.

"Daddy lie in the grass"

Hanging with mom during the battle

"That a big boom!"

After the battle we hung out at the 79th's camp waiting for the boys. Payton kept starting at all the women who were dressed in their skirts and petticoats, and kept saying "pretty dresses". Right after Kyle showed up they had food ready for them, like cheese, meat, bread, etc. Payton honed in on some big blocks of cheese (she's OBSESSED with cheese) and kept saying "cheese? cheese mommy?" Kyle let her have his ration. She talked about it the rest of the day; "I eat daddy's cheese". What a good daddy :) 

I shared though!

Daddy even walked me around camp!

I caught it!

All in all it was a fun day. It's good to know for the future that Payton can come along to reenactments! She's still talking about the big booms! 

I recently got the pictures back that our friend took of Payton for her two year photos. Here are some below!

Pretty cute!

I can't believe I haven't mentioned this yet (it wasn't public for a while, but now it is!). Kyle has been hired full-time on staff at West Albany High School next year! I am SO proud of him! He had an interview for a math and social studies position, and found out that very day that he got it! He has worked so hard the last few years to achieve this goal, and to see his dream come true is so awesome. We are VERY excited! Way to go Mr. Hall! :) 

I am extremely excited for this weekend, because we are finally going to Gig Harbor! I haven't been back since Thanksgiving, so waaaaaay too long. We plan on just relaxing and spending time with friends and family. I can't wait!

Special birthday shout outs to: my dad, Chelsea, Granny, and McKenna! 

Pictures!

As promised, here are some pictures for y'all.

Checking out the ducks

Whoa!

Riding on daddy's shoulders

Craaaaaazy hair!

Practicing my soccer skills!

It was a nice day so I decided to eat my snack outside... notice the shoes I insisted on wearing!

Bubbles!

I couldn't blow bubbles without my gardening gloves on!

My Mother's Day gift from P-Bo :)

Hanging with Uncle Bryan and Aunt Lindsey

Zach helping me with my bubbles!

Mom and daughter :)

Kisses from Uncle Tanner

It was such a hot day that Grandma Sue and I got out the sprinkler!

Felt good!

We even FaceTimed with Grandma Jo and Papa Scott in Florida!

Am I glad it's Friday! It's been a long week. Payton has been hitting the terrible two's hard lately. Even the most insignificant thing will send her into a rage right now! I know it's all part of her age, it's just so hard to stay calm and understanding when they constantly freak out. Deep breaths... this too shall pass. Hopefully! She's also become a very picker eater all of a sudden. Last night she would not eat one bite of dinner. When I asked her if she was going to eat she just yelled at me "NO!" and started crying. But then we went to Kyle's softball game and she was a complete angel for two hours. I can't keep up sometimes, I just try to take it as it comes. The only time it REALLY bothers me is when she actually lashes out. She got in trouble at school this week for the first time, for pushing someone. I found out when I got home from work and asked what she did at school that day, and she told me "no push people". Kyle was able to elaborate on the story :) I guess they put her in time out, and she was so mad that she took off her glasses and threw them. *sigh* I try my hardest (unless she's a danger to herself or something) to ignore her when she acts like this, and hopefully once she realizes that we won't acknowledge that behavior, she'll figure out another way to communicate with us... eventually!

As I've written this, Payton has already woken up twice and has a temp, so this momma is gonna head to bed... may be a long night. Kyle is reenacting tonight and tomorrow, and I was planning on taking Payton but may not now, depending on how she's feeling. I wasn't sure how she would react to the cannons and gunfire anyway, that's why she hasn't been to one yet. We will see, I'll let you know! 

Happy Mother's Day!

Hard to believe this is already my third Mother's Day! It's unbelievable how fast time flies. Payton has been one of the single biggest blessings in my life, I can't imagine life without her. There have been many times when Kyle and I looked at each other and said "what the heck did we do with our time before we had a baby?" We can't imagine life any other way though. Being a mother is the hardest, yet best and most rewarding job I have ever had. I don't think I would be the mom I am today without all the wonderful moms in my life to look up to, from grandmas and aunts, to my mom friends and my wonderful mother-in-law. But I have to give the biggest shout out to my own mom, she is such a special lady and the best mom in the whole world. I feel so lucky that everyone in my life is blessed with such great mothers! :)

 Happy Mother's Day everyone! :)

  Hanging with dad at a softball game! We rode our bikes, and I got to play on the playground!

Payton is, of course, being her usual fabulous self. She is such a ham, and loves to make all of us laugh. I don't even know where she picks up some things! Last night she picked up a straw hat of Kyle's, put it on her head and said "Yeehaw!" Or when we were at a baseball game and she yelled "Yay! Baseball! Good job!" She imitates everything and everyone. The other day we were outside sitting on the deck, and she turned to me and told me "go play mommy". Or when I was driving and she said "mommy be careful!" I think she must hear those phrases from me a lot :) She can sing so many songs, count to 10, name colors... she amazes us in lots of ways. Hard to believe she's getting so big, but she is. Kyle and I are talking about starting the transition to a big girl bed and getting her out of her crib sometime this summer. I think once that happens I will really start to think her "baby" days are over (that and once she's potty trained).

Today we're headed over to Sue's house for a Mother's Day BBQ, and I have a lot of pictures on my camera that I haven't' transferred over yet (feeding the ducks, blowing bubbles, etc.) So I will post another blog soon with lots of pictures that you can enjoy! Love you all, hope you're enjoying this beautiful sunny day!