Happy Halloween!!!

Pumpkin Carving

Murphy in a box - House update!!!

Shari took these cute pics of Murphy the other day. We ordered an awesome Yankees bean bag to go in Mick's room and the boys have had a hay-day with the box. Have you ever wondered how such a simple thing could bring so much fun to boys? Peek - A - Boo!!!
I think he stayed in there for awhile. Makes her life easier!!!
The other day he was in the mouse house (this is what we call the little toy room under the stairs) and he was sooooo quiet. Mick went to check on him and he was going to town on the blue marker!!!

Many of you have asked for updates on the house so I took a few pictures today. The walls are primed and the painters should be done by Monday which means flooring... cabinets and then.... Whoo Hoo!!!

This is probably one of my favorite rooms. It's the "bonus room" above the garage which we split up a bit and made 1/2 the toyroom and the other 1/2 the "game" room. I always say it's just 800 sq feet for Micks friends to play football in. The garage is really deep so underneath the "football" room Mick wants to put a hoop in the garage!!! The painters had painted all the doors this day which explains all the doors in the middle of the room!

This is a shot from the kitchen over to the living room. The little entry on the left is our master bedroom entry. I will also be painting this the dark brown that everyone voted for. Just a little "accent" area. I missed getting the french doors that go off to the back deck. They are right next to the windows on the right.

This is the entry way. The room that you can see is the formal dining area. I was in my office taking this picture of the stairway. The front door is actually just to the left of the picture!!!

And here is the front. This is not the color of the stucco but we should be seeing color in the next couple days. We are still trying to figure out the wrap-around porch on the front. We had a cement guy that ended up getting all his labor money.... so decided to take off and move to another state. He had totally screwed up the side of the porch. I know... big long story and it stinks... but I think we are going to be able to get the money from the bank hopefully. They actually released a draw check to this guy without my signature which we all know is a big NO NO!!! He still has about $5000 of work between the drive, the side porch and the back pad under the deck so we are keeping our fingers crossed!!!

I am so stinkin excited. And no, we haven't sold the house yet. We show it 2 or 3 times a week but no bites. I haven't got too nervous yet. I know we will be okay for a bit and hoping the market comes around and we can sell it early spring if not sooner. We may have to put renters in but hey, better than nothing!

Help!!!! I am Stuck...

Ok.... I have had plenty of time to make this decision but it's now crunch time. I have gone back and forth on the color that I want to paint my office. I make a decision and then go back. I originally had thought like a barn red color... a little deeper. Then I walked into an office that had a deep brown that I thought looked so classy... so what will it be? Please help me out. Vote on the side and then give me any interior decorating tip you would like as to what color and why. The painter has given me until Thursday!!!

On a side-note. I know there are a few of us really trying to be healthy. A fellow blogger who has a degree in dietics (is that right?) put this awesome bit of info on her blog today. I have played around with it a bit and it's great. So here it is http://www.my-calorie-counter.com/. Take it or leave it!!! Thanks again ladies!

In Pursuit of "Super" Woman!!!

This is for you Diana....

It's late... we just got home for the day and all my kiddos are sleeping. Macee honestly fell asleep as soon as she sat down in the car. Poor thing... she was tuckered. Her dance team did awesome again! It's hard to explain because unlike most sports there isn't really a champion... they get either silver, gold or platinum honors for each dance. They brought home a platinum and 2 gold!

Mick's football team came out victorious which means we will be playing for the championship next Saturday. We have lost 1 game this entire season and it would be to this team. Thurl Bailey's son plays on this opposing team. Mick thinks it's cool that they are the same age because we always end up playing against them in basketball... football.... Anyway, we didn't have the best of games the first time and I can't wait to see the outcome of this weekends game. Will keep you posted. The baseball team also came out with a Championship for the weekend so... it was a good weekend for the Madsen kids.

Now.... to preface the title of the post. I really do appreciate all the nice comments from people saying I am supermom or superwoman or amazing but.... I have you all fooled. I am the mom who:

1) Just Today...Rushed from a football game to a
dance competition up at the salt palace. After sitting at the competition for an hour forgot I had left my daughters costumes at home in Lehi (at which time I drove like a mad woman back and got them).
2) Has been known to leave her 2 yr old in his carseat in the car (in the garage) for 30 minutes. (In my defense, Eric thought I had got Gwire and I assumed he had got him).
3)Is notorious for being on a client call and saying,"Oh crap... do you mind if I call you back. my kids got out of school a couple minutes ago and I was supposed to be there to pick them up."
4) Boycots Sacrament Meeting (and sometimes all church) when Eric is out of town. I make excuses for myself saying that the kids or I don't get much out of it when we are sitting in the foyer the entire time. I know.... this is bad.
5)Lets my kids stay up way too late on school nights.

