There's 6 of them!

I was already taking a picture of Halle & Kierste in their new dresses after church, and all the other kiddos came over. We got one snapshot, and it's my favorite picture in a long time. Jeff and I look at our kids sometimes and shake our heads in awe... there are 6 of them. When did THAT happen? We would never go back and have it any other way.

I was so proud of Carlie playing her last soccer game in the SNOW, bare knees and all. What a trooper!

You can't tell me 5 year old soccer isn't one of the cutest things in the world, with the coaches acting as referees and walking in between the players. The tumbles they take are still so adorable because they're just barely past toddlerhood, and hurray for herdball! I love it. Kevin Stoker is a great coach, and we love him.

You know, Jeff took this picture, and I see that "The Beast" is framed nicely in the background. I have to wonder if it's a subconscious thing, because I know he loves his truck... He may very well just orient himself toward it without even thinking. I don't often see The Black Pearl in the background of the kids' pictures, although I know my vehicle is at the scene of the crime.

Evidence as to why we don't have portraits of the babies yet. If one doesn't have a shiner, the other one has two... it is so sad. They are especially clumsy at "grumpy time:" 8-9pm right before bed, and I cringe every time they fall. Sure enough, another postponement of portraits.

Well? Yesterday, we noticed that neither of them were marred! So my MIL & I made a date for Tuesday, rain or shine to get them taken. (See first picture of post for Kierste's unmarked face this afternoon.) And what did I behold before I put Kierste in bed? Another clunker right on the noggin. Time to break out the concealer - yes, I said concealer - I'm tired of 4 portraits on the wall and 2 blank spots.

Parenting tips

OK, Here are some parenting tips I can take from the things I say all the time to my children:

"When something happens that you don't like, you don't scream & yell about it."

"No matter what anyone else does, you do the right thing."

"Even if you're grumpy, you don't be rude."

"No matter what, we don't hit in our home."

"You don't need to freak out about little things."

And here are the kids' portraits.
As soon as H & K don't have at least 2 bruises each on their little foreheads, we will take them in for theirs. They get really clumsy close to bed time, and we conscientiously watch for a streak of days with no bruises... I'm about to call Kiddie Kandids and ask if they airbrush, etc. because I can't wait any longer!

Madsenisms

Wasn't today's conference great? Sorry - I just figured out that link thing, and you'll have to bear it because it's my blog.

I think Elder Worthlin, Uchdorf & Bednar's talks were written just for me... bawling, & stuff. I got to watch it with my brother Allen while the little ones played downstairs. Thanks for the company, Al!

We also have some Madsenisms I want to record - you know, for posterity's sake - that make me smile about our family.

Every night for scripture time, we used to say, "Criss-Cross Apple Sauce" to have everyone hold still and listen. Now we all meet on the floor of Miranda's & Carlie's room and call out, "Belly sauce!" and all the kids have their copy of the Book of Mormon open and they're laying on their bellies. Tonight Derek came and laid between Jeff & me before scriptures, looking at the ceiling, and called out, "Back sauce!"

It's a Madsen thing, but the conductor at Family Home Evening is called the "duck" and everyone wants to be the Duck... it is a great honor =) We also have a "Report or Talent" portion, where the kids can share upcoming or past news, or perform something they've learned: a cartwheel, piano song, a somersault. Lots of applause inevitably follows. =)

Every dinner discussion at our table starts with asking the kids what their favorite part of today was. It reminds us of the cool things that happened, reveals what's most important and fun to each one, and opens the gates for news from school and maybe things they didn't like, either. I like it. Lately, Derek has started telling me in the middle of the day, "my favorite part of today is Chuck-E-Cheese's!" I smile and ask him if he wants us to eat there for his birthday dinner, and he'll remind me that it's his favorite future part of today. Yesterday, he elaborated and told me that we need to make a cake at home, and bring it with us for after the pizza. This is going to be a long ride to Nov. 26th!

When Morgan is disappointed about something, he says, "Boom." Still don't know where it came from, but he's passed it on to Derek, too.

Can we have Doritos?

Not until lunch time.

Oh boom.

Is Talon coming to play today?

Not today.

Booms.

For at least a year now, little 3 year old Derek has answered with a "nay" instead of "no."

Do you want to come with me to pick up Miranda?

Nay.

Are you going to jump on the tramp or no?

Nay.

And that's it! Have a great Conference weekend! Tomorrow I'll root around for some more pictures to share...

Did I sleep last night? Nay. I stayed up until an unearthly hour talking to my brother, so I have to get my sorry self in bed.

Booms.

Happy Ghouling

Have to blog the little ghouls. =)



And little brothers come to watch the elementary costume parade:





The twins are so busy and so preoccupied with their own little world, THESE ARE THE VERY BEST PICTURES WE COULD GET OF THEM:





Oh my gosh.