March 2
Sport and Sis play "house" regularly. Occasionally a friend is over and joins in. Their roles change often. Sometimes Sport is the Dad, brother, Grandpa, friendly neighborhood superhero, or once in a while, the family's pet gorilla. Sissy has been the Mom, sister, Grandma, grocery store checker, teacher and princess. But one thing never seems to change. In all their games, the "real" Mom and Dad, who are occasionally the pretend Grandma and Grandpa, are always dead. So very many times I've heard them say "Let's pretend our Mom and Dad died, and I'm such and such and you can be whatever".
So in their wildest imaginations, I'm dead to them.
March 8
Today I was looking over Colt's math homework. One of his answers was just slightly off. He was far. So I changed it myself and then put it back in his backpack. I'm not going to reflect on this incident.
March 13
I'm weaning Tag. I always get sad when this part of my relationship with my children ends. This year I'm particularly aware of babies and motherhood because we are surrounded by calving cows. Today I looked out the window at a cow and her calf and cried for a good 15 minutes over how lucky she was to have a newborn.
March 16
This morning I could not open the sliding door on the van. I nearly ripped the handle off and tore my hair out in frustration. Then Sport walks up, reaches his tiny finger in the door crack and flips the child-lock switch. The door works again. My five year old is the only one in the family that can operate the child-lock door.
March 20
Sissy doesn't take no for an answer. Actually, I'm not sure if she is really persistent, or a little deaf.
Sissy: Can I have chocolate milk?
Me: Not right now.
Sissy: No, Mom, can I have chocolate milk?
Me: Maybe later.
Sissy: Mom, can I have chocolate milk?
Me: After lunch.
Sissy: No, can I have chocolate milk?
Me: Enough, don't ask again.
Sissy: No, Mom, can I have chocolate milk?
Me: No!
Sissy: Mom!! Can I have chocolate milk?
Me: Yes. Get a cup.
March 23
Colt lost a tooth today and left special instructions for the Tooth Fairy. His note read as follows:
"Here is my tooth. Can I have an Ipod or Kindle? I don't want to be greedy. Colt"
We might have some work to do there.
March 27
We were getting ready for church and Brandan, Dash and I were all standing in my bathroom. I asked Dash to tell Sis to come get her hair combed. He stood right where he was and yelled loud enough to turn his face red, "Sis, Mom needs you!!!"
Brandan turned to Dash and said, "Mom, could have done that."
An exasperated Dash said, "I know, right? I don't know why she didn't."
Sunday, April 17, 2016
March 2016
The first weekend in March is the high school Regional Basketball Tournament. Mountain View didn't do well. And that's putting a positive spin on it. But we still had a great weekend because family came to visit! Boe had a wrestling tournament in Green River on Saturday so some of the Clayson family met at our house to visit and cheer him on. The basketball tournament was in Star Valley, so the kids and I met up with Cam and her kids and Grandma and Grandpa by the new temple Friday morning and carpooled into Mountain View together. We had a really great weekend and only wish it didn't go by so quickly!
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| The weather wasn't super warm, but it was warm enough for a pile of cousins to sleep on the trampoline that is set up in the garage. |
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| We had a comparatively warm weekend in mid-March so naturally we started a small fire in the backyard and roasted hotdogs. |
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| Triplets! |
Easter
The Easter weekend started our Spring Break week. We went to the Fort for the egg hunt. As you can see by the pictures, the weather stunk. And it continued to stink all week. Anyway, we got a lot of work done inside the house and played a ton of baseball in the high school practice gym.
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| Waiting for the egg hunt to start. Dash was not thrilled to be there and I hadn't showered yet, so that's my excuse. |
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| Sport and Sis with full baskets. |
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| After the hunt. |
Sunday, April 10, 2016
Memoir of the Madsen Family Mom: February
February 2
Treating childhood sickness in a family with multiple children usually looks something like this-
*Child gets sick. Parents decide to wait it out on the basis that it's probably a cold or other virus
*36 hours later another child gets sick. First child is still sick. Parents decide to give it until the next morning.
*15 hours later, both children are still ill. Parents take the children to the doctor and discover they both have strep throat, ear infections and impending pneumonia.
*24 hours later, a 3rd child sniffles. Parents drop everything and rush the child to the doctor. The child is diagnosed with the common cold.
February 8
I'm failing at motherhood. Today Dash told me he hopes his dream to play in the NBA comes true because then he'll have to be at work a lot and his wife will have to stay home with the kids. Offended, I asked him what was so bad about staying home with the kids. He answered -"Well I've seen you do it and it doesn't look like fun."
