Time Flies

Wow, my kids are growing right before my eyes. (FYI, this whole post's pictures are basically of Madden playing with the vacuum.) I can't even say how hilarious, joyful, and humbling being a parent can be. London is full of her new words and observances. She laughed hysterically the other day by herself. Tyler and I were totally confused and asked what she was laughing at. She said, "Madden's bum is tangley!" We were again confused until Ty said, "Do you mean Madden's bum is dangley?" She laughed and laughed. I guess she's discovered differences in boys and girls but, apparently those differences are identified as "bums." We could not quit laughing. Madden is getting to be such a little boy. I took him to his fifteen month check up and his weight was in the 50th percentile, height in the 70th and his head.....96th! I had no idea he had such a huge head. I was totally shocked because the last check-up his head was in the 40th. I guess they change really fast. My birthday was yesterday and I had a fabulous day. London and Ty woke me up with a handwritten card from London. He told me later that it was the biggest test of patience! I received some lovely smelling perfume, a purse, a quilt, a chandelier for London's room, socks, a shirt, and shopping spree! Oh, and Dean gave me peanut-butter bars. See! Could that day not be better. After the gym, I took the kids to my Mom's where Madden gave kisses aplenty and played with the vacuum (His new favorite toy. He IS obsessed.) Ty and I went to Harry Potter to enjoy some one-on-one time. It was so fun! He let me shop after the movie and the next thing I knew, it was 7:30 p.m. and my sweet husband hadn't said a word about my excessive shopping! We ended up skipping dinner to go get our kids and my parents. I guess Mandy and Trent had been waiting to wish my "Happy Birthday" but, I took so long shopping! At least they played with my camera! Sweet Gabe and Madden were playing like they were best buds. I'm hoping I'll do better on updating the Thanksgiving festivities! I hope you all remember the most important things in your life and are grateful for every single blessing you have! Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Halloween!

I'm pretty sure this is the best year ever for costumes at my parent's party. Everyone looked awesome. I walked into my parents house and saw that Madeline was John Stockton. Unimpressed, I looked at this black stranger and thought, "Oh, that must be Karl Malone.....is that Libby?!!!" Yes, it was Olivia. She looked hilarious and won the ultimate prize. I think Madden was not quite sure whether it was his aunt or a stranger who sounded just like her and vaguely resembled her. I bet you're laughing at her right now just as I am. Mom and Dad were Donny and Marie. London asked my mom who she was an she answered, "Marie Osmond." London said, "Oh! Marie Osmond lost fifty pounds!" There's a sign that maybe she pays a little too much attention to the Nutrisystem commercials! Danny and Emily were spies while Sammy was an elephant. Unfortunately my lighting was really bad in that picture. Sorry guys! Dean and Mary were a caveman and cavewoman. Mia was a firequeen (not the devil). Luke was a Power Ranger and Ginger was a poodle. Mandy was Cleopatra and Trent was Caesar. Gabey was our little bumblebee. Lastly, our little family included London as Mulan, me as a geisha, Madden as a a froggie, and Tyler as a Ute fan. My Dad and brother's were really unimpressed with his costume. His shirt said, "I pored beer on Max Hall's mom." Mom had really fun ideas for the party that just couldn't happen because of the rain. Those plans included s'mores and pumpkin carving. But, everyone was able to dip their own caramel apples in chocolate and toppings. They were sinful. Dinner was delish, dessert was at an excess, and the company was awesome. Even though London only went to three houses, she was thrilled! She thought that her and I were absolute twins. She kept saying, "You look just like me!" Madden was, of course, sensitive and pensive most of the night. I couldn't even get him to smile for a picture! I'm pretty sure this was almost a moment of tears. Almost!

Make up, Costumes, and Trunk or Treats!

We had a ward Halloween party the other night at the church. London was so excited to get in her Mulan costume and get her make up done. She probably asked me fifty times if she could have her make up on now. Finally, I got her in her costume and her make up (Have you ever put liquid eye liner on a three year old?!) and she looked so dang cute. I put on her make up first because I was concerned I would spill on the costume. I should have thought about smearing make up on her clothes when actually putting the costume ON! Madden was a little frog and a sweetheart. Ty and I were laughing so hard at the pictures we took of London. The party had loads of rolls and soups as well as candy and donuts. I made whole wheat rolls and fortunately they were all gone. I would not want to deal with all of that food. I was, however, able to mooch free donuts and pumpkins post-party! I thought they did an awesome job at the decorations and they had a little carnival for the kids prior to the trunk or treating. London was so silent! She was very subdued and shy walking around. We discovered that she has an awesome arm and aim from the bean-bag throw but, was pretty introverted the whole time. Finally, during trunk or treating she said, "Mom, can you take me home now? I'm tired." Shocked and feeling sorry, I took her home. London started to cough that night and has since been trying to kick this sickness. Poor girl. She had looked forward to it all day and didn't even want to tell me she was sick. Madden seems to progress every week. He teases Tyler by calling him "Mama" and yells "LUNUN!" when London's making him mad. He even lost his temper at me and yelled/growled at me while punching the floor. It was hilarious! Well, that's all folks!

