Jaci's 2nd Birthday!!!

On Sunday, we celebrated Jaci's 2nd Birthday. i can't believe that it has really been 2 years since she was born! Now, she gets to share her birthday with her new cousin, Annie (Cole & Mckenzie new baby.) It was really fun to see her get excited about opening up her presents and looking at everything so close. We had Grnadma and Grandpa Hegsted over with Aunt Jenna and Aunt Krissa. We had bbq ribs, baked potatoes, ceaser salad, and rolls. It was so DELICIOUS!! Jaci got a bunch of new clothes, dress-up clothes and shoes, and a new bedroom re-vamped!! (pics will come soon.)

Jaci opening up her presents....the ooh and aah's were so cute!

Jaci dressing up like Cinderella in her new dress-up play clothes.

Jacis blowing out her birthday candle on her Ladybug cake made by her wonderful mom!!

The kids dressing up in Disney Princess ddress-up clothes....Justin was not very excited about the boys dressing up like a Disney Princess.

Jaci having too much fun on her zebra!

Jaci has this zebra that is really for kids 18 months to 3 years....but they never consider children that are a little wild and crazy like my Jaci. She has bounced on that thing and spins it around until she practically falls off. She learned how to stand on it without any hands. She is a daredevil and I don't know what to do about it....pretty much fearless. It that a good thing or a bad thing at her age???

Dylan's First Day of Preschool

Dylan was finally able to go to Preschool on Wednesday. This year he has preschool in the afternoon, while Brayden is at kindergarten. He was so excited to go and kept asking when Brayden was going to leave because he knew that he would go shortly after him. I walked him down and was telling him where his tote bag goes and he said, " Mom, I know where it goes, you don't need to keep telling me!" Well, I guess that I am just being overprotective, but he was just fine and put his tote bag up and went to find his friend from last year, Erica, to sit by. I know that he will have so much fun and I am excited for him. Besides, I have 2 hours with just Jaci and I, and sometimes she sleeps, so I am really all by myself. I think I just might like this!!

So excited to go to preschool....he looks so cute and ready to learn.

Dylan and Jaci.....she just had to get into the picture. (she was wearing her backpack all morning, because she wanted to go to preschool too).

Woo Hoo! The Tooth Fairy Comes Tonight

Brayden lost his first tooth tonight (actually Andy yanked it). His wiggly tooth finally gave way. He asked us to make sure to tell the tooth fairy to be extra quiet and not wake him and his brother up.

Happy Birthday Mom!!

Today is my mom's birthday and I just wanted to let her know what a great person she is and how wonderful she is to have in my life. My mom is always there for me whenever I need her. Over the last few years since I have left the house, I have really got to know her so much more and love her more than I ever have have. Over the years, since I have had my 3 kids, she has always helped me out by watching the babies and helping me become a better mom.
My mom is such a great person and I am very glad to have her as a mom and grateful for all the sacrifice she has done over for me and our family. I love you mom!!

Montana Dust Collection Project

This post is meant to give kudos to my wife:

Last week, I spent Monday through Friday at our plant in Three Forks, Montana with my dad and David Jacobson installing a dust collection system. It was quite the project. We were a little surprised at the length of the build. I planned for Thursday, but there were so many details and measurements that couldn't be planned for in advance. We worked late every evening, including Thursday night until 9 PM.

Andy did great! It was tough for her to be alone that long without a break. When I got home, our house was clean and spotless and she even mowed the front lawn. We had a lesson today in church about mothers and their efforts. I wanted to express gratitude for her hard work, especially in my absence. I love you!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Brayden's First Day of Kindergarten!!!!

I was not sure how I was going to be since my oldest was now old enough to go to school.....and it would be longer than 2 hours. I was getting excited for the time that I would have with just Jaci, but in all actuality, I really am happy that Brayden is excited about school and wants to go back again.

The morning started with Brayden getting all dressed by 7:30, shirt, pants, new socks, new skechers, and his backpack packed full of all his school supplies ready to head out the door and on the bus. He has PM kindergarten, so school doesn't start until 12:05. For breakfast he requested plain pancakes instead of chocolate chip, so he wouldn't get his shirt dirty. I told him that after lunch, he would be able to go to school, so about 10 minutes after breakfast he asked if he could eat lunch. The 3 hours until he had to leave was really hard for him. He kept mopping around the house saying the he really, really, really wanted to go to kindergarten and could not wait any longer.

SO, he finally ate lunch and out the door we go....I have to drive him the first 3 days but then he will be able to take the bus. We walked into his classroom and sorted out all his school supplies and he sat in his chair. There were other parents taking tons of pics of their kids sitting down and sorting out their school supplies. After a few minutes, I told Brayden I was leaving, he got up gave me hug, said he loved me and told me he would see after kindergarten was over.....no tears, just smiles. I looked back at him and he was sitting at his table with this bored look on his face as if he was ready to start the day, but nothing was happening yet. My little baby is getting big and I can't believe that he is ready to start school. Almost 3 hours later, I went back to school to pick him and he was the last kid there.....school gets out at 2:50 and I was there at 2:54, so I guess I need to be there a few minutes earlier. In the car Brayden told him that he was good and learned the he had to keep his hands to himself, his mouth closed when the teacher is talking and all the boys blue bathroom passes. He then informed that since he was good, he deserved a treat, so we headed to Maverick Country Store down the street and got a treat. He looked for a few minutes and picked up 3 Resee's Peanut Butter Cups that are only .10 cents a piece. Dylan got 4, since he thought that he was good while Brayden was at school, and since the boys got a treat Jaci had to have one too, so she got giant Smarties for .30 cents. They were all happy as can be and Brayden's treat was gone before we even turned into the neighborhood.
I am very happy that Brayden likes kindergarten and hope that he does well and makes himself as well as his parents proud. We love you Brayden.....you are such a great kid and wish you the best as you start your many years of schooling.