Ouch.
So based on the impression I am giving Dash, the idea of staying home with someone just like himself is downright depressing.
One of us needs an attitude adjustment. How long can I pretend its him?
February 10
I wish I had Sissy's confidence. All it takes is a bow in her hair, or a shirt covered in glitter or her Princess Sofia necklace and she is on top of the world. Never doubts that she looks amazing. Never looks at her reflection without beaming. I hope that feeling lasts and lasts.
February 15
Tonight at Family Home Evening, Sissy made a confession. In her own words:
"Sometimes I make bad choices. Like when I pick my nose and eat it."
February 17
Sissy had a bad dream last night. I heard her calling out in her sleep "I just want to do it all! I just want to do it all!"
Every woman's dilemma.
February 19
Tag is at the stage where he isn't independently walking, but he likes to get in lots of practice. With my help. By clinging to my pant legs. For hours at a time. My knees are constantly covered in his snot. I love him with all my heart, but today I literally hid under a blanket in my room when I saw him coming. Karma though. When I emerged I found him playing with the toilet brush.
February 21
This weekend Dash and Colt had a couple of friends over for a late night. Late night (def): friends get to stay over past Mom and Dad's bedtime, specifically 9 pm.
Listening to them play in the basement, I had flashbacks to a couple of gatherings Brandan and I attended with work friends in Upton. Most of the guests would be casually drinking and about the time we were ready to slip out, several attendees would be a few sheets to the wind. Small, sleep deprived humans are like drunk adults. The later it got the louder and wilder the noises from the basement. By the time I was ready to take friends home, several things had been knocked over, one boy was bleeding and everyone had said or done something they regretted (ie, admitting to having a crush, or swearing to play with someone else at recess on Monday).
February 25
Its amazing to me how different five kids from the same gene pool can turn out. Dash is ultra-competitive and an organizer. This week he created a two-on-two basketball tournament for all interested third graders to be played at recess. He wrote up a complicated bracket and made a paper trophy. He didn't do it all though. I overheard him assigning a buddy to bring a candy bar prize for the peer voted tournament MVP.
Then there is Colt. The other day he casually mentioned he would like to buy a football with his Buff Ticks, the reward money used at school for good behavior. Without batting an eye he explained that he would have already bought one, but he keeps giving away Buff Ticks to kids that don't have enough to buy prizes.
Sport is the middle child and can carry a real chip on his shoulder at times. He starts over half his sentences with a defensive, "What, Mom...?, whether I have said anything, or not. "What Mom, I'm brushing my teeth!" "What Mom, I like cereal!" "What Mom, I just trapped the neighbor's cat under the piano bench with the couch cushions!"
Sis can be such a girl. For instance, she hates scary stories. One day I walked by her room where she was playing house and putting several of her baby dolls to bed. She carefully tucked them into a blanket and then began a bedtime story. "Once there were three little pigs. And there was NO big, bad wolf. The end."
And of course, Tagalong. Screams for anything and the whole family comes running. Such a drama queen.
February 29
Today I spent forever cutting windows and doors into three large cardboard boxes to make "houses" for Sport, Sis and Tag. After exploring his new home, Sport said, "Mom, you're awesome." No joke, I pretended not to hear him just so he would have to say it twice.
Treating childhood sickness in a family with multiple children usually looks something like this-
*Child gets sick. Parents decide to wait it out on the basis that it's probably a cold or other virus
*36 hours later another child gets sick. First child is still sick. Parents decide to give it until the next morning.
*15 hours later, both children are still ill. Parents take the children to the doctor and discover they both have strep throat, ear infections and impending pneumonia.
*24 hours later, a 3rd child sniffles. Parents drop everything and rush the child to the doctor. The child is diagnosed with the common cold.
February 8
I'm failing at motherhood. Today Dash told me he hopes his dream to play in the NBA comes true because then he'll have to be at work a lot and his wife will have to stay home with the kids. Offended, I asked him what was so bad about staying home with the kids. He answered -"Well I've seen you do it and it doesn't look like fun."
Ouch.
So based on the impression I am giving Dash, the idea of staying home with someone just like himself is downright depressing.
One of us needs an attitude adjustment. How long can I pretend its him?
February 10
I wish I had Sissy's confidence. All it takes is a bow in her hair, or a shirt covered in glitter or her Princess Sofia necklace and she is on top of the world. Never doubts that she looks amazing. Never looks at her reflection without beaming. I hope that feeling lasts and lasts.
