A few weeks back, grandma and grandpa madsen were visiting right after a big snowstorm. So- Tyse and Kent went out at 9 that night to build our first family snowman. Here is a picture of the creation:
Tyse was so excited and was sure that he would melt before christmas, and "be back on christmas day" just like the frosty the snowman song says. Well, luckily, he hadn't yet melted on christmas so I didn't have to get into all that explaining... thank goodness!
After Tyse's birthday party, we braved the 6+ inches of snow (and still piling up) and loaded everyone into the car to go find our christmas tree! It took us about 1 1/2 hours to get to this new place we have never tried to go before, and it turned out to be the best place we have cut yet! Even though it was still snowing like crazy, the roads were really well maintained and we didn't even have to go off the highway to find a place to park and hike! The kids did great but after a while of hiking around, it was just getting too dark to see anyomore, so we loaded back up and went home, only to return the next morning to try again.
It was really beautiful and peaceful to be out in the woods when it was snowing so heavily, listening to christmas songs, and just being together as a family! We (I) have been really trying to simplify this season and not get so crazy about everything, and this was such a great chance to do that and just spend some time together without spending money or braving the crowds or anything like this. I am so grateful for a husband that likes to do these kinds of things with me, and is willing to pack up and do whatever I can't. What an amazing husband I have!
The highlight of the trip was when we tied the sled to Red the dog and then let Tyse sit in it and Red pulled him all over the road there. It was so funny! Tyse thought it was about the best ride he could ever try, and Red LOVES to pull and apparently LOVEs the snow, so it was great! The next morning was beautiful and since I hadn't been feeling all that wonderful, I sent Kent out tromping on the hunt and spent the time in the car getting the Kids all bundled up. WHen he thought he found the PERFECT tree, he came back for us and we all headed up to cut it down and haul it back to the car. Tyse's favorite part of the trip was trying to guess which way the tree would fall when Kent got through it, my favorite part was the simplicity of it all, and Kent's was finding the best tree we have ever cut AND watching Red run and play unbothered and unbridled. That was wonderful as well!
We finally got to the big day- Tyse turned 4! We celebrated with a party for neighborhood friends on the saturday before, and it was so fun! We had a batman party- I think he had that picked out since immediately following his train party last year- and we just did a VERY SIMPLE child's party. We played "Batman, Batman, Joker"...
Followed by "pin the bat on batman" and then went for the cake and presents. I haven't been feeling so great pregnant wise, so my sweet neighbor Kjersten made Tyse's cake for us and it was delicious! My other friend Angie hung out to help control the madness, but miraculously, 9 children under the age of 6 weren't very difficult! In fact, I would say they were all VERY well behaved and we had no problems at all. I wish my 2 kids could act as well every day!
The kids inhaled pizza and chocolate cake and I think had a great time!
It was so fun to see some of you that we don't get to see too often, and we missed seeing a lot of you- too bad (well, really HOORAY!) for crazy winter storms!
We also had a family affair on the actual day. I got a kick out of him because all day he walked around saying, "mom, an I 4 yet?" I would tell him he was, and he would say he wasn't because his body hadn't told him that he was 4 yet. It needed his chocolate cake to turn 4. After all that "you have to listen to your body to tell you when you [insert appropriate comment... need to go to the bathroom, need a nap, need to have more dinner, etc.]" it finally sunk in... just in time!
The new bike was a big hit and I definitely don't stand a chance of keeping up with him anymore! 
We are so lucky to have such a sweet, strong willed boy in our family! He adds comedy and witty comments all the time to our lives and we LOVE hearing about his dreams, listening to his knock knock jokes, and enduring the power ranger cartwheel kicks! He loves to learn and has a new love of writing his letters and spelling things out. I can't believe he is old enough for that!
WE love you tyse!
