reverse psychology

Austin is so independent that I have to use reverse psychology on him all the time.  Even with little things.  Like today I told him to pick one of his two favorite blankets to bring to church so he could take a nap. (He will sleep during sacrament meeting if he has a blanket so if he's really cranky we will try and bring one.)  He wanted to take both of them but I told him "one" then he kept saying, "I can't decide."  So I told him I would choose and pointed to one.  He looked at me and said, "No I'll take this one," which was the opposite of the one I just picked.  This is how it is all day with big and little things so I'm learning to say opposite of what I want him to do and then he will end up doing what I want him to do in the first place.

 

But I do have to say one thing, he really is my good helper.  It's just him and I during the day and he helps me with anything I ask.  He is also really good at cleaning up when I tell him.

 

He is my sweet little boy and I love the time I have to spend with him. 

Christmas Tree lighting

 

 

We (me and the kids, Jason was working) braved the freezing cold and went to the Jordan Creek Tree lighting and fireworks again this year.  We meet some friends there, which made it extra fun for the kids. They not only liked the Christmas tree and fireworks but they loved playing in the little amount of snow we had gotten the night before.  It's a fun tradition that we have done almost every year since we moved to Iowa. 

pheasant

Jason went pheasant hunting with his friend, BJ, on Wednesday.  He had never been before and had a great time.  He brought some tail feathers home which the kids thought were really cool and the next night he cooked up the breast.  It was pretty good and everyone liked it.

 

 

 

Happy Birthday Madi girl!

Today Madilynn turned 7 years old!  She is such a joy in our family.  We love her smiling face.  She is very easy going and has such a sweet spirit.

 

We had to celebrate a day early because Jason had a conference in Miami, FL, but she didn't mind that just meant she had 4 days to call her own.

The 1st was her date with her dad. They went to Chili's, she got to ride in the front seat of dad's new car and she said he even let her sit on her knees so she could put her hand out the sunroof, which she thought was awesome.

The 2nd was the night we went to get her ears pierced.

The 3rd was our early family party on the 7th, where she choose spaghetti for dinner and had a butterfly cake.

And the 4th was her real birthday when she took ice cream to her school class and I took her to lunch at Subway.

 

 

About Madi:

 

Her favorite color is Pink and Purple and Orange

Her favorite primary song is "I know Heavenly Father Loves Me"

Her favorite princess "all of them"

favorite dinner is Honey Curry Chicken

favorite book Junie B. Jones books (she has started reading them by herself)

her best friend is Leila and Sophia

favorite thing to do at school is writing

She still sleeps with her yellow blanket

she loves to be fancy

she likes going to primary and is one of the best singers during singing time.  I usually can here her no matter where I am in the room.

She enjoys 1st grade but it's a little harder than Kindergarten.

She loves going to dance each week

She is tall 2 inches taller than Savannah was at 7 and right now they both have the same size foot.

She loves her siblings, parents and extended family.

She is very out going and loves to be around people.

 

We love you Madi!

 

I started a new tradition where I hang up the kids birthday pictures from the past.  Here are Madi's.  It's fun to see them and remember those times, but sad to see how much they have grown.

 

 

cookie

 

Jason brought cute sugar cookies home from Pella (he is working out there this month for his elective month.).  Austin got a frog cookie and really liked it.  He liked it so much he didn't want to eat it.  Finally he asked if I would take his picture with it.  Then he ate it.

ears pierced

Madi turns 7 on Friday so we took her to get her ears pierced last night.  She pick some very cute pink butterfly earrings.  She didn't cry but when they stuck them in, her legs kicked out.  :)

She has been so excited for this day.  She wore her hair in a ponytail today so everyone at school could see them.

Sold

 

We got the opportunity to buy my mom's car from my parents and since this car sounded like a lawn mover, was too small for Jason and he really didn't like it all that much, we decided to do it. 

Jason flew to Utah to get the car and drove it back home.  Then he cleaned this up really good, put it on Craig's List and 7 hours later it was sold for our asking price.

 

It was a good car and has lots of memories of Med school and Residency in it.  But the new car just made more sense.  And now we don't have necessarily have to buy a car right after residency we can put that money toward something else....like loans.