Sunday, July 22, 2012
Colton looking innocent and handsome.
Maddie cheerleading with the infamous Raymond Comettes. Heaven help me. Her and her friends performed at a high school basketball game half time (sweet entertainment) and at "Raymond's Got Talent". So....what does that say about Raymond's talent pool??
Kelly and Colton snowshoeing in Waterton. Colton needed a little help on the hills. But, most of the time, the kids did awesome. Halle can usually be motivated by complimenting her animal instincts and climbing skills.
Family playing in a snow cave in Waterton. The reward after a long hike in the snow. Big enough for an entire family of 5! One day, we'll have to sleep there....but kelly might opt for the Waterton hotel. The kids had a blast helping to make the cave, and then destroying it.
Maddie at the top of Bear's Hump in Waterton during the Spring thaw.
Mike at the top of Bear's Hump in Waterton. Thank goodness the cliff isn't really as near as it looks. I still hate heights!
Kelly and I in Seattle. Yes, we love photoshop!
Colton's 4th birthday. What a happy boy!
Colton and dad camping at the stake campout. Talk about hardcore car camping. The massive queen size matress spilling out of the tent was a nice touch. Colton was so excited to go camping. He was a chatter box! He talked for nearly 1 hour non stop until he fell asleep at 10pm.
Maddie dressing up for "Raymond's got talent". My little girl's growing up!
Kelly as an inspiring soccer coach of the 4 year olds. She's amazing with kids! Too bad Colton spent most of the games hanging on to her hips or sulking on the bleachers.
Group party at Colton's birthday party. There were some pretty fierce pirates.
More scary pirates. Some even opt to wear their eye patches upside down.
Halle passed on the kayaks in Waterton, and instead, found a group of trees that were woven together. Kind of a cool site.
Maddie is a natural in the kayak. We even trusted her to go out with Diana the great!
Maddie throwing down a big watermelon in Seattle.
Family picture with my Auntie Sharon. She was recently diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer, so we made a very quick trip to Seattle (one day), to visit with her. We had a great time. The kids were well behaved and the weather was awesome. What a neat experience to spend a little more time with my aunt.
Halle was pretty tuckered after our fast trip to Seattle. She crashed on the way home. She reminds me of Snow White. Darn apple.
2 day family ski trip to Montana. (Sorry it's out of order). On the very last run of the second day, Maddie fell when returning to the lodge and broke her thumb. Darn cat tracks. They get you every time.
Monday, December 19, 2011
What do Halle and Beth March have in common??
Answer:
Scarlett Fever. (a special shout out to my Brother in Law Allen who got the Little Women reference! Fist bump Al!!)
Halle has been sick all day. Tonight I gave her a bath and noticed a fun rash. When Mike got home I made him check it out and he thought it was Scarlett Fever, but wanted someone else to look at it. He took her over the ER here in town (gotta love the Canadian health care system for that!). Anyways, when the doc showed up Halle saw him and started cowering in the corner.
then Yipping like a dog at him.
The poor doctor was startled and did not know what to do, Then Halle in all of her strangeness announces to him that "You are my brother in Heaven. " Poor doctor, and even poorer Mike. Now he knows what it is like to take her in public.
Scarlett Fever. (a special shout out to my Brother in Law Allen who got the Little Women reference! Fist bump Al!!)
Halle has been sick all day. Tonight I gave her a bath and noticed a fun rash. When Mike got home I made him check it out and he thought it was Scarlett Fever, but wanted someone else to look at it. He took her over the ER here in town (gotta love the Canadian health care system for that!). Anyways, when the doc showed up Halle saw him and started cowering in the corner.
then Yipping like a dog at him.
The poor doctor was startled and did not know what to do, Then Halle in all of her strangeness announces to him that "You are my brother in Heaven. " Poor doctor, and even poorer Mike. Now he knows what it is like to take her in public.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
New picture
Mike would not let me use this picture (above in the header) for our Christmas card this year... something about chromosomal abnormalities.... He is so picky. But he never told me that I could not add it on our blog. Ps. Angie... the one eye closed thing is apparently genetic.
Merry Christmas everyone!!!!
The next two weeks are like a sprint to the finish! The kids are busy with skating (everyone skates this year in theory, Colton mostly just crawls on the ice and licks it! Bless his rotten little heart). and Piano. I get to go to a couple of Christmas concerts next week at school. Should be entertaining!
Ahh, I must leave to go and hide from the blue monster that is coming up the stairs.. Wish us luck.
Merry Christmas everyone!!!!
The next two weeks are like a sprint to the finish! The kids are busy with skating (everyone skates this year in theory, Colton mostly just crawls on the ice and licks it! Bless his rotten little heart). and Piano. I get to go to a couple of Christmas concerts next week at school. Should be entertaining!
Ahh, I must leave to go and hide from the blue monster that is coming up the stairs.. Wish us luck.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Top 10
I was at lunch today with some of the ladies, and I can't remember what inspired me, but I decided to post the top 10 things that my kids have done to humiliate me... I am sure that many more can be thought of, my kids are a constant source of humility for me...
10. Colton dancing in the Costco parking lot, while I am unloading groceries and going around the corner of the van and embarking on the worlds longest pee.... ever. I am sure that at least 50 people walked by... (BTW he was wearing all of his super hero gear.... can't leave home without it!)
9. Madison as a youngster was always stripping at parks... and peeing behind trees.... or bushes, but if any of you have lived in Arizona, you know that trees and bushes offer not a lot of protection. She was my nudist!!!
8. Mike decided to be a good father and teach my children the benefits of the word of wisdom. He told them that Smoking was bad for people's lungs and drinking was bad for livers. Mads would inform anyone anywhere that she would see smoking, in her loudest voice.... that Smoking was bad for their Livers.....
7. Halle is going to a child psychiatrist, and at one of our appointments, Mike came with us. As Mike and the doctor were talking doctor language, Halle walks up behind Mike and starts licking his head..... I could not control myself after that!!!!
6. Colton is starting to express himself by what he wears, I have always prided myself on being pretty good at letting my kids dress themselves and not trying to change them... but he seems to be so super capable of outdoing himself. Just look at the picture.
5. Madison went to a friends birthday party when she was 3-4 ish. They were students at an internation business school. So at this party the parents had some of their friends that were from all over the world. There was this guy there that was asian of some sort, and Mads walks up to him and asks him "Can I smell you?"
4. Halle is my licker.... Mike's head, the floor at Walmart, the lobster tank at Walmart... I once asked her Primary teacher how she was in class, and he told me that she was really good, if only he could get her to quit licking the chairs.
3. Halle also has this habit of cuddling up to strange men. Her cuddling involves a bit of arm rubbing, and a lot of rubbing her head up against the object of her affection. We were at a restaurant one day, and she took a liking to our waiter, and as I was helping Colton with something I look over and she is full on snuzzling this poor older gentleman waiter guy. He did not even know how to handle her. I only wish I did too!!
2. I am not sure why my life involves so much licking, but it really does. We had a neighbour in Arizona that was an older gentleman. He had an amputated leg, and wore a prosthetic. He used to hear us coming and going, and come out to visit us. I was talking to him one day and I look down and Madison is licking his prosthetic.
1. Another Madison story. She was about 3-4. And we were in Arizona at our pool. We had all sorts of characters that lived in our apartment complex. One such character was a Cuban gentlman that liked to lift weights, had a bunch of tatoos, and always wore a pleather speedo like suit to the pool. Mads, being her questioning self saw him one day, and went over to chat. Just as I was getting there she was touching his tatoos and asking "what is that"... So he was telling her all about his many tatoos. Just when I think that this conversation is over Mads asks another "what's that?" and proceeds to grab the man right in the pleather speedo. Oh not she didn't.... yes, yes she did. I nearly died. I was laughing and so embarassed and apologizing....
see, I already thought of another one...
Halle went over to our neighbours house, and every once and a while she has a bit of a challenge with bowl incontinence.... Anyways, she came home smelling foul, and I bathed her etc. I was talking to my neighbour a couple of days later and she told me a funny story (for her at least!). She was helping her little girl in the bathroom with the hygene aspect of things, and her little crawling baby was on the floor. The baby had picked up something that she thought looked like a chocolate covered raisin.. They had been eating them earlier that day so she thought nothing of it. Just before the baby put it in her mouth the mom thought to check it out, and low and behold....it was no chocolate covered raisin. Since she is still helping her other daughter with her bathroom hygene, she surmised that it was Halle that had left such a fun present at her house.
