The funny and sweet

Addy Scott keeps us on our toes. If only I could leap into that head of hers for a few minutes to go to the same glorious, wonderful places her imagination takes her. I often find her talking to herself and creating a storyline with her as the lead character, of course. As a result, she often disappears at times as she escapes into her imaginary world. Well, one day she had been quiet a little too long, so I sought her out and found her in my makeup. She had created this masterpiece:

oh how I giggled and she smiled so proudly while I took this picture, but then she wanted to see her "work" for her self. When she saw this picture, she burst into tears from embarrassment. It made me so sad the pride had melted away into sadness. Darn! I wish they could live forever without knowing what embarrassment was. There was no convincing her that she was "cute"...poor baby!

Below is a picture of one of those "tender moments" I blogged about earlier. I love to witness all the sisterly differences put aside for security and love. What a blessing that they find comfort in each other's presence.

Catching y'all up

Yep, I've really been slacking on this thing...I'll try my best to catch you up. On October 31st we welcomed a new member into our family, James Tommey. He married our sister, Kristin in Boston, MA. Mary Ella and Addy joined us on the trip and were actually flower girls. Molly (the two y/0) stayed home with grandparents. Below are a few of the pictures from the wedding

the happy couple

all the pretty ladies

Mary Ella and Addy Scott all dolled up

the flight up...notice the scab under Addy's nose...she put a hole through her lip that week :)

We are so excited that James and Kristin have now relocated to Texas were they will pursue careers in the Austin, Tx area. We are so thrilled to have them closer to us and were so blessed to be part of their beautiful wedding!

Burlison Family Christmas

The day after Christmas we went to visit our family in Shreveport, Louisiana for some Christmas fun. We also got to meet the newest member of our Burlison clan, Annasyn.

Our family



Hanging out with Nana and Pop






Daughter-in-laws with sweet mother-in-law

Loving on Annasyn

Meeting newest Burlison girl, affectionately called baby Annasyn

My nephew's little creature friends. I think God was wise to give us girls :)

The girls admiring the lizards....from a distance, of course.

The girls with their cousins

All the cousins minus baby Annasyn

A few days after Christmas I went back to Shreveport with the girls because Scott's oldest brother, Kevin, and his family came through. So we took advantage of the rare moment to have all the grandkids together...TWELVE in all!

Christmas 2009

Christmas was such a special time for our family. We celebrated the joy of our Savior's birth and watched our three little girls ooze giggles and happiness. It was wonderful. Below are just a few of the pictures:

Mary Ella couldn't just leave cookies and milk...she had a list of questions she wanted answered.
Unbelievably, we had to go wake ALL the girls up. Scott and I enjoyed some quiet time before with Christmas music and coffee....heaven!

Mary Ella and Addy both wanted scooters from Santa. Mary Ella requested a pink, Hello Kitty scooter and Addy wanted a blue one, of course. Molly got her Bitty Baby and stroller. Once Addy realized her baby sister was pretty interested in her Christmas presents, she quietly removed them from the room and took them upstairs to her bedroom. She didn't even stay up there to play, she just put them away and came downstairs....such a silly girl.

However, Molly was more interested in taking one piece of chocolate at a time to the table and consuming as many as she possibly could before I would notice enough to say, "no more." That girl loves her some chocolate...guess she comes by that honestly!

They finally settled in to unwrap the presents under the tree. Molly was still a little apprehensive about having to stop eating the chocolate at this point. I guess she might be wondering how the coming activity could be more important than eating chocolate??? :)

The "family gift"

We enjoyed a visit from our neighbors and family Jan and Kelly. The kids LUUUV "Aunt Jan".

Mary Ella and Scott trying the Wii out. Scott's shoulder was hurting by that night. He was reliving his glory days as a baseball player. Addy is actually a better bowler than any of us! We've had so much fun!

Random stuff before Christmas

The girls truly had a blast through the month of December. Mary Ella and Addy totally "get it" when it comes to all the Christmas traditions and Molly fed off their excitement. We spent much of our time doing Christmas parties, Christmas light gazing, and just enjoying the season. Oh how excited they were when they got their first wiffs of pumpkin bread and when they see the first houses with Christmas lights at night...too fun!

Mary Ella has been doing cheerleading classes at Dance N Drill. She enjoys coming home to show me her "stunts" and often has to be reminded that those "stunts" really need to be done at the studio, but I often find myself spotting and praying for her not to fall. It is also worth noting that Mary Ella is still enjoying school. Life has gotten pretty interesting since she has become proficient at reading and writing. I found this little "festive" reminder on our bathroom door one afternoon. The girl cracks me up!

Well, at least I know she's mindful of washing her hands after using the restroom...haha!

