Halloween

Halloween. Not my favorite holiday I'll have to admit. The constant, can I have candy can I have candy can I have candy, nearly drives me insane. But kids are cute dressed up as...pretty much anything. We had an Egyptian, a cowboy complete with his own horse, and Rapunzel including her trusty frying pan (That is Emma's actual cast iron frying pan. It didn't last long its pretty heavy. Oh and that's another Rapunzel from our church Halloween party.).

What Halloween wouldn't be complete without a little of Grandma's witches brew?

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.

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.

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.

First Day

First of second grade. Madilyn's growing up, enough that she wasn't entirely sure she was exicted to go. For the first time she wanted me to drive her to school on her first day, that is until she saw all the other kids down at the bus stop in front of our house. We walked her to the bus stop instead.

She pulled her tooth out that morning. She's now missing a front and center and the one next to it (thats not front and center). And the other front one is lose. Poor kid isn't going to have any chompers left in a few weeks.

First day went well. So did the second. She told me that she likes being shy at school because she doesn't get in trouble that way. The teacher never has to talk to her. I'm wondering why she doesn't try that strategy at home?

Goodbye Summer

Dear Summer,

I enjoyed you this year, really I did. We didn't get to see much of you but when we did we were grateful. The fact that it was cold until July turned out ok since Madilyn and I had rehearsals every Saturday anyway. And then because it was rainy, even in July, everything stayed nice and green for a lot longer than usual. At least you warmed up enough for us to enjoy the lake and go boating for a couple of days.

I wouldn't mind if you stayed longer next year. Or perhaps just showed up earlier. I promise I won't complain.

Sincerely,

Stacey

It's Show Time

Broadway Revue is the reason I am behind on blogging. I hadn't planned on participating this year but the director called and asked if I would sing Think of Me from Phantom of the Opera. How could I say no to that? Once we got going they said the girls could participate if they wanted. Madilyn wanted too so it turned out to be a fun thing that her and I could do together. It was a great experience. Good for Madilyn and me time, and good to sing a song that fits my voice type.

This is the only picture I have that you can really see Madilyn. She's the one farthest to the left. The guy in the front is Timon from Lion King, not the real one.

The hardest part about this song had nothing to do with the music. It was the costume! Because it starts out one way and has to be changed in 15 seconds while on stage. It gave me a few sleepless nights because it didn't get figured out until opening night!
And there you go. I looked like I was ready to cry in all the pictures. Not really a crying song soooo, not sure what to think about that. But as you can see we figured out the costume problem.