February 15
Tonight at Family Home Evening, Sissy made a confession. In her own words:
"Sometimes I make bad choices. Like when I pick my nose and eat it."
February 17
Sissy had a bad dream last night. I heard her calling out in her sleep "I just want to do it all! I just want to do it all!"
Every woman's dilemma.
February 19
Tag is at the stage where he isn't independently walking, but he likes to get in lots of practice. With my help. By clinging to my pant legs. For hours at a time. My knees are constantly covered in his snot. I love him with all my heart, but today I literally hid under a blanket in my room when I saw him coming. Karma though. When I emerged I found him playing with the toilet brush.
February 21
This weekend Dash and Colt had a couple of friends over for a late night. Late night (def): friends get to stay over past Mom and Dad's bedtime, specifically 9 pm.
Listening to them play in the basement, I had flashbacks to a couple of gatherings Brandan and I attended with work friends in Upton. Most of the guests would be casually drinking and about the time we were ready to slip out, several attendees would be a few sheets to the wind. Small, sleep deprived humans are like drunk adults. The later it got the louder and wilder the noises from the basement. By the time I was ready to take friends home, several things had been knocked over, one boy was bleeding and everyone had said or done something they regretted (ie, admitting to having a crush, or swearing to play with someone else at recess on Monday).
February 25
Its amazing to me how different five kids from the same gene pool can turn out. Dash is ultra-competitive and an organizer. This week he created a two-on-two basketball tournament for all interested third graders to be played at recess. He wrote up a complicated bracket and made a paper trophy. He didn't do it all though. I overheard him assigning a buddy to bring a candy bar prize for the peer voted tournament MVP.
Then there is Colt. The other day he casually mentioned he would like to buy a football with his Buff Ticks, the reward money used at school for good behavior. Without batting an eye he explained that he would have already bought one, but he keeps giving away Buff Ticks to kids that don't have enough to buy prizes.
Sport is the middle child and can carry a real chip on his shoulder at times. He starts over half his sentences with a defensive, "What, Mom...?, whether I have said anything, or not. "What Mom, I'm brushing my teeth!" "What Mom, I like cereal!" "What Mom, I just trapped the neighbor's cat under the piano bench with the couch cushions!"
Sis can be such a girl. For instance, she hates scary stories. One day I walked by her room where she was playing house and putting several of her baby dolls to bed. She carefully tucked them into a blanket and then began a bedtime story. "Once there were three little pigs. And there was NO big, bad wolf. The end."
And of course, Tagalong. Screams for anything and the whole family comes running. Such a drama queen.
February 29
Today I spent forever cutting windows and doors into three large cardboard boxes to make "houses" for Sport, Sis and Tag. After exploring his new home, Sport said, "Mom, you're awesome." No joke, I pretended not to hear him just so he would have to say it twice.
February 2016
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| Its the Super Bowl, baby! Brandan brought home the projector off the ceiling in his classroom in order for us to enjoy a "big screen" picture of the Super Bowl, |
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| Lounging around, eating snacks and watching football. |
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| Sport and Sis switched clothes, names and personalities for a day. I would have pulled the blinds shut, but we don't have any up yet. |
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| Valentines Day! The boys made friendship bracelets to give their classmates for the Valentine Day party. It was quite an undertaking. |
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| Dash's class party included a competition to see who could wear the most pink and/or red. So in addition to making bracelets for his classmates, Dash made 40 pinkish bracelets for himself. He ran out of time the night before the party to finish them all so he and Colt woke up at 3 am to whip out a few more and then caught a few zzzs before it was time to get up for school. Dash wore the bracelets all up and down in arm, put on my pink shirt, some red shorts and socks and then hoped for the best. He took 2nd to his best friend (who has 3 sisters...home court advantage, right?). |
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| Mid-February we finally broke down and cut Tag's hair. His wispy fly-away locks were begging for a trim. |
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| Pre hair cut. Sort of an Einstein look. |
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| And he's a big kid now! |
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| Tag likes to hide in the corner cupboard and throw the canning jars at anyone who walks past. He's mastered the ambush attack. |
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| These cars are the reason Tag didn't start walking before 12 months. Who wants to walk when you can ride? That's just commonsense. |
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| Any guesses how Tag got in the washer? I've got two. |
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| In celebration of 100 days in school, the 1st graders make posters displaying 100 items. Colt cut out, and glued on 100 different team logos. And he did it despite Sissy's help. |
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| Tag may have refused to walk for a while (and continues to refuse to hold his own sippy cup), but he's a big "help" around the house. His favorite chore, other than throwing sharp utensils out of the dishwasher, is to load the laundry. And he is so responsible he refuses to allow anyone to help. And it only takes him two days to switch the clothes from the washer to the dryer. What did I ever do without him? |
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| Gently pulling out my delicates. |
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| Tossing socks. Like any good worker, Tag likes to make a game out of his chores. He shoots socks into the dryer like a really bad NBA player who loses his temper and throws fits when he misses. |
Thursday, April 7, 2016
Tag is the Big One!
