10 Things I Thought about at 5:15am.

Maddie has been gracing us with her morning talk at about 5:30 every morning for the past week. As I laid in bed and listened to her through the monitor I thought of only things people think about so early in the morning.

1. Why do we use a monitor?
2. Room darkening blinds and drapes are a sham.
3. I know that Byron is awake because he's not doing his sleep breathing.
4. Maybe if I lay here and do sleep breathing he will get up and check on Maddie.
5. I need to practice my sleep breathing because Byron just informed me "Your daughter's awake.". Duh.
6. I am not getting out of this bed until 6 o'clock. No matter what.
7. I need to pee.
8. Okay, I'm getting up to pee but then getting right back in bed.
9. Well, I'm already up out of bed. Isn't getting up once a day punishment enough?
10. I'm going to get Maddie up for the day.

Grace's First Love

Grace's first love has been with her since day one and it is her blanket. She affectionately refers to it as her "night-night". Night-night was made by my mom and Grace has been sleeping with it since she was born and dragging it around since she could crawl. She loves that thing. I decided on Monday it needed a good washing. It was dingy and stinking and I knew it could use some nice soak time in the washer followed by a strong spin and some nice drying time outside to whisk away the dingies. We made a big production of putting the night-night in the washing machine along with the soap and turning the washer on. As soon as I shut the lid, scream queen freak out! That child cried, and cried, and CRIED!! I tried her back up night-night (which Kendall calls her day-day). I tried cuddling, coaxing, keeping her busy, being tough, but that kid still would not give it up. She cried for an hour before I decided to just finish washing the stupid thing and then I handed it over to her half soaking wet. She was in heaven with her damp, but clean, night-night. I hope someone knows how to turn a blanket into a back pack because there is no way she will be able to go a whole day in Kindergarten without it.

I'm breaking down mom barriers.

Before I even start this post I want to acknowledge that Byron did not want me to post this story; probably for fear it would make me sound like I had lost it a little. He said if I must post it then at least remind people that we are in the country and there is no one to see our comings and goings while we are outside. So you have been informed and now on with the story.

I am always looking for ways to cut corners without cutting quality. Isn't everyone? Last night I was TIRED and the day wasn't near over. Byron was still at work and the rest of us we're having dinner on the deck. I fixed mashed potatoes which Maddie not only ate but also decided to use as a body scrub and hair conditioner. She was covered and Grace wasn't far behind her. As I sat and looked at my mashed potato glazed babies I remembered something Kendall had said just a few hours before. She had been complaining she didn't want to play in the baby pool I had set up on the deck because the water was as warm as bath water. Hmmm...I looked over at the baby pool. I looked back at mashed potato Maddie. Pool..Maddie..Pool..Maddie. Well it didn't take a genius to know the easy way out of this situation. I went back into the house and brought out towels and baby soap. I striped down those kids right there in front of God and anyone else who was looking on and plopped them right down into that baby pool. There were little soapy bottoms everywhere and they had a great time doing it. I bathed them, wrapped them up and sat them in patio chairs while I cleaned the table by spraying it with the hose. I think I just might put two big tubs out there for laundry and dishes and we may never enter the house again. Think of all the time I'll save on cleaning the house if we only sleep in it.

Happy 4th!

I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend. The Hall gals were excited because we got to have daddy to ourselves for two whole days! The actual 4th here in Iowa was a little cold and rainy. Okay a lot cold and rainy and it put a damper on some of our plans. However Sunday was a much better day and we got to swim, eat outside on our deck, and just do the summer thing. Daddy practically smoked up the whole neighborhood with some new hickory chips he bought for the grill but they sure made the burgers taste good. I think the girl's favorite part was when Byron spent after dinner on Saturday lighting up "snakes" (you know, the old fashion fireworks that turn into an ash tube that looks like a snake). Every time he lit one Grace would scream "Snake, snake!!" We never could decide if she thought it was a real snake.

Crack head

I have to share this really quick. We are at the breakfast table and the kids are doing funny things aka being themselves. I say "You girls crack me up." to which Kendall replies, "That's because I'm a crackhead!"