Christmas 2014

Life sure travels at an alarming pace.  Its amazing how much life has happened since last posting.  For starters we added this beauty 

April 28, 2012.  Camille Rose.  Isn't she cute.

Emma has grown up so much!  So has Rachael!

Jacob is 6 and is a nut!  He loves legos, fast car videos and "Paw Catrol".

Madeline is 8.  She is super sweet and thoughtful.  And getting so big!

This was just a test run.  IF I can ever get my life in order I will start this again.  But then again.  Maybe not.  It was sure fun to look through the older posts though.  So if I do this for no one but myself it will be well worth it.

Catch up

Where do you begin when you are so far behind??? I don't know either. I thought I would try and do a little info on each kiddo....

1. Emma

started third grade...

has three different teachers

has lost ten teeth in all and has six loose ones

in the spring performed in her first ballet recital...

as a candy cane

fed birds at the zoo with them sitting on her head and shoulder

enjoys playing with her friends

takes piano lessons again...

doesn't really like it but...

she is getting so much better!

swam in her first swim meets... loved them

still has braces....

for one more week....

LOVES to read!!!

One quick story... the other day she told me that she wanted to be like me. I said "why, I am not a nice mom, I'm mean".. to which she said... I LOVE YOU! AHHH. Maybe I am doing something right???

2. Rachael

started second grade

started piano lessons

danced in her first recital ... also as a candy cane

swam in swim team

loves to draw

writes love notes to us all the time

ran her first mile with me and Emma...

and did pretty good

likes to play dolls with her sisters

is a total junk-food junkie

learned to ride a Emma's bike...

which she insisted was too big for her

is the first to comfort someone hurt..

or in trouble

has discovered not all teachers are created equal

she has moved her pin more in second grade than K and 1st combined

turned seven

did all the dishes by herself

is my little helper!!!

3. Madeline

started another year of preschool

turned four

finally learned her letters... and can write them too

loves playing with Avery

can pump herself while swinging

is a very picky eater

still sleeps with her bunny

found elephant at a friends house after being missing for a long time...

now sleeps with it too

loves to watch television

used to love scooby doo...

I think it has gotten too scary

cut her own hair

loves me to sing to her at night

(my favorite requests are for the blah blah song, sung to twinkle twinkle)

often sings a song to me at night, one of her made up ones

loves her older sisters to pieces

still sleeps with a pull-up on (I know, I need to work on that)

loves to dance with daddy

4. Jacob

is one handsome little man

turned two in July

out weighs his older sister by five pounds

has bigger feet than her also

LOVES trains, trucks

spoke his first audible word... TRUCK

started speech therapy this fall

still isn't sure if he likes his hair cut

sleeps with his blanket...

and drags it around everywhere

is binky-free...

by accident, he lost them all and I decided I didn't want to buy more

LOVES MILK!!! that is his first request in the morning and after naps... milk?

loves to play in rainwater with Madeline

has learned how to unlock the front door

wandered off down the street, across the street and to a neighbors house... (I'll tell that one later)

loves to throw dirt

LOVES to dance (and was quite the hit at the ward party last night)

did I mention how cute he is???

5. Me

celebrated our 12th anniversary

took a trip to Portland to celebrate

trained for another half... but didn't run it (was too sick)

drove to Idaho again

went to see Sugarland with Kayla

won the annual ward chili cook-off... really?

loves to bake, read, run, play with her kids, watch movies

loves her family!!!

6. Bryan

rode in the Hotter'n @#!*% 100 mile race

flew to Idaho

took the family to the top of the world in Wyoming

works for a different company...

loves it there

rides his bike all the time...

in the dark and the cold

tells the best made-up stories to the kids (they are always begging to hear more)

is the best husband and dad in the world!!!

Quote of the day

Context: phone call....
Me- Hi, Can I throw away these old credit reports from 2007?
Bryan- Uh, sure.
Me- How about the ones from 2008?
Bryan-well, can't we save them?
Me-why?
Bryan- I don't know.
Me- Can I throw away this stuff from Charles Schwab? Do we have anything with them?
Bryan-Not yet, but don't throw it away.
Me- How about this thing for your bike that says Mavic on it?
Bryan - you can toss that.

