Delusions of Grandeur

Has this happened to you lately? In one of your most idealistic day dreams you plan what seems to be the perfect day for YOU and your family and in the midst of the misery and disappointment you realize...wait a minute...whose day is this?...why am I so disappointed, annoyed, cranky, exhausted and on the verge of tears? Oh ya, that would be because I have forced my hubby and four small children into something that I should have done by myself or with just my hubby. Instead of a nice peaceful day enjoying the different sites (shopping, coffee shops, restaurants etc) in PT, we FROZE, park hopping in PT, to keep the kids happy, in what Brant says is typical PT weather. It was like 38 degrees, wet and blowing furiously...why oh why did we park hop??? My toes are still numb, my wrists and joints hurt from that freezing stiffness that comes with hanging out on the westside of WA state, and I feel terrible for dragging my kids to places they had NO interest in...except for the ice cream parlor...YES I did say ice cream. Fortunately the ice cream saved the day and we all ended up in our final transport home happy...happy to be in the warm car, and SO HAPPY to have had delicious Elevated Ice Cream. BTW, my perfectly perfect husband never complained once, and had an amazingly super cheerful attitude as we drug the kids and puppy all over PT...I love that man!

Latest Madson Kidisms

A few days ago I ran down stairs after what seemed like some serious screaming had erupted. Here is a glimpse into my conversation with Tage, Simon and Violet...FYI Tage and Simon had new swords and guns...

Mom: Whoa, what is all the screaming about!
Violet: They won't let me play war with them!
Boys: She can't play war with us, she does not have any weapons!
Mom to boys: Why don't you include her in a way that you are protecting her from the bad guys...
Violet (with every once of seriousness in her body): NO, NO, NO I don't need weapons I know KUNG FU!!!!
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Today Violet and Tage were riding with my parents in their new truck to McDonalds. Tage looked over at Violet and said:

Tage: Guess What!
Violet: What.
Tage: Mom and Dad are going to sell Ben to Aunt Siggie and Uncle Rick, and then they are going to buy Helen (cousin)!
Violet: YEAH!!!

Happy Birthday Brant!

Happy birthday to my amazing, hard working, extraordinarily funny, and easy going husband..and I must not forget "incredible dad"! Today he turned 37 and for his birthday he wanted to go to the beach...despite the fact that it is December and the high here in Sequim today was 40 degrees! But the sun was shining, melting the reaming snow, so we bundled the kids up and headed out for a trip to the beach. It was beautiful, as the beaches here usually are, but after about 20 minutes of playing the wind had blown through us all and we were ready to head over to the little store for some coffee and hot chocolate. This evening my mom made a wonderful dinner and a homemade German chocolate cake for the birthday man. The kids sang and helped him blow out the "fire" on top of the cake. I'd say he had a delightful birthday! Here's to another blessed year!

Ahhh...15 yrs we've been in love!
Once again, no Ben! He's to busy killing something with a stick!

Kids sliding down a sand dune, we love the beach despite the freezing cold wind!

Happy 37th!

Here is Ben in full motion! I caught him in a photograph, unbelievable! I know you all needed proof he does exist!

Merry Christmas!

FYI..Ben was at Christmas, just not photographed much. Hard to catch over stimulated, extra tired, hopped up on sugar 2yr old boy on camera!

I love stockings! They are one of my favorite parts of Christmas!
Violet with her stocking and her new backpack baby carrier! Her babies name is "Chelsey"...go figure (Chelsey is her new cousins name)...You can see the back side if Ben if you look closely!

Simon, in his new jammies, he looks SO BIG!

Classic...isn't it!

The Completed Tree

We hung the kids new ornaments right before bed Christmas Eve. Here it is completed and looking mighty beautiful!

Christmas Eve Dinner

Place settings...Guess What! These plates are plastic that are supposed to look like china! We had 20 for dinner so I decided to find something nice and disposable...they were so nice we washed them in the dish washer and used them through out the entire holidays!

Christmas Ham!

Happy little girls!

All the kiddos...count them all...don't forget Tage he is hiding behind Vi.

Nolan brought his guitar and gave Tage and Simon a little lesson. Nolan wanted me to name this picture the 3 little guitar heroes, except our little rascal Ben leaped into the picture to make 4. I guess I could have retaken the picture but within seconds of this shot there was just a pile of boys tied together in some sort of crazy, tangled up wrestling match

Sledding and Warm Leavenworth Treats!

After attending the Nativity we headed into downtown Leavenworth (a true winter wonderland) for sledding and treats at Pavz

Brant in from sledding, getting all the kids and their hot chocolate ordered and organized. I love my hubby! He is so much fun!

Grandma, Grandpa and Violet

Miss, Vi, so happy to be inside and warm! She is more into hot chocolate and warming by the fire than sledding. She is in her happy place here!

