Pissing off

Sorry for the title, I hope I have not offended anyone.  If I have.  You are likely not the first -- but I am sorry!  :)

Well -- once again Cash made us laugh so hard we cried.  The kids and I took the stroller out for the virgin run on Monday.  What a fantastic, beautiful, freezing cold day.  The sun was shining and it really seemed like a good idea.  The kids were having a blast -- they easily had an extra 10 pounds of clothes on, not to mention the huge blanket over them....Cash swore he was warm and Maci just smiled.  Lots of smiling, lots of idle chatter until the last mile (mind you, only 3 miles total....so fairly short lived).  Mo lost it.  And I mean LOST it.  Then Cash started crying and saying how cold he was and we had to hitch hike home (my friend Doug came and got us).  I quickly found out that my daughter and I have the same temper.  She would lay her head on my shoulder and just whimper, reminding me of how damaging the run was, then she would pick her head up, look me in the eye and start screaming crying!  "I'M STILL MAD!!".  I think I'd have much rather heard those words than the 30 minutes of screaming.  In the end though, it wasn't the run....I know this because the second I sat her down at the table to eat lunch she was happy and smiling again.  Moral of the story: plan runs around naps, snacks, meals, and potty breaks.  I've got it now and will never forget it!

Cash's recap of the stroller incident of 2012 to Brent:

Brent: "How was the run with mama today, Cash?"
Cash:  "Um, it was good."
Brent:  "Really?  You had fun?  Did Maci have fun?"
Cash:  "Um, I got really cold."
Brent:  **coaxing, dying to hear the real story**  "And how about Maci?"
Cash:  "Um.....she was pissing off."

And he was right, just a slight misuse of the word.  I'm not going to correct him on that one.  I'll just slap my own hand, wash my mouth out with soap, write 100 times "I won't use the words piss, pissed, or pissing again", and get ready for Maci -- if her 'similar to ma' personality is any indication of what I'm in for....I'm ready....I've been doing this for years!  ha!

Also -- we had a nice visit from G&G O this past week and I have lots of pics, so I'll make sure to get them up here as soon as I get my paper done for Nursing as a Profession.  As we all know, I am a professional b.s.-er, so I should be able to get to the photos pretty soon!

Did someone say RUN??

Well, we finally bit the bullet -- we bought a double jogging stroller.  I conned Brent into going on a 3 mile run with me while in Fargo and now he just can't get enough.  :)  It's running time for this family.  I'm hoping we can get the kids out tomorrow after work, but we'll see what happens -- it's still a little frosty out here, but Cash just about lost it when we told him there would be no running tonight.  The maiden voyage oughta be interesting -- Maci went with me in the single stroller when she was about 6 weeks and my little tunes couldn't get loud enough to drown out her crying.....so we went home after a mile.  I'll update on how the actual run goes.



Little grilly

Yes, the subject of this post really is little grilly, it's not a typo, it's what Cash calls Maci -- little grilly.

A Mo update:

Her top two teeth have poked through.  She is so much happier these days -- like a totally new girl laughing and talking. 

She is trying to walk -- she will walk with us helping her (mainly to chase Cash) and will walk along the couches and such, but has yet to be brave enough to go for it on her own.

She eats everything we eat.  And now she does this funny thing.....she'll toss a piece of food over her shoulder then eat the next one.....then another piece over the shoulder and the next one goes in.  Funny and cute now, but soon we'll be complaining about the mess she makes.  Oh well -- we'll get a small dog.

She turns 1 on the 1st of March -- can you believe it?!? 

We love her.

The end.

Better late than never

I'm supposed to be studying.  You can see how well that's going.

Cash - hockey.....Mo - driver's ed

Ready to roll

Don't worry.....I got this!

Eyes on the road!!!

Flyin' solo

For all you worriers -- Mo did not drive the car.....we were just warming up while Cash was recreating The Mighty Ducks.  That was one of my favorite movies as a kid.  If you haven't seen it....check it out.  I always wanted to be the tough girl in it.  Go figure.  Now I find out I'm the kid that can't stop (you gotta watch the sequel too). 

