Max’s birthday, pumpkin patch, and more…

We love this time of year!  Lots of fun stuff to do and it’s Max’s birthday.  We went up to Black Island Farms for a field trip with Madi’s school.  I was glad Max was able to go and be a part of the action.  He loved it.  I just know he’s gonna love preschool next year…that is, if he ever gets potty trained :)

Sadly, Madi broke her thumb last week.  It was broken for about a day and a half before we even took her in.  She wasn’t complaining at all about it hurting; but she had fallen on it the day before and it was swollen HUGE.  So I finally took her in and yep, it was broken.  So she’s got a cast for about 2 more weeks.   I was so proud of her.  She was so brave during her x-ray and getting her cast.  She LOVES her cast.  I think that to her, it’s just another accessory. 

She just is growing up so much lately.  Her teacher sent home a “reading” folder and basically said that Madi is ready to learn some more challenging stuff and so we could start having her read books.  I’ve been working a lot with her on 3 letter words (set, pet, bet; pig, fig, jig…that type of thing), and she has been doing awesome.  She really works hard to sound out the words and she gets so excited when she gets it right. 

Madi also has been learning to ride her bike without training wheels.  It basically took her just a few times of trying and she really caught on.  After about 15 minutes of practicing on the drive way, she rode around the block with Mike. 

MAX’S BIRTHDAY

Max had such a great birthday!!  He wanted a Spiderman party and cake.  And Ashley, Brian, and Tyson came down to spend the night and play games.  We all went out to dinner at Iggy’s (thanks Kaylene!) and then came home to open presents and have cake.  The kids went to bed good and then we all stayed up playing Qwirkle.  Such a fun game!! 

 

He gets entirely too distracted to smile for the camera when he’s opening presents :)

 

Max and Tyson looking like twinners in their matching hats and shirts. 

We went to Lagoon yesterday and the kids were beyond excited to go.  They loved every bit of it.  And Lagoon has added a lot of cool kid rides since I had been their last. 

 

 

This is just a cute video of Max leading the music during Family Home Evening.  He had to get a “stick” to lead with, just like choir conductors. 

My Max is THREE!!

I can’t believe he’s already three.  And I can’t even explain how much I love this kid.  I’m so happy he’s in our family!  Madilyn LOVES playing with her little brother, and he’s always protective of her (it’s kinda funny around other kids…he’s super protective).  He’s decided he LOVES Spiderman, even though he’s never seen a single Spiderman show or cartoon.  His favorite toys are his fire truck and any kind of SWORD.  He’ll put it through the belt loop and yell “All for one and one for all!”.  He is still super cuddly and loves to snuggle up to any of us.  When we have visitors I put Madi in bed with Max and he always likes to hold her hand and cuddle with her.  I love it :). 

He loves family home evening and leading the music.  Max ADORES his dad and loves to wrestle and play.  He has gotten so independent lately and just has such a happy sweet demeanor.  Oh, and he’s definitely a boy because he’s going through a “potty” words phase.  About every other word is “poopy”!!  He thinks it’s absolutely the funniest thing ever.  Hopefully he’s moves on from this stage soon :).  WE LOVE OUR MAX!!

Just born:

 

1st Birthday

 

2nd Birthday

My big kid!!

By the way, I think it’s kinda funny that he’s basically had the exact same hair ever since he was born :).  He’s always had such a full head of hair!!

Bloggin

I’ve been in such a funk with blogging lately.  But I need to be better because I’m determined to make a Blog Book eventually!  We’ve been having fun with my parents for the last week.  I just took them to the airport today and we won’t see them again until July.  SAD!  It was a quick trip, but it was fun.  I got the stomach flu while my mom was here, and while I’m sure it was hard for her doing everything around here (being completely jet lagged), I’ve decided that no matter how old you are, you want your mom when you’re sick.   So I was very thankful to have her around!!  Anyway, not very much else going on, but we’ve been having fun enjoying the nice weather and the FALL!! 

I didn’t take very many pictures from the Aquarium, but here are a couple of random ones :).  The kids loved the penguins, and Madi was terrified of the sting rays. 

Kinda blurry, but this was her first day of preschool this year.  She has loves her new school!!

This totally makes me laugh.  Madi and Max were playing games online, and then Madi runs into my room to show me this picture she took.  Her and Max found a bear that they think he needs to get from Build-a-bear.  Madi took a picture of him with it so we wouldn’t forget. 

I finally (after 6+ years) took my wedding dress to be cleaned.  Haha!  I’m getting it boxed up too in one of those display boxes so it won’t yellow.  While I was going through the wedding stuff, we of course had to dress Madi up in my veil! 