This went on for a couple of minutes. All the while Bryan is trying to get off the phone with me and I was not going to back down. I have been in this darn study for two and a half hours trying to clean it up and organize and I find a pile of papers that Bryan brought home from Akin Gump. Needless to say we both got a good laugh at the end of our conversation when I said,

"You know, you would cause me a lot less work if you would actually do your own throwing away."

SERIOUSLY?????

Where is spring??? We woke up to this today....

AHHHHH!!! Are you kidding me...

we live in Dallas for heaven's sake... and it is March 21!!!

These are my poor tulips that are trying to come up...

As if the snow we got in February wasn't enough... (the following are from Feb)

Thankfully we saved the snow gear we had when we lived in Ithaca... Jacob was decked out... of course he wouldn't wear any gloves... so his little hands just froze. These are some pictures my neighbor took. Can you believe the size of those snow men??? She said she hasn't seen this much snow in 15 years in Texas! In other words, my kids just had their only real snow day! Usually the days we get off are because the roads are super icy. I never would've guessed before we moved here that would be a problem. Hmm...

ps... trying to be better at this... I missed a lot of stuff I could've and wanted to blog about... like the "waste" discussion...

HALF

About a year ago a dear friend suggested that we all train for a half marathon that wouldn't be until January. That would give us all plenty of time to train. Funny how with time I was the only one in the original runners signed up. I don't know that I trained as good as I had wanted to, but that was harder during the holidays and winter months than I thought it would be. Back in September I wrote about my friend Laura who made a deal with me. One night and two days away from kiddos after our races: my half, and her full marathon. I cashed in a little early because Laura insisted that I do something fun for my 11th anniversary since on our 10th we welcomed our little man.

My friend Laura let me join her on parts of her long runs during training. She is a machine. I loved running with her. She selflessly asked me one day if I wanted her to run the half with me or just come and cheer me on. I, of course, wanted someone to push me harder than I new I would push myself. So... I asked her to run it with me.

I have to set the stage on these pictures... January 30, around 11 a.m... FREEZING COLD! At the time the race started the temperature was 29 degrees, with the wind chill it felt like 21... and we ran around a lake people! I can't even tell you how cold it was... I have to thank my cheering squad, Bryan, Emma, Kayla, Jed, Allie, and Lucy (who I might add is not even 2) for braving the cold. Thankfully I finished it around the time I wanted (a little slower), so they didn't have to wait too long.

The finish line...

The reason we were squatting is because we were trying to stay warm...

.................. 2:01:59

Pictures

The day before Emma's birthday we took her 0ut for dinner with both sets of grandparents and Uncle Jared. It was a lot of fun. They brought her some chocolate flan with a candle. She loved it and ate it all gone. She asked me later if we ever go back to that restaurant can she get that dessert again, and eat it all by herself.

We had such a good time!

I can't believe that my first born has been baptized. It was an amazing experience for me. I hope that Emma never forgets how "happy" she felt that day!

Emma's Baptism, look into my eyes

1. Emma was baptized last Saturday. What a great day. It also happened to be her birthday. Both sets of grandparents were there to share in her special day. A few weeks ago my father-in-law told Bryan and I something that helped me to look at this experience a little different. He said that he wished when he was baptizing his kids that he would have stopped to just take it all in and enjoy what was happening. It is something you will only ever do once.

She was so excited for her big day. I loved sitting next to her and holding her hand as she listened to the talks, and helping her get dressed (after getting her warm from the freezing water). I loved looking down and her and seeing her big smile. She is amazing....

beautiful
talented
smart
kind
loving

a great daughter!!
(I will post pictures soon)
2. Look into my eyes...

A. I had to take Rachael to the eye doctor today. It was quite hilarious. She was so funny trying to read the letters/numbers. Unfortunately she didn't know there were also numbers until I told her and then she was quite surprised, and said then, "oh, yeah it is a 4". She really didn't want glasses because, "I'm used to looking at myself without glasses." The doctor was great with her. Of course, her antics just about drove me crazy. I'm not sure how many times I said, "put those glasses down, if you break them I will have to pay for them." We made it out of the office without an additional bill for broken glasses!!!