See why I love my kids.. The keep me on my toes like no one else.
10. Colton dancing in the Costco parking lot, while I am unloading groceries and going around the corner of the van and embarking on the worlds longest pee.... ever. I am sure that at least 50 people walked by... (BTW he was wearing all of his super hero gear.... can't leave home without it!)
9. Madison as a youngster was always stripping at parks... and peeing behind trees.... or bushes, but if any of you have lived in Arizona, you know that trees and bushes offer not a lot of protection. She was my nudist!!!
8. Mike decided to be a good father and teach my children the benefits of the word of wisdom. He told them that Smoking was bad for people's lungs and drinking was bad for livers. Mads would inform anyone anywhere that she would see smoking, in her loudest voice.... that Smoking was bad for their Livers.....
7. Halle is going to a child psychiatrist, and at one of our appointments, Mike came with us. As Mike and the doctor were talking doctor language, Halle walks up behind Mike and starts licking his head..... I could not control myself after that!!!!
6. Colton is starting to express himself by what he wears, I have always prided myself on being pretty good at letting my kids dress themselves and not trying to change them... but he seems to be so super capable of outdoing himself. Just look at the picture.
5. Madison went to a friends birthday party when she was 3-4 ish. They were students at an internation business school. So at this party the parents had some of their friends that were from all over the world. There was this guy there that was asian of some sort, and Mads walks up to him and asks him "Can I smell you?"
4. Halle is my licker.... Mike's head, the floor at Walmart, the lobster tank at Walmart... I once asked her Primary teacher how she was in class, and he told me that she was really good, if only he could get her to quit licking the chairs.
3. Halle also has this habit of cuddling up to strange men. Her cuddling involves a bit of arm rubbing, and a lot of rubbing her head up against the object of her affection. We were at a restaurant one day, and she took a liking to our waiter, and as I was helping Colton with something I look over and she is full on snuzzling this poor older gentleman waiter guy. He did not even know how to handle her. I only wish I did too!!
2. I am not sure why my life involves so much licking, but it really does. We had a neighbour in Arizona that was an older gentleman. He had an amputated leg, and wore a prosthetic. He used to hear us coming and going, and come out to visit us. I was talking to him one day and I look down and Madison is licking his prosthetic.
1. Another Madison story. She was about 3-4. And we were in Arizona at our pool. We had all sorts of characters that lived in our apartment complex. One such character was a Cuban gentlman that liked to lift weights, had a bunch of tatoos, and always wore a pleather speedo like suit to the pool. Mads, being her questioning self saw him one day, and went over to chat. Just as I was getting there she was touching his tatoos and asking "what is that"... So he was telling her all about his many tatoos. Just when I think that this conversation is over Mads asks another "what's that?" and proceeds to grab the man right in the pleather speedo. Oh not she didn't.... yes, yes she did. I nearly died. I was laughing and so embarassed and apologizing....
see, I already thought of another one...
Halle went over to our neighbours house, and every once and a while she has a bit of a challenge with bowl incontinence.... Anyways, she came home smelling foul, and I bathed her etc. I was talking to my neighbour a couple of days later and she told me a funny story (for her at least!). She was helping her little girl in the bathroom with the hygene aspect of things, and her little crawling baby was on the floor. The baby had picked up something that she thought looked like a chocolate covered raisin.. They had been eating them earlier that day so she thought nothing of it. Just before the baby put it in her mouth the mom thought to check it out, and low and behold....it was no chocolate covered raisin. Since she is still helping her other daughter with her bathroom hygene, she surmised that it was Halle that had left such a fun present at her house.
See why I love my kids.. The keep me on my toes like no one else.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Sunday, August 14, 2011
not giving up
My sisters last week told me that they quit checking to see if I would update my blog. What is with that..... It has only been 3 months.... It could be worse.
I really do write blogs in my head all the time, but I just never get around to typing them on the computer... Such is life.
So in order to not swamp people with all the fun things that we have been doing, I will try to stick to a few!.
1. End of school for the girls (In Canada that is at the end of JUNE!!!) We spent much of June doing track meets, and sports days, and school triathalons, marathon club.... SO cute. Halle raced the 100m against all her grade and ended up in 6th!! She was of course wearing her super fast, multi-purpose boots. She got called to the office to get her ribbon, and she came home and told me that she won her race.... she got 6th place. She is happy with a ribbon!!
Mads finally caught the fire of competition. She is my little sprinter... The morning of the school track meet Mike sat her down and worked on showing her some Carl Lewis videos so that she could learn proper technique. She did AMAZING. She ended up going to Districts for quite a few events and ended up winning first for the 100M. She was not going to let anyone pass her. If I ever figure out how to do it, I will upload video to you tube so that you all can admire her technique....
Mads and her peeps at the track meet. Those are her lucky clothes!!
2. First of July.... We love the first here. It is Canada day and the whole town triples or quadruples in size. We have a parade that is so cute. Mike thinks it is hysterical. He loves that anyone can enter, and there are kids that ride bikes, cars that have signs on the side, the local plumber had a toilet on top of his van and a kid was sitting on it and reaching in the bowl, to get candy to throw!!!
We class it up. This year for a change of pace we decided to enter the family soft ball tournament. Our family did not do so well.. We got 10 runned in both of our games. But we had a fantastic time!
3. Chicago Trip. I got to go on a trip all by myself this summer.. I feel a bit like the Mercer Meyer book. I can stay in a hotel, all by myself. I can get on the plane all by myself. I can go to Chicago all by myself.
I got to go and visit my little sister. She is lonely this summer and she needed me. I went out the last weekend of June, and just stayed for a few days, but we had so much fun. We went to Taste of Chicago. I lived close for 4 years and never went, but it was tons of fun, and great people watching. They had it combined that day with Latin-fest, so there was alot of fun latin polka music, and funny people dancing to it. I convinced my sister to leave at 2 in the morning so that we could go to the Notre Dame Garage Sale again. Thank you Emilee for introducing me to such a fantastic event. Between that and hand me downs I think it constitues most of my wardrobe. You could see the signs of the economy not doing as well, but it was still fun to go! I will miss it tons. I got to go to one of my friend's little girls baptism and see some of my favorite South Bend people. Sorry I was so out of it that day at the baptism. I was a little on the tired side... but it was SO fun to see you all! We went to the beach, watched tons of movies, went shopping downtown! Great trip! Thanks Cath!
4. Swim Club, Swim meets and Swimming lessons.
5. Triathalon. Mike has started to try to get himself into triathalons. We have made Madison do triathalons for the last 2 years. We made her do one again this summer. It was tons of fun, and Mike's mom and dad came up to visit and to watch. Mike did really good. He learned that he needs to practice transitioning from biking to running, but he really did amazing. I couldn't do it. Mads did fantastic. In her age group she got first... of course it was 11 and under and she was the oldest, but she did fantastic none the less.
6. Cathy came to visit. My sister has been alone most of the summer, her hubby is away doing an internship, So my mom, aka the party planner planned lots of fun outings. We wanted to go to Writing on Stone, but there is a warning that you are not supposed to swim in the river because the level of fecal matter in it is too high, so we opted for Red Rock in Waterton!
The kids and I at red rock!! it was a different day, but still so much fun!
We did a Mom and Sister hike... that is now lovingly referred to as the "Eternal Hike". I was trying to get everyone to do it in 4 hours, and we were lucky to get down in 8 my mom has a bunch of pictures tagged on my facebook. We also got to go biking down Logan's Pass. I love Logan's pass, and it was SOOOO fun to bike down it. It was scary watching Mads bike it though. She has a tendency to swerve a bit, and ride either in the MIDDLE of the road, or on the very edge.
7. We did get to go to Writing on Stone at the beggining of summer! It is such a fun place to go. We love hiking and then playing in the river. The kids could spend HOURS digging and collecting mud. Those are the best days ever!!
Hiking in the HooDoos. Or however you spell that!
8. We have been trying to get grass to grow in our backyard. It is coming in, slowly, and I am trying to fight a battle with the weeds. The town is also going to be paving our road. They dug it all up and are supposed to be curbing it soon. We hope, our fingers are crossed. Anyways, when they were digging it out they had a bunch of tractors doing the work, and a certain boy in my house thought it was the best day ever. He spent most of his morning either watching them, or out on the deck with his tractors mimmicking them! So cute.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Colton funny
Colt is starting to talk more and more... sometimes it is even intelligible.
