New Signing Time! DVDs

Hey everyone, there are new Signing Time! DVDs. You'll need to pre-order them. If you are one of the first 300 people you might just get it autographed. I ordered hoping for an autograph. :) I think I'll give them to Matthew for his 3rd b-day. He just loves Rachel and Signing Time! Be sure to click here to order your set of Series 2 Volumes 11 & 12 with free coloring book and crayons. Happy Signing!!!!

Yosemite Vacation 2008

We just got back from Yosemite and fun was had by all. We arrived on Sunday afternoon. It took us quite awhile to get there. We all met at Kelly's house in Sutter Creek and then followed each other all the way there. The kids loved that we stopped at a fish hatchery that Brad knew about on the way there. Of course they were starving so we headed to Groveland to stop at a park and picnic there before entering Yosemite. Tom and I decided not to allow food to be eaten in the car due to the bear situation in Yosemite. Mom, Emily, Kelly and Macie all saw a little bear in the camp. Mom got pictures of course I did not. I'm sure I was either feeding someone or trying to get someone to take a nap. The children had the time of their lives which makes all the work of going on the trip worth it. Sunday evening before dinner we took a bus ride around the valley. According to Julia this was her favorite of the whole trip. Matthew loved climbing a rock that was near our cabin. Thomas loved going rafting and Macie like seeing Yosemite Falls. By the way that is all I saw of the valley this trip due to having 5 kids that needed to be fed, napped, or taken to the swimming pool. I loved it though. Monday everyone went rafting and Dad stayed back with me to help me with Julia, Matthew, and Henry. We saw the gang come down the river from Sentinel Bridge. Tuesday we took a hike to Yosemite Falls and saw beautiful scenery. There was a fire nearby and the valley was full of smoke. Every pretty sight we saw was just a little hazy. The Hunkins went to Vernal Falls and then we all went to the Awahnee to have a drink. The Hay Gang had 2 yummy drinks one was even called the Awahnee Dream. What fun. Emily, Ali and Ashley had to go home Tuesday evening and we went to eat Hamburgers and fries. The kids got ice-cream and watched the nightly show in the amphitheater. We went swimming everyday in the pool at Curry Village. Henry even got in. Matthew had a very special private swim lesson with Auntie and he is surprisingly happy in the water. We packed up and came home on Wednesday. We were all sad to see Yosemite go, but know that we will be back. Macie even spent some of her hard earned money at Yosemite. She loved being able to do that. The Gang, of course, couldn't make it all the way home without stopping so we fixed a picnic and ate at the Groveland park. Henry was very happy to get home where he could crawl around to his heart's content. You see we had to keep him pretty much locked up the whole trip because of all the hazards that camping brings. Sticks, dirt, leaves all seam to end up in the mouth. Here are some of my favorite shots of the trip. Enjoy!
Matthew became quite the rock climber.
Everyone just loved rafting.The kids at Yosemite Falls.Emily and Julia at the famous Awahnee Fireplace.
Thomas enjoying the Awahnee Dream.
Scary Matthew.The Hay Gang.
Julia's dirty little foot on the way home. I'm not sure how much dirt I cleaned off of people during our stay, but this is the most I saw at one time. :)

Fun Contest

I found this fun contest. It is from a mom and she seems to love Signing Time! as much as we do. Check out her site and you may win a collection of Signing Time! DVD's. Good Luck!!!!

Our Baby Is 1 Year Old Today!!!!!

Yep, that's right Henry is 1 year today. We just don't know where the year has gone. He has reached many milestones and loves to play and giggle with his brothers and sisters. He is the most gigglie baby I know. Today he went to the see Dr. Wong, and poor Dr. Wong, she had to deal with the whole Hay gang coming to the appt. Anyway, he had his 1 year old shots and is now a bit cranky. Now, we all know how big he is, but he has weighed in at the 50 percentile with 22lbs. 11oz. and he is 29.5 inches long putting him in the 48th percentile. I guess he is right on average and is no longer a super big baby. I then took the whole gang to get end of the year/happy birthday ice cream cones. Henry loved the bites of chocolate goodness that he got. Yummo, something new to scream for when everyone else is eating it. I also took him to get his first year portraits done. Ooooohhh they are so cute. This picture I took with my fabulous Nikon camera. Isn't he cute. I also took a few of Matthew with him. Henry can crawl, pull up on things, try to stand alone, sign more (Thank you, Signing Time!), laugh when things are funny, and just be so stinkin cute that I could just eat him up. Here's to you Henry. We love You.
Here is a video of our favorite, Rachel Coleman of Signing Time!, doing her Happy Birthday song.


More shots from the Hay House birthday photo shoot.

What Type of Food Am I?

You Are Italian Food

Comforting yet overwhelming. People love you, but sometimes you're just too much.

What Kind of Food Are You?

Internet Shopping, Oh The Fun You Can Have!!!!!

