Hallie on the cusp of five

Hallie does not like to be alone lately. She didn't use to have trouble with her 7 o' clock bedtime. But recently she has struggled. She frequently sings or speaks down into the air vent in her room so that we hear her clear as day in the family room below. And she always gets up to use the restroom fifteen minutes after she has been in bed - despite the fact that she just went. When we go check on her and she is awake in the dark she tells us she hates to be lonely. She does much better off when she sleeps with Claire so they have been alternating hosting slumber parties in each of their rooms so Hallie has that comfort of companionship. They will eventually move in together but I am not quite ready to move Claire out of her crib yet.

Hallie and I have been working on her letters and it is so fun to watch her figure things out and start to spell words other than her name. She figured out "bus" all on her own and started to spell the word "smack" the other day. She was really excited about "m" and "s" sounds. She isn't one to smack. :) I have been looking for balance because I don't want her to be reading so much that when she goes to kindergarten she feels bored, but at the same time she is super excited about it. If Hallie would have started kindergarten this year, yesterday would have been her first day of school. She barely made the cut off for our school district. She actually could have already been going to school for six hours a day! But after countless discussions and prayers I felt it was better for her to go next year. I am thrilled that I get to keep that little girl with me for one more year.

Hallie is a little girl with a big faith in heaven. For one, I know that little children are without guile and closer to perfect - therefore it is easier for them to believe. But also, losing her Grandpa and uncle within months of each other last year really opened the dialogue on why we are here and where we go afterward.  She asked me at lunch the other day which direction heaven was in. Then she looked thoughtfully in the distance before bowing her head and praying out loud, "Father in Heaven, please help me know which way heaven is." Then she peacefully told me shew knew.  It didn't look like acting dramatics to me.  She was perfectly calm and truly happy.

Hallie's new obsession is "Rockadoodle."  It's a cartoon we discovered on Netflix that was made in 1991 that still displays all the cheesiness of an 80s movie. Hallie has a major crush on the main character, an Elvis-like chicken, named Chanticleer. She talks about him constantly and it actually is a little embarrassing how in love with a cartoon chicken she can be. Since the movie is obscure and from twenty years ago, no one ever knows what she is talking about. And she always talks about it. She mentions it to the grocery checker, she mentions it to the nurse in the doctor's office, she has told our chiropractor . . . twice. We love her and her quirks.  But honestly, we look forward to her outgrowing Chanticleer and falling in love with a new animated animal.

Hallie has strong opinions about naming her next sibling. She really wants it to be Rosie or Nala. Both of those are preferable to her previous favorite, Rainbow. Her favorite joke is that we should name our next child Snot. She usually isn't one for gross humor, but you should see how much that one makes her giggle.

She has a new chore chart and is generally very good about following through with her assignments. She does tend to end up playing when it is toy pick-up though. Typical kid behavior. :)

This is the first birthday that Hallie actually asked for specific presents. She always has just been content to get what she gets. But, I do think it is cute she has stronger opinions about what is fun.
We still feel totally blessed to raise this child. She is usually so easy-going it is like she raises herself! Chris and I just know we love to be around her. We know we hit the kid jackpot.

Easy going

This little gal of ours is so easy-going these days. 

It doesn't matter that Dad is sick for two weeks and the Mom gets sick for a week and then baby sister gets sick and wakes up all night long or that she gets miserably sick too.  She just wakes up, smiles politely, and does her thing.

Our sweet girl is content to stack baskets to build "castles" or line up boxes and Barbies and bears to make choo-choo trains so she can shout "All aboard!"

And she is content to let you play movie after movie after movie.

Even if it is the same movie three times in a row because your parents have the strength to press play and not to open the DVD player and switch the movie.

She lets Mom make her peanut butter and jelly for the third time in a week and eats up sweetly.

I am so lucky to find such a kindred spirit in a little girl.  I can't tell you what a blessing it is to raise her.  I hardly feel like I am doing anything except hanging out with her and making her food.  She is just naturally a classy, happy, fun-loving girl.

Thanks, Hallie gal!

And for the record, we think we just may be done, FINALLY, with being sick.

Hallie's Sunshiney Life

Hallie's new "cross-bite"smile.  It is her go-to distracted smile.