Tender moments

So I posted that last entry and went upstairs to do the last "tuck in" of the night. I went to Mary Ella's room and pulled the blankets up, then went on to Addy Scott's room. I reached for the blankets and realized Addy was not there. I looked on the floor thinking she must have rolled out of bed and still, no Addy. So the heart started racing and I turned on the hall light to look in Mary Ella's room and there she was sleeping up against her sister. Sweet little moments like that help me cope with those "other" moments. Thank God for that little blessing tonight.

Expanded Vocabulary

I must say, when Mary Ella started kindergarten I was not prepared. She came home saying things that would make me cringe. They weren't horrible things like foul language...just things you know likely came from a child with an older sibling and yes, I'm well aware our two younger ones will probably be "those" kids as well. Anyways, most of those things were easily extinguished using the "inappropriate" lecture and so on. Well, in first grade we continue to learn to read, write, math and other "fun" (enter sarcasm here) sayings/words that must be extinguished. So on to the story....it was a beautiful afternoon and the kids were all outside playing. My mother was outside with them. I had asked Mary Ella to come inside and the conversation went something like this:

Me: Mary Ella, it is time to come inside and clean up for dinner

Mary Ella: Noooooooo

Me: Mary Ella, it is time. Now come on and let's go clean up.

Mary Ella: Noooooooo

Me: Now Mary Ella, you've got two choices...come inside and get ready for dinner or stay out here and get in trouble

Mary Ella: No mom, YOU'VE got two choices. You let me stay out here OR I can give you a wedgie and I KNOOOOOW what a wedgie is.

Me: (Insert a grandmother in tears laughing so hard she can hardly stand it...thanks mom, glad it is humorous) Mary Ella! (trying extremely hard not to laugh at the fact that my mother just witnessed this showdown) Get inside now.

Fortunately, Mary Ella came to her senses and got inside. Good grief! Do they really have to know what a wedgie is at six years-old. Geez! I guess there are worse things.....

She's TWO

On October 19th, we celebrated Molly Kate's 2nd Birthday. It is interesting to say that we now have a 6, 3 and a 2 y/o. I think despite heading full-steam into toddlerhood, she will always be "the baby." Here are a few of her favorite things...

1. Her pink blanky- the smell of it is forever etched in my sensory memory. No matter how many washings, it still smells yummy like Molly Kate

2. FOOD- she came into this world hungry and does. not. stop. Lack of food becomes a national emergency at our house

3. Hide and seek with her daddy and sisters

4. Being held my me. Yep, she's a momma's girl

5. Dancing- the girl has the best rhythm out of all of us!

6. Play-doh- what kid doesn't like play-doh??

7. Swinging

8. Her baby- how we have raised three momma hens, I do not know. But ALL THREE love their babies!

9. Barney and Yo Gabba Gabba

10. Last, but not least...when daddy comes home. She joins in the chorus of squeals when he gets home.

What I love about her is that she is in no rush to wiggle out of my arms. In fact, she would probably prefer to stay there most of the time. I love to kiss her dimpled cheeks and to see those beautiful brown eyes cut over to the side in delight. Not too often does a week go by without someone making mention of her happiness and good disposition. She is such a blessing and is emerging into a precious (gulp!) little girl, but as I said, she will always be our baby. In fact, I am typing this right after sending her off to Shreveport for a couple of days while we attend my sister's, Kristin's, wedding in Boston. There is already a void because she is gone. Molly, you hold such a special place in my heart and in our family. Happy Birthday sweet girl!

Good reports

Mom went to the MD Anderson today and met with her oncologist. Fortunately, the cancer is still the same type from 8 years ago and hasn't morphed into anything bigger and badder. This basically means that the drug she was on to block estrogen production quit working and the tumors grew. They are very, very tiny and hopefully will be responsive to a new medication that binds to the tumor itself to block the estrogen and this, in turn, will hopefully keep it from growing and may actually kill the existing cancers cells there. All indications are that this is a very slow-growing and not very aggressive form of disease.

Thank you for all your well wishes, support and prayers. Our family has felt every bit of it! Please continue to pray for her and MANY others like her who are fighting this horrible disease. God bless!

Pink

As you probably know, this is breast cancer awareness month. This time of year has always been personal as my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer 8 1/2 years ago. It was caught early and we thought that was the end of it as long as she stayed on her medication. Well, we were wrong. She recently discovered the cancer had come back and metastasized to her bone and liver. She will now be followed and treated through MD Anderson in Houston, Texas by a fabulous doctor. Our family appreciates all the thoughts and prayers already said on behalf of our wonderful mom, Cynthia Maedgen. We just ask that you keep her as well as countless others battling this disease in your constant prayers. I will keep everyone informed as I get information. Thank you so much my sweet family and friends in Christ.

more....

