Motherhood at it's finest

My Dear Children:
You owe me.  BIG.  It is 9 in the morning and I would like to paint a picture of the scene I have just endured on your behalf.  In an attempt to cut Tyces hair, which, I hate to point out, but it must be done, Tyce, you were screaming like a banshee and running away from me...hence the uneven jagged edges of hair around both of you ears.  Hali was in the bathtub because she wet the bed, again, and had just emerged sweet smelling and clean when a royal fit ensued over the wrong color of towel I brought to her highness.  I was then sentenced by her to the dungeon, but luckily, Madi swept in and saved the day (love her).  Although Madi, you did wet the couch last night that you were sleeping on, I have no idea how to clean that thoroughly and may have to donate it to some unsuspecting victim at goodwill (it is old anyway), it's the circle of life people.  And now you Kylie.  Well, you weathered the hair cutting and towel storm fairly well but I noticed a particular stench emanating from you and took you in to change you in the midst of tyce rinsing off in the shower from all the hair that he was telling me through his tears were itching him.   Can I just say right here that changing you is more like roping a tornado than  changing the diaper of a 10 month old.  And how is it that I feel like you are stronger than me? In the midst of this diaper change, I hear an  ear curdling cry from the shower.  Over and over.  I would have come sooner son, but I was up to my elbows in poo.  I was fairly sure that someone was doing you bodily harm, by the intensity of your yelling.  With the last strap of a diaper in place on a baby turned bucking bronco, I ran into the shower hopping mad.  You wanted the shower head lower.  I should apologize now for the fit I threw at that point.  Needless to say, I am keeping track of all of this and I am not raising you out of the goodness of my heart.  When you are older and successful I am sending you a very large and detailed bill.

Sincerely, and with love forever,
your mother

Halloween

 This year for halloween we had quite challenge deciding on costumes.  In fact, Tyce decided to change his at the last minute ( amid a major meltdown) from a cowboy to a hamburger.  (why can't I get a decent picture with everyone all looking in one direction??)

 Madi was a beautiful snow white who stayed away from ALL apples that night.   kylie was a BYU cheerleader ( no indoctrination going on here whatsoever!)

 This is a random picture I took of Kylie after a nap.  I want no more criticism that I am not posting enough pictures of her!

My parents had a little halloween dinner before some serious trunk or treating at the church with my sister and her family.  Hali was tinkerbell, if she had had a wand there is no telling what we all would have been turned into that night.  Tyce is now the hamburger at this point in the evening, he looks delicious don't you think?

Madi is 6!! No Kidding!!

October is the month of birthdays for us.  Exactly two weeks after we celebrated Tyce's birthday, we had the same crew over to our house to celebrate madi turning 6.

 Here she is on her birthday heading off to school.  I wish time would slow down so i could take in these years more completely, but man, ever since Madi started school it has been a whirlwind of busyness that is making my clock run on super speed!

 Madi asked for this 3 layer pudding cake for her birthday, well that's not totally true, she wanted some whiz-bang princess cake like I have made for her before, but with a newborn and mark working like crazy, I pleaded for an alternative.  Thank goodness she loves this too!  I should have taken a picture of ME smiling by it, knowing the mess and stress I avoided by doing this instead!

Oh Madi.  Did you know, that I sometimes come into your bedroom at night and kiss your cheek?  Well I do.  I have missed you while you are at school, but am so proud of the things you are learning and how well you are doing.  I new you were ready, even if I wasn't.  You are such a big helper for me especially with hali and Kylie.  You love school and any kind of art, coloring, painting, drawing.  You also like to do craft projects and read.  You are writing all sorts of words and even making up some on you own!  You really are growing up and the only downfall is that you understand the world better and don't say as many funny quotes, but you love to laugh and have started telling knock-knock jokes at the dinner table.  We love you Madi!!!

Tyce is 4!

Tyce turned  4 in October and we celebrated at a nearby park after school.  I can't believe how old he is getting right before my eyes!  He wanted some type of cowboy party so I made him these cowboy hat cupcakes that he thought were pretty snazzy!

We had cousins, friends and aunts and uncles there to celebrate and had a great time.  Tyce's big birthday gift was a bike!  He loves it and can even ride without training wheels (some of the time).  Can you guess who picked out his bike helmet???  I sent Mark to the store the day of the party to get the helmet and this is what he came up with.....awesome.

Tyce, you are a fun guy to be around!  We love how you get so excited for new things and activities we do as a family. I smile every time I hear you laugh because you laugh with your whole body and it cracks me up! You are sensitive and cautious, slow to warm up in a crowd but friendly to everyone.  Madi is your best friend, hali, is the thorn in your side taking all your toys.  You love to cuddle with me and go to work with dad.  I often find you "building" something with your tools.  You love to climb trees and play outside but usually you want someone to play with you.  You love tractors, cars and popsicles   We love you and are so happy for all the things you are learning to do and be.  I can see you becoming more independent and wish I could keep you from outgrowing your cuddly self, but I am excited for you and so blessed to have you in our family!

This is a picture of a sleeping kylie around the same time, she would have been about 2 months old.  I am so in love with her!