This and That...

This weekend, we did THIS...
Madeline had a belated birthday with a dozen of her closest friends...



and THAT...
we took a day trip to Garden of the Gods



The girls had a great time swimming...

and eating cake and pizza.

Garden of the Gods was beautiful, as always...

It was a perfect day to go on a family hike

The kids had a great time, and so did we!

I still have to pinch myself that we live in such a beautiful place. This land was donated to the City of Colorado Springs by the children of Charles Elliot Perkins, who was the head of the Burlington Railroad. Their one requirement was that it be a free, public park. I am grateful to this family for their generosity in sharing one of God's great creations with this city.

Hiding from the Skulls

Really. Baby booties?

I don't know about you, but I can bet that most of you shop at Target and Old Navy like myself...so why was I still hiding from skulls while back to school shopping? Is it just me, or are there skulls on everything these days? And they hide. Madeline wanted a cute pink and black patterned lunch bag...it looked cute and harmless enough, until I was packing it one morning, and noticed in the pattern a skull staring back at me! If people want to wear skulls, that is an odd choice, but I can respect it. As for my children...I would prefer them not sporting the symbol of death as they cheerfully walk to school each day.

Happy 9th Birthday Madeline!

Nine years ago today, little miss Madeline came in to our lives, and changed us forever! After being induced twice, and to no avail, I should have known what an independent and strong spirit she would be. She decided when she was ready, and would not come out a moment sooner! I can honestly say (with love) to this day, she is just as stubborn!

Madeline made us parents, and has taught us so much these past 9 years. We are so grateful to have her in our family. She loves her younger brother and sister, and is the best helper a mommy could ask for. To give you an idea of her personality today...she is the only nine year old I know that I can talk politics and religion with. She is wise beyond her years. We love you Madeline!!

This morning Madeline woke up bright and early to open her presents. Did I say early?

I mean really early...early enough in fact that we made it to church on time (well, almost).
So early, that some naps were had this afternoon.
We blew up 9 balloons, and Tom and I wrote 9 things we love about our big girl. Tom made this one....

Madeline is also: Beautiful

Honest

Smart

Spiritual

Loving

Talented

Fun

Repsonsible

Happy Birthday Madeline, we hope you had a great day even though today was Sunday, and we "couldn't have Little Caesar's for dinner"! Next year sweetie, I promise!

The Best Day Ever

Today the kids had the day off from school, so we went to the mall...

where Madeline got her ears pierced!
She was brave and smiled through it all.
Avery got to pick out a new "My E-pets" pet. It's a seriously rockin' blue bunny she named "Lil' Bun Bun".
Madeline with Mom showing off her new sparkly ear lobes!
We played...
and played some more,

then had some lunch at Chick-Fil-A...
We came home and made a craft.
The girls each painted and decorated the first letter of their name. They called them their "Bling" letters. Madeline's friend, Maegann spent the day with us.
Then, to top it all off, we made Chocochip Bombs...yeah, it was pretty much the best day ever. I dread tomorrow.

Nature vs.Nurture

Today, I caught Hayden in a precarious situation - and one psychological debate was clearly settled at our house.

The male species is obviously born with the desire to drink milk straight from the jug...

Sorry Tom, this doesn't mean you are off the hook.

Homework Buddies

Every night after dinner, Madeline and Avery have "homework" time.

Lately, Hayden has decided to join them. He has to have a paper and pencil just like his sisters. He scribbles what he thinks are letters, and when he has time to take out his "sookie" (pacifier), he recites the alphabet....

"A, A, A, A, E, E, E, E, O, O, O, I, I, A, A, A, A".....just 22 more letters to go! :) Maybe it's time to get rid of the "sookie"...

Remembering 9/11

I couldn't go to bed tonight without sharing some thoughts I have had through out my day. I will always remember, so vividly, this day seven years ago. We all will. I can bet all of us remember exactly what we were doing when we heard the news. It is etched in our hearts and minds forever.