I have been Internet shopping today. I love to shop the net. I find great things that I don't have to go to the store for. Today I bought shorts. Shorts, you say, so what, You can get shorts anywhere. I say not these shorts. I like to wear longer length shorts. I like them to be to my knee. I can't seem to find them around here anywhere except a few places and then they don't always fit right. Well I found this place on the net called Knee Length I was able to buy shorts that are to my knee and got a great price to boot. I then went onto to my favorite Signing Time! and bought the newest DVDs. I've been wanting them and have heard terrific things about them so now they are being processed and sent to my door as we speak. If you would like to order from Signing Time! just click on my Signing Time! banner and it will take you directly to the store. Isn't that just great. I know you might be saying, but what about the shipping? I feel that it is worth the shipping price to me so I don't have to back up the gang and fight them and the other people in the store. I'm much happier if I can get what I need and save the gang the hassle. Now all I have to do is find out how to buy the necessities on the web. I'm sure I could do that to. Just don't tell my husband how much I love web shopping. :)

Father & Son Campout

Our ward has an annual Father-Son Campout. Thomas and Tom have been going for years now, and this year a new Hay went to the event. Yes, you quessed it, Matthew went and had the time of his life. For those of you who are familiar with our little monkey, otherwise known as the terror of the west(Scotts Flat will never be the same), you can only imagine the fun he got into. Tom is now in the Young Mens orginization so he had some responsibilities he had to attend to. This almost kept us from letting Matthew go, but it is the Father-Son campout afterall, so he went. Tom spent most of his time chasing Matthew down, putting up and taking down a tent, changing diapers, changing wet clothes (Matthew and Thomas), wiping 16 tons of snot/boogers out of Matthew's nose, supervising the cooking of the camp breakfast, trying to sleep ( listening to a Stevie Ray Vaughn tribute from across the lake at 1:00a.m. he says he may have to buy that album), trying to stay awake, eating smores, watching Matthew burn marshmallows and drop them into the fire, watching Matthew juggle golf balls that came from the Farmer clan (thanks alot), kept track of Thomas' fishing, hideout making and golf ball throwing. At one point Matthew was unaccounted for so Tom went looking for him and found him sitting quietly in a tree. Turns out he was stuck in the tree. Matthew could also be found in various tents around the campsite. Tom thinks the men became good at zipping up their tents after he was found in a few. I'm hoping that next year will be just as fun and that Henry can be in a position to go. Maybe Matthew can teach him a few tricks of the trade. Never a dull moment with Hay Gang!!! :)

Thomas is Famous

Well we sent the pictures of Thomas' Antsy McClain birthday party to Antsy and he made a page on his website all about Thomas and his birthday party. Antsy sure liked that Thomas is a fan and would go to all the trouble of having an Antsy party. Anyway check out the Thomas Hay page on Antsy McClain's website. Go to unhitched.com by way of the title of this post and then click on the news link and the birthday party page is the top article. Way to go, Thomas. By the way, we are going to see Antsy sing at the Palms in Winters CA, on Friday night and Macie and Thomas are coming with us. What fun!

Edited on April 21, 2008

We took Macie and Thomas to see Antsy McClain on Friday night. We got to sit in the front row and Thomas was absolutley thrilled. The concert went until 12 midnight and the kids hung on. They loved his song about Larry getting the cooties. Antsy even announced to the audience about Thomas having an Antsy McClain birthday. Thomas has told me that he wants to be like Antsy when he is older. He wants to sing and play the guitar just like him. We couldn't think of a better role model for young kids. Thomas knew many of the songs and sang along. Macie was completly mortified when I got up to take Thomas to the bathroom and Antsy stopped playing and asked "Where you going?" as I walked out the door. Then he asked Macie if I usually take a long time in the bathroom or if I was going 1 or 2. She jsut laughed and pointed at Tom and said ask him. He then proceeded to play licks until I came back. I have watched him to theis bit before and thought how funny it was, well not anymore. :) I vow to never sit in the front row again, unless of course we have the kids with us. What we won't do for our children. :)

Swimming 101

As of April 1st I began swimming with the Masters Swim Program here in Rocklin. Even though as a girl I swam on many a team I am in way over my head. It has been 12days and I have gone to workout 6 times. Today (Sat.) I went to the special time they have to let new members get pointers for their stroke. Man, I know it's been a long time, but I had no idea I was that bad. :) Anyway I won't let the lack of a good stroke get me down. I'm going again Monday morning bright and early. My workouts are at 5:30 a.m. I know, I know, that's way too early, but if I'm going to get into shape and lose some weight I need to get out there and do it. So, I go. I do feel better and stronger. I just hope my stroke can get up to snuff. I did learn a lot this morning about how to move myself through the water. Anyway I'm off my soap box now and I will continue swimming and getting better. Oh, and one more thing I already smell like chlorine.

Favorite Mom Contest

I want to tell you about this contest. It is for America's favorite mom. One of my friends has been nominated and I would love to ask you to vote for her.
You all know how crazy we are at the Hay House for Signing Time! and Rachel Coleman. Well she is the mom nominated please go vote for her. Because of her we have the gift of communication with Julia.



