Happiness is...

Waking up to a sick baby.

Getting drool and snot all over your clothing.

Being too busy holding, rocking, checking temp. of said baby to change clothes/wear makeup/effectively do hair.

Deciding that dear husband can take over the moment he walks in the door. (He even did the dishes! Oh how I love him)

Sending him to Harmons for a movie and some applesauce. (since Mitch was only taking in liquids well, and applesauce is a liquid, right? And what about mayo? (not that I fed that to him, I've just always wondered)

Going back to Harmons, after the movie, to pick up eggs and orange juice- and not having a care in the world of my ran-over-by-a-railroad-train, and smelling, self.

Hearing the checker, "so...what happened to you?" "I've had a long day" "why?" "sick little boy" "Ah...this must be for him" No. Do I look old enough to be buying orange juice for a kid? Rude. No, the orange just is to appease my craving of sugar cookies, and everyone knows the best frosting is made with orange juice.

Watching Mike work out while eating cookie dough.

Placing dough in the freezer so it chills faster.

Baking cookies, frosting cookies, eating cookies.

Playing cards.

Winning.




Whew. My life.

Great is the Week

With Mitchell taking a nap, and Madee rumbling sweet nothings to herself (I think) I guess it's time to update my life. I finally went grocery shopping, and I'd just like to thank the kind people of Macy's for providing cheap ice cream cones for little girls who get bored, tired, and hungry easily.

So, I have Madee for a few days, but it's seeming like a lifetime. Her "needs" are proving herself to be more high-maintenance than we would have previously guessed- demanding pillows, blankets, and sometimes even water. Geeze....

Earlier this week, when mom flew to Georgia a few days early, we learned some fun things about Madeline:
A. Unlike most of the rest of the us, she's actually on time. I told her I was picking her up at 8am and she was usually waiting for me, dressed and all. I don't get dressed before noon usually, and so this was impressive to say the least.
B. She willingly cleans my toilets. I was totally kidding, I swear! But there she was, scrubbing away "Meagan, can I clean something else? My hand hurts!" Oh little children, how I love them.
C. After nicely requesting/demanding/threatening me to make my very very own Barbie.com user account, I realized she doesn't recognize any "adult" excuses as legit., and demands honesty. Which is great. In fact, when this nice little information/registration work sheet asked for my "parent's email" she insisted I had to be honest. So, mom, when you get an email informing you that your 21 year old daughter joined barbie.com, that was me.....

Also, I think we had a tornado or almost one, that's just what I hear. All I know is I thought Daisy and Ollie were going to die of fear. And you all know me and my horrible sense of weather, and once again, had Mitch in a little sleeveless outfit. And I promised Emma and Madee I'd take them to the store. And Mitch had to come. So we improvised. Mitch borrowed Madee's sweater, that's the best we could do. I guess my kids are just simply meant to look like orphan children whenever we actually leave the house.

And then there's my 2 kids, Mike and Mitch, who love to keep me up at all hours of the night. Mitch keeps telling me he's dying around 2am, and Mike thinks waking up at 4 am is a good time to battle it out on the Monopoly grounds. (This ended up being a 3 day war, but I won, like I always do)

Mike, Me, Mitchell, we traveled to Rexburg this weekend to see a friend get married. That was most exciting. I've been so emotional lately-everything makes me cry. Even that movie "UP" I basically sobbed the entire time. I think the 5 year old sitting next to me even said to his dad, "Why is that girl crying again?" And then there is my sweet husband who takes advantage of such moments, and when the theater was totally quiet, he had to (basically) yell, "Are you going to be okay?" Nice. Anyway, that's not what we were talking about.

Rexburg, we saw some old neighbors and realized how much we miss our ward. Mike the whole drive up wouldn't stop talking about everything he missed. "The drivers don't cut you off then flip you off" "People at walmart said hi to me" Lets all recall last month when he "never ever in a million years would ever step foot in this heck-hole again" (modified for your soul) Nice Mike. I keep telling him that when we leave Utah he'll miss the reverent child, but he has yet to believe me.

The plan was to drive up Friday night, and leave Saturday after the ceremony, but when the groom inadvertently asked Mike to decorate his car.... (actually it was more like "When you decorate my car during the reception.....) Fine. We'll stay for the reception. I'd tell you about this whole car ordeal but I think it still makes Mike fuming mad. haha. But with less details, I'll just say Mike and his other friend decorated his car in a very "clean" way. They just saran-wrapped it, put some oreos all over it, and then, you know, wrote the standard "just married" and "have fun" on the windows. Much less horrifying then our poor car at our wedding. Anyway, so the bride and groom come out and the new father-in-law of his friend freaked out and yelled at Mike, telling him he'll be "footing the bill if her dress gets dirty" ba ha ha ha. Oh poor Mike was just trying to be nice. I tell you, it's the nice people that have a difficult life because they can't ever say no.

