Dear Mike,

Today is your birthday. And since you're kind of an intrinsic part of our lives, I figured I'd put up a couple of pictures that show how much we love you.

You're comforting.

You're funny.

And because I love you more than anyone else in this family, I thought I'd put these up for you. Behold! Feast your eyes!!!

A note to our readers:

If you're under 18, you should look away.

If you have any self-respect, you'll stop right now.

You're all a bunch of sickos.

Basically, the kids compared to me are love-amateurs. Happy birthday!

Thanksgiving and Beyond

Sorry this is a few days late--we've been having some technical issues loading pictures from our phones. I think we have it figured out now though. 

For Thanksgiving we went to my cousin's house an hour and a half away--or, if you're us almost two hours, 'cause I was the navigator and I'm an idiot. It was a lot of fun to get together with Ashleigh and Dickon and Lincoln and their families--or at least Ashleigh and Dickon's families. (C'mon Link! Let's see some ACTION!) ;) 

I am ready to EAT!

The beginning of the spread. Mmmmm!

We didn't get a picture of it, but John did the turkey in the brick oven out in the yard. It was soooo good. Smokey flavor and moist! Oh, man, it was awesome. Not to mention it opened up the ovens inside for other use! In our back yard, I think we're definitely going to have to build one of those!

This is what Madie did while we ate. She sat at the table long enough to argue about being allowed to eat just cornbread, then dismissed herself to go play with dolly on the couch behind us. Psh! She feasted later though. Cheerios. It's a crime.

After we ate we went for a stroll with Ashleigh, John, Max, Lottie, Pip and Lincoln. One thing I love about eating with Ashleigh is she always suggests a walk afterward. Mike often does too, but I wish we lived on a quieter road so we didn't have to drive to the carriage roads to do it--not that they're far away, it's just nice not to have to pile into the car to go for a walk. Next year...next year.

Finn in a hand-me-down of Pip's. We forgot it there! :( It is so cute!

On Friday it was in the 50s! So the kids and I went for a walk along Bubble Pond. It was beautiful! Lots of people were out with all the good weather, but we got there a bit early and missed any thing you might call a crowd. We saw them heading out as we were coming in.

Not an incredible picture, but this is the bridge at Bubble Pond. Bridges like this dot the carriage roads--18 in all, if I remember right. Each is a little different, but they're all beautiful.

Madie checks out some red berries on the edge of the pond. The coat is also a hand-me-down from Lottie. Madie calls it her "kitty-cat coat." Hahaha! I crack every time!

I wanted to go to the end of this turn, but Madie insisted we turn back when we were this far. Maybe next time. I've never actually walked this particular road before.

I guess it was a good thing I did though, 'cause I would have been doing this for that much longer. One woman I passed was like, "Woah! Super mom!" No, not super mom. Super woman maybe, but super mom would have figured out a fun way to get the kid to walk the 3/4 of a mile back.

The front view. Look at those cheeks.

Then we headed to the library. This is one of the most beautiful libraries I've ever been in, and I'm happy to be back to it! I'll have to get more pictures of the actual library itself some time, but in the mean time, feast your eyes on this:

"Oh sugah! Aw, honey, honey!" He's gonna be a heartbreaker, ladies. Sorry.

Madie Convos

It's been a bit of a stressful day--or month, really, but I'm trying to take it one day at a time, so I'll just retract that part (only not really, because I feel like wallowing just a bit, and I want you all to share in the misery that is sleep deprivation). But posting things to my new Pinterest board, "Stupid Stuff on a Stick" is helping me feel better.

These Madie convos will also help me feel better--and you too!

The other night, as we're getting ready to take Madie up to bed.
Mike: "Madie, do you want one of us to take you up or do you want to go by yourself?"

Madie: "One of you take me up."

Me: "Who should take you up? Me or Dad?" I lean back and "inconspicuously" point to Mike while mouthing, 'DAAAD. DAAAD.'

