Hayden's Corner

Halloween 2009

2009-10-26T15:38:00.001-07:00

Our Halloween festivities included a trip to our local Pumpkin Patch with Hayden's Head Start class. She had a great time and picked out a cute, little punkin'. Also, there are pics of the Couri Family pumpkin, 2009. The carved pumpkin was one we bought at Wal-Mart. Then I found a bigger, more symmetrical pumpkin at Aldi for only $3 so we bought that one, too! Counting the itty bitty one that Grandma Christy gave Hayden, we have four pumpkins this Halloween! Alas, we (I say "we" but what I mean is "I"...hahaha) only carved one. The other pumpkins are going to double as Thanksgiving decorations. :)

On the hayride to the pumpkin patch

Hayden sittin' next to one of her teachers

A beautiful orange tree...autumn is awesome
in Bartlesville!

The pumpkin patch in the far distance

The Pumpkin Patch!

Hayden running to find a pumpkin

More searching

I like this one!

Or maybe this one...

This is the one!

Hayden and her pumpkin

Swinging on the playground after the search
for her pumpkin had been completed

Hangin' like a monkey

Wee!

More hangin'

Carved and ready to scare! :)

BOO!

His nose is lit up.

An awkward angle of our carved pumpkin

School Days, School Days

2009-08-14T10:57:00.000-07:00

Hayden started the Early Head Start program today. She was there from 8 to 11. We went and visited her classroom yesterday and she'll go back for a "full day" on Monday, which will be 8 to 1. She will do this Monday through Friday for the rest of the school year. Essentially, she has started school. This program is structured like school and made to help kiddos prepare for Kindergarten. Since we are dealing with a speech delay, this program, along with her speech therapy twice a week is part of the "prescription" to help her with this delay.
I was emotional this morning, as I sat in my car after dropping her off. Since moving to Bartlesville, this chapter of my life has been full of adventure, to say the least, in my marriage, in my home, and in my spirit. But God is good and has traveled with us the whole way and has no intention of leaving our side. But it has been hard for me to discover what life is like as a mostly-stay-at-home mom, to turn 30, to continually put my desires at the feet of Jesus, scared that they will never be fulfilled.
I wasn't ready to relinquish my baby to the world of school. I must admit, I am ill-prepared for the fear of others influencing her words, her thoughts, her opinions, even if she is only 3. But I must entrust her to Jesus daily. I must lift her up in prayer. I must shine out Jesus in my actions, words, and attitude when we are together so that she will learn to live the truth.
But here are some pictures of her on these first two days of her school years. It seems momentous and heart-wrenching. But one day she will look back at these and have a good laugh with mom. :)

This was taken today--the first real day of school.

The complete outfit

This was taken yesterday--the
visit-to-the-classroom day.

Outfit and backpack from the back

This smile is a funny one because
she was in the middle of sticking
out her tongue when I took the
picture and she's squinching up
her left eye.

Happy 3rd Birthday!

2009-06-16T22:36:00.001-07:00

Hayden T. is officially 3! Her birthday was last Sunday and we celebrated with a party at the park. A wonderful time was had by all. Here are the pics:

Our party patio

The Official 3rd Birthday Cake: Elmo-Style

Elmo cake again

The cake with the #3 in the nose

This is Hayden sucking icing off of the base of
the Big Bird figurine that was on the cake a few
seconds before I took the picture

We were singing Happy Birthday to her; Her
response was half amused and half annoyed

Sucking icing off of the #3 candle...and some
extremely curly hair

Our big girl!

This was a horseshoe playing court...or as Kelly
liked to call it, pit of nails and danger

Daddy and Hayden are gonna open presents!

She wasn't into gift-opening this year...it was
also super-humid and she had been running
around like a maniac

Five minutes later, Daddy became the official present-opener to the
Birthday Princess!