Brayden sporting his new blue shirt that match his black/blue skechers, his transformer backpack and new dark jeans....He looks so handsome!!!

Our latest updates.....

So, i know that I have been slacking a little bit, but I have been busy, but that is no excuse. The last two months have gone by way too fast, and now school is starting and I can;t believe it. Here are a few things that we have done....
SEATTLE: We traveled to Seattle for 4Th of July to visit Shaun and Krissy (justin's brother) and their family and see the sights around Seattle. We went to the Seattle Aquarium, went on a boat ride around the bay, went to the Space/Air Museum, picked raspberries at the farmers market and just hung out. It was a really fun and the kids all had a blast playing together.
T-BALL: The boys were both in t-ball this year; Brayden's 2nd year and Dylan's first. They were the tigers....and our neighbor was their coach. It really was fun to watch them play and learn the basics of playing t-ball, which was always funny to see them run the bases, throw the ball and really just stare off into space at any given moment.
OUR GARDEN: many of you know that I love my garden and love to be in it often. This year we planted corn, green beans, carrots, peas, broccoli, onions, 4 kinds of lettuce, 10 tomato plants, zucchini, yellow zucchini, peppers (all colors), strawberries, and 3 different kinds of pumpkins. We are now reaping the benefits of the garden. Jaci loves to go and pick off the peas, rip them open and suck out the peas inside. They are literally candy to her. The boys love to go and see everyday what is growing and like to pick everything....even if it is not ready. That is one thing that is hard to teach your kids. I am excited about all the canning that will get done all this, but I do love to eat it all as well.
COLORADO: At the end of July, I went down to Utah to pick up my mom and take her home, which was nice since it was another adult in the car with my kids. I love to go and visit my parents.....they always get wore out from playing with my kids and my kids love it. I worked a few days for my dad, which is always nice to have a break from my kids. We went to Chuck E Cheese, The North Pole, Pueblo Reservoir to go on the SeeDoos, went shopping for the boys school clothes, hung out with my mom and dad and beat my parents 4 times in a row at Settlers of Catan, which my dad was not too happy about that. I talked Justin into flying out for a few days so he could drive back with me and go on the SeeDoo's with us, as well as god golfing with Trevor for 5 hours....he was tired after that.
So, that seems to wrap it up for now, but I will stay on top of our blog to bring you the latest updates in the lives of the hegsted clan.

Father's Day!!!!

I love Father's Day....a day to show the man in my life how much I appreciate him as a father to my children. This year was just a little more special since I was able to have my father with me. Last time that I celebrated Father's Day with my day was '99, so it has been a few years to show my appreciation for all the things that he did for me and now what my husband does for our family.
I made sausage, eggs and cheese for my dad and hasbrowns, sausage, toast and fried eggs for Justin. They loved it and it was delicious!! For dinner, my dad helped make baked beef tenderloin that had crushed black pepper and grey poupon mustard on top. It was awesome and so addicting, you really could not get enough even though you were stuffed. We also had green salad, mashed potatoes, and veggies. For dessert, Justin talked my mom into making German chocolate cake, since I don't make it and am not very good at it. It was very good and exceeded Justin's expectations.
I would also like to tell Justin what a great father he is to his children and I couldn't ask for a more loving and supportive husband that you, I love you Justin and I am grateful to have you as the father of my children, thank you.
Justin got the "John Adams" video special that was on HBO; since he is has been reading all sorts of books about the coming togther of our nations independence.

Grandpa Lawson with Dylan....sporting his new #1 Grandpa shirt.

Playing at Rigby Lake

My parents came to visit for Father's Day and while they were here, we went to Rigby Lake and had a picnic and took our dogs with us. Sierra loved it and wouldn't want to be anywhere else on such a hot day. The kids loved the water as well with the exception that Jaci didn't get too wet, but the boys could have cared less weather they got soaked and had dirt all over them. (a mother's laundry nightmare.)
Sierra fetching a stick thrown into the lake; since her toys sank to the bottom as soon as we threw them in.

The kids enjoying the water by throwing rocks and sticks in the lake and seeing how big of a splash they can make.

Kenya trying to stay cool, but not hot enough to jump into the lake like Sierra; just not a water dog like Sierra.

Sierra was one wet dog and when she would get out of the lake, you need to stay far from her or she would shake like crazy. She loved staying cool by jumping into the lake.

Brayden's Preschool Graduation

Brayden is getting to be such a big boy and growing up way too fast. He has now completed 2 years of preschool and is ready for kindergarten in the fall. For their graduation, we meet at the middle school and all the kids from both 4 year old preschool classes meet together and sang about 20 songs....and they were very cute; along with the Pledge of Allegiance and received their preschool diplomas. They had graduation hats mad out of white Styrofoam bowls and a square piece of card stock on top with yarn like a tassel. It was pretty cute and we are very proud of what Brayden accomplished in preschool and looking forward to kindergarten in the fall.


Brayden with his preschool teacher, Mrs. Moeller

Brayden sitting very quietly and ready to sing some silly preschool songs to his family.

Dylan's Preschool Graduation

My little boy is growing up before my eyes....he has completed his first year in preschool and we are very proud of him. His teacher, Mrs. Moeller, had all the kids wear graduation hats and they sang about 10 songs, received their diplomas and had cookies for refreshment. The kids all did so well and we are glad that Dylan enjoyed preschool so much and look forward to another year with Mrs. Moeller.

Dylan singing a silly song.

Dylan and his awesome preschool teacher, Mrs. Moeller.

Dylan saying the Pledge of Allegiance.