We're Movin' On U-Up!

Starting this month Bare Foot moved Jenna up to the mini-squirts gymnastics class. So far as I can tell it's very similar to the mom and tot classes we were taking, just minus the mom. {boo who who} She's doing great and is still very much enjoying it! The coach says she's still  little wiggly and distracts easily, but considering she's a minimum of 4 month younger than every one else, that is to be expected. 

The Madsen Family Day O' Fun

When we in Kaysville visiting my mom this weekend, Jenna spotted a couple of buses driving through town and ever since then has been asking to go on a bus ride. Once Casey got home we planned a little outing where we rode the bus downtown, rode the carousel, and then took the bus home. Jenna was in heaven. She had the best time, mostly because she was free as a bird. No seatbelt, no car seat...pure heaven. P.S. Can someone explain to me how this is okay/legal?!

 The carousel doesn't open until 11 so we stopped and got ice cream at Thomas Judd's Store Co. It was our first time going to this little gem and I'm so very glad we did! What a nostalgic, darling, shop full of old school candy and soda I've never even heard of. So fun! 

 Then we headed across the street to the carousel only to find out it was broken, apparently has been for weeks and they can't figure out how to fix it. Nice. Our tax dollars not hard at work...now to explain to our two year old that she doesn't get to ride the horsies like we've been telling her she was going to. We told her they were broken, they were sick. She understood that after having just been sick this week. 

 She asked to take a picture with the sick horses. There were lots of good-byes, waves, kisses, and telling Daddy to fix them, just so sure that he could. I love the faith she has in him. 

After nap time, we went to the Washington County Fair. We had so much fun. I think was my very first fair as well, at least I don't remember ever going to a fair before. I think it was much more fun because Jenna was so fun, then it would have been without her. She loved petting the animals...

...except the baby chicks. I find it so interesting that she is much more scared of the small animals then she is of the big ones. No fear of the cows or horses, but a baby chick?! 

Jenna was convinced that she wanted to go down the giant slide. As she has never been a fan of slides, but I kept flashing to the water slide at Crowton's pool and Skyler Langeveld telling me not to Jenna what she can and can't do, from the mouth of babes. So we let her try it, and as was far too predictable, she froze once at the top and would not come down until I went up to the top and lowered her as far down as I could and then let her go...and not once, but twice. So we quickly moved on from the slide. 

Com'on Mom, hurry up. 

 On to the carnival rides! She loved them all. Every one. For being such a cautious girl, she's got the inner daredevil that I love! It was also good to see, because we have a trip to Disneyland planned for the first part of September and it's good to know she's going to be good on the rides. Her never ending legs don't hurt in these circumstances!

She got to ride the horses after all! 

 

Let me take a moment on this picture, Jenna has this great grin she does when she's feeling shy or like too much attention is being directed towards her. It's this half smile usually from her looking up through her eyelashes. It's a very difficult expression to catch. We've considered hiring a nature photographer from National Geographic to try and capture it. This is as close as we've come to capturing it. It's one of our favorite looks! I was thrilled that we got this: 

We headed over to roller coaster. Jenna was cuddling with Casey in the line and the ride attendant didn't want to let her on because she was a "baby" so he made her make sure she was over the height limit, which she of course cleared by like an inch and a half. He was still a little concerned, so the woman behind us had her little girl ride with her (not sure how thrilled the girl was about that). We were a little worried, but one look at her face during the first alleviated all of our fears. She was loving it! Pure cheesy grins all the way. It was fantastic. Love that kid.  

We hit the ferris wheel last on our way out. Jenna was super excited and had a very hard time sitting still which made for a rocky ride and nausea on Mom's part. But Jenna was having the time of her life. Hard to resist that enthusiasm!  

What a great day! We so rarely do this kind of thing when we are home, and it was a great day just enjoying the things in our own back yard. 

Salt Lake Visit

One of the members of the Sinful Six, Chris Hatch, and his family were in Ogden from Texas and asked us to come up so we could all get together. Before we left, I put together a little backpack for Jenna that is for use on the airplane only. It has a dry erase board, a coloring book and crayons, 2 sets of Disney flashcards; colors and numbers,  shoelaces and Cherrios to make necklaces, and 3 books. It was a huge hit and she didn't even use the iPad either direction. Ms. Independent is adamant that she carry her own backpack and suitcase. Which beside being the cutest thing ever, is actually incredibly helpful! There are silver linings to her getting so old! 

We had a great time at dinner with the Sinful Six. 5 of the 6 members and their wives (and a few of the kids) were able to make it. And it was so much fun! The kids all got along great as the boys. They have such a funny banter and way of giving each other a hard time. It was funny watching how they almost went around the table and took turns teasing each member in turn. I really have the best time when I am with them. Their intelligent sense of humors make for endless laughter! 

Sinful Six Generation 2

SS: Joe Dallimore, Jason Langeveld, Mike Crowton, Casey, and Chris Hatch

 That night we went down and spent the night at Grandma Lor's and then spent the day Sunday with her. On our way to Grandma's I was able to catch Jenna's maniacal version of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star...enjoy! 