We were living on base at Camp Navajo in Flagstaff, AZ. Tom was working as a security guard there. Madeline was almost 2, and I was about 2 months pregnant with Avery. I was sleeping that morning, when Tom came in the room and woke me up. "Callie, you better wake up, something really terrible is happening". I got up and still feeling like I was in a dream, watched the horrible scene play over and over again on the news. It was so surreal. It was so completely unbelievable what was unfolding before our eyes. I don't think I got dressed that day. I was glued to the TV and to the phone, calling friends and family. I held Madeline so close to me. The days that followed were so uncertain. I can remember looking at my precious Madeline, and thinking about our unborn child, and just bawling. What would their future hold? I was so scared for them.

The world isn't much better off today. Hearts have healed, the country has moved on, but there is turmoil and pain and uncertainty all around us. Today, as I was visually reminded of that painful day, and emotionally reminded of the fear I felt as a mother, the only peace I can find is when I look to my Savior. One of my favorite scriptures is posted on our blog. September 11th was the first day that this scripture had immense and profound meaning to me. To this day, it continues to. I am grateful for the gospel, and the strength it is, and will be to our children. There will come a time when it may be the only one sure thing they have in their life. 9/11 will always stand as a reminder to me of the responsibilty I have as a mother to keep my children safe...spiritually. I can't control what the future holds for my children, but I can control what tools my children will have in the future....

Detox update

I am on Day 11 of my sugar detox, and thought I better give everyone an update so you all know I am still doing it! I haven't cheated once, and I am so proud of myself, because if you know my family that's no easy task!!

Yesterday I asked Madeline "where's Daddy?" She told me he was in the basement, I said "he sure likes it down there, doesn't he?" (his flat screen TV is down there) "Yeah" she said. "Especially since he hides the food down there". Immediately she covers her mouth, as if to quickly hide the secret she had just divulged! I laughed. Apparantly, Tom has his own secret stash of chips and oatmeal cookies in our basement food storage. He came clean about it eventually, and said he was really just "protecting" me...

Madeline broke down last night crying because she was "sick and tired of eating healthy dinners EVERY night!" I had to laugh at that one too, because they still get their snacks and daily dose of sugar through out the day...they are far from being deprived. I have been accused of "being obsessed with eating healthy" by my 9 year old. She sat down anyway and ate her whole wheat quesadilla... Eating healthy is better then not eating at all around here! So, despite all the family drama this way of eating has caused (who would have known!)...
I feel great! I have lost almost 5 pounds since I have started, and I have to admit I haven't been great at exercising...so the loss is mainly from dietary changes. As I get my energy back (which I slowly am) I will begin a regular exercise routine once again. My cravings are literally gone. We were rushing around doing some errands yesterday, and Avery was dying of thirst, so I stopped at Wendy's quick to get her a drink, I got an order of fries for Hayden to munch on as well. Normally, I would have given him 5 and ate the rest myself. I didn't have one! That is huge. The best part, I didn't even want one! Yay for sugar detox!

Just call me Mommy 007

So, the girls have been "wrestling" quite a bit lately...I thought this was an activity solely designated for the boy population, but apparently not. It starts in good fun, with much laughing and giggling, a few shrieks and screams, but quickly ends with crying, and one or the other blaming the other for unfairly and purposely inflicting agonizing pain.
Now, Tom and I want to believe the girls. We certainly have done all we can to teach them about honesty, and the consequences of lying - however, being the children that they are, let's just say they have not perfectly mastered this principle... So, today, while I was cooking dinner, I heard them engaged in one of their wrestling matches in the living room. I couldn't watch them, and watch the food at the same time - and then, a brainstorm occurred! I quietly took the camera from the counter, turned it on, and mounted it on a ledge overlooking the living room. I now had 2 sets of eyes, and the best part was that they didn't know it! About 5 minutes later, sure enough, I heard Avery scream and cry at the top of her lungs. (This means she is in agonizing pain).

Madeline: Avery fell! She hurt herself! I have no idea how it happened!

Avery: YOU DID IT!

Me: Really? You have no idea? You were in there with her.

Avery: YOU DID IT!!

Madeline: Well, we were just playing, and somehow she fell off the Ottoman and hurt herself.

Me: Are you sure that's what happened?

Madeline: Yes!

Me: Well, let's take a look and see what the camera shows us.

Madeline: Wha? (mouth drops open)

Me: The camera was on the whole time, let's take a look.

Madeline: (looking down) oh maaaan!

