Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Maris Farms













































Maris Farms was Ah-mazing! Who knew? We paid an admission fee and then they had all these activities for the kids. The cow train, corn room, pedal carts, giants slides, not so giant slides, goats, chickens, and sheep. Of course we did the corn maze and my favorite even though my pregnant self did not get on it was the ground pillow. I had never seen one before but its this 100 foot long blow up thinger they've buried in the ground and the kids jump all over it. Its 10x better than a bounce house (they had one of those too). We will definitely go back next year.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Is This Really Happening?

The stay-at-home mom gig I've got going on causes this question to cross my mind on a regular basis. For example, I'm madly getting ready for church and ready to get everyone's shoes on and walk out the door when Garrett walks out of my room with mascara all over his eyes and teeth. I'm sure he's tried to brush them with my mascara wand. All hopes for getting to church on time have come crashing down around me. Or when Madilyn comes down with the stomach flu while sleep walking and sleep walks all over her room and the living room and doesn't wake up until shes in the bath. In the mean time we've got the...well you can imagine...all over her bedroom and the living room. And I have to stop and ask myself 'Is this really happening?'

I had another such moment this morning when Madilyn spent 20 minutes in the bathroom and another 15 getting dressed only to come out in a short skirt with shorts underneath. At this point she's got 10 minutes before the bus comes. Its 50 degrees outside and I told her to go put on leggings. Well let's just say that's not what happened and in the end I was literally chasing my screaming 7 year old through the house with a pair of leggings making threats about what will happen to her if she misses the bus and I had to stop and ask myself...'Is this really happening?'

Yes, its.

Its moments like this morning that I have to remember the others. The ones like laying under the apple tree with my children eating apples and blackberries finding shapes in the clouds, doing a musical with my daughter, singing around the piano with three little mostly in tune voices, and listening to Madilyn read the scriptures on her own for the first time.

And I have to ask myself - Do I get to be mom to three crazy, wonderful kids? Do I get to spend eternity with my best friend? Do I get smothered in the snuggles of 3 pairs of twiggy arms?

Is this really happening?

Yes, it is.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Happy Birthday Emma!




























My little Emmabug turned 5 a couple of weeks ago. She wanted a ladybug cake which I thought was interesting since she's terrified of bugs, unless its a spider on the ceiling at which point she claims its her friend Spidey and I'm not allowed to kill it.

Can I just say this was the hardest birthday shopping I've EVER had? What do you get for a child that is happy with what she has except for a scooter that she's been asking for since Madilyn got one for her birthday. I was online looking for ideas for so long that my carpal tunnel syndrome from college came back!

In honor of her birthday I thought I would share some Emma facts:


  • she has 3 body books and one body coloring book

  • she loves them

  • she knows where the cerebellum is

  • and the brain stem

  • and stomach

  • and liver

  • and loves the parts of the inner ear

  • she keeps asking me what the adrenal glad does and I have no idea

  • she is incredibly sensitive - emotionally (think crying over which breakfast cereal to eat in the morning) and physically (sound, light, smells)

  • loving - I get more hugs from her than anyone else

  • cuddly - she would be happy being in physical contact with me at all times

  • smart - she started sounding out words at 3 and now she does a 1st grade reading and writing book (she starts kindergarten next year)

  • she has the most quotes on Notable Quotables from Nashville

Emma is a special girl. We are so blessed to have her in our family.