Houston's 15 Months

I feel like the entire month of September has been about Peyton, so I decided to do a quick post about Houston. I took Houston in for his 15 month check up on Monday and he is still growing but has slowed down a little bit. He now weighs 27.6 lbs which is in the 80th percentile and he is 33.4 inches tall which is in the 95th percentile. So he is pretty tall unlike his big sister. I took her in for her 5 year check up the same day and she weighs 42 lbs and is 42.9 inches tall which is only in the 60th percentile for both so she is just average. I look at her and think she is taller than that. She did pass her eye test with flying colors though, 20/30 for both eyes. Hope she doesn't get my eyes later on.

Well back to Houston. He is still such a good boy and rarely cries. Everyday his daycare says he played either "Happy and Calm" or "Happy and Energetic". As long as you have him strapped in his car seat, high chair or stroller he will sit there all day happy as can be but when turned loose he is all of the place and has really turned into a handful. He loves to run around and wrestle with his big sister. He also loves to dance. Turn on some music and he can really boogey. I love this stage because their personalities really start to come out and they are so much smarter than you think they would be. He has learned that at night when I go to reach for him that it is time for bed and he will start to cry a little but it don't last long. As soon as I put him in his crib and shut the door he lays down and is out for the night. He even still takes 2 naps a day most days. I have lucked out with both of my kids because they have always been such good sleepers and always in their own beds. He has started to play good with toys especially with trucks. It's funny how they naturally prefer toys for their own gender. He has even started to throw tantrums a little bit especially when his sister is eating something that he wants or if you take something away from him but he is over it in a hurry. Like I said he rarely cries. I was vacuuming the other day and he was running away from the vacuum not paying attention and smacked right into the entertainment center. Had a huge knot on his head but got right back up and started running again without a tear in his eye.

Peyton's Third 5th B-day Party

And finally we had Peyton's third and final birthday party for her 5th birthday yesterday. What a great month for her and a long and exhausting one for me but she's worth it. Last night we had Bradyn's family and my Grandma Pat, Uncle Wade and cousin Kellee over for cake and ice cream. Thanks everybody for coming and for all of the great gifts! Between all of her parties this year, she was definately spoiled.

Peyton's Second 5th B-day Party

This last Saturday we invited 9 of Peyton's friends and cousins over for a birthday party which included Raylee (cousin), Preslie (cousin), Hallie (second cousin), Braxton (second cousin), Wyatt (friend), Bridger (friend), Brett (friend), Marisa (neighbor/friend) and Avery (neighbor/friend). Peyton was so excited to have her friends over and even though her birthday was on Thursday she kept telling me she wasn't 5 yet because her friends hadn't come to her party yet. We rented a bounce house for the kids to jump in, served them lunch, played Pin The Tail On The Donkey and ate cupcakes and icecream cones for dessert. I think the kids all had fun and they all got along really good. I was exhausted after it was over but it really wasn't too bad. Thanks Aunt Laurie for helping me out at the party! And thanks to all her friends and cousins for coming and spending her special day with her and for all of the great gifts!!!

Peyton's The BIG 5!!!

On Thursday, September 17th, Peyton turned the BIG 5!!! She had been counting down the day for about 2 weeks prior to her birthday and then woke up so excited until she realized that her friends weren't coming over for her party until Saturday. I was able to rearrange my schedule at work so I could have her birthday off and me and Houston just spent the day with her at home. That night I made dinner, she got to open her presents from us and few more my parents had sent her and we had cheesecake for dessert.


Getting ready to open presents


This kid actually gets excited about getting new clothes


Me and Bradyn gave her tickets to the Ringling Brothers and Barnmum & Bailey Circus for this Sunday




Her favorite song is Chicken Fried so my parents gave her the Zac Brown Band CD


She loves Hannah Montana so my parents gave her the microphone


And we gave her the doll

Peyton's First 5th B-day Party

Peyton is going to be pretty spoiled this year with her birthday because she is going to get 3 birthday parties. While we were in New Mexico over Labor Day weekend my mom had a little party for Peyton, my mom's friend Susie who's birthday was the week before and for herself since my mom's birthday was on Sunday while we were there. Peyton's birthday is actually on the 17th but since it is on a Thursday we are just going to hang out at home that night. Since it is her big 5TH birthday I am throwing her a party with her friends and cousins that are her age this Saturday and then on Sunday we will be having Bradyn's family and some of my family on my mom's side over for cake and ice cream.

For her first birthday party that was in New Mexico there was us, my parents, my Grandma Carolyn, brother Jason, his girlfriend Shyanne, her sister Jodi, and my parents friends Ray and Susie all there. My mom had these really cute cupcakes made that looked like barnyard animals and Peyton got lots of cool things like a new scooter that you shake your butt to get it to move, a cd player/radio for her room, a camera, money and she is really into Hannah Montana lately so she got the DVD movie, cd soundtrack and Hannah Montana jammies. She is definately spoiled and her birthday isn't even here yet.