A play doctor set from Grandma & Grandpa

A bear from Aunt Delaney

Magic Bubbles from Grandma & Grandpa

Elmo jammies from Grandma and Grandpa

Cute outfits from Great Grandma Carlene &
Great Grandpa Paul

Grandma helping Daddy organize his endeavors

A beautiful sundress from one of Kelly's assistant
managers, Samirah, who babysits Hayden

Daddy continues to open presents while Hayden
looks at a Blues Clues book

A backpack from friends Aidan, Zoe, & Gina

Books from Aidan, Zoe, & Gina

A favorite book from Aidan, Zoe, & Gina

A beautiful top from one of Kelly's employees,
Stephen, who has also babysat Hayden

Daddy shows Hayden some shorts from another
of Kelly's employees, Jacey, who also babysits
Hayden

A beautiful pink top from Jacey

A card from Jacey

One of our presents to Hayden: A fish tank with
7 fish...our tank is kind of small so we're planning
on getting a small bowl for the 5 small fish

Another of our presents: more Elmo DVD fun!

Our final present: Soccer Ball!

This is either Zelda Rose or Karyn Mandy...I'm
not sure which it's supposed to be...I kind of like
but this beauty is from Nanny, Papa, & Zizi

Some of the party attendees: Aunt Delaney,
Grandma, & Hayden's friends Aidan and Zoe

Jacey

Samirah & Jacey

Grandpa & Aunt Lindsey

Stephen

Aunt Delaney & Daddy

Daddy

Hayden replenishing her fluids after playing

Grandma tries to pose with the Birthday Princess
but she won't hold still

Walking back to our party patio from the playground...
How's that for alliteration?

Blowin' bubbles with Aunt Delaney & Grandma

Looking stricken after burying her face in the
remnants of the Elmo cake

Daddy snuggles a messy Hayden while whispering
for her to not touch his shirt...

Easter & Our Growing Girl

2009-04-25T17:53:00.000-07:00

Long time, no post! It's been a little while since I've posted any pictures but I have some new ones now! These were taken at the Easter egg hunt the day before Easter at our local park, on Easter morning digging into her easter basket & wagon, and while playing outside in our makeshift backyard. I can't believe she's almost 3! Hope you all are well!

We arrived late. They sounded the buzzer as
we were walking toward all of the egg hunt
areas. Hayden and I ran toward the closest one.
Unfortunately, we ended up in the 5-6 year-old
girl's section so we didn't get too many eggs.
Hayden was far too interested in running all over
and away from me.

Trying to look for eggs

Mommy keeping a tight grip!

On Easter Morning

A sleepy smile

She wasn't ready to make eyes at
the camera yet.

Starting to see a smile

So cute!

Trying to get her to look at her Easter
basket and not at the Finding Nemo
DVD on the shelf.

Goodies!

Discovering all the candy

Wait...there's more on the bottom!

Jelly beans in the eggs!

Playing outside in our "back yard."

Our patio with her table...we were blowing
bubbles

Tap Shoes & Snow Boots

2009-02-17T15:30:00.000-08:00

Here are several pictures that are just for fun. We've taken quite a few more recently, too. I'll post those in the next couple of days. :)

Tappin' in the new tap shoes

More tapping

Little Tap Feet!

Tappin' for Elmo

This is an AWESOME picture.

A bit happier here... :)

Arranging the many Elmos at Penny & Tommy's house

Bundled up for the snow!

Coming back in from the snow

More fun at Penny's and Tommy's house

"Leave me alone, mom!"
(She was actually sound asleep when
I took this.)

Her favorite outfit...diaper and snow boots

Too cute

Trying out her model pose

A poignant look out the window

This is how she ends up in our bed

Happy girl, just up from a nap

A little sleepy

Hayden & Elmo

A Brand New Year

2009-01-03T22:10:00.000-08:00

Well, I hope that all of you had a fantastic Christmas and a wonderful New Year. Here are just a few pics from Hayden's Christmas Day with presents and such. Hope you all are well! :)

Ready to open Christmas presents!

Look what I got! This was Christmas Eve-Eve

She really got into opening the gifts this year.

Carefully removing the wrapping paper

Oooooh! Look what it is!

