Swimming!  This girl loves the water.

Warming up...

Lightning bugs... only in the Midwest!

We love Grandma Bonnie and Grandpa Bob!  Their house is a kid's paradise.  Toys, animals, tractors, yummy treats!  The kids had a blast.

This girl loves men.  I know, not sure what to think of that ;)  She's had no trouble warming right up to her Papas.

High Flying!  Sory loves to rough house like no other.  This is how we first got him to laugh as a baby and he still loves the thrill.

The gang.  Doesn't a lazy day on a swing seem so Midwestern?  I love it!

You couldn't ask for two more giving and gracious souls.

Happy Birthday Dear Daddy

Almost exactly one year ago, the man of my dreams and his three little birds
and yesterday the Hubs turned the big 4-5!

And what a day it was:

Wake up! Today we leave for vacation...

Pack up kids, clean house, make snacks, feed baby, water plants, feed fish, get lunch...

Confirm flight (oh, i'm sure it's fine)

We're off to the big city and then off to an even bigger city- yippee!!

It's 110 degrees in the big city. How do people actually survive?

Ah, nice cool air-conditioned airport. I love you.

Excuse me, m'am? Are you all flying to Chicago?

Why Yes!

I'm sorry all flights have been cancelled.

Jaws drop

Come again?

Bad storms in the windy city

Well, when can we leave?

Let's take a look... oh, how does Friday afternoon sound?

The hubs begins using profanities like I've never seen, not like him and highly embarrassing. He is the most serene man on earth 'till you get him in 100+ degree weather or an airport.

Baby exits the airport. Friendly stranger returns her.

Hubs gives me the look of death

Schlep everyone back to the car

Cancel hotel and car reservations

OK, let's just all relax and go and have a nice dinner before we make the journey back home

We're here! Yay! I'll get the baby

GASP.... there is poop ALL OVER MY ARM and it's melting in the heat

Well, at least we have extra clothes right? Change baby. Give sponge bath with hot wipes.

Food and cold beverage here we come!

Beverage in the lap, down the leg, pooling in the chair

Amazing waiters... Tommy Bahama's is the BEST

Survive dinner. Hey, let's let the kiddies play at the fountains!

Daddy, I have to go potty

Uh, just go in the water honey... it's ok. (really?? they need specific directions at all times. tell to leave his pants on and just go!)

My darling little boy pulls down his pants and publicly urinates all over poshy Kierland Commons.

Lots of looks of disgust... a few chuckles.

Time to go

11pm- home sweet home.

Happy Birthday Honey! I promise to make it up to you on your 46th.

We love you!!!!

We're Outta Here!

The day has finally come.  We are leaving behind this monster of a house and downsizing to a darling little single-level home.  And I absolutely love it.  We have learned so many lessons these past few years.
Here are a few...
Less is More
Big houses really are just more to to clean
The greatest joy in life is just being together
Stairs and babies do not mix
Steep driveways and bikes do not mix
Me and mopping acres of flooring do not mix
It is time to simplify
Time to be grateful
Time to give
Time to purge and realize we still have SO much
Time to save and be conservative in our spending
Time to teach our children these lessons
When the going gets tough, the tough get going!
The Madskaggs are one tough bunch
In the past 8 years we have moved 7 times, had 3 babies, changed careers, lost loved ones, had numerous ER visits, faced financial ruin and wondered if we could hold it all together.  There are days I've wanted to run away from it all, but we stayed.
What doesn't kill us, makes us stronger
Today we are stronger and happier than ever
We are so thankful for our dear friends and family and all of their wisdom!

Big move ahead... can't wait to enjoy the new digs.
xoxo

Murphy's Law

So, my birdies haven't had an accident in years.  And I haven't washed all of the sheets in years (just kidding Grandmas).
I finally got really motivated yesterday and washed all of the bedding, including bedspreads and extra blankies.
Last night at exactly 4:50 am, I feel Somebody's little wet undies slide into bed next to me.  Wonderful.  I get up to go check out the culprit's bed and sure enough, soaking wet.
This just happened to be the same night the babe decided to drop her new sleep all night habit of two days... is that a "habit"?  And after I had just bumped into a good friend and bragged about how well she's been sleeping.  And she wakes up 3x before 4:50 am.
Nonetheless, I am joyful.  Because guess what starts today?  The Farmer's Market!!!!  Our Sunday summer ritual!
Happy Memorial Weekend.

Mr. Graduate

We attended Mr. Sory's preschool graduation last week. They did such a cute presentation for us parents... complete with dancing, songs about our great state and the turtle song. Congratulations Corkin, Sorenopolis, si si, sady bug! (I don't think we ever call him by his real name anymore)

We love you Tater Monkey! (no idea where Daddy picked that one up)

This little girl was too cute... No, not my little BOY, the girl next to him.  He's been mistaken for a girl so many times.  Daddy has threatened to chop the locks.

And this is how he performed... with the tassel directly in front of his face. I kept trying to move it and it kept reappearing front and center.

The cast came off just the day before, so he's holding his right arm bent. Slowly it's been improving and he's starting to write with it again. Maybe he'll become ambidextrous?

Into The Wild

You can still be a girlie girl in the wilds, right?