The other night Mike was gone, and we were reading scriptures. We are trying to read the New Testament this year (with Sunday School... and we are only in Mark) Anyways, we got to the part where Christ is not in the tomb, and the angels are telling the Marys that they should go and tell the Apostles, and Peter in Galalee.....
And Colton starts yelling at me... "No, Peter..uh nh unu nuh a Galalee. Peter a Bpahmahnn. (which being interpreted is... Peter is not in Galalee, Peter is Spiderman!!!) And there ended our scripture reading for the night...
The kid knows his superheros.
The other night Mike was gone, and we were reading scriptures. We are trying to read the New Testament this year (with Sunday School... and we are only in Mark) Anyways, we got to the part where Christ is not in the tomb, and the angels are telling the Marys that they should go and tell the Apostles, and Peter in Galalee.....
And Colton starts yelling at me... "No, Peter..uh nh unu nuh a Galalee. Peter a Bpahmahnn. (which being interpreted is... Peter is not in Galalee, Peter is Spiderman!!!) And there ended our scripture reading for the night...
The kid knows his superheros.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Colton has become more and more.... individually minded. I always thought that boys were not worried about what they looked like, and what they wore, but mine certainly has proved that theory to be wrong. He likes to dress himself. He is determined to wear swimsuits every day, and has been since the deep cold of winter. Bless his challenging little heart. Here he is with one of his buddies. They had found Madison's makeup, and made sure that they looked as lovely as can be!!! I was proud!
This was a typical going to the store outfit for my little super hero. I am not sure if you can see very well, but he is wearing his lightening McQueen hat and gubs (gloves), his Buzz Lightyear shorts, and rocket slippers, topped off with a very handsome cape that my sister in law made for him for Christmas. Any of the above mentioned items are....for the most part wonderful by themselves, but combined together.... I loved the way that people giggled when we ran errands and he would run up and down isles making shooting noises.... wearing THAT outfit.
Lately we have graduated to this very fine dress-up.... Mads and Halle brought him up one Saturday, and he was wearing Halle's old Pegasus Unicorn costume. Complete with his easter bonnet. AHHH... Needless to say, I am ordering him some superhero costumes for his birthday, and HIDING that Unicorn one. (he will run around saying... I fwapping (flapping) my wings... fwap, fwap).
Mike had a CME in Salt Lake this last week. Last year it was in Cancun, this year's exotic destination lacked palm trees, ocean, and warm weather... but we did get to visit with some friends we had not seen for a long time. We got to see Med School Buddies, Devin and Sooz Taylor, and all of their little kids. Their oldest is 15 now.... holy cow how did I get that old?
We got to visit with my Grandma, and Ted. It was so good to see them. The girls have not seen them since before Colton was born. Halle LOVED her. Grandma did a good job, and wore a velour track suit, which anything soft is a Halle magnet... There was much loving and cuddling.
We saw some of our residency buddies Sandersons and Kindreds... it was great to see you guys!! Brooke your house is beautiful. The kids had a great time running around with their old friends.... We did miss the Bradys, and were sad that we could not see them!!
And last but certainly not least we got to see our dear friends the Wrights... We have not seen them in almost 5 years. Their oldest was Maddie's partner in most of her diabolical schemes as a little person. There was haircuts, and dumping of shampoo on carpets... and vaseline in hair, and neosporin in hair.... Oh, I could go on and on!!! Their house was the only house i had a camera at... We just bought a new little one since I have a very bitter hate relationship with my old one.
Mads and her partner in crime... do you see the mischief in their eyes????
I thought I would include a fine picture of my girls that they took on Photobooth... If the fact that iMacs only have one cord, and NO tower are not selling features.... photobooth should be. My kids would spend all day taking silly pictures of themselves,
This was a typical going to the store outfit for my little super hero. I am not sure if you can see very well, but he is wearing his lightening McQueen hat and gubs (gloves), his Buzz Lightyear shorts, and rocket slippers, topped off with a very handsome cape that my sister in law made for him for Christmas. Any of the above mentioned items are....for the most part wonderful by themselves, but combined together.... I loved the way that people giggled when we ran errands and he would run up and down isles making shooting noises.... wearing THAT outfit.
Lately we have graduated to this very fine dress-up.... Mads and Halle brought him up one Saturday, and he was wearing Halle's old Pegasus Unicorn costume. Complete with his easter bonnet. AHHH... Needless to say, I am ordering him some superhero costumes for his birthday, and HIDING that Unicorn one. (he will run around saying... I fwapping (flapping) my wings... fwap, fwap).
Mike had a CME in Salt Lake this last week. Last year it was in Cancun, this year's exotic destination lacked palm trees, ocean, and warm weather... but we did get to visit with some friends we had not seen for a long time. We got to see Med School Buddies, Devin and Sooz Taylor, and all of their little kids. Their oldest is 15 now.... holy cow how did I get that old?
We got to visit with my Grandma, and Ted. It was so good to see them. The girls have not seen them since before Colton was born. Halle LOVED her. Grandma did a good job, and wore a velour track suit, which anything soft is a Halle magnet... There was much loving and cuddling.
We saw some of our residency buddies Sandersons and Kindreds... it was great to see you guys!! Brooke your house is beautiful. The kids had a great time running around with their old friends.... We did miss the Bradys, and were sad that we could not see them!!
And last but certainly not least we got to see our dear friends the Wrights... We have not seen them in almost 5 years. Their oldest was Maddie's partner in most of her diabolical schemes as a little person. There was haircuts, and dumping of shampoo on carpets... and vaseline in hair, and neosporin in hair.... Oh, I could go on and on!!! Their house was the only house i had a camera at... We just bought a new little one since I have a very bitter hate relationship with my old one.
Mads and her partner in crime... do you see the mischief in their eyes????
I thought I would include a fine picture of my girls that they took on Photobooth... If the fact that iMacs only have one cord, and NO tower are not selling features.... photobooth should be. My kids would spend all day taking silly pictures of themselves,
Thursday, April 14, 2011
A moment of pure weakness
Last week I got a phone call from a lady in town. She was calling me about Halle's soccer team. When we signed up for soccer I had put down that I would be willing to be an assistant coach for her. I had allready said that I would be a coach for Mads. Well, no one else wanted to be Halle's coach, so low and behold, I get to be.
I have two little soccer teams, Halle's is Canada Flags, and Madison's is the Pumas. Halle's is all girls, Mads is co-ed. I spend about an hour M-Th with my teams. We pracitce one day a week, and have a game the other day.
I am so grateful to my mom for keeping Colton,( and Halle on Mad's soccer days). Next year, I would love to coach one of them, but perhaps not both!!!!!
Event though I am now busier than I had planned, I am really enjoying having my little people, and it makes me miss soccer SO much!!!
I have two little soccer teams, Halle's is Canada Flags, and Madison's is the Pumas. Halle's is all girls, Mads is co-ed. I spend about an hour M-Th with my teams. We pracitce one day a week, and have a game the other day.
I am so grateful to my mom for keeping Colton,( and Halle on Mad's soccer days). Next year, I would love to coach one of them, but perhaps not both!!!!!
Event though I am now busier than I had planned, I am really enjoying having my little people, and it makes me miss soccer SO much!!!
Monday, April 4, 2011
For posterity
I know... two posts in one day. I was talking to my brother in law yesterday, and he reminded me of something I wanted to write down before I forget.
Halle is a funny kid. (this is always a good preface for her!!) She has always wanted me to do EVERYTHING for her. Help her get dressed, help her eat, help her in the bathroom....
Mike calls me an enabler. (is that how you spell that?) Perhaps I am, but life is SO much easier, and there is SO much less fighting when I do help.
Lately I have drawn the line on helping her in the bathroom. I mean she is seven and a half... she should be able to take care of that herself by now right?
Picture this... my mom and I sitting on the couch chatting. Halle.... taking care of business. In the middle of our chat, I hear yeling from the bathroom..
Hal" MOM....."
Me " Yes dear?"
Hal "Can you wipe my bum?"
Me "NO, You are seven years old, and should be able to do this by yourself..."
Hal (SUPER indignant) "You think I am your servant!!!!!!"