I try... I do.... but will never profess or live up to what any of you think I may be. So these are my thoughts about how I juggle motherhood and a career and a home.

First of all, when I married Eric I married into a great family of women. One of his sisters imparticular (you know who I am talking about) amazed me daily. She was the real "superwoman" in my book. Great mother, always fulfilled her calling in the church (current Primary president), successful career... I couldn't figure out how she did it. Honestly... this woman never missed a beat... Sent family newsletters... care packages... trading spaces shirts... NEVER missed a birthday. SHE has been someone that I have tried to tailor myself afterward. (I promise I am not kissing butt.... I really do idolize her). She has raised 3 outstanding boys and continues to amaze me!

Secondly, I use to be one who would NEVER ask for help. I was very self-sufficient and didn't need help. I have slowly but surely learned to set that pride aside. I KNOW that I can't do this alone... I have honestly surrounded myself with family and friends that are GREAT mothers that I learn from daily. How many of my readers at some point have not taken my kid to a ballgame... to or from school.... kept one an extra hour... day.... or night because I wasn't going to be around or Eric was out of town? Honestly... I have the BEST friends and family anyone could ever ask for. I have a dear friend who lives around the corner from me and saves my butt constantly! I am not sure why she even picks up the phone when I call anymore. This is how sweet my friend Emily is. Mays was young... I had a ball game to go to late one night and Eric was out of town. It was fairly cold outside so I called Em and asked her to watch him for a couple hours. As always, without hesitation, she said yes. I hang up and immediately get a phone call... I have caller ID and knew it was Emily. She starts with, "Guess what I will be doing tonight..... kissing on a baby Madsen... HAHA... Do you want to come over and love on him with me?" I then said, "Um.... sure but this is baby Madsens mom." She totally had thought she had called her next door neighbor. I will always remember this because it made me realized that she really LOVED doing this.... and as hard as it was for me to ask her.... it was something that was OK.

Thirdly, I have Shari. Most of you know that Shari is my Nanny. I hate to even refer to her as that because she is really part of our family. She has been with us now for almost 2 years. She comes to the house Mon - Fri and watches my kids while I go down in my little office and work away. While my kids take their naps she clean... folds laundry.... you name it. I try and do all my responsibilities as a mom such as take kids to and from school/preschool/dance/ballgames but if I am out of the house for some reason.... she does this also. Not many people have a Shari... and she is one BIIIIIIIIG reason I keep things together.

Next.... my employer.... (this is really becoming a Grateful list huh?) I am not sure what I have done in this lifetime to deserve the luxury I have of being a "work at home" mom, working for the people that I do. The Banasky family is great. They know how important it is to me to be able to have a career and also be the best mom I can be... Now... this might hit some of you the wrong way and I am sorry but this is just Jessica being honest and since it's my blog/journal I will speak freely... I had a very hard time working when I first started having kids. The guilt consumed me.. and is still hard to this day. BUT... I honestly feel that having a career for myself and having quiet moments sitting at a computer and working or having adult conversation with my clients is very therapeutic for me. I believe (think what you may) that my situation has honestly made me a better mom. It's hard to explain and many of you may not "get it" but I have the utmost respect for you woman that are truly "stay at home moms." I have said many times and will always say that I think it is a much harder job than what I do. I would be yelling at kids 24/7.

I pray daily for several things. Two of these would be 1) Healthy, strong children and 2)Patience. Do I yell.... Of course.... (I am a coalminers daughter and can cuss like my dad) Do I scream.... daily.... Do I cry.... always but.... isn't this all just a part of the process? I am so far from being superwoman it't not even funny.... but what is our ultimate goal in life as mothers?

As I sat and watched this intense dance workshop/competition this weekend I really had a hard time with how "important" it was to some of these moms that their daughters were.... on the front row... making sure they asked the judges/instructors questions so they could be noticed... just silly little things. I caught myself critiquing Macee once and thought... "what the heck am I doing... she is 7 years old and I am pretty sure you won't be seeing her on broadway anytime soon...."

