My Personal Papparazzi

So, yes, I've been MIA lately but have good reason. We are getting ready to list our house for sale and hopefully move in the next couple of months a little further north of us to a "newer" home with better schools. We've been busy as worker bees trying to de-clutter (me) and home improvements (marty). A list of a few of the things we've been doing: new countertops in the kitchen, new paint throughout the house (including the ceilings), new tile backsplash in kitchen, till the front and back yards, make new flowerbeds out front, lay sod (this Sunday that will happen), new mailbox, de-clutter, de-clutter, de-clutter, new carpet to come soon, oh yeah, and did I mention de-clutter?!?! So, we've been working on little "projects" during our days off and evenings, so I apologize for being a little out-of-the-loop lately. All this, while trying to keep up our jobs, friendships, and entertain our kiddos too. It's been fun! :)

During these times, we've left the camera handy to take some before and afters, to be posted when all is complete! Well, little miss Madeline found that she wanted to try some picture taking herself. She's surprised me with a few of them, how good they are. I apologize for the scared look on my face...she called my name, and that was me looking over at her! It was funny, so I went ahead and posted it. It's been neat to see life from her point of view. She may have a future in paparazzi...she was pretty quick at pointing and clicking....all the while, calling out everyone's names!!!!! Gees!!

There's a cute one of Marty's mom, "Mimm," and her poor dog, Maggie, who Maddie caught peeking in the window. There's also a few of our friend, Bob, who came over to measure our counter tops. Our poor dogs, Roman and Moses, are often her target too. Moses doesn't like to look at the camera though, so Roman tends to get more pics taken of him. And of course, baby brother is always a favorite target!!! Oh yeah, and the toaster. Nice!

Maddie-isms

Oh my little Madeline! She is such a source of entertainment for Marty and me. I thought I'd share a couple of little funnies that have happened with her recently, seeing as I just did a whole post in little brother! :)

As you know if you've been following my blog, Maddie is going to be a flower girl in a couple of weeks at our friends' wedding. This whole wedding thing has been in the back of her mind I guess, because every once in awhile, she'll say something about being a flower girl. Well, the other night, Marty, Maddie and I were watching "Jon & Kate Plus 8" (one of mine and Maddie's favorite shows!!) and it was the episode where they all were in Hawaii renewing their wedding vows. As serious as a heart-attack, Maddie looked and Marty and me and said, "I wanna get married." WHAT?!?! We both bust out laughing and Marty quickly said, "You will a long time from now! But until then, you are married to ME!" That sweet, silly goose!

Just tonight, she was helping Marty build a fire in the fireplace for the second time this week, and apparently he's taught her some of the basics. Because tonight, she handed him the wood and said, "Let's build a teapot!" He told her, it's called a teepee, not teapot, but it was so funny to hear her. Then, a little later, he was messing with the logs and pushed them around and she said, "what did you do to the teapot?" She's got that stuck in her mind I guess.

I know these stories probably aren't as funny to you all as they are to us parents, but she truly has a silly-hearted spirit. It's precious. I sometimes wish I was a fly on the wall, just to be able to watch her play without her knowing I was there. But knowing her, she'd notice me even as a fly. Nothing gets by her! Hope these put a smile on your face. Oh yeah, the picture above is from P.J. day at our preschool, and she was dancing during the Eddie Coker concert. Love that girl!!! :)

From the mouth of babes....

Okay, so I've officially entered the "Embarassed by your kid club." I thought it was bad when she shouted loudly when we entered a restaurant at a man with an eye-patch, "He's a pirate!" But no, it got even worse today!!!

We were at Wal-Mart (great place for all sorts of different people for your children to experience) today waiting in line at the pharmacy for Isaac's medicine. I thought I was going to get it for $4, which is why I went there, but of course, it was not on the approved generic list....I digress. Otherwise, I'd have dropped it off at CVS thru the drive-thru and picked it up later and saved myself the humiliation. But, I guess God was up for a good laugh at my expense today. :) We had to wait 40 minutes for it to be filled, and having loaded the kids in the cart already, I figured I could blow 40 minutes there while they were filling it. Madeline was under my skin from the minute we entered, as she likes to stand in the cart while Isaac rides in the seat. I was tired of repeating myself to no avail for her to sit down, sit down, sit down. I guess she was tired of talking to me, because anyone that would look her direction, she'd try to strike a conversation with. (Who am I kidding, this kid will talk to a wall...didn't have anything to do with me :) ). Anyhow, we were in line to pick up the medicine and in front of us was a young (20 something) African-American man and he sat on the bench in front of us and looked our direction. Well, Maddie couldn't miss this opportunity to talk to a stranger! He had a puffy hairdo (a.k.a. afro) with a pick in the back of it, and she looked right at him and said, "What do you have in your hair?" and she made a crooked face. He pulled it out and showed her and said, "It's a pick." And she said, "Why did you put your brush in your hair?" Clearly, she was not going to let up until she got a good answer. He was very nice, and smiled and said, "I can't put it in my pocket, because it pokes me." She said, "You didn't listen to your momma when she said you need to leave it at home." No Joke!!! Well, his mouth dropped open and he just started laughing, and she just smiled, so pleased with herself, that she'd finally figured it out! All the while, I'm trying to keep myself from cracking up, and at the same time, telling her that's inappropriate. What am I gonna do with that girl???!!! She's killing me! I'm gonna have to wear a wig next time I go to Wal-Mart, or better yet, put a wig on her!

