The Yoders Five: May 2008

Friday, May 30, 2008

I just can't keep up...

5/30/08

What, has it only been one day?
Mark is a rarity in his class at St. Francis. Half in the class are girls, and most everybody is single. There's only a few of them who have kids. So invariably, when they find out that I stay at home with Madelyn and don't "work" anymore, they say, "What does she DO all day?!" So for those of you who are wondering, here you go. (I'd like to see how they'd fare after just two days vs. little Miss.)

"Aren't I adorable? I'm going to be the best mama someday."

"Tomorrow, I'm going to wear these shoes to go crunching around outside in the gravel and pine straw."

Busted!! "I was ashamed that I unrolled yet another roll of toilet paper all over the kitchen that I hid from mama under my high chair."

"That didn't stop my curiosity--I had to see what would happen if I put some of said toilet paper into my cereal."

"In the end, I got what I wanted--a new spyglass (toilet paper tube) to look for treasure with."

What's happening in this picture? Is it:
a) No one told us there was to be swimming at the party
b) Nothing can deter Madelyn from playing in water, be it freezing or not
c) She does not like to be fettered down with clothing, shoes, or diapers anyway right now
d) All of the above

(thank-you, cousin Lily, for eventually lending your bathing suit)

Comments heard to be exclaimed by Madelyn at our favorite Chinese buffet, in the presence of one of the chefs:

"Look, Mama!! Red cockroaches!!" (crayfish)
"Look, Daddy!! Tiny octopus!! That's kinda gross."

"Look at me wearing daddy's jammies. I've got both legs into the same side, and upside-down. I wish I had full-length mirrors in my room."

"I like to seize every opportunity to pretend to be 'Rose' (Sleeping Beauty), especially if the bed has just barely been made and I get to throw off all the pillows and mess up the covers again."

"Things I may or may not have ground into the upholstery/carpet these past two days:"

1. chalk
2. Mama's blush (which she still can't find)
3. a can of Pringles
4. dry ramen noodles
5. chocolate milk powder
6. syrup
7. lotion

...And yet despite all that, I still love being her mom. Only I get the pleasure of having her crawl up into my lap to go to sleep or get a big hug, tons of kisses and "I love you mama."
I could sure use a nap, though. And a maid and perhaps a nanny.
'

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Happy Birthday, Dad!

5/29/08

Just a quick post to say **Happy Birthday** to my dad. He already had a big surprise party from the ward last night. He was released from being Bishop on Sunday after approximately 1200 years of service. No really, he has been either a counselor or bishop for about 14 years (correct me if I'm wrong) He's been sitting up on that stand ever since I can remember. He did a great job, obviously, but I'm glad he gets to have a break now.

As if he wasn't tired enough already, Madelyn and Nathan clamber for G-pa Rich to make them laugh.

I want to tell him thanks for being such a great dad and grandpa! We have always been close, and I know not every girl is lucky enough to experience that. I am excited for him and all my family to come out to see us in a month.

With baby Hattie, grand baby #3

Also, Happy 30th anniversary to my parents! That was on Tuesday. They've been married for as long as Mark has been alive. That is weird. (Actually, longer, because Mark doesn't turn 30 until August.) Gads, we're all getting old.

Happy 'versary to you!

Now I think we'll have somewhat of a break, because there are no June birthdays (in my immediate family, I should say). But then we'll have Kev and Lori's anniversary, our big family reunion, and Tyler and Monica's birthdays, all the first 8 days of July. I'll keep you posted, of course.

Monday, May 26, 2008

Another 3 days, another 56 pictures

5/26/08

So, you already know that the main purpose of my blog is to show you all my fabulous pictures. It's not like we have anything really newsworthy to share other than our cute daughter. So here's another shameless brag-fest for you to enjoy!

Madelyn unwittingly fell asleep after her bath posed like a Baroque statue. I love the drama!

Bernini's Ecstasy of St. Theresa (1652, Rome)

Ecstasy of St. Madelyn

Mark never gets me flowers unless I beg. So I came home and was rather confused until he said, "Oh, those were for the director of the FBI. They said everyone could take some home."

(Thank-you to my neighbor Jeannie, who brought them over for me from her office--she really does work for the FBI)

Madelyn's new tee-pee
(which apparently is a new source of electricity for our home)

...and her new crawl tube, which is very claustrophobic looking, but she loves it

Reading up on some pharmaceuticals in Mark's
Physicians' Desk Reference
(we are saving that book for kindling in case of emergencies someday)

My new haircut after I got 6 inches cut off on Saturday

Madelyn dancing with Zoë and Abby on Sesame Street
(luckily her tutu was close at hand)

The best daddy in the whole world!

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Happy Birthday Maria!