Here is Ben after about 45 min of non-stop sledding, in single digit temps! He is quietly waiting for his hot chocolate!

Michelle, Jen and Mia at Pavz enjoying wonderful coffee and a nice warm atmosphere!

Scott, Jen, Nolan and Nadia Welch at Pavz...Nolan pulled 5 kiddo's in a sled about 5 blocks to the sledding hill, then proceeded to sled like a mad man for over an hour in freezing temps..the kid is amazing!

Kendra, so happy to be there~!

Tage, after a rather speedy trip down the hill.

Living Nativity - Unto Us A Boy Is Born, King of All Creation!

One of our favorite Advent events is to attend the Living Nativity in Leavenworth, Wa. It was outside, freezing cold, and beautifully done. We took family and friends and had a wonderful evening! After watching the Nativity we headed into downtown Leavenworth for some serious sledding and warm treats at the wonderful PAVZ crepe restaurant. They gave us the entire back room, which was perfect for our crowd of 20! Especially since everyone was dressed in their snow/sledding gear!

Church Dinner and Music Performances

Sunday morning we were greeted with about a foot of snow and single digit highs! It was cold and wintery, perfect weather for our annual church Christmas dinner! Dinner was homemade pasta with outstanding sauces (I love sauce!), lots of homemade Christmas cookies, arts and crafts, a beautiful music program, an all carol sing along and last but not least a fun filled evening of Scottish dancing! Our kids ate, sang, colored, sang some more and danced their little hearts out!

"Little Prep" choir singing "Personet Hodie" and "Bring a Torch Jeanette Isabella"
"Wee Prep" Choir singing "Away in a Manager" and "Unto Us A Boy is Born"

The church dinner ended with a BIG dance! Here is Tage dancing with his little sis...I love it! Besides dad, he is the only man in her life!

Simon making a bridge!

Tage and his partner working around the circle

River Academy Christmas Program

YES...I am several days behind on Advent postings...Be prepared it is possible I may never catch up! With 4 kids, grandparents and cousins we have been going non-stop and probably will keep this pace up through the New Year! I had 5 minutes and wanted to share a couple of pictures I stole off Joy's blog of the kids school Christmas program. It was darling, and all the kids did a wonderful job singing loud for all to hear!

Here are the 1st graders, they sang "Silent Night" and "Come On Ring Those Bells"

Here are the kindergartners and kinder-preppers, they sang "O Come All Ye Faithful" and recited John 3:16

Paper Chains

We used a couple of our Land of Nod Christmas catalogs and made these fabulous paper chains to decorate the play room!

We ended up with quite a competition on who could make the longest chain, the fastest...Tage won, but it was defiantly in his favor since Simon was his right hand man and was cheering him on and such. I decided to jump in and help Vi and in the end it didn't matter because I combined them both and made one long chain...It sort of rained on Tage's victory, but I don't want him getting to excited at the idea of beating his little sister.

Vi's New Do

It was time for something easier to brush, we had to many tears!
We're much happier now~!

17th Day of Advent - The Tree is Looking Quite Nice

LUKE 2:8-10 8

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.

Things are starting to shape up quite nicely here! The tree is becoming full with ornaments, we have hung the stockings and done some other fun decorating. Brant and I are talking about wrapping some presents and we are planning out our baking schedule. A friend of mine had a great Christmas decorating idea I thought I'd pass on... She and her kids made paper chains out of fun old magazines. If you have any old Pottery Barn Kids, or Land of Nod magazines laying around grab your kids and some glue and make some paper chain decorations for their room! We are planning to do this as our Advent activity for tomorrow after school. Paper chains and hot chocolate! What more could you ask for!

16th Day of Advent

LUKE 2:1–7
1And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. 4Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

15th Day of Advent

15th Day of Advent LUKE 1:57-80—The Benedictus—Zechariah’s Song

Sunday, like the rest of the weekend was full of lots of fun Christmas fellowship. First of course we started with church followed by lunch with my sister and the Welch family and then headed off to an Ugly Christmas Sweater party Sunday evening. It was a packed day, but in the end we were home early, started a little propane fire, sat next to our beautiful tree and talked!

Beautiful little girls!

Seriously, the ugliest sweater!

Baby Chelsey did not wear an ugly sweater.

12,13,14th Days Of Advent

As I'm sure you have noticed I have gotten a little behind in our Advent postings. We haven't stopped celebrating, we just continue to pick up speed thus running out of time to write on my blog. This weekend was eventful from the moment Brant got off the plane on Friday evening to about an hour ago when we came home from a Christmas Party with friends...Packed, Packed, Packed full of celebration, delicious food, gift giving and fellowship. It was an adults weekend so the kids had all sorts of fun with their favorite babysitters in addition to our first snow and LOTS of sledding. Pictures to follow tomorrow, I'm off to bed!

