cockadoodle doooooo

First let me explain that we do not have a rooster.....hens only and so no worries needed for our neighbors as the hens are actually quieter than our dogs!! 

David has long wanted chickens and I have been reluctant to agree.  Call me CRAZY, but the notion of living in a subdivision and having chickens just seemed to be bit beverly hillbilly......I have a phobia of anything outside of "normal" and "the rules" but know that we are actually not breaking any rules or codes, and actually having urban farms is quite the norm now.  We mostly buy organic at our house since Hayden came home.  Dairy is a biggie for me(milk especially) if you have not read much about organic dairy farms(or lack thereof of regulation) I highly suggest you spend some time here then if you search at the top under "reports" you can look at the dairy report and you will be shocked that so many of the popular "organic" milks at your local grocery are just overpriced milk that is not any better for you.  Anyway, we have been buying milk, eggs, a lot of fruits and veggies that are organic and getting chickens would allow us to have true organic fresh eggs and allow us to share with our friends.  We also think it is important for Hayden to understand food sources and how we need to be aware of where our food comes from and how we take care of our food source.  Hayden LOVES animals so much it seemed a win win for everyone. 

So over the weekend after David had spent more than a week working on his prized coop(which seems to be the fort knox of coops) we headed to a town about an hour away equipped with a large dog crate and ready to celebrate "chickenpolooza"  We came home with 4 full grown chickens, and Hayden has named them Smunch, Rosa, Judy Moody and we have yet to hear the 4th and final name.  We have already gathered 5 eggs, and Hayden has officially spent more time in the coop with her chickens than she has spent in the house!!!  OBSESSED is what she is at this point.  She loves sitting there and feeding them bread as well as petting them.  They seem to not mind a bit!!! 

I must say they are quiet, it seems pretty easy at this point, and had I not gone with them to get the chickens.......they would have come home with the week old baby goat with blue eyes(NO I AM NOT KIDDING)  So if I tell you we have a goat in the future don't say I didn't warn you:) 

Who would have thought we would have a chicken coop in our backyard that has real live chickens??  BTW you can't even believe how different and good a fresh egg taste!!! We picked our chickens based on them being good layers.  We should get 3-4 eggs 6 days a week!!  so nearly 2 dozen a week(not too bad)

still needs to be painted the color of our house siding:)  But I think he did an amazing job!!!

first two eggs we got after just 12 hours of the chickens being home!!

Hayden in her jammies and cowgirl boots feeding smunch bread in nesting area of the coop!

America's next top model??

Okay so probably not, I don't think Hayden will ever be much taller than about 5' to perhaps 5'2.  But we have to say we have been so lucky to have Hayden be able to show off her terrific personality in pictures and get paid for it!!!  Hayden was accidentally discovered by our big city model/acting agency when she was 2!!  I was shocked as well as pleasantly surprised when they signed us and then they actually called with jobs and auditions.....hello people she was 2 years old!!!  But she had a GREAT time doing it(especially the make-up(lip gloss and powder) and hair) I was shocked she was able to do it because as I have often stated Hayden has some pretty major people/situational anxiety.  I had absolutely no idea if I could put her in this setting and ask her to perform(or be herself for that matter) and have her actually do it without becoming a screaming crying mess.....ABSOLUTELY WHAT AGENCIES DO NOT WANT EVEN IF YOU HAVE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CHILD ON THE PLANET!!  But with each job she went to it was as though she just understood it was a "job" and she would be done shortly and it included lip gloss, some fun clothes and a bunch of adults acting VERY silly off set trying to make her laugh and smile. The jobs came and then the checks came and it felt great to make deposits into her college fund that she had earned all by herself.  Each job came and each time she ROCKED  it out like a ROCK STAR.  But I was always right there by her walking her thru each step....obviously.  We go to a lot of the same places to shoot and we have a lot of the same people doing make up, shooting, etc....but the goal is always to get the kid's to be in a place and comfort level that they can go back with the handlers and walk thru the process on their own.  I was NEVER certain Hayden could do this even with people she knew.  Now don't freak out and think this is toddlers and tiaras or that I am sending my child off with strangers and have no idea what is going on behind closed doors.  I would never be more than probably 150 feet away from Hayden.  But there is so much going on in these production houses and a million shoots going on all at the same time and they just don't have room for a bunch of extra people back there and kid's actually shoot better without their parents....in our case I have always been allowed back.  But I knew our time was running out  and soon she was going to have to do it on her own.