B. I usually sing a few songs to Madeline before she goes to bed. As I was about to leave she begged me not to go. She always wants just one more song. I told her I had to get ready for bed because I was tired. She said, "I'm not tired, look into my eyes, I'm not tired." She said that as her eyes were as wide as she could get them. She kills me. About the only way I can sneak out of there is by telling her I will check on her in a few minutes. Which is not too far from the truth... I just wait until she is already asleep. She buys it every time! I love little kids and their innocence.

Favorite Things

I love that little kids are always saying things wrong. It is just too cute. All of these are from Madeline's latest vocabulary. It doesn't get any better than...
Emma stop coffeeing me
I didn't want that kind because it was annoying
I don't bemember anything else
Are grandma and grandpa coming for Thanksgiving Beast...

Well, they are coming for turkey, I guess vegetarians would call us the beasts for eating one! Hmm.

I also love that she is fearless.. She just got home from a birthday party literally five minutes ago. She came in and said, "Bye mom, I'm walking to Emily's house."
Really??
She opened the door and headed out. I didn't really think she would keep walking, but when she did I quickly called Tori to tell her to open the gate. I ran to catch up with her and she stopped me and said, "Mom I don't want to go with you." Oh, why do they have to grow up so fast?????

Halloween

I know, I am almost a month late on this post... don't worry it is much later for the rest of them that I have in my head! I just wanted to get some cute photos of my kiddos on here before I forget.

We started our day out early! We had to drive 45 minutes to a friends baptism. They, sadly, moved to Boise a week later. We miss you guys!

Then it was back home for a run, then trick or treating with cousins!

Emma loved having her face green, and black hair!

The Fourth of September, 14-13!

I can't believe it was eleven years ago (yesterday) that Bryan and I were married. I love you Bryan and I am so glad to be married to you! You are my greatest blessing!

We weren't able to really celebrate our 10th last year and I wanted to surprise Bryan with something fabulous. He is always getting me nice gifts for b-days/mother's day/anniversaries.. what's my problem... (I don't know how to shop for stereo equipment.)

My good friend Laura and I made a deal that if we prepared for and completed our goal races that we would swap kids for 24 hours. She seriously has the raw end of the deal because she only has two children. I was able to cash in a little early. She watched our kids starting at 4p.m. yesterday and left at about 11:15 p.m. tonight. I made reservations at a place called The Stoneleigh. I didn't know it at the time but it is one of the Historic Hotels of America. It was a really cool place. We ate at a French restaurant a couple of blocks down called Old Warsaw. Oh my! Wonderful food! If we had known about the pianist and violinist starting at 7:30 we maybe would've gone later, but it was really good!

Lots of famous people stayed at this hotel and I thought these were cool...

This morning we went furniture shopping... we are so boring sometimes! We didn't buy anything but I think we finally found a chair we both like. After a quick stop at home to see the kids we went to THE game!

It was incredible! The stadium was amazing as so were our seats! With a mammoth screen you don't really need good seats though. We caught ourselves watching it sometimes. We were on the side of our end zone. I still can't believe we won! We were teased by some OU fans before the game about whether or not we had lost a bet and that is why we were wearing our BYU t-shirts. HA HA... who is laughing now??? For at least 15 minutes after the game BYU fans lingered with no signs of resting their vocal cords. It was a blast! I am so glad we were able to get tickets and be there. Crazy enough Bryan saw one of our friends from Ithaca, Chris Stephenson and his son, there. I was totally jealous and wished to see Becca. Josh we wish you could've been here!!!

GO COUGS!!!

Giant

I often wonder if the backyard in the first house I really remember was truly as huge as my memory makes it. I would love to go back and check it out, just to see.

I wonder why ants like to attack us great big things with their ferocious bite and cause serious cankles!

I wonder if a certain daughter of mine was truly just trying to get her way or really believes what she said to her elder sister, "well, mom is a giant to us".

