Quotable Madeleine

"Can we go buy another 3 Parkers?"

Madeleine was holding her new baby brother Parker when she said this. Do you think she wanted one for each child?

Grandma Lindy to Madeleine: "Do you take cute pills?"

Madeleine: "Uh-huh."

Lessons from My Daughters

Last night Madeleine said her prayers, and just after she finished, she opened her eyes, smiled and simply said, "I know Jesus loves me."

The previous night, Abigail was in the shower. She had just put conditioner in her hair, so I knew she would have some down time. I asked her to brush her teeth while she waited. Her reply? "Mom, I can't. See, what I do is, I dance." Sure enough, when I passed her the toothbrush, she was rocking out in the shower.

And again, last night, Madeleine woke up just an hour after going to bed, crying. I dismissed it a little, thinking it would stop, but Abigail, who was still up, went right in to comfort her. When I walked in, Abigail was sitting by her in bed, singing "I Feel My Savior's Love" while she patted her back. She has such compassion.

If You're Happy and Your Daughter Knows It...

Preface: to understand this story, you have to know that one of my wonderful friends who sometimes watches my kids taught them to sing, "If you're happy and you know it say, 'Amen!'"

I decided to let one kid sleep in my big bed each night this week. Tonight is Madeleine's turn. As she lay next to me and I wrote out tomorrow's "to-do" list, I rubbed her cheek. After a moment of this, she sat up and leaned next to me, reached up her hand and rubbed my face. It was so sweet, I started to cry a little. Madeleine noticed and asked, "Mom, why are you crying?" I said, "Because I'm happy." She responded, "Could you say, 'Amen'?"

Unrelated but another happy moment of the day:

As part of Warren's Cub Scout requirements, he planned our meals for the day and then made breakfast all by himself--well, of course, Abigail the event-planner was there to help out, but he was in charge. I laid in bed :) He made scrambled eggs, toast with jam and apple slices. He even had to slice the bread himself. As they started eating breakfast, these were a few comments made: "Breakfast just is so much better when you plan it!" "These eggs are the best I've ever had." And they all ate it happily and energetically. I think I might start having him cook breakfast every Monday morning.

Moments from September

One day school was canceled for my kids, so they all got to have Tutu day and go to the splash pad with my mom. They were so excited waiting for her to come!
It was WWHS 50th Anniversary and I took my kids one afternoon to work on the 2000-2011 float. I was drawing this big Warrior emblem and having a hard time with proportions, so I laid Avery down and just traced her, then added some more muscles.
Abigail was so thrilled to get to help on a float. "Mom, I've been waiting my whole life to work on a float." Hilarious. She was really helpful, too. In fact, all three girls painted these feathers. Madeleine still has the blue paint in her hair to prove it.

Now that the 3 older kids are all practicing piano, Madeleine has jumped in right with them. She often insists, "I'm doing my practicing!" or "I need to do my practicing." In the picture above she is playing and singing, "DO is home."

I found this picture on the camera. I think Avery took it, but I'm not sure when. But those are M.'s pajamas, so I think it is one morning before I got out of bed. I don't let M. play the ipod, hence the total look of adoration in her eyes. She often protests, "I'm not 2, I'm 4!" since Avery is 4 and gets to play sometimes.
My kids enjoy pointing out Papo's political signs all over town. They get really excited when they see them, so naturally, Abigail made one of her own and stuck it in the yard. Referring to the side that is pictured first, she asked, "Are you allowed to do letters like this on signs?" You can see she decorated each letter with a different embellishment.
Today was our ward's Primary Children's Program in sacrament meeting. Kids 3-12 are the singers, speakers and even the piano players. Avery's part was, "There are many things we can do to gain a testimony of the scriptures. We can search, ponder and pray about the scriptures." Avery was very reverent and knew the words to the songs. Abigail could be heard over the primary on some of the songs and sang with gusto. No other word for it. She also played the violin for "I am Child of God" and was so cute standing on her little blue step-stool to make her visible. Warren played "Search Ponder and Pray" on the piano as all the kids walked up and he was great. He also gave a short talk about his baptism. It was all so sweet and I was very happy for them.

Slips of the 2-Year-Old-Tongue

One day I said, "No way, Jose!" (pronounced "hoe-say"). Madeleine grinned widely, giggled and repeated back, "No way, hay-so, hay-so!" It's my favorite expression as of late. Until...

Yesterday. On vacation I taught my kids to sing the hymn, "Come, Come, Ye Saints," an LDS classic. The pioneers sang it crossing the plains, we sang it crossing CA to OR. the first lines of lyrics say, "Come, come ye saints, no toil nor labor fear." So fast forward to yesterday. Madeleine is sitting at the piano and she sings: "Come, come ye saints, no toilet of a neighbor."

Dance Recital, Spring 2011

Dancing has enriched our family far more than I imagined it would when I signed the girls up. Impromptu performances on the rug, learning to be prepared for class, family dance parties, more "shows" orchestrated by Abigail, time with friends, plans to teach their own dance classes when friends come over, and mixed throughout, little glimpses of lovely ballet form and movements. I just thought it would be fun and hoped they would feel more comfortable with their bodies than I did as a little girl; it has done that and so much more to make life truly sweet. Here are some pics from their dance recital last weekend, along with some comments made by various kids.