Sleeping beauty surrounded by her Christmas presents

Kelly looking thrilled to be awake

I was aiming the camera at something....

Two-faced Cookie Monster and Elmo that jiggles
and talks...Daddy picked it and it was a major hit

She loves this thing. :)

She played with it for awhile before we continued

Last present...what could it be?

Looking under the tissue paper...

Woo-Hoo!

Tap Shoes!

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-13T15:43:00.000-08:00

Here are some random pictures and Christmas pictures for your perusal. As you can see, Hayden gets larger daily! Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the Couri Family! :)

Wearing my shoes...it's her new favorite thing

Wearing Daddy's shoes

Walking in Daddy's shoes

Sharing a chair with Daddy...or trying

What an adorable mischief maker!

Goofy, sweet, precious girl!

Smiling very prettily

Mommy and her little helper

More of Mommy & little helper

The Couri Family Christmas Tree 2008

This was attempt #5 at a Christmas card picture

This was our final attempt (#6) and as you can see,
the one we used for our Christmas card

It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

2008-11-01T17:58:00.000-07:00

Here are Couri Halloween 2008 pics. I didn't get any whilst trick-or-treating as the mall was crowded and I was flying solo. Enjoy!

Our carved pumpkin

More of our carved pumpkin

On our porch and all lit up

Oh, how ladylike....

Blurry but adorable

Our Fairy Princess

The back of the our fairy princess

Eating a sucker after trick-or-treating, in Daddy's lobby

The Pumpkin Patch

2008-10-20T16:14:00.000-07:00

Today, we went to the Pumpkin Patch here in Bartlesville. It was a beautiful day for it. These were the photos of the event. Happy Halloween!

We're on a hay ride to the pumpkin patch!

Running towards the pumpkins

In Flanders Field the pumpkins grow...

Ooooh! I see one over there!

I'm not sure about this one...

This one?

The Couri Family Pumpkin 2008

This is my pumpkin!

Again, with my pumpkin

It's this big!

Sitting on her pumpkin

I am escaping the photo op, mom!

Mama's trying to catch me smiling at the camera!

I love to swing!

Me on a swing

Look at me go!

I'm adorable and you know it!

This swing is high!

Woo-hoo!

The hay maze

In the hay maze

She likes to play with older children. :)

I'm gonna jump down!

I'm in the Pumpkin Patch Jail!

Take the key and lock her up!

The Pumpkin Patch Jail sign

What's all this, please?

Look out here!

As close as we got

A Visit, A Tower, & Two Weddings

2008-10-13T20:27:00.000-07:00

So September at the Couri household was fun-filled and full of action-packed excitement! I think the most exciting event was a visit from Hayden's Nanny & Paw-Paw in the middle of the month. We had a wonderful time. We went to Shawnee to see OBU's campus & ate at Van's Pig Stand; we went to Woolaroc to check out the Indian art; and we went to Johnstone Park to play and have a picnic. Good times were had by all.
On a less grandiose scale, we built a family tower out of blocks in our living room the other night. Well...Kelly and I built whereas Hayden tore down. But we all had fun doing it and we got some pictures of the "event." :)
Finally, this last weekend was wedding-filled. Kelly and I were invited to two different weddings--one for his cousin, Kathie and one for our good friends Anthony & Ginger. The weddings were both beautiful and fun to attend.
We hope you are all doing well. With Halloween just around the corner, our next photos are likely to be from that event! Have a great October!

My mom & I on the couch

Part of Hayden's Halloween costume

Dancin' with the wings on

Van's Pig Stand!

Our food :)

Me at Van's

My dad at the fountain in the oval on OBU's campus

The Armed Services memorial at the cemetery
where my grandparents are buried

Hayden climbs the sliding stairs on her own.

Hayden sliding at the park!

Paw-Paw spinning Hayden

Swing, Paw-Paw, swing!

Nanny swings Hayden

Hiding in the tube!

Hayden sits at the park (like her daddy sits!)

