July 27, 2007
My Duck & Dog
We went to the spray park again... as many of you probably already saw on my mom's blog. Even though we go for the water, we can never pass up a ride on the carousel. (Ryen wouldn't let us if we tried!) I'm so glad our town has fun things like this to do.
July 26, 2007
My Mother's Daughter
I seriously needed a new hairstyle. I always know it's time to chop my hair off when I start putting it up most of the time. Cait gave me the courage to go for the shorter style I've been wanting for a while now. It looks wretched in this picture, but styled, doesn't look too bad. Something else about this haircut? It makes me look exactly like my mom.
July 22, 2007
I am married to the most amazing man who ever lived. I really am. While my mom is here visiting us, he secretly arranged to take me out on a special date. When it was time to go, we kissed the girls good-bye and Sonny just took off driving. He eventually told me what was going on and pointed to the packed bags he had secretly hid behind my seat. Before I knew it I was being whisked off to Washington!
We checked into our beautiful hotel and then went to a theater downtown for a late showing of the newest Harry Potter movie. The next morning we slept in (ahh) and then headed to one of my favorite places on the planet- The National Gallery of Art. Oh, how I love that place!!! We walked around downtown and soaked up the staggering architecture. I am like a kid in a candy store when I am in that city! We went to my favorite store and then headed to the DC Temple. I finally got to check out the new movie about Joseph Smith ...which was just incredible. The entire trip was incredible! I seriously have no idea how I was lucky enough to marry Sonny, but I thank my Father in Heaven a million times each day for that privilege. Oh, how I love him.
We checked into our beautiful hotel and then went to a theater downtown for a late showing of the newest Harry Potter movie. The next morning we slept in (ahh) and then headed to one of my favorite places on the planet- The National Gallery of Art. Oh, how I love that place!!! We walked around downtown and soaked up the staggering architecture. I am like a kid in a candy store when I am in that city! We went to my favorite store and then headed to the DC Temple. I finally got to check out the new movie about Joseph Smith ...which was just incredible. The entire trip was incredible! I seriously have no idea how I was lucky enough to marry Sonny, but I thank my Father in Heaven a million times each day for that privilege. Oh, how I love him.
*And thank you SOOO much for enabling us do things like this, Mom!
July 19, 2007
Beachy Keen
We just got back from the beach... where we had a serious blast! We played under the pier, swam in the pools, watched movies in our hotel room, and slurped down smoothies. What a rough life we live!
July 16, 2007
We Love Aunt Sandi
Just want to give a little shout out to Aunt Sandi! It was her birthday yesterday. We love her so much and don't know what we would do without her! How I love the way she is so considerate of the people around her- always serving others and quietly doing the right thing without asking for credit or reward. What a wonderful example she is! It means so much to me the way she loves my little family with open arms and a wide open heart. Here's to Aunt Sandi!
July 15, 2007
Maddie's 2nd 2nd Birthday
I don't know what to say really. We spoil our kids. :) It was so fun being able to share Madelyn's birthday with my mom though!
Melissa & Doug
Thanks to everyone who posted comments on my last little entry. For those of you who were interested, here is the low-down on our chart...
I looked all over for a chart that would meet our needs and fell IN LOVE with this one by Melissa and Doug. I really love that brand! They have all kinds of rad educational toys. We've bought their art supplies, easel, wooden doll house, puzzles... you name it. They make great, quality, last-you-forever things. You can find their stuff at most learning stores and all over online. The chart we bought for Ryen is called the Magnetic Responsibility Chart. We paid $20 and it is THE BEST money I have ever spent! :) The chart comes with tons and tons of "responsibilities" to choose from and even some blank ones to write your own. There are goals for kids of every age so it grows with your child and you can just keep switching things around depending on your changing needs.
We store all of the smiley's in a jar instead of on the dry erase board that comes attached to the chart so that they don't get lost. We use the board for "Extra Mile Smiles"- or the extra great things Ryen does throughout the day that she wasn't asked to do. If she behaves really well at the store or at church, cleans her toys up without being asked, goes to bed without complaining, etc., we draw her a little Extra Mile Smile. She loves the recognition and I love the attitude it brings into our family of always looking for the good in each other. However, there are those times when Ry needs to be disciplined so it works the same way when we have to address those little oopsies. If she misbehaves we have to take away one of her extra smiley's or add a sad face. We have only had to do that once though, because Ryen is so anxious to earn smiles- which is SO cool! Madelyn gets Extra Mile Smiles too and also participates when we dish out the smiley magnets at the end of the day. It has really been an incredible blessing in our family! Anyway... that's the chart scoop. :)
I looked all over for a chart that would meet our needs and fell IN LOVE with this one by Melissa and Doug. I really love that brand! They have all kinds of rad educational toys. We've bought their art supplies, easel, wooden doll house, puzzles... you name it. They make great, quality, last-you-forever things. You can find their stuff at most learning stores and all over online. The chart we bought for Ryen is called the Magnetic Responsibility Chart. We paid $20 and it is THE BEST money I have ever spent! :) The chart comes with tons and tons of "responsibilities" to choose from and even some blank ones to write your own. There are goals for kids of every age so it grows with your child and you can just keep switching things around depending on your changing needs.
