Busy

This is what I was working on this morning. Re-organizing my closet and room.
While I was otherwise engaged, this is what tyce was working on. Swimming lessons, in the bathtub with all his clothes on. Summer is just around the corner, you can never start too early I guess!
side note* of course I had just changed his diaper and gotten him dressed not 2 minutes before he decided to cool off in the tub!

Camping

Things get a little dreary out here in the winter. I think it has been cloudy and rainy for 3 weeks straight. I thought I moved away from that when I left Seattle...I think it is following me. So in order to beat the gloom, we had a little "campout" lunch and made hot dogs and other camping treats. As you can see, we are in a very scenic part of our living room with a real evergreen brought in just for the occasion! Don't worry, our Christmas tree has been taken down since these photos.

Bitter Sweet

I don't know if I am happy or sad about the fact that madi moved out of nursery and into sunbeams. That seems so old, I feel like she is too little to be in sunbeams. I think she is the youngest in her class, she just turned 3 in october and went into sunbeams in january!! where has the time gone? I was in the grocery store the other day and madisen was throwing a fit about something and a lady turned to me and said, "don't worry, tomorrow she will be 18". I feel like that is true, how quickly child hood passes. It makes me want to do a better job of not missing it. Regardless, she looks so cute!!!

Quotes

Mark has a couple of guys that work for him and they only speak spanish and they live in pasco which is about an hour and a half from us. Anyway, one of them came down to work for mark on a house he just started and ended up spending the night to save driving time. Madi becaue good buddies with Jose that night and they watched snow white together! Then a couple days later I was driving home from the store and mark called to say that the "amigos" (his workers) would be spending the night again.
me to madi : guess what madi? Daddy is bringing some friends over to spend the night tonight"
madi: who is coming "como estas?, or Cj (marks brother)?


A conversation we had earlier today:
me: madi, you can't wear a swimsuit out in the snow!
Madi: I don't want to wear a coat, it is too cold!


Her prayer tonight after we threatened her that santa would only bring her toys if she was a good girl:

madi: dear heavenly father, please bless santa to bring me toys, and help mom and dad to sleep good!

Random thoughts

Well, some exciting things have been happening around here. Well, I guess just one thing. Tyce is walking! Mark is very relieved, he was starting to get anxious that tyce was not walking when madi did. I didn't care, but it is always fun when a new milestone is reached. Madi is saying funny things all the time, I just wish I could remember them for more than 5 minutes.

I have had so many projects the last couple of weeks I am kind of projected out! My house has gone by the way side as I have made over 300 cinnamon rolls in the last couple of weeks for various people/events, made gift baskets for a craft bazaar, made birthday presents, hair bows for a wedding and more hair bows for a friends salon, and then helped my mom with a couple of her projects. I went and helped clean the temple last week and decided that is the way to go as far as cleaning goes. You need to get 12 people and knock out your whole house in an hour. And then of course they have to come back next week and do the same thing! It's good to be busy...it's also good just to be home.

Letting Go

If there is one thing I have learned being a mother, it is that you have to let some things go. There comes a point when you have to say, "okay, what is important to me and to the health/development of my children, and what isn't". Things like discipline, politeness, kindness etc. are on my "do not let go under any circumstances", but here are a few of the the things I have let go, and they might suprise you:

1. Clothes. Madi can be seen at any point in the day wearing crazy outfits (see above pictures) , if she is even dressed at all. Tonight, she wore her swim suit to bed.

2. hair. I always thought I would have my kids hair done every day, however, it seems pointless when madi barely has a head of hair, and, because she is changing clothes so frequently, even when I do it, it lasts about an hour. The exception to this is church, at least when I walk in the chapel her hair is done, after that.......who knows.

3. socks. most of the time, my kids do not wear socks with their shoes. I put them on and they are taken off 2 minutes after getting in the car. My mazda is a sock graveyard. I can't really blame them, I don't like socks either

4.shoes. It is a rare occasion (usually church) when madisen has matching shoes on. And if they are matching (oh, rare of rare days!) they are on the wrong feet. She likes to do it herself and I have learned not to argue.

5. sleeping. I never thought I would let my kids sleep with me but when they come in in the middle of the night I am too tired to take them back to bed and face a meltdown because there are monkeys in her room. (I wouldn't advise this unless thery are potty trained through the night. Last night madi had an accident in our bed. Don't worry, I was fine, mark was sleeping next to her.....boy was that a rude awakening, for a moment he thought he had done it!!

My life is better and less stressful since I have put into practice the art of "letting go". What do you "let go?"

One Fine Day

Woke up today and mark brought tyce in for a good morning kiss. Madi came in shortly with mix matched top and botom because every night she has a wardrobe change around One a.m. I made eggs and toast and then wiped them off and set them down to play. I was able to clean my kitchen, wipe down table, and load the dishwasher. I went into my room where they had headed and heard them laughing together in the bathroom. Bliss. I sat on the bed and just listened for awhile. Got them both in the bath. More laughing and giggling, while I cleaned the bathroom. Put tyce down for a nap and then worked out while madi watched sesame street. Finished workout, swept and moped my kitchen and bathrooms, picked up living room. Tyce woke up happy and smiling. Played in his room for a while. Shampooed madi's bedroom carpet. Bundled up and went outside to rake leaves. Made a huge pile of leaves that the kids jumped and sat in. Thought we lost madi's shoes and gloves in leaves, but they were recovered. Came inside, read books, made hot chocolate. Made grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch. Hoped in the shower. Madi had to get in too...again. Read books to madi, sang songs, held her on my lap, heaven.....put her down for a nap. Put tyce down for a nap. A friend came over to babysit while I ran some errands for both of us. Came home, danced in the kitchen with cinderella and her prince. Made dinner. Folded laundry while madi pushed tyce around in the laundry basket. Rocked and read stories to tyce, put him to bed..felt loved. Mark came home.. best part of my day. Went to practice the song I have to sing next sunday. Stopped at my mom's for an apron pattern. She had the apron mostly done. Hung out for a little with my mom..refreshing. Came home, made hot chocolate, hung out with mark. Remembered how much I like hanging out with him. Read scriptures and went to bed.
Days like this are worth remembering.