Christmas at Grandma Hays

This Christmas we were at Grandma Teresa's in Vermillion. The entire family was snowed in together for a few days. We had 6 grandkids and 7 adults! We had fun one day playing the Wii for 7 hours and at night we played some poker. I think all the kids were extremely happy with their gifts from Santa. It was nice to have a few days off however, Devin got sick on Christmas day when he threw up all over the living room floor. After that both Ben and I got it, but I think Ben got it worse. We didn't make it to Cherokee yet for Christmas but hope to Friday. Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!! Here are some pictures from the break.

Devin with his new train tracks.

Talen with Karter, Preston with Cullen, Grandma with Devin and Aiden!
Devin with his brother Riley
Talen being handed her new puppy Max
Devin on his new tricycle from Grandma Teresa
The swing in the backyard

Trip to see Logan and the family

Look who's 2!

Hello everyone, so much to post! Devin and I went to Cherokee to celebrate Logan's 2nd Birthday! The first night we were able to hang out and play some games hosted by Emily. We played a game kind of like sherades and the rhyme game. Emily also read us a story she wrote. I think the biggest hit was Kevin the horsie! I think that he got his work out. Here is a bunch of pictures for those who could not join us.

On top of Uncle Horsie
Kyle and Derek
Birthday Boy!
Cool Dude!
Antie Monkey!
Looking good Kim!
Em the Author
Great grandpa
Hey You!
Yes, Dinner time!
Sophia, Emily and Devin

HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY BEN ON FRIDAY NOVEMBER 6th!

Greetings from South Dakota!
Devin and I moved again, this time to Hartford, SD, which is about 10 miles NW of Sioux Falls. We moved into my co-worker Miriam's house. Once we are settled I will post some pictures- it's a beautiful house! We don't have internet at home and that is why I have been doing a poor job of posting lately, I will do better once I finally have internet again.
Devin was nothing for Halloween : ( I had to work till 9 that night and I just really didn't want to buy him a costum when he wasn't going to be able to go out. So sorry guys, that means I don't have any pictures. However, I do plan on taking his pictures soon and will hopefully get them passed out at Logan's Party, that's the goal anyways. Well happy November!

Devin's 2nd Hair Cut!

Yesterday I gave Devin his second hair cut. It wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be, he was more cooperative then I was expecting. Of course, I had to bribe him with a candy bar and bananas. The hair cut turn out alright, there is a place above his ear that isn't so good, but besides that it all is well.

This morning I was changing Devin's diaper and he said poop. He has been telling us poop after he goes potty and needs changed. Anyways, I asked him if he needed to go to the potty. He got up and ran to his potty chair in the bathroom, sat down and went pee! Of course none of it made it in the potty, but it's a start. I'm not even trying to potty train him! Hope it will be this easy when the time comes.

Hello Hello!

Hello Everyone!
Yes, it has been an entire month since I have posted and I appologies for that. I do not have internet at my house figured out yet and having problems with Qwest.
The past month I have been learning so much at my job. I trained up front sacking and checking for the first week, since then I have been in the back room. It is unbelievable the volume of product coming in and out of the back room here. They are not shy when it comes to letting people know that they are the number one store in the district and the sales are incredable. So if you could even imagine the mess we must sort continuously. We have a truck 6 nights a week and they are full, some times we get 3 truck loads in 2 hours (grocery, frozen and produce)... that doesn't make anyone happy. My position is fast pace which I love! I have met some increadable people here at the store, we do have great employees who have shown me so much respect.
Last night was the last night I stayed at the trailor. Yes, it is sold and Ben is suppose to be out of it tomorrow. So our last night there... Devin screamed, whined and bawled last night for about 6 hours! Finally, at about 2am we decided to take him to the ER. He has a double ear infection and the Dr. said his ears were bright red. Poor little man. He has water draining from his mouth wetting a shirt in no time (more teeth?), his nose is running like a fausit, he is congested and in lots of pain with his ears. Every time he lays down he crys so the past two night were pretty rough.
Well my lunch is up and I need to head back down to my new office- the back room!
One more thing, I am losing my USD e-mail, any suggestions on where I should get a new one at?
Sorry about my spelling and grammar- maybe i'll fix it later.

Off to Sioux Falls...