I have a great mother and sisters that are amazing moms. I learn things from them constantly... I have a fabulous husband whom is always helping (when he is home). And probably most importantly.... I know I have someone watching over me every step of the way. I am humbled that he has felt the need to send me these precious little boys. For those of you who may not now, Eric did have a vasectomy after Mays was born and we were still blessed with Murphy. What an angel baby he is.... my dad will laugh when I say he is the best baby ever but I will say it nonetheless. I think he knew that if he felt the need to send one more... he would send a good one (beside the sleep thing). And last but not least, all you woman that blog. I seriously and honestly can say that I learn from each of you on a consistent basis. I think utlimately we all want to be the "perfect" mom right? But who know's exactly what that is!!!

I don't keep it all together... I promise... I have breakdowns constantly at which time I pick up the phone and one of you will lift me up!

Ok... the novel is over and I shall leave you with a few last photos from the weekend:

This is Macee and her friend Cassidy getting ready for "Ay Caramba."

And this is my dad snuggling Murphy to sleep. My mom and dad drove up Friday night to watch my younger kids. They were going to go home early the next day and ended up supporting Mick at his football game and both baseball games! Thank you SOOO much. I should also mention many of you that helped with my crazy weekend but I farmed my kids out so many different places I will miss someone so THANK YOU all for all the extra help! Goodnight!

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!!!

Lowdown on NYCDA

This is Macee tumbling down the hall during the dinner break. Crazy girl! I love the one at the end where she falls on her butt!!!! I posted a cute slideshow of a few picks I took of the girls tonight. Talk about intense. This is our first workshop we have done. We checked in at 2 and Macee left the Salt Palace at 10:45 pm. She was lucky enough to stay with one of her good friends and her mom at a nearby hotel. They have to check back in bright and early in the morning at 7:30!!!

I am going to go to Mick's football game and then go and help Macee with costume changes and hair changes the remainder of the evening. Their auditions are the last part of the competition and they run from 9:45 - 10:15. CRAZY!!! I know Macee and when her head finally hits a pillow tomorrow night she will be crashed!!! Along with her mother! Good luck Hot Shots!!

And Good Luck to the Lehi Pioneer football team and the Tigers! I am sad I will miss Mick's games. It has become more of a social event these days and I am going to miss all my Tiger Friends. You ladies have fun without me this weekend! Thanks for takin care of my boy!!!

Fun with Friends

This is a my fav pic of the night! These girls are crazy. They had workshops for 7 hours straight and when they had their 30 minute dinner break they danced and giggled in the hall. What I would give to have that energy again!

We ended up with a backyard full of boys the other day and loved every minute of it. Here are a couple photos of the boys and their nuggets (old reliable). It's probably not a good thing that McDonalds is a block away!!!

Are ya kiddin me????

So let me just fill you in on how my morning went... Eric flew out really early this morning so I didn't have to... or let me rephrase that... "couldn't" go work out this morning (I really need to get a better attitude). So... alarm goes off at 7 am - how wonderful to sleep in. Mays wakes and is wondering around. I am still laying in bed (it was still dark) with Gwire and Murphy when Mays comes in and tries to tell me something. He had something in his hands and wiped it on me and I was like, "great.... what has he gotten into know." So... I pull myself out of bed as he drags me to Macee's room and points to the floor. Yup... you guessed it.. I won't go into nasty details but he has had the stomach flu this week hence that is what was all over him, now me, and Macee's floor. I start scrubbing away when I hear someone heave - hoein in the bedroom..,

Of course... Maddux was throwing up everywhere. So in a matter of about 5 minutes I cleaned up some pretty nasty stuff. So needless to say.. the day started out, shall I say, PRETTY CRAPPY, but got better from there.

Our builders called a little later on and said they wanted to send Eric and I to the Jazz game. Since Eric was gone I surprised Mick by picking him up from football and heading straight up. We always have real good seats (about 10 rows up) because my attorney friend gives them to us each year but these seats were awesome (and I forgot the camera). We were right behind Portland! Thanks to the builders!

So this week has been extremely busy at the Madsens. I am going to do a little advertising for an old friend from Cleveland. Brooke Petersen aka Brooke Griffin wrote and published this ADORABLE Christmas book:

It seriously is so awesome. It talks about the true meaning of Christmas. Besides the fact that the book is fabulous come on.... homegirl from Cleveland UTAH!!!! So, the book is on the shelves at Barnes and Noble as of this week! Please go out and buy one for your kids. I promise they will LOVE it. My kids and I have read it at least 50 times since Monday.