Me giggle.... giggle
Hal " Grandma........"
She has pulled out the servant thing a couple of times. I truely think it is one of the funniest things that I have ever heard. I needed to write it down before I forgot!
Halle is a funny kid. (this is always a good preface for her!!) She has always wanted me to do EVERYTHING for her. Help her get dressed, help her eat, help her in the bathroom....
Mike calls me an enabler. (is that how you spell that?) Perhaps I am, but life is SO much easier, and there is SO much less fighting when I do help.
Lately I have drawn the line on helping her in the bathroom. I mean she is seven and a half... she should be able to take care of that herself by now right?
Picture this... my mom and I sitting on the couch chatting. Halle.... taking care of business. In the middle of our chat, I hear yeling from the bathroom..
Hal" MOM....."
Me " Yes dear?"
Hal "Can you wipe my bum?"
Me "NO, You are seven years old, and should be able to do this by yourself..."
Hal (SUPER indignant) "You think I am your servant!!!!!!"
Me giggle.... giggle
Hal " Grandma........"
She has pulled out the servant thing a couple of times. I truely think it is one of the funniest things that I have ever heard. I needed to write it down before I forgot!
NO pics....sorry...I forgot how to add them on this computer
Holy cow. I have a lot to catch up on. Jan 9th was my last post. Shameful!
Well Jan was a fun month. We took Mads skiing for her birthday. We put her in lessons for the morning, and Mike and I got to ski by ourselves. We found ourselves in "the best tree line skiing in Canada" on accident. Let me tell you, 11 years without skiing, and I am not in the shape that I once was. We had a blast, and Mike even taught Mads to go off jumps. In lessons, Mads learned how to turn. By the time we got her back, she decided that her 5 times down the hill turning all the time was ENOUGH and she pretty much went straight down. Yes she knew how to turn, but NO she did not want to. Funny. I laughed pretty much the rest of the day.
I also had a moment of complete insanity... those seem to happen all too often. And I agreed to have a combined birthday party for Mads with one of her friends. To my credit, I did not let them invite 10 kids each, like they wanted to. The party was Harry Potter themed, and it was so much fun. The kids came over, had snacks off of the snack trolley, we made wands, transfigured shrinky dinks, made magic potions, had cake and Ice cream, and did a pinata. It was SO cute, and the girls all loved it. We ended up inviting all the girls in Mads and Isa's class. She has a nice little group of girls. I was impressed.
Feb was LONG and COLD. I know people might think that I am being silly... I live in Canada for heavens sake, but FOR REAL it was FREEZING here. I don't remember it ever being that cold... Not for as long as it was. So being the fantastic wife that I am, I "let" Mike take the kids and I to California. How thoughtful of me. (the week before we went it was so warm in CA.... the week we were there, it was NOT quite so warm, but warmer than here.... so we were grateful.) We went with my Parents, and two of my sisters and my brother in law. We stayed at my Aunt and Uncle's place in Desert Hot Springs... right by palm springs. We hung out there, went to some outlets, met my cousin at the beach, and of course, went to Disneyland. So much fun.
The kids had a blast.
Colton LOVED swimming. It makes me excited/scared for the summer. This kid needs to learn to swim before he kills himself. He was SO enthralled with Disneyland. He loved it. I don't know if he smiled much, but he spent most of his time watching everything. His favorite ride was the Buzz Lightyear ride at Disney. He loved it. It was Buzz Lightyear's house. And he was SUPER upset when we went on a different ride.
Halle... well, I think that she had fun. She loved the beach, and had fun meeting my cousin's kids. I had forgotten that she does not like loud noises very much, so Disneyland was maybe not the best choice for her. She did really well, and had a fun time, but if you saw the pictures of her at the ends of some of the rides, she always had her hood on, and usually had her ears plugged. MY brother in law got to go on one coaster with her and was SUPER amused to see her have her hood on, with one shoulder plugging one ear, and that arm wrapped around plugging the other one, while she sucked on her sucker with the other... He was also amused to walk behind her. She has always had a way of walking that is unlike anything I have ever seen before. Well, at Disney it was no different, except she often would include jumping from one colored stone to another... in no apparent pattern, stopping, starting, lurching, juking from side to side. She would crash into people, and look up and give THEM the crustiest look ever. AHHH Halle. She wanted So bad to go on the Tower of Terror, and so she and I went on it. I would have sworn that she did not like it at all, but she now tells everyone that it was her "FavOwrite" . She even told Mike that she would "comfort him" on it if he wanted her to go with him.
Mads.... I hardly saw her. She got to go off with her aunts and uncle, and was in heaven. They took her on all the big scary rides, and ran her all over the park. My mom bought some sort of program that could help you know when to get fast passes, and when to go and stand in lines. And so Mads and her crew RAN AND RAN AND RAN... And Mads was awfully tired when we were done. I got to go on a couple of rides with her, and I got to hear her giggle my favorite giggle. She is so adorable when she is having fun.
When we got back it was still not spring here.... but lately the temps have been rising, and we have even had Lake Salmon take over the fronts of our yards on our street. It is a sight to see. The kids have been having fun playing in the puddles, and they come home SOAKING wet. Especially the youngest two. They are a sight to see.
Mads had a sleepover at the beginning of school, and the next day she was SO very grouchy that I, being my rational self, told her that she was not able to have sleepovers for 5 months...(Yes Mom, laugh all you want, but she now knows that I mean business) It has been 5 months, so, that ban has now been lifted, and couple of weeks ago she had her BFF come and sleep over. The next morning, knowing that I would KILL her if she showed any sign of grouchiness, she actually was kind to Halle and let her play with them. They has been playing dodgeball for a couple of hours, and I could hear them running around and having a good time. I found out later that they were playing "Toilet Tag" What kind of game is Toilet tag you ask.... well, apparently from what I can gather talking to little people, instead of just freezing when you are tagged, and having to have someone touch you to "unfreeze" you, you have to get down on one knee, put out one arm to the side, and have someone sit on your knee and push the arm down "flushing" you!
So the kids are downstars playing toilet tag, and having a lovely time. Then I heard Halle crying. I did not think too much of it. Mads came up and told me that Halle had said that she "cracked her knuckle". Knuckle cracking in my book get a big 0 on my sympathy scale, and so I told her it was going to be okay, and went back to cleaning bathrooms....(ahhh the glamorous life of a mom!) She came upstairs a while later, not really putting much weight on it... My kids can be ever so slightly melodramatic and I was not going to let her mope around and get out of chores, just because she "cracked her knuckle". She had a 3 hour nap on the couch and when Mike got home for dinner, she still was not putting weight on it. We decided to watch it and if it did not get better, we would take her in to get x-rays. Mike got called back into work, and so I put it out of my mind.... tomorrow. Sunday, still not walking on it well, she was curving her foot and walking only on the outside edge..... she calls it her "crescent walk". Monday, it was still not better. I tried to get Mike to call into the hospital here, to get her x-rayed, and they were in the midst of renos. I took her to Mike's clinic, and low and behold...... she broke her toe. She got herself a fine walking boot...(can you picture that kid in a cast with cruches....that might be one of my worst nightmares).
The orthotics guy (what is the correct offical title for them anyways?) that gave us the boot, told me that when she gets better to come back and see him, and he will see what he can do for her walk.... It really is remarkable.... and NOT getting better. If he can fix her... I will love him forever!!
A couple of weeks ago we took all the kids skiing at this great hill just south of Kalispell Montana. (Yes Jen and Kiley, we thought about you guys when we were there. we will have to meet you there sometime to go skiing). The kids did awesome.
We took the kids out on the hill. All the chairs were below the lodge, so we skied first, then rode the chair up. Mads was an all-star. She is a natural. Colt wore a harness, but "skied" in between my legs. He had the BIGGEST smile on his face the whole time, and when I would ski faster, he would giggle ! He loved the chairlift, and pointed out "monster" footprints underneath in the snow.
