Mud pie or mud facial? Truth be told ... a little bit of each!
Yes Dan is holding her by her overall straps - her feet & hands were at least as muddy as her face. While we are glad they had a good time we'd rather not have learned that (apparently) big sister's mud pies are good enough to eat.
Mostly we are glad/grateful that mud isn't toxic. So far there has been no ill affects from yet another grand backyard adventure.
Best Big Brother Ever? I sure think so!! He didn't want to play with her that day (he was busy doing something else), but when asked did anyway & without any complaining.
The swing was good fun too!
Nate is a busy busy boy & most days people around him/us don't take the time to see the kind-er, gentle-er, side to Nate. I love that I get to see it on a regular basis. He is an incredible boy/son/brother - I'm so very glad he's ours!
Around our house there is usually an abundance of Ketchup. Nate & Abbie eat it on just about everything - often it seems as though their food is swimming in the stuff - it's so bad it can turn my stomach just watching them sometimes. This week we actually ran out of Ketchup, but with the last couple of weeks we had it seemed like that was only appropriate - inconvenient as all get out (it was hard finding something to eat that they hadn't just had that didn't "require" ketchup) - but it seems like lately I've run out of A LOT - I just can't seem to catch up...
I've been trying harder to enjoy the small moments and be the mom I want to be, but in doing that something (and very often multiple somethings) fall by the wayside. It seems there is always work to be done (office work), 4+ loads of laundry & at least 2 sinks of dishes, and and and. Dan is a great help around the house even after a long day of work, but even that's not enough - I need a clone or two or three. I've heard it said that trying to clean house when raising children is like shoveling your sidewalk in a blizzard. We keep shoveling but it keeps snowing!
Dan has been traveling a lot lately. He's never gone long, but he hasn't been home for a whole week since March. I'd really like to complain, but he works hard for our family & living in a Navy community where I have friends who's husbands are gone for weeks/months/even a year at a time I feel like a wimp to complain, but something goes wrong every time he's gone & it's wearing me out.
So in my attempt to Catch Up here's the low down on our madness the last couple of weeks. The last weekend in April I escaped on Friday night (after getting a babysitter to cover the window of time from when I needed to leave & Dan got home from his latest trip) & Saturday to "Time Out for Women" in Seattle with some of the women I served with in the Primary Presidency - I can't explain it, but when I am with these ladies it's like everything is right in my world. We went through a lot together, grew a lot together - lifelong bonds have been forged. While I did this Dan got a dose of what every day life is like for me - his response to me when I got home (now I know he didn't mean it the way it sounds but let's say he didn't earn any bonus points for tact) "now I know why you don't get anything done". Poor guy didn't have a prayer of digging his way out of that one.
After my "break" Dan was off to California (he had just been in Utah) to teach a training class in Oakland - then back home. I had my last activity days (as of today I'm now our ward nursery leader) and we've had 3 extra baton practices a week as Abbie's group is getting ready for parade season. Their first one is this Saturday - she's excited & nervous all at the same time - we are praying for warm weather, their outfits are cute but lacking in coverage in cool weather. There's the normal weekly dance/baton practice for Abbie, and cub scouts for Nate. One day we had 3 dentist appointments, 2 orthodontist appointments, dance class and it was my day to volunteer at the school.
RUN RUN RUN
WEEEEEEE
Dan & I tossed in a date night since he had to fly out to L.A. on Mother's Day - yes I was BITTER. While he was gone Maddie had an allergic reaction, to what we don't know (trying to figure that out), at which point I totally wimped out and called my parents crying. I often get envious of others who have family near-by to lend a hand, but I also know that I have a better relationship with them 'cause we aren't close enough to get on each others nerves and I'd rather "save the relationship", but I still have days where re-enforcements would be nice.
In the end we survived it all and I even had time and sense of humor enough to blog about it. Things don't look to get any easier - we have 4 kids after all - but with a little bit of sleep, a lot of faith & perseverance we can do what needs to be done - even if it's just one day at a time & even if the dishes wait until tomorrow, because maybe then the blizzard slows to just a dusting and we can get the sidewalk cleared for the day - and for that we can be Grateful. Besides with kiddos like this - who wouldn't feel blessed?!
