Where are the brakes?

I am always amazed at how busy life is. It seems like I start off the week thinking I have nothing to do and, before I know it, my schedule is filled: walking at 8:30, preschool at 9:30, visiting teachers at 10, etc. My kids are growing up so fast and I can't keep up with it all!

I spent this week doing a lot of shopping. It seems like as soon as I get home from the store, the next shopping list promptly is started. A trip to Wal-Mart is quite exciting with two kids! I have desperately been trying to get some exercise time in, but my walks with the kids are all I get. So, I am once again wearing my pedometer and trying to rack up the 10,000 steps a days I need to keep in shape. I did 12,500 yesterday! The great thing is that Evan loves the walks too, so it is quality time with him.

Madilyn looks so old in these pictures. She will be 6 months old next week!

Her eyes are half-closed in this picture, but look at how well she is sitting up! She has too much hair to stick those little bows in now, so I though I'd try the headband, but her hair sticks out all crazy all around it. I can't wait until her hair is thick enought to put little clippies in. But it's redder than ever and I love it!

Todd and I are desperately trying to remember what it means to be married. He leaves for work at 5:30 am to catch the bus to Morenci and then gets home at 5 pm... (if he isn't working overtime which he has a lot lately). Then I get a quick hug and he spends the rest of the night working on his programming homework. I work every other weekend. So, I get a grand total of 4 full days with him a month! It's crazy. We have been on one date so far this year. We went to eat dinner and then shopped at Wal-Mart (only 1.5 hours away from the kids). Madilyn is half the problem since she won't take a bottle. So unil March of next year, I have a little leach. But she's a cute one! I just have to keep telling myself that things will get better once Todd finishes school. I am already planning our first family vacation for next summer. I promised myself I would get Todd to see the ocean for the first time.

I can promise you that if you stop by my house without warning that my house will be a mess. I wish I was a perfect housekeeper, because when I do clean, my house makes me soooo happy. However, if my house is a mess, but my kids go to bed each night worn out from good play and know they are loved, the mess doesn't matter. There will be a time for a clean house. This is not that time.

I also found myself shopping in the dreaded feminine products aisle for the first time in 15 months. Now I remember the only other benefit of pregnancy besides the adorable baby. We women are amazing aren't we? How do we keep up with kids, and husbands, and bills, and cleaning, and errands, and cooking, and on and on? I know for me, it's because I have a wonderful husband, and he's worth every second of it! Oh, and don't forget the mini-me and the mini-Todd that keep my life so full!

I spend a lot of time each day laughing and in amazement at these beautiful children that are mine. Look very closely at where Evan's shirt is in this picture and you'll find evidence that he watches mommy very closely.

Such a big boy, but still young enough to love his bear!

Do I say that?

If you ever want a replay of your parenting skills, just listen to your 3-year-old. A few nights ago Evan was playing in his little collapsible tent, not doing anything wrong, and he kept repeating "That makes Mamma mad" over and over. Okay, so I do say that, but I also say "That makes Mamma happy" a lot as well. Why can't he repeat that?

Today I was doing my girly ritual in the bathroom and had Madi sitting in her bumbo chair on the counter. Everything on the counter ANYWHERE within her reach was on the floor (or in the toilet with the lotion). Ick! I told her "No, Madilyn." Immediately Evan comes in to help. He says,"No Madilyn! No, I said. How many times do I have to tell you?" Crazy kid!! I think he was just all too thrilled that he wasn't the one getting into trouble this time.

I have to tell an embarassing moment. It's probably a little personal, but read at will. We had a friend and some cousins over on Sunday for dinner. We were visiting afteward and I had to feed Madilyn. Nursing is never fun to do in the presence of company... even with the privacy cover. I always try to be non-chalant about it so other people don't get uncomfortable. Pretty soon Evan comes in from his bedroom with the doll his grandma gave him and seats himself between Todd's cousin and her husband. Evan then pulls up his shirt and announces he is going to feed the baby. Yeah, he's seen Mom enough and know exactly what to do. He then proceeds to burp her and tell us he has to feed her on the other side now. Todd and I were SOOOO embarassed.
No one needed a play-by-play on what was going on under my privacy blanket. Goodness!

It was embarassing, but then it just made me mad that I felt that way. It's natural right? That's how babies are supposed to be fed. I hate that it has to be so embarassing. God put those irritating appendages there just for that very purpose. But, he's a little boy. At least his wife won't have to worry about him not being used to that sort of thing. Sorry Evan!

Cute toes!

A trip to Gilbert

We spent Labor Day weekend in Gilbert with my Dad and sister. It was a fun weekend. On Saturday we went to the Bass Pro Shops store. That was a neat store! Evan had so much fun looking all the animals and the big fish tank. Todd and my Dad left 5 pounds lighter from all the drool they lost. That store is awesome! We forgot our camer, so we will post some pictures once we get them from my Dad.

Sunday we got to go to our oldest neice's baptism. We then took Evan to a swimming pool in Chandler on Monday. What a neat pool! I'm adding some picture... just look at the kids and not be... I am embarassed to put these pictures up, but the kids are cute!

This is Madilyn with Grandma Gardner just before the baptism.

This kid area was so amazing!

Evan was jumping up and down with a huge smile on his face. He had so much fun!

The sun was so bright!

Todd started his job on the 2nd. So far, he like it in Morenci. He is now working as an information specialist at the mine there. The days are longer so we don't get to see him and much and we really miss him at home, but this will be really good for experience for him.

Our ward started an exercise group on Mon, Wed, and Fri at 8:30 so Evan and I get to have some fun time to go socialize and get some good exercise. Madi loves walks too. We are pretty excited that the ward lines were changed too. We will have more youth in our ward now.