Update

How many posts can I have with the same title? Lots. I like updates, even if they are boring to the rest of you, I think they are important way to reflect an accurate picture of my life. Here's what's currently going on:

Tom's been working super late hours again. He came home at almost 2 AM last night and left for work at 6 AM. The good news is that his big deadline is tonight, so we'll see him this weekend.

We are in limbo right now trying to decide what to do in the future. Everything seemed so solidly planned a couple months ago, but things seem to be falling apart in regards to our plans. I'm beginning to think we aren't meant to ever leave the area. Our frustration level is super high. I know things will all work out in the end, but it's a hard road getting there.

I tried to sign Andrew up for swimming lessons, but he said he wouldn't go despite how much he loves being in the pool. He's afraid he'd have to put his face in the water. (o: I'm going to try again next month.

Andrew thinks the only sport he wants to play is T-ball. I think he'd like all sports. He's a pretty competitive little kid. (At what age did you start signing up your kids for sports classes?)

Madeline, Andrew, and I are so happy to have such great friends. Thanks to all of you for being so supportive.

Madeline and Emma hanging out at the bowling alley.

Summer Shows?

What shows do you like during the summer? I know there isn't much on, but I do have three favorites and really don't watch much else. Here are my favorites:

1. Psych (Did anybody else see last week's episode? I haven't laughed that hard in a long time!)

2. Design Star

3. Glee (reruns) (I never thought I would like this show, but I do.)

Is there anything else good on?

Tidbits

Madeline is very polite. When she occasionally forgets to say please, we remind her she needs to ask nicely. She always responds by grinning from ear to ear and sweetly saying, "NICELY".

Andrew's favorite fake word is "Sigh-Gike". Madeline says it all the time too. I don't know what it means.

Madeline has no fear. She'll climb anything.

Andrew doesn't get enough sleep and it shows. At the age of 5, it is still hard to force him into bed.

Andrew is an extremely sound sleeper once he's asleep. He also is able to fall asleep in about 30 seconds flat, when he decides it's time to sleep.

Madeline still sleeps like a dream at night, but she is starting to fight naptime. I think I might be happy when she gives up her nap, since I get bored this time of afternoon when I'm stuck at home.

Madeline loves the phrase, "I don't like that". She normally says it in reference to an article of clothing or food.

Tom has two new cases at work and has started to work hard again.

Tom and I are both appreciating the benefits of participating in the fitness challenge. It is really hard to resist sweets and to work out six days a week, but we are happy to finally be motivated.

I've lost more than 10 lbs already. I hope I can continue to live by the rules of the challenge after it ends in six weeks.

We finally bought a second plasma car to stop the fighting over the one we had. I still think it was one of the best toy investments we have ever made.

What's new in your life?

Your Last Warning

Dear Weatherman,

When you tell me the weather is going to be perfect at the beach, I believe you. When I arrive at the beach with all my friends and discover your inability to predict the weather, I am frustrated. Next time you promise 80 degrees and sunny, it really better be close to what you predict and NOT 68 degrees, completely cloudy, and very windy. Even at the time of our arrival when you no longer had to predict but should've had actual knowledge of the weather, you were still telling me it was sunny, but it was not. Please be more reliable next time. I will spare your job this time, because of the great time everyone had in spite of the weather.

Sincerely,
Your Unbeliever

Jump!

Andrew, Aya, Emma, Katie, and Madeline

Andrew and James burying themselves in the sand

Gymbucks Anyone?

I have $50 gymboree gymbucks that someone gave me that I'm not using. Does anyone want them? I only have an online code, so you have to shop online. They are good now-the 25th. I will email the code to the first person that comments and wants them.

The Vicious Cycle

Friday: Madeline starts acting tired and grumpy
Madeline starts running a fever
Madeline's throat hurts

Today: Madeline's fever is gone
Madeline's acting totally better
then...
Andrew starts acting tired and grumpy
Andrew starts running a fever
Andrew's sinuses hurt

Oh , please let this sickness go away as fast as Madeline's and let this vicious cycle end now!

Follow Up

I had to tag team with Tom today for church, so I could teach a primary class. Madeline got to come in to church for about 5 minutes and apparently she threw the biggest tantrum ever when Tom tried to take her home. She screamed and cried for a long time over her desire to go to nursery. All the crying wore her out to the point that she fell asleep like this shortly after returning home :

My poor baby girl. Please do not get sick again!

I'm Glad

So, I'm home from church with a sick Madeline. Madeline is super sad about being home and desperately wants to go to church. She insisted on getting dressed and keeps asking when we are going to go. That makes me really happy that she wants to go. Hopefully, Madeline's attitude about missing church will continue into her teenage years! Fingers crossed! (it's important to mention that it's very rare my kids are sick enough to miss church)

I love this picture of my kids covered in frosting.

PS Holly-Don't worry I'm still planning to be at church to teach your class. (o:

Silence

I don't have much to say at the moment. This week has been normal. We went to the park and the pool. I'm sunburned despite putting on sunblock multiple times while at the pool. We played with friends. I created a chore chart for Andrew and it's definitely motivating him to be a lot more helpful. Madeline is sick for the first time in a long time. I am enjoying the silence in my house as Madeline is sleeping and Tom and Andrew are at a birthday party. Good times. Hope everyone has a nice weekend. (By the way, I am not grumpy anymore (o:)

"Perfect Ending" to a Lousy Day

Please indulge me while I whine. It was one of those days when everything seemed to go wrong and a bad case of PMS made it even worse. The problem with PMS for me is that it gives me:

Zero patience
A lot of anger

An extreme case of grumpiness
A complete inability to deal with normal life
A tendency to cry over trivial matters (I almost never cry otherwise)

And last (but not least) an intense desire for chocolate (which I can't even eat because of the fitness challenge)

So, today was an awful day and I cried about 11 times over silly things, but to make my day perfectly complete a little girl about 4 years old or so turned to me at the store tonight and asked me why I had such a big belly. Ummm...thanks little one. Any other day I could've laughed it off but tonight I had every desire to start yelling at this little girl and tell her how unbelievably rude it is to say that to somebody. But I didn't...

PMS stands for Pretty Much everything Sucks or something like that, right? What do you think it stands for?

Disclaimer: I am not always affected with this syndrome as terribly as I was today (Lucky for the world!)