Our picnicing table at the park

A herd of Buffalo at Woolaroc

A very pregnant horse, there, too

Statue of a cowboy at Woolaroc

A buffalo painting at Woolaroc

A plane at Woolaroc

Annie Oakley statue at Woolaroc

Fountain of petrified wood at Woolaroc

The front of the Woolaroc Museum

Couri Tower

The destruction of Couri Tower

Hayden hiding during cousin Kathie's wedding

Hayden gives Daddy a kiss

Mommy & Hayden at cousin Kathie's wedding

Kathie walking down the aisle

Kathie's cake

Our friend Ginger walking down the aisle

Ginger's wedding cake

Another buffalo painting at Woolaroc

Kelly at Ginger's reception

Jill at Ginger's reception

Kelly and Jill strike a pose at Ginger's wedding

Smooches!

Summer of Love

2008-08-18T23:26:00.001-07:00

So our summer here at Camp Couri is officially over. It was busy and hot and all the things that summer should be. Here are some pictorial highlights:

At our friends' Penny & Tommy's house

Having fun, getting dirty.

Pretty face and two of Penny's triplets.

Hayden and Daddy

Mommy situating Hayden with the triplets

This is for her first date :)

Beddy heady after a nap

She didn't want the plastic bag in the Cheese-Its box!

Goofy girl after a nap

She has stolen my heart. :)

Sam and Hayden in the back yard of our rental house

Exploring with a muddy butt!

Beautiful, happy girl!

A tree branch with legs...wearing tennis shoes.

She looks like a statue.

Sleepy Head

2008-08-18T14:44:00.001-07:00

Just some funniness that ensued at the Couri household recently...

A Birthday Girl!

2008-06-17T23:21:00.000-07:00

So we've had another birthday! Our little girl is now 2! We are super excited about what this year will bring. She had her party this past Saturday (on her actual birthday) and it was a blast! I wasn't thinking and planned the party for 2pm...right when she needed a nap! So needless to say, she was overwhelmed and overtired but I'm pretty sure she had a good time!
Thank you all for coming, for those of you who did and for celebrating with us! Here are the pics we took. I wasn't able to get all of the presents photographed but I will link what isn't shown here. Those presents not pictured are: A crayola coloring kit and bouncy ball from Aunt Delaney, 4 new outfits from Aunt Laura, Color-Sorting Bears and a book from our friend Brandon, a book from Great Grandma Carlene & Great Grandpa Paul, a shirt from our friends Sean & Sarah that says: "Pantera: Daddy's Little Thrasher," & a Play-Doh Kit with Sketch Book, Crayola Beginning Paints & Tadoodles from Aunt Dede & Uncle TJ.

By the way, if you took pictures at the party, we'd love to have copies so if you could, just email us those when you get a chance! :)

Watching a Veggies with Daddy before the party.

Mommy gives a kiss!

The cake

Half of the party table

The other half of the party table...
...as soon as she saw Bob, she wanted to play with him!

Sleepy girl...and the party's not yet begun!

Daddy lighting the candles on the cake

Make a wish!

Eating Bob the Tomato cake

Picking off Bob's facial features

Playing with the crumb coat which I dyed purple :)

Frosting face!

Grandpa and Hayden

Our friend Reiley and Hayden...
...Reiley is the same age as Cousin Gabby!

A See'n'Say from Grandma & Grandpa

Also, sidewalk chalk and a cow-ball &
milk jug bowling game from Grandma & Grandpa

Noah's Ark Little People Set from our friends
Ethan & Megan

Splash Balls & A See-N-Say from G-ma & G-pa
and daddy is opening Aunt Laura's gift--four new outfits!

A Tweety-Bird card from Aunt Lindsey

Opening Aunt Delaney's gift...
it was a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
magic coloring book with markers.

Opening Elmo Phone from Mommy & Daddy

The Musical Tea Set from Great G-ma Carlene
& Great G-pa Paul

Blocks and the book Corduroy, from mommy & daddy

A big two-year old girl!

A drum full of instruments from our friends
Cassondra & Jason.