Hello everyone! I just wanted to let you know that I am off to Sioux Falls on Monday. Mom and Dad are in Colorado for the night and will arrived at about 5:00pm this evening here in Cherokee. I'm so thankful and excited that they are make a trip to help me make this move. I have an apartment that is located right behind the mall in Sioux Falls and start my job on Monday the 31st!

I will miss being so close to my family, to Kim and my grandparents. It's also nice when others come home to visit. I really loved the idea of Logan and Devin growing up so close :(. However, I am not going too far and there's a lot more opportunities for me in Sioux Falls. Plus, you guys can come visit me as well! Thanks for everything Cherokee, I'm moving on once again.

"I Know, I know, I Do Know!"

I wish you could have heard the chorus of this song, it was just starting... and it was incredible! Not only does he use the same words, but he has a melody too! By the way he is strumming a guitar, you can't really hear it though.

Baby Baby Baby

Naked Boy!

This is an older picture, but I wanted to get something posted. Devin doesn't like to wear his diaper all that much, so once in a while I will find him naked. He has been putting on clothes and taking them off as well. One hot day I put him in his crib in just his diaper and when I went to get him he was naked! Luckily he peed prior to the diaper removal. I have found diapers in his toy box and on his book shelf with the clean ones. Also, sometimes I can't find them at all, think they actually make it in the garbage! Oh the joys- I Love it!

I'm officially an adult!

Now that I have my 2 weeks notice in every where I can share my secret... I have accepted a Full- Time position at Sioux Falls #3 Hy-Vee Store as a 2nd assistant manager! I couldn't be more excited for this opportunity. My first day there will be August 31st. If everything goes as planned I will be moved up to Sioux Falls on August 24th. Mom is flying in to help me the 25th!

Sioux Falls #3 is the newest and the largest Hy-vee store in Sioux Falls with over 600 employees, THAT'S HUGE! To put that into perspective the warehouse has somewhere between 300 and 350 employees! I'm going to start out learning to check, then customer service and hitting other departments in the store. Then I will perform the duties of the position, which is mostly back room management. I'll keep you all posted as things occur.

Bye Bye tongue ring :(

Yes, I know, I need to blog more often! I like to post photos, but since I don't have a camera I don't really think of blogging. Plus it feels as if all I have been doing the past few weeks is working, which is good, but exhausting.

Lynnette and I were able to spend some time together a few weeks ago. She came to Vermillion to meet up with some of her old friends from school. I know that I had a great time, Renee and Tara always have great stories to tell! This was a picture taken of us at the very end of the night.

Time with Isabelle!

A couple of weeks ago Devin and I spent two days with Kristina and Isabelle. Kristina's Cousin Jason and his friend Shaun were in town and Tommy and Katie came over as well. Devin was a little cranky from his ears and teeth, but over all I think he had a lot of fun. At night we went to the ball field and I kept Devin and Isabelle entertained while others did some hitting and fielding. Devin gets really jealous of Isabelle; Every time I went to pick her up or pay attention to her Devin would get angry and wanted his mommy. At one point in time the two of them had me on the ground physically fighting over me. Both were holding me as tight as they possibly could. I ended up with a bruised cheek bone! Those two are strong, I felt like I was suffocating and could not get them off!

For the most part they got along, but they had their moments. Of course they fought over almost everything. How do you teach a 18 month old how to share?

Everyone was amazed at how much Devin could eat. He had three servings of Kristina's amazing lasagna. It was a fun little vacation to Marcus, IA. Oh yeah, and Shaun gave me a free tattoo while Jason and Kristina cooked for us! Thanks a guys for everything!

Omaha Zoo

A few weeks ago, at last minute, we decided to take the kids to the Omaha Zoo. (Ginnia, David, Kristina and I took the kids Xzavier, Kalexus, Isabelle and Devin.)

Over all our day at the zoo went really well, all of the kids were well behaved, they seemed very interested in the animals and watched them attentively at each exhibit. Devin's favorite place was the aquarium. He enjoyed watching all the fish swim and would follow them as they went by.

Thanks Kim for the slide show website that I stole from your page, what a good idea, and it was easy too! There is one picture that was thrown in there on accident that was not at the zoo, but I don't feel like changing it.

CONGRATULATIONS BECCA AND ROYD!

