Speedy Marquette

Hayden wanted to join Sanborn's running club this year, solely for the purpose of getting to go to the swim party at the end of the school year! We decided to let her try, and set some very clear expectations. Since she was starting this, she was not allowed to quit. She needed to attend every practice, unless she was sick, and we would like for her to run in the races. I did not know you had to qualify, I just figured you could pick and choose.

Hayden qualified for her first race, which was held at Tumbleweed park. I had no idea what to expect. I definately didn't expect about 200 kids from grades K-6, lined up on a rolling start, running all at the same time! I didn't expect the course to be so expanse, and I had no idea, until the day of, that they run 1.5 miles in this race. I'm a very competitive girl, by nature, as I grew up, an athlete. I've released that competitive nature and lowered my expectations to just encourage my girls to just try and give things their all. OR SO I THOUGHT!

I had high anxiety with the course being so spread out, that my mom, Conal and I each ran to different spots around the park to a.) keep an eye on Hayden and b.) encourage her to keep running. As she rounded the turn to the first spot I was standing, I felt myself overcome with emotion. She was running. And participating. And trying her hardest. As I yelled in a crazy loud voice that Conal is convinced everyone heard, but Hayden, I found myself winding up even more. I could see her blonde braids from across the park, and she was still running. And as she approached another turn where we were standing and yelling, she was STILL RUNNING! She was passing kids...boys, girls, kids older than her! And once I realized her placement in this race, I felt this rush of competition come over me. O.M.G...she's fast! She's near the front of the pack and she's GOING TO FINISH!

As she rounded the last corner, I was screamin' my heart out and she glanced me a smirkish-smile. I felt tears well up in my eyes. Our baby girl was finishing her first race. She participated in a sport, where she was able to calm her own fears..panic..phobias, and succeed! To know the heartache she's been through trying to find "her thing"...this was a perfect boost of confidence on so many levels! We met her at the finish line, where she was given number 64. I had no idea what that meant. But we decided to stay for the awards ceremony to see how it works and what goes on. So glad we did....lo and behold, 1st grade girls, third place finisher...HAYDEN MARQUETTE!! 64th place overall...out of the 200-ish kids that ran, boys and girls alike. Holeeee, Moleee!

She went up for her ribbon clearly unphased by what was going on. We're thinking she thought everyone got one. But by the time we got home, it was sinking in. We were rounding the corner onto our street and she said "I did that for you, Mommy". I said, "What? What did you do for me"? She said, "I ran for you, Mommy. I heard you screaming HAYDEN...GO HAYDEN, GO HAYDEN, and I knew you would be proud". I literally had to pull my car over.

I was in tears. I told her that I'm just so proud that she ran in the race, and that she finished. That is what makes me proud. That she tried something new, and even though she was scared, she did it! By the end of the night, she totally understood what happened. She found a nice place on her wall for her ribbon that evening. Yet, when I went in to wake her up the next morning, I found it in bed with her!

Media Award

During the 2nd quarter PRIDE assembly, Hayden was awarded with the Media Award. The library staff nominated her as one of the 1st grade recipients, as she's always prepared, quiet and helpful in the library and computer lab.

Tay's Winter Dance Show

Taylor had her very first dance show on December 4th. In the weeks leading up to it, she swore she was not going to participate...just stand there. I decided to quit fighting it (she's VERY pig-headed!), and just "yes" her to death! She had no idea what to expect, what a dance show/recital even entailed. Her class spent 6 weeks learning a dance, but none of them knew it very well. Much to my delight (not surprise), she was the little girl, front and center; taking a bow before and after, Clueless...yet having a ball!

Now she's trying to convince me for tumbling classes and singing lessons. I think she's seeing stars in her future!

