Madison's turn

After Jorgi cut her hair the first time, Madison thought it was ok to cut hers too. Well she wanted bangs, so this is how it looks.

How long all her hair used to be

Don't you love the "almost" bald patch?

Time to Up My Game

I knew that once Madison started school, things would be interesting because of the stuff she would learn from the other kids there. Especially since most of the other kids in her class have older siblings and the devious nature is habit for them thanks to their older brothers and sisters. Well, with Madison being my oldest I knew going into this whole school thing that we were treading in new waters for our family, ripe with new experiences and new behaviors forming, all thanks to the social status' we must all attend, SCHOOL.

Before I go into my story, I must say that, we have not had any major problems, Madison loves school and is doing really well. She does have minor hick-ups which results in no recess time for her, as does each child in her class. Simple things in my mind, nothing to really loose sleep over. I would, however, like Madison to stay nice and somewhat:-) innocent as she traverses her new semi-freedom in kindergarten. I know that is highly unlikely to happen and it must come to an end, but I didn't think it would come to a screeching halt, with already knowing how to manipulate situations to get what she wants, MAN ALIVE, she is only 5. WHAT ARE YOU TEACHING YOUR KIDS? And inturn they are teaching my kid? I know kids will be kids, after all that is what our free agency is all about, and I do know that it is not always the parents fault, but some responsibility must be claimed here people:-)

Ok, I am done ranting, on with my story....

For the past few days Madison has said that she wanted to make me breakfast in the morning, however, we do not have much time in the mornings before school to make the kind of breakfast that she has in mind. So, I told her that she can make me breakfast on Saturday with her dad's help. That is all she has been talking about these past few days now.

Yesterday, Madison and Jorgi were given some cute plastic candles that flicker on and off with motion and were having fun playing with them. When bed time came, Tyler told the girls they could keep them in their rooms as long as they didn't mess with them. Well, Madison closed the door with all the lights off and Miles was not happy. He started to scream and shake the crib. Taneil, went in there and handled the situation for me, since there were over for dinner. I told Madison to put her candle on the table, which she did very begrudgingly, threw a slight fit, stuck out her pouty lip and went back to bed.

Some time later as I was watching tv, Madison came in and said, "Mom, I have sometime bad I need to tell you." I said, "Ok, what is it." Thinking that it was something simple like she had a potty accident in her pajamas, or something similar. She looked at me upward through her eyes, trying to be an angel, when she took me off guard and said this brilliant statement,

"Mom, if you don't let me have my candle, I won't make you breakfast!"

That was it, how simple, yet so complex coming from my baby girl, almost 6 years old now. I held my composure and replied, "Well Madison, I guess you won't get to make me breakfast then." She did not like that, so off she went to bed again sticking out her pouty lip, tears welling up in her eyes.

It is hard to describe how I felt after that. I was not sorry that I made her upset but I was sad that she has to go through things like this in life. I just want to protect her and keep her in my own little bubble away from the world and the evils that lie in wait for her. Then, on the flip side, I knew it was time to up my game, to stay one step ahead of her and the FUN things she will be bringing home from now on.

Tyler and I have talked about this, and we agree with the government, and that OUR policy will be that we do not negotiate with terrorists, or 5 years olds in this situation, haa haa!

MILES THROUGH HIS FIRST YEAR

The day he was born. I though about putting the picture of when he was JUST born, liquid and all, but I thought about you squeemish ones out there and decided not too:-) Besides I love the one eye open taking a peak at his new family.

On his blessing day.

Two months (one of the attack by Jorgiana)

Three months

Four months (again, attack of Jorgiana)Five months

Six months

Seven months

Eight months

Nine months

Ten months

Eleven months

One year!

This picture is so funny, he ate a molasses cookie and it got everywhere and when he was done with it, this is how is face looked. We did not wipe around his face, it was cracking us up.

Check back soon for a fun story about when and how Miles was born.

Happy First Birthday Son!

For those of you that live far (Texas, Indiana & China:-) and couldn't be here (I don't know why?:-) for the party, here are some pictures and video for you. This was just Tyler's family cause all but one of my brothers live out of state.

He looks so grown up to me in this picture.

I love how Miles is leading the song and as soon as we stop singing he goes right for the cupcake. Also, listen to Katie in the background (after the song) talking to Jorgi about what STOP means and the rest of the conversation, so funny!

The Husband Tag

What is his name?
-Tyler

How long have you been married?
-8 years in May

How long did you date?
-We knew each other almost a year when we married. Dating the last 4 months seriously.

How old is he?
-He will be 30 in May, old man!:-)

Who eats more?
-Probably me, I have an extreme matabolism.

Who said "I love you" first?
-He did

Who is taller?
-Tyler

Who sings better?
-Tyler has been well trained and sings wonderful, it is music to my ears. He will laugh but I don't care, it's one of the many things that made me fall in love with him.

Who is smarter?
-You can't really justify who is smarter, everyone has their moments of glory:-)

Whose temper is worse?
-Wow, that is a toss up. We are pretty level headed MOST of the time, but when things blow, we both can be testy.

Who does the laundry?
-I try to keep up but I just really hate doing it.

Who does the dishes?
-Both of us, very begrudgingly.

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed?
-I do

Who pays the bills?
-It is a joint effort, (emphasis on the word effort)

Who mows the lawn?
-What lawn? haa haa

Who cooks dinner?
-Mostly Tyler but I do try to have something ready when I remember to thaw the meat.

Who drives when you are together?
-It is both of us, Tyler drives around all day for work and lets me handle the stupid people when we are out after work.

Who is more stubborn?
-I don't know, Tyler is very much like his father in that area, my way or the highway sometimes. But I can be just at pig-headed. So I guess it's a tie.

Who is the first to admit when they are wrong?
-It depends.

Whose parents do you see the most?
-Tyler's because mine live further and in Utah too.

Who proposed?
-Tyler

Who has more friends?
-What kind of question is that? Do you mean from high school? or the mission? I am just glad we have lots of people who enjoy being with us from all of our faults I have listed above:-)

Who has more siblings?
-That would be Tyler with 11 total kids in his family, I have 6

Who wears the pants in the family?
-Both, we each have one leg:-)

I tag Hilary Weber, Tami Aguiar and what up my sista-Kristina Bringhurst!

My thoughts on Mitt Romney!

I saw this on my friends blog (Tami & Jake:-) and fell in love with it. I think it is well said.

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

Theodore Roosevelt

Just Wanted to Share

Miles & Avery

This is Miles and his cousin Avery. Once we put Avery in the pen, Miles attacked him. This was the second time, after we all had dinner, so we thought we would record it. It is long but we think it is really funny how Avery is so afraid of Miles and his face gets all red. Enjoy.