I'm not that much taller than them, but I wonder if she truly thinks I am a GIANT to them???

Big Stud

Here he is...

Before...


and after...

WHAT A STUD

Quick update:
24 lbs 10 oz (75%)
29 1/2 inches long (40%)
19 1/2 head circ. (greater than 97%)

I'll post his adorable video of him eating his cake when I figure out how to edit it and just put the good stuff on it... it is quite long.

Reading minds...

Anyone good at that? Neither am I... One morning Bryan was getting the girls some breakfast and... as usual... Rachael was having a hard time telling him what she wanted. She comes in and expects us to know. Most mornings she does request the same thing, but when we happen to be out of Frosted Mini Wheats, she has to choose something else. Bryan told her that he can't read minds. Emma interjects and says that Mrs. Nester can. Oh, really. Bryan told her that she is a teacher she can do that. She responded... "well, maybe she can teach you how." I wish!!! Bryan and I got a good laugh out of that one!

Blog Catch-up

It isn't just my blog I have to catch up on... I need to read all of yours too.

1. prayer time/favorite lines... At our house lately prayer time has gotten quite dramatic! AHHH! We have to constantly tell Rachael to close her eyes. Madeline stalls as long as possible.. who knows why. She says great prayers..... some of my favorite lines from Madeline lately...

thank you that Jacob can not have pee-pee accidents in his diaper

thank you for my friends, that I can go to their house, and they can come to our house

thank you for MOMMY and DADDY (angrily)... [that was tonight, she was mad at me]

thank you that my grandma Hirschi can not die.. [I prayed for my grandma Hirschi one night by name and it has stuck with her!]

I wish I could remember more... if I do, I will just edit this post.. not for you, but for me...

Madeline is just at a great age for saying funny things... one day when I was taking Jacob to the Doctor she asked me if we were going to use the "elegator"... a couple Sunday's ago I was taking her to the bathroom and as we walked past a classroom she said to me.. "that's the spanking corner"... GREAT! my child will never be able to have class in that room! I couldn't control it I burst out laughing.. when I got back to the chapel I asked Bryan if he knew what she was talking about. apparently he did... enough said.

2. Half truths... so is it bad to tell your child-who will not sit in her car seat without a serious battle- that if she doesn't sit in her "safe seat" the police could catch me and put me in jail. I guess, oh well if it is because I did...if I have scarred poor Madeline for life, I will just have to fix it somehow.. She was so stressed out over it for a couple of days that she just kept asking about why the bad guys would come and take me and put me in jail. I explained to her that I would be the bad guy for not putting her in the best safe seat and keeping her safe... and that's why the good guys who were just trying to protect her would put me in jail. My favorite comment about this was when I was buckling her carseat one day and she looks at me with the most sincere eyes I've seen on a child and says "mom if the bad guys take you and put you in jail, I won't have a mommy anymore." I did reassure her that she would have a mommy I would just be in jail. I guess this worked. We don't fight over which chair she will sit in anymore. However I have noticed that she likes to take her arms out of ther straps... urggghh... battle #2.

Side note... a couple of days after this happened... I was on my way home from the grocery store and listening to Delilah... I know Tami... I listen to it... I don't think its her that I am drawn to. It must be the music... because at night I don't like loud-bangy-annoying music that maybe during the day wasn't so annoying. At night, I like calm-soothing-music... I like to go to my "safe place" as Delilah put it. She totally cracked me up when she said that. Of course the people she was asking if they had a safe place are those that need to get away from a cheating spouse, or troubled teens... etc... huh??? Does your life have to be in shambles to have a safe place. I have several... my bedroom... one of the only rooms in my house that is 95% of the time clean... and free of clutter... which is probably why the rest of my house is cluttered... the couch upstairs is another place... I can just veg in front of the tv.... anywhere in my house that I here children laughing instead of screaming is a good place for me...

