New Mode of Transportation

After a long, long, long, long journey- we are finally getting a new van! We are all looking forward to having a little more space while we travel (which we do often) and to being more comfortable while driving in style... or at least in mommy style.

Oh and incase you were wondering...
It is a 2005 Toyota Sienna- 8 passenger van (the eighth seat was the one thing I was fighting hard to find) with 62,000 miles. The bonus for us is that it actually has leather seats and a built in DVD player.

Sisters

When mom and dad don't understand,
a sister always will.

-Author Unknown



We love family time!

This week has been a big week for our family. We started the week out with some wonderful news for Karl. After 6 weeks of waiting (somewhat impatiently) we finally got his test results back for his big Rehabilitation Counseling National Certification exam he took back in February. This test was a big deal, mostly because it cost $400 every time you take it and is required to be completed within so many years of becoming a Rehab Counselor if you want to keep your job.
And the result.
HE PASSED!
So not only does this mean he no longer has to worry about retaking the test, he is also getting a raise after just 2 weeks of working! Way to go honey, I'm so proud!

Also, this week my sister Heidi came in from Portland to visit our family. Since we now live only 12 minutes from my parents, we have had a lot of time to play. I haven't been the best at taking pictures but here are a few of my favorites from this past week.

 Joshua and Brooklyn are the best of friends. It has been so fun to watch them get to know each other better. They play so well together and are often found giggling hysterically or giving eachother hugs.

 I love my little cutie pies!

I stole this cute collage from my mom. Thanks mom!

 I don't actually love this picture of myself but this is a picture of me with all of my sisters and my sister in law. Oh and Maddie too.

It has been so much fun having you here Heidi, we wish you didn't have to go home tomorrow!

Did you see that sky today? Talk about blue.

Wow, what a beautiful day it was today. We loved that we were able to spend the day playing outside, playing with friends, riding bikes, playing with sidewalk chalk, going for a walk, eating frozen yogurt, and eating dinner on the patio. I actually got a sunburn on my cheeks.

It was a wonderful day.
Thanks Cache and Mandi for coming to visit!

And of course, I was having so much fun I didn't even think about taking a picture.

But since it was so warm today we finally decided to break out the new spring time pajama's and boy were the girls happy.

 Now you have got to check this picture out.

Last night I was sitting across the room from Karl (at least 10 feet or so) trying to update our address on our licenses online. When I was done I decided to throw his license back over to where he was laying on the bed.

This is exactly where it landed.

And this is exactly the expression he had on his face the entire time. Didn't even flinch.

Now I'm not really a prideful person but even I have to admit, that is an impressive throw.

But who am I kidding? I couldn't have done that if I had been trying.

Food Frustration

I know that getting a toddler to eat is a common frustration among parents everywhere. Our problem however, isn't the usual problem you face with children. Our little Miss Madison will eat pretty much anything we give her. Some of her favorite foods are green salad, tomatoes, beats and anything else that is considered "healthy". Now I know this may not seem like a problem... but I can't tell you the number of times we have had to tell Maddie she can't eat any more salad until she eats her pizza. Now if there isn't something wrong with that statement... And it's not even that she doesn't like pizza because she really loves pizza- she just loves salad more.

Now you may be wondering, so what's the problem here anyway?

Well let me tell you.

This here is a typical lunch for Madison. Some fruit or vegetable, something with protein, carbs and usually something dairy. I feel like the portion sizes are fairly decent too. And we always end the meal with some sort of treat. 

Problemo numero uno:

Madison is already so stinkin' skinny that she really needs the calories- so having fruits and vegetables be here favorite part of the meal doesn't really do the trick.

Problemo numero dos:

This little plate of food takes Madison on average at least 35 minutes or more to empty- she is just a slow eater. And for some reason always has to go to the bathroom in the middle of the meal...

Problemo numero tres:

She is hungry and begging for more food no more than an hour to an hour and a half after we have eaten!

So the question is, what do I do?

Do I let her eat what she can and then feed her an hour later?

And if so, what kind of things should I be feeding her?

Do I give her more real food or do I give her snacky kinds of foods?

Or do I just make her wait until it's meal time again?

Seriously I am at a loss and need all the opinions I can get.

The thought in question

Why is it that she STILL insists on wearing her food on her head?

Picture taken just moments after her bowl of Cocoa Puffs cereal was removed from the top of her head...

A space of our own...

With Karl back at work

and just the girl's and I at home all day

We have found our life to be quite different than it was about a week ago.

Although we have all found it hard to adjust to not having so many people around all the time...

And we miss Karl's family dearly

(Maddie told me yesterday she misses getting to go shopping with Nana)

It sure has been nice for all of us to have a little bit more alone time now and then.

One of the girls favorite things about our new place is that there is enough space for them to run around and play- sometimes even in different rooms at the same time!

And I must say that hands down, their very favorite feature of this house is that both of the kids bedrooms have nice big window seats that they can sit and play on.

Oh how they love it.

Oh and another thing they love is visitors... so plan a date to come and play as soon as possible :)



A playdate with Joshua

Today the girls were lucky enough to have their one and only boy cousin come over to play. Our first playdate at our new house! Let's just say the girls were thrilled.

...

Lucky for Joshua- he got to play dress up!
(at least we had a few outfits that weren't too girly)

Thanks again Irene and Joshua for coming to play with us today. It sure was fun.

Move by Numbers

1 Bulging ear infection

2 Throw ups to clean up

3 Yucky Coughs and miserable colds

and

4 Pink Eye's

later...

We are finally home!

And oh does it feel good. Well minus the previously mentioned not so good feeling things that went along with us getting to where we are today.

More from us later, when I feel better