I am determined to catch up - but there's been so much going on lately it's hard to keep up let alone catch up.
Last August was a chill out/gear up month for us.
Summer school ended early in the month, it was finally actually warm enough to spend time outside, and I was still on maternity leave which left lots of extra time for playing - wow that seems like a lifetime ago!
Kassie, who was already climbing out of her crib was moved to a big girl bed. Her own little butterfly garden (thanks to birthday gifts from Grandma & Grandpa Radeke & Aunt Lorraine & Uncle
Michael)
The big event for us last August was the fair. We live about 3 minutes by car from the county fair grounds. Maybe not that far - I'm sure it takes longer for us to get in the car than drive there. We usually spend the better part of one whole day at the fair, and last year was no exception. We went on Friday, when if you go before noon it's only 25 cents to get in. We go early, get in cheap then spend the morning checking out all the animals & exhibits.
Maddie spent most of her time like this
Or this
We get our hands "stamped" so we can come back, we head home for lunch & naps/quiet time. After naps we head back for FUN. We see any shows we want to see, anything we wanted to see in the morning & missed.
This year we tried something new - we let the kids choose 1 activity (carnival game or extra fun thing) they both chose this walk on water thing. They had a blast & wanted to do it again - time will tell I suppose.
But the highlight each year for my kids is the carnival rides.
Dan went the first time with Kassie on the pirate themed obstacle course so she would know what to do, but after that the only time he went with her is when the Carnie worker told us he had to - she was very adept at going on her own & she loved it!
The "Big" roller coaster. Someday we'll have to show them what a real roller coaster is.
Before the Hang Glider Ride
After the Hang Glider Ride
We buy the bracelets so they can go & go & go & go until their little energizer bunny selves run out of steam, it's usually way past bed time, we home come, quick bath & they crash. Wait a year & then repeat. Hey! No need to mess with what works. Last year was no exception & a good time was had by all.
After the fair it's time to get ready to go back to school & gear up for another soccer season - it all gets rolling so much faster than I anticipate - it seems to come sooner every year, whether I'm ready or not.
Today, looking back almost a whole year, I am grateful for fun times as a family. I remember growing up going to the fair with my family. Doing 4-H projects, seeing if mom/grandma's/great grandma's/Aunt (Janna or Leslie)'s (insert fair entry here) won a prize. Spending time with my Grandpa's cows (oh how I wanted to be a part of that then - perhaps a story for another day), lots of running & playing, the rodeo (which we rarely did as kids and so far I have yet to do with my own family, not really a big deal for me - but if any of you are into rodeo...for the last couple of years the rodeo at our county fair has been on the National Pro Rodeo Extreme Bulls circuit, so if that will get you to come visit.....). Can't forget the homemade waffle cone ice cream cones & the scones (nothing like what they call scones here), I can almost smell those memories. I hope that doing things, like the fair, as a family will give my children the same warm, fuzzy memories of being in our family as a kid as I have of my own childhood.
I started writing this April 10th, right after, very unexpectedly, losing one of my cousins. Today is May 14th, and I've thought about, gone over this post a million times in my mind. I want to truly express my feelings, but do it in a way that not only makes sense but is appropriate. When I wrote this, as I've mulled it over in my mind for the last month, and now as I edit it and try to "finish" it I've had my cousins in mind. Those I grew up "playing with" (in the time before play dates), those I babysat, and even those who because of our difference in ages I barely know your names (how sad this makes me lately). So with you in mind I wrote this - but it also applies to all members of my family, to those who married into this family of ours, the family I married into and those special people in my life that I care about as if they are my family.
Dear Cousins,
Most of us grew up in small town Idaho - or very near there - for at least a part of our lives, but that doesn't really matter 'cause we all grew up with the same kind of upbringing - Family First.
Life has changed all of us. We've grown up, moved away, married, divorced, had kids (or not) - we are all different than what we once were, but for me one thing has never changed (and I'm guessing you too) - Family First.
