Changes Made

For the past 3 years, "Little Tykes Preschool" has been a major love in my life! It started in Arizona, and migrated with us to Michigan... Unfortunately, the economy in Michigan has forced the larger majority of families to have two working parents, putting them in need of full-time childcare, which I do not provide.

A little over a year ago, I started an online business selling boutique hair accessories, "Bailey's Blossoms" - another love of mine! As I have had a very hard time filling my class for this coming preschool year, I have tried harder to expand www.baileysblossoms.com to help compensate for my financial losses. These past few months it has really started to pick up, and I have enjoyed every moment! However, between teaching early morning seminary, preschool, my website, being a full-time mom to 3 (soon-to-be 4) young children, a wife, a housekeeper, cook, chauffeur, etc., my time has been spread pretty thin. I realized that I am doing a lot of things mediocre, and not much "great".

After much consideration, Brandon and I have decided that it is time for me to close my preschool doors for a time after the finish of this year. I LOVE teaching preschool, and this has been a very emotional decision for me, but I realize now that I care more about my children thinking I'm "super mom", than anyone else! ;) So, I look forward to spending more quality time with them (and making hair accessories when they're asleep!). Alas, this is not goodbye forever to Little Tykes Preschool, but rather a recess until a better, more plausible time. :)

School Pictures

A girlfriend of mine came over last week to take our individual and class pictures for preschool. Although I always knew she was talented, there's nothing like an adorable picture of your child to solidify your beliefs!:) Thanks again Sharon - you are of course, AMAZING!!!

It's crazy how much they change in one year. Here is our little diva Bailey:
And Hunter.. I just want to jump in this shot and squeeze him!

And of course Landon, who I don't believe you can take a bad picture of! LOVE that under the chin chub!!! :)

..I love pictures! (Accept of course when they're of me when I'm pregnant... hence, the class picture is NOT being posted today - yes, I may just be that insecure!) :)

Let's go FISHING!!!

I'm not sure what it is about a toilet that gets a young child's heart to beat rapidly with excitement...

With Bailey, it was the plain old water that she couldn't wait to splash in. Hunter, well he preferred to go fishing... yeah... (as a matter of fact, Bailey still hasn't mastered the "FLUSH" aspect of the whole ordeal.. any suggestions?? I'm at a loss, seems kind of common sense to me!:P).

Then there's Landon... He prefers for US to do the fishing. I guess it's good he realizes human waste belongs in the toilet, but how do you teach a 16 month old that if it's in a diaper in the garbage, that's alright too?! I must admit, it's SOOO much funnier to watch someone else "go fishing" for a change! Thanks Brandon - SOOO glad you were home!!! ;D

Mmmmm Mmmmm

I return home from seminary at approximately 7:15am. It isn't unusual for the kids to be awake watching cartoons while Brandon is getting ready for work upstairs. Today was no different, accept no one was actually watching Curious George... I heard "Mmmm.... Mmmmm..." and it didn't take me long to find the source of the commotion!

I'm glad my pie got the ultimate seal of approval, but I think it's time we put a lock on the refrigerator door! I always knew these two were trouble... ;P

Let me explain...

Before anyone judges me, yes I know I should be in church right now... but sometimes the call of motherhood throws an obstacle in our way! Poor Landon has been battling an eye cold for a little over a week now. He's finally good enough to where I don't think people would have avoided us like the plague in our meetings today (I stayed home with him last Sunday). But upon arrival from mine and Brandon's night out last night, we were greeted by a puking Hunter. :( Granted, I am not a puker (I've only experienced the phenomenon twice in my entire life span thus far.. including pregnancies), and I've been very lucky that my kids have had "tough" stomachs as well. Being spoiled has it's ups I'll admit, but it does throw you for a loop when something normal to the rest of the world shows up on your doorstep! So alas, I am home again (Brandon teaches the deacons so we can't alternate this responsibility!) with my two sad boys who are for the moment "resting" if not sleeping. :)

Spare moments are hard to come by these days, so I figured I'd better seize the opportunity to redeem myself as a mother and post about the festivities of the month... what festivities you ask? Why Bailey's 4th birthday of course!!! ...I know, I can't believe it either! :(

The day began with breakfast in bed (of course!). During which Brandon revealed the dollhouse he had put together for her the night before - the two of us are pathetic like that.. NO patience! Then Bailey chose McDonald's (another no-brainer) for her birthday lunch with mommy. :) I tried to talk her out of chicken nuggets in her happy meal since she also chose chicken nuggets for her birthday dinner, but she didn't mind having them two meals in a row! :P That evening we celebrated some more when Brandon got home from work.

Think we were partied out yet? NO WAY!!! My mom came into town at Midnight on Thursday to be here for her birthday party with her little friends on Saturday! "Dora" was all the rage this year, and she was plenty spoiled as usual! As always, a GREAT dragged-out-as-long-as-humanly-possible birthday celebration at the Hooley home! :) Happy Birthday Bailey!!!

Love and Logic

There is a fantastic book that has changed mine and Brandon's lives called "Parenting With Love and Logic". Truly the greatest approach and advice on parenting that I've come across to date! But I'll save the sales pitch spiel for a different day...

I know that my kids watch me WAY too closely, but we've only been following these new techniques since Christmas. I guess I shouldn't be so surprised that she picked up on it so quickly, I mean she mimics everything else I do (which is quite the eye-opening experience by the way)!

So we're eating dinner this evening and Hunter is fiddling with his food more than anything else. He scooped up a big hunk of rice and played with it on it's way to his uninterested mouth until it fell off the fork onto the table...

Me: "Hunter, that's messy, could you please pick that up?"
Hunter: "EWWWW! It's yucky!" (I know, I know.. a boy who doesn't like to get his hands dirty - what's up with that?!)
Bailey: "Hunter, you have two choices: You can pick your rice up and put it on your plate with your hands, or with your fork. You choose."
Hunter: "OooohKaaaaay..." (He chose the fork.)

Simply stated, priceless. I LOVE this book! Oh and PS. it's by Foster Cline, M.D. & Jim Fay. For all those who either have kids or plan on having them... FABULOUS!!! Changed my life and my view on parenting 110% (and I mean that in a VERY good way)! Of course if you don't want to go through the trouble of reading it, I could always rent you Bailey... ;)