PTO and Dad's Club

Getting involved with the PTO at Hayden's school has been a lot of fun. I'm a true believer in parental involvement. I believe that having our hands in their education and activities, 'makes' the experience. I'd be involved with the girls' schools regardless, but with Hayden having learning challenges, it's even that more important to me to make my presence known. I feel my familiarity with the teachers and staff, and theirs with me, will just benefit her education immensely. Conal didn't quite understand this for awhile. As he said, he "knew I'd be involved, but had no idea at what lengths". We had some long and arduous talks about the girls futures and our place in them. I've always known that I wanted to give back to my kids what my parents gave to me. Love, attention, guidance, strength, confidence and good will. And my girls are at the ages that those calculated maneuvers come into play.
After about 3 days of questions, and solutions, frustration and understanding, we both came to an agreement that we were 100% comfortable with. I was going to opt in for the PTO board in the Vice President position, and he was going to attend a Dad's Club meeting to see if it was something he was interested in getting involved with. The Dad's Club came solely from the other school dads that he's become friends with, peer pressuring him! After his first Dad's Club meeting, he thought he'd go to one more and then take it from there. Well, after 2 meetings, beginning in February, he's gone every month. He's helped with set up and break down of a couple of events, and even managed the kids play station and the Spring bazaar!

We are conscientious about burn out...so, even as involved as I will be, the new President and I have already met and formed new committees and are delegating! We don't want to burn out our second year in school...but as I see it, and I think he is too, we are delighting in the fact that Hayden is having a ball getting to participate in so much, and she loves it that we're around! Gotta take it while we can! Apparently, we've decided to go big or go home! lol.

Snapshot of a Decade

To look back on the decade that just closed, I find myself grateful, blessed and a tad bit emotional.
I know that the last half of the decade was heartbreaking for so many American's, and believe me, it was a struggle for us too. But to move onto the next decade with everything that we have, I feel that I am more grateful than anything.
Y2K
We opened a new millenium in New York. We celebrated Y2K, and our new engagement with Meghan and Greg and Kelly and Tom. Which, has been one of my most memorable New Year's celebrations, to date! 10 months later, in October, Conal and I were married. Really, what better way is there to kick off a new millenium?
2001

We purchased our first home, the house in which we still live. We didn't expect to be here longer than five years, but as I mentioned, I am blessed for all that I have, and my home...which is where so many memories have been created, is my comfort.

On our first wedding anniversary, we both attended our first World Series of baseball. They Yankees played the Arizona Diamondbacks. We all know how that turned out, but still, what an incredibly fun experience!

2002

Conal and I took a trip to Hilton Head on our second anniversary to visit his Dad, and then drove through South Carolina up into the NE corner of North Carolina to spend time with his mom. We had an awesome vacation seeing some beautiful parts of the country. Some of my most favorite parts of the country to this day!

This Thanksgiving brought us even more to be thankful for than we could've ever imagined. We announced on Thanksgiving day that we were expecting our first baby!

(see, I can't even type this without getting choked up! silly!)

2003

I'm sure there was more going on to this year than puking and weight gain, but quite honestly, the first 8 months of it, that's all I can remember. Well, until we found out that our 'son' was really a 'daughter'! SURPRISE!It didn't matter though, because on July 31, we welcomed Hayden Catherine..or Hayden Cate, as I affectionately call her these days. With a first baby comes a million 'firsts'. And I've covered all those in her baby book!

Conal turned 30, that can't go without mention!

We also welcomed the birth of our first niece, Morgan Anne and Pam had her first baby boy, Cooper Jay! What a WONDERFUL year filled with baby love!!

Hayden, August 5, 03

Donna, Morgan, Pam, Cooper, Me and Hayden, July, 2004 2004
Early in this year, it was decided that I would babysit Cooper. This is highlight-worthy because this is where I grew this unconditional crazy bond, (or at least I still feel it. I'm sure he was too young!) with Coop! I feel like 2004 was a year that I grew up tremendously, in so many ways.

We also purchased our first 'family car' in 2004. We bought a mid-sized SUV. Holy cow, we're parents!