My second piece of advertising... we have had a pediatric dentist in Lehi who we have really liked but... finding out that Brooke's husband had started a little office in Lehi drew our attention so we scheduled a couple kids in on Monday. I thought I should only take 2 at once due to time restrictions. Little did I know they had the capabilities to clean all 5 at once. Their office, their staff, and Dr. Hans Petersen was awesome. My kids thought it was the coolest thing ever. I am sure the fact that this was the first time in their lives they hadn't had cavities helped a ton. Maddux came along just to check the place out and he kept saying how cool the dentist was. I finally asked why he thought he was so cool and his response... "Did you see his cool red Nike Shox?" So if anyone is need of a "cool" pediatric dentist with cool shoes you need to check out Dr Petersen at Lehi Pediatric Dentistry on Main Street! No but in all seriousness... they were great!

I also wanted to thank my friend Sommer for grooming my boys this week. They had gotten pretty darn hairy and she did an awesome job. Maddux took some pics with her camera and she sent them to me but for some reason they are not saving so I can post... sorry Sommer!

This weekend will be CRAZY!!! Macee has her biggest dance competition/workshop of the year. She goes from 2 - 10:30 pm tomorrow night and 7:30 - 11:00 pm Saturday.

I need to be with her most of the time so I have tried to make arrangements for the boys. Mick has a playoff football game at 10:30 on Saturday and then baseball tournament games at 2 and 4 on Saturday.

Thank goodness for our "Tiger" baseball family. I am sure I will be depending on someone to be getting him to and fro!!! I really tried to talk Eric into sending someone else this weekend but it didn't work out! So.... I will spend all day with Macee tomorrow evening and then do Mick's football game Sat morning then head back up to Salt Lake with Macee in the afternoon! Thanks for everyone who will be helping with the other boys! I should have some cute pics after the weekend is over! Until then...

It's Huntin' Season!!!

Okay... so I finally have a few minutes to post. Eric is out of town again this weekend which means I can't go to boot camp in the morning... which means I can stay up all crazy hours of the night and work and blog! So here I be!!! We had a great time down in Cleveland last weekend. Maddog and Mick both went hunting with grandpa and Kayden. Kayden has a tag but was unsuccessful. We met them at the cabin on Sat afternoon and had hot dogs and hamburgers. My uncle Blaines family was there and I finally got to meet Amy's little Parker. He is so darn handsome!

Anyway, here is the prep the night before - Grandpa was making sure his bullets were good to go with Maddux and Mays.

And this is 5 am Sat morning! Maddux was so excited to go. They followed a buck over mountains for about 2 miles and my dad said Maddux totally kept up! Atta a boy buddy! I always love the cute pics he takes with Mick. He thinks he is the coolest big brother ever.

And Macee didn't want to miss out on the fun... she also woke to send the boys out!! Here is her and grandpa!!

And this is Murph the night before totally enjoying the red licorice that Grandma Kaye gave him.

Cool Kids - Goofy Poses

Macee was so excited the other day. She came down the stairs all "sporty" and then brought Murphy down a few minutes later in his little Nike outfit. She was so proud that they looked "sporty." Her word!! Here is Murph looking oh.. so handsome!!!
And here is Macee. She knows I love her to put on her Nike (this is Reebok) outfits rather than get all dolled up so she was proud. Still wondering if I will ever see a smile with teeth!!!
This is Mick and his friend Kelton! They were being "dorks" and playing football (yes... in the house) with their shorts all the way to their "pecks." I thought for sure that when I said I was going to grab the camera Kelton would be "done" but he totally hammed it up and even struck a pose!!!
And then of course they all had to strike a pose. Mick is such a dork! And no... my boys never wear clothes!
We went down to Emery County over the long UEA weekend. I will post a couple pics tomorrow of the "huntin" trip!!!

Congratulations Auntie Em

I figured that since she won't brag about herself... I will. Eric's baby sis, Emilee, started teaching school this year. She is doing a program (you can read her article) where she was able to start teaching without doing her student teaching... Needless to say, she was thrown into the fire with NO training.

Okay - so for all you 4th graders out there... how would you like to go to school for your first day and see this cute thing sitting at the teachers seat. She looks 18 - she acts 18 (except in a mature way!! HEHE) and she moves like she's 18 so... I keep telling her.. she's the "HOT" teacher of the school!!!