3. Fiddling around... my good friends have introduced me to a new world... coupon-ing... is that a word?? so I get the paper on Saturday... I usually start out by checking out the coupons, then read the front page if something looks interesting... then check the arts section... I happened to come across an ad for Fiddler on the Roof starring Topol (the original cast member playing Tevya). I love musicals. It started on Tuesday and only ran seven days. So I asked Bryan if he wanted to go, and I bought tickets. Viola! It was so fun! We didn't have the greatest seats, but so long as you can hear, and don't get stuck behind someone too tall..... there isn't really a bad seat. It had been a long time since we had been to a play. It was fabulous! If you get a chance to see it in your area I recommend it.

4. Field Day... Fun! Fun! Fun!

I love the end of the school year, about as much as I love the beginning! I look forward to not having to wake up, and get everyone ready, and be somewhere.. can we just be lazy for a few days??? Anyway... Emma and Rachael had such a good time at field day. The PTA and PE instructors did such a good job this year organizing everything. Rachael, Emma, and Ethan (cousin) all took first in the sack race.. I promise we didn't practice... Rachael took first in the dash, Emma fourth, they did kick-the-shoe, a bean bag toss, three-legged race, and a tug-o-war... here are some fun pics...

Emma tugging away....

Rachael and some of her friends...

Emma taking first in the sack race!!

Rachael gets an early lead..

pull harder Rach!

Emma and some classmates

Is it only in my head???, I'm the kid, the rodeo

1. A couple of days ago I woke up in the morning sobbing. This honestly has never happened to the degree it did this morning. I immediately woke Bryan and told him about my awful dream... here goes...

Bryan and I were in a car with his brother's Jared, and Eric, his parents, Tori, and a baby. I think it was supposed to be Eric and Tori's baby because I wasn't attached to it like I would if it were my own. Jared was driving the car. It was extremely snowy and we didn't appear to be on a paved road. Jared missed the first turn and the second, only to discover that the road was not going to allow our car to stop and we fell off a cliff. Everyone except Eric and the baby died. I'm not sure whether Bryan did or not, it was very strange. Anyway. We were in this room where they were having a funeral luncheon of some sort and my children were all there. Bryan was holding Madeline. She could see me but my other kids could not. I kissed her on the forehead sobbing and then I woke up. I missed my children so much and wasn't ready to be parted from them that is why I was crying.

Not a good way to start a morning for most people. I woke up extremely saddened but ready to be kinder and more patient with my kids. I wanted to spend more time with Madeline. I wanted to listen to my kids when they speak to me. I wanted to do all those things with and for my kids that I am not doing now. What a wake up call!!! (Not to be punny!)

I rarely wake up and can remember the details of my dreams let alone a few days later. I think about this often and about how you really just don't know when it will be your time to go, or the time of one of your loved ones. I guess that is why it is so important to do and say things that will have a positive lasting impact as much as humanly possible. I know I slip up every day. But, I am trying. I am really trying!

2. Madeline has turned into quite the little imaginative kid lately. I love it! She tells me all the time that we can dance and she will be the princess and I can be the prince. Afterall, she is the only one with a skirt on. Today, after we got back from the 5k she asked if we could play mom. She was in the garage playing and I was cleaning out the closet in the laundry room. At first I was in the garage with her as she was riding her tricycle. She was such a hoot. She told me that first she needed to fill it up with gas. So she put it next to the van. No idea. She called me sweetie the whole time. It was great. At first I didn't get it, then I started calling her mom. She loved it.

She got some candy for going potty in the big potty. She picked smarties. I got on the phone. While I was talking I coughed. She came in a couple of minutes later with one smartie and asked if I coughed. At first I didn't remember coughing but I could see that this was my medicine. So, I told her I did. She came in several times with my medicine. It is a good thing it wasn't real cough drops or my throat might be numb from all the medicine. At one point she came in and told me she was sorry. She said "I'm sorry sweetie, I have to go on a date." I played a good kid and told her I didn't want her to go. Then she told me she had to go to a meeting. But she told me not to worry because daddy would be home soon. I told her I wanted to go with her. But she told me, "I'm sorry you can't come to my meeting." I asked her why and she said, "because daddy said no." I got a good laugh out of that. I had fun being a kid for a while, and I know she had a good time being a mom!!!