Now while we have worked some....we have not even begun to work like some kid's are called to work.  Some kid's get called everyday for a job.  We get called maybe once a month or 2.  Hayden is now moving into 2T-3T and that is sample size for most children's clothing manf. and so I get an email a few weeks back stating Hayden has been chosen for the lookbook this year.  It is a book of the agency's models that goes to all of their clients...JCPenney, Neimans, Barney, Belks, Dillards etc.. and she will have to come in to do head shots with them.  So they book our time, we had to put together 8-10 looks for the stylist to pick from(that is a story in and of itself) We find out it is being shot at a place and with a photog that we are familiar with(a girl luckily) and that the Children's division head agent will there too.  Alrighty.....I just felt numb with worry that Hayden would just freak, I knew they were going to want her to go back this time by herself and it was important for her to do a good job in front of the agent(who is SUPER nice mind you and really likes Hayden) 

I started prepping Hayden 48 hours in advance with all kinds of dancing, asking her what kind of music she was going to request, wondering what outfit they would pick.  The drive there involved a lot of dancing in the car, talking up "modeling school" how excited Daddy was to get to go with us!!  David said he was exhausted with just the prep work.  Well all I can say is it WORKED!!  We dressed her in what the stylist picked(of course the first and cheapest outfit I bought) and when Miss Laura came to get her....while there was one second of panic when she realized I wasn't walking back with her and I said they would come get me when she was ready.  They said as soon as she got in the make-up chair all was well and she was talking a mile a minute and making her music requests.  She walked onto the set and they said she totally ROCKED IT OUT!!!  when they came to get us to come look at what they shot.....they were GIDDY!!  The agent said she had more personality than any 3 year old they had ever met and that she followed directions beautifully!!!  They went on to show us what they shot and said there was not a bad picture and every single one could be used if they needed.  I was so proud of her I thought I was going to bust!!!!  Hayden looked right at me and said "I did it all by myself mommy"  yes honey all by yourself you did this and you should feel so proud of yourself. 

So she will appear in the lookbook as well as now be featured here on the agency site under children's division.  We will do this as long as she thinks it is fun and by no means do we ever discuss with her that she makes $$$ doing it or that it has anything to do with her looks.  I have told her that people like to take her picture because she has so much fun in front of the camera and her personality shines thru.  I am not about advocating the model industry....Hayden will never have to worry about being in the ugly part of that world(remember she will only be like 5' ft tall) plus once she is in school and has extra curricular activities she will be too busy.....but for right now it is fun and adds a few $$$ to her college fund!!  Plus she has never shot anything where they didn't dress her or pose her to be just a 2 or 3 year old child.  It is usually displaying a toy or an outfit. 

So here is Hayden post shoot and and beaming with smiles because she said it was so fun dancing and screaming on the set!!!!

So behind and just going to dump to catch up.

I hate just dumping pics and just moving forward, but I am 3 or more weeks behind I have no choice.


We had a wonderful Christmas.  It was quiet and drama free.....just how I love it.  We spent the day enjoying Shiyu being here and Hayden rollerskating.....I see a panache for roller derby in her future.
We also spent Christmas evening with the family that I worked for as a nanny when I was in college.  My 4 kid's are all grown up now and Ian who was 5 when I lived with them is now 26 and in culinary school in NYC.  So we were treated to dinner by Chef Ian and let me say it was so delicious and so fun to spend the evening with them dining on amazing food and drinking great wine and such wonderful company.  Loved every minute of that evening!!!  Ian is going to be a very successful chef I just know it.  He is the top of his class and is so passionate about food.  I am so proud of him:)

One of the reasons for being behind is the amount of company we have had.  I swear we have had more company at our house(staying with us) since Thanksgiving than we normally have in 3 years times.  I felt like I worked at a hotel....one guest would leave and we will move in on the guest room and prepare for the next round of guests.  Don't get me wrong, we LOVED everyone that came and Hayden LOVES having "sleepovers' but it seems it left little time for much else.  In fact I am embarrassed to say that today Friday the 13th(of January) I am just getting all of our decorations down and getting the house back in order.  It feels good to get it all cleaned up and to purge as much stuff as I can get my hands on. 

Hayden is sad Christmas is over and asked why did we have to take the decorations down??  She is also missing her elf "Scout" although someone in the house told her that he would probably stop by a few times during the year to check in and let her know they watch from the NP too.  So I told that certain someone that HE was in charge of that little treat for Pipa.  LOL.