This takes you to vote for her. You will need to register, but you can also vote once a day. Online voting ends April 25th. Have fun and go Rachel!!!!!

We have a new 8 year old in our house!

Thomas turned 8 last Friday the 21st. He had a birthday party with 9 friends on Friday. His birthday party theme was Antsy McClain. Thomas loves Antsy. He is the lead singer of the Trailor Park Troubadours. WE tried to build the party around the songs that Antsy sings. Antsy sings a song about Wienies and Beans so we had a flamingo pinata with candy wienies and beans in it. There is also a song about a croquet king so we played croquet. You get the idea. The guys at Tom's work put together a lifesize cutout of Antsy and the kids all posed with him. Great fun. One of the favored songs though is Going on a Field Trip. We bought plain lunch boxes and put a "sack lunch" in it for the food portion of the party and then the boys got to decorate their own lunch boxes. Here's a picture of Thomas and "Antsy".


Then on Saturday the 22nd Thomas got baptized and became an official member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He was baptized by his daddy. The picture shows all of us in the Hay Gang before his baptism. Oh, Happy Day!!!!


Now because Thomas is 8 he gets to join the cub scouts at church. He is now a member of Pack 220 wolf den. Last night we went to the pinewood derby, which happened to be Thomas' first activity as a cub scout. He looked so cute in his uniform. Well, we weren't expecting much from his car considering it is his first time building one with his dad. Can you believe it, Thomas' car, TRF (Thomas Rex Flier) took first place out of all the boys there. He was very happy and surprised. Way to go Thomas. Pictures are of his car winning a race or two and him with his winning TRF and his ribbons.

Signing 17 month old can read!

I know I am constantly telling all of you about signing and Signing Time!, but this is amazing. This little Texas girl can read and her parents, who are speech pathologists, credit her early reading with Signing Time!. I have talked about how my kids have known their letters at an early age and I think it is because of our using Signing Time!. Anyway read this story that was aired on NBC's Today Show. http://www.today.msnbc.msn.com/id/23556514
Also check out this video of her in action. I know you will be as impressed as I am. I just can't say enough about the value in signing with your kids.

I won 4th place!!!!!!!

I entered a contest from Wachovia called "Who Would You Thank". I wrote about wanting to thank Rachel Coleman, creator of the great Signing Time! DVD's I'm always talking about. I got a call at the beginning of January saying that I was one of 25 4th place winners. I was so excited. I won $250.00 to be used to thank Rachel in a special way. The $250.00 went to the Signing Time! Foundation's trip to Ghana, Africa. Rachel and the gang went to Ghana to teach the children and teachers at the deaf school there ASL. Anyway here is a copy of what I wrote and the letter that Wachovia sent to me.

I would like to thank Rachel Coleman. Through her children's ASL video series, Signing Time!, we have been able to communicate with our daughter who was born with a rare brain birth defect called Schizencephaly. Rachel created Signing Time! as a way for her friends and family to communicate with her daughter, Leah, who is deaf. Out of this need in her family came this incredible gift to so many other families. Signing Time! is a fun way to engage children into learning sign language. Our daughter, Julia, no longer screams in frustration because she can't be understood. She now confidently gets her needs and wants accross to us. We are thankful to be able to see Rachel daily, and would love to be able to personally say and sign Thank You, Rachel. You gave Julia the ability to "speak" with us, and for that we are eternally grateful.

Here is the letter that Wachovia sent along with the prize money:
Dear Stacey,

On behalf of Wachovia Corporation, we would like to congratulate you for being selected as a 4th Place winner in our "Who Would You Thank" contest! Your essay was one of thousands of entries from across the country to be judged, so we hope you take some pride in knowing that your story stood out among so many.

It is in the spirit of thanking customers like yourself that we created the contest. Your story captured that essence and has inspired all of us here at Wachovia.

Enclosed is your 4th Place prize check in the amount of $250.00. We hope the winnings help you find a very special way to say "thank you" to Rachel.

Thank you for sharing your story with us.
Congratulations!
Michael Sherck
Senior Vice Prsident
GVG Customer Experience Executive Leader

My cousin got married!

I went to Anaheim this last weekend because my cousin Jake got married. I flew down on Sat. morning with my sister and her husband, and met up with my parents. We then flew back home on Sunday afternoon. We had a great time visiting with family and celebrating Jake and Debbie. I loved being on my own for a few hours. I laughed at dinner because I didn't have to cut any food for anyone or tell people to settle down and eat. I have to say that Tom is a saint for staying at home with the gang and not once complaining. Jake was very happy that some of his family was there to support him. It was a beautiful wedding and Jake and Debbie are now in Maui on their honeymoon. Thanks Jake and Debbie for inviting me and letting me share in your special day.

The Ghana Challenge

Rachel Coleman and Signing Time! is going to Ghana, Africa to teach the deaf ASL. I would like to challenge all of you to support the Signing Time Foundation in going to Ghana by donating. Please "chip in". Every little bit helps. Just click on chip in. It's easy I even did it. :)




Leah is even going to Ghana check out this interview with her about her dream of going to Africa.