Hayden celebrated her first birthday, and shortly after than, we took her on her first airplane ride clear across the country, to New York! She met her Aunt Kate for the first time, saw the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, spent a day at a Winery and did A LOT of shopping! We also took a girls, and Cooper trip to Central CA to meet Great Grandpa! She went on quite a few trips after she turned one. We decided worldliness is a great characteristic ;)

First airplane trip..Long Island, NY - August, 04

New York City, August, 2004Great Grandpa, Sept, 04
2005

Our family of three, my parents and Pam's family went to the Caribbean for a Mexican vacation this year. Hayden was not quite two yet, but proved to be quite the traveller. This area is where we honeymooned, so it was really special for us to take our daughter there with us. Even though she had no idea that we love the Mayan Riviera so much!

A couple of months after our trip, on Hayden's Christening day, we announced the expected arrival of baby number two!

Yet again, sickness fogs my brain up until...

Hayden's Christening, August, 2005 2006

Pregnant w/ Tay Jan 06 April 9th at 11:31pm...SHE arrived! What an amazing day of labor and childbirth. If I could re-live those days over and over, I would. They are just AMAZING! I think every single moment of it is so etched into my mind because I knew that was probably going to be my last. So I wanted to savor and capture everything!
What a beautiful baby she was...and just six minutes after birth, things took a turn for crazy. And that's when the story of Taylor's struggles began.

Baby Tay, April 9, 2009

This proved to be one of the most challenging years of my life. Yet it was another year of tremendous growth for me. Plus, I turned 30!

With the overwhelming feeling of heaviness floating over, my father in law swooped in and gifted us a one week getaway to Newport Beach. That's where we found our love of Newport, the girls' first trip to Disneyland, and also really came together as a family of four. For the first time. We focused on fun, love and relaxation, and not all of the negative that we were faced with at home daily.

Hayden started a little community preschool in the Fall and we celebrated our first Holidays with two daughters! We couldn't be more lucky!

A COMPLETE family, April 10, 2006

Disneyland! October, 2006 2007

Taylor's struggles were on the forefront during this year. We had secured therapy services to come into our house several days a week to help her out. With numerous health issues, she was a sickly baby. She wasn't too happy and car rides proved MISERABLE! Enough said!

We also noticed that something seemed not quite right with Hayden. We embarked on an arduous journey...one that we had no idea would lead us where it did. Until Christmas Eve, when she was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome.

We also found the perfect little preschool for her at St. Tim's. This move proved to be the perfect place for Hayden!

Mom, Pam and I also decided to brave a road trip and take the kids to the beach in Newport for a couple of days. What a great break from the heat that was!

Still, we counted our blessings and were thankful that our daughters have humbled us. Provided us with a sense of humility, education and a love deeper than we ever could've imagined.

September, 2007

Vegas, May, 2007Newport Beach - August, 2007 2008

Taylor turned 2. Which was not so terrible! Hayden turned 5, and we had one heck of a party to celebrate! She started Pre-K, and her Aspergers diagnosis was overturned and labeled Autism.

We enjoyed all things 'festival' with trips to the fair, the zoo, Schnepf Farms, Willcox and another Disneyland trip.

Pre-K, April, 08

Mesa Museum for Youth Circus - July 2008 2009

Taylor has grown leaps and bounds. Okay, maybe not physically, but developmentally! She completed OT and PT and started preschool through the district where she receives her speech therapy! She's not a fan of school.

We lost our dog Chloe :(

Hayden started Kindergarten and has loved every minute of it from day one!

We experienced the passing of my grandpa and a trip to California to be with family for the funeral.

We took the girls to the beach for a long weekend and Mom and I trekked to California with two very excited little girls to experience Disneyland at Christmas-time!

I cannot wait to see what's in store for us in this new decade! The girls will hit double-digits. Hayden will turn 16. I'm sure there will be dating and dances. Agh! I can't get ahead of myself, it sounds overwhelming!