My mom and dad skiied with Mads for awhile, and when they would come up the lift, we would see Hal and Anna. Sometimes she and her teacher were lying in the snow, with Hal eating it, once they were climbing the hill with boots on, they worked on one ski at a time turning, and then they saw Anna carrying Hal. Anna told them that Hal was tired, so she was taking her into the lodge for a hot chocolate. She had already taken Hal in once, because Hal had eaten her lift pass off her zipper, and it had to be replaced! After a 45 minute lesson....a hour and a half left in the lesson time, Halle saw me and asked to ski with me. ( I am sure by this time Anna had earned her $$$ and more!!!) So I decided to take her down the green circle run, so Hal could ride on the chair lift. (she hadn't been on one yet, and really wanted to.) It took a LONG time to get down. She did fantastic for about the first half of the hill. Then she got really tired. And if anyone knows Hal when she is tired, you know that she becomes her "blessing" self (I learned yesterday in conference that diffucult children were really blessings in diguise. That was good to hear!). She gave up. Wanted me to leave her there on the hill. ended up taking off her skiis and was ROLLING down the hill. I have never seen anyone roll down a ski hill on purpose, but I guess that there is a first time for everything. It took us forever, but she finally made it. And then we went in for Lunch. Colt was done too. He was SUPER pooped, and ate everything in sight. He never eats anything, so it was a miracle. And very funny. YOu could not leave anything unattended, or you would be missing it.
After lunch, I took Halle out for another "run". Halle actually skied, and turned!! she did great, and would ask me every turn things like, "am I doing so good?" "am I the best ski-o" "did I do the tone (turn) so good?" "am I bett-o than Maddie?", "am I bett-o than Allen?" She skied all the way down!! Then went back to the hotel with my Dad and Colton to rest.
The next day after 2 runs Colton was so tired he was falling asleep skiing with me. Poor kiddo. He still loved it, but one little person can only take so much excitement.
Halle skiied like a champ. You would not have guessed that the rolling girl was indeed the same kid that was snowlplowing down the greens and blues like she had been doing it for years. On one steep hill she went down she told Mike after that she was scared... but the Holy Ghost comforted her. Cute kid.
Mads and I started working on skiing paralell, and after two runs of going rather slow... she got the hang of it, and now she flies down the mountain like a champ. Even Mads got tired at the end of the second day. Mike tried to get her to ski as crazy as he does... but Mads (at least for now) has more common sense than her dad, and only flies off a couple of jumps, going about half speed instead of full speed. We are super proud of our kiddos.
But Mike and I are really excited to have litte kids that are such great skiiers, and that really love it. We will be going back next year, at least once.
Well Jan was a fun month. We took Mads skiing for her birthday. We put her in lessons for the morning, and Mike and I got to ski by ourselves. We found ourselves in "the best tree line skiing in Canada" on accident. Let me tell you, 11 years without skiing, and I am not in the shape that I once was. We had a blast, and Mike even taught Mads to go off jumps. In lessons, Mads learned how to turn. By the time we got her back, she decided that her 5 times down the hill turning all the time was ENOUGH and she pretty much went straight down. Yes she knew how to turn, but NO she did not want to. Funny. I laughed pretty much the rest of the day.
I also had a moment of complete insanity... those seem to happen all too often. And I agreed to have a combined birthday party for Mads with one of her friends. To my credit, I did not let them invite 10 kids each, like they wanted to. The party was Harry Potter themed, and it was so much fun. The kids came over, had snacks off of the snack trolley, we made wands, transfigured shrinky dinks, made magic potions, had cake and Ice cream, and did a pinata. It was SO cute, and the girls all loved it. We ended up inviting all the girls in Mads and Isa's class. She has a nice little group of girls. I was impressed.
Feb was LONG and COLD. I know people might think that I am being silly... I live in Canada for heavens sake, but FOR REAL it was FREEZING here. I don't remember it ever being that cold... Not for as long as it was. So being the fantastic wife that I am, I "let" Mike take the kids and I to California. How thoughtful of me. (the week before we went it was so warm in CA.... the week we were there, it was NOT quite so warm, but warmer than here.... so we were grateful.) We went with my Parents, and two of my sisters and my brother in law. We stayed at my Aunt and Uncle's place in Desert Hot Springs... right by palm springs. We hung out there, went to some outlets, met my cousin at the beach, and of course, went to Disneyland. So much fun.
The kids had a blast.
Colton LOVED swimming. It makes me excited/scared for the summer. This kid needs to learn to swim before he kills himself. He was SO enthralled with Disneyland. He loved it. I don't know if he smiled much, but he spent most of his time watching everything. His favorite ride was the Buzz Lightyear ride at Disney. He loved it. It was Buzz Lightyear's house. And he was SUPER upset when we went on a different ride.
Halle... well, I think that she had fun. She loved the beach, and had fun meeting my cousin's kids. I had forgotten that she does not like loud noises very much, so Disneyland was maybe not the best choice for her. She did really well, and had a fun time, but if you saw the pictures of her at the ends of some of the rides, she always had her hood on, and usually had her ears plugged. MY brother in law got to go on one coaster with her and was SUPER amused to see her have her hood on, with one shoulder plugging one ear, and that arm wrapped around plugging the other one, while she sucked on her sucker with the other... He was also amused to walk behind her. She has always had a way of walking that is unlike anything I have ever seen before. Well, at Disney it was no different, except she often would include jumping from one colored stone to another... in no apparent pattern, stopping, starting, lurching, juking from side to side. She would crash into people, and look up and give THEM the crustiest look ever. AHHH Halle. She wanted So bad to go on the Tower of Terror, and so she and I went on it. I would have sworn that she did not like it at all, but she now tells everyone that it was her "FavOwrite" . She even told Mike that she would "comfort him" on it if he wanted her to go with him.
Mads.... I hardly saw her. She got to go off with her aunts and uncle, and was in heaven. They took her on all the big scary rides, and ran her all over the park. My mom bought some sort of program that could help you know when to get fast passes, and when to go and stand in lines. And so Mads and her crew RAN AND RAN AND RAN... And Mads was awfully tired when we were done. I got to go on a couple of rides with her, and I got to hear her giggle my favorite giggle. She is so adorable when she is having fun.
When we got back it was still not spring here.... but lately the temps have been rising, and we have even had Lake Salmon take over the fronts of our yards on our street. It is a sight to see. The kids have been having fun playing in the puddles, and they come home SOAKING wet. Especially the youngest two. They are a sight to see.
Mads had a sleepover at the beginning of school, and the next day she was SO very grouchy that I, being my rational self, told her that she was not able to have sleepovers for 5 months...(Yes Mom, laugh all you want, but she now knows that I mean business) It has been 5 months, so, that ban has now been lifted, and couple of weeks ago she had her BFF come and sleep over. The next morning, knowing that I would KILL her if she showed any sign of grouchiness, she actually was kind to Halle and let her play with them. They has been playing dodgeball for a couple of hours, and I could hear them running around and having a good time. I found out later that they were playing "Toilet Tag" What kind of game is Toilet tag you ask.... well, apparently from what I can gather talking to little people, instead of just freezing when you are tagged, and having to have someone touch you to "unfreeze" you, you have to get down on one knee, put out one arm to the side, and have someone sit on your knee and push the arm down "flushing" you!
So the kids are downstars playing toilet tag, and having a lovely time. Then I heard Halle crying. I did not think too much of it. Mads came up and told me that Halle had said that she "cracked her knuckle". Knuckle cracking in my book get a big 0 on my sympathy scale, and so I told her it was going to be okay, and went back to cleaning bathrooms....(ahhh the glamorous life of a mom!) She came upstairs a while later, not really putting much weight on it... My kids can be ever so slightly melodramatic and I was not going to let her mope around and get out of chores, just because she "cracked her knuckle". She had a 3 hour nap on the couch and when Mike got home for dinner, she still was not putting weight on it. We decided to watch it and if it did not get better, we would take her in to get x-rays. Mike got called back into work, and so I put it out of my mind.... tomorrow. Sunday, still not walking on it well, she was curving her foot and walking only on the outside edge..... she calls it her "crescent walk". Monday, it was still not better. I tried to get Mike to call into the hospital here, to get her x-rayed, and they were in the midst of renos. I took her to Mike's clinic, and low and behold...... she broke her toe. She got herself a fine walking boot...(can you picture that kid in a cast with cruches....that might be one of my worst nightmares).
The orthotics guy (what is the correct offical title for them anyways?) that gave us the boot, told me that when she gets better to come back and see him, and he will see what he can do for her walk.... It really is remarkable.... and NOT getting better. If he can fix her... I will love him forever!!
