Sledding

This afternoon we went sledding with our friends the Hartwells.  I didn't really get any great pictures; I was too busy corralling children.  Cole kept wandering into the middle of the sled runs, Spencer and Josh kept arguing over who got to use the sled next, and Tess wanted to be held the majority of the time.  Fortunately, Deidra was genius enough to bring snacks and hot chocolate, so she kinda saved the day.

Tess and Spencer waiting for Josh and Cole to come up the hill.  Tess wasn't sure what to think about the whole adventure.

Every time I turned around I saw Spencer rolling around on the ground.  You can tell it wasn't that cold because Spencer, who has 0% body fat, never once complained about being chilled.  And he kept rolling on the snow.  It's supposed to snow again several times this week, but it's also supposed to get super cold again.  Pretty sure Spencer won't be rolling around in the snow then.

Even though the snow wasn't that great, Cole LOVED sledding!  This is the only time that I saw him not carrying the sled back up the hill, because he loved doing that, too.  In fact, I saw Josh trying to take the sled from him once as they came back up and Cole totally punched him and continued on his merry way, sled dragging behind him.  Good mother that I am, I totally ignored the incident.  Hey, some battles just aren't worth fighting, you know?

Despite the marginal snow, the company was good and kids all whined about leaving.

The End of an Era

Miss Tess is in the throes of giving up her afternoon nap.  Despite my best efforts, she hasn't had one all week.

For the first time in 10+ years, I will no longer be tied to home in the afternoon.  Nor will I have set time to (mostly) myself and my projects, sans little ones.  I don't know how to feel about this.  Actually, yes I do.  I feel tired.

Let's all take a moment of silence at this solemn occasion.  Words of encouragement and condolence are welcome.

Obviously, I am much more upset about this than Tess.

Typical Madsen Dinner Conversation

Cole: I want to go to frison.

Me: Frison?  Do you mean prison?

Spencer & Josh: Hahahahaha!

Cole: What's so funny?

Spencer & Josh: Hahahahaha!

Me: You want to go to prison?  Prison is jail.

Tess: I want to go to jail!!!

Spencer & Josh: Hahahahaha!

Cole: I want to go to jail.  I want to go to frison.

(Never did figure out what he really meant.)

No Good Deed

So I was at Joann's this morning with Tess to pick up a few things.  I don't know what it is, but whenever I am in there I get the grouchiest, slowest workers possible.  Getting my fabric cut was like pulling teeth.  Sorry to bother you, lady, but could I get this fabric cut, please? I mean, I don't want to be a bother, but it is your job and all... sheesh!

So I finally get my fabric cut, only to get up front and realize that I am fifth in line and there's only one cashier!  And of course Tess is getting antsy and not wanting to behave, but somehow we make it to the front and deal with the (ironically) over-the-top-friendly-taking-way-longer-than-necessary cashier and pay for our things.

I wrestle Tess out of the cart and drag everything out to the car (including a big thing of fleece that I didn't get a bag for), only to get there and realize that Tess is holding a spool of the clearance Christmas ribbon I had gotten.

My stomach drops.  I'm pretty sure I didn't pay for it.  I check the receipt.  I didn't.

Dang @#$@#%@#@ it!!!

It cost less than a dollar.  But I knew I had to go back in and either give it back or pay for it.

So I put everything in the car and dragged Tess back in.  She was not happy.  Neither was I.

I get back in line - fifth again!  (What can I say?  The ribbon was cute.)  Tess freaks out.  The old lady in front of me doesn't know how to use a smart phone, but insists that there's a coupon on there somewhere.  Tess starts pulling things off of the displays.  Bah! I keep reminding myself that it's not the dollar amount that matters, it's the principle of the matter.

Finally - finally - I get up front and have to explain to the cashier what happened.  The previously over-friendly cashier gives me a look, as if I tried to steal a sewing machine instead of accidentally taking a spool of ribbon - which I had come back to pay for, thank you very much.  I don't want to, but of course we have to have a five minute conversation about it.  I pay and we leave.

As we get in the car and drive to our next errand I can't help but think about the whole situation.  I really didn't want to go back in and pay for that ribbon, not because of the cost, but because I knew I'd just feel so guilty if I didn't.  Tess wouldn't have known what happened, so it's not like it would have been a learning moment for her.  But it certainly was for me.  I know I did the right thing, but I wish I had had a better attitude about it.  I wish I hadn't stood there for a good 10 seconds, considering what I should do. I wish I hadn't gotten so annoyed with the old lady and her smart phone.

