Boise Blast!

A couple of months ago my brother called me and asked a big favor. Would I mind coming to his house and watching his girls while he and his wife went on a trip to Israel? Of course he gave me time to think about my decision...and of course I said yes. I actually have a fatal flaw, an inability to say no to much of anything. So I said yes... As I was preparing for this adventure I was a bit apprehensive, well more than a bit I was extremely nervous. Five children...one adult...I knew I would be a bit out numbered.

But alas we've now been here a week with one week to go. And while I miss my hubby, like crazy, I'm glad I said yes. We are having a great time and Tommy is loving his cousins, a bit too much sometimes (they are starting to act like siblings). But all in all it has been successful.

I have learned one thing though with five women in the house it is kind of like an extended session of beauty parlor. I've had to watch You Tube to learn how to do hair, it has been way fun. I find that I love it when a six year old thinks her hair is, "way, way, way cute!" I get self esteem when my twelve year old neice comes home from school and said, "Even the adults commented on my hair today and how cool it was!" I have also learned that I am more adept at creating mohawks than pig tails but I need the practice, eventually Maddie will need a stylist, but for now she is a member of the bald club.

Well it has been a lot of fun and unfortunately for my neices I've had to corrupt them with my obsession with American Idol...I love it, I admit it...too much. It was cute though my twelve year old neice said last night as we were engulfed with AI, "Hey that lady sounds like Dori." I thought it was great that I could say, "That is Dori!" They were all so excited. Then my six year old neice said, "Steph you can sing really good probably because you watch this show all the time." Well...hmmmm...I'm not totally sure American Idol has helped me that much with my singing but I love it, I love it, I love it.

Anyway, for now, all is well in Boise...I did have my brother write down the address to the emergency room just in case though...We are all Wilding's here (even the McGee's have a bit in them) you never know what could happen!

Self Portraits

Being a photographer I have loved as my little guy has been experimenting with a camera for the past year. I have watched as he has taken some pretty remarkable, funny pictures. It is interesting to see the world from a three year old's perspective. Well he has hit a new milestone...he has found the art of self portraiture and wow is he good...

I have about two dozen of these...thank goodness they're digital!

Tommy's First Dentist Appointment

Whoa I can't even believe how fast Tommy is growing up, it makes my heart ache, it is too fast. Slow down little dude! Well another stepping stone of aging...his first dentist appointment on Wednesday, February 17th. He was a brave, stellar stud and survived. He was all smiles throughout the whole appointment and especially when he got a new tooth brush and a prize! But alas, I asked him after how he liked the dentist, he didn't like it, at all. Well at least he can wear a smile all through his trials and luckily no cavities.

Madison's Blessing Day-February 14, 2010

I can't believe that it has already been two months since we had our little Madison. Already I am forgetting what life was like without her. We were able to have her blessed on February 14th. Thanks so much to all of our family and friends for supporting us on this special day. A special thanks to Brayten, I love you babe! Thanks for holding the priesthood, honoring it, and giving Maddie such an amazing blessing.

Lady Gaga???

So you may ask..."Hmmm, why does Steph have Poker Face on her family blog playlist?" Well for an explanation, Poker Face happens to be Tommy's favorite song. He breaks into a frenzied excitement the moment it begins. So everytime I open our blog I get to do a Poker Face dance with Tom, it's so funny. He comes running from where ever he is in the house yelling, "Poker Face, it's Poker Face mom!!!"

I know, I know, what kind of a parent am I?

Our Little Girl

Our little Madison is growing so fast, too fast. Although, to be honest, I can't wait until she starts sleeping through the night consistently. She actually has slept through the night once but then she made up for it the next night by waking up twice. Which really you're probably thinking, two times, that's not a big deal. Well unfortunately Madison struggles with the whole burping thing. So I feed her for about twenty minutes, then I burp her for about thirty minutes, and finally I put her back in her bed where she usually squirms around a bit more because alas I didn't burp her long enough. Usually each feeding session takes me about an hour. So two feedings...that's two hours much missed in the night.

She is a sweet heart though...The best thing is watching Tommy interact with her. A day doesn't go by without Tommy saying, "Mom, I love her so, so, so, so much!" Or, "Mom, I love her tons and tons!" It is very cute. However, yesterday Tommy said, "Mom, when is she going to start playing toys with me?" I think the little man is in dire need of a playmate who is not his mother.

Much to say the least being a mom is awesome, exhausting, frustrating, and on occassion miserable, but awesome. I cherish the good times and attempt to be patient through the rough times. Well I better wrap this up, Tommy is poking my shoulder and asking me to "play blocks" with him. Good times.

Whining...

I frequently find myself frustrated by the continual monotony of life as a mom. I seem to get up each day and as fast as I can I am preparing breakfast, washing dishes, picking up toys, straightening the house, cleaning, laundry, cooking lunch, washing dishes, picking up more toys, more laundry, more cleaning, making dinner, washing dishes, and then the evening routine begins for putting the kidos to bed. I then breathe for a moment, get ready for bed, and collapse into a deep slumber until one or both of my kids wakes me up in the middle of the night.

Tommy frequently says to me, "You're doing dishes again?" like he is totally dismayed at my fate. Dishes, dishes, dishes...

I sometimes find that I enjoy whining about my frustrations rather than counting all of my blessings. Of late I have found a new way of thinking that makes me smile as I am washing another dish, preparing another meal, attempting to tackle the endless supply of laundry, or even dealing with a mischevious three year old while holding a crying infant. Hey at least I have food to prepare, I have dishes to wash, my kids have toys to play with (and they play with them all over the whole entire house), I have clothes that keep me warm but unfortunately get dirty too quickly, I have a sweet family that fills my life with more joy than I had thought was possible. Life is good and I am incredibly blessed.