5/24/08

Just wanted to say Happy 20th birthday to my gorgeous, funny, talented sister Maria. I have always been a little jealous of how popular and beautiful she is, but everyone I talk to feels the same way. My mother-in-law can't hear her name mentioned without saying how stunning she is. She has a very lucky boyfriend, Shay (although he is in Florida for the whole summer working and we wish he'd hurry up and come home so they can get engaged...). I love you, Maria Tortilla!!!!!

At my brother Paul's wedding. And we didn't even plan to match. We just like the same colors.

At niece Hattie Murset's baby blessing lunch with (also gorgeous) sister-in-law Monica

Maria and Shay Nelson. Super cute!!!!

Happy Retirement, Aunt Susan!

5/24/08

Yesterday, my Aunt Susan retired after 18 years of teaching! Her daughter Tamra conspired with Uncle Steve and a family friend to throw her a huge surprise party. Me, my three Peterson cousins Amber, Jessica and Emily and my Grandma Nora convinced Susan to drive into Albuquerque for a girl's night out while the secret party preparations were being made. So, we all met at the mall and got fabulous pedicures, and then Susan took us to Chili's, where we sat and giggled and ate (all without the kids! It was great). Then we went our separate ways (rushed over to Susan's house before she got there) and surprised her along with the rest of our families and all of her old friends. We had a big turnout and an exciting party, despite the rain.

Tami's mother-in-law had flown out with her from Phoenix to help, but a half hour before the party started, she got a very important phone call saying that a donor pancreas and kidney had been found for her, and so Tami had to rush her back to the airport in Albuquerque to send her out to the Mayo clinic for surgery when Susan showed up. But it was just icing on the cake to have that miracle.

Wish you all could have been here!

Check out my Slide Show!

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Bon Appetit!

5/21/08

So, this morning I woke up and came into the living room to find Madelyn hanging out on the couch watching Sesame Street...and eating bread crumbs by the handful from a big canister. My guess is that she was looking for the chow mein noodles (she was snacking on them the night before), saw a similar looking container and decided to give it a try. They must have been pretty tasty, because she was scarfing them down like nobody's business. What a silly girl.

Monday, May 19, 2008

Check out my Slide Show!

Random Stuff

5/19/08

Hi Y'all.

Is it hot enough for you? We were having such nice weather-- last week we had a day or two in the 60's, and now it's in the 90's. Luckily, Albuquerque usually maxes out at around 95 during the summer (as opposed to 105-110 in St. George--or hotter), but that's little consolation, given our ancient swamp cooler. I'm hoping the humidity will stay down so the swamp cooler will be more effective this summer. Blah.

Anyways, I was just having some random thoughts.

#1 I just found out that I have two nieces--Heather and Amy Brown (sisters) both getting married the week of August 9th! How exciting and how overwhelming for their poor mother, Mark's sister Sheila. But she's quite the superwoman and I'm sure everything will be great.

#2 I just ordered something from my cousin Emily Nelson's new jewelry website. You should check it out! She has unique designs and is so talented. Go to http://www.adorn-jewelry.blogspot.com/

#3 Have you seen Prince Caspian yet?? New favorite movie!!! I already love the books (The Chronicles of Narnia), and they just made it look so convincing (thanks to the same design team who did The Lord of the Rings). Creative liberties aside, it was an excellent movie. I also realized how disappointing it is to pay $7 for movie popcorn when a box of 15 Pop Weaver microwave butter popcorn at Wal-Mart costs only $2.50 and tastes 100 times better. MMmmmm.

#4 I also have a new favorite snack. Kraft Bagel-fuls (little bagel bars filled with cream cheese). I can snarf down a box of them in no time at all. Go look in your frozen food section. I'm telling you--they are scrumptious. ( I am starting to make myself hungry)

#5 Thanks to my friend Liz and my hubby, I have been able to add The Beatle's Past Master's II and U2's The Joshua Tree (remastered!) back into my CD collection!! I think I need to get The White Album next. If you have it, feel free to burn me an illegal copy. In fact, if you have ANY good music, you can send it my way. Rock, country, classical, oldies, whatever. Pleeeaaasse?

#6 I just calculated that there are currently eight 1-year-olds, six 2-year-olds, and one 3-year- old in my nursery. (I am the nursery leader in our ward). If you are wondering why I haven't had any more kids yet, it is because I have been in nursery for the past 2 years. Give it a try for one Sunday and you will see what I mean.

Anyways, here's a slide show of pictures from this past week. I know, I know, I take a lot of pictures, but by daughter is such a beautiful little ham. (There again with the food talk!)

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Little Cutie

5/15/08

Today, we were looking at photos of Madelyn as a baby. I just have to share some of them. It makes me realize how much she's grown, although her personality has been pretty much the same. It also makes me realize how bald and fat she used to be! It made her look even more Chinese. These are pics from 0-12 months. I'll have to show you years 1-2 and then 2-3 sometime, too. (I have about ten kajillion pictures of this girl...)