She and Jenna are so cute together. Casey left for Baltimore for the week on Sunday afternoon and Jenna and I headed up to my mom's for a couple of days. 

I figured might as well hang with my Motherhead for a couple days then sit around the house missing Casey. Unfortunately, Jenna got really is Monday morning and spent the morning vomiting. It has to be one of the worst feelings not to be able to help your kid with they are in pain. I think is the third time Jenna has ever been sick and she just doesn't understand what's happening. She kept crying that she wanted to take the "wairpwane" to Jenna's house. I would have considered it if I hadn't been so worried about her throwing up all over the plane. Gratefully it didn't last long and after she took a long nap that afternoon, she woke up feeling and acting much better. So we finished out the trip helping my Mom with some of her house projects; painting, glazing, and installing baseboards, hanging curtains, arranging furniture, cleaning, listing, and selling her old dining room table, and getting her a little more settled. I know the transition from San Diego isn't going to be easy for her, especially adjusting to being single again. But all I want is for her to be happy and anything I can do to get her there quicker I'll do. I was a good trip overall and it I am reminded once again how grateful I am for Casey's flight benefits that allow us these opportunity. 

Sick girl just waking up. 

On our way home.

She loved the Cherrios necklace making. We had to work hard on not eating them immediately after stringing them though. 

Twinkle Twinkle on a Sugar High

2012-08-04 - Twinkle Twinkle from Katie Madsen on Vimeo.

July Photo-A-Day

I'm tired...it's late...and this is as good as you're going to get...

Heading home! Excited to sleep in my own bed!

Raw cookie dough...hoping this helps my back feel better... #inpain

A sure sign that a great Fourth of July was had...  

Ladder, laundry, dirt...this house is a disaster area!!!

Just some of the chairs scattered around the house waiting to be reupholstered. #sobehind

Attended the backyard wedding of my best friend from high school, Kristie Smedsrud Dock. It was beautiful, serene, and perfect in every way.

We'll call this linner. Wish they had Baja Fresh in St. George.

This poor little guy's gonna get a complex pretty soon. 

I love the sage/sea grass green. You'll find it throughout our home; lamps, table legs, wall paint, mirrors, etc. I'm definitely drawn to cool colors and don't really have any warm colors around.

This letter is so entwined with my life; my maiden name, Malan. My married name, Madsen. My husband, Maclyn Casey. My sister, Megan. My two beautiful nieces, Megan and Maile, who I miss terribly. My ex-fiancé, Matt. My brother in law, also a Matt... I'm surrounded.

Texture in food is a deal breaker for me. Pears, kiwi, fish (though the foul smell/taste plays a roll here as well), and many more are simply unacceptable because of their texture. 

I opened and unpacked six more boxes today! The pantry and kitchen are starting to feel slightly organized! #finally

Oh no....that tower is about to come down! #playingwithgrandma

Jenna found our yoyo in one the boxes I was unpacking. All attempts to yoyo were giant failures!

A stack of empty boxes. Being able to see the floor in the garage. Being able to walk into the craft room. 3 signs that I am making progress, baby!!!

My current addiction is digital scrapbooking. I'm on a roll, baby!

Feeling like I have a lot on my plate today. I painted 91 cans today (my goal was to get 90 cans...thanks to my peeps for all your help). I'm in the process of printing the 100+ name tags. Excited for our family reunion but also excited to be done with these projects. #malansrock #killed1000braincells

Jenna got lots of love from my mom's yorkie, Lizzy aka Lizard. #gladtobeoutofthecar 

Name the eyes...

Going through the bag of my childhood memorabilia my mom gave me this weekend. 

Other than the one "Subway" magnet, Jenna did an excellent job organizing the magnets.  

I'm obsessed with mirrors. I love the shapes and ornateness or simplicity. From L to R; bought a set of 2 of these at the DI for $15, found on the side of the road=free!, bought at a garage sale for $10, bought at a consignment shop for $12... So at least my collection doesn't cost an arm and a leg! 

Drove my car today for the first time in 18 days. She felt like a stranger and I can't get my seat just right yet. Ugh!

14 years ago I gave him my whole heart. Grateful every day I married you, Casey! 

Usually plenty of that around here... 

On our way to the park. What this doesn't capture is Jenna trying to get out of holding my hand as we crossed the street by holding her own hand. It's been one of those non-listening kind of days. 

Can't seem to get enough of these lately. 

It's been another pretty chill day filled with Disney Junior on the iPad for Jenna and Olympic games for me. 

I realize this is an old pic but the sentiment is the same; Jenna LOVES toothbrushes. She is rather non-discriminatory when it comes to a toothbrush, she loves them all equally. And though this pic is over a year old, not much has changed. She still has a toothbrush with her at least half the day. I don't even know how many we've gone through from her taking them, losing them, dropping them in mud, or whatever else befalls them. She's so funny with her love of hygiene.