Tag had both sets of grandparents come visit for his birthday. His actual birthday was the day of the Lyman v Mountain View basketball game so he spent the day in the gym, something he is used to.
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| Tag and his mud and tractor cake. |
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| Going for the good stuff. |
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| Chocolate cake! |
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| Opening presents with Grandma and Grandpa Clayson. |
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| A train!! (and breakfast still on his face) |
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| Snuggling with Grandma and Grandpa Madsen |
More Tag...
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| Missed his mouth a little... |
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| Tag started standing on his own in January. He does better when he is distracted with ball. |
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| His favorite is holding on to my leg (all. day. long). But his happy little face will make you melt. |
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| Tag loves to throw stuff (golf balls, phones, keys, glass jars) and he has a great arm. He cocks his fist back... |
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| and then lets it fly! And look at that follow through, |
Tag started walking consistently in February.
At his 12 month appointment he weighed 19 lbs and 3 oz.
His favorite food is bananas and peanut butter toast.
He is constantly standing on the dishwasher door. Constantly.
He regularly sneaks away from Brandan and makes his way downstairs at bedtime where I'm reading to the big boys.
Monday, March 21, 2016
Wrestling!!
For Christmas, Santa signed Colt up for a wrestling camp that was to start the first week of January. Colt has been wanting to do an activity and this was a good chance to try something new. He went to practice twice a week and then at the end of the month there was a casual tournament.
Colt really enjoyed wrestling and he was great at it too. He was super aggressive and never seemed to get tired. At the culminating tournament, he man-handled all his opponents and went from one match to the next for a solid 30 minutes without ever taking or asking for a break. We were so impressed!
Colt really enjoyed wrestling and he was great at it too. He was super aggressive and never seemed to get tired. At the culminating tournament, he man-handled all his opponents and went from one match to the next for a solid 30 minutes without ever taking or asking for a break. We were so impressed!
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| During the practices, the coaches taught the little wrestlers three basic moves. Colt mastered these pretty quickly and used them to advantage. |
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| Whenever Colt had to fight from the bottom, he was able to sit up strong and break free, but he didn't break contact for long. He usually didn't even stand all the way up before he was charging back into the other guy for a take down. |
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| Going for the pin! |
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| The Bridger Valley Bruins |
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| Colt and his trophy |
Sunday, March 13, 2016
Memoir of the Madsen Family Mom: January
January 1
Sissy stopped wearing underwear today. She refused with such determination I can only assume its her New Years Resolution. Saves on laundry.
January 6
Last night Tag was sleeping in Brandan's and my bed, more accurately, Tag's bed which he generously shares with us. Sometime in the early morning hours, sweet little Tagalong fell out of bed. After calming him down (by tucking him back into the blankets and giving him sole use of my pillow), I laid there for a while wondering what kind of parent lets their baby fall out of large log bed. A tiny little 11 month old baby. In fact, 11 months to the day. Then it struck me. Eleven months old and this is the first time he has fallen out of bed? That counts for something. I fell back to sleep with a clear conscience.
January 7
My kids have no problem believing in Santa Clause or the Tooth Fairy, but when I, the mother who gave them life. swear on my own head that I did not put cheese in their burrito, throw away anything, or eat their M&Ms, I'm suddenly as trustworthy as a politician.
January 10
Sibling survival is a compromise, a give and take. Sometimes it is done so well, it can bring tears to a parent's eyes. Like today, when we walked into church and Sport fell apart because he realized he forgot to put on a tie and Colt only hesitated for a split second before pulling off his own tie and handing it over to his brother.
Other times it can make you laugh. Like the day I called Sport and Sis to the table and Sis immediately announced "We're not hungry." To which Sport replied, "Yes, we are!". Sis looked at Sport with some surprise, studied him for minute and then slowly began to nod her head. Without looking away she said, "Yes, we're hungry." Then she turned to me and confidently said "We're hungry."