Jaxson Jay Reid

8lbs 14oz, 21"

Y HAPPY ANNIVERSARY Y

Y KIM& KYLEY

Summer Fun

In between rain showers Devin and I have been getting out of the house this week, not as much as we would like though.  On Monday we went to the pool and to say the least Devin LOVES the water, but we all knew that already.  I wish I would have gotten a picture of him in the water, but I didn't want to risk my phone getting damaged again.  Before we went to the pool we took the short hike up to see the bench that Jim, Dad and Jeannie donated for Grandma and Grandpa.  Devin wouldn't look at the camera for me of course.  Let me just say that the bench gets pretty HOT in the sun so be careful!

This morning Devin and I went to Roosevelt to play on the little playground.  He liked playing on the stairs and even went down the slide a few times with help from me.  I'm not sure what he thought of the slide.  His favorite thing to do at the playground was to bring me little rocks, one or two at a time.  He did this for about a half hour!  I felt bad for throwing the rocks down so I figured I would make something out of them.  I ended up with this flower.  He even brought me the little trig that I used for the stem!  The first flower was better, but he ruined it :(

Tonight I was cleaning out the garage and the basement and he knocked my bike over!  Luckily he ended up in-between the seat and the handle bars, close call!  He started crying, but I think that it just startled him.  He kept messing with the bike and looking at me.  I took this as a sign that he wanted to go for a ride.  So, I put on his little helmet and off we went on a long bike ride.  I'm hoping next week we can get out side a little more, hopefully the rain is about done for the late spring we are having.  

Poor Batman!

Devin received his first fat-lip on Wednesday night.  He was running around the house bouncing off the walls, literally.  Apparently he tripped in our little hallway and put his face into the corner of the doorway (Glad I didn't have to witness it first hand).  He definitely was screaming and bleeding.  I was just thinking the day before that it wasn't going to be long until his first blood injury.  He actually did pretty good, he didn't cry for too long and then he was off running around again in his Bat-man PJ's and cape! 

Time With Emily!

A couple of weeks ago Emily came and spent the night with Devin and I.  I started to try on a few dresses mom brought for me and before I knew it we were all playing dress up- Yes all of us!  Guess that Derek isn't the only lil boy who wheres girl clothes!  Devin's new thing is to get into my shoe draw and put on my heels.  He always goes for my black ones.  He does a really good job of walking in them and keeping them on his feet!

Emily then taught Devin how to scream, I mean really scream!  I'm glad that he didn't remember in the morning!  Hope we can have another slumber party soon!

Karter Louis Hays

Born May 21, 2009

9lb 13oz!  20 3/4in long

CONGRATULATIONS 

KARISSA AND BRYAN!

Sister Talen with dad Bryan and baby Karter

Karter- Devin's new Cousin!

The bottom picture is a picture of Devin when he was born- Can you believe how much these two look like each other?!  Same cheeks, nose, hairline, eyes!

Just to clear something up; Bryans girlfriend's name is Karissa as well and what's even more ironic is her name is actually Karissa Ann!!

Family, Fun and finally some Sun!

Devin and I have been busy the past few weeks.  We celebrated Emily's Birthday on the 16th- She was 8 years old on Tuesday May 19th!  I can't believe that it has been that long already.  It was nice that The Hillabolts could come and celebrate as well.  

This past week Devin and I took a mini vacation to Des Moines.  The first night we stayed with uncle Lee and hung out with him in the morning when he got off of work.  He is in the middle of fixing up his trailer to sell and looking for a new house.  We watched the NIN concert on his new TV and did some house shopping on the internet.  Devin loved dancing to the music, of course.

The next night Devin and I went to stay with Derek and Sophia.  I watched them both nights, they are such good little kids for me.  

On Friday night Devin and I went and spent the night with Ginnia, Xzavier and Kalexis.  Devin and Kalexis are 6 days apart.  For some reason I didn't get any pictures of them together.  She is the cutest little thing, she is very shy and quiet.  

Saturday was the main event;  Trevor and Tricia's wedding!  It was really great to get everyone together and drink some "kool-aid!"  The kids were a hit on the dance floor and were all very well behaved.  

Congratulations and welcome to the family Tricia Goodburn!

For some reason I took no pictures at all!  I know Kevin has some, hopefully he will share them and then I can get them posted.  The pictures shown here are of course taken by Kevin!  

Devin's Room

Devin finally has a room just for him, fit for a little boy.  Dad and I found and painted letters for Devin's name while we were in Utah and then Ben hung them up in his room.  I think it looks nice, thanks Dad and Ben!  Devin has plenty of room to play and of course plenty of toys to play with.