I like when my four-year-old dresses like her personality.  This dress is so sunshiney.  Check out the other picture of her shoes . . . . they add such a spunky touch!  Here are some of Hallie's updates lately:

• She is loving preschool.  No surprise there.  I am grateful for the help.  When Hallie was two she learned to count to twenty.  Then I stopped practicing with her and lately I've heard her say "firteen, fourteen, sixteen, eleventeen . . ."  Um, oops!  Preschool helps me re-focus on skills.
• Hallie loves to pray that she will make "good decisions."  After the prays she tells us excitedly "I prayed to make good decisions!"  We have been encouraging her to have her own personal prayers at night in addition to our family prayers.
• She likes her primary teachers a lot.  Whenever she sees them at church (outside of the classroom atmosphere) she freaks out and waves and says "Oh, it's her!  I love her!"  She'll blow kisses and make "I love you" signs.  They are basically celebrity status.
• She is practically fearless but still has an life long aversion to Elmo Lion.  Something about seeing Elmo dressed as a lion when she was still a baby wierded her out.  To this day, if they are watching Sesame Street she will start to panic toward the end because she is afraid Elmo Lion might appear.  All other Elmos in costume are perfectly acceptable.
• She is getting better about cleaning her room.  Her clothes get stuffed in whatever cubby she can find.  But she hasn't figured out my favorite childhood tactic yet . . . stuffing it all under the bed.
• Hallie loves to kiss Claire.  Claire loves her sister but hates the prolonged hugs and wet cheek kisses.  Claire screeches if it lasts more than two seconds.  My neck hair stands on end every time Claire screams.  How do you tell your daughter "stop loving your sister." :)
• Hallie continues to love to reading books.  I am still amazed at how she can quote some of her picture books verbatim.  Her current favorites are from my Halloween collection.  She particularly likes The Runaway Pumpkin and the Berenstain Bears Trick-or-Treat.
• She is getting so creative in her drawings!  Chris and I love it.  All you need to do to keep Hallie occupied in church is give her a pen and paper.  She will merrily draw the entire time.  This method also works well if I am making dinner or doing chores where I want to keep her near me but busy.  Lately she has been drawing pumpkins and ghosts and witches.  She also draws the most hilarious family pictures.  We love them.
• Hallie tells us "Pretty soon I'll be all growed up and then I will be a MOMMY!"  She especially reminded us of this when she started fitting into her 5T dresses. 

Love that sunshine girl!

Tiana Birthday Party

I'm not embarassed to tell you that I dream about my children's birthday parties at night.  And not just the weeks preceeding their birthday.  I am talking about one month after their birthday concludes I am thinking about what we could do next year.  It's not as though the parties are super elaborate.  The last three years it's been just our family gathering for dinner and presents.  But it is just so fun to do cakes and decorating and a meal that honors the person we love!   Hallie and I thought of several options this year . . . a Fancy Nancy party, a Pinkalicious party, Wonder Pets party or a Princess party.  Hallie just kept telling me she wanted a Belle cake and Tiana cake and Jasmine cake.  In the end we settled on Tiana.  Especially after we found gorgeous posters of her at Dollar Tree!  Once we knew we were going Princess and the Frog theme, Hallie thought of her dinner . . . Gumbo!  Hallie had never had Gumbo before, but that is what Tiana loves to make in the movie.  Hallie instructed me "Gumbo is like soup!"  So we rounded out the menu New Orleans style.

My mom and I had so much fun picking out candy for our candy bar.  Lily pads were apple sour rings, gator eggs were watermelon jelly bellies, sour patch kids were voo-doo dolls, and australian apple licorice were bayou boats.  It was a hot day, and we didn't want to fry the beignets, so we bought powdered sugar doughnuts and pretended they were the "man-catching beignets" Tiana makes in the movie.

Hallie was determined to cook just like Tiana. So she "helped" me chop by holding on to my arm (she insisted). Then she stirred up the Gumbo throughout the process.  In the background, we played The Princess and the Frog soundtrack.

The funny thing is, once we poured the Gumbo over a bed of rice, I don't think Hallie touched it.  But she loved making it and I don't think she regretted making that her dinner of choice considering how authentic it was to Tiana.  Thankfully, Claire loved the spicy concoction and downed it heartily.

 

 

We have a tradition of decorating the birthday chair.

We called Grandpa Wynn on the web camera so he could witness the present opening frenzy.