There really are 4 of us

I think this may be the only photo of all 4 of us in existence.  Thought I'd share. 

Hockey time

Here's a few pics of Cash at hockey this weekend.  What a crack up.  I think I laughed more yesterday than I have in a long time.  Picture about 30 kids crashing and burning every second.  There were some good falls and Cash swears that his butt is sore.  Going to have to feed him more -- get a little more padding!  Fun times.  A few airplane pics too.  I just downloaded 164 pictures from my camera.  I am definitely on top of my game!  More pics later -- this girl's gotta get some studying done!  Happy Sunday!

New floors for Mom.

Flying solo -- he said he didn't need the 'chair' anymore.

Man down!

I love this picture!

And this one too!  Tired travelers.

When do they bring cookies and pop??  Maci's 1st airplane ride.

I'm a Bobcat

No joke!  I have been accepted into the MSU nursing program so am now enrolled at Montana State.....but I'll still cheer for the Griz.  I started courses just last week (I was called Monday evening and started Wednesday morning!) and so far things are going pretty smooth.  Lots of reading and lots of last minute scramble to get my poop in a group, but all in all smooth.

I'm not going to go overboard recapping the past year that I haven't posted anything.  It will bore you to tears.  Highlights:  Cash turned 3, is so, so close to being potty trained, and he starts hockey next weekend.  Look out.  Maci is now 10 1/2 months, she has her 2 bottom teeth (and is working on a few more), is climbing stairs like an old pro, and has found her voice and laughter.  We're having tons of fun with this guys, although some days are a little more trying than others.  Babies.  Such is life.  It's about to get crazy around here with me being back in school (only working part time during nursing school), Cash starting hockey, Maci working on walking, and Brent trying to maintain his sanity.  And I swear.....again.....that I will try to get more photos up here!  :)  Enjoy!

He's not excited....not at all. 

Our little chickie.

Grandma O and Cash bustin' their humps.

Daddy's elk

Tough.

The girl thinks it's so funny to have a hat on.  Goofy girl.

Cash requested party hats for his birthday.  Maci wasn't too big on her party hat and had also lost her shirt in a bottle battle.

A few of the Kiddo's

Chillin' on the bed...

Maci waiting for the tub to fill,  "Hey! Let me in there!!!!"

Almost there....

Alright -- for those that are still looking at this blog periodically....we're almost there.  Only 4 quizzes, 3 exams, and 2 finals.  And then.  Pictures....sanity....sleep.....fun....sanity....did I say sanity?  I'm falling apart these days and am counting down the days to freedom.  Wish me luck and please check back in a few weeks because I promise to post some good stuff on here!  :)  We hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving!!

A few more....

Hold my hand, Landyn.

The cousins

Take 2.

And he's rounding the corner.......

Paid up

Muddin' Mamas pre mud.....gonna have to search for a post mud from Carly....

2 sweeties

It went down the hole -- cookie sharing with Grandpa Hobbs

Hey Red!

Her hair is looking super red in lots of these pics.....

Who's messin with who??

You talkin' to me?!?

See....she's sweet!

That belly looks plenty full.....

GREAT GRANDPA!!!  Love ya Gramps!

My little chore boy

Ummmm.....are you supposed to be coloring on that??

Light 'em up!

Happy Halloween!!

And now....I am officially paid up on photos -- hope you all enjoyed.  No more photo promises....it's study time!  Happy Halloween everyone!  Oh -- one photo promise -- trick or treating.  No time frame for promises though!  :)

And she's off....

Yep -- it happened.  Little Mo crawled!!!  2 forward.  She's been going up like she's going to bear crawl and then just plopping down.  She's gotten up on her knees, rocked back and forth, then sat on her butt.  Tonight, she got up....took 2 forward....and then I don't know what happened after that.  I wasn't there....neither was Brent.  She pulled this one off while at the neighbors.  Brent left for 2 minutes and was back to hear the news.  I was studying 15 miles away.  Little stinker.  She's been taunting us all weekend. 