We went to Cornbelly’s today with Ashley and Tyson.  I LOVE that place!  It’s a tradition for us every year and it’s always so fun.  Max got into the face painting action this year.  He chose Spiderman. 

Madi chose this pink and purple one.  She says it’s a cat.  I don’t really see “cat” in it, but she loved it :)

Jump splits!

He looks thrilled, huh? 

Madi and a princess.  She told me, “Mom, that’s so cool that we ran into a REAL LIVE princess here.”

Playing dress up in the Princess area. 

Notice Max’s hands at the top?  He was trying to hang from the board because he was too short for the hole :)

Flashback…Madi at Cornbellys in 2008. 

And Max at Cornbelly’s in 2008.  It makes my heart hurt!!  My baby’s are growing up too fast!!  I love them. 

 

While we were waiting in line for lunch they were playing some Michael Jackson music.   You can’t really hear the music, but she was bustin a move to “Billie Jean” :)

Cute cousins!  They had tons of fun and were completely worn out by the end of the day.  Until next year, Cornbelly’s! 

Lots of Changes

We MOVED!!  It’s crazy how fast it all happened.  We thought about it, decided, and did it, all in about two weeks.  We’re renting out our place in Pleasant Grove and living at my parents house in Bountiful for awhile (since their house is empty while they’re in Hong Kong).  I wanted to try and get settled in before Madi would be starting a new year at school and ballet. 

So far, we’ve actually really liked it here.  I was worried I would miss our house in PG so bad (and I do), but this has felt like home and it’s nice to have so much SPACE!!!  I’ve decided even though there’s more actual area to clean here, it’s so much easier to keep it clean because there’s a place for everything.  

Madi is SO excited to start school and loves her teacher.  And I’m excited because Mike and I just got a book called, Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons.   We’ve heard it works great and that by the end of it she should be reading at a second grade level.  The lessons are only about 15 minutes per day, which isn’t bad.  So hopefully 100 or so days from now we’ll have a reader.  Wish us luck!  Madi is beyond thrilled that her dad is going to teach her how to read.   

Also, Madi started at the Bountiful School of Ballet.  She was so excited to go to her first class.  She had to wear her hair in a bun, and so she thought she was a real ballerina.  After her class I asked her teacher how she did and she told me, “Madi is really, really good.  I don’t know if she’s had a lot of training, or if it’s just natural, but she did great.  I’m going to move her up a class”.  She also told me that Madilyn was a great listener and really paid attention.  I’m so proud of her! 

Max has just been having fun being along for the ride.  I feel bad I’m always taking Madi to stuff and he’s just kinda left behind.  But next year it’ll be his turn and he’ll be in school.  *Sniff*. 

While Mike’s mom was in town, we headed up with the kids to the Gateway and let them play in the fountain.  My kids still talk about going to “town” so they can play in the fountain. 

After we got home, I walked in from the garage and found Max like this: 

He’s so funny.  He was pooped!!  I guess he thought that would be a comfy spot to lay down and rest?  I always find him in the weirdest places. 

Madi got to go to a dance workshop.  This was her ready for hip-hop.  I should have got the hip hop dance on video.  It was the cutest thing!!  I couldn’t believe how much of it she remembered. 

Ear Piercing 2.0

Madi had her ears pierced a couple of years ago.   It was a BAD experience.  She had wanted them done, but once she got them they kept falling out and she was always stressed (not to mention they were in not a great spot), and so we just took them out and let them grow in.  I always told her if she wanted them again she could get them.  But I actually thought she wouldn’t get them for years (like maybe even until she was an adult) because she seemed so traumatized by it all.  Then, randomly a couple of weeks ago, she told me she wanted them.  I love earrings on her, so I was all for it.  I called Mike just to make sure he was cool with it too, and off to the mall we headed.  Luckily, this time around has been MUCH better.  She LOVES them!  And she’s done great about cleaning and twisting them. 

I found Mike sleeping in the playroom with the kids on him.  Notice how Max has his mouth on Mike’s toe??  Gross!  But I had to snap a picture before I told him to stop doing it.  Haha

Mike has been way busy at work, and having such a long commute is just making him get home even later.  The kids have been missing him tons.  Thankfully, things have slowed down, and Mike was able to work from home today.  The kids both wanted to sit right by dad at dinner.  In fact at every meal they want to sit right by dad.  No one wants to sit by mom.  What am I?!  Chopped liver?  Haha

A picture of our new digs.  We were able to move some of our furniture into my parents house, which is nice.  Kinda makes it feel more like home.   It’s been so nice having a big kitchen, and master bedroom and bath, and the kids have their own rooms.  I was a little worried the kids would be scared about sleeping downstairs, but they’ve done great.