Two little pups

Telling a girl she smells like fish has taken on a whole new meaning

It's been a rough week around the Davis household.  (I say Davis because as a Demco I would have never been this bad!)

Maddie went to her four year checkup on Tuesday which was fantastic.  She is a very nervous, shy little girl but she did everything the doctor asked her to do.  And then we got shots.  They were horrible.  Both for her and myself.  She cried and looked at me with eyes that screamed betrayal.  I felt horrible.  However, I know these only protect her from much worse things than the pinch of a shot so onward we march.

SO...

Maddie came into my room and smelled distinctly of fish.  She was covered in fish food flakes.  I followed the trail and came upon a disaster in her room.  Fish flakes everyone, along with water.  Fish food stinks and gets gummy when wet.  This was after I discovered her blinds cut, her comforter cut, and her hair (again) cut.  I know, the scissors are now WELL hidden.

Unfortunately, as of yesterday, when I truly was on the brink of losing my mind, I had not yet hidden the lime juice, elmer's glue, and dog food.  I don't even want to recap the horror.  The PTSD flashbacks are already threatening a very strong comeback.  Let's just say I was ready to pack my (or her) bags yesterday.  Today is a new day...let's hope.

cut window blinds

Cutting shapes out of your blankets...hey, no different than paper right?

So the only thing Kip and I can think of to do at this point (all toys, books, train table, have been taken out of her room) is to get some leaches to suck the evil back out of her.  Can you believe these bruises from the shots??

MADDIE! FIGURE IT OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love,

your very exhausted mama.

Hoppy Easter

Ever heard the phrase "it takes a village"?  yeah, thank god these girls have a village.  We started off our morning with a very surreptitious Easter bunny visit.  So much for the whole leave no trace theory... Rudder took care of the "mess."

Maddie, naked as usual.  At least it was warm out right? Oh wait- coldest and wettest spring since the 1600s.

Allie has this figured out- let Maddie run outside in the cold and deliver the goods. Hand to mouth...

After we ate our heart healthy jelly bean breakfast we decided to go to spinning.  Kip loves going to the gym with me.  I think it's the glue of our relationship. 

After one hour of working out we headed to Nonna's and within 5 minutes ate our way through said workout.  She is such a fancy present wrapper.  (there's that village again...my stuff may or may not come "wrapped" and my wrapping is usually throwing it into a recycled gift bag)

Anxiously awaiting hunt number 2

No village to help with finding a jacket for Allie this time around. 

Round 3 of food.  Nonna made brioche french toast which was A-MAZING.

And then back home again for hunt number 3.  watch those shoelaces Allie.  I'm a bit busy at the moment.

Allie requested egg salad for lunch.  She didn't realize you have to peel the eggs before you smoosh them.

And because apparently the third time is no longer the charm we headed north for out 4th hunt of the day  Here's Allie and Auntie Lowdie scouting out eggs.

Champion egg hunter...I think she was throwing out some elbows at the starting line.

And the easter bunny made an appearance.  he is terrifying.

I actually heard the seams in Kip's shirt stretch with her death grip.

And what fun is a nice happy holiday without torturing your children?

Maddie shocked me and didn't freak out. 

'

A little nervous nail-biting but no tears

Happy Easter 2011

Loving the Sun

Has this been a long winter or what?  65 degrees outside and you actually start to consider the shorts and flip flops. 
Tulip fields in Skagit

Maddie and Luc...toddler and puppy running around means someone (toddler) is likely going to cry. 

Pretending to be shy for the camera

Four years old

Four years ago I had a  tiny little baby girl in my arms that I was so excited to watch grow up.  I had no clue what I was doing.  I felt overwhelmed, incompetent and petrified.  Maddie, you've taught me to how to take things one step at a time, trust myself, and to stop worrying as much about the petty things and enjoy life to the fullest.  I learned all of these things by watching you little girl. 

You have blossomed into a person who is generous, kind and best of all HAPPY.  I love watching you with your little sister.  Just tonight you wanted to tuck her in and sing her to sleep.  It was a very tender moment and you were so proud to help me out.  Allie looks up to you.  She emulates you.  And I am happy she does.  You're a very good role model.  

At the age of four we have finally begun sleep training you.  It's been rough but you'll thank me one day.  Your college roommate will thank me one day. After only one week you're actually staying in your bed until 6:00.  Thank god, I was beginning to feel like I had a newborn again. Up, down, up, down all night long. Unfortunately the process still takes a few hours.  We picked 8:00 as your bedtime.  By the time water requests, bathroom breaks, noise observations and any other plethora of reasons for you to get out of bed are over, it's typically after 9:30.  Naps are still a work in progress.  One day you'll wonder why you didn't believe me when I said, "One day you'll wish someone would tell you to take a nap."  By the time you understand what I am trying to tell you here it will be too late. SORRY CHARLIE.  But really, one day you'll wish someone would tell you to take a nap.  They really are rather nice.   Your nap times lately have consisted of some very naughty activities.  You may be destined for a profession in hair cutting.  Or maybe not.  You suck.  You might be able to get a job at Great Clips at the rate you're going.  STOP CUTTING YOUR HAIR.  For a girl who does not want me to cut her hair because you like it long you're not making life any easier when you hack off chunks of your bangs and your braids.  STOP CUTTING YOUR HAIR!

Tuesdays you go to preschool.  You love it.  And I think you're actually picking up some actual Spanish.  When we were in Mexico you tried to tell me something in espanol.  I had no clue what you were saying.  (toddler gibberish?) But someone who overheard you said, "correcto!"  I think you were trying to tell me how to say "up" and "down" the stairs.  I was SO proud.  You are one smart little cookie. 

I love you to the moon and back Maddie.  Can't wait to begin our 5th trip around the sun together.

Paradox

This girl is a mystery to me.  She is so rigid and inflexible when it comes to so many things in life. (strangers, caves, shadows, powered toothbrushes)

Yet she's perfectly content touching slugs, snails, worms, crabs and any and everything else that makes me want to run and scream.  What's the deal Maddie?  You are so brave yet such a cowardly lion.

Here's to spring breakin' it toddler style.

Almost 4!

Can you even believe it?  Almost four years old...

We had Maddie's birthday party today.  I couldn't wait until Thursday to give her our gift.  A new bike!  I don't know why I thought she was going to hop right on and ride around like a pro.  We are still working on the concept of a C-I-R-C-L-E with her feet.  For now we go half-way forward, half-way back.  Not quite working.

While we were standing up here waiting for Kip to bring up the bike Maddie said to me, "Mama, is dad bringing me an old bike?"  Apparently someone spilled the beans.  (we bought her bike from a shop in Columbia City called Bike Works that takes donated bikes, guts them and then sells them and/or re-donates them back into the community)

She still seemed happy though.

I've managed to corner myself into a yearly tradition of making s'mores cupcakes.  They're delicious but time consuming.

Cousin pic

Allie got a present from Pofo.  (he didn't want her to feel left out)

So excited and shy that the candles are for her this time.

But totally unable to blow out the candle.  After last year's hair catching on fire we don't let her near an open flame too often.

Even Carson looks a little worried by this performance.