So this is the first year that Tyse has taken interest in letting in be known what it is that Santa should bring. I guess santa should pay a little more attention to the saturday morning cartoons.... because I have NO IDEA what in the world a "dinosaur that destroys everything and has cars crashing under it" is. I know it exists because apparently my 3 year old nephew asked for the same thing in the same manner. We are all stumped. And then there is the "truck that I can drive. No, not a big one like your car, mom, one that I can drive" and in my naievete, I ask, "a remote control one?" and the answer inevitably continues to be "NO, mom. one for me to DRIVE." Are there any people in america that pay attention to these commercials and can help me out?
And then there are the new requests... does a 4 year old really NEED a laptop, an ipod, and a gun holster? His description of an ipod is impeccable... I didn't even know he knew what one was!. But sure enough, he added it to his list, and when I asked what one was he said, "a really cool machine that plays all the songs you want and shows you movies and all sorts of cool stuff. Mom, Bryce's ipod (11 year old cousin) has, like, 20 THOUSAND songs on it!" I was hoping that this kind of wish list could hold off for a couple more years. Santa better get promoted!
HI everyone!
So most of you know I love to cook, and I have stumbled upon a couple really good pumpkin recipes recently that are SO easy. So if you are looking for a new idea or feeling a little adventurous, try them out sometime this week!
Eggnog Pumpkin Pie
1 15-oz can solid pack pumpkin
1 1/4 c. eggnog
2/3 c. sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 t. pumpkin pie spice
1/4 t. salt
1 unbaked 9" pie shell
In a large bowl, combine the pumpkin, eggnog, sugar, eggs, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Pour into a pastry shell.
Bake at 375 for 60-65 min. or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Refrigerate until serving. YIELD: 6-8 servings
MY NOTE: It took more like 1 hour 20 min. at my house to get it cooked all the way through- and it tastes a LOT better the second day!
Pumpkin Dessert Dip
1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, very soft
1 jar (7 oz) marshmallow creme
1/2 c. canned packed pumpkin
1/4 t. ground cinnamon
1/4 t. ground nutmeg
Mix all ingredients until well blended; cover. Refrigerate several hours or until chilled. Serve with assorted fruit and cookies
MY NOTE: this also tastes better the day after it is made... and nilla wafers are great with it or those new keebler cheesecake cookies are great!
I hope you try them out and LOVE them as I do!
Happy turkey day!
For halloween this year, I had no say in Tyse's costume. He has had it planned out since christmas- it was Batman. No negotiation. So we did the best that we could to add to what we had and make him a batman. I think it turned out pretty well. I think the best part of his costume is the mask- Batman is down one ear thanks to Red (the dog), but tyse doesn't notice anymore, so it worked. His favorite part of the costume was the black undies that went over top the sweat pants. Every time he thought about it he would giggle and say, "Batman wears undies on the OUTSIDE of his clothes! Look- you can even see the hole!" (insert action of him sticking his hand in the hole). It was pretty funny!
Luckily for little ones, I still had a say in Emitts. I made this little lion costume and I love it. I think it turned out really great. We had been working on the roar, but he stopped doing it about a week before halloween, so our lion was a little cowardly, but adorable.
Between preschool, Kent's office, and the neighborhood, we ended up with 4 tupperware bowls of candy. We are going to be re- giving it as easter candy I think. Plus- I had heard that the neighborhood was an absolute ZOO last year, so we stocked up on TONS of candy, and had 8 total trick or treaters come by. So that bag of 200 sour straws that kent insisted on still contains 195 pieces, and no one else can stand to eat them. Anyone LOVE sour straws?
After we got home, Tyse dumped every last piece of candy on the floor and he and Emitt had a great time sifting through (ok, I did as well!) and Emitt did get a little posessive of his share...
We had such a fun night and capped it with cups of hot cocoa and called it a night!
Just thought I would show one of my favorite moments from the week. Laundry is always SO exciting... a little spice is always nice, and I LOVE the help I get from the boys. Emitt loves to put things in the dryer, and tyse loves to load and put soap in the washer. Before long I should be able to just leave them to it, don't you think?