The air was so cold and the snow do dry that it was like shoveling Styrofoam this morning- it actually squeeked when I walked on it! Definitely a morning for the reindeer hair mittens. (Warmest. Mittens. Ever.)
Poor Cole has only had preschool twice since Christmas break because of crazy weather. Today I tried doing 'home preschool', but he just laid a hand on my arm and said "No, Mommy. Just no."
Apparently I am no substitute for Mrs. Hyuck and Mrs. Sliger!
Apparently I am no substitute for Mrs. Hyuck and Mrs. Sliger!
The 2+ year reign of terror is over: Tess is no longer afraid of the car wash!
So Lance just came home early and nonchalantly told me that he's taking tomorrow and all of next week off because he has so much paid time off that he has to use or lose. AWESOMESAUCE.
New Big Girl Bed! (Pretty sure Grandma Wendy would be pleased that her only granddaughter is now using the beloved daybed. :))
Potty training. How I hate you.
One of the few times I've wished we had a bigger snow blower. It was a long shovel this morning!
The water heater was supposed to be fixed for good last night.
It was not.
My anger burns like the heat of a thousand suns.
This is approximately a thousand suns times hotter than the water in our house.
I'm running away. Suggestions as to where?
It was not.
My anger burns like the heat of a thousand suns.
This is approximately a thousand suns times hotter than the water in our house.
I'm running away. Suggestions as to where?
Tess is having a conversation with my phone about how much she loves to eat hot dogs at Sam's Club.
I love this girl.
I love this girl.
Another first grade animal project done. (Only two more to go!) There's a button on top that you press to hear the cardinal warn his family about the approaching predator. Yeah, we're cool like that.
Cole's recycled robot for R week at preschool. We're on school project fire this morning!
My new favorite child. (I have no idea where he got this idea, but I'm all for my children paying me!)
After close inspection of my kitchen walls I wondered if my kids had been eating off of them instead of the table. Then I inspected my kitchen table and decided my walls weren't too bad. #ihatecleaningdriedfood
I discovered that my limit to the number of times I'm wiling to dress a child during the day is 83. Tess is now running around the house in her birthday suit. (Because, you know, the Madsen household is clothing optional.)
Somehow Cole has shimmied his way into a pair of Tess's pants and refuses to take them off. What's with my kids and their clothes lately?
Now i can't keep Cole dressed either. By the end of the week we'll be a nudist colony. Silver lining: less laundry!
Cole now insists on wearing 2 underpants at the same time.
If you don't take any pictures or do status updates about an AWESOME DAY of driving through snowstorms, chatting, and shopping with your best friend, did it really happen? (You bet it did, Gigi Andriese Ream!!!) Thanks for fleeing the state with me, if only for the day.
A haircut, lollipop, and new crown - what more could any little princess want?
Stopped being wishy-washy and stressing myself out over the decision and signed Cole up for Pre-K next year instead of putting him in Kindergarten. I'll have two kiddos in preschool next year and I feel great about it!
My dad restored my grandpa's asked and sent it to the kids. Isn't it cool!? And so pretty. I'm almost thinking it might become a holiday decoration instead of a toy. Maybe we'll have to test it out first and then decide...
Had a hot (& delicious!) lunch date at Niko's Spicy Pickle with my handsome husband - and two grouchy kids. I think the first year my kids are all in school I'm going to make a point of going out for lunch at least once a week and luxuriating in my freedom.
The kids begged to have pie for breakfast since it's pie day. Wanting to win Mother Of The Year, I made Dutch Apple pie. They refused to eat it.
Punks.
Punks.
Tess: Grrrrrrrr! Grrrrrr!
Me: Tess, don't be a grouch.
Tess: BUT I LIKE IT!!!!
Me: Obviously. You should have taken a nap.
Tess: YES, I KNOW!!!! GRRRRRR!!!!
Me: Tess, don't be a grouch.
Tess: BUT I LIKE IT!!!!
Me: Obviously. You should have taken a nap.
Tess: YES, I KNOW!!!! GRRRRRR!!!!
My awesomesauce St. Patrick's Day bread. What? Totally Irish.
Visiting the chicks and ducklings at Rural King - happy spring!
Tess: I wuv you mommy, I wuv you.
Cole: NO!! No, Tessie doesn't love you. You lie!!
Tess: No, I wuv you mommy.
Cole: What?! No. NO. YOU. DON'T.
Cole: NO!! No, Tessie doesn't love you. You lie!!
Tess: No, I wuv you mommy.
Cole: What?! No. NO. YOU. DON'T.
Just caught Spencer emphatically singing "The Final Countdown" as he got out of the shower. Now that's the way to get ready for the day!
Sick toddlers are both sad and hilarious. We were in the car for all of two minutes and I found her like this. While the toothbrush is awesome (mainly because I have no idea what it was doing in the car), I'm especially in love with the IKEA card on her knee.
I took a 30 minute snooze this afternoon. I woke up to Tess, in her birthday suit, snoring away with her arm dramatically flung over her eyes.
Even naps are more interesting with kids around.
Even naps are more interesting with kids around.
Excitement of the day: finding ducks in the neighborhood pool! (Cole kept yelling "Hey ducks! This is a pool! Get out!)
Maren Roper Madsen
April 4 via Kickstarter
Tess: Mommy! I don't have a tail. I have a bottom. A BOTTOM!!!
