Expressions

There is never a doubt how my sweet baby girl is feeling. Let these pictures show the sweet and not-so-sweet expressions of cute Madeline:

Satisfied

Happy

Super Happy

Tired

Super Tired

Mad (or dirtiest look of all time-sand moustache and all)

Super Mad

So Sad

Are your kids super expressive? Can you tell exactly how they're feeling just by looking at them or not?

Cold and Dirty

Our Day at the Beach

Captions by Tom

Much cuter than a Jawa

Madeline, I'll save you

I need to start shaving soon.

The sand monster

Andrew: "Mommy, I did NOT take a nap in the car.

K: "Oh really?"

What to write?

I'm having a hard time coming up with things to write about this week, so here is another update on our life:

• This past weekend I took a trip all by my lonesome. I hope it is ok to say that I loved it! I was a free woman for 48 hours. No demands. No whines. I could go and do whatever I wanted to. Of course, it was a little lonely.


• The airline I flew on lost my luggage. Thankfully, they found it a few hours later.


• I am still loving the fitness challenge. It is the perfect motivator for me. I have wanted chocolate pretty much everyday this week but have managed to resist. I had to workout last Friday without any workout clothes thanks to my lost luggage, but I still did it and there's no way I would have without the challenge.


• I've lost 5 lbs in the past 3 weeks. Now only 932 more to go! (o:


• Andrew has taken a nap everyday since he fell asleep in the chair with Madeline last week. It's a vicious cycle with his sleep. Every time he takes a nap, he can't fall asleep at night which makes him tired the next day which leads to another nap. And he's a super heavy sleeper, so there is no waking him up once he's asleep.


• Tom's case settled a few weeks ago and he's had a very light work schedule since then. He comes home most days before 5. (crazy, I know!)


• No, it didn't come yet, so don't ask. (only half the people reading this know what I'm talking about. I promise the rest of you will know soon. No, I am NOT pregnant.)


• Madeline sleeps with 5+ dolls every night.


• We discovered an awesome kids pool in Palo Alto this week thanks to Julie. You should check it out if you're in the area. Here's the link: Rinconada Pool

That's all for tonight. I hope everyone has a lovely weekend!

Boxes make great toys!

Dinner Time Boredom

Remember how my kids pretended to sleep together in Madeline's crib last night? Well at 5 PM today I started making dinner and after a few minutes came into the office to find this:

Both sound asleep in the computer chair and they weren't faking! HAHAHA! I love it! Of course Andrew taking a nap means he is still awake at 10 PM. Do your kids ever fall asleep in funny places?

Funny Pics

My sweet sleeping kids...

...or not!

Madeline's cheesiest smile
(she was very happy to hang out with Adam, Tristan, and Braden for the afternoon)

Our Life

• The fitness challenge has been an excellent motivator for me. You should start to see some changes in me soon! (You can still join me even if you aren't part of the competition)
• Andrew has been extraordinarily disobedient the last couple days. We don't know why.
• Andrew escapes to the park every time we turn around. It's become a problem. Would you let your 5-year-old play at the park next door by himself?
• Madeline likes to add emphasis to her sentences by saying things like, "Mommy, I am really, really, really, really wet." We find it quite humorous
• Our plasma car was a great investment. We just wish we had bought two when they had them at Costco.
• I get to take a trip this upcoming weekend by myself. I don't think I've ever done that since having kids.
• Madeline likes to speak in the same silly voice as Andrew.
• Better said, Madeline likes to do everything that Andrew does. She is his shadow.

I think that's it. There are big changes coming in our life soon, so stay tuned for more details.

Mystery Spot and Santa Cruz

We went to the Mystery Spot in Santa Cruz with our good friends, the Farrells. The Mystery Spot is an interesting place, if you want to know what it is then click here.

Madeline and her friend Emma on the slanted bench

The crazy slanted cabin

The train of kiddos walking on the planter box entertaining the onlookers

After the mystery spot we headed over to the boardwalk and beach. It was a beautiful day and the kids had a lot of fun playing in the "river" on the beach. The "river" was a perfect wading pool for the kids.

Andrew helping Emma (his little girlfriend :) across the water

What a fun day! Thanks for inviting us Sarah!

Quote of the Day

Andrew "Why are you vacuuming the whole house Mommy? Is it someone's birthday?"

I'm not sure how to take that comment.

My very silly chocolate faced boy

Who Can We Blame...

For this crazy hairline that Madeline has?

What's with the bangs only in the middle? I hope she outgrows this hairline.

There is a clear answer where the hair came from. The answer is:

My Dad!! Thanks a lot Pops!

Flashback Friday: High School Graduation Party

After spending the last semester of my senior year living in Moscow, Russia I had the opportunity to return to my former home in Minnesota to officially graduate from high school. A wonderful woman from my ward decided to throw a special graduation party for me. Here is a picture from that party:

I graduated from Anoka High School. Tornadoes was our mascot, supposedly because a tornado hit the school sometime in the past. Oddly though, I can't find anything online that verifies that claim. Can anybody find information that verifies the tornado claim? Hmmm...was it all made up?

Dedicated to Pete, Matt, and Dad

"The Coolest You'll Look Pooping Your Pants"

Are you committing to the Fitness Challenge?

I hope you are. It will be great motivation to do the things we know we should already be doing. If you are planning to join in, then I need to hear from you by noon tomorrow, so I can send in the check. The more people that join the greater the prize money will be! Who couldn't use a little extra cash? Write me if you have any questions.