Madie: "What?" I continue mouthing and pointing. "What? What'd you say, Mum?" More mouthing, slightly whispering. Madie gets a look on her face that clearly says, 'You're insane.' "What, Mum? I can't hear you." Madie continues playing with her dolly on the floor. "Mum, will you take me to bed?"

~~~~~~~~~
Today I found out that one of Madie's preschool teachers was in a minor car accident the other day. She's okay, but won't be in for a few days so she can recover--she complains of some soreness (I assume from whiplash). On the way home, I mentioned this to Madie.

Me: "Hey Madie, did you know Ms. Meagan was hurt in an accident?"

Madie: "Oh. Did the floor hurt her?"

Me: "You mean did she fall? No. She was hurt by her car."

Madie: "Is she squashed?" (We've been going over the importance of staying out of the way of cars, hence the term 'squashed'.)

Me: "No, no, she's okay, she's just a little hurt. But I was thinking maybe we could think of things to do to make her feel better. Do you have any suggestions?"

Madie (after a moment): "We could bless her. And then all her owies would get better."

*Cue melting of Mumma's heart.* We have been praying for Aunt Kaitlyn and Aunt Holly lately and it was sweet that Madie realized that the power of prayer can have an effect on the wellbeing of others.

Well, as usual, I was right. I do feel better.

Leaving Facebook and My Adorable Kids

Some of you may know I recently left Facebook. I'm determined to stay off until at least Christmas. I've always made the excuse that it's how I keep in touch with my far-flung family. But then I thought, "I have a blog I update regularly, email I check often, and a YouTube account I post videos on for those who want to watch them. Not to mention more conventional methods of contact. There's no reason I absolutely must depend on Facebook." So I won't.

Anyway on to the post. It's mostly just pictures of my adorable children being what they are: adorable children.

Madie inherited these footie pajamas from a friend whose kids won't wear them (which, in Madie's mind, in incomprehensible). She's had them a week. And worn them a week. She even took them to preschool for her first ever show-and-tell. When I was explaining what show-and-tell was, I said, "...and then everyone says, 'Ooo!'" When I picked her up and asked how it went she said, "No one said, 'Ooo.'" Haha! Uh oh! Those kids need a talkin' to!

Madie has taken to wearing headscarves a lot, since I wear them pretty much all the time now. I had no intention on leaving the store with this particular one, but Madie had no intention of leaving the store without it. She is so stubborn. She gets it from Mike.

The Finn-man waiting for the cookies to finish baking. You can tell he's excited, right?

Madie has been loving swim lessons. Loooving it. It's gone better than I could have hoped--I think all the pool-time with Mike this summer really helped. She's been to two classes and just has a ball each time. In fact, she's the only kid in her class who swims without a parent in the water. 

Of course, considering that this last week she was one of only two kids who showed up--I'm not sure why but it's been my experience with swim classes that many parents are shoddy on their attendance--she basically has an adult with her 100% anyway. I was a little worried at first that she wouldn't get in with Mr. Mark--she's never had a male teacher before and his beard and long hair are very unusual in her experience. But I was so wrong! She loves him and he's great with her!

Happenings and Ramblings

Last Saturday there was a pajama sale in town. Basically a bunch of stores have major sales (and even some restaurants) from like 6 to 10 or something like that, and you can come partake. Many of them offer an additional 5% off if you come in your pjs.

If you know me and Mike, you know we're all about a deal.

So we showed up bright and early in our sleepwear and coats and got what little Christmas shopping we do done. In one of the stores they had this awesome rocking horse. As soon as I saw the sign saying, "Feel free to ride!" I shoved off my jacket and hopped on.

Then Mike had a turn.

Then we were finally able to convince Madie that it really was a fun as we made it look. Not to mention surprisingly comfortable!

And just as an interesting tidbit of information, most of the woodworks in this shop--including this horse--were made in the owner's small wood shop in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine! WOAH! Didn't see that one coming, did ya?! He's got some beautiful things in there.