A couple of weeks ago we took all the kids skiing at this great hill just south of Kalispell Montana. (Yes Jen and Kiley, we thought about you guys when we were there. we will have to meet you there sometime to go skiing). The kids did awesome.
We took the kids out on the hill. All the chairs were below the lodge, so we skied first, then rode the chair up. Mads was an all-star. She is a natural. Colt wore a harness, but "skied" in between my legs. He had the BIGGEST smile on his face the whole time, and when I would ski faster, he would giggle ! He loved the chairlift, and pointed out "monster" footprints underneath in the snow.
My mom and dad skiied with Mads for awhile, and when they would come up the lift, we would see Hal and Anna. Sometimes she and her teacher were lying in the snow, with Hal eating it, once they were climbing the hill with boots on, they worked on one ski at a time turning, and then they saw Anna carrying Hal. Anna told them that Hal was tired, so she was taking her into the lodge for a hot chocolate. She had already taken Hal in once, because Hal had eaten her lift pass off her zipper, and it had to be replaced! After a 45 minute lesson....a hour and a half left in the lesson time, Halle saw me and asked to ski with me. ( I am sure by this time Anna had earned her $$$ and more!!!) So I decided to take her down the green circle run, so Hal could ride on the chair lift. (she hadn't been on one yet, and really wanted to.) It took a LONG time to get down. She did fantastic for about the first half of the hill. Then she got really tired. And if anyone knows Hal when she is tired, you know that she becomes her "blessing" self (I learned yesterday in conference that diffucult children were really blessings in diguise. That was good to hear!). She gave up. Wanted me to leave her there on the hill. ended up taking off her skiis and was ROLLING down the hill. I have never seen anyone roll down a ski hill on purpose, but I guess that there is a first time for everything. It took us forever, but she finally made it. And then we went in for Lunch. Colt was done too. He was SUPER pooped, and ate everything in sight. He never eats anything, so it was a miracle. And very funny. YOu could not leave anything unattended, or you would be missing it.
After lunch, I took Halle out for another "run". Halle actually skied, and turned!! she did great, and would ask me every turn things like, "am I doing so good?" "am I the best ski-o" "did I do the tone (turn) so good?" "am I bett-o than Maddie?", "am I bett-o than Allen?" She skied all the way down!! Then went back to the hotel with my Dad and Colton to rest.
The next day after 2 runs Colton was so tired he was falling asleep skiing with me. Poor kiddo. He still loved it, but one little person can only take so much excitement.
Halle skiied like a champ. You would not have guessed that the rolling girl was indeed the same kid that was snowlplowing down the greens and blues like she had been doing it for years. On one steep hill she went down she told Mike after that she was scared... but the Holy Ghost comforted her. Cute kid.
Mads and I started working on skiing paralell, and after two runs of going rather slow... she got the hang of it, and now she flies down the mountain like a champ. Even Mads got tired at the end of the second day. Mike tried to get her to ski as crazy as he does... but Mads (at least for now) has more common sense than her dad, and only flies off a couple of jumps, going about half speed instead of full speed. We are super proud of our kiddos.
But Mike and I are really excited to have litte kids that are such great skiiers, and that really love it. We will be going back next year, at least once.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Catching up
Happy New year everyone. I am ashamed at how long it has been since I have posted on my blog... or Facebook, which I still have not figured out yet. So much has happened, and for posterity's sake, I should probably write at least some of it down.
The Beginning of December was so BUSY. I, as the leader formerly known as the Enrichment Leader, had a progressive dinner at our church, with a musical program too. (well...as much of a musical program that I could put together... not being particularly musically inclined!). I think that it went well, but HOLY stress. I am now even more of the opinion "less is more!". But it is over, and I have taken a self imposed vacation from planning all of December. It was very nice!
After my Church duties, I was free to pick my very first live Christmas tree. My mom and I drove up to the foothills of the mountains with the kids, and we put Hal and Colt in a sled, and snowshoed up to find the perfect tree.
I felt a bit like Chevy Chase on Christmas Vacation when he finds THE TREE and the light is shining down on it.
So much fun. It is a lot of work to pull a large tree through a forest, wearing snowshoes. But it was So worth it. The kids had a blast... until Colton got snow in his boots and then was miserable. I am excited to go again next year!
We had Church Christmas parties. Skating Christmas parties. School Christmas parties, and School Christmas programs. Mike covered A LOT of Hockey games for our local Hurricanes (WHL minor league hockey team ) We got to go to a game with him one night with all the kids. They loved it until the buzzer went off and the game started. Then Halle and Colton (who was already super tired) started to melt down. So I took the younger two home and left Mads with Mike. She got to watch as he sewed up a skate blade gash to the neck that missed the kids jugular, but was pretty impressive. She thinks she is really grown up when she gets to help her dad out!!! Super cute. On the way home Mike was making conversation and said how it was sad that Mom and the younger two did not get to stay for the whole game. Mads said "Yeah, it is sad that they went home after the first period... Not like a woman's period.... you know the bleeding." Mike was seriously creeped out. We have been working on not having puberty talks with EVERYONE you meet. Just between mom and Mads... Not working. She tried to have another talk with my Dad one night. And anyone who knows my dad would understand how uncomfortable he was with it. I don't think that I have ever heard him talk about any sort of "girl things", so to have his granddaughter bring stuff up... super funny! Sorry Dad.. we are trying to get her to just talk to me!!!
While we are on the topic of Mads... She and her little BFF are SUPER boy crazy. They get together and talk about who is in love with them and how they know. Apparently if you stare at someone all the time you are for sure in love. Mads was telling me one day how most of the boys in her class are in love with her. I asked her how she knows, and she just says that they are ALWAYS looking at her.. (how does she know that? she must be looking at them!!) Anyways, I was upstairs reading when she and her friend were having a snack one day, and they were discussing Max. Madison's "Love of her Life" this year.
Mad's friend says to Mads.."What are his qualities?" (here is where I have to pull my hoodie over my nose so they do not see me chuckling) .
Mads says"Well, he has reddish blondish hair, and freckles all over his face"
Her friend says "Yeah, and he has clearish skin like yours" (she has nice olive coloured skin, and I assume she must of meant that Mads is fair skinned)
Anyways, I think that I am amused at kids this age. Super Pre-teen attitude all the time, but really funny to listen to. I am so glad that she has chosen a young man with such nice qualities to fall in love with. He he he he he... And a friend who is willing to discuss them in front of the mother.
Halle has been her usual self all holidays. So excited about Santa coming, and writing letters to him, and getting them back in the mail, and writing more letters. She got all sorts of soft things for Christmas. One of the softest blankets known to mankind (the Sherpa throw from Kohls) and a huge kitty pillow, soft fuzzy jammies to replace some of the jammies my mom has taken a serious dislike to... (maybe because they are SO short, and tight, and give her the most incredible wedgies) . She told my sisters that on Christmas she was in "fuzz heaven".
Love that kid and all of her quirks. She is SO sad to go back to school. Tues was her "Wost day Evoh". As every day is when she has something to do that requires her to take off her jammies, and leave Fuzz heaven behind in her room. Oh, and anything that requires her to be at all active. (it's so bowring!)
Colton has been his usual whirlwind of terror self. He has worked really hard all by himself at potty training. Here is his first attempt at a bowel movement on the potty!! (I found this when he came out of the bathroom and into the kitchen where I was doing dishes, and his backside looked pretty much like the toilet...) Yuck.
I can happily say that it was the only time he made that mess, and now does not even need diapers. I bought him some pull-ups for nights, and he does not even need those now. I was not planning on doing this potty training thing for another few months, but I am happy to say that it is over and behind me now. (I mean us!). He does now have his very own distinct fashion sense. He loves gonchies (tighty whities), and his philosophy is where one is good.. Seven is better. And when you have characters on your gonchies, and the dang manufacturers put them on the back... then to be able to admire them properly you just put those things on backwards. So many days he will have six or seven pairs of undies on, and most if not all of them will be on backwards. He also insists that he wear them without pants... because who really wants to cover up all that awesomeness. And if you can convince him to cover them up it is almost always with swimming suits. Tonight we even layered the suits for bed. Smallest on top.
