Lessons I have learned and confirmed....

• My 1 year old is louder than a 3 and 5 year old (unless Shelby is crying, nothing is louder than that)



• No matter what has happened, Mackenzie didn't do it



• No matter what I make to eat somebody isn't going to want it/like it



• Kids can entertain themselves just by saying butt and fart then laughing hysterically



• Bath time is a great way to keep kids occupied and contained so you can have some quiet time



• As soon as you hear water hit the floor and someone is crying, quiet time is over



• I am not sure I am cut out to have 3 kids, especially not 4 by myself at Big Bounce



• Nothing brings out the "territorialism" in Madelynn like have 2 extra kids playing with all her toys for 3 days



• Turning on the TV will stop Shelby in her tracks and she can no longer hear anything going on around her



• When one kid coughs they all start coughing



• Life is crazy and you just have to laugh at the little things



• When kids say, "I'm not tired" that means they could fall asleep at any moment

I had a great weekend with the girls and just had to laugh at how funny, crazy, whiny, and tiring they could be at times. I loved to see how they interacted with each other. Mackenzie and Shelby have the most amazing imaginative play. I really had to listen to what they were saying at times; they had the most elaborate stories. Madelynn and Mackenzie did the best playing together which I found interesting. I also noticed that my kid really likes climb and destroy things...little concerned about this. I am glad I am not instantly going from 1 to 3 or 4 kids becuase I think it needs to be gradual or I would go crazy. I find it amazing that people have more than 1 or 2 kids and can stay home with them with out going nuts. Especially in the winter time when they can't go outside and play. I am so thankful for this time I have had with Shelby and Mackenzie of the last few years and I am greatly going to miss these times together as they will be few and far between when they move to Alaska.

The Vow

I really enjoyed this movie. Simple, sweet, no bad language, very hot guy, great story. The original couple lives right here in San Juan county so that made it kind of cool. I am reading the book now to compare the two.
So, could you do it? Could you make your spouse fall in love with you all over again? Bruce and I always joke that we need a code in case we have a Patrick Swayze-Demi Moore moment like "ditto". Would your spouse fall in love with you again? What am I doing in my own marriage to keep that romance alive and fresh? What am I doing to be the woman my husband would want to fall for again? Just some thoughts.

Name please...

Kelsey --- Fierce Island

"What's in a name?

That which we call a rose

By any other name would smell as sweet." Romeo and Juliet

"A child's name has singular importance as he embarks on learning about literacy...It enhances his security and his self-image, giving him a feeling of importance.....~ Marie M. Clay, Becoming Literate
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine." Isaiah 43:1

Lodge - Family who lived in a cottage

Does our name describe us or do we give meaning to our name? I have been giving a lot of thought to idea of a name lately. When choosing a name for Madelynn I looked at different sites that explained the meaning of a name and where it came from (Madelynn - woman of Magdala, high tower, Ruth - Companion, Friend), I thought about my Grandma Ruth and what a great person she was. As I got married and changed my last name to Hatch I was a little sad not to write Lodge any more. I had been conncected to that name for almost 24 years of my life. People I didn't even know would ask me in college, "Are you a Lodge girl?" I would proudly say "YES!" I was always very careful as I was growing up, and even now, of the choices I made because I knew I was a "Lodge Girl" and people would be watching how I behaved. My parents raised me to represent my family in a positive way. It was good to be known as a "Lodge girl" and it made me proud to identify with it.

So, as I think about changes we have been going through during these last few years I have been thinking about what makes me a Lodge. There are no more Lodge kids to carry on the name, we have all girls. My dad has passed away and my mom may get married at some point and no longer be a Lodge. I have my Aunts and Uncles left with the Lodge name.

So, do we define our name or does our name define us? This is my question I have been pondering. Will I be less of a "Lodge Girl" if fewer and fewer people around me carry the name? Am I still a "Lodge" on the inside because of how I was raised and is it part of what defines my character? Does "Lodge" live on in action and deed if the name is no more? So, the Shakespearean questions........what is in a name?

Smart little cookie

So, yesterday the sitter texted me to tell me what a little problem solver I have. It is no secret that Cami (the girl how is 3 months older than M at the sitters) have had their differences. Madelynn has bit her twice for taking her toys away...Yes we are working on this, but I think she may have grown out of it.

So, here's the story... they were fighting over the laundry basket and, in true 1-year old fashion, Madelynn was whining to Shannon. She was sick of it and told them to figure it out themselves and to stop whining - I totally agree!.

Madelynn wen back over and pretended like she was asleep, when Cami tried to get her to wake up and play Madelynn got up and took the laundry basket. That'll teach her. What a smart little kid :)

I just realized that I have not been taking many pictures of her lately. I have this one of her piggy tails we attempted the other day, but I really have to start taking more pictures again. It is hard because she doesn't sit still very well, of course, and when I get the camera out she comes over and makes her "cheese" face at it.

I will work on some pictures this weekend.