Can't believe 2012 is already here and Hayden is just shy of 3 1/2 and we will celebrate 3 years as a family in April.  Man the time flies and in case you are wondering, we still would not have our referral from China had we remained in the program.  We are probably about 7 -10 months away still:(   

Shiyu was home for 11 days and then headed for her semester abroad in Berlin.  She is staying with a host family there that has 4 kids.  Let's just say that is an adjustment.  She LOVES Berlin and has already told us she wants to look at grad schools there......UGH!!!  We LOveD having her home and no one loved it more than HAYDEN!!!  Goodness those two girls have a bond that is indescribable.  I couldn't ask for a better role model for Hayden than Shiyu!!!  We are skyping with her often and just got a postcard in the mail today.  David will probably fly over and visit for a long 4-5 day weekend and then she will be home in May.  We will then all head to China for what is planned to be a 4-5 week stay!!!  So we are starting the preparations of such a big trip for Pipa.....gotta get her passport squared away pronto as well I am setting up an assignment in Chongqing to volunteer at a local SWI(orphanage) and I will be doing a big donation drive to collect as much as possible to take with us to donate to them.  So stayed tuned as I will be requesting blankets, socks, cleft bottles, warm clothes
etc. 

On top of China we have trips planned to Cali, Maine and of course Chicago for the 2nd annual Taiwan ROCks family reunion.  We can't wait to see all of our friends again and I think it is going to be BIG this year!!! 

Pictures galore, but this is my means of keeping them somewhere til I can actually scrapbook.  I will do a better job of keeping up. 

Hope everyone is enjoying the new year and making plans for the year ahead. 

Hayden in her school holiday program.  She had a line to say and even did a little song as a trio.  I will have to post that video....she did a great job!!!

School Christmas party

Hayden with her teachers

modeling her new uggs from the guncles

Roller Derby WATCH OUT!!!!

Hayden and her big brother Connor

Hayden and her big sister Taylor

doing some art at the museum

Houston childrens museum.  The vet is the favorite place to play.

She told me to start calling her Taylor Swift.....how does she even know who Taylor Swift is???

Saw the Dunn's while we were in Houston and headed to Ninfa's on Navigation for lunch...this was the best shot.....not so much!!

Shiyu on her way to the airport....again a lot of tears to be had at our house.  Hayden ADORES Shiyu!!!

Singing in the rain.....

Oh dear lawd.....it finally rained here and it rained hard and for more than 5 minutes.  You simply have NO idea how bad our drought is here in Texas and how earthly bad we needed this rain.  Now if it would only continue for about a week!!! 


Hayden has been asking all summer to go out and stomp in rain puddles and wear her rain gear.  When she woke up this morning she cheered with excitement when she heard it was still raining.  Going out last night at 9:00 to stomp in rain puddles didn't sound like a great idea to me so I said we would have to wait....with hopes that it would still be raining this morning.  Mother Nature didn't disappoint my pipa. 

Christmas card pictures taken yesterday(yay, can't wait to see them) will order cards hopefully in the next 2 weeks.  Might actually get them out right after turkey day if I am lucky(hasn't happened since Hayden came home)

We have a full week coming up.  We are leaving town again(not really ready for another trip) but packing up for a long awaited visit with someone very special.  We are staying and visiting with VERY special friends in their new beautiful home. We are missing some friends this trip, but the schedule just doesn't work.  We will try and see them in the spring hopefully.  We are visiting an obsession of Hayden's as well as a important visit of tribute.  I know you are wondering, but you will have to wait until we return.  Should have some GREAT pictures. 

My little bean.

If you have not gone to see The Help I highly suggest you jot that one down on your calendar ASAP.  Best movie and this was the best line!!! 

Miss priss pot doing a few more shots for Miss Y and 3 yellow starfish

such a Hayden laugh going on right there...there right there.  Yony always makes her smile and belly laugh!!

my little bean looks so cute in hats!!!  doesn't she look big??  She is losing that baby look! (tears for mama)

They are renaming the state......HELL

A lot of reunion planning and A LOT of whining and complaining about the weather.  How on earth did this reunion get planned here as we experience right now the 2nd hottest summer in history, and we are on day 33 of over a 100' straight.  It really was not my idea, I promise I warned everyone not to vote for it here in August.  I just am hot, sweaty and a bit pissy!!!  This weather could seriously harm some of these northerners....they are not use to this type of sultry hellish weather, who am I kidding; I have lived here for 21 years and I am not use to 109'.  I've got two families coming from HI....they may never leave the island again for fear that this is typical of the entire mainland.  It was hotter here yesterday and today than it was in Phoenix or Las Vegas, great they are both located in deserts, we however are not the desert but we might as well move to the desert... because appearently it is cooler.

There is seriously no END in sight as shown with the current forecast.