Anyway, she was nominated for an award and... can I hear a WOO WOO - she won!!! Traci sent over this link via email last night and I thought I would share. She was featured in a newspaper article.

Again, congrats Em - You ROCK!!!! I know the first few weeks were tough but you are awesome!

Oh - and yes... this is the same sister that was laying on the ground doing the bicycle with my boys - I told ya she moved and acted a little young!!!

I am an idiot - I had this post up for a whole 6 hours and forgot to put the link where you can read how awesome she is... so click on these and read!!! http://www.standard.net/live.php/news/145856/

Field Trip/Broken Toe

Maddogs preschool, Candy Cane Lane, went to the pumpkin patch this week on a field trip. This would be the 3rd time I have been on this exact field trip. It is so awesome going back each year (with a different kid of course) to Miss Jennifer!!! We love her! Anyway... McGwire's 3 year old class doesn't go on field trips so Maddux wanted him to tag along with us. The boys got to each pick a pumpkin from the patch. My boys were intrigued by the GREEN ones!! Which was ok with me because they make great decorations!! They got to feed miniature ponies. My boys both LOVE horses!!!

They did a treasure hunt in the corn maze!!! Look who came out successful with the treasure!!!
McGwire had a hard time walking through the corn. He was a little discouraged! Especially when his brother was the one to find the treasure!The kids got to ride on the hay wagon around the farm! It was a great time!!Yesterday Mick woke up and wasn't feeling well for school so I let him stay home. Around noon Maddux came running into my office shouting, "Mick's bleeding... Mick's bleeding." (While I am on the phone with a client!!) Well, my sick 10 year old that was staying home from school because he was "sick" was playing football downstairs and jammed his toe into the floor. We put bandaids on every 1/2 hour but it just kept bleeding through.
So.... being the little doc I am we got some gauze and I came up with the concoction!!! He laid on the couch the rest of the day popping Ibuprofen. When it was time to go to football he put on his pads and went to put on his shoes and just cried. He tried.. he walked around the house and said, "it feels better with shoes." And then the more he walked the more I could see the pain in his eyes and he just broke down!!!
After talking with his coach, he said to stay home and iced it!!! Mick came in the house and literally just started bawling. For those of you who know Mick he doesn't show alot of emotion and hardly ever cries. I knew he was in pain but when I started talking to him he said, "Mom... I want to go to practice... I have to go to practice.... what about the playoffs?" So in my 10 year old little boys little head all he could think about was his playoff game this weekend. In his prayers he prayed that he could be "tough enough to play through the pain." His wording!!! Bub called him a little later after practice and told him the other tight end had gotten stitches yesterday so he hoped he was good to play on Saturday. Mick with much confidence said, "Oh... I will be there." So we are hoping it feels better this morning. I will post another picture on it's pretty shades of black and blue later!

My baby is getting so big!!!

Ok... I have about 5 minutes. I am so sad that this little workout I have been doing is totally cutting into my blogging schedule. I used to be able to work a couple hours at night and then blog into the early morning hours and now that I am having to get up at 4:45 it's just not happening (the blogging that is). So really quickly...

Murph had his 6 month appt the other day! He weighed in at a whopping 17.56 lbs which is in the 52%. He was 27 3/4 inches tall which is in the 81.38%. Could I really have a tall kid? I doubt it!!! Anyway, the shots once again kicked his butt. Two nights in a row he fevered all night!!! I still, after 6 kids, do not get that.

Anyway... what a joy he is to our family!! He is doing the army crawl ALL over the house. He can get from one side of the room to the other so quickly which is scary because we are back to keeping all small objects off the floor! I took this pic this morning. He had to have been awake for awhile... which means I was lucky he didn't find his way off the bed! We love our little red head sooooooo much! He makes the cutest little noises with his mouth and tongue. I am hoping to catch it on video cuz it is stinkin cute!!!

Here are the kids school pics. I was bugged by Micks at first because his teeth that are growing in on top drive me crazy. Nothing that braces can't take care of in the future but... the more I looked at it the more it made me smile. He always has this little giggle smile on his face. Those of you who know him know exactly what I am talking about. He is hilarious!!!

And here is the princess.... need I say more!!!

We are hoping to see pumpkins soon for y'all who are waiting!!!