Big Lego wagon from Aunt Lindsey

Radio Flyer Bike from Nanny & Papaw!

We Do Stuff, Ya Know

2008-06-11T21:43:00.000-07:00

So last time I posted pictures, I mentioned a visit to Tulsa and going to a Talons game and then a visit to Shawnee to visit friends, and another visit to Sand Springs to visit another friend. And then I didn't show any of the pics we took at those three places. So I am going to include a couple shots of each before I show you the newest Couri we-do-stuff pictures:

In the country, at our friends' Katy & Mike's house

More country fun

This one is too cute!

Ooooh!

On a Hayden mountain!

Daddy & Hayden at the Talons game

Mommy & Hayden at the Talons game

In Shawnee with our friends, Brandy & Sarah (and many more!)

Me and Sarah and Brandy and Hayden's head again

Ok. Now for more recent pictures and activities! Since my last post, we've gone to the Tulsa Zoo, I've had a birthday, we went to a friend's 2nd birthday party, and we've made a trip to Big Splash. I didn't take any pictures at Big Splash as it is a water park and I didn't think my camera needed that kind of exposure. :) But here are these. And the next ones will include 2nd BIRTHDAY PARTY pictures! Ta-ta, ladies and gents! :)

My birthday cake...Kelly made it for me!

Daddy and Hayden at the zoo...Daddy has allergies.

Mommy and Hayden at the zoo.

Mischief-face about to whine

First ride on the carousel!

A seal just took a dive into his pool.

Swimmin' at a friend's birthday party

Bubbles in the pool!

Squirted in the face!

More pool fun!

Layin' with the kitty

I loves me kitty!

Pictures Of The Almost-Two-Year Old

2008-05-14T23:32:00.000-07:00

So I haven't posted pictures in awhile, but oddly enough, I've taken about a million. So I will give you a sample smattering. If I tried to post them all, I'd be here for days. So here are the big events that have happened around the Couri household since my last post: mini-trip to Tulsa and Shawnee which included a Talons game and a visit with old friends, a trip to the country to visit another old friend, croup, tonsillitis, recuperation, the first haircut, and a day at the park. Mother's Day happened in there somewhere but sadly, we didn't get pictures of it. Also, we went to Woolaroc today. It was beautiful and so much fun. And on the way there I realized that I left the camera at home...darn-it-all. Oh well. But here are the pictures we did get:

On the mend 1

On the mend 2

On the mend 3

Haircut: Before (look at those bangs!)

Haircut: Before (the back)

Haircut: After (the back)

Haircut: After (the bangs)

Haircut: After

I'm so happy my hair isn't in my eyes anymore!

At the park 1

At the park 2

At the park 3

At the park 4

At the park 5

Miss Sassy Pants

The Joy of Pottying

2008-04-21T19:32:00.000-07:00

There is no joy like the joy of watching your toddler achieve a milestone. That joy was mine this evening. I was getting Hayden ready for her bath. She was all undressed and walked over to her pink potty chair (which has been in the bathroom for a couple of months). I asked her if she wanted to pee-pee on the potty and she opened the lid and sat down. I said, "Go pee-pee in your potty!" She made a grunty-face and stood up and she actually peed in the potty!
I was so amazed that she even knew what I meant when I told her to "go pee-pee!" I've been saying things to her when I change her diaper about her toilet habits (i.e., "you pooped in your diaper!" or "there's pee-pee in this diaper!"). I've even told her what I'm doing when I sit on the big potty (i.e. "Mommy goes pee-pee in the big potty and when you are a big girl, you'll go pee-pee in the big potty, too!").
I am so amazed at the ability of my tiny child to understand! I am so proud that she knows how to do things and can follow instructions! When your child is born and you're handed a little bundle of squirmy helplessness, you cannot fathom how they ever learn things and the weight of responsibility to see that they learn things can be overwhelming. But their brains are at work from the very day of their birth and they soak it all up-even when you think you're just babbling at them aimlessly because you just need to hear another adult voice, even if it is your own!
I just wanted to share this. It was a great moment for Hayden and for me. I just have to say, "Thank you, God, for my baby and for the opportunity to be her mommy!"