I have so much more to write, and so many pictures to post. ( I need to get them from my mom though) Mike this year for Christmas outdid himself. Anyone who knows how cute my hubby is, also knows that he is a Super ladies man...(wink wink). One year for Christmas he got me a cheesegrater (because we needed one) and another year he got me a snow shovel. (super romantic!!! I was greatful every one of the winters we were in South Bend.... but it has been mentioned that although practicality is nice... sometimes, especially at Christmas, frivility is welcomed) This year he got me one of my most dearest wishes....
Larissa, you will be proud of him........ A new computer... and not just any computer.... one that has just one cord (a major selling feature)..... my iMac. I LOVE IT. And I love him. I just have to figure out how in the world to work it. I just figured out how to copy and paste the other day. Super proud of myself. I have no idea how to get pictures from emails to save to a folder. So when I have my mom come over, she will share pictures with me, and I will be able to tell you all about our fun Christmas break with all of my siblings!!!
The Beginning of December was so BUSY. I, as the leader formerly known as the Enrichment Leader, had a progressive dinner at our church, with a musical program too. (well...as much of a musical program that I could put together... not being particularly musically inclined!). I think that it went well, but HOLY stress. I am now even more of the opinion "less is more!". But it is over, and I have taken a self imposed vacation from planning all of December. It was very nice!
After my Church duties, I was free to pick my very first live Christmas tree. My mom and I drove up to the foothills of the mountains with the kids, and we put Hal and Colt in a sled, and snowshoed up to find the perfect tree.
I felt a bit like Chevy Chase on Christmas Vacation when he finds THE TREE and the light is shining down on it.
So much fun. It is a lot of work to pull a large tree through a forest, wearing snowshoes. But it was So worth it. The kids had a blast... until Colton got snow in his boots and then was miserable. I am excited to go again next year!
We had Church Christmas parties. Skating Christmas parties. School Christmas parties, and School Christmas programs. Mike covered A LOT of Hockey games for our local Hurricanes (WHL minor league hockey team ) We got to go to a game with him one night with all the kids. They loved it until the buzzer went off and the game started. Then Halle and Colton (who was already super tired) started to melt down. So I took the younger two home and left Mads with Mike. She got to watch as he sewed up a skate blade gash to the neck that missed the kids jugular, but was pretty impressive. She thinks she is really grown up when she gets to help her dad out!!! Super cute. On the way home Mike was making conversation and said how it was sad that Mom and the younger two did not get to stay for the whole game. Mads said "Yeah, it is sad that they went home after the first period... Not like a woman's period.... you know the bleeding." Mike was seriously creeped out. We have been working on not having puberty talks with EVERYONE you meet. Just between mom and Mads... Not working. She tried to have another talk with my Dad one night. And anyone who knows my dad would understand how uncomfortable he was with it. I don't think that I have ever heard him talk about any sort of "girl things", so to have his granddaughter bring stuff up... super funny! Sorry Dad.. we are trying to get her to just talk to me!!!
While we are on the topic of Mads... She and her little BFF are SUPER boy crazy. They get together and talk about who is in love with them and how they know. Apparently if you stare at someone all the time you are for sure in love. Mads was telling me one day how most of the boys in her class are in love with her. I asked her how she knows, and she just says that they are ALWAYS looking at her.. (how does she know that? she must be looking at them!!) Anyways, I was upstairs reading when she and her friend were having a snack one day, and they were discussing Max. Madison's "Love of her Life" this year.
Mad's friend says to Mads.."What are his qualities?" (here is where I have to pull my hoodie over my nose so they do not see me chuckling) .
Mads says"Well, he has reddish blondish hair, and freckles all over his face"
Her friend says "Yeah, and he has clearish skin like yours" (she has nice olive coloured skin, and I assume she must of meant that Mads is fair skinned)
Anyways, I think that I am amused at kids this age. Super Pre-teen attitude all the time, but really funny to listen to. I am so glad that she has chosen a young man with such nice qualities to fall in love with. He he he he he... And a friend who is willing to discuss them in front of the mother.
Halle has been her usual self all holidays. So excited about Santa coming, and writing letters to him, and getting them back in the mail, and writing more letters. She got all sorts of soft things for Christmas. One of the softest blankets known to mankind (the Sherpa throw from Kohls) and a huge kitty pillow, soft fuzzy jammies to replace some of the jammies my mom has taken a serious dislike to... (maybe because they are SO short, and tight, and give her the most incredible wedgies) . She told my sisters that on Christmas she was in "fuzz heaven".
Love that kid and all of her quirks. She is SO sad to go back to school. Tues was her "Wost day Evoh". As every day is when she has something to do that requires her to take off her jammies, and leave Fuzz heaven behind in her room. Oh, and anything that requires her to be at all active. (it's so bowring!)
Colton has been his usual whirlwind of terror self. He has worked really hard all by himself at potty training. Here is his first attempt at a bowel movement on the potty!! (I found this when he came out of the bathroom and into the kitchen where I was doing dishes, and his backside looked pretty much like the toilet...) Yuck.
I can happily say that it was the only time he made that mess, and now does not even need diapers. I bought him some pull-ups for nights, and he does not even need those now. I was not planning on doing this potty training thing for another few months, but I am happy to say that it is over and behind me now. (I mean us!). He does now have his very own distinct fashion sense. He loves gonchies (tighty whities), and his philosophy is where one is good.. Seven is better. And when you have characters on your gonchies, and the dang manufacturers put them on the back... then to be able to admire them properly you just put those things on backwards. So many days he will have six or seven pairs of undies on, and most if not all of them will be on backwards. He also insists that he wear them without pants... because who really wants to cover up all that awesomeness. And if you can convince him to cover them up it is almost always with swimming suits. Tonight we even layered the suits for bed. Smallest on top.
I have so much more to write, and so many pictures to post. ( I need to get them from my mom though) Mike this year for Christmas outdid himself. Anyone who knows how cute my hubby is, also knows that he is a Super ladies man...(wink wink). One year for Christmas he got me a cheesegrater (because we needed one) and another year he got me a snow shovel. (super romantic!!! I was greatful every one of the winters we were in South Bend.... but it has been mentioned that although practicality is nice... sometimes, especially at Christmas, frivility is welcomed) This year he got me one of my most dearest wishes....
Larissa, you will be proud of him........ A new computer... and not just any computer.... one that has just one cord (a major selling feature)..... my iMac. I LOVE IT. And I love him. I just have to figure out how in the world to work it. I just figured out how to copy and paste the other day. Super proud of myself. I have no idea how to get pictures from emails to save to a folder. So when I have my mom come over, she will share pictures with me, and I will be able to tell you all about our fun Christmas break with all of my siblings!!!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
A moment of weakness
In a rare moment of weakness, I succumbed and now I am a member of Facebook. My sister was showing me a really fun auction site, and you could only bid and look at items if you were a member of Facebook. I broke down. I have NO idea how to work it, and still am so confused at how many emails it sends you!!! Holy smokes. I should have opened up another email account just for Facebook. Next week I will have to have someone teach me. This week is way too crazy.
Emilee, Larissa told me that I was supposed to put pressure on you to get an account. So, here is my pressure.. I am singling you out on my blog. OOOOOOHHHHHH!!!
Emilee, Larissa told me that I was supposed to put pressure on you to get an account. So, here is my pressure.. I am singling you out on my blog. OOOOOOHHHHHH!!!
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Halloween
This is Maddie dressed as Hermione (from Harry Potter) for Halloween.....and the only picture of Colton dressed as a tiger. He wouldn't sit still long enough for a decent picture. At least he's wearing clothes. He only had his suit on for a total of 1 hour before he started streaking. Earlier in the week, he wore his Tiger costume to visit Halle and Maddie in school. We're hoping the cold will deter him from future pursuits in nudity.
We had Halle's birthday party the same day as Halloween. I'm not sure what possessed our minds to do that. Sure made for a lot of sugar! Halle had fun. We did the traditional treasure hunt, wrap the mummies, and bat cake with eye balls. This is a picture of toilet paper mummies.
These are the crazy hoodlums at Halle's party. When her grandpa asked her about the kids at her party, she said, "there were too many girls". I'm not sure what to say about that.
The kids dressed up for the school Halloween parade. Mads was Hermione, her teacher was Frankenstein, and Halle wore her skeleton outfit. Notice the anatomically correct skeleton! Kelly rocked the costumes this year! Too bad we didn't get a picture of me (Mike) as Vanilla Ice. Ice, ice, baby. Can't you hear the music?