Yesterday Madie had her first day of preschool. She's going to half-days, two days a week. It was a little overwhelming I think yesterday--when I turned to leave she started bawling. I guess her teacher, in an effort to get Madie to hang up her coat, had counted to 3 (I think more like a, "Hey! How about this, on the count of three..." rather than a, "Madie! Hang it up. 1. 2. 3!" sort of way) and that really turned Madie off from her. Oh no! But she likes the other teacher, and I think she'll come around to Ms. Meagan with time. These pictures were taken before we left that morning. She was very excited.

Okay, listen, I let my kid dress herself with only a two-part caveat: 1. It has to be weather/activity appropriate. 2.  Fresh panties are a daily must. Ergo, you get conversations like this: "Madie, that dress isn't warm enough for today. What if you end up playing at the playground? Your legs would freeze." "Okay. I'll wear pants. And a shirt." And before I realize what's happening, she's wearing the pants, the shirt, and the dress. And when I went to adjust her headband so it wasn't an eye-patch she said, "No! It will fall off!" Oh well, at least she can recognize color coordinates--kind of.

And again with the face. I don't know, you guys. I tried reasoning with her, she just doesn't care.

And on a completely different note, I have a couple of things to say concerning Pinterest. First of all, I love it. I really do. It provides endless entertainment in the form of both genius and stupid ideas. My three favorites of late:

1. Wrap tinfoil around your knob so you can paint your door! People, it literally takes 30 seconds to take a knob off a door, then you can splash and splatter paint like a mad woman and it won't get on a blessed piece of hardware.

2. After a while, towels build up detergent and fabric softener, which makes them stiff and smelly. Wash them in vinegar and baking soda every once in a while and it completely refreshens them! Or, you could wash them in vinegar and baking soda every time and not worry about having them build up in detergent and fabric softener at all!

3. Look! Cake on a stick! Pie on a stick! Cupcakes on a stick! Cookies on a stick! Baked things should not be on sticks! Stop it!

Dad's Outdoor Girl

For those of you who know me, I love to be outdoors hiking, camping, exploring. Weather conditions don't really phase me, as long as I have the right gear. Lucky for me, I have a partner in crime for my adventures. For the past year Madie has been my hiking and outdoors buddy. I remember when she was an infant and she could be balling her eyes out, but when I stepped outside with her she would immediately calm down. Although, that may have been because Rexburg was an ice box...but I'll keep saying it's because she loved to be outside ;)

So when we got some snow this week, Madie was so excited! She went outside to play and really did not want to come inside. When I came home that night, the conditions, in my mind, made a turn for the worst. 36 degrees and raining. Not cold enough to snow, but cold enough to chill your soaked attire! So when I came back home, she really wanted to go outside. I was reluctant because of the conditions. But she insisted on going out. It was dark too...sunset is about 4:30 in Maine at the moment. So, I threw on my rain gear and went out with Madie. She was wearing this blue-hooded jacket, a beanie, a skirt, and her rain boots. We played outside for a good 20 minutes, kicking around the wiffle ball, running through the woods in the backyard. When we came in, we couldn't help but snap this photo. She is my outdoor girl. I love that she is game for anything. 

Kids = Entertainment

Finn is sporting a vintage Winnie the Pooh jump suit from my old wardrobe.

Finn wearing these was priceless.

Madie is getting more familiar with the Maine culture, and it's really starting to show.

Sleepy

Last night was another rough night for Finn--which means a rough night for me and Mike. And just after he finally quieted down, I could hear Madie coughing in her room. It was a lot of coughing, so I went in, sat her up (she was already awake with it), gave her a drink, and tried to help her get back to sleep. She wanted me to sleep with her, but I said I had to go do something (I was starving by this time) but when I was done I would check on her and if she was still awake I'd lay down with her.