As you can see, the scooter was a big hit!!!

All American Finals '09

On Labor Day weekend, me, Bradyn and the kids went back down to Ruidoso, New Mexico for the All American Futurity and Derby Finals.

On the Friday we flew into Albuquerque where my mom picked us up and we then drove onto Ruidoso. That night we went to the Select Yearling Horse Sale. On Saturday morning we went to a boutique in town and bought some cute jewelry. That afternoon we had a birthday party for my mom, Peyton and my mom's friend Susie. Then that night we went back to the horse sale again. Sunday was the All American Derby Finals. One Diamond Kitty which is a horse that my dad trains qualified for the finals and ended up running a nice 4th back. That night we went to the horse sale again for the final night. Between the 3 nights at the sale, my dad and some of his owner's ended up with some nice horses. On Labor Day was the All American Futurity Finals. Jess So Sixy, another horse that my dad trains qualified for the finals and ended up running in the bad part of the track and didn't do so well. It was disappointing but it is such an accomplishment to even qualify for this race. So there is always hoping for another chance at it next year.

It is crazy in Ruidoso during this time. There are so many people there for the All American Futurity. This race is comparible to the Kentucky Derby but for Quarter Horses. They even had Mine That Bird who was the winner of the 2009 Kentucky Derby there to lead the post parade of the All American Futurity. It was pretty neat. We love it down there especially during this time and can't wait to go back.

School Has Started, Summer Is Almost Over...

Today was officially Peyon's 1st day of her 3rd year of Preschool. Where did summer go? The last 2 years she has attended Ranches Kids Academy and they had done such a great job with her. She is such a smarty and has done so well in Preschool. This year she will be attending ABC Great Beginnings which bought out Ranches Kids Academy but kept a lot of the same staff and the same building. She will have a new teacher though, Ms. Camille whom she already really likes. I have heard great things about ABC Great Beginnings and think it will be really good for her. I think she will be plenty ready to start kindergarten in fall of 2010.


This was taken at 7:15 a.m. which is early for Peyton. She was not a happy camper.

Dance Has Started

Yesterday was Peyton's 1st day of her 3rd year of dance. I decided to put her in Ultimate Dance Co. which is closer to my house in Saratoga Springs rather than Illuzion Dance in Herriman where she has gone the last 2 years. That will make it a little easier on me not having to drive so far every week. Her friend Marissa who lives next door also attends Ultimate Dance Co. and they are on the same competion team. I was a little nervous about her being on a competion team and wondered if she is ready and old enough. But then felt that she needed a little bit more of a challenge and what sold me was all the competions they will do throughout the year and that they will learn 2 dances to perform at those competions. Peyton loves the performing part of dance and is not scared at all to get up on stage and dance in front of a crowd.

All American Trials '09

On Wednesday, August 19th, me, Bradyn and Houston flew to Albuquerque, New Mexico where Peyton and my mom picked us up and then we all drove to Ruidoso, New Mexico where my dad has been training horses. We went their to watch some horses that my parents train run in the All American Futurity and Derby trials. We have gone down the last 4 years during this time and we always look forward to this trip.

Thursday was the 20 Futurity trials. That's right, 20 trials and it makes for a long day. We were at the races for 8 1/2 hours that day and both of ours kids did great! All 4 horses did pretty well too. They ran 2 firsts and 2 thirds. One of their horses named Jess So Sixy one her trial and she qualified 9th fastest for the finals which will run on Labor Day. Another horse named Heart Of The Cartel one his trial and was the 2nd one out of the Juvenille but he still ran a nice race just drew a slow trial.

On Friday was the Derby trials and there was only 6 or 7 trials so this day wasn't as long. One of their horses named One Diamond Kitty ran a nice 2nd in his trial and ended up the 2nd fastest qualifier for the finals which will run on Sunday, the day before Labor Day.

On Saturday we went to the horse races again to watch a couple horses run. And at nights after the horse races in Ruidoso we would go to the New Mexico Bred Horse Sale. On Sunday we headed back to Albuquerque where my mom has been training horses to watch a couple of horses run. We spent the night there with my mom and brother and then flew back home on Monday afternoon.

Thanks mom and dad for having us down. We can't wait to fly back down this Friday for the finals!

Peyton's Trip to New Mexico

On August 3rd Peyton flew to Albuquerque, New Mexico with my mom to spend time with my parents and my brother for a few weeks. She always looks forward to these trips and has so much fun and always comes back spoiled. This trip they did fun things that included going to the horse races, went swimming, went to the zoo, went to the aquarium, went to the splash park, drove the golf cart, played hard, made new friends, and of course went shopping.

Thanks mom for letting her go down and spend time with you guys. I know she really looks forward to these trips!