What a fun night to share between our little family.  And what a fun way to spoil our favorite four-year-old.

And by the way, Claire's birthday is seven months away and I am totally thinking Minnie Mouse!

The last days of three . . .

This little girl has mere days until she turns four.  She will never ever be three again!  Gasp.

Chris and I have been engulfed in our family room project lately.  She was watched way more Sesame Street and Charlie Brown and Care Bears than I care to admit while I painted and painted. 

But Chris did the last swipe of the brush last night.  Our family room makeover is complete.  And this little girl has five more days of being three and I want to live them up.  We don't have to go lots of places but we can enjoy the simple things . . . those are what she likes best anyhow.  I am thinking of reading piles of books, making cookies, play dough time, painting water colors.  It sounds fabulous . . . and a litte bittersweet. Sniff-sniff.

Preschool Pictures

Poor Hallie thought she got it good when I only took one picture of her dressed for preschool.  She came home to find me anxiously waiting with a smile, a hug, and a camera.

The first thing she did was grab a glass to put her picked dandelions in.

The makings of a first day tradition . . .

Eating her cookie and getting mad that it crumbled . . . aah, she is still three!

She told me "this stupid cookie!"  There's a first.

Crumbly cookie aside, I'm so happy to have my girl back home.  And so happy she had so much fun!

Shivers

Yesterday, Hallie and I went swimming.  The pool heater was broken.  The temperature felt like ice water.  After Hallie was wrapped up in her beach towel, she was still shivering.  She withstood the tremors for about two minutes before she looked at me totally confused and asked "What's happening to my teeth?!"  It was so darn cute.  I don't think she's ever had to shiver that long before. 

Hallie Girl (May 2010)

Hallie uses the contraction "oin't."   I think it is a combination of "won't" and "aren't."  Example:  When Daddy comes home we can show him my pictures!  Oin't he will love that?

Hallie closes prayers by saying "and we say blessings . . ."  Chris and I always say "and we say these things . . ."  She uses the same tone we do though.

Hallie scolded me "Don't touch my arm!"  Then I gave her my best scathing "mom look" and she added " . . . cuz it's really hot."  Good recovery on that one.  I definitely had to laugh.

Hallie loves to be a walking family tree.  She always reminds us that "Grandma Judy is Daddy's Mommy" or that "Grandpa Allen is my Mommy's Daddy."

Santa gave Hallie a stuffed Tramp dog for Christmas (from the Disney movie).  She promptly changed his name to Simba to match a baby doll named Nala.  The thing is, I really think she pictured Simba every time she stared at Tramp.  Tramp recently became "Tramp" again . . . now that Lady joined the family.

Hallie has a doll that has endured an evolution of names.  She began as Princess Annalise.  Then Princess Lacey.  Then Princess Annalise Lacey.  Then Nala.  Then Li'Nala (a contraction of Little Nala).  Then Girl Clifford.  (That was my least favorite one.  It was after Clifford the Big Red Dog, who is of course a male.  Hence her doll being "Girl Clifford.")  Now it's Nala again.  I want to buy her a real stuffed Nala just to see what the baby's name would change to then.

She says "frave-rit" (favorite).  It's my fravorite.

She uses the word "murderer" in normal conversations.  All because they say it to Scar in The Lion King (which she hasn't watched in nine months).

She prays so sincerely for my dad's health at every prayer (without prompting).

She makes me "cakes" at every meal.  This means she mashes together whatever is one her plate and presents it to me.  I have to pretend its delicious even though it is not.  My favorite part of the sometimes redundant process is when she tells me I can't eat it until it is cooked because it has "eggies" in it.

She says "I am a good cooker."

She loves to tell everyone what to say to her.  Example: "Mommy, can you say 'Oh, Hallie, what a good job!'  Can you say it, Mommy? Say it!"  This happens a minimum of twelve times an hour.

Hallie loves to wrap up whatever item she can find in whatever "wrapping" she can find.  Normally she'll use a sock, her jewelry box, or a blanket.  Then I hear the familiar words "Look, Mom!  I got you a present!"  Each time I get to act utterly surprised and thrilled as I open a gift of hair things, coins, or barbie shoes.  I have learned that motherhood has really beefed up my acting resume.  And I know that one day I will miss my homemade "cakes" and "presents."

She is sunshine and happiness and everything great.  We love her to pieces.