Ballerina, Ballerina!

2008-03-07T11:40:00.000-08:00

I took some pics of Hayden in her purple tutu. They turned out well so here they are!

She is standing in our hollow ottoman

The backward ant crawl-n-watch

We had to clip her costume to keep it on

I'm smiley!

Sittin' with lamby and Crookshanks

Semi-posing

Hair!

Cuteness

Leanin' on the coffee table

Playing with electronicals

Ballerina on the floor!

Playing in her room

More room play

Hallway

Ballerina butt

Arm!

Ooooh!

What?

Cutey

Our Big Girl

2008-02-11T22:13:00.000-08:00

Here are some recent pics of our little girl. The two most noticeable things to both Kelly and myself about Hayden are that she is getting tall and that she looks like a little girl and not a baby. These are great things but also make us a little sad. How time does fly! Also, there seems to be quite a lot of thumb-sucking going on in these pics! :)

She was sick, here.

Goin' for the rockin' chair

Watchin' a Veggies

Still watchin' veggies

Thumb-sucker

Our 6" of snow

Target sacks for snow boots!

Pointing her in the right direction

Fun in the snow!

Meeting our neighbor

Kelly in the blizzard

Daddy and baby in the snow

Snow angels! Sort of...

She wouldn't look at the camera!

Decked out for snow play

Daddy shoes & Baby shoes

Snowy Trees

Our snow backyard

Looking at the snow

Oooh! Cold!

She was still sick in this picture

PB&J for breakfast!

What a big girl!

Sampson P. Couri

More thumb-sucking

More daddy/baby shoes

Toy corner in the living room...which has changed since I took this

Climbin'

Leonardo Caticulus Couri (Leo)

Halloween & More

2007-11-08T21:40:00.000-08:00

Ok, folks! Here they are! These are the pics from Hayden's Halloween '07 Experience. There are also a few other ones I've taken recently. Enjoy!

Gettin' ready to go to our church's Fall Festival

"I just woke up!"

A bouncy, inflatable, jumpy thing!

Peek-a-boo!

I like to sit and let everyone else bounce me with their jumping!

Hayden's church buddies jumping with her

Carvin' our pumpkin

It's our pumpkiny-wumpkiny!

Grabbin' Daddy's hat

Givin' Daddy a kiss

Let's go trick-or-treatin', guys!
(At the Waco Zoo Boo)

Our friend Amy's youngest son Dylan, as Blue at the Waco Zoo Boo

Our friend Amy's son Scott as Dracula, at the Waco Zoo Boo

Mommy & Hayden at the Waco Zoo Boo

The jumpy thingy at the Zoo Boo

More jumpy fun

Hayden Bread

Amy and I and the kiddos at Zoo Boo

The Couris on Halloween '07

A blueberry, pancake, eggs, & sausage dinner

Usin' a fork

More fork usage

This is Hayden's sty...in her eye

Blurry and distracted

I love eggs!

And blueberries...

Yummy!

Look what I can do with my sippy!

My little goobs

Our Little Loaf

2007-10-25T09:20:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos of Hayden in her Halloween costume. As Kelly mentioned in his last post, we will be going to the Waco Zoo to participate in their Halloween activity called, "Zoo Boo" next Wednesday. We are excited and are looking forward to a night of candy, animals, and fun! We also have our church's Fall Festival this Sunday and she will get to dress up for that, too! I will make sure to take pictures of it all and post them afterwards! :)

Hayden making a funny face

2007-08-30T02:18:00.000-07:00

Hayden, Aunt Lindsey, and Daddy

2007-08-30T00:20:00.003-07:00

Hayden, Aunt Lindsey, and Mommy

2007-08-30T00:20:00.001-07:00

Hayden rocking Aunt Lindsey's sunglasses

2007-08-30T00:19:00.003-07:00

Hayden saying "please" in sign language

2007-08-30T00:19:00.001-07:00