Oh Be Careful Little Nose What You Smell

Since Maddie started preschool back in September, she comes home about twice a month with a new song she has learned. She goes to a Christian school, so they are typically Bible songs or prayers -- often ones that I remember singing in Sunday school when I was a little girl. One such song goes like this: "Oh be careful little eyes what you see/ Oh be careful little eyes what you see/ For the Father up above is looking down with love/ Oh be careful little eyes what you see." It's meant to teach children to resist things that might lead them into sin, and it continues with four more verses covering all five senses. Certainly, one can readily see how the eyes, ears, mouth, and hands can lead one into temptation...but the nose? Kurt and I laugh and laugh when we hear our little girl earnestly singing "Oh be careful little nose what you smell..." as though at any moment she'll catch a whiff of something sent straight from Satan. Kurt's theory is that perhaps it's an early "Say No To Drugs" campaign...i.e. snort flowers not crack.

Now, I put my foot in my mouth all the time...but not exactly like this :) I think he's training to be a yogi. He's a Portland boy after all.

Mommy sandwich!

Madelyn diving into a cake pop made for Auntie Kelsie's bridal shower. Yum!

Kurt and me at The Allison for our 8th anniversary. We just went for breakfast, but someday (you know...in five or six years!) maybe we'll actually stay the night.

Lemon buttermilk pancakes with strawberry and raspberry compote. Yes we did.

This series of photos is called "Like Son Like Father." Henry has great facial expressions, and we all like to try to copy him (remember Maddie's "gangsta baby" imitation?).

Imagination at Work

This series of photos could also be named "Signs." I love walking around my house and discovering little signs that children not only live here but are imagining here. I never quite know the full story, but I kind of like it that way...makes me get to use my imagination too :)

What Would You Do...

...for a peaceful evening and a good night's sleep? Would you beg and plead with your preschooler, thus confirming once and for all that she is, in fact, the boss of the household? Would you begin using questionable discipline techniques that you swore you'd never use? Would you bribe said child with a bowl full of processed sugar for each morning that she goes to bed without a fight?

Yes, yes, and sadly, yes.

Our Madelyn is a vivacious child with a fabulously imaginative mind and an insatiable curiosity. She giggles easily and has the best facial expressions. She has a kind, inclusive heart and loves to be a helper. The majority of the time, she is flexible and compliant and polite such that I start to think I must be a pretty darn good Mommy to have produced such a wonderful kid.

Then, inevitably, bedtime rolls around. I've said it before, and here it is again: anyone who doesn't believe in a carnal nature needs to spend some time with small children. No matter how positive and euphoric the day, bedtime arrives and our girl morphs into an impulsive, crazed, wild thing whose limbs and vocal chords seem to be functioning in total separation from her brain. She tears through the house and cackles and bounces incessantly with the energy of a possessed being. Once we finally manage to wrangle and rope her into her bed -- patience completely depleted -- we read stories, say prayers and close her door for the night with a sigh of relief.

And for the last year or so, that's when the fun really begins. With her spirited personality comes a frighteningly strong will. If she doesn't want to stay in her room, she's not going to stay in her room, no matter how exhausted she is or how awful things get between us. We have tried absolutely everything just shy of locking her in her room and the only reason we haven't tried that is that she would kick the door so hard it would likely crack (it's an old house after all). She can be motivated by incentives, but those incentives work for three, four weeks at best before they lose their novelty and the mischief becomes more appealing once again. Currently, she earns a (small) bowl of "treat cereal," typically something with fake marshmallows in it, for every night that she doesn't come out of her room. This kills me, folks. I am a huge proponent of healthy eating and have worked so hard since the day she was born pumping her body full of whole grains, raw veggies, and fruits in all colors of the rainbow. Watching her inhale a bowl of processed sugar first thing in the morning literally makes me cringe...but it is most certainly worth a peaceful evening with our precious daughter and a public admission that parenting is the most humbling, word-eating, prayer-inducing job ever.

Now. Make me feel better: what are you doing with your kids that you swore you'd never do?

America the Beautiful

Every summer (typically in June) we visit the rose garden at Washington Park for a picnic and some flower frolicking. This year, we combined our visit with our friends, the Smoots, and the 4th of July; what better way to celebrate the official birth of America the Beautiful than amidst some of this country's most gorgeous scenery? For all of this country's faults (and there are many...and I think it's important to acknowledge them and continue addressing them), I am so grateful to live here with the freedom and pursuit of prosperity that our government affords.

Nearly six years ago, Took and I were just a couple of social workers with a common passion for children, fancy bags, and Jesus. Two husbands and six children later, our respective families are finally complete and we can take a group photo without knowing that it will no longer be accurate within a year :)


Maddie looks like Snoopy in this photo -- laughing with her head tipped back as far as it will go.