Summer 09

December 4, 2009

Here's to a healthy, happy and successful New Year!

Ringing in 2010

Traditionally, we have a quiet New Year's Eve. I make some type of steak and a feast of King crab legs for Hayden and I. We watch movies and rarely make it till midnight!

This year, Bonnie and Andrew called around 3:00 to see if our ping pong table was set up yet, and if they could come play before the party they were headed to. An unexpected 7 hours of ping pong, errr....beer pong ensued in our garage! So our NYE meal this year consisted of Miller Lite and beef jerky! We saved our 'special' meal for New Years day! We're stingey ;) But we had so much fun...the laughter was never ending!

The kids had a blast singing and dancing in the driveway, running crazy and getting to be loud and obnoxious without getting in trouble. It was New Year's Eve, afterall.

Hayden just barely made it to 10:00, so I put on the East Coast ball drop to celebrate! They left around 10:30, and none of us made it to midnight. Conal passed out as soon as they left and Tay puttered out on me at 11:00.

What a way to send out 2009. Playing, laughing, drinking, reminiscing on the craziness that was the year leaving us and looking forward to all that 2010 will bring.

Happy New Year!

"Santa didn't skip us!!!!"

Holly woke us up early on Christmas morning. I told Conal "shhh, maybe the girls didn't hear her and we can go back to sleep". Fat chance!

We heard their door open and the pitter patter of their little feet across the cold tile. I'm assuming they were standing in front of the tree assessing the goods, as it got really quite for a moment. All of a sudden Taylor's voice starts trembling "Santa didn't skip us, Haynen!"

A collective....Moooooommy, Santa came to our house! And up we were!

I'd have to say that this Christmas, was, by far, the best one yet! Taylor is SO totally three years old. And just loved and reacted to each and every gift. It's so cute and very fun! Hayden still gets embarrassed when showing emotion, however, we did get a few smiles out of her too!

Now THIS is my type of camping!

Okay, it's not camping really. Well, not at all. But, anything that requires an overnight amidst the mountains and dirt is some-what camping to me!

Bill and Donna invited us up the weekend following Thanksgiving, to spend time with them in Prescott at their house. We all had a ton of fun. Great company, lotta adult beverages, silly giggling girls running wild, a parade and some homemade mac-n-cheese. I really don't know how you could top a weekend in the mountains like that!

Oh wait! It snowed (lightly) on us too! That's how :)

This is before Taylor stepped out into nature!

And this is After! Yep, she still doesn't like the "woods". That's ok with her Mommy ;)
Ahh, the AdventurerWaiting for the Light ParadeTrying to catch a snowflake. This was her first snow, y'know

BB King

Back in JULY, I bought tickets for Conal's birthday in SEPTEMBER to go and see BB King in NOVEMBER! I know, a little drawn out. However...every time BB King comes to town, Con makes mention how he'd love to see him before "it's too late".

My parents took the girls while we headed out on the town. We trekked back to our old stomping grounds and had a fantastic dinner at Papa Razzini's. It's very rare that the two of us get out together without the kids. I wish we could do it more often, but I guess it just makes those rare instances more special!

Little full, Lotta sap!

On Monday night, in the pouring rain, we went to the lot and picked out a Christmas tree! Quite honestly, I think it's the first time it's really, truly felt like the Christmas season to me since I've lived here. Number one, we haven't had a real tree in 8 years, and number 2, it's rarely cold and rainy in December. So, FOR ONCE..it reminded me of the many years growing up and going to cut down our tree at the tree farm in the pouring rain right after my birthday.
Taylor was so excited, she couldn't contain herself and fell asleep in the truck on the way over. We tried to wake her, but she wasn't having it. So, it was up to me and Hayden to find the perfect tree. And that we did!

Isn't she a beaut?

When the girls got done with it. Before I undid and redecorated it!