Conversation from the backseat

This morning on the way to school, Maddie and I were discussing going to chapel. On Thursdays, we have chapel time at our preschool. The kids are encouraged to bring an offering which we donate to a charity. Well, I'd forgotten the previous 2 Thursdays to send Maddie with money for chapel, so I was sure to remember it today. You can't forget the sad face of your little girl when she is sad that she has no money to give at chapel...priceless. I gave her a ziploc bag with money in it and she wanted to be sure and hold onto it on the ride to school. This is how our conversation went:

Maddie: "Why do I have chapel money to take to school?"

Me: "Well, we give money because that's what God tells us to do."

Maddie: "Why?"

Me: "God gives us money to give to others who are less fortunate," (I'm thinking this might be a little too over her head, so I continue...) "When you're a Christian, you do what God tells you to & that is to give money to the church/charities." (Ok, now I've done it.... really gone and confused her!!)

Maddie: "What's a kiss-tian?"

Me (chuckling): "A Christian is someone who asks Jesus to come live in their hearts for eternity. (sensing a moment of greatness).... Do you wanna be a Christian?"

Maddie: "NO!"

Me: okay, point taken....too young for now, but I planted a seed, right?! :) Man, I was really hoping she'd seen the light! :)

Then she told me she wanted to watch a movie. So, I put on Boz and gave her the headphones and continued to pray for her on the way to school. I realize I have a lot of prayers and more work ahead of me. Of course it wouldn't be that easy! What was I thinking? Well, it did give me a good little laugh though. Kids sure do say what's on their minds! ;)

First day of school pic....FINALLY!!!

So, I finally figured out what was wrong with my camera..... needed new batteries! DUH!!! :) You can tell I'm certainly the techno savvy one, huh? Well, I finally managed to try and change them and taa-daa....here's the only picture I got of Maddie on her first day of school! Can't believe I only took one, but the teachers at her school (including me) make scrapbooks at the end of the year for each one of their children. So, I'm banking on the fact that her teacher will have taken some pictures of her. She was so anxious and excited! This is a TRUE smile on her face, not a forced "cheese" one! Her backpack is huge, but she loves it anyhow! I had an "M" embroidered on it for her and she loves to point that out. My sweet girlie is a big school girlie now! She loves, loves, loves her Ms. Michell and I do too! She's so sweet and "gets" Maddie! She even helped me with getting Maddie to stop taking her "crocodile" (her little blanket lovie that has a crocodile & her name on it given to us by some fellow Lacoste employees) with her to school. That's a giant step for Maddie. I am so proud of her, she gives crocodile a kiss and tucks him in her bed when we leave for school! Precious. She does try and negotiate taking other various things instead, but to no avail. I just remind her that she'll visit with them when she comes home. And when she sees her crocodile and baby Emma (doll) when we come home, she runs and gives them hugs and smiles. Cracks me up. On a funny note, last night, I was at my parent's house and they have a pug that always needs her anal glands expressed and toenails trimmed. So, with my vet experience, I am always nominated to do the job. Fun, Ha! Let's just say some rubber gloves and lubricant is involved with the anal glands...disgusting! Well, as I was putting the rubber glove on, Maddie (I guess thinking this would be a fun time to pick on the dog, Piper) snagged the other one and put it on her hand and grabbed Piper by the collar and drug her to the bath tub and said she was gonna help me "paint her butt!" Oh, silly Maddie! Lauren and I laughed so hard at that one! She is such a hoot! I see A & M vet school in our future for her! :)

Random funnies.....

Okay, so yeah, my camera is still not communicating to my computer. UGH! Anyhooo....thought I'd go ahead and post something to make you laugh. I'll share the first day pics later when my computer wants to cooperate. :)

Maddie is probably going to be a comedian when she grows up. I'm serious. She keeps us laughing all the time. Take yesterday when she was just telling us she was not going to "forget" her milk to take in the car. She almost always says "get for" instead of "forget" and we are constantly correcting her so she learns the correct word. Well, she came running into the kitchen when I was packing all the gear up to leave the house (it's such a process getting things together for a day at school...nap mat, basket, lunch, diaper bag, my water, purse). She said, "I didn't forget my drink momma." And then immediately said, "I said for get momma!!!!" She was so proud of herself for speaking English correctly! Silly goose!

And then today I asked her (as if she'd know) what time it was. And she even had an answer, "Firty clock." Which I think is a real time in her own head! :) And then she looked around and said where's the clock? Hahaha!

I was using the toilet (I know TMI) but she couldn't even wait for me to finish and she said, "I need to go poo." And before I could even respond, she said, "I'm speaking English." Which is something Marty and I must ask her from time to time when we don't know what she's talking about! I'm tellin ya! Comedienne in the making!

I am so fortunate to be around her as much as I am and get to hear her funny little sense of humor that she has. The Lord has truly blessed our family by letting me be home to raise the kids. I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't be with them! I love my babies. They keep a smile on my heart.

Enjoy the bubba teeth thanks to Cici's Pizza!

Love yall,

Mere