Playing catch up again

We went to visit our dear friends and Hayden had a blast.....however it is tough being part of a herd of kids when you are use to being the only kid in the house.  So it was a great experience and we will continue to put Hayden in this type of situation so that she becomes a little less "only child" like.  Hayden is normally a great sharer...but when you are at someone elses house and you have to share 24/7, they have such cool neat toys that you don't have and you are 2 almost 3, well let's just say it is a little tougher to share than when it is a 2 hour playdate:)
While there we went to Katie's(7) cheer clinic, and well the pictures say it all.  H LOVED it.  Why not, a bunch of yelling and music and pom poms~what is there not to love?
We celebrated Meggie's 4th birthday a little late, but still had so much fun at her party and we are so glad we could be there to celebrate.  It was a swimming party and well swimming was the theme of our trip, pretty much all we did while we were there, and the little brown bean is now a really brown bean even with a ton of sunscreen applied all day long!!!  We loved getting to swim everyday at their club and the girls really had fun swimming and playing together at the pool. 
 The girls all had a blast for the most part, and Jack(10) is totally smitten with Hayden.  He just loves on her and even told me that he just didn't understand how I could ever punish that sweet little face(boy does she have him fooled) Anyway, it was a great visit, and they will be here to visit us in about 3 weeks. 

When we came home our caterpillars(from here) had come out of their cocoon as beautiful butterflies(we missed it by a day) so Hayden was so sweet and kept saying how beautiful they were, but that we should let them go.  So you will the bottom shots are of her letting her 5 beautiful butterflies fly away home!!  Need company.  We want to do the ladybugs next.

We are back and packing back up for a unscheduled trip to the beach.  David is still recovering from his surgery and we have decided a trip to the beach and cooler temps will help his recovery along a little better.  Total relaxation, beautiful setting, guncles, and connection for our phones is less than desirable!!!  So no need to feel guilty that he is not working(he has a little problem with shutting down work) LOL  So we are off again and Hayden is thrilled to be headed to our happiest place on earth.  She does so WELL at the beach, she sleeps well, she loves being there with our family, and we just have an all around great time being there.  So house/dog sitter will be here to take care of stuff and we will be off not thinking about taking care of anything but having fun and David getting back up to speed. 

Okay so we will see everyone on the flip side of the 4th of July......how is that even possible??
Be safe and have fun!!

very interested in the emergency procedures on board

Waiting for KK to pick us up

Meggie, Hayden and Katie ready for the pool

3 good friends swimming together

Hayden's first baseball game to attend.  That is Jack at bat.

Hayden taking pictures again....Sweet Meggie

Okay so maybe she is running on a slight delay of the big girls....but man she was cheering her heart out!!

pom poms always make it look more professional

oh okay she is back in sync with the girls

Meggie's hello kitty cake

right before the party really started

gotta wear shades.....look at sweet ginger Meggie!!

Hayden played with the noodles endlessly....she was riding them and saying they were her dragons.

Can you see the butterflies in there??(the gross stuff you see is from the dye of their wings when they emerge)

go butterflies.....fly away home

last one in there to fly away.

Swimming lessons

Hayden has started swimming lessons again this summer, and she is doing great. She LOVES her teacher Miss Hailey, and each week she seems to be making a lot of progress. Such a HUGE relief since we have a pool.....it is critical that Hayden know how to swim(for this reason alone) We go to great lengths to keep our pool locked off and unaccessable to Hayden!!

The good news is she likes the water, she is not afraid(for the most part) and she is really trusting of me in the class. It is a mommy and me class so I have to be in the water(in a bathing suit...ugh) so I have no pictures of her in her formal class.

But we are so lucky that Taylor(H's big sis) is a certified swimming instructor and so she has been supplementing Hayden with lessons when she has time. I would say this so much better for Hayden because Taylor makes her actually do stuff that Miss Hailey will not....she is very sweet(but doesn't push very hard)  Taylor makes H go under and let go and do much more on her own. So I think this along with going to our club and swimming with friends will be what really gets Hayden swimming like Nemo.  what a relief

Hope everyone is having a great start to the summer. We have A LOT going on in the next few weeks!!! Man when I think about it makes it nearly the middle of JULY!!!!!

Look "No HANDS"

Check out her goggles!!

annnnnd down she goes!!

annnnd again(she doesn't really like going under....but she does it)

One of the days we were at the club and careflight landed in the field behind(we still don't know why) but Hayden was amazed at the close-up of the helicopter and its female pilot!!

and summer has begun

the heat is here, the pool is warm and I seriously can't believe it is already June!!! Where did the first half of 2011 go?? So much planned, so much going on, and know in a few months I will be saying what happened to the summer. LOL

For my memory here are a few new milestones; we are a week in panties and no accidents!! Yay Hayden way to go girl!!! Hayden has also mastered going under water at swimming lessons. We will start going to our club pool(more fun to go with lots of friends than just being in the backyard pool) so I am hopeful we will have mastered swimming by the end of summer!!