The Woes of Raising a Mini-Me

Each year in church, the kids get up during our family worship time and share with the congregation all of the things they have learned during the year.  They sing songs together and each have a part that they get to recite.  I love this because it reinforces all of the things they have learned while giving them an esteem-building opportunity to stand before a large group of people and speak.  (Speaking and singing in front of crowds has never been too scary for me because I was given these opportunities as a youth in front of a loving and accepting group of church friends, and I thanked God daily for that gift as I breezed through my public speaking class in college!)
So, I guess you can get from my rambling that I am totally hyped for Maddi to participate in her very first primary program this year.  We got her part last Sunday, so today I sat down to go over it with her.  It was.... well, here's how it went...

Me: "Maddi, I am SO excited you get to go to the microphone in sacrament meeting and say your part just like big brother this year! Would you like me to help you learn it?"
Maddi: "Yes Mommy! Please help me learn it!"
Me: "Okay.  I'll say the words, and  you say them after me.  Jesus taught me"
Maddi: "Jesus taught me"
Me: "about forgiveness"
Maddi: "about forgiveness"
Me: "by loving those that hurt him"
Maddi: "by loving those that hurt him AND teaching me to keep my body clean and healthy because he made my body and he loves me and Jesus was a baby like I was a baby and he was born like I was borned and...."
Me: "Maddi, that was AWESOME, BUT you only need to say your special part, not teach a whole lesson."
Maddi: all smiles and completely oblivious "Oh! Ok Mommy!"
Me: "Let's try again... Jesus taught me"
Maddi: "about forgiveness"
Me: "Yes, but no, from the beginning sweet girl.  Jesus taught me"
Maddi: "about forgiveness"
Me: "Madison, say the words I'm saying.. JESUS "
Maddi: very slowly to mimic me "taught me"
Me: "Madison"
Maddi: "Mommy"
Me: {deep, deep breath}"Seriously, let's start again.  Say the words after me...  Jesus taught me"
Maddi: brightly in a sing-song voice"about forgiveness!"
Me: flabbergasted "oh. my. goodness.  I don't know how to explain this in a different way, so let's just give Mommy a minute to think and we'll try again later"
Maddi: "Ok Mommy! Thanks for helping me Mommy that was so fun!"

Fun?  Sometimes I feel so inadequate raising another little version of me, but most of the time I'm just helplessly in love with her.

Train Station

We went to the train station again today to take pictures of our friend. Maddi was a little jealous that she didn't get the full attention of my camera.

Despite her pouting, I managed to get a few good shots of the kiddos.

 

 

Spring Valley Beach

We have been looking forward to this trip ALL SUMMER! It was so fun this year; the kids are older so they could do more, and we got to spend the day with people we love. It was a perfectly, perfect day.

Lake Lanier: Sunset Cove

We had a nice little weekend trip to Atlanta. We spent time with family, enjoyed life-stories from Grandpa and pizza by the pool, and took a stroll around Sunset Cove. We also had the pleasure of having the Grandparents stay with us last week, and I feel so blessed to have them as family. They have taught me so much about love, acceptance, adventure, integrity, and generosity. I loved every single second that I got to spend with them, and I have to admit that our home feels a little empty with out them now. I loved the late night board games, chatting with Grandma on the porch, an excuse to make dessert every night, and hearing the kids giggle from grandma & grandpa's tickles. My camera battery died, and I got all wrapped up in the fun and forgot to charge it, so here are a few cell phone pics of our fabulous week.

A Perfect Week

We had lunch today at Rosies with the family, and it reminded me that I had a few pics of Maddi that I hadn't posted yet. I love the ambiance at Rosies, so one day while we were there waiting for a table, I whipped out my camera as Maddi perused through the waiting area. Our favorite restaurant with our favorite people and the most amazing food ever made today the most perfect day. Now that I'm thinking about it, being able to spend this whole week with our favorite people has been pretty amazing... I just need to get out my camera a little more often.

:)

Princess Storytime

The local library had a Princess Storytime for all of the princess-obsessed little ladies like mine. They read the cutest princess stories, all of the little girls came dressed up in their princess best, and even Princess Tiana came to join that party! Maddi was in complete awe. She just stared at Princess Tiana until she finally got the courage to blurt out, "Are you REAL???" It didn't occur to me until that very second that to her, princesses were only in movies and in bedtime stories. This little lady needs a trip to Disney World :)

My Cousin the Bride

As promised, a few pics of Leigh in her beautiful wedding dress. Isn't she breath-taking?