So, we decided it'd be better to drive home Saturday rather than stay another night in a hotel, especially since the ones nearby were all full due to the Teton Dam Marathon. So instead of dropping another 60-70 bucks on a hotel, we bought some monster energy drinks and partied it up all the way home. That was most exciting. We even got pulled over. Mike and I happen to be able to talk ourselves out of most tickets. We claimed driving back to Utah, of course, and the officer was wondering why Mike had an Ohio license and an Idaho license plate. The both of us explained we were going to college....we thought the highway was 75 mph..... Mike's "I'm so sorry, this is all my fault" speech definitely helped. He didn't even look up his license (which was lucky, because after we went on our merry little way, Mike realized we never did pay off the Rexburg cops for the parking ticket, and he *thinks* his license is suspended.... crap....which is another story. I thought we did, but apparently I forgot... I guess I should call them to see what's really happening) Anyway, I'm telling you we've got skill because I guarantee if we would have said, "See, we're on energy drinks, and wasn't really paying attention to the speed limit signs, I think I've got a suspended license but really have no idea, oh, and my wife here can't even pass your driver's license test..." We would have, at least, had a ticket.

Ah. Life. Madee is playing for another day or so, then it's back to our normal, boring life. Mitch turns one next month, and growing up way too fast for my liking.

Until next time, folks, adios.

Our Weekend To the District of Columbia

I had this great idea in my head, that when I went to Washington DC, I'd take some lovely pictures of Mitch, and of the sites, and of the wedding, and of the trees really, oh, and don't forget of the shrinking pringle top, so you can imagine my dismay when I tried to pull out my camera to take a few of Mitch and it was not there. So I went the entire weekend thinking, "Ah, dang, I really wish I wasn't an idiot and remembered my camera" Then to arrive back home, and realizing it was not there.....and freaking out because I thought I lost it on the way there somehow....and then finding it in my purse. Yep, I had it the entire time. This is so my life.

My next idea is to steal all the photos off of certain Taylor's facebooks. I plan to do that as soon as they post some. I'm fairly certain they have some nice one's of Mitch. And of the wedding. You know, to prove we were actually there. This all really happened. And that's all I want. I spend everyday trying to prove my sanity to strangers and family alike.

Anyway, so silly me decided to plan/throw a bridal shower for the bride. Which is fine, except I don't really live there. And our plane was late, and the car rental lines were long, and the traffic was bad, and where are their grocery stores in DC!? And thus a 7 o'clock party started around 9 and ended around midnight. Again, my life! It turned out okay, as even the bride herself was late, and the grooms family was stuck in Pennsylvania or something, and everyone was late, so everyone was there. Some might call it a success, I call it a relief. I'm just glad so many people offered to help, because I really had no idea how I was going to pull that one off. But I guess it all worked out in the end.

So, the wedding itself was nice [insert Washington DC temple pictures here] The temple's a lot bigger than you imagine. Then I imagined at least. And I cried the entire time. Which is really pathetic because I didn't even break a tear at my own wedding. And me, being a horrible mother and all, definitely forgot to bring matching colors for Mitch. Actually, I brought a black dress for me to wear purely by luck. I was going to wear a grey skirt and black top but the black top was dirty. I was *this close* to wearing a bright spring crazy skirt, too. So I was relieved by this "mistake" as everyone else wore her wedding colors.... oi... except for Mitch, (you know, because I'm his mom) who was in an orange t-shirt and brown shorts- which totally clashes with Red, Black and White. Sorry.... Hopefully the photographer knows how to use photoshop. Sigh.... Not only that, but Mitch wanted to crawl around the entire time, so all of the pictures, I'm sure, have him either nose diving for the ground or screaming. Lovely.

I dare say the highlight of this whole trip was watching Mike and his twin brother sing "Sherry Baby" to their sister at the wedding dinner. That was just so beautiful. I wish I could have recorded that little number.

And we were going to go see 'the sites' but I *thought* (*sob*) I forgot my camera, and thus didn't care. (yes, I know the camera is optional, but still) And we didn't want to miss our flight, especially because Mike was flying standby. Mitch, on the plane ride, totally flirted with the airline stewardesses. One even had a nice puppet and played with him every time she'd walk by. And referred to him as her boyfriend. And blew bubbles at my face. Thank you for that. Overall Mitch was pretty good on the plane. He's learned how to give kisses, and will usually kiss me when I ask. (except when he insists on being defiant and will smile and try not to laugh while avoiding eye contact for as long as possible. It's fantastic, this new found Independence of his) While on the plane, during his carrot/oatmeal lunch (tasty, isn't it?) with baby food all over his face, he stood up and planted a nice fat baby kiss right on my mouth. So then it looked as if I was enjoying his meal with him. Thanks Mitchell. What are you supposed to do when that happens? Say "ew gross?" poor kid would have gotten a complex. So I stayed with my usual "Ah....thank you!" Overly exaggerated voice. Sweet. Carrots and oatmeal is not a nice combo, if any of you were wondering.

Well, that's it. Short trip. Our next flight out will be for Christmas and hopefully we can stay a little longer. Mike and I did drive up to Virgina, and I think I want to live there, ha. I love the east. It has a nice, peaceful, quiet feel to it. Anyway....I have nothing else to say. I'm the blog version of Beethoven I guess. "Bam!..Bam!...Bam Bam Bam!.....Bam!.......Bam!" He never could end his piece and clearly neither can I. So....I'll just say goodbye for now.