Screaming

Madi has taken up screaming and the morning seems to be the best time for her to practice. Madi is definitely not a morning person and it is becoming increasingly more difficult to get her up and going in the mornings. She has always liked to do things at her own pace and when she wakes up on her own she is more than pleasant; but good grief if the screaming could just be toned down a bit.

I hope the poor neighbors know that I'm not doing anything to harm my child - she is just moody, especially in the morning. Oh and by the way, I do comb her hair, it is just that those mornings when she's practicing her screaming, it's just not worth the fight.

We have just gotten over the battle with colds at our house. Both of my kids have been sick for it seems like three weeks. Fevers, coughs and runny noses are hopefully over for a while.

I am anxious for Spring. Take a look at these pictures from last year at Easter. I can't wait until we can go to the park and enjoy the sunshine.

Day to Day

Gabe is into everything and makes a mess out of anything. Yesterday I opened the fridge and found all the lids to my storage containers inside. Today he pulled out all of the Easter grass from granny's baskets. He climbs on whatever he thinks he might be able to get up on. He likes to push buttons on the remote, on the DVD player, on the microwave, and on the radio.

Madi has taken up dancing and likes to show off her moves. She enjoys listening to music and gripes when Gabe turns it off. Madi loves to go shopping and is extremely well behaved for a two year old while we are out and about.

Mike has started baseball. Unfortunately they are practicing indoors and it doesn't look like they will be outside for practices again this week. There first game is Wednesday and we still have a foot of snow on our baseball field. Thankfully, it's an away game.

I can't seem to keep up with work, laundry, house cleaning and all the other stuff going on. I'm getting excited for spring and can't wait to get outside with the kids. It has been a long winter cooped up inside.

I Need Rehab

I'm addicted to Ticket to Ride. I have been playing it online and I just can't seem to get enough of it. It is so fun. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! I know that tree is old, but you're getting up there too. (Just kidding, it's just the first picture I came to and I can't post without a picture). I had to at least get in one post in February. I will work on doing better job at posting on this blog.

Last night Madi and Gabe played with the play-doh for a bit. Madi made a snowman and a snake and we helped Gabe make a snowman too.

Here is a quick conversation Madi and I had while combing here hair last night.

Madi: I don't want my hair combed.

Mom: We need to get all of the tangles out so it won't be so hard to comb in the morning.

Madi: Who let the tangles in????

Good question - who let the tangles in?

Last night Madi decided it was time to go to school. She put her back-pack on and headed to the kitchen to read a book. She flipped through the pages of Pajama Time and to my suprise "read" the lines on each page. At least the story she was reciting matched the pictures. She has a memory like no other and is smarter than a whip. She can tell you the names of all of her books at our house, grandma Valerie's house, and grandpa Byron's house; she remembers what toys and clothes she got for Christmas; she can spell her name, tell you her address, count to 10 and sometimes higher, tell you that her daddy teaches history and psychology, and with help can say the alphabet. She is one amazing girl. Just a reminder she is 2 1/2.

Gabe he's a cuttle bug. He loves to give 'loves' and play with my hair. He is certainly a sweet boy and I hope he keeps that trait. He says 'help me' a lot, actually that about sums up everything he ever says.

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Another Fun Game

Here's another fun game. We started playing Spinner about seven years ago. It's a fun game to play at get-togethers because it's easy to carry on a conversation while playing.

I really need to work on keeping this blog up-to-date. I live a pretty boring life and not much has happened so far this year to report. However, my brother has set a date for his wedding. March 29, 2008 in Albuquerque, NM. I'm so excited.

Ticket to Ride

Ticket to Ride Europe is a game we got as a Christmas gift from my brother-in-law and his wife. They always find non-typical games that turn out to be a lot of fun. Mike wasn't too interested in this game when we first got it and had refused to play it. However, on Sunday we went to dinner at my other brother-in-law's house and we talked Mike into playing. I think he liked it. I only think that because on Monday he invited his mom over for dinner and to play this game - of course he said it was all my idea. Even now he claims he only played so he could beat me and be done with it.

Anyway, it's a game that is fun and that we have enjoyed. If you're looking for something different, give it a try. There a a couple of versions, but essentially they are the same game. If you want any other ideas of fun games, let me know.

I can't believe how long it has been since I have posted. I'm going to blame it on lack of sleep and the exhaustion caused from that lack of sleep. We have decided it was time to stop pampering Gabe. In the "past" when Gabe cried at night we'd pick him up, hold him, and then bring him to bed with us. "Now" we are letting him soothe himself by crying himself back to sleep. IT HASN'T BEEN WORKING, or at least not as well as I would like. He is getting better. In fact, last night he slept through the night. I'm not sure what worked or if it was just a fluke. We enjoyed the holidays at home with family. We are so lucky that we don't have to travel to be "home for the holidays". Christmas was great, Madi is still talking about it. This year her favorite move was The Grinch and we watched it every night before bedtime (either the cartoon or Jim Carey version). Madi was excited for Santa, but concerned the Grinch was going to steal Christmas.

I was excited to have finished the majority of the projects I was working on for Christmas. I still have a little bit of work to do on the scrapbooks I made for my mom and mother-in-law.

The quilt I made for Mike turned out and was even washed and wrapped before 8:00 p.m. Christmas Eve. Oh how I wish I wasn't such a procrastinator, but I don't think I could function properly without a last minute to-do list.

I am looking forward to this year and hope to accomplish a lot of things. First on my to-do list is to get organized at home, at work, and mentally. I have dozens of unfinished projects at home that need to be finished. I hope to post on this blog more often, and figure out Photoshop Elements so I can digi scrap. A top priority this year is take more pictures.