Sorry for the huge break in posting.  This semester is taking it's toll.  Here's all I know:

Cash finished his last day of soccer this weekend and is now looking forward to starting hockey.  I think we get a little break for a month or so and then it's back at it.  Sure hope they don't turn these little guys loose with sticks and sharp skates. 

Halloween is coming up as you are all aware of -- I might have spaced it since I told Brent the other night not to worry, I'd pull some meat out of the freezer....heck I'd even make up some salve to go with it....and I forgot in less than 2 minutes.  They ate mac and cheese that night.  I drove around all day with my trunk open.  I stayed up past 1 in the morning posting to the blog.  I woke up in the middle of the night worried about my vena cava.  I've lost it.  Anyway, Cash was sure he was going to be Batman, but once we got to the store.....he was drawn to another superhero.  Ironman.  Once again....the costume is a bit snug around the waist/chest and a bit long in the arms/legs.  Oh well....it's one night and he LOVES it!  He ran around in it the other night and showed off his muscles by pushing Maci over.  Bully.  Maci had better get a costume with bigger muscles than Ironman.

My camera is in hiding

Sorry -- I promised pics and I don't have them. I left my camera with my running buddies this morning. A girl just can't think straight after running the Mad Mudder (I am positive it was more up than down....at least double.....) -- a 6K that included obstacles (running from not 1, but 2 sasquatch, military boot camp, hurdles, and more) along the way and then jumping into a huge mud pit. After all of that, it was hard to keep track of the darn camera. When I get the energy up to get out of my sweats and go to Carly's house to grab it, there will be more photos up. :) Until then -- here's one from a few weeks ago when Cash spent a few hours at Landyn's house.

P.S. The Mad Mudder was great fun -- we can't wait to do it again next year! My muddy clothes are still laying on the bathroom floor -- I guess I'd better go do something about that one. Unfortunately my mother isn't here to clean up after me.....wanna come over Mom?!?

And -- in closing.  Sasquatch. 

Update

As you can probably guess -- I have started school again. Yep, blog time has diminished. I am writing a brief update and will post pictures hopefully sometime Wednesday night (I have a test Wednesday morning, otherwise I'd do it earlier -- full focus on school these days). Maci is a little sweetie -- she loves to chit chat and let out little squeals of joy. Sweet. She's sitting up on her own these days, but still topples over every once in awhile. She is now wearing 12 month to 18 month clothing. The girlie weighs 18.5 pounds and is 26 inches long. Our little girl isn't so little anymore. Sad how fast this all goes. She's even eating a little bit of food these days. Mainly twinkies. :)

Cash has started soccer tots. Just when you think you have the best kid in the world, he proves you wrong by being the only one that doesn't listen at soccer. In fact, Coach Mo set up the cones to run around and then kick the ball at the end and Cash proceeded to kick them all over, while he was supposed to be standing on his circle and listening to instructions like the other kids were. He made me feel like the biggest idiot in America -- so I yelled at Brent. :) It wasn't terrible, but I feel like I spent most of the time shaking my head in frustration and trying to get Brent to corral the little turd while I held Maci. We'll try again next week. I sure hope things go better. I told Brent that he'd better get out there and do every activity....we paid 90 bucks for this!

Beyond that -- I can't think. I have a few more hours of study to go and everyone else is sound asleep. Lucky ducks. When this semester is over I'm taking a whole week off and doing nothing but sleep....and watch 7 Brides for 7 Brothers. A gift to myself that I have yet to watch (for the 800th time -- but this time on DVD).

Countdown

That's right -- it's countdown to no more poopy undies time! I'm pulling out all of the stops. This is a test of wills and I think that I may break soon if we can't pull this off. I would like to say that I'm the boss and that I'm going to win, but it seems my son may have my same attitude. Great. We're in for it.

You'll notice that there is one sticker and one apple on the chart (in the basket with the #1 on it). Yep. One potty down, 99 to go.

Sorry about the potty talk.....but this is what is taking over our lives these days. Sometimes I forget that I have a life outside of poop, Thomas the train and Buzz Lightyear undies, and stickers for the pooping board. My 20 year old self never saw this coming.