Snapshots of Our Sweet Little Hadley

Summer Swimming Lessons at the New Hilliard Pool

The kids took swimming lessons at the Hilliard City Pool again this summer. Adam and Logan joined them in the lessons. It was so fun to have friends take lessons with us. This was Nathan's first year in swimming lessons and the teachers were able to keep him focused from time to time on learning to swim when he wasn't running off to get the noodles or jumping in and out of the pool. He has always worn a life jacket up until now. So the first time he got in he acted as though he had one one and went right under the water. He couldn't figure out why he did not pop right back up again and sat under the water for a while. If it had been anyone other than Nathan I would have been worried. When he came up out of the water I could tell he thought that was the coolest thing. He had to do it again and again. Mackenzie really wanted a girl teacher (at this age everything is about pink, princesses, and all things girl) and luckily there was one available after I asked around. Brian just jumped right in and didn't look back. He was focused and ready to sharpen skills. The three of them loved the whole week!

3 Kids + 5 Balls + 1 Trampoline = Hours of Fun!

There were three in the bed and the little one said, "Roll over, I'm crowded."

I love it when my kids are sleeping after a big day. Tonight they all wanted to sleep in the same bed. We have Mark's trundle bed from when he was little and the kids love to pull out the bottom bed. It gets a little crowded but they don't mind. I once read that kids playing time is their "work." It is how they discover and learn about the world around them. My kids are some of the hardest workers because they are always discovering something.

Water Party!

Quite often this summer we had "water parties." They consisted of pulling out the baby pool, slip n' slide, hoses, and all the kids and friends we could find. If we told everyone it was a "party" it was always that much more fun. Mark was hospital chief in July and September which means he is really busy. So he would leave around 5:00am and often didn't get home until 9:00pm, 11:00pm, or 1:00am. It can be a challenge to get out the door with Hadley's schedule (or lack there of) so this was a great way to let the kids and I have a great time and hang out with our friends. Sometimes we had 20 people over and other times it was just us. Either way we knew we would have a great time!

I had to run to the grocery store today for just a few minutes and Mark watched all the kids on his own (this included Hadley). I wasn't sure what I would find when I got home These were some of the options that went threw my mind... (A)Brian, Mackenzie, and Nathan glued to the television while Mark is pacing back and forth with Hadley who is screaming to be fed (B)Toys scattered throughout the house, children running around like a bunch of wild Indians, and Mark is pacing back and forth with Hadley who is screaming to be fed (C)Brian, Mackenzie, and Nathan going through the kitchen cupboards eating whatever they can find, pulling out the chocolate pudding from the fridge and using it as finger paint on the walls, while Mark is pacing back and forth with Hadley who is screaming to be fed. However, I did not expect to find what I did when I got home. Maybe it is not the most attentive parenting tactic, but it was certainly a lot more peaceful than what I had imagined and I was grateful. (Nathan was also asleep upstairs in his bed).

Brian, Mackenzie, and Nathan love to be near Hadley

It's interesting how much attention a new baby can get. The kids all seem to be drawn to her. She doesn't talk or walk. She mostly sleeps and eats. We have bought toys which should keep the kids happy for hours and they are more animated than Hadley. But they love to be near her and hold her as they toss their toys to the side. She is a marvel and we love having her in our family.