Tom and I rewind the tape, and the truth unfolds...it shows Avery leaning over the ottoman on her belly with her head near the floor. Madeline was sitting in the chair. Madeline gets up, walks over to Avery, and pushes her legs off the ottoman, causing Avery to fall on her face. Now, I do think Avery was dramatizing how much pain she was in...but the fact was Madeline had lied, and she was caught. She knew she was caught, and she was pretty embarrassed. She sat on the naughty step for eight long minutes, apologized to her sister, and assurred us she would pray for forgiveness. I felt a little bit bad for Madeline that I caught her the way that I did, but then an analogy came to mind. We all have someone "watching" us even if we think we are the only ones in the room. Our Heavenly Father is always aware of our actions, and our behavior. We can't hide it, we can't lie about it to Him. He knows. He is the video camera. One day we may have to watch the "video" of all our wrong choices, but if we repent, we can have that tape erased. It is a simple analogy, but one that my girls can understand well. I know Madeline will think twice now before she "secretly" commits a crime. I know Avery will too... and it's not because they will fear a camera is on them, it's because they were reminded today that their Heavenly Father is always watching them. It was a lesson learned, and one that they won't forget for a very long time!

Wobbly Toddler + New Shoes =

OUCH!!!

Have you ever seen a goosebump so big?! It looks like he has three foreheads. Poor Hayden crashed in to the kitchen chair yesterday while wearing his new shoes. It broke my heart!! Thankfully, he is back to his rock star self today - and yes, those are tear stains on my silk throw pillow. Only the best for my babies.




We watch Madeline's friend Maegann a few days a week, and they were both beside themselves (quite literally!) to see that they had worn the same shirt to school yesterday. To add to it, they are both blond haired, blue eyed, and with their names both starting with an "M" their teacher has a hard enough time getting them straight!




Other happenings of the day...I burned my hand to the point of blistering while cooking dinner. How did I do that? I have no idea, but I think keeping Hayden from throwing rocks at our french doors may have had something to do with it.

Surviving the Backyard

This clip cracks me up...sometimes the girls "steal" the camera and do what they will with it. I found this recently while uploading our pictures. Our family is guilty of watching those "Survivor man" shows on the Discovery Channel...I think perhaps Madeline's inspiration came from that. So, this is Madeline and Avery...surviving the backyard. My favorite quotes?

"Avery, did you litter? You better not have!"

"Oh well, I guess we'll just have to live off of the land!"

and

"the mosquitoes are coming! I should have brought more supplies!"

*Make sure to pause the music before you begin :)

Our Laborious Labor Day

This is Avery and the little girl who hit her every time she stepped on the Hexagon thing.

Just so you know, Avery is now a self professed "Pop Star", so she handled it with dignity. As all Pop Stars do.

Madeline displays her mean rock climbing abilities. They really are quite impressive.

Her hanging abilities are unsurpassed as well.

Daddy and Hayden pre-poopy diaper explosion

Those darn paparazzi and their flashing lights are always getting in the way of her fun ;)

Hayden is still happy! Diaper still clean.

If you could pan to the right you would have seen our 500 friends in orange.

Hayden did such a great job following his shadow...it was pretty cute.

Ahh, Labor Day....a holiday that celebrates hard work, and gives us a day where we can rest, and relax, and be with family. Then, why did I spend half of it doing laundry?

I have to admit, we may have done something more if we had actually planned anything, but I think we just thought a last minute idea would miraculously pop in to our heads. No popping miracles.


At the last minute, we decided we better get out and do something, just so we could say we did some something. We took the kids to a nearby park. If you looked past the family reunion of 500 who flooded the playground in their bright orange t-shirts, and the poopy diaper explosion of Hayden's, the kicking and screaming that ensued as I took Hayden back to the van to change him, and that the playground was entirely littered with bottles, cans and wrappers of every sort (thanks to the army of orange people), we had a FANTASTIC time!


In all honesty, I am a little grouchy from this sugar detox, and so was the case yesterday, and today as I write this. Forgive my sarcasm. Tom did grill steak for dinner, but there was no dessert to be had, which only adds to my grouchiness. The moral of my story is... next year we will plan our Labor Day, and I won't be deprived of sugar - so I may even actually enjoy it!