"Hep you!"

"Hep you!" This is what we hear all day when we try to get anything done. I was trying to clean up the mess she had made in her room and she followed me around saying, "I hep (help) you momma!" This is her actually yelling that at me. She says, "Hep you" when she wants to help us and when she wants us to help her, so sometimes we get in trouble if we try to help her when she doesn't want it.

Everytime I try to put her in her car seat, "Hep you!" because she wants to buckle her own seat. Then we have to keep an eye on her because she tries to unbuckle it while we are driving. She wants to help us put our shoes on, change her diaper, wipe our own nose or even feed ourselves. We are sure getting a lot of "hep" around here these days. I have no idea how we used to function with out her...but we were probably on time more often.
" Hmmmm, what should I clean next? These parents of mine are slobs!"


Her cheese face that she seems to make everytime we want to take a picture of her lately.

The Family

This is my project I have been working on for Mom and Bill. I can finally post this because I gave it to them last night. I just wanted to make something to show how our families have been blended together because of God's love. Mom and Bill are staying at my house for the 1st time and I was a little sad thinking about Dad and the coffee pot I had for him and I thought it might be strange. But it is not strange at all. Everyone is happy that is what matters. I love giving Bill a hard time just like I would my sisters or my dad (or pretty much anyone else I care about:) We are so blessed and lucky to all have each other. I hope they enjoy my little painting as much as I enjoyed making it.

Crafting and snow

One of my projects this weekend. Well, I actually worked on two projects but I screwed one of them up and have to start all over again. I can't wait to share some pics, but I have to wait until I give it to my mom. I guess it is not such a bad thing to redo it because I had a few things I wanted to change about it. But it took me 2 days and I was almost done. Oh well, mom won't be here for 2 weeks so I guess I have time. It was great to have this project done.
Whitney gave me Grady's cube/shelf so we covered it with contact paper.

This is what is looked like when we started. We just gave it alittle face lift.

And here is the finished project. Now most of Madelynn's toys are in her room not in the living room. We just have a couple doll strollers parked in there and a few big toys. Plus it is great because she can actually see all her books and toys. Thanks Aunt Whitney (and Aunt Meghan for bringing it up)

Snow day fun with daddy. She loved playing in the back of the truck.

Madelynn's snow angel. So cute.

Say Cheese and have fun in the snow!

What a great snow day. We ended up with a 3 day weekend we didn't even expect. God's little blessings are so wonderful.

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.