First day of preschool for Addy and Molly Kate....sooo excited

Enjoying the new swing set and the last warm days of September...notice the sprinkler (just can't beat sprinkler fun!)

Not giving up!

Ok, so I've gotten really bad at this blogging thing, so instead of getting caught up with words I will leave you with a few pictures to mark the beginning of school and gymnastics:)

First day of 1st grade:










Addy practicing gymnastics...she's best at the monkey bars, of course!

Molly and Addy at meet the teacher



We are settled into our new school year and the kids are doing very well! More to come....

Changes

One week ago today, we learned that some friends of ours from residency had lost their 2 year-old twin boys in an accident. At the very moment we received this news I knew the Kirbys and all those who love the Kirbys would never be the same. The suffering and heartache has been unimaginable, the love profound and the faith, well, nothing short of a miracle. We were unable to go to the memorial service honoring the two boys, but from what I heard it was beautiful and the parents displayed such Grace that can only be attributed to Divine intervention. In the wake of such tragedy, Scott and I have sat and re-evaluated our priorities as parents. Yes, I've said that I cherish the moments and there are seasons in my life that I am better at it than others. But in re-evaluating I have realized this...there are many times the dirty dishes in the sink have been more important than playing tea party, taking a shower meant that I had said, "no" to playing dollhouse, and making sure the kids were in bed by 8pm meant that I could punch the time clock on my day. Oh how selfish I've been at times rather than seizing an opportunity to cuddle with my children or experience them. It was easier to do with one, a little harder with two, and when the third came along I think much of our day was taken up with "my agenda". In some twisted way I reasoned that I held it all together for them, but in reality I was holding it together for me. So sad and I'm sure I'm not the only one. God meant for us to experience our children much in the way he experiences us...His own children. I'm sure he has wanted to shake me at times when I've missed some teachable moment because of my own ignorance and agenda. So in this last week, I've let each of my children stay in my lap as long as they want, savored the goodnight kisses after they have fallen asleep, and tried to follow their lead instead of creating the path for them. In the past I've said it was all about them, but it hasn't been the truth and the scary thing is that I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT! I pray that I never forget this feeling or take a loved one's life for granted again. Life as usual is not going to be usual anymore.....

Colorado bound

As I mentioned in our previous post, we made the trip to Vallecito Lake, CO which sits northeast of Durango. After much consultation with friends who have gone before, we decided to take a leap of faith and just GO. The odds were stacked against us as quite often our two younger children struggled with two hour trips, how on Earth could they make it 12 hours one day and 6 the next. Here was our strategy:



1. I packed as light as we possibly could because a) we would have access to a washer/drier b) I absolutely CAN NOT stand a cluttered car. If momma struggles, we ALL struggle.


2. Upon recommendation from my friend, no hero, Courtney, I made "goodie bags" for good behavior along the way. One might have a piece of candy, another stickers, or a new movie.


3. McDonalds, McDonalds, McDonalds (thank you to my friends Jeanine and Jaime for giving me "the ok" and helping me rid the guilt). You get sick of it, but the kids don't and if it is dangled in front of them, they will ride happily for miles.


4. Break it up, stay in a hotel room and the kids will think it is a resort...seriously, they LOVED it. Just pack an overnight bag with all your valuables, toiletries, and family's clothes so you won't have to unload too much when checking in.


5. If you have a little trouble winding down from a day like that as Scott and I do, take a little adult "juice" to take the edge off for a peaceful night sleep...NOTICE- I said "a little"


6. Just about anything goes unless it is dangerous or can make a mess that can not be cleaned up. For example, putting stickers all over the windows or tearing a paper into tiny pieces are all things that can be cleaned, however, markers or meltable candies that can be used as "lotion" are NOT good.


7. If they watch 10 hours of movies, they watch 10 hours of movies. Are they quiet and content? Then don't worry about it.


8. Take several trash bags and clean out trash at every stop. I guess this only applies if you are OCD like me, but I was amazed at how much trash would pile up between stops.


9. Fill a back of individually wrapped snacks...lots of them and don't be the "food police". Trust me, it is not a battle worth fighting on a long road trip.


10. Last, but not least keep your sense of humor :)


Oh, and one last thing that really only applies to those of us with girls. Keep your girls in dresses, easy pull-over dresses. It makes bathroom stops and diaper changes MUCH easier! The kids were a little more restless on the way back than on the way up, but all in all it was great.





Here are some pictures:

Molly covering herself with circle stickers

Peaceful ridin'


Woo hoo!


The Big Texas...I do NOT recommend!


Cuddled on the front porch swing

Enjoying breakfast with Daddy boo


One of the few times Eleanor sat down

Fishing in a dress

Boat ride

Horse ride

Fishing in the mud. Unbelievably the mud came out of their clothes

Roasting marshmallows