Glad we've cleared that up. Also, no more Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood.
Glad we've cleared that up. Also, no more Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood.
All thoughts of a productive afternoon flew out the window when I rediscovered a bunch of old emails between Lance and I from around the time before and after we got engaged. Guys, we were so freakin' cute. And young. But mostly cute.
Best news I heard at church today: the Mother's Day weekend father/son campout is back! (No more if this "family campout" nonsense!)
Tess's birthday is this Friday, and as per family tradition she gets to choose where we go out to eat. I've been trying to steer her away from McDonald's or Sam's Club because, well, no thanks.
So this evening she has come up with two places to go to for her birthday dinner: Cinderella's Castle and Millie's house. (Apparently she thinks you guys live in a restaurant, Deidra Parish Hartwell.)
Think there's any way I could convince her that South Street Smokehouse is really Cinderella's Castle?
So this evening she has come up with two places to go to for her birthday dinner: Cinderella's Castle and Millie's house. (Apparently she thinks you guys live in a restaurant, Deidra Parish Hartwell.)
Think there's any way I could convince her that South Street Smokehouse is really Cinderella's Castle?
A big happy birthday to the baby of our family! Three is so very old, Miss Tess!
I find considerably more glitter in my dryer's lint trap now that we have a diva in the house.
The trees are in blossom and refrains of "Popcorn Popping" can be heard - continuously - by anyone within Tess's vicinity.
Swoon.
I just bought the tickets so it's officially official: Lance and I are going to TAIWAN on the 31st!!!
So, who has Taipei/Taiwan/Asian travel tips/hints/suggestions for me?
So, who has Taipei/Taiwan/Asian travel tips/hints/suggestions for me?
Me: Tess. you crraaaaazzzy kid!
Tess: No! I'm not crazy......... yet.
Tess: No! I'm not crazy......... yet.
My Mother's Day gift finally came and Lance spent all afternoon putting it together. I'm a happy happy girl!
Me: What should we have for breakfast tomorrow?
Tess: Churros!!
If only, Tess, if only.
Tess: Churros!!
If only, Tess, if only.
The neighbors are putting up a new trampoline. Let the summer of broken arms and bruises begin!
My Hoosier babies. (Appropriate they're on a tractor, right?)
I gave Cole an old point-and-shoot camera of mine for his birthday. Today he discovered the flash.
It's like living with the paparazzi.
It's like living with the paparazzi.
Guess who's FIVE today?! (I can't believe it either.)
On birthdays Fun Mom ignores the million things she has to do and rides the train at the park instead. #funmomrocks
Yesterday I was feeling guilty and sad about leaving my kids for the next week. But after the day I've had with Tess and Cole, I'm having no such feelings anymore! #timetopack
Josh: Do you still wish you were in Taiwan?
Me: Umm, a little. But I'm happy to be home.
Josh: I wish you were still in Taiwan.
Me: What?! Do you like the Silvers more than me?
Josh: Yes.
Me: WHAT?! Do you wish they were your parents?
Josh: Yes. They were more fun.
Okay, Janene Christensen Silvers, looks like you've earned a brand new seven year old boy! I'll drop him off around 4:30.
Me: Umm, a little. But I'm happy to be home.
Josh: I wish you were still in Taiwan.
Me: What?! Do you like the Silvers more than me?
Josh: Yes.
Me: WHAT?! Do you wish they were your parents?
Josh: Yes. They were more fun.
Okay, Janene Christensen Silvers, looks like you've earned a brand new seven year old boy! I'll drop him off around 4:30.
Summer is driving home from swimming lessons, all four kids singing along at the top of their lungs to "What Does the Fox Say" on the radio.
(Re)Introduced the kids to french fries dipped in ice cream. LIVES WERE CHANGED, PEOPLE.
All four children sobbing on the way to swimming lessons. I'm totally winning at this parenting thing.
Had to wash Cole's mouth out with soap this afternoon because he has developed a biting problem. I'm totally winning this parenting thing.
Not many girls can claim to have a super hero for a father. I can.
Happy Father's Day! — with ElRay Roper.
Happy Father's Day! — with ElRay Roper.
Josh: Mommy! This Pokemon card was made in 1995!
Me: Wow! I was only 17 years old then.
Josh: Whoa. This. Card. Is. OLD. It doesn't even look as old as you!
Me: Wow! I was only 17 years old then.
Josh: Whoa. This. Card. Is. OLD. It doesn't even look as old as you!
Down to my last jasmine flavor crunch plum. Sad, sad day! *nom*nom*
Another successful camping Madsen/Ream camping trip! The rain and humidity couldn't dampen the great time we had. (Like my pun there?) Goal for next year: a picture of all of us together! — with Gigi Andriese Ream and Craig Ream.
Two front teeth lost less than 12 hours apart. He's already plotting how to spend his Tooth Fairy loot.
Yesterday I used the rain as an excuse not to go running. This morning I ran in 100% humidity. It felt like I was running in the rain. #nomoreexcuses#untilitstartssnowing
Dear Windows 8: hiding scanned files, changing my desktop background without asking, and constantly trying to get me to use your #$!@$!! "charms" is not good for our already battlefield-scarred relationship.
Storm days at swimming lessons are sad days...
You should see the other guy! (Actually, the other guy is fine - the other guy is a sidewalk.)
