It's Summertime and Livin's Easy.....

Well, Well, Well... Summertime has been a BLAST so far! We are looking forward to our first summer WITHOUT traveling and summer sales! Lars' new job is keeping him busy, so the kids and I are just taking advantage of all the sunshine we can get! I take them on a 2hr walk or bikeride almost every day. Although today we are forgoing that adventure because Max has a fever and it's TOO HOT to go outside make it any higher! I sure have been getting in shape! I'm loving my new exercise routine! I feel like I am finally getting to know myself and my likes and dislikes :) I sure do LOVE doing anything outside! I'm guessing that must stem from my childhood in Arizona where it's summertime year-round!!!

So, we had another PHOTOSHOOT of Maddie after grandma sent a package with "The CUTEST green dress that Maddie has EVER seen!" And, of course, I had to make it fair and give you some pictures of FAT Max, too (he's only 6 pounds lighter than Maddie. He's over 20 pounds now)! ENJOY!

And some to show the fat face! hehehe. He's so kissable and lovable with those roley-poley cheeks!Max isn't crawling yet, but he gets his knees up. And he CAN sit up, but chooses to fall over and roll everywhere instead. He's like a log. All round. Maybe that's why he doesn't want to crawl: it's easier to roll around when you have such a heavy mid-section! Maybe I'll start seeing all my dads roll now... HAHA.

And here's a fun video that I just haven't got around to posting. Maddie is singing and playing the piano. I'm so lucky we have a little one that thinks her life is a musical! She sure does make life fun!!!

In fairness' sake, here's one of the infamous "LAUGH-CRY" that Max has mastered. Usually when he's upset, it sounds like this. He rarely cries without a funny laugh to break things up!

2-GOING-ON-20

When I was in High School my mother was adamant on me calling every few hours (regardless of where I was or what I was doing) just to "Check In." I guess the idea was to make sure I wasn't getting in to trouble or something. Well, I am guessing that this idea has passed through the genes and now hit my daughter. She has become very nosey and quite the pry. Today as I put her down for a nap she asked me what I would be doing while she was napping. I told her I was going downstairs. "Well, what are you going to DO when you go down there?" she asked. And I explained the laundry, the loaves of bread in the oven and how I needed to clean up a few things. "OH, okay. Goodnight, then"

I favor this response over last weeks. Last week she told me "Well, go to the potty when you need to, and come and get me if you need some help. What is Max gonna do? [he's sleeping too] Oh, well just wake me up when he wakes up" Yeah, like I'm going to wake a sleeping child. HA! Thanks for the invitation, Maddie.

Today, after a long run and a 10 mile bikeride Maddie told me: "Mom, it makes you tired when you ride fast on your bike huh? [Yep, it sure does. Especially when you and Max are SO HEAVY in the trailer!] OOOOoooooh! Well you need to do some more sit-ups then!" Thanks.

Oh, yesterday she threw a SURPRISE PARTY for her Daddy in her Little People House. It was so funny to hear the dialog...
"SURRRRRRPPPPPRRRISSSSEEE!"
"Oh, is this a party for ME?"
"Yes, Da-Da, this is a party for YOU"
"Thanks, Son. I love parties"
"Father, we hope you like your party"
"Thank you, Daughter"

Yes, and also, along with her strange dialog and such, came a new way to address Lars and I. I am now called "MOTHER" and Lars is now "FATHER." IT DRIVES ME INSANE. I think she knows this. And laughs at me for it. And then continues to call me it, much to my dismay. You might as well sag my breasts to my knees and call me Gertrude. A few days ago she told me "Mother, Max would like to feed now." FEED?! What am I a friggin HEIFER??? HAHAHA.

I love that girl, and I swear she's a teenager in a 2-yr-old's body.

So her birthday is just over two weeks from now. July 14th. She told me she wants cupcakes, but no icecream. I think she just might change her mind. We're getting her an easel, and paint. I'm hoping to groom an artist!

Well, that's about everything fun I can think of right now. MUCH LOVE!

My Biggest Fan

So Maddie is my biggest fan. Every day she tells me she likes what I'm wearing. Today she likes my shirt. And she thanks me for everything. This morning she thanked me for making Blueberry Pancakes for breakfast. She's such a sweet girl. I'm so lucky. I wish everyone had such a thankful child to make them smile! While I was putting Max down for a nap, Maddie came in to the room to make sure Max was okay. When she saw he was alright and began to walk out of the room, she turned around and asked if I was alright. After she had her assurance, she turned around and walked away. Before I left the room I had to sop up my heart that she turned to goo. What a Sweetheart.

Sickness, Suction...and Penguins?!

Well we skipped going to Washington this past weekend because that drive would have killed us, and instead got a nasty illness that has kept home-bound since Monday. We are now feeling much better but still fighting the "flu hangover"; you know, the days after staying in bed that are all mushy and oozing with lethargy because you haven't left the house in DAAAAYS!
Anyway, I was so ready to scour and clean the house that I begged Lars to go out with me yesterday and buy a new vacuum (I swear, our old one lost it's suction once we brought it home). So, we spent an arm and a leg and bought a new one (number 3 in 3 years!) and it's a good thing we did! I broke my glass cake stand and it shattered in a million pieces on the carpet! So much for cleaning everything, I made a huge mess! But, that vacuum finally did what it was supposed to and cleaned all my shards up!
Other than that, my life has been very boring and full of headaches and nausea, hardly anything noteworthy... But in Maddie's prayed the other night she said "...and please bless us to not eat penguins anymore" Hmm... wonder what that was about?! It sure had Lars and I laughing. Silly girl! So I guess we'll steer clear of those penguins...

I Didn't Think This Through...

So I was reading this composition about Motherhood and there was a story by a mom titled "I Didn't Think This Through." It's about a mom that just doesn't really think things things through and when they pan out, they are a little too much... Well, that's how I feel right now. I told my brother (and the rest of my family) that we would go up to Ephrata, WA for his graduation. Well, just within the last couple of months Lars enrolled in Summer School. One session ends Friday and the next starts Monday. Which, in fact, leaves us to travel 12-15 hours (including stops to feed Max and Maddie to go potty), hang out for less than 24 hours, and then travel back home again. So, we had a family counsel and decided against going. The time spent in the car for the short time being there was not very practical. That drive is horrendous even for an older child. We drove to Kansas when Maddie was about 1yr old and it killed us. We swore never again. The drive is insane.
Anyway, I had to tell my family. I felt so bad. I really do miss and love them. And this time I didn't think this through.

Congratulations!

Congrats to one of my BEST friends, Shannin, and her husband Justin on their adoption of a beautiful toddler boy, Sergio. The transition will be about 6 weeks and then they will have their son in their home! How exciting! We are so happy for you two!

This weekend was Allison's baby blessing... Her dad was able to bless her, as he just received the priesthood a few weeks ago. Good Job, Ryan! We are so proud of you! Congrats!

Yet again Maddie cracks me up! As we were walking out of the bathroom at church she paused in front of the mirror. "Just a minute, Mom." And she proceeded to smooth her hair down and smile at herself in the mirror. Ha. So funny.

Yeah, I got a migraine yesterday (as I was Visiting Teaching). Nice. It was my own fault for not eating in time. I think my sugar must get too low or something. Yeah, I spent a nice night looking into the toilet and went to bed at 5:30pm. Nice, huh?

Well, that was it! This weekend my brother graduates High School so congrats to him as well!