Calculo

London always has an imaginary pet or friend with her. Yesterday it was a cow named "Calculo." Ty said she was playing with a calculator and maybe that's where she got the name. Seriously, who plays with imaginary cows and names them "Calculo?!" A genius, I'm sure of it.....

Update!

Wow, have about a million and a half things happened lately. Madden's walking like a champ. He said, "See ya," and "Ba-bye" to me yesterday. London's absolutely hilarious. She says and asks the funniest things. Half of the time I'm in shock and the other half I'm laughing at the maturity and comicality of her statements. I'll get to her specific comments later on...I guess our time lately has been spent walking, swimming at Mimi's, and going to the park. Madden's actually pretty good in floaties and keeps his head up by himself! He loves the pool, as does London. They're my little fishies. I miss Cherry Hill already...sigh....Oh well, next summer I guess. We've been able to babysit Gabe a couple times. It was pretty funny because London was bossing these boys around. At one point I heard her say, "Here Gabe!....Brought to you by....DISNEYLAND!!!" I'm pretty sure the commercial said, "Brought to you by Disney," But, that doesn't matter to her! I went down there and this was the mess I found with the kids playing in the baker's rack. I'm pretty grateful at how much love cousins and siblings have for each other in my family. Unfortunately, Madden and Gabe have had a cold and I was wiping noses like it was going out of style! Madden has taken to climbing and opening everything. He's quite fond of climbing on our glass, round coffee table and crawling around it in circles. Madden also stands up in his high chair and throws his tray. aye, aye, aye! Last Sunday, prior to General Conference, we went on a walk to the elementary school so London and Madden could go down the slides. Madden ate the bark, or course, and basically lounged down the slides on his back. What a character. Okay, now for the funny musings of London whilst looking at the park pics: The other day I lost my phone. I looked for three hours straight! Finally, I asked London, "Louie, do you know where Mommy's phone is? I can't find it anywhere." "Sure, I do. Follow me." She said. I was kind of shocked but, followed her to the basement where she picked up her purse. She flung it on her shoulder, paused, then pulled out my phone (My actual phone) and said, "Hello? Oh yes, she's right here." She handed out the phone to me and said, "It's for you." I was kind of ticked but, amused at the same time. Another funny moment would have to be moments while I'm driving. Some lady cut us off and I yelled, "You stupid lady!" London promptly said, "Mom, we don't say stupid." I agreed with her and apologized. She then asked why I said that lady was stupid. I said, "Because she's an idiot, London, and she doesn't know how to drive." London asked, "What's id-it?" I answered, "An idiot is someone whose not as smart as your mother." She said, "Yep, she is an id-it." When Madden is happy, London says he's being "Smilish." She told Tyler the other night that he was tacky. (No idea where she comes up with some things.) London asks me frequently what words are good or bad. Tyler and I were talking about something and London said, "Mom and Dad....we don't say boobs." Ty and I tried not to burst out laughing so we just agreed and looked straight forward with smiles on our faces. I seriously can't quit laughing sometimes. London has become a cook, a baker, and a decorator. She tells me exactly how to make her lunch, bake cookies, and the other day instructed me on our to decorate our porch. She's just growing way too fast! I'll definitely try to write these things down as soon as they happen because I just forget everything! Until next time!

The Dirty Dash!

So yesterday I ran the Dirty Dash with some friends. The race is a 10k obstacle course. I know crazy isn't?! It was unbelievably fun. Sorry about the blurry pics. They're from another camera and I couldn't download them very well. Our team was called "Good Girls Gone Dirty." I have to say there were some funny, dirty, and unique team names! I can't even tell you some of them! I started the day with a car not starting. Lucky for me, my friend, Beth, came and got me. This made us late in picking up the other girls. Along with me causing the girls to be late, there was traffic and we were afraid we wouldn't make our heat. We literally got there, our heat left three minutes before us, and we took off! We set an awesome pace, catching up to our heat, passing them, and then finishing as one of the first teams in our heat!We did the whole thing in 1 hr and 10 min! Obstacles and all! You start out running up a muddy (imagine losing-your-shoe kind of muddy) steep hill. It was alot of up hills and fortunately, down hills too. We had to climb over hay bales, walls, crawl through tunnels, run through a marsh, tire-ladder runs, slip n slide, and finish an army crawl through a mud pit. Or I should say sh#! pit because it definitely wasn't mud...It was a blast! We were so filthy. They had ice cold showers at the end of the race. You couldn't even get close to clean. There was no privacy whatsoever and we ended up changing right next to our car. These guys kept honking their horn for us to hurry up because we clearly weren't decent. Oh well! I totally just left my shoes and socks right by the showers. There was no way I was keeping those poo-smelling things! Orbit commercial, anyone?! We ran most of the race with a group of shirtless guys in swim shorts. It was fun to have the competition as well as the encouragement, so Thanks Guys! London was so shocked to see her momma so dirty. Madden wouldn't even look at me! I saw my cousin while running it and even saw my Aunt and Uncle by the finish line! Thanks for Mom, Dad, and Ty willing to come support me. They love me, smell and all! This was the first time this kind of race has come to UT. If they do it again, totally sign up!