Hadley’s favorite night of the year is the annual Dad/Daughter Dance. This is the fourth year for her to go with Travis (and a group of their friends) to the dance.
We are 4 for 4 with finding a reasonably priced dress in a matter of minutes at Target. I remember the first year we went out looking for a dress, she suggested going to TJ Maxx first. #raisingherright 😂Anyway, thanks to the Cat and Jack brand at Target, we have been lucky to find something each year.
This year, at the last minute, I took her to get shoes (Hayden needed new tennis shoes, so we tackled that too)…Y’all, she fell in love with a pair of fuchsia flats IN THE WOMEN’S section of the store. She’s officially outgrown kids’ shoe sizes! Anyway, they were half price, they fit, and she loved them (and can wear them in the future), so we got them.
Also, she always has a vision for how she wants her hair. Fun fact: I’m THE WORST at hair and makeup. Thankfully, all she needed me for was a little blush, mascara and a few curls after she put her hair in a top knot. I can’t believe how grown up she looks every year…I know I’m going to blink and we’ll be shopping for a prom dress.
Dinner is provided (pasta, bread sticks, drinks) at the dance as well as dessert….and dancing with her dad and friends…What more could a girl ask for?
2017 Dad Daughter Dance
2018 Dad Daughter Dance
2019 Dad Daughter Dance
2020 Dad Daughter Dance
We usually meet at someone’s house for pics and then the moms and little brothers hang out while the dads and daughters go to the dance. This year, Hayden was the only brother, and he had baseball anyway…so that’s how we spent our time during the dance…at the indoor baseball facility. After the dance (and baseball), we all hung out for a bit. The dance is a great excuse to get together with friends.
We took a few pics at home before leaving to meet up with friends.Homer wondered why he wasn’t invited to the dance! (& I kept holding my breath hoping he wouldn’t snag her tights! haha)I always joke that I hope this isn’t how they are dressed for prom in 2027Hayden made sure to show Hadley his best dance moves!
Love these two so much.
Travis buys Hadley corsage every year. One of the things I love the most about Travis is what an amazing dad he is to both Hayden and Hadley.
The awesome dads and their beautiful daughters.
These little ladies are just the best crew!
Silly pic!
The dance had a photo booth, and I kept receiving a link to cute pics all night long!
I hope the girls have a few more years left of the Dad and Daughter Dance. I know these are precious memories for both the daughters and their dads.
I hope you are having a great week. Thanks for reading!!
Today’s the day….the T W I N S turn T E N! I can’t even articulate how quickly these 10 years have flown by. They’ve been the best, the hardest, and the most rewarding years of my life. I’m so lucky to be their mom.
Their due date was December 18, 2009. We knew I’d probably never make it to 40 weeks, and making it to 36 weeks was a blessing. I will never forget seeing their faces for the first time. The second they showed me Hayden, I teared up; he looked just like Travis. The nurse showed me Hadley for only about 10 seconds, so then my tears were for a different reason. During the pregnancy, Hadley consistently measured smaller than Hayden, but we were still surprised that she weighed in at only 4 lbs, and who knew the extra 7 oz Hayden was carrying would be enough for 4 lbs, 7 oz Hayden to come home with us after four days in the hospital. The NICU doctor told us Hadley would be in the NICU for 12-14 days. Well, day 13, she joined us at home.
The NICU nurses told us that premature baby girls tend to be more of the fighters compared to baby boys in the NICU, so I take it as a blessing and a sign that if one had to stay for a bit and one got to go home, the right baby stayed put to grow a bit more and the right baby got settled in at home.
It was tough being away from her while also juggling a newborn at home. When we brought her home, the NICU nurse said she’d most likely be the more independent one who wound fend for herself. Well, that nurse couldn’t have been more right.
These two captured our hearts from the beginning and certainly still carry the same qualities and features that they’ve had since the day they were born.
Sweet itty bitty babies…
Who turned into chubby cheeked toddlers and sweet spirited little ones…
who continued to emerge into the best little versions of themselves…
In honor of turning 10, I thought I’d share 10 things I love about each of my kids.