I ate something, did a few dishes, then went back up to see how she was. Of course she was still awake. So I laid down with her until she fell asleep. I never did go back under until I went down into my own bed though. In all, I lost 3 hours of sleep last night.

My only major problem with losing this much sleep is that it puts me on a war path the next day and I feel bad all day for being so rotten to my kids. Poor little tykes. Incredibly, today hasn't been as bad as all that--it's literally a miracle.

None of us even got after-lunch naps!

But now it's 5 pm. Finn just woke from a late nap, Madie is in the middle of one (THAT'S gonna be scary), and I'm trying to nurse, cook, and clean before the missionaries from our church arrive for dinner and a spiritual thought.

And of course Mike had to go pick up the car (that we were going to take in yesterday but didn't get to until today) from the repair shop--and he's biking. This is the longest hour and a half of my life.

I'm wicked tired, but at least it's quiet and peaceful. 

MOWvember

Have you heard of Movember? No? Well, you should look it up because men are far less likely to take the time to have regular checkups than women, and it's recommended they have a yearly screening for things like prostate cancer after 40. Men also happen to have a shorter lifespan than women by 5 years. Coincidence? Maybe...but probably not. Historically, men lived longer than women.

Movember's mission is to bring awareness to men's health. You can register as a Mo Bro or a Mo Sista. (Mo Sistas do not have to grow any extra facial/body hair. They simply support their Mo Bros.)

This post, however, is more personal than just talking about Movember. I'm talking about MOWvember. Instead of growing, I'm mowing.

People who do my hair are always surprised by how much I have.  We joked about sending it to my mother-in-law to have a doll made out of it. My little sister though I meant an actual doll of hair! Ew! But no, they're just porcelain dolls with human hair--like baby hair.

And as Movember is to support men and their health awareness, Mowvember is to support my kid sister:

Kit-Kat and her new 'do! Is she not just the third-cutest thing you ever saw? (I've got two kids, people, cut me some slack.)

Daylight Savings

I hate you. That's all.

Branch Halloween Party

 We had a lot of fun getting together with our branch for the Halloween party this year. Madie got just enough candy, we had a little pot luck, and got to know a few people. Madie had a blast running around. Our only regret was we didn't get a picture of all of us in our costumes! We went as pirates. Mal had this awesome, ragged dress for Madie to wear. But, Madie insisted on wearing her princess dress and insisting she was a 'pirate princess'. So, we just played along...even though we had an awesome costume for her! She was so excited to be a pirate princess, she was dancing in a circle singing a song about her being one.

Evidence.

Yummy sugar cookies.

Joey got her baby fix by holding the Finn-Man. At first I was going to make him my parrot, but couldn't come up with a parrot costume. So I just threw a bandana on his head and called it good.

We looked especially good.

Takin' the loot!

I'm A Big Girl

This post is dictated to Mallory by Madeleine. It is pondering on what a big girl Miss Madeleine is.

I can get my baniwa milk by myself. "Baniwa" = "vanilla" as opposed to chocolate.  I reach for it and get it and then I drink it. So I'm a little bit bigger. Not too much bigger, like that (points to Mallory), but a little bit.

Yeah, a little bit bigger.

So what else can you do?

I just colored. I colored blue and purp-- oh! Not purple. And I go potty by myself. And I tell you when I'm hungry. As opposed to crying. I'm telling I'm hungry. You tell me when you're hungry. Right. What else? No! I'm hungry! Oh! Okay. Well, what does a big girl do? Please get me fooooood! Right, but a big girl says what kind of food she would like, right? Hmmmm, no food.

I go upstairs by myself. I'm going to swimming (lessons). What else are you going to start doing? Next week? (Counting off on her fingers) I'm going to friends, and Ms. Wendy, and Ms. Meagan.

That's right folks! Miss Madeleine is going to start preschool next week! And please excuse the photos--the light was bad in the first, so I made her turn around but it turns out that was the most normal shot I could get. I include the others because it's Madie exerting her independence--she insisted on these poses!