We've had adventures at our house with vermin and learned a great trick. Melting chocolate on the mouse trap enabled us to catch Mickey and Minnie, who had eluded us for 1 week (with just peanute butter). I now swear by it. Who says life isn't better with chocolate?
We had Halle's birthday party the same day as Halloween. I'm not sure what possessed our minds to do that. Sure made for a lot of sugar! Halle had fun. We did the traditional treasure hunt, wrap the mummies, and bat cake with eye balls. This is a picture of toilet paper mummies.
These are the crazy hoodlums at Halle's party. When her grandpa asked her about the kids at her party, she said, "there were too many girls". I'm not sure what to say about that.
The kids dressed up for the school Halloween parade. Mads was Hermione, her teacher was Frankenstein, and Halle wore her skeleton outfit. Notice the anatomically correct skeleton! Kelly rocked the costumes this year! Too bad we didn't get a picture of me (Mike) as Vanilla Ice. Ice, ice, baby. Can't you hear the music?
We've had adventures at our house with vermin and learned a great trick. Melting chocolate on the mouse trap enabled us to catch Mickey and Minnie, who had eluded us for 1 week (with just peanute butter). I now swear by it. Who says life isn't better with chocolate?
Sunday, October 24, 2010
the happenin's
The kids started school. Imagine that. It has been that long I think since I blogged. They are both happy and loving their classes. There are great girlfriends in their classes, and there are even some cute boys. Just say Justin to Halle, or Max to Mads and watch them blush (well, Mads blushes, Halle is much more unassuming in her love).
At school they have a cross country run every year and the school buses the kids out in grades to this moto-cross track and they have a race.
Here is a picture of Mads. She was one of the front runner for a lap around the track, and then she started to peter out. I think she ended up in about 10th or 11th place. Mike and I like to joke that as she runs, and gets more and more tired, she starts to lean more and more. Here she is moderately tired. The lean was quite substantial by the end.
Here is Halle running up the the finish (insert the Smurfs' "La la la la la la"). She does not have the same competitive drive. But she had a lovely time and really liked that they had licorice at the end.
I would have attached a picture of my naughty boy with diaper rash cream painted all over his cute rump here, but no joke it took me 40 minutes to upload these 5 pictures, and so I decided against it. Needless to say, we are having an interesting time with potty training. He will go, and even will take off his diaper sometimes when he needs to. He learned how to stand up and pee. I am not pleased with this new development..... I am not sure who taught him, but when I find out.. they will be cleaning my bathroom for me.
Here is a picture of my entrance to my house. It is really lovely, big and EMPTY. There is no closet, no furniture, and no storage anywhere.
Another picture at another angle. Notice this lovely ledge that goes around the whole room. it is about 6inches high and about 4 inches wide..pretty, but more of a hindrance than anything.
So here was my sister and I's solution. I have been eying these babies in the Pottery Barn catalog for many years, and I have been super excited since Ana White (of knock off wood) posted the plans for them on her site. I know that they are not perfect. (they are our second project ever). But I love them. I am so happy to have a place to store all of our coats, shoes and junk. Next up a toddler bed for Colton so that maybe when he strips himself naked during the night and needs to use the potty he can get there himself instead of me having to wash his sheets every day.
At school they have a cross country run every year and the school buses the kids out in grades to this moto-cross track and they have a race.
Here is a picture of Mads. She was one of the front runner for a lap around the track, and then she started to peter out. I think she ended up in about 10th or 11th place. Mike and I like to joke that as she runs, and gets more and more tired, she starts to lean more and more. Here she is moderately tired. The lean was quite substantial by the end.
Here is Halle running up the the finish (insert the Smurfs' "La la la la la la"). She does not have the same competitive drive. But she had a lovely time and really liked that they had licorice at the end.
I would have attached a picture of my naughty boy with diaper rash cream painted all over his cute rump here, but no joke it took me 40 minutes to upload these 5 pictures, and so I decided against it. Needless to say, we are having an interesting time with potty training. He will go, and even will take off his diaper sometimes when he needs to. He learned how to stand up and pee. I am not pleased with this new development..... I am not sure who taught him, but when I find out.. they will be cleaning my bathroom for me.
Here is a picture of my entrance to my house. It is really lovely, big and EMPTY. There is no closet, no furniture, and no storage anywhere.
Another picture at another angle. Notice this lovely ledge that goes around the whole room. it is about 6inches high and about 4 inches wide..pretty, but more of a hindrance than anything.
So here was my sister and I's solution. I have been eying these babies in the Pottery Barn catalog for many years, and I have been super excited since Ana White (of knock off wood) posted the plans for them on her site. I know that they are not perfect. (they are our second project ever). But I love them. I am so happy to have a place to store all of our coats, shoes and junk. Next up a toddler bed for Colton so that maybe when he strips himself naked during the night and needs to use the potty he can get there himself instead of me having to wash his sheets every day.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Waterton Warriers
We have LOVED living close to the mountains again. We are about an hour away from Waterton National park that is on the Canadian side of Glacier National Park. We have spent a few blissful days up there this summer soaking in the beauty.
Mike, my baby sister Robyn and I hiked Summit a couple of weeks ago. This is my sister and I beside each other on the trail. Isn't it funny how much taller she is than me!!!!
Mike and I at the beginningish of the hike.
At the Top!!! Isn't it lovely up there. It was peaceful too, if you could block out the teenage boys that were pretending to skeet shoot with rocks.
Yesterday my mom and I took Mike mountain biking. It was kind of raining, and it had snowed a bit the day or two before. The trail was wet, and muddy, and so were we. I was teasing Mike about how muddy he was, and my mom started quoting the "beam and the mote" scripture. She thinks she is so funny!
My parents took the kids up on a short hike to the lake, and the kids had plenty to eat along the way.!!! Colton loves snow.
And apparently the only way to get Halle to smile for the camera is to give her a bug or a huge pile of snow. I guess that those are her favorite things.
My mom and I took the girls hiking a couple of weeks ago. The little girl with dark hair is Maddie's new BFF Isabel. She is a darling girl. And we would have hiked the hike twice as fast if we did not stop every two feet to find ripe berries. Colton's favorite place to hike in the whole world is that backpack. Thanks so much Johnsons for sharing it with us. It really does come in handy.
My mom took Mads up Bears Hump (a short hike that ends up overlooking the Waterton townsite). It was a tough hike for Mads, but she is really proud of herself (we are proud of her too!) that she did it.
And this is Colton in his Favorite hot pants. Really they are a joke. My mom and sister found these Rescue Squad Mater man-kinis and bought them for him. They never thought that he would think that the sun would rise and set on these babies. Well he NEVER takes them off, and he wore them to Waterton one day when my mom was watching him. It was payback for bringing them into my life.
Mike, my baby sister Robyn and I hiked Summit a couple of weeks ago. This is my sister and I beside each other on the trail. Isn't it funny how much taller she is than me!!!!
Mike and I at the beginningish of the hike.
At the Top!!! Isn't it lovely up there. It was peaceful too, if you could block out the teenage boys that were pretending to skeet shoot with rocks.
Yesterday my mom and I took Mike mountain biking. It was kind of raining, and it had snowed a bit the day or two before. The trail was wet, and muddy, and so were we. I was teasing Mike about how muddy he was, and my mom started quoting the "beam and the mote" scripture. She thinks she is so funny!
My parents took the kids up on a short hike to the lake, and the kids had plenty to eat along the way.!!! Colton loves snow.
And apparently the only way to get Halle to smile for the camera is to give her a bug or a huge pile of snow. I guess that those are her favorite things.
My mom and I took the girls hiking a couple of weeks ago. The little girl with dark hair is Maddie's new BFF Isabel. She is a darling girl. And we would have hiked the hike twice as fast if we did not stop every two feet to find ripe berries. Colton's favorite place to hike in the whole world is that backpack. Thanks so much Johnsons for sharing it with us. It really does come in handy.
My mom took Mads up Bears Hump (a short hike that ends up overlooking the Waterton townsite). It was a tough hike for Mads, but she is really proud of herself (we are proud of her too!) that she did it.
And this is Colton in his Favorite hot pants. Really they are a joke. My mom and sister found these Rescue Squad Mater man-kinis and bought them for him. They never thought that he would think that the sun would rise and set on these babies. Well he NEVER takes them off, and he wore them to Waterton one day when my mom was watching him. It was payback for bringing them into my life.
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