Hayden
His love of reading. #hegetsitfromhismama
His passion for sports. (any sport, all the time!)
How he pronounces Hawaii “who why ee”
He’s an introvert who pushes himself out of his comfort zone. #anotherattributefromhismama
His attention to detail.
He is a wonderful teammate. Nothing makes me happier than seeing him cheer on his team or high five a teammate.
His inquisitive nature.
That he says to his mama, “Give me a huggie!”
That he is a creature of habit.
That he is a homebody. (and proud of it!)
B O N U S–he lets me call him Boo 😉
Hadley
There is no bigger helper on this Earth than Hadley.
She has the biggest heart and a knack for knowing when others need some extra love.
She is a loyal friend.
That she is the best mix of both tomboy and girly girl.
She’s energetic times ten…always on the move and enthusiastic about life.
That she’s outgoing as all get out. #didnotgetthisfromhismama
Her ability to find the beat in any song and dance to it (as if no one is watching–but we are watching because she’s forever creating new dance routines to showcase for us)
Her love of scrunchies and friendship bracelets #daugtherofan80sbaby
Her love for little ones.
Her bravery…(for example, sleep away camp for a week this past summer…) #shewasmuchbraverthanhermama
B O N U S–she lets me call her Sis 😉
Homer says Happy 10th Birthday!
Hayden and Hadley,
I know you probably aren’t reading this, but please know…
You guys are the best and make us all so proud. Keep being kind, keep doing your best, and keep being there for each other …and we can’t wait to continue to watch you grow into the best big kids and teenagers (#prayforme) in the coming years. How are you already double digits?!?! #thetwinsturnten
Believe it or not, it’s already Friday! I posted about the kids’ 10th birthday party with their friends for Let’s Look on Wednesday. I thought I’d wrap up the week with a Friday Favorites post that focuses on party #2 (family party)…because birthdays are my favorite!
I figured while the balloons were still flying, we’d go ahead and host our family for a small get together for the kids.
After the slumber party cleared out, I threw a couple of meals in the crock pots. Both meals I made were from Mix and Match Mama’sSimmers cookbook. I made the Chicken Tortilla Soup and the Potato Soup. Both are easy, delish, and serve quite a few people.
I also made salami/cream cheese/pickle roll ups and spinach artichoke dip for appetizers.
We love Nothing Bundt Cakes, so I was going to pick up one of their bigger bundt cakes for the family party BUT we had so much cookie cake left over from the sleep over party, that we decided to serve that. I did take the kids to Nothing Bundt Cakes for them to each pick a mini bundt cake for us to put candles in and sing Happy Birthday.
Hadley’s always big help with the decorations. We already had the balloons, so she helped me put streamers up wherever the kids wanted them. She also helped me put up the birthday banner. I made the banner when the kids turned three, and we’ve been using it every birthday since then…not sure if this will be the last year for it or not?
Every year, I order the kids a new birthday shirt with their age on it (again, this is probably the last year for it, but it’s been a fun tradition!) I did a Flashback FridayFavoritespost on it, and it’s sweet to see them through the years!
This year’s shirts came from a shop on Etsy called ShopPsychobaby. They were cute, great quality, and arrived quickly!
The kids are saving for electronic items we will most likely never buy them (haha), so we kept it simple with the family party, and they received cash and gift cards.
Traditional bday shirts and 1-0 balloonsThe birthday banner is hanging on !Homer was excited for cake. He was better behaved during this party and didn’t eat any candles or lick any icing off the cake! Happy Birthday time!
We had family from both sides as well as friends who we consider family to help celebrate.
crazy and cute cousins
That’s a wrap on the birthday parties. Their actual birthday is next week, and there are a few more traditions and surprises up my sleeve… #thetwinsturn10
This month’s Let’s Look is about entertaining ideas. Well, I just entertained twelve 4th graders last Friday for Hayden and Hadley’s upcoming 10th birthday….So…I thought I’d focus on that! haha
I still have one week to get used to the idea, but the twins are about to be 10…which I can’t even wrap my brain around. Where has the time gone?