"Your neck is the 'beautifulest' bone in your body." --Abigail, quoting her teacher

"She needs a diaper wipe." --Madeleine, regarding the pirate-y smudges on Avery's face

Abigail and her best friend. She was so pleased they got be partners in all the dances.

Mainly Madeleine

Can't you just see how pretty she feels? No, those are not black-eyes; Abigail has a makeup box. I think Avery did the job. Madeleine is so full of fun. Last week as she leaned out the window, she said, "I'm don't falling!" and was so proud. Another time, the children were playing together outside when Madeleine came in alone and matter-of-factly reported to Andy: "I hit Avery." "Oh," he replied, "Do you think you should have some uh-oh time?" She yelled out, in perfect imitation of some older sisters, "I'm going!" and stomped off to her room. A few days later, Madeleine hurried past me in the hall into her bedroom, explaining she was going to time-out and just seconds later, Avery began crying at the table, "Madeleine bit me!" Maybe she will begin to exercise the self-control before she hits or bites next time.

Madeleine loves music, and she sings very well. If we are driving without music on, she calls out, "Music, momma." She often starts singing songs I didn't know she picked up, but I was still surprised when she sang in Spanish last week, "El gallo se murio ayer. Ya no cantarra, 'cucuri, cucura.'" When I ask the other kids to identify a solfeggio pattern I hum, more often than not, Madeleine eagerly responds first--with the right answer.
This is Madeleine's best friend. I put this picture in not just for archival purposes, but because it reminded me of something. Madeleine gets her binky at night, naps and sacrament meeting. She loves it dearly. So sometimes when she sees another child not using a binky that he/she is attached to, Madeleine can't understand why they would pass on the opportunity and tries repeatedly to stuff it into their mouth.

Beside all the other times we pass the Westwood football field, we also pass it every Sunday on the drive home from Tutu's. Our kids usually call out, "Go Westwood!" This soon evolved into the same script every Sunday evening:
Child 1: Go Westwood!
Child 2: They don't play on Sunday!
Child 1: It's not Sunday! (though sometimes it is)
Well, recently Madeleine and I drove by the field without any other children in the car. Madeleine carried out the whole "conversation" herself. "Go Westwood! They don't play on Sunday! It not Sunday!" She even varied the inflection in her voice.

She loves her gold, sparkly shoes and putting on her shoes by herself. Now that I am improving at doing the older 2 girls hair each morning, she comes in the bathroom right after, climbs on the step stood and says, "My turn, mommy." She often dresses herself in the morning before I am even out of bed; the only complication is the only drawers she can open are Abigail and Avery's, so the outfits she puts together are usually too big, as in the picture below. Last Saturday the girls decided to give up their own "special drawers" so Madeleine could have 2 drawers she could reach in the room they all share together. It was Avery's idea. Abigail, especially, got a kick out of teaching her which drawer was "tops" and which was "bottoms." I was so proud of them.

2010 Thanksgiving Parade

Madeleine didn't get into the festivities so much.

LOVE love LOVE this picture of Avery.

Strung out along the parade "route."

Yes, Warren carried the "house" to symbolize he was thankful for his house.

Shorts

from Warren as I lay in bed next to him after reading "Geronimo" together:

"The only hard part about staying awake is my eyes; they just want to shut. My body is full of energy but my eyes can't stay open."

from a stranger as he held the door for Avery:

"She is a really beautiful child."

I used to worry about Avery because she looked so much like me.

A sweet moment with Abigail:

We went to Maricopa Stake's Evening of Excellence to hear some music I helped notate and ended up staying. We sat side by side for an hour. I had my arm around her. After a few minutes, she freed her arm from my side and stuck it behind my back. It didn't even reach all the way across. I can still feel the warmth of her small hand.

Madeleine is talking so much, but her singing is even better. She sings along with the kids' LPM CD's, and not just on the normal words--she does the sol-sol-do and mi-re-do parts. She loves to sing. She is fearless. I took her on the climber at the Children's Museum of Phoenix and she went all over, gaining confidence to go further each time, despite seeing the ground 15 -20 feet below, or being up against a wall of clear glass.

This reminds me of family night on Monday. I blindfolded each of the kids one at a time--in the dark, outside--and walked them at least 100 feet from our house. In Warren's case, across the street by a cactus-filled yard, then asked them to find their way home. I asked each if they wanted help and offered directions. As I watched them stumble in the dark, hands outstretched, W with a goofy grin and Abigail with tiny nervous steps, I was suddenly overwhelmed with humility for the trust these children place in me. Not one of them gave up or got angry with me; they trusted every direction I gave them, even when they didn't understand. I wondered if I was worthy of that pure trust.

Why am I blogging again? I can't let these moments be forgotten.