I wish I were just naturally good all the time.  But I'm not.  I'm working on it, but it's hard.  Oh well - perhaps the next time Tess dabbles in petty thievery I'll remember this experience and have a better attitude.

It Was Lovely

The kids were back at school for a full day today.  It was lovely.

Cole pooped in his pants.  Twice.  It was not lovely.

Tess wouldn't take a nap, but seemed to handle it pretty well until bedtime, where she fell asleep on Lance's lap during stories.  It was... surprising.

Because of the pooping Cole lost his screen time for the day.  He apparently has forgotten how to entertain himself in ways other than harassing his little sister.  It was frustrating.

I had to take all four kids to Spencer's annual check-up. It was wild.  (Fortunately, our pediatrician and her staff are never ruffled by the Madsen three-ring circus.)

Cole cried - loudly - the entire way home because (and I quote) "I WANT A SHOT". It was a little entertaining and a little annoying. (The boy ain't right.)

Spencer and Josh battled so much this evening that we put them to bed 20 minutes early.  (Well, and hour and 20 minutes early for Spencer.)  Melt-downs all around.  It was not fun.

Preschool starts again tomorrow.  It will be lovely.

Minion Pants and Piggy Blankies

This is Tess in what she calls her Minion Pants.

She loves 'em.  She'd wear them every day if I let her.  And I would let her, if she didn't get them so dirty.  Notice the absence of socks.  Despite the cold weather and the fact that I refuse to pay to keep the house toasty warm, Tess won't keep socks on.  Makes me chilly just looking at her feet.

This is Tess and her beloved Piggy Blankie.  

My Aunt Becky sent this blanket when Tess was born.  It is Tess's favorite thing in the world and she drags it around the house wherever she goes.  She'd take it on all our errands if I let her, but I've found this is more hassle than it's worth.  She won't sleep without it; she goes into withdrawals when it's in the wash.  It's like living with a little girl version of Linus.

Tess's hair is a little crazy right now.  It was supposed to get cut on Tuesday, but with all the school craziness I had to reschedule my appointment.  (My hairdresser is going to cut her hair while I'm there getting my hair done.)  Spencer and Josh still ask why Daddy doesn't cut Tess's hair.  This is a fair question since he cuts everyone else's hair.  I just tell them that girls are different and need to go out to get their hair cut and that Daddy doesn't know how to cut Tess's hair.

This is mostly true; I'm sure either Lance or I could learn how to cut Tess's hair.  But she's a wild 2 year old at the moment and wouldn't hold still for either of us; it would only end badly.  She will, however, hold still for someone else!  Totally worth a few bucks, in my opinion.

Tess loves to make her brothers pay attention to her and laugh, and her latest ploy at this is sniffing things and saying "EWWWW!"  The boys have learned to ask her what something or someone - say, for example, Daddy - smells like.  She'll sniff and yell and everyone will laugh and the process will be repeated 38 more times.

Cabin Fever

We've experienced a bit of cabin fever here lately.  The kids react to it in different ways. Spencer wants to play computer non-stop, not even bothering to change clothes or bathe.  Josh whines about being bored but doesn't want to do any of the activities I offer him.  Tess acts like a puppy, chewing on furniture and toys and generally driving me nuts.

And Cole?  Cole decides to confuse Tess.  Remember how he refused to admit that he turned four?  How  he wanted to be three forever?  Well now he's obsessed with turning five in May.  On top of that, he likes to talk about how old every family member will be on their next birthday.  "Spencer will be eleven.  Joshie will be eight.  Mommy will be thirty-seven."  But Tess?  For some reason he thinks Tess is already three and will be four on her next birthday.  No matter how many times I've tried to correct him, he won't budge.  "Tessie is THREE!!"

Apparently he's been discussing this with Tess, because she now thinks she's already three.  "Tessie three!!" When I try to correct her she gets very defensive and stubborn.  "No.  I not two. I three.  Tessie THREE!!"

It's pretty cute.  Wrong, but cute.

Also cute: last night we asked Tessie what Lance smelled like.  (She kept sniffing the air around the dinner table.)  She sniffed him a little and declared that he smelled like an arm.

Can't argue with that.