I’ve always been big on birthdays, and I’ve always joked that my favorite holiday is my birthday (only to be corrected that my birthday is not actually a holiday 😂). So, with the kids, I have always made a big deal about their birthday. That being said, if I had two kids with two different birthdays or even a third kid, I probably wouldn’t have the energy to go all out like I tend to do. But that’s what moms do, right? Whatever makes the kids happy.
Once they turned three, I started hosting two parties….one for their friends and one for family. I just felt bad asking family to hang out at Chuck E Cheese as well as the fact that our house isn’t big, so having many adults and lots of kids, just didn’t seem like an enjoyable idea. Their friend parties vary year to year. With two very social kids (especially Hadley) who are involved in lots of activities, I’ve always had to cap their parties to a few friends. I’ve never been one to invite the whole class especially because they are in different classes…what would I do if 40 kids showed up?! haha.
I even went through a phase for a few years where I made homemade cakes for each of them…but that ship has sailed. Now, we order a cookie cake or ice cream cake and call it a day.
Shockingly, it was Hayden’s idea to have a sleepover, & Hadley wasn’t mad about the idea. Again, I always try to keep the number manageable and 12 kids wasn’t what I had in mind 😂 but the kids, and even Travis can be persuasive…and you know what? It all turned out just fine!
We ordered cookie cakes from Great American Cookie. Hadley chose the cutest cake with three girls in sleeping bags to stick with the sleepover theme. I thought for sure that Hayden would chose a cake with a basketball or soccer ball like usual, but he took one look at the cake with the white dog, and he thought it looked like Homer! They were very decisive about their cake designs.
Real talk: I took these pics before the guests came over. I like to have a little time with them before all the crazy ensues, and, yes…to get the cute non-chaotic pic too. BUT…good thing I did take the pics beforehand because while I went out to get pizza, Homer ate half of the ONE candle and we still can’t find the ZERO candle! Yikes.
Hayden wanted Homer to see a close up of his cake. Homer later took a lick off of the side of the cake while it sat on the counter (pushed back as far as I could push the cake…because we know how Homer can be!)
Kids are easy to please—pizza, chips, Capri Suns, and cookie cakes. I had picked up the T E N candles to use for the family party, and they came in handy as a back up.
After pizza and cake, we went to a local place called The Yard which is an indoor facility for baseball, soccer, and volleyball. I had never been there, but the kids have been there for indoor practices and sports evaluations, so Travis thought of the idea last week. It was a great way for them to burn energy. The girls passed the volleyball around while the boys played soccer. Then, Travis organized a few games of kickball…I was having flashbacks to elementary recess! Then, they all played one more game of soccer before we headed home a little after 9pm.
Fun crew!
Once we got home, the kids opened presents and then the boys went to the basement and the girls stayed upstairs. It must be all the rage to have a spa party in the 4th grade. Per usual, thank goodness for Amazon—nail polish, face masks, and eye masks, and the ladies turned back time and looked like they were 7 again!
Homer was the only boy allowed upstairs after 10 pm!
After the facials, the girls watched a movie while the boys stayed in the basement, ate chips, and watched a movie of the choice. (Pro tip: I put Homer’s bells that he rings to let us know he wants to go outside on the basement door handle…so I could hear the comings and goings of little people if they found themselves headed in the wrong direction!)
The kids were asleep around midnight and slept until almost 8! The girls would have slept longer had the boys not come upstairs. My friend texted me in the morning when I said they were still sleeping. She asked if I tranquilized them. haha…I told her I forgot to have the parents sign the waiver for melatonin! Actually, part of my strategy with the Friday night sleepover (plus taking them to The Yard) was I was hopeful they’d already be tired from the week!
Hadley’s sweet friend woke up as a 10 year old, so of course Hadley said her donut must have a candle!
Donuts, OJ, and apple juice for breakfast.