Easter Eggs

April 3: Yes, that is egg on Madeleine's face. I think Madeleine was the biggest hidden "egg" of all; the picture below is of her, freshly discovered, in the playhouse at Tutu's. (And yes, Abigail was there, but somehow missed any pictures. She, Avery and Madeleine all wore the same pink hoodie shirt. They were tickled pink to be matching.)

"Finger" Painting

This was all in March. Good thing I said, "Don't touch Madeleine!"

Madeleine's 1st Birthday

{remember, this all took place in February}
On February 25th Madeleine turned 1. I have never been a huge first birthday celebrator--just some extended family, gifts and cake have comprised our celebrations. Well, if it could get more low-key than that, it did. I don't know why I was feeling so overwhelmed or busy at the time, but I remember I did feel that way, and I knew Madeleine wasn't going to care too much what we did. My plans included finishing Madeleine's 1st year book on blurb. (which I did a month after her birthday) and making madeleines, a kind of French cookie, typically eaten with coffee and shaped like a seashell. (You can see a bit of what they look like in these pictures).

Well, this is where I start to get teary-eyed. My sweet children, somehow sensing a need for greater celebration put on a 1st birthday party for my sweet Madeleine. They brought the tables outside, rounded up chairs to sit in--notice the double stroller Avery and Warren are seated in, and had table decorations: fake flowers and candles. They picked tangerines, which are Madeleine's favorite food, so she would have more than just my madeleine cookies. They borrowed one of my HAPPY BIRTHDAY banners, hung it on the playhouse, and then Abigail added her own banner underneath, PRINCESS. HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRINCESS. I remember she was even careful to adjust the way it hung so it was centered. You can see it in the background of the above picture. They set up the roller coaster car and track nearby for an activity, and played on it with Madeleine. They even put that lovely little pink sparkly square sticker on Madeleine's forehead. Look back at the first picture--can you tell that Madeleine felt their love in a big way? (Oh, and right after I snapped that shot and before I put the camera down, Madeleine reached right out for that flame and snuffed it out with her hand. Ouch. But not too bad.)

Oh how dear are little children. They were so excited to give Maddie this party. They planned for it all day and were so proud to put it on for her. Pure. Innocent. Love. That's what that is. Later that night we celebrated again with our neighbor Jim. He made pie and had cake and ice cream, too. He even remembered the candle. I love M's blue eyes in this picture and the delighted expressions on my other children's faces. Truly a joy for one is a joy for all.

Climb Every Mountatin...or Chair

Madeleine is very determined, and loves to climb, so it is only natural that one day she would conquer the full-size kitchen chair. Can you tell she is proud?

My Madeleine

Oh how I love my Madeleine. She is almost a year old. If she had come "on time"--and really, what does that mean?--she would be a year old today. Instead, we celebrate her birthday 12 lovely days from now. Even from the start, Madeleine was determined to come only when she wanted to be here. A letter to Maddie:
Dear Madeleine,
Last week I told someone, "If Madeleine were not my baby, I would say she is a cranky baby. But since she is mine, she is just wonderful." I felt disloyal saying it, like I had betrayed the smiling little baby below. I am sorry. I know that teething, frequent ear infections, being carried around by older siblings and being the 4th child is hard. Thank you for signing up to come to our family anyway!

Yes, those things are hard, yes, you walked very early, and as a result you maybe get left to fend for yourself a little more than your siblings at your age did, but still, life is very joyful. You love to play peek-a-boo, and try to say it. You mainly just get the inflection right, but, oh you are so cute and proud of yourself! For months now, you have had a happy obsession with all things musical, but especially with the tone bells. Any chance you get to have them out of the case, you are playing away. Tonight, you would play a few seconds, then turn around excitedly to smile gleefully at me and dad. You also like to join in when I am doing vocal exercises, or singing. I'm glad you want to be an active part of our family.

Madeleine, your love of all things musical extends to dance. Really, how could it not when you see all the fun your siblings have putting on shows and dancing on the rug? Sometimes even dad and I dance. This was Thursday night just before dinner. I had the Cleanup Music on, and you were dancing solo on the rug. After a while, you walked up to dad and it was obvious that you wanted to dance with him. You love dad so much, especially in the evening when he has just come home, so this was a very happy time for you! My favorite, though, is when you dance alone. You lift both arms in front of you and slowly you bounce. It is hilarious.

You love to be outside, front yard or back. Somehow you daily survive the perils of our backyard just so you can be with the big kids, and get your daily dose of eating garden soil. Yum. You bring me oranges and tangerines you want peeled. I think that breast milk and bananas aside, tangerines off of Jim's tree are your main food source. You eat several each day, sometimes waiting for the seeds to be removed, but mostly not.
Lately at night you are not sleeping so well, but I really don't mind like I would've/did with your siblings. I am a little bit grateful for the closeness we get, lying side by side in my bed, hoping this counts as time spent one on one.
I marvel at your determination, and at how obvious it is to see the workings of your mind even when you can't verbally express them. You are so purposeful in what you do. I am delighted to be your mother, and I'm glad you like me and dad better than anyone else in the entire world. I feel the same way about you,

Love,
Mom