Hal Gal

• Hallie says her prayers with such sweet enthusiasm and inflection. She sounds like she is onstage delivering a gracious thank you speech.
• She always blesses her food this way: "Thank you for the BEAUTIFUL yogurt and cheerios."
• Several months ago she always prayed for the Liong King and the Holy Ghost. These days she always says "Please bless Halloween and Christmas" (and sometimes Valentine's Day).
• Every day she asks me "Oh Mommy, do you miss your Mommy and Daddy?" Thanks for pointing that out, Hallie . . . again.
• She is getting better and better about catching herself in a tantrum. Sometimes she will stop mid-scream and say "I want to start over!" And she will hug me and apologize (and cry very dramatically like a Disney princess who can't go to the ball).
• She has the best, heartiest giggle.
• She is the apple of her Daddy's eye. Sometimes at night he just misses her too much so he has to go check on her.
• When people leave our home, she panics and says "Wait! I need a hig and kiss!"
• Hal has a HUGE appetite for breakfast. She normally has two yogurts and two bowls of cereal. Then she just plays with lunch and dinner.
• When I ask her what she wants for lunch she normally replies "um, just lunch." Although sometimes she says "I'm hungry Momma, make me breakfast" at 4 in the afternoon.
• The other morning, she opened her bedroom door and ran up to my bed as I was reading scriptures. She pointed directly to the page and said "It says: Hallie Laine Hinkson needs breakfast!"
• Hallie is great about spontaneous, heart-felt "I love you's."
• Her favorite Bible story is totally Daniel and the Lion's Den.
• After hugs and kisses at night she has to (in this order) do "I love you" in sign language and then say "I love you. Good night! Sleep tight!" Then after we close the door she normally yells "Good night, Daddy!" again for good measure.
• I wish I could capture all the things she does and record them forever! I know I miss so much and sweet things will be forgotten. But know this, Hallie. I really feel like I am living in the moment and enjoying you here and now. It is what I strive for everyday. I don't want any regrets that I wasted my time while you were young. I waited my whole life to have you and I'm so glad you're finally here.
• The End.

Cinderella Bear

We were given a Build-a-Bear about a year ago. Last Saturday, we gave Hallie the opportunity to pick out an outfit for her special bear. She was very excited. She selected a Cinderella dress. Hallie gave her bear a "bath" and then stood in line with Mommy to pay for it. When we finished, Hallie ran outside to show Daddy and Claire her new "Cinderella Bear."

Mine

Hallie: "Jesus is my Savior!"

Mommy: "Isn't that wonderful? He is my Savior too."

Hallie: "No, just my Savior."

Mommy: "He's the Savior of the whole world."

Hallie: "Just my world."

bonding while baking

Hallie and I love to bake cookies together. Normally this process can make other kids go crazy but it actually has a soothing effect on Hallie. I'd say it is because she cherishes that time of just Hallie and Mommy. That is why I love to do it with her. It carves out at least an hour together and it is quiet, fun time. Hallie is super focused the entire time. When life has been chaotic or if we have been impatient with each other, I know it's time to get out the baking books. Here are some of my favorite memories of what Hallie does when we bake . . .

• Hallie knows I prefer she doesn't crack the eggs. But, she always gets to pull the egg out of the carton, hold it for awhile, and then hand it to me. She is always so excited and says "I'll get the eggs! Now, I don't break them, Mommy."
• Hallie will hold out the measuring cup and spoon, while I fill it with ingredients. She used to get excited and dump ingredients too early. Now, she is seasoned and more mature. She told me last time "Now, let me know when you're ready for me to dump it, Mommy."
• Hallie can turn the hand mixer on and off herself and has the control to keep the ingredients in the bowl while she mixes. She just waits for my word and she can mix all by herself.
• If either of us accidentally pours flour or sugar on the counter she says "It's okay! We can clean it up later."
• When she was younger she would say "Can I eat it, Mommy? I want some!" seventy eight times while baking. Now she says "Can I just have a little piece?" and "just one more?"
• She without fail says every time "When Daddy comes home he will be so proud of me! He will say 'Oh, Hallie, you made me cookies! Thank you!' Huh, Mommy?"
• When she sees the bag of finished cookies sitting on the counter, instead of asking for them she uses this approach: "I'll only have one cookie, Mommy. Only one!"