After breakfast, the girls painted their nails while the boys played football in the front yard…
Then, everyone gathered up their belongings as parents started arriving and I started prepping for the family party later on Saturday.
Overall, I’d say the party was a huge success…no drama, everyone slept at some point, and I think everyone had a good time! I sure hope they have wonderful memories of this sleepover party because it certainly won’t be an annual event! #thethingsyoudoforyourkids #thetwinsturnten
On Friday, I hope to share part two of the birthday celebration (family party!)
Don’t forget to check out Erika and Shay’sLet’s Look. Next month’s topic is Let’s Look At…gift wrapping station. (Not sure how much I will have to offer to that conversation as I am so unorganized when it comes to wrapping…and I don’t have a wrapping station!)
I’m smushing two blogging ideas into one…Flashback Friday + Friday Favorites.
It’s hard to believe, but my kids are about to be T E N !!! One of my favorite birthday traditions is that each year I buy them a birthday shirt with their name and age on it. I typically use the photo for their birthday invites. I’ve had great luck finding a new shirt each year, usually from an Etsy shop. I’ve used a variety of shops and have always been impressed with the quality and design. Admittedly, as the kids get older, they aren’t as into the shirts (especially Hayden), but my goal has always been to get them a shirt each year until they are 10…so this year, we will probably be wrapping up this tradition…and I’m ok with that…I think 😉 #Imnotcryingyourecrying
Here’s a stroll down memory lane!
This is their first picture together at 4 days old. Hadley was in the NICU for thirteen days, and we snapped this photo before taking Hayden home with us. It broke my heart to leave her, but I knew she was in great hands with the awesome doctors and nurses in the NICU.
4 days old.
For their first birthday, I splurged on their sweet little outfits. They still hang up in their closets. I can’t ever picture myself parting with them.
Two years old…I remember clearly that this was the hardest picture to get of them…they wouldn’t stand still OR look at the camera!!
I think the three-year-old pic will always be my fave. First of all, they sat still. Secondly, the smiled. Thirdly, pinchy cheek cute! *also the last time Hayden probably wore jeans!
Shirts from flyduds on Etsy
Four years old…also known as the last time they probably held hands. haha!
Shirts from myeverydaydesign on Etsy
Five years old and Hayden had lost a couple of bottom teeth!
Shirts from RiverImprints on Etsy
Six years old and Hadley caught up with Hayden in the losing teeth department (and looking like a big girl with her boots!)
Shirts from LittleHipsterTees on Etsy
Seven years old is probably my second favorite pic! They still look like they need their mama, but they are also so grown up at the same time!
Shirts from TinySocietyShop on Etsy
Eight years old! Big kids.
Shirts from PricelessKids on Etsy
Nine years old and ready for their last year in the single digits (and they definitely look like really big kids!)
Shirts from PricelessKids on Etsy
I’ve already taken their pic with their number T E N shirts on, but I’ll save it for the real day. November 20th.
Don’t forget to check out Erika, Narci, and Andrea’s Friday Favorites posts.
I hope you have a fantastic weekend. Our weekend includes trick-or-treating tomorrow afternoon as our trick-or-treat time was moved from Thursday to tomorrow due to weather.
I seriously wish I’d started blogging sooner….then, I wouldn’t have to have Flashback Fridays to get all of my pics in one place! haha. Since Halloween is next week, I thought I’d take a stroll down memory lane with the kids’ Halloween costumes through the years. I only cried twice while writing this post!
2010
Hadley as a jack-o-lantern and Hayden as a skeleton.
2011
A friend mentioned that the kids should be M&Ms for Halloween but have H&H on their chest…and I loved that idea. Insert homemade costumes by GG.
2012
Fireman Hayden and Princess Hadley
2013
Hands down my favorite costumes ever. I clearly remember Hayden saying he wanted to be Batman and Hadley chimed in that she’d be Robin. Seriously, it was her idea. Love love love this costume combo!
