This week I realized...

This week I realized that now is the only time in my nearly 15 years of marriage, that I have not been earning any money. I have never brought in tons of money, but now that my FBI job is gone, I am making zero dollars.

I realized that although I am willing to watch my friends children when they go to the doctor/dentist/other kid class, I am not willing to do child care to any degree. On this same note, I do not miss having multiple little kids in my house. I am enjoying my kids growing up. Except Wave, she can stay little.

I have not had dinner with the whole family all together a single night this week. I hate it when this happens. Here is our schedule for the week:
Monday: Soccer at 6:00, Tuesday: wrestling 6:00 - 7:00 & scouts (court of honor) at 7:00
Wednesday: Temple night sealings at 6:00, Thursday: wrestling 6:00. school open house at 7:00; Friday Madsen has a scout camp out and Saturday I will go to the Women's broadcast dinner. Sounds fun doesn't it?

I really do enjoy institute. It is good for me to have forced scripture study.

I am very blessed. All my basic physical.temporal needs are met. I have an amazing family. I have a much longer list of things that I am grateful for than wants.

solicitations

I have a little favor. If you are on Facebook and saw my new status, you already know. If you are part of my Madsen family you already know. So that leaves maybe one person I am reaching!

Declan and Cannon will be doing a fun run fund raiser at their school on October 9. They are now collecting sponsors/pledges. That is what I am asking for! If anyone is willing to send them money there are two ways to do it. You can do a flat pledge or pledge per lap. The school asks that any pledge per lap be at least $1.00. They expect the kindergarten to do about 13 laps. They expect the 3rd grade to do about 11 (they are on different tracks, 3rd grade is a bigger track).

Money can be sent to me in cash or check made out to FWES PTA. I will send an address in an e-mail if anyone needs it in order to help!

I really hate traditional fund raisers where the kids sell over priced useless stuff. I never have my children participate. I like this one because the kids actually have to put forth some effort and all the money goes to the school instead of only a percentage.

I will still love you if you do not donate. I just thought this would be an easy way to get the info out there for anyone who is willing!

Feeling abandoned

Mom and Dad are finally gone. Not that I did not enjoy every minute of it or that I was tired of them and wanting to kick them out. I just know that Dad is so relieved to be cleared to go that I am glad that they are gone. Every time they leave I feel so alone and far away for a while. I love my parents. They are amazingly good people. Mom is sweet and compassionate and good. Dad is smart and concerned and goofy. I know they really love me and my little, ok, big family. What a blessing it is to have such great parents.

My friend and neighbor is moving. I have known this for a few months and really not thought that much about it. Today the movers are here packing up her house. They will be driving away Sunday morning. Now it is very real to me. Although there have been little things that made me crazy about Alexis, she has been such a great friend and I love her. It has been a great blessing to have a Mormon neighbor these last 3 years. She has truly touched my heart in many ways. I will miss her tremendously. I really did not think it would be so hard. I thought she would go and I would not think much about it. Now I find myself in tears.

I am just feeling a little abandoned.

Bum Biting Trolls

My mom told my sisters I would explain this and I thought lots (all 5 of you who read this) might get a little giggle out of it or at least have a glimpse into my mind and now know that I am crazy.

On our little vacation camp out in August we were on a little hike. On this hike there were a couple of bridges. I told Cannon he needed to hurry across the bridge just in case there was a troll living under it. He ran quite quickly. The next bridge came up and he was curious about the troll. I was behind him and told him there was a Bum Biting Troll under that bridge and then I pinched his rear several times. He squealed and giggled and ran! For the remainder of that hike the troll came out at every bridge and bit several different bums.

When we were frisbee golfing the other day there came a bridge and Cannon mentioned the Bum Biting Troll. He would then get right next to the bridge and say "this is bum biting troll territory, come and get me..." as soon as I stepped near him, he ran off giggling. Have I ever mentioned that he has the best giggle?

So now every bridge we cross he checks for bum biting trolls. If I remember before him, he gets bitten.

This may come back and bite me some day, for now it is a little fun with my boy.

Sorry there is not a picture, those bum biting trolls are tricky!

Declan's baptism

Declan was baptized on September 5. It was such a good day. He was very excited and had a great smile on his face all morning. This is such an important milestone in his little life. I am grateful for such a good boy who is learning the truth and gaining a testimony of the gospel. He is such a blessing to us. I am also grateful to have a husband who holds the priesthood so he can perform these ordinances for our children.

Here they are in the fancy white clothes prior to the baptism.

He was a little worried that the water in the font would be cold. He reported that it was nice and warm. So with the feeling of the Spirit and coming up out of the water all fresh and new, he said he had a nice, warm feeling.

We thought this would be an appropriate opportunity for a new family picture. I guess this is as good as it gets! Despite funny faces and sleeping baby, not a bad looking crowd!

It was a good day. My parents made it into town Friday night. Dad is battling a nasty MRSA infection in his hand, but is now on the mend. Our friend, Aurelie, joined us for the day. She is not a member of the Church, so I hope she felt the spirit with us and it may influence her for good. Matt's Dad, brother and the girls had a nightmare adventure with their plane flight so they missed the baptism. I felt bad about this. We held off confirming Declan until Sunday so Doug could be there to participate in that part of it.

Overall, it was a great weekend and event for Declan.

Cannon's first day of Kindergarten

Cannon started Kindergarten this year. Our schools do kindergarten all day every day, so he is gone as long as the brothers. It is a long day! He rides the bus with Declan to the big school now. He is excited to tell me about his homework but not so excited to do the homework! So far his favorite thing at school is rest time and lunch. I hope he learns a lot and makes a lot of friends. I hope his funny personality will still shine through, and not drive the teacher crazy! He can read really well, he was reading this as I typed.

The first day he was excited to get on the bus but when it pulled up he came and gave me a big hug and told me he missed me. Oh, I miss him too! I have had so much fun with him in these five years. He is my buddy.

It is so quiet at the house with just Waverly to entertain me!

Birthday fun for Declan

For Declan's birthday we went to a park in Raleigh that has an old carousel, train and little boats. It also had fun trails and a playground. It rained the entire time we were there. I was hoping the rain would stop, no such luck. The kids had fun any way.

He turned 8 and will be baptized this weekend. Here is his new Captain Moroni tie.

We opted for cupcakes instead of a cake.
Declan is a fun, smart boy. He adds a lot of spunk to our house. He is pretty small but he packs a punch! He likes to play soccer, he is usually one of the best on his team. This year he is trying wrestling for the first time. He is in the 3rd grade.
He will be baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on September 5. We are looking forward to this exciting event. How time flies!

He has started going to Cub Scouts now. He really enjoys it. Now I get to go to Pack Meetings and Pine Wood Derbies and all that fun again!

I love this boy!