Super Cute Maddie

Polly Maddie Shaylee

Wanted to post cute picture of Maddie at the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Celebration held a few weeks ago at the conference center. Such an awesome program with such amazing youth. I am so grateful for the church and the wonderful life lessons and experiences it affords us and our children. Maddie was such a cute little '20's flapper girl.

Phew I am tired again..

I just thought I would embarass myself some more and list some of my favorite TV shows. Because it would hurt my brain to do it in order, this are NOT listed in any particular order.  

1.  So you think you can dance? So awesome to watch people with talent.  Have no idea how that would feel. 

2.  Dog Whisperer  Really, I could show Caeser a thing or two.  Ha ha.  Several times a day I find myself saying or thinking "What would Caeser do?"

3. Regis and Kelly  I record it religiously, but probably only watch it 1 time a week.  When I do watch it is just to watch host chat.  My favorite is when Anderson Cooper is on.  I love that metrosexual pretty boy with his cute little chuckle.  

4. Jon and Kate  I am very close to a commitment to uncommit to this TV disaster.  Have you seen anything more sad and disturbing unfold before your very eyes?  

5. Ace of Cakes  What is not to love about Duff and his motley crue?

6. Top Chef  I feel as though in my next life I would love to be a chef.  I could be a food snob that knows the many uses of tarragon and saffron, etc.  

7.  Survivor  I am a reality show junkie.  I am not embarrassed to admit it.  My husband is embarrassed enough for me.

8.  Biggest Loser By far, one of my favorite shows. I cry almost every episode.  Amazing what those trainers can motivate people to do and how far they come in the time they are at the ranch.

9.  Everybody loves Raymond  What can I say?  I feel like it is my life up there on the screen.  

10.  Real Housewives... I know, I know.  I am going to hell.  No, they are going to hell.  It is so cool to see crazy people and how they function (or don't) in their daily lives.  

Phew.. I am tired..

Seriously, being a wife and mommy is lots of work.  Can all my mommy friends give me a enthusiastic "AH HUH".  I swear, at the conclusion of most days, I lay my head on my pillow and think "what just happened?"  Most of the time, I couldn't tell you what I did the day before.  I just know I am busy from the moment I wake to the moment I lay me down to sleep (or blog).  I want to put my heels in and slow things down a bit..is that possible with 4 kids and a husband?  I think maybe the wilderness sounds good somedays. Does anyone remember the Wilderness Family TV show?  That was back when ALL TV's had rabbit ears. 

 That was back in the day when there was only 1 TV in the house and it only had 3 channels.  So the entire family watched shows together.  CAN YOU EVEN IMAGINE???  Now we have TV's in every room and in our house the DVR is the most prized possession..  Really what would we do without it??  I am ashamed of the love I have for my DVR.  I feel the kind of reverence for it that I usually only reserve for Diet Coke and dark chocolate.  Kinda funny how I started off this post by inferring that I have NO TIME, but in the course of my ramblings, we conclude that indeed I do have time and it is spent watching TV shows.  Let me just say again how exhausting it is to be me.. I had to roll over and reach a few minutes ago to get the remote then I had to clap my hands twice to shut off my reading light.  

This was the best show ever.  What a nightmare for that mom though.  I think that is why her arms are crossed.  I think she might be little bit bugged.

No extras, just the family and nature.  Hmm.. that would involve bears, racoons, outhouses, no running water, no dish network, no jamba juice, no tj maxx, no michael jackson tributes on the radio... oh forget it-- I think I would rather die of exhaustion than have to wear clothes that I had to sew or plow a dang field.  

MY MAN IS....

TIRED.. drove to Knotts Berry (1.5 hours each way) to ride on 3 rides (which probably lasted a total of 90 seconds) and wait in lines for 7.5 hours. A little side note-- it was junior high day at Knotts.. surrounding us on all 4 sides were hormonal, obnoxious 13-15 year olds. So fun...

METROSEXUAL.. This is my man in a MAC makeup chair. Oh yes he did!! Kidding. He just was waiting for Maddie and I. Or should I say waiting for me.

EASILY ANNOYED WHEN DRIVING.. this scary face is the result of me side-seat driving while in our super awesome suzuki rental car in San Diego. Isn't he a bit scary? At least I know what he is going to look like as an old old man.

SPORTY.. my man sure can make a beach cruiser bike look manly. Even if it does have a little basket on front that has a fabulous DKNY purse hanging out of it.

CUTE.. just chillin at Luke's preschool graduation.

MY KIDS HERO! Here is the gang on Father's Day. We had a great breakfast.. made his favorite pancakes in the world (we will just call them "Stacy's healthy pancakes"). Went to church--survived all 3 hours (MIRACLE!!). Church was awesome and our afternoon nap was even more awesome. Then we had a little steak for dinner. Super fun day with a super great dad. I hope you know that even when I swear at you it is because I love you so much.


