MAYLIN2007

Tonight we went to the Thanksgiving Gardens for their weekly family night in the gardens. Tonight was their 3rd annual jell-o fight. We had never been before and didn't know what to expect. If was great fun! We plan to go next year, but will wear older clothes and bring towels. It was quite the messy event. Maylin didn't enjoy it much. She said it was mean to throw jell-o. After the jell-o fight they turned on the sprinklers so everyone could try to wash off the sticky mess. What a fun night! Going after dad. Payback "Hey Alex, I thought we called a truce!" Trying to clean off in the sprinklers.         Jay and Maylin hide from the boys as they try to get them with handfuls of jell-o! After the sprinkler bath.

I have officially turned 41. I keep saying I am 14 with a little dyslexia. I am the age today that my brother was when I got married. I use to think he was old and had lots of kids. Now, I am living his life, but it really isn't that old as I have come to find out. Sure, things are harder at 41, like keeping up with a 3 year old. It was much easier at 32. But over all, I feel good and young. I have had a good couple of days. Jay took me and Maylin to lunch at Johnny Carinos. We then took Maylin home to the kids and we went miniature golfing. It was so much fun. It was the first time we have done that kid free since we were dating. It really was a good time. It was nice to be outdoors and it was fun to be together. I bought myself a Baskin Rob*ns cake. It was delicious. Jay and the kids got me the bench for my waterfall/fire pit area. I love it! Also, the girls I teach at church came over while I was out on the patio talking to my mom and decorated my bedroom door. I decorate their ...

I have wanted to write this post for along time, but have been afraid too since I am fessing up on my bad parenting skills. But, for posterity here it goes. Maylin has never slept through the night without me being in bed with her or her being in bed with us. There I said it. Its out there. Phew. Feels good to get it off my chest. So this is the issue. When we got Maylin in China she immediately took to my hair. Hair? Yep hair. Obviously, this is a trait she had in China with her foster mom. Securities like that just don't form, she was definately a natural at rubbing my hair. Alex had the same issue, but we could subsitute my hair at night with a piece of silkie material. This has not worked with Maylin. This is an old picture. She has been off the bottle for over a year. I just need to get her off my hair. Here is the deal. When Maylin is tired, sick or feeling insecure, she rubs my hair. Sometimes she will rub her own if I am driving the car and she can't reach from her ...

We have a black silkie bantam chicken. It is only about 2 months old. Maylin has named this chicken Clown because of its feathers on its feet and the funny bobbles of feathers it gets on its head and bum. She loves this chicken. She usually calls the chicken "oh baby". She carries it everywhere. She swings with it, takes it down the slide, goes on walks in the stroller with it, and just carries it around for hours. This little chicken loves her too. She (the chicken) is so sweet and tender. I looked the chicken up on the Internet to find out about its personality. The Internet said it is sweet, docile and good with kids. SO TRUE! It also said it is originally from China and is called Wu gu ji there. The people make soup out of it because it is the only chicken whose meat and bones are the color of its feathers...black. Kinda gross to me, but whatever.   I personally think this friendship is sweet and goes back to their roots in China. Maylin said they match because they both ...

Two posts in one day, but how could I go without wishing my husband and all the fathers' in our lives a wonderful day. To my hubby, thanks for giving our children 100%. You do it so well. They love you and I love you, even though it doesn't seem so all of the time. We are glad you are the head of our family. To the fathers in our lives: that's dads, father-in-laws, grandpas too. We love you. Thanks for all you do. We live away from all of you, so we hope on this special day you feel our appreciation!

CLICK TO ENLARGE We are back. Got back yesterday. We had a blast, but I am sore, tired and have a cold. Austin is tired and covered in mosquito bites. BUT it was worth it. We stayed on a beautiful ranch. Boys slept under the stars, girls in tents and lucky for me, the women leaders had a nice cabin. The men leaders were under the stars too. We ate and played hard. The water fight...partially started by yours truly was the best. I was drenched from head to toe. I am happy to say I am the one who got Austin wet first. We went to the Manti Pageant, did a service project which involved cleaning a 5-mile trail in the mountains. This is why I am sore. They dropped us off at the top of the mountain, then we worked down hill. It was steep...so my calves are SO DANG sore. We also rented the city pool in the town we were in and swam for the evening. We played great games and had great food. It was cold Thursday night and rained Saturday, but Friday made up for it all. Perfect weather.   ...

I am going to Youth Conference with the youth in our church age 14 to 18. I will be gone for a few days. I did easy meals for the family left behind. I have been over it and over it with Jay and Kenzie. I hope they will be okay. I am worried about Maylin. I have been prepping her for my absence. She says she isn't sure if she will sleep while I am gone. Jay was going over it with her and kept saying how he would take care of her while I was gone. She said to him, "No. I don't like you." Jay said, "But I love you." She said, "No. I only like mom." Great. Looks like Jay will be having a fun couple of days. Austin is going with me. That will be fun to be together. It is raining again and I just hope it stops for the days we are gone. Camping just isn't fun in the rain. I am in charge of 2 meals for the group of 55. Taco bar and sandwiches. I think it will work out. Pictures and details when I get back. Here is something interesting: Today Maylin s...

If any of you have read the book "If you give a pig a pancake," you will know that one thing leads to another thing very easily. The last couple of days I feel like we have been living the real version of that story. If Maylin get scissors, you get this....   That leads to this. She says she looks like a boy.   If Maylin gets a pen, you get this. Of course, as you are getting ready to scold her she breaks into song, "I am a child of God. He sent me here." What do you do with that?     One last thing...no picture, thank heavens But, if you pee like a boy when you are a girl.... Guess what you get? A BIG MESS! If you give mommy all this in a day or two, then you get a really big sigh from mommy. Then you get from Maylin, "I am wearing you out." Yes, you are.

A rain/hail storm just hit. Lasted about 30 minutes. We had about 4 to 5 inches of water in our window wells. Our lawn had a huge bubble in it that Kenzie jumped on causing the lawn by the driveway to lift up and water to shoot out of the lawn down the driveway. We just took a drive around the block. There is so much garbage in the road (newspapers, phonebooks, barks, gravel, wood) and this park was underwater. We have had rain every day for the last two weeks. The forecast shows another week. Crazy.