Sitting by the "Queen Jan" plaque -- an annual tradition.

Cutest Boy Ever

This boy continues to win our hearts over and over again. Look at those big eyes and that darling little expression! We call this "periscoping." Henry is so alert and curious about his environment these days that some nights he's just too busy to fall asleep. We go in to check on him and this is what we see: little Henry craning his neck as far as his little arms will let him, peering over the edge of the crib. So stinkin' cute. We even forgive him for his middle of the night periscoping because it's so hilarious to see his small head popping up and down in the dead of the night.

Day to Day

Madelyn's sense of fashion lately is, well, fearless. She lays her clothes out for each day the night before and proudly gets dressed all by herself without even having to be asked each morning. Only occasionally do I intervene with some matching help (you know, church, preschool, etc.) because I find it truly inspiring to see what she chooses to clothe herself on a day to day basis.

Say what?!

Henry's first bite of solid food. He has been fascinated with watching us eat lately and reaches out to grab our forks, plates, sandwiches, fruit, etc. He gobbled up a little bowl of rice cereal and seemed to really like it...and then barfed the whole thing up about two hours later. Hmm. Not sure what to make of that, but I guess we'll try again in another couple of weeks.


New sand box! Kurt built a great little sandbox for the kids in our backyard, and Maddie christened it yesterday afternoon. Kurt found real beach sand to put in it, too, so it's soft and fine and lovely, just like being at the beach. Now if we could just figure out how to fall asleep to the ocean waves...


Captain Chin to the rescue!!!

And finally a couple of great videos for you. Henry loves his Mommy and Daddy but he LOVES his sister as you can see :)

Brad and Kari Sittin' In A Tree...

...K-I-S-S-I-N-G!

Which you're allowed to do as much as you want on your wedding day! Kurt's beautiful sister, Kari, and her fabulous fiance, Brad, got married a few Saturdays ago on May 21st, and we were absolutely delighted to be a part of their special celebration. The weather held, the church was gorgeous, and the bride and groom were radiant. Madelyn had the honor of being their flower girl, and she had a great time! We spent the week before the wedding practicing walking down the aisle in our house -- we created an "aisle" with the chairs in our living room, and she walked in between them scattering tea bags from her Easter basket while I "oohed" and "aahed" and tried to prepare her for the inevitable wedding-guest paparazzi. Ultimately, she did a great job. She got a little shy just as it was time to walk down the aisle, but Cousin Leslie (Maid of Honor) was there to save the day, and the two pretty attendants walked down the aisle together. It was a lovely day, and we are just thrilled for both Kari and Brad. Welcome to the family, Brad! You and I can be "out-laws" together :)


Brad's little nephew, LJ. Don't mess with him.

Henry chillin' in his favorite place during the rehearsal.


Madelyn only placed the rose petals this carefully during the rehearsal. During the actual wedding ceremony, she was too shy to scatter the petals until she could see that everyone's eyes were closed during the prayer; then she threw fistfuls at Brad and Kari's feet :)

Love this shot of Maddie and her Mimi!

We had to take a photo, because we might never again see Madelyn sit this still.

Love our expressive children!!

Henry is fascinated with our faces lately and is always reaching out to touch us (or grab fistfuls of Madelyn's hair...you can imagine the reaction that gets).

Kari and her dad before the ceremony -- so happy!

Henry's cute little outfit. He didn't make much of an appearance that day because he was sick :( My fabulous aunt, Jenny, and cousin, Sydney, jumped in at the last minute to stay with him at our house so he could nap -- so thankful for them! Kurt and I actually got to enjoy the ceremony and the reception because of them. Thank God for loving family!

Some princess-dress twirling. Fabulous. Madelyn's dress was a miniature version of Kari's which was so special.

Peep toe shoes that necessitated Madelyn's first official pedicure at Nana's spa.

My rough-and-tumble girl somehow instinctively knew just how to walk in her fancy, swirly dress.

Love this photo! Kari was radiant with joy all day, and this photo perfectly captures that.

The beautiful couple. Brad's heritage is Scottish which he chose to honor with his very masculine, regal kilt. Super cool.


Cousin Leslie and Madelyn walking down the aisle. Madelyn has just spotted Papa, Nana, Kelsie and Ben in the pews. You can see Papa smiling at her on the far right -- so cute.

Kari and Brad had their first dance and then invited some of the wedding party to join them. Kurt went up to dance with Maddie but she was NOT going to budge. I mean, NOT going to budge.

Daddy telling Maddie how well she did and how proud of her he was.

Kari tossing her bouquet. Evidently Madelyn just saw it as another opportunity to do some twirling.