MY MAN IS...

There are many adjectives I could complete that sentence with. Most are of the friendly nature, but I dare say there are days when I would complete it but saying .."DEAD, if he doesn't snap out of it!" But, really, who am I to judge. Truly, he is a patient and long-suffering man who has occassional moments of senility ("You did not tell me we had a family party tonight!") and momentary loss of vision (garbage can overflowing onto floor of pantry like the leaning tower of Pizza--wrong spelling, I know..I am not a complete moron!--and he stacks a paper plate on it like it is his crowning work of art) and frequent trouble performing simple tasks ( "Stacy, where do we keep the forks?" seriously, he did say that!!). At times he is impossibly impatient (waiting in lines..hates it), but 95% of the time he has the patience of a saint. He is a great dad who is very thoughtful about spending quality time with his kids, even if it's just playing a game of hide-and-seek with the babies and working out with the older kids. I think my kids made a good pick when they were up there in heaven making the "DAD" selection, although, I will have to speak to them later about what could have been wrong with Zac Efron for a dad? Kidding..kidding..

SAN DIEGO WITH MADDIE

Waiting in line at Knotts Berry

Shopping at Coronado

Playing in the waves at Coronado Beach

Biking Coronado

At La Jolla Beach

After the shopping spree

At the airport (Todd is really happy)

What can I say? I have a great life. Nothing like a little vacation to calm and soothe your spirit. Especially when it involves eating, shopping, sleeping in, and the beach. I loved the part when I DIDN'T change a poopy diaper and my second best part was when I NEVER cooked a meal. Oh and then there was the time I decided not to look at my watch ALL DAY!! Super awesome time with my Maddie and my sugar daddy.

This post may bore some of you. I am sorry if it does, but I need to chronicle this special trip for myself. I am so glad we did it. It was worth all of the effort and money to make it happen.

A couple of years ago, I heard of a family that takes each child on a trip at a certain age. This family lets them pick anywhere and they go when the child turns 9 or something. What a fabulous idea, I thought. Todd agreed and we decided to start with Maddie when she turned 14. Well, that was last year and it didn't happen. We put it off until her 15th birthday, which will be in a few weeks. So we let Ms Maddie pick (within reason) where she wanted to go. Initially she wanted to do a cruise, but we felt like that might be a bit too expensive, so with much discussion and thought, she settled for 5 days in San Diego. Todd and I went to San Diego on our honeymoon, so needless to say we had fond memories of the place.. (at least of our hotel room.. he he he).

For all of you who have not had the pleasure of rearing a child to his/her teenage years, you may not be able to relate to how courageous a thing this is. WE ARE PLANNING A VACATION WITH OUR TEENAGE DAUGHTER!! Do you understand the magnitude of this? Hmmm... I think you don't, so I can only say.. someday you will, friend, someday you will.

As most of you know, Maddie is a dear sweet child, always has been. But, she is a teenager and i am her mom. No matter how cool I think I am, she will always find me annoying. This trip she informed me that I was embarrassing her because...

#1 I was talking too loud. As a general rule, parents should not be seen OR heard.

#2 At the airport, I touched a strange man's bum that I thought was Todd's. I found it funny and tintillating--she found it humiliating

#3 I kissed my husband's neck "IN FRONT OF PEOPLE" (so disgusting)

#4 I was "mean" to a waitress. Her description of "mean"? I wanted ice cream, so I asked the waitress if there was a ice cream shoppe around, she replied that she could get me some vanilla or chocolate ice cream. I didn't want plain old ice cream, I wanted a shake or mix-in's or something fancier, so I told her.. no thanks, i want something naughty with reeses or something in it. "Mom, you don't have to tell her that" Maddie said when our waitress was out of earshot. "That was so mean" At the same restaurant, Ms Maddie got a cheeseburger that she HATED.. it had the little gritty, tendony, chewy pieces in the meat. So she only ate a few bites. But so the waitress wouldn't "feel bad" or "be mad at her" she asked for a to-go box. And then promptly threw it away when she felt like she was far enough away from the waitress that she couldn't see what she had done.

#5 I was always taking pictures. The most annoying thing I can do is try to take a candid of her. I will now document this with pictures. This is what I got everytime I tried to take a picture of just Maddie.