14th Day
Luke 1:39-42
39Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, 40and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!"

13th Day
LUKE 1:34-35
34Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" 35And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God."

12th Day
LUKE 1:32-33
32He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."

As I sit here

and type this post I am watching the first snow of the season touch the ground. As I sit here, Tage and Simon are at school, Ben is snug and warm sleeping in my bed and Violet is wrapped in lots of blankets watching a Christmas movie. As I sit here writing this post I thank God that the week has come to an end and we are alive, and for the most part cheerful, waiting Brant's arrival this evening. As I sit here I fully admit that I am not one without my amazing husband and this home is not complete without his presence. I have had a sanctifying week and I am sitting here watching the snow fall thanking God for giving me the most perfect husband!

2 Little Ladies With Old Names

Helen and Violet (cousins) having a little snuggle time~!

10 Pieces!

Here is a list of all the songs and pieces that need to be memorized and perfected starting next Thursday!

O Come All Ye Faithful
Verse: John 3:16
Silent Night
Come On Ring Those Bells
Away In A Manger
Unto Us A Boy Is Born
Bring a Torch
Personent Hodie
O Come O Come Emmanuel
Away In A Manager (piano)

I realized a couple nights ago when I was running through all these with the kids that this is just the beginning! They are still little and if we keep up the music lessons and choir, like we hope to, this list may just get longer and more time consuming. I must add here that I am NOT complaining, I love that we have been spending so much time together working out these various pieces. I have learned them all and actually am quite enjoying singing them off and on throughout my day! More Merry Christmas all around! Have a great day! Oh and if anyone is interested in coming to one of our various programs, let me know!

11th Day of Advent

LUKE 1:26-31 26

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" 29But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.

Alrighty, everyone! I have to tell you all that we are loving these Advent meditations! I know that I look forward to the time everyday and I am really thinking that the kids are enjoying it as well. Ben is mostly enjoying the chocolate, ornaments and time with family but hey he is a 2yr old boy who has a very hard time sitting still. Tage, Simon and Violet are getting into the readings and discussion BUT also really love the chocolate and goodies that follow. Tell me how you all are doing. Leave me a comment and share any fun tradition you may have started, or funny story etc...I may post some of your answers...if I get any comments at all...we'll see.!

10th Day of Advent

MATTHEW 1:22-25
22So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23"Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." 24Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.

Feeling Like A Good Sleep!

I have 4 sleeping kids and I am almost off to bed myself! We had a very fulfilling day that involved NO furniture moving! It did however involve completion of our Christmas cards, choir for Tage, Simon, Vi and I, AND a big fat surprise for dad when he gets home! I still have unreasonable amounts of laundry to complete and bathrooms to clean, but there's always tomorrow! Time for bed!

Things I Don't Advise While Dad Is Gone

Don't move all the furniture in your house
Don't let the kids stay up past their bed times
Don't stay up past YOUR bedtime
Don't give the kids coffee because they stayed up past their bedtime :)
Don't try and decorate your house for Christmas
Don't put the most beautiful ornament you own on the tree, even if it is up high. Your 2yr old WILL still be able to break it in ways you never imagined possible!

We are only 2 days into our 6 days without dad and despite the list above I woke up cheerful and ready to start my new day! Most of my tiredness is all self-imposed, so I think today I will stick to laundry and other daily activities. No more furniture moving! Have a great day!

9th Day of Advent

MATTHEW 1:18-21
18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins."

What Does The Word Advent Mean?

The word “advent” means “to come” and has to do with the coming of Jesus.

8th Day of Advent - The Progressive Tree

MATTHEW 1

1The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, … (this chapter is to long to copy to the blog, so look it up!)

We have decided to turn the tree decorating into an Advent calendar in its-self. Last night Brant and I placed, trimmed and lit the tree so that it was grand and beautiful for the kids when they woke up on the 2nd Sunday of Advent! Then after church today we pulled out the kid’s ornaments ONLY, and the star and started decorating the tree. From here on out after our Advent reading we will give each of the kids an ornament to put on the tree completing it on the 24th of December with each of the kids new ornaments. I want to add here that we have been keeping an ornament journal (we adopted this idea from our friends Russ and Lisa) for each of the kids giving a little insight to why we picked the ornament, what the reaction was when they opened it etc. It was REALLY fun to read them to the kids today, we all chuckled a lot. We are really excited about this whole progressive tree decorating thing and have seriously been discussing this for about a year. Happy Advent!

Miss. Vi holding her ornament bag
Tage with one of his favorite ornaments

Simon with his bag...and wet shirt...oh well

Kiddos going through their treasures

End to a very fun afternoon!