The Hayes Family: January 2014

January is my least favorite month of the year. But, I do like doing school in January. Without the distractions of warm weather, parks, and pools I am forced to get creative inside and we usually do lots of art, learning, pretending, and baking. Here are some pictures of what we have been doing in school this January!

Doing some phonics work on a Friday morning.

Cutting practice

Clifford Magazine coloring. I love this magazine! Even Scott gets into it.

This is the first activity Scott has actually really been involved in worksheet-wise. He colored the snowman according to the diagram.

Lots of tracing practice!

S is for Stars!

More phonics practice.

Some counting and recording

Scott practiced counting on his own.

Making jello

Music break

I loved this activity that went with "The Mitten." Create a clothes line and Ryan hung up paper mittens that count by tens. He loved it!

Left and Right practice.

Tracing

Awesome book

Finished clothes line

Ryan's mitten pattern. So funny….I gave him a handful of mittens and told him to make a pattern. I said "You can use 2 colors or 3 colors and make sure it's a pattern." I was completely expecting an AB or a ABC pattern. When I came back and saw colors everywhere I was thinking, "Hmmm this doesn't look right" until I asked him for the pattern. He was right on the money, just thinking a step ahead of me!

I guess there are fun things to do in January but I know one girl who will be excited to see the Spring!

We had no idea what a gift God was blessing us with when we had our little Scottie P. What we expected was a little boy a lot like our first. We quickly found out that little Scott had his very own personality with funny quirks, hilarious facial expressions, and one of a kind comments. It is safe to say that as a family we have laughed every day for the past year at this little guy. What a blessing to have someone in your life that makes you and others laugh!

Here are some things we have enjoyed learning about who God made him to be:

Scott loves all things boy. He wears cowboy boots with jeans, khakis, sweatpants, shorts, and sometimes with nothing else but a diaper or underwear. When he's in front of others, he walks with a slow, wide, cowboy swag. He loves the Lone Ranger and Duck Dynasty. He wears as much camo as possible as many days as he possibly can. He loves hats and belts. Scott also loves to work. He wants to mow the grass, haul wood, use tools, rake and use a wheel barrow etc. Anything involving manly work he loves.

He has a kind heart and loves Ryan like no. other. There has rarely been a time when I have given him something that he has not asked for one for Ryan. Even as he opens Christmas or birthday gifts, he checks to see if there are two of whatever it is to give one to Ryan. When Scott gets up from a nap he by passes all but Ryan and if Ryan isn't here, I've seen him curl back up on the couch and go back to sleep.

He also has ALWAYS adored Josh and wanted to be with him more than anything. He truly thinks that his daddy is the coolest thing ever and wants to be with him even if it means doing something seemingly not fun.

Scott has also been known to bust out into "Wagon Wheel" with his guitar around guests as well as "10,000 Reasons". He has really showed an interest in music and especially guitars.

Scott has a way of making us laugh in situations (like when he's in trouble) when we shouldn't laugh. Josh and I have had to bite our lip a lot over the past year. I remember at the beach last year his Uncle Jarrett went up to talk to him while he was in time out and Scott told him, "I'll throw you in the woods!" (We had to have a talk about that) Another time when I was getting ready to discipline him for not eating his food at dinner he looked at me as serious as he could be and said, "I'll eat you up!" That time I was so furious and the comment was so out of the blue that I busted out laughing and couldn't contain myself. We played a game to finish his food. It was God's way of saying to me, "Chill out mom. It'll be ok."

What a blessing and a gift he has been this past year and will continue to be in our lives. Thank you Lord for his precious life!

Here is a glimpse of Scott Hayes over the past year as a 2 year old. =)