There was actually a couple of more shots just like these, but I think you get the picture (or not, as it were)

Despite being annoying, I thought I was pretty fun and I think when Maddie wasn't being embarrassed by me, she was having fun too. We took her shopping for hours..just ask Todd. It was so fun to not be in a hurry and to not have Luke and Sadie pulling clothes off of hangers and hiding from me in the clothes and screaming and running from me as I am trying to leave the store.. but I digress. We went kayaking in La Jolla and saw sea lions and leopard sharks and funny sea-diving birds (pictures to be posted later from waterproof camera). We did yoga together (um, ya.. no pictures will be posted). We went to Knotts Berry Farms (story to come..). We went to the beach. We rode beach bikes all around Coronado island. We laughed and ate and relaxed together. She got to make all the decisions. I think it meant alot to her. I know it meant alot to Todd and I.

One of the most memorable parts of the trip for me, was getting to see Todd through Maddie's eyes and vice versa. Maddie and her dad have an incredible relationship and I loved being able to see that and how much they enjoy each other. I love Todd so much for being willing to do all the girl things we wanted to do and also for Maddie for always trying to be considerate of us and what we might want to do. She would do anything for her dad, it's just awesome to see the love and respect she has for him.

So here is to you, my daughter, my first born. You have taught me so much and have brought so much love into our home. You are an exceptional daughter and friend and we LOVE you and think you are just the best. You will be gone before I know it and my heart kind of freezes up when I think about you leaving home. My life started the day I had you and what will it be when you are not in it everyday?? I only hope that I can continue to annoy you for many years to come.

XOXOXO

Maddie's Jr. High BBall team

Maddie & Todd getting ready to go "clubbin"Maddie, Steph & Rylie getting ready for girls campMaddie's 13th Birthday
Maddie and Chantelle on the deadly seesaw

ZOO-pendous day!

Luke taming the scary spider at the zoo playground


Sadie on the train.. so much fun



Cole, Sadie, Tanner, Emma, Blake, Mia, Maddie and Luke




Cole and Tanner--the best of friends

Luke and Maddie.. also the best of friends..

Sadie and her "favit" , the giraffe

We have been moving for a month. Yes, it is true. Todd and I have basically done it ourselves with Maddie and Tanner's help. Lots of people have offered to help, but I don't think it is necessary to ruin other people's day with a move. So, It has been a slow and painful descent into madness..... So when my sister in law Jen called and said she was "comin to the city" (what us country folks say) to take her kids to the zoo and could they come help with move and maybe crash on the floor..?? I am ashamed to admit I was hesitant to slow down and take time to enjoy some company. That lasted a few minutes and then I recognized a answer to prayer... I needed this break and so did my kids. I decided to meet up with them at the zoo and it was such a great afternoon. (thank you jen and brett, you breathed new life into me). Initially I thought we might melt into the sidewalk.. it was only 80 degrees, but after a long winter and short spring, it felt like 100 degrees. Within a half hour of us being there it cooled down and was so pleasant. You moms know that sometimes ( alot of times), you plan something fun for your kids and it ends up in disaster-- kids are onery, tired, sick or they are fighting or sassy or you forget your camera or you are in a bad mood so everything is tainted. And then every once in awhile, you have a fun day.. AS PLANNED!! After the zoo, we went to one of my favorites, Noodles & Co and then of course I had to take them to Frogurts. It was a really needed break. My little ones enjoyed the zoo so much and have talked about it every since. It was great to get to talk with Jen and Brett.. I admire and love you both so much and adore your children. Thanks again for letting me invite myself to spend the day with you.

OUR NEW HOME

The start of the move.. Luke and Sadie helping


Tanner and Todd.. we don't need no movers!!


Some of you know we have been in the process of moving.. and what a process. Can I just say that I despise moving.. HATE moving. I have always wondered why I dislike it so much. I mean there is the obvious-- lots of work, lots of mess, lots of cleaning, disorganization.. But, realistically those things all occur on a daily basis in my home (except maybe the cleaning..he he). So what is it really? I think I have the answer.. it is the unsettled feeling. I like to be the same. I like sameness. I like vanilla!! I want to be planted and rooted to an area, home. I feel like this only comes with time. This has been a hard one for me and the kids. Todd is very adaptable and opposite from me. He loves change. I have always said that I am surprised he hasn't got bored with me yet and found a newer, better model. I shouldn't give him any ideas. I hope that I can get settled in our new home and that we can grow some roots here. So far we have been wonderfully accepted and welcomed, which made saying goodbye to our Herriman family a little bit easier. I will miss many friends in our old ward and neighborhood, but also recognize that we can still be friends and love & support each other (from a distance..thank heavens for blogs..) As difficult as this has been, I have certainly been comforted and I have learned that it truly does not matter where we are, if we have our family with us and we are doing what the Lord wants us to do, we can be happy and grow from the new experiences and challenges. Now I am grateful for this move and the opportunities that will come out of it. I know we are on the road to a great adventure...

I guess I like more than just vanilla...chocolate is fun sometimes too..