3. Bryan and I went on a date tonight and I wanted to do something different. Something we rarely do. You guessed it, we went to the rodeo. Oh dear! Where do I start. Where I grew up, in the great town of Othello, Washington, we have a fabulous rodeo. It "may not be the biggest, just one of the best." It was awesome! I remember going with my grandpa when I was really little. He always had a rented box. It was so much fun! Tonight was a lot of fun, but hilarious at the same time. It started off with a prayer. Not just any prayer. I tell my kids all the time that we don't say joke prayers.... well, in the realm of cowboys maybe this wasn't a joke prayer, but about half-way into I cracked my eye open to see that Bryan had his eyes open and we were both laughing hysterically. First off, he prayed for all the cowboys out there. By the end he was talking about how he hoped that God would welcome these cowboys in after their last ride where the grass grew up to their stirrups... oh, my... I wish I could remember more of it.

There were two events that we never had in our rodeo. Mutten busting, and I don't know what they called the second one. It was during one of the breaks where all the kids that want to get on the arena, do the chicken dance, (anyone not familar with the chicken dance? don't worry I had no idea what this was until my brother-in-law got married. I think it's a Texas thing??) Anyway, then the release two calves and the kids chase after them. I'm not sure how they determine the winners, but there was two of them. It was a riot. We had a good time! One of the best parts was the rodeo only cost us $5 to park, and $5 a piece for admission!!! Thanks, sweetie, for a good time!

Need for Speed

1. What is it about having a lead foot that eventually bites you in the you know where? Well, I guess it was my turn. After fighting lots of traffic, riding in the HOV lane illegally, finally catching up with the school bus to make Rachael's field trip, I was pulled over just after exiting the freeway. When I spotted him I knew... he was coming for me. Needless to say, a ticket from riding in the HOV lane would've been cheaper. Thankfully I have an attorney for a husband! He didn't get me (or really him) out of paying for it, but after a day... at least... it goes off my record. Thanks Bryan for all that you did to figure it out!!! And for not making me take an eight hour course in defensive driving! Yikes!

2. Today I ran the Sunnyvale Raider 5K with my friend Kayla. We both set personal goals for what we wanted to run it in. I don't know why, but all of these races make me nervous. Adrenaline maybe. I was telling Bryan before I left this morning about my goal to run it faster than last time: 29:22 (I found out today that the course then wasn't quite 3.1 miles). Anyway. Bryan told me that he knew I could run it faster and I should see how fast I could run it. Honestly I thought it would be great to finish faster than 28 minutes but it had been so long since I had run outside, and on hills, that I didn't think it was possible. Then, at the awards ceremony, when they called my name as first place in my age division 21-34 with a time of 26:34 I was floored. I knew I had placed but I was ecstatic with my time. I couldn't believe I actually ran it that fast. Bryan has my goal time for next year all worked out... he's killing me! I guess my goal for him is to run it with me!!! Congrats Kayla on a good run!!!

Weekend

Thanks to Kayla I have to dispell any myths that are out there that I am pregnant... what??? I'm not ThAT crazy! I didn't do the relay run because I was enjoying a weekend away with my hubby in Colorado.. Breckenridge to be specific. It was wonderful. Nothing like sleeping in, laying in bed in my pj's reading a book I have been trying to finish for a couple of months, getting a massage, skiing, eating fabulous food, getting into the Denver Art Museum free (and getting the best parking spot), eating more yummy food... and just relaxing with my man. I totally needed it. I think I was on the verge of getting the World's worst mom award. No joke!!! Not fishing for compliments here! Anyway. Any of you that read my blog about Christmas would know that Bryan planned this trip as a surprise Christmas present. I was totally surprised! Not on Christmas, but the day he told me I was surprised!

