a few new posts

There are a few new posts down below - I started them before my "put down the phone" post and so they show up prior to it. So, in case your tracking shows the latest post only, I wanted to direct your attention to two posts full of good pictures below.

put down the device

The other day I was in Maddy's room writing emails on my BlackBerry while she was playing. She didn't want me to ignore her so she took away my phone put it in this container and screwed on the lid. I was laughing so hard. I ran to get my camera and then I ignored my phone and played the marble game with her!

white stuff

Our first real snow of the season was a few weeks ago. Maddy and I ran out to play in it that Saturday morning before it could melt away. I do think she had the opportunity to play in the snow last year a few times but as far as she remembers, this is her first time in the white stuff. I was impressed how long she lasted before getting cold. I didn't think she'd want to play long so I didn't put on snow pants so it was going down her back. That didn't deter her much.

Every kid instinctively knows to eat snow. Why's that?

We couldn't get the snow to stick in order to make big snowmen. We stuck with tiny snowmen instead

Maddy's snow angel

  

Bear Lake

Late in October we were invited to visit the Peterson's cabin at Bear Lake. Scott grew up going to the cabin all summer long with his childhood friends. When he ran into one of the Peterson boys they got to talking about dirt bikes and how each of them needed a friend to ride with. They planned this trip to the cabin primarily so the boys could get one last ride in before it got too cold in the mountains. We had a nice time though Maddy, I learned, it a little bit posessive about her toys. There was another girl there 2 months younger than Maddy and her older brother and sister. All of them wanted to play with Maddy's baby and stroller but Maddy really didn't want to share. We had lots of talks about how nice it is to share. But, all the while I was telling her this, I wanted to tell the other kids "Maddy brought that toy, it's hers, you should have brought your own!". So, it was a good time to have a learning experience and my phone didn't receive emails and it was beautiful fall foliage time so a nice weekend.

Baby took a swing or two but kept faling off the seat. Luckily her plastic wipes up well

The "Tee Totter"

We spent way more time than I expected throwing rocks at this sign

Maddyism

Maddy while eating popcorn in the car on the way to grandma's for Thanksgiving

"my tummy's getting bigger. Like Mommy. And Like daddy".

Did she just call us fat?

sleeping

I wish I could take a picture of my baby sleeping but I fear the flash would wake her up. There just is a peace and calm on her face as she sleeps. Her muscles are relaxed, her mouth slightly open, her eyes gently closed with eye lashes splayed on her cheeks. It is times like this that I wish I were a poet to better describe the feelings that fill my mind and heart as I contemplate her. She is beautiful. She is an angel. And then she wakes up!

on posting more

Oh my. I have got to write a new post, or two, or three. Because everytime I scroll down to look through my list of bloggy friends, I see that halloween picture of the "sister wives" and it creeps me out a little bit every time I see myself. Got to do a post that has a lot of pictures so I can push that Halloween post a bit farther down - or maybe to a previous page!

peeves

I HATE when I'm driving down the street and the commercial on the radio features squealing tires or a honking horn or a crash! Seriously, it makes me jump every time - do they want to make me crash my car?

Happy Halloween



Maddy the monkey came to the office for trick-or-treating. For dinner we had meatloaf, bone breadsticks,  and spooky poison drinks.



I'm not usually one to go with a scary costume for Halloween but this one certain fits the bill. 



 It's not Halloween until you get to have the Tax Department wish you a happy season. So, from our family to yours . . .

 Happy Halloween from the Tax Department!

first day of "school"

Today I dropped Maddy off at her first day of "school". She is now attending Miss Swendy's Day School (I'll post on that later) and when I drove away, I felt that tightness in my throat like I just might loose it. It was like the first day I left her with Katie when she was 6 weeks old. Seems silly that after dropping her at a sitter basically every day for 2 years this would affect me. Maybe it's a little bit that she's growing up and moving on. Perhaps it is that I'm feeling those empathy feelings of being scared - I'm worried about her feeling scared and alone . . .  Silly. I know that she will have a great time today. In fact, I'm jealous that Scott gets to pick her up from school and hear her first comments and feelings about her day.