2014
We had just moved into our new house, and thankfully the kids were very decisive on what they wanted their costumes to be…as I didn’t have time for them to change their minds! Hayden was Captain America because he was at the age to love all things superhero …and Hadley was obbbbsessssed with all things Frozen, especially Elsa.
2015
This year seemed kind of random…Hayden as a ninja and Hadley has a Pink Power Ranger! The neighborhood has never felt more safe!
2016
Hayden was Luke Skywalker and Hadley a bumble bee. Funny Hadley story about Hadley’s costume. Her older cousin had given her the striped bee dress as a hand me down for play clothes. I remember Hadley wanting to look up costume ideas on the computer. At one point, she showed me the computer and said she wanted to be a bee. She remembered she had the hand me down costume when she saw a picture of a woman in an adult version of a bee costume that said, “Buzzed!” 😂I couldn’t quit laughing…
2017
2017 was another costume favorite of mine for both kids. I thought Hadley was so cute in her Super Girl costume, and Hayden was his favorite baseball player…Mike Moustakas of the KC Royals. The price of Hayden’s costume was $0…so no wonderful I loved it so much.
2018
Last year, as we drove home from our October fall break, the kids started discussing costumes. Both were pretty definitive with their choices as last fall Hayden decided to play soccer again…hence the Cristiano Ronaldo costume. From the back of the car on that ride home from South Carolina, Hadley said she wanted to be an 80s party girl…and I said, “Oh, an 80s girl…” She said, “No, mom….an 80s parrrrttty girl!” I laughed and wondered what that costume would entail…as always, Amazon for the win!
Time sure does fly. Where have my babies gone? Any guesses what they will be this year?
Bonus Flashback!
My brother and me in 198?…
Cheerleader and Care Bear ❤️😂
I hope you have a great weekend! We have soccer, UK football game, and neighborhood pumpkin carving on tap!
Last Saturday, Hadley had a very loose bottom molar (actually, she had two very loose bottom molars) On Sunday morning, when she went to brush her teeth, she noticed the tooth was missing. We searched high and low for the tooth, but we didn’t find it by Sunday bedtime.
Each kid has swallowed or misplaced a tooth at least once or twice, so we pulled our normal Tooth Fairy trick, and placed a mini marshmallow under Hadley’s pillow.
Monday morning, Hadley put the $2 from the Tooth Fairy in her piggy bank…but then, while making her bed, found the tooth on her floor! She was so excited. As I put on my Facebook post, she put the tooth “under her pillow in hopes that the TF will return for a second night in a row because apparently she’s (the TF) a moron?!” Well, the verdict is in: The Tooth Fairy is a sentimental moron. $1 for the return trip.
Hayden has lost all of his teeth, so his Tooth Fairy days are over, and Hadley has a few left still to lose. Someone pass me the parenting handbook, please. haha
Ready for the Tooth Fairy to visit again.Homer was wondering why Hadley didn’t have a guilty conscience about tricking the TF.
Just a little humor from our house where there’s never a dull moment.
We’ve survived the first two weeks of school. While I’ve been setting an early alarm for two solid weeks now, the kids have been able to ease into the back to school routine. In our district, students started on a Wednesday, so it was a three day first week of school last week; this week they had school Monday through Thursday with a teacher work day today.
I thought I’d share a little flashback of through the years on the first day of school, although I’m not sure why I do this to myself. 😂
First day of 4th Grade
They definitely are looking like the big kids of the school this year.
And old enough (& I guess responsible enough?!) to ride their bikes to school.
Big kid status!
First day of 3rd Grade
Back when Hayden would wear his glasses and not just his sports goggles.
First day of 2nd Grade
2nd grade pic is one of my faves. They look older but not too old…and I loved their back to school outfits that year because they actually did pick them out themselves.
First day of 1st Grade
I do think 1st grade pic is my fave. Hadley’s outfit is the best…bow and all.
First day of Kindergarten
Ready to rock elementary school.
And just for fun (or a kick in the ovaries)…
April 2010 –First day going to their sitter’s house.
Ms. Joan watched them until they went to kindergarten. Such a special lady! ❤️
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