Funny story about the Denver Art Museum. We didn't have a lot of time, but we wanted to see some of the art. We started on the seventh floor in one of the wings and decided to work our way down. We climbed seven flights of stairs... yikes.. I'm not in bad shape, but that was work! Anyhow, I was noticing this man taking a lot of pictures. I mentioned to Bryan how I thought it was wierd that they would allow you to take pictures. I thought they must, so I whipped my camera out and took a picture of this georgeous landcape picture. About a milisecond later I had a security lady asking me if I knew their policy on picture taking.. of course not... eventhough if I had read their map/pamphlet thing I would've known (which I was holding in my hand). Turns out, you can take pictures of the artwork which the Museum owns. This one happened to be one they didn't. I apologized and told her I would be sure to check the information on the paintings first. Oops!

We had fun day of skiing. It was unfortunate that there was little snow, it was mostly ice. We ventured onto a blue run.. which for us is a huge step. As we were heading up, up, and still up... and seeing lots of moguls and black runs, we commented on how we had seen some people head back down on the lift and we could just stay on it. It wouldn't be too embarassing since there had been some people do it as well. Alas, we didn't and we had a good time.

Thanks to my mom and dad for making our trip away possible. Without you watching the kids we would have to take them and then it wouldn't be a weekend away now would it! My dad worked his little tail off. Thanks for all that you did on the play gym and the dryer vent!!!!! When Bryan heard you put the monkey bars on the play gym by yourself he said, "wow, that wasn't a job I was going to try and tackle by myself!" Your awesome dad!

Thanks Bryan for the wonderful Christmas present and trip to Colorado! Can't wait to do it again!!!

Check out those goggles... think we could've found a bigger pair???

Ice storm, Emma's 7, Madeline's 3

1.Ice Storm

For those of you who read Kayla's blog, I will spare you a lot of detail, for those who don't, sorry! Dallas gets a lot of ice storms. Our weather likes to constantly change where it's coming from. We know depending on which way the flags are blowing at the model home if our weather will be warm or cold. We captured some cool pictures of some ice off of some leaves...

2. Emma turned seven in January. For the second year in a row we had to change plans for her party because Madeline was throwing up. What are the chances. I called all of her friends' mothers during school to let them know her party would be postponed until the following Friday. When she got home she was totally disappointed. I did some serious thinking about how I was going to swing this and make it positive. I told her we were going to be able to celebrate her birthday twice and have cake and ice cream twice. It worked! The week of her birthday her teacher does some fun things with her class. I volunteer on Wednesdays at the school and it happened to be the day they wrote a poem about Emma. It was one of the most rewarding things to witness... classmates saying nice things about Emma. I almost broke down when one of the girls said, "Emma is nice to everyone"... she is. The poem's always start out...

The important thing about Emma is she is Emma. So true. She is...

kind

loving

smart

happy

helpful

compassionate

fun

beautiful

....Emma! Happy 7th babe!

Notice the lone boy at the table... her lucky cousin Ethan! He'll thank us in a couple of years!

3. Madeline turned three only 11 days after Emma's birthday. Ahh... Lot's of birthday partys and cake & ice cream. Madeline was so excited for her birthday. We celebrated as a family on her birthday and had some friends over on Saturday for a little party (playdate). Lucky for me Madeline is still too young to really understand that she didn't get a party in the full sense of the word. No games, unless candyland counts, just a lot of free play with friends and cousins! (I was slightly burned out from Emma's party: 13 kids 7 and under. It was crazy, but all the kids said they had a good time.) Madeline is such a cute girl. She loves mom!! She follows me around pretty much everywhere I go, though she is quite independent (if that makes any sense). She is such a good helper, always willing to fetch a diaper, wipes or a binky. Madeline has a thing for gum. So do I. She gets it honest. I get in the car and pop in a piece of gum. Madeline thinks she needs to do the same. Unfortunately she has figured out how to open the little door where I hide my gum. I sure hope she is swallowing all this gum cause I know I am not throwing it away for her. I did find some in my washing machine one day. Luckily it was in a ball. Madeline loves to be tickled. She will giggle forever, or until she gets the hiccups, when she is being tickled. It is so fun. Happy 3rd Madeline! I'm glad you're mine!

When I asked Madeline what she wanted for her birthday she said a dog like Emma, with a purse.

She was so excited she attempted to read the tinkerbell cover!