We may not all be close - maybe not now, maybe we once were, maybe we never have been - life's just that way sometimes. It's not because of hurt feelings or anything like that (not for me anyway) - time, distance, age (the difference in ours) - it all affects us, molds us, makes us who we are - but in the end none this matters but Family does!
It's terrible that it has taken something tragic to remind me that no matter where I am, what I am doing, that it is family that keeps me grounded, reminds me who I am, where I've been & shows me where I want to go. So let me say this:
I CARE ABOUT YOU & I'VE GOT YOUR BACK!
I don't care about what you've done or not done. I don't care if we were never really close. I don't care if we were close but haven't been for years. I don't care if you hardly know me or I you. I don't care if we talk all the time, or we've never had a one on one conversation. I could go on an on, but I think you got the point. None of it matters!
If you need me - I'm here. This is not anything new for most of us - most of us would do anything we could to help out our family, but it needs to be said. It needs to be put out there. Again, now, today! With family like ours we should never feel alone in our struggles. Call me/email me/facebook me.
To quote Frosty the Snowman (in Frosty Returns) "One friend is a lot different than no friends. One friend is plenty"
If you ever feel like you need a friend, let me be one to you. I love you 'cause you are you & you're family & that is all that matters. Trust me on this.
I often get told (some version of) "I don't know how you do it" (most often by my co-workers). The fact is - I don't. Most days things are nowhere near where I'd like them to be, but the reality is that most of the time I'm ok with it because we have moments like these (I had to pause some serious fun to get all 4 of them into 1 picture):
And for that I am grateful. The dishes will still be in the sink tomorrow, but there's only one day where it's her first time to play in the grass - the first time she gets grass stained pants.
I feel like I've been posting a lot about Maddie lately - but
A) She's so dang cute &
B) It was just her birthday & she's grown/changed so much!
Last Wednesday, to celebrate her day I took the day off work & Dan came home early. We invited some friends to join us for some high class (cough, cough, wink, wink) dinning & entertainment at ..... drum roll please..... McDonald's. There's not much for a newly 1 year old to do here & it was a school night so we went & played, had something to eat, topped off with singing, birthday cake & cupcakes, and gifts.
She had a great day. She was a little confused and somewhat amused by everyone singing to/at her all day. She didn't quite figure out the birthday present opening thing yet - that will come soon enough, it always does.
She went in for her check-up the day after her birthday. She weighs a whopping 19 lbs 15.5 ounces - the closest I've had to one of my kiddos being 20lbs by their first birthday. For those who care that's hovering right at the 50th percentile for weight (as is her head circumference), she's 29 inches long - which is the 75th percentile for height, by far the "tallest" of all my kiddos.
She is growing great & has met (or exceeded - like walking at 9 1/2 months) all "milestones" she should have. She claps, waves, says ma ma & da da. She has 6 teeth with 4 more (2 of which are molars, say what?!, coming in). My favorite is when she gets really excited she stands in one place & stops her foot - it's like she wants to jump up & down but can't figure out how to get both feet off the ground, makes me giggle every time (as does her growl-y voice when she uses it, see my prior posting)!
She's a pretty happy baby. About a week before her birthday I took her to the doctor, I was convinced she had an ear infection - she had been a not so fun baby the entire night before. The doctor (not our normal pediatrician - he wasn't available) said no she didn't & so that was that. Turns out - mom was right. When I took her in for her check up our pediatrician said she had a "raging" ear infection, now I know it could have developed in the week between, but my point is that during that week she was fine - her happy little self, and she was cutting 2 molars & had an ear infection. Yep - good baby!
She loves to go, see, & do, but DOES NOT like her car seat. Our marathon road trip this summer ought to be loads of fun - NOT. She is adventurous, curious, LOVES her brother & sisters & just about climbs out of her skin when daddy comes home from work - another daddy's girl (for the record that makes 3). My only true complaint is that she used to sleep through the night, but no longer does, however in the grand scheme of things it's something I can live with. She loves all things technical (she walked the first time trying to get my blackberry from Nate) - the phone, the cell phone, & the remote are probably her favorite 3.
We hope your first birthday was great little one! We are sure glad you are part of our family. We look forward to spending your special day with you for many, many, many, more years to come!
