Firsts

Madie had two firsts this weekend...FIRST STEPS...and throwing up.

I know what you are thinking - "10 months and she just now threw up?" Yes but this wasn't little baby spit up, no no... this was like gallons of throw up (usually all over me) coming out of her mouth and her nose. Poor little thing, it was so sad. In addition to that (sorry I am about to break my "I will not whine about how much I hate going to work instead of being home with the kids" rule) but I had to cover for a bunch of people at work because just about out entire department is gone so I had to go to work and Ben had work today too and we can't turn down work for him because it comes so rarely so my poor little princess had to have a babysitter the first time that she was really sick. I HATE THIS! I sure hope that things turn around soon so that Ben can find something steady and I can stay home. I apologize for the work whining - I know that I should be grateful for a job but Ben and I are both just about at the end of our ropes with this situation.

On a happy note she took three steps. She just stood up and started going like she has been doing it forever. Then all of a sudden she must have realized what she was doing and just fell into my arms - I wish I had a picture. At least I got to see it, so far I have been lucky/blessed and I haven't missed any of the "firsts". I think Heavenly Father knows how much I am struggling with having to work outside our home and is helping me out with that.

A visit from Grandma and Grandpa

My Mom and Stepdad came for the 4th of July and the week following it. We had such great time!


We went to the fireworks in Idaho Falls. Both kids loved them! I thought for sure that the noise would bug Madie but she just watched them in amazement.


We did lots of swimming at the hotel. The kids had so much fun. We got Madie this cute little floaty and she would kick her little legs like crazy and get all excited.


Although it doesn't look it in this picture Grandpa was so excited that Madie Lou would cuddle with him and go to sleep. I can't remember how many times he got her to go to sleep but he could tell you if you asked him.


The kids got a rocking horse that Grandpa made for them... yes I said made. I love it - it turned out so cute!


And just plain had fun spending time with Grandma and Grandpa!

Thank you for all that you do for us! We love you!!!

Stories about Slade

I am not sure if you have noticed but under Slade and Madie's pictures there is a spot that says click here to see me grow. I am trying to keep some records for them and I know that I am terrible at it. But I was hoping that someone out there who reads this will have some stories about Slade that they would like to share. I obviously wasn't around for the first year and a half of his life so I don't have any but I would like him to have record of someone's stories about him. If you have anything that you would like to share please put it in an email and send it to me and I will post it for Slade. My email is karit1023@yahoo.com.

Thanks!

Get me a Monster Truck Book!

Disclaimer: I am well aware that Slade will probably want to kill me some day for sharing this but it was just too cute!

Tonight I was sitting on the edge of the tub waiting for Slade to finish going poop when out of nowhere he demanded "Go get me a Monster truck book". it totally caught me off guard but I had little time to laugh being that he was insisting I get him a book. The best I could find him was a tractor book, check this out...

This crazy thing we call life

I have been getting some harassment lately that I haven’t updated my blog in over a month, so I thought that I would let you all know what we have been up to.

About a month ago Ben started working again for Scott doing concrete. I have never seen someone so happy to go to work in the morning. He is feeling so much better now that he is out working. Being home with the kids all day everyday was really taking a toll on him. He is looking for an additional part time job for nights and weekends but for now we are just so grateful for work. He also got his wisdom teeth out this morning, poor guy.

We have also been working like crazy trying to move some stuff around so that we can get me home with the kids. That being said we are selling our Jeep and our Camry. No we are not reverting to bikes or even horses but we are looking to get a van (as it seems to be the next logical vehicle that we will purchase and not because we are making any additions as of right now). I know what you must be thinking “Kari – driving a van – she swore she would never do that” but I am so excited to have more room and the convenience of a van! So here is the info on our vehicles that we are selling in case you or anyone you know is looking for one.

2004 Jeep Liberty Sport
About 47000 miles Tan exterior, Tan interior
V6, Automatic, 4WD, Sunroof, Fog lamps, AC, PL, PW, CD, cruise, roof rack,
locking lug nuts, towing package, good tires.
Great condition except it has a cracked windshield.
$9900.00 OBO

2005 Toyota Camry LE
About 75000 miles Tan exterior, Tan interior
Automatic, 4 cyc. AC, PW,PL, CD, cruise, good tires.
Great condition except it has a cracked windshield.
$13000.00 OBO

Slade has recently gotten into trying to say big words. He is constantly telling us that things are ‘hiwarious’ (hilarious), that he is so ‘brustrated’ (frustrated) and he also tells us that things are ridicules. He is such a great big brother, he plays so well with his sister. If Madie is in her walker he will get behind her and push her around the house crashing into things, at first I was a little concerned about it but Madie loves it, she laughs so hard. There is no one that can make Madie laugh as hard as Slade can. He also likes to read books to Madie, he will usually find one with animals and then tell her what animal it is and what sound it makes. It is so cute!

And I just like this pic of Slade...


Madie is crawling. She is all over the house. She crawls up to things and pulls herself up on it. Every morning when I go in her room to get her up she is standing in her crib with her great big 2-toothed grin. SO CUTE!!! She has also recently discovered that she thinks it is really funny to spit her food - she takes a bite, gets a sneaky little look in her eye and the sprays you with food, she then laughs like it is the funniest things she has ever seen and the more you tell her no the harder she laughs... little stinker! She also finally says Mama, she has been jabbering Dada for at least a month now but finally last Thursday she said Mama - it is so sweet to hear her say it.

These kids are so amazing - I am so grateful to have them in my life! I am so blessed!

We are also very excited that my Mom and my Step Dad are coming in 15 days... Hippee (as Slade says - I think it is a mix between Yippee and Hooray)! On Monday for family home evening we talked about families and worked on our numbers by making a paper chain.

So that is what has been going on with us.

Clapping

Madie clapping - so cute! I think that she likes this song.
(Ben is good at taking videos huh?)

Fun Family Weekend

Lately we have been trying really hard to make weekends memorable for the kids. We have been trying to get our "responsible" things done at different times so that we have fun family time on Saturdays. Our house is a little bit dirtier than I would like but I really feel like this is important because we are away from the kids so much during the week.

So this past weekend we started out friday night by renting Bolt. Then we came home, pulled the extra matress out in the living room and all sprawled out to watch the movie.

Saturday we went to the zoo. We had so much fun. Even Madie was really interested in what the animals were doing.






The next morning Dad and Slade made breakfast.


They are such handsome cooks.

Sunday afternoon we went to Clinton and Amy's house for Carson's Birthday party. Slade had a blast playing in the yard with his cousins.

It was a great weekend, I am so grateful for the memories!