January 12
I have always suspected my kids gulp their food without properly chewing. Cleaning up their puke after a bout of the stomach flu provides clear proof.
January 14
I have discovered the secret to getting my kids to drink more water! All it takes is asking them to hand the water bottle over to their thirsty sibling after they're done with it. Suddenly they are so parched, it becomes an absolute necessity they finish the bottle off themselves.
January 15
At meal times Tag communicates his satiation by throwing unwanted food on the ground. I think I might be more inclined to leave a few bites myself if I had the option of tossing spaghetti at the wall. Think of the calories saved!
January 18
Everyone would find it much easier to meet their New Years Resolution to eat healthier if they took Sport's advice: eat what you want and feel better about yourself by renaming your favorite foods. He has renamed the following: donuts are bagels, pudding he calls yogurt, soda is known as juice, and cupcakes are muffins. Problem solved.
January 21
Today I had all the kids with me on an intense shopping trip to Walmart, like two-cart serious. They were "helping" me unload the carts onto the belt and things were getting a little chaotic. I was purchasing about 12 skeins of embroidery floss and so instead of tossing them on the belt to get lost amidst the food, I handed them directly to the cashier with the following comment, "Sorry. I have a whole bunch of little annoying things". Sport misunderstood me. He looked up, offended, and replied, "I am not annoying." If the shoe fits...
January 30
Three kids sick with strep throat. I've dealt so many drugs this week, you would think I would drive a nicer car.
Sissy stopped wearing underwear today. She refused with such determination I can only assume its her New Years Resolution. Saves on laundry.
January 6
Last night Tag was sleeping in Brandan's and my bed, more accurately, Tag's bed which he generously shares with us. Sometime in the early morning hours, sweet little Tagalong fell out of bed. After calming him down (by tucking him back into the blankets and giving him sole use of my pillow), I laid there for a while wondering what kind of parent lets their baby fall out of large log bed. A tiny little 11 month old baby. In fact, 11 months to the day. Then it struck me. Eleven months old and this is the first time he has fallen out of bed? That counts for something. I fell back to sleep with a clear conscience.
January 7
My kids have no problem believing in Santa Clause or the Tooth Fairy, but when I, the mother who gave them life. swear on my own head that I did not put cheese in their burrito, throw away anything, or eat their M&Ms, I'm suddenly as trustworthy as a politician.
January 10
Sibling survival is a compromise, a give and take. Sometimes it is done so well, it can bring tears to a parent's eyes. Like today, when we walked into church and Sport fell apart because he realized he forgot to put on a tie and Colt only hesitated for a split second before pulling off his own tie and handing it over to his brother.
Other times it can make you laugh. Like the day I called Sport and Sis to the table and Sis immediately announced "We're not hungry." To which Sport replied, "Yes, we are!". Sis looked at Sport with some surprise, studied him for minute and then slowly began to nod her head. Without looking away she said, "Yes, we're hungry." Then she turned to me and confidently said "We're hungry."
January 12
I have always suspected my kids gulp their food without properly chewing. Cleaning up their puke after a bout of the stomach flu provides clear proof.
January 14
I have discovered the secret to getting my kids to drink more water! All it takes is asking them to hand the water bottle over to their thirsty sibling after they're done with it. Suddenly they are so parched, it becomes an absolute necessity they finish the bottle off themselves.
January 15
At meal times Tag communicates his satiation by throwing unwanted food on the ground. I think I might be more inclined to leave a few bites myself if I had the option of tossing spaghetti at the wall. Think of the calories saved!
January 18
Everyone would find it much easier to meet their New Years Resolution to eat healthier if they took Sport's advice: eat what you want and feel better about yourself by renaming your favorite foods. He has renamed the following: donuts are bagels, pudding he calls yogurt, soda is known as juice, and cupcakes are muffins. Problem solved.
January 21
Today I had all the kids with me on an intense shopping trip to Walmart, like two-cart serious. They were "helping" me unload the carts onto the belt and things were getting a little chaotic. I was purchasing about 12 skeins of embroidery floss and so instead of tossing them on the belt to get lost amidst the food, I handed them directly to the cashier with the following comment, "Sorry. I have a whole bunch of little annoying things". Sport misunderstood me. He looked up, offended, and replied, "I am not annoying." If the shoe fits...
January 30
Three kids sick with strep throat. I've dealt so many drugs this week, you would think I would drive a nicer car.
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