We store all of the smiley's in a jar instead of on the dry erase board that comes attached to the chart so that they don't get lost. We use the board for "Extra Mile Smiles"- or the extra great things Ryen does throughout the day that she wasn't asked to do. If she behaves really well at the store or at church, cleans her toys up without being asked, goes to bed without complaining, etc., we draw her a little Extra Mile Smile. She loves the recognition and I love the attitude it brings into our family of always looking for the good in each other. However, there are those times when Ry needs to be disciplined so it works the same way when we have to address those little oopsies. If she misbehaves we have to take away one of her extra smiley's or add a sad face. We have only had to do that once though, because Ryen is so anxious to earn smiles- which is SO cool! Madelyn gets Extra Mile Smiles too and also participates when we dish out the smiley magnets at the end of the day. It has really been an incredible blessing in our family! Anyway... that's the chart scoop. :)
July 13, 2007
Responsible Ryen
I'm not going to lie to you... We've had a few wild weeks around here. Maybe it was the weather or just a severe case of misbehavitis, but Ryen and Madelyn were acting CRAZY! I thought and thought about what to do for them and said a lot of what I call "mom prayers" to figure out what the answer was. Then, it hit me. We needed some kind of chore chart. I went to a learning store and found this awesome responsibility chart. You would not believe the change it has made! Both of the girls, especially Ryen, were transformed almost instantly back into the angelic little darlings I know and adore. This chart/reward system has helped us set clear goals and focus on the positive. I don't know what I'd do without it! I'm so proud of my responsible little darlings!
July 9, 2007
The Birthday Girl
We're holding off on having Madelyn's "official" birthday party until my mom gets here later this week. But since today was her actual birthday, we had to do something special. So, we took the girls to their favorite place...
The girls were HYSTERICAL "driving" this jeep. Oh man, it made us laugh!!!
Madelyn couldn't get enough of Mr. Cheese. She snuggled up next to this statue of him and refused to leave his side. She just kept giving him kisses and hugs and looking at him with the most tender expression on her face. It was too cute!
My Baby Is Two
It seems impossible, doesn't it? My little baby girl, my Maddiecake, is two years old today. Is it just me, or does time speed up wickedly fast the older you get? I have the same feelings about Madelyn as I do about Ryen as I see them age and grow. I am so excited about the beautiful people I see them becoming, but so sad to see them leave their younger ages and stages behind. For some reason, Madelyn just seems so much younger to me than Ryen was at her age. I still catch myself looking at my little Maddie as if she is a baby- hardly able to sit up on her own. It is amazing the level of denial we moms can achieve when it comes to our growing children! I am constantly surrounded by evidence that Madelyn is most certainly a card-holding member of The Terrible Two Society. From giving herself baths in the toilet to EATING my wedding ring, I don't know how I have fooled myself for so long! But oh!- the love she fills my heart with! When she climbs into my lap and rests her head on my shoulder there is instantly no laundry, no stress, no things to do or errands to run. The rest of the world fades into the distance and seems sprinkled with sugar and wrapped in rainbows. Oh the spell these daughters of mine cast on me! I can't rightfully be angry at time when it has been so very good to me. It has transformed my baby girl into a child- full of life and warmth and charm. I am so proud of the person Madelyn is becoming. Happy birthday, sweet Maddie Moo!
July 8, 2007
Chinese Sundays
I forgot all about these dresses until last night. I bought them for the girls at a cool little boutique in Hawaii. I just love the colors! Ry and Maddie looked so beautiful in them. But then I always think they look breath-taking when they're just running around the house in their pajamas so... :)
July 7, 2007
Ooh Ahh Ohh
Don't you just LOVE fireworks?!! Sonny took these photos of the fireworks show at our ward party. I just love the way they look against that vivid blue sky. Ahhh.
July 4, 2007
Say Cheesy
There is something about the 4th of July that just gets me all excited. I think it's one of my very favorite holidays because it feels like a celebration of HOME. Friends, family, food, fun, and of course... cheesy outfits. Happy 4th everyone!!!
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