Icy cold snow melt running through the canyon, but D braved it.

The pictures never do it justice. The canyon was brilliant. The view looking up toward the heavens.

Grandma Ann and Miss A after the long day.

Looking for snails to take home to the fish tank... we brought a few home and the poor little things were all gone  within a couple hours.  Eatin' up by our notorious "Crayman".  Crayman, sadly died just a couple days ago.  He was about a year old and becoming very crotchety.  He left behind his sweeter cousin "Crabitha".

Buds...

Celebrations and Staples...(we know how to have fun)

This Mother's Day all I wanted was a day (or a couple hours) of peace! I wanted to be able to have a full on conversation with MY Mom. Lately, I felt like we had been ebbing a little instead of flowing in our usual way. I knew a quiet brunch would bring us back and it did. We had beautiful meal at one of our favorite local spots. I love my mom. She is so full of wisdom and I love learning from her. I'm truly blessed to have such an amazing woman to call my Mom!!

Here are three reasons I am a mama :) Three completely opposite people. Each a treasure. I'm so happy they picked me.

I just had to show how tall this one is getting... or how short I really am ;) I think he may catch up to me soon.

What goes on in this little boy's mind? There are many a day I wish I knew. All I know is, you couldn't ask for a sweeter soul or a bigger PlayDoh fan.

My dear dolly... one spirited little being.

One little monkey jumpin' on the bed... he fell off and split his head! (sorry so graffic)

Well, to end our special day we decided to make another family trip to one of our favs., the ER. They must really love us there. Or think we are completely horrible and neglectful parents by now. So, D got his wound stapled. No numbing, nothing. Just a straight up staple to the head. I couldn't believe how brave he was. OUCH!

i heart ny

 

I have a serious life long fascination with this city.  When it comes up on the news, I get chills.  Give me New York over sunny LA ANY DAY.  There's something about this city.  There's nothing superficial about it.  To me, this is one place on this earth where everybody, anybody can gather and be exactly who they are, no matter what that may be and always blend right in.  I love that!  I LOVE me a melting pot... one thing you don't get in a small mountain town.

It all started as a little girl with one show that completely captivated me... and it wasn't the super cute puppet faces.  It was this city!   Now please, nobody burst my bubble and tell that Sesame Street does not take place in NYC- yes, it does.
I've probably grown up in some of the most non-diverse places in the country, so when I see these dark- haired girls, speaking in beautiful accents, looking very hip and urban... I'm very mesmerized.


Guess what else takes place in NY?  Yep, my all-time fav. movie growing up.  I've probably watched this show over 200 times and no, I'm not exaggerating.  My lil bro and I spent many a summer alternating between Annie and The Goonies.  There were some days, we'd plop on the bed, armed with soda filled sippy cups (this of course was Grandma's house) and watch our shows over and over and over ALL DAY LONG.  This is probably considered child abuse nowadays or at least neglect, but thank heavens for the 80's and busy parents.

Yep, this one too.  I was head over heels in college.  Now if I would've only had the guts to go away to school in the city of my dreams like my girl Felicity.  I've considered renaming Avi "Felicity".  It means happiness!  And who wouldn't be happy in a great place like NY?

I heart NY.  I hope I go back one day.  But, I'm sure I would miss my prairie life if I actually fulfilled my dream and lived there.  I'm sure the excitement would get old.  Plus, ever since 911 and now with these other scares, I'm just a little terrified of the big city...which makes me feel like a traitor and a fair- weather friend, but what to do?  Sometimes I wish I was a  born and raised New Yorker, then it wouldn't seem like this big out of reach fantasy.  It would just be home.  And I'd have to live there because my family would all be there and I'd have to close to family, right?

A Broken Wing

 

I guess it was bound to happen eventually, right?  Isn't breaking a bone sort of like a "Rite of Passage"?

Well, it all happened after our neighbors down the road moved away and left their giant trampoline behind.  I think I was just as excited to try it out as the kiddies.  It was only the second time they had headed off to bounce when my little toughie here, came down and landed funny on his arm.  Daddy and Grandpa heard the SNAP right away and then saw the dreaded deformity near his elbow.  Amazingly, this guy did not scream and cry.  He whimpered a little and said "ow, ow, ow" and that was that.  We spent the rest of the day in the ER mending the broken wing... a fractured ulna, which pushed the radius out of socket and stretched nerves.  No surgery required as of yet.  We go back in a couple weeks for more x-rays and the cast (right now just a splint keeping those little "green sticks" all together). 

I have to say the entire day I was cool as a cucumber.  This is completely due to the fact that my little man here was SO brave.  He had to lie in hospital bed for nearly 8 HOURS (with no food or drink) before they could take him back to fix the arm (reason being, they had to put him under general anesthesia and he could have anything in the belly).  I don't recall him complaining at all unless we moved the arm.  Daddy sat by his bedside and held it in place the entire time.  

I think, being the middle child and all, he was probably eating up the undivided attention!  And it got me thinking, this may be the first (and last) time this guy gets his Mama and Daddy all to himself for 8 whole hours.  So, I tried to soak it up.  Really, a blessing in disguise for a sandwiched kid :)

btw, isn't this just the prettiest version of this song you ever heard?