Temple Trip

We trekked up to the temple today. I always have mixed feelings about going to the temple: I really want to go and I love being there, but the trip there and back can be... trying. (It's a three hour drive there and a three hour drive back. Plus the inevitable traffic. With two very active little boys. 'Nuff said.)

But today's trip was actually pretty good.

The boys behaved themselves pretty much the entire time! No accidents, not too much whining, please's and thank you's when asking for snacks. All I can say is, thank heaven for portable DVD players! And the awesome Arlington Heights Library Kid's section! Josh only cried after waking up from a nap, and I think it was only because he was sitting in the sun. And Spencer only whined for a little bit when I had to explain to him (as I do every time) that we are not going to the top of the Sears Tower this trip.

The only bad thing was that the AC in our car died. (Of course. Because we just finished paying it off. Dang car.) But even that wasn't so bad, since it's not blistering hot quite yet. We just rolled down the windows and enjoyed the nice... breeze... that comes with traveling at 70mph.

So my point is, maybe my kids are getting old enough to make temple trips almost pleasant!

Must be time to add a baby to the mix. (And NO, this is not an announcement. Just a sarcastic observation!)

It's a Twister! It's a Twister!

Spencer cracks me up.

We were watching the weather on the news this morning. The weatherman was talking about some of the tornadoes that have been popping up around the Midwest.

Spencer looked at the little tornado icons on the weather map and said "Hey! Look! It's a Toyota!"

Josh cracks me up.

His new favorite game is to stand either out in the yard or at the back door, quietly waiting for some birds to land on our fence or nearby houses.

Then he bellows and screams at the top of lungs and giggles at the birds fly away.

Wrestlemania!

Wrestlemania has broken out in our home. Big time. Instead of the WF, it's the MWF (Madsen Wrestling Federation).

Josh is finally old enough for some good wrestling. (He's been big enough for a while; his mind just had to catch up!)

As you can see, Josh prefers wrestling Greco-Roman style. (That boy would spend all his day naked if I let him.)

My days are filled with the cacophony of my two little boys wrestling all over the house, screaming at the top of their lungs, bumping into furniture, banging body parts into walls. It's a veritable little boy heaven.

I've been needing a lot more Tylenol lately.

Being the drag that I am, I've already had to set some ground rules:

1. No throwing stuff at each other. ('Stuff' including but not limited to: toys, balls, utensils, blankets, potted plants, books, and yogurt. Especially if the yogurt is open.)
2. No hitting. No hitting, no hitting, no hitting! No. Hitting. (This one is taking a while to sink in.)
3. No trying to suffocate each other with blankets, cushions, clothing, or anything of a suffocating nature.
4. No wrestling on mommy, by mommy in the kitchen, under the desk while mommy is on the computer, or in mommy's room. Just don't wrestle while I'm around, okay?

Here's a little sampler of some of their moves. Of course they were more quiet than normal while I was filming, but you still get an idea of what it's like.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I'm drowning in all the testosterone around here.

Oy.

Self-portrait Tuesday

Today was garden planting day. Hooray!

I always garden in my goofy straw hat. Gardening without it just somehow feels wrong.

As you can see, I only used starts this year. I didn't want to mess with seeds mainly because I'm lazy. That, and I don't have a whole lot of space to waste on veggies that may or may not grow.

I'm all about the tomatoes when it comes to gardening. I LUURRRRVVVEE homegrown tomatoes. LURVE them.

Question: Is there anything in this world better than a freshly picked homegrown tomato, sliced, with a little salt and pepper sprinkled on?

Answer: Not in my world.

Oh, I've heard the sweet siren calls of other veggies like broccoli, spinach, cucumbers... but their temptations melt away when I think of my yummy tomatoes. (Plus, I don't think anyone in my family would eat any of the other veggies. So what's the point?)

I planted a Mr. Stripey (don't you love that name?!), a Yellow Heirloom, a Beefsteak, a Roma, and three Early Girls.

Okay, I conceded a little space for some other plants. But only ones to use with my tomatoes! I planted one green bell pepper (marinara sauce) and a jalapeno (salsa). I also planted some herbs: basil (but just ONE plant!), thyme, rosemary, sage, lavender, and spearmint.

Oh happy day!

A Very (Un)practical Mother's Day

Most holidays I ask for useful gifts. Things that I need, like a new vacuum cleaner or hand blender. One birthday I had to get a new bed because Lance broke our other one. (Don't ask.) ((And, no, it was not what you think, gutter-mind.))

But every once in a while I don't want practical - I just want what I want.

And Lance totally pulled through this year on the non-practical gift: he got me the punch bowl of my dreams! I am so happy. I was too lazy to take a picture of it, mainly because I would have had to clean it and set it up and it was Mother's Day and I didn't want to. But I did take a picture of this:

Yeah, that was the first punch bowl Lance ordered. It came like this. So Crate and Barrel sent him a whole other set, which means I got another ladle and eight extra cups for free.

Sweet.

Warning: Any social event at the Madsen home will now feature punch. And lots of it. (Any recipes you'd like to share?)

The boys also got me and impractical gift:

I think it's sweet. Last week I teasingly asked Spencer what he was going to give me for Mother's Day. (I was expecting a card or picture or something.) He said he was going to buy me a lot of toys. After fifteen minutes of explaining that I didn't really want any toys, he said, "I know, I'll buy you a bracelet. You like bracelets, Mommy!" So cute. Lance took them to Target and this is what they picked out. (He apparently steered Spencer away from his 'bling bling' tendencies. Good job, Lance.)

Mother's Day also brought the usual flowers and handmade gifts:

As much as I love punch (and I love a good punch!), I love these best of all. How could you not love a flower made out of your toddler's hand print? Or a flower planted in a small cup, with twice as much dirt as needed? (That's right - you can't. You have to love it.) Talk about impractical. And best-loved.

Guess the Calling

I have gotten a new calling at church.

How to describe it...?

Daunting. Scary. Fun. New (at least for me).

I'm excited and willing to serve.

Any guesses as to what it is?

(A select few of you already know what it is - keep it to yourselves!)

Primary Proverbs - Get A Robot

This happened today during Senior Sharing Time. (When all of the older children are together for a lesson.) I about fell off my chair trying not to laugh.

Teacher: Suppose your parents asked you to weed the garden?

Billy (who is standing up front with the teacher): Ummm...

Teacher: What would Jesus want you to do? How could you show honor and obedience to your parents?

Billy: I know! I would build a robot! A robot to weed it.

Teacher (smiling): Um... that's more long-term. Let's think more short-term...

Random Child in the Back: Buy a robot!

All the Adults in the Room (under their breath): Hehehehehehe!