Top 10

Top 10 for the past week:

10.  Swing Accident.  We went to a park party (31 bag party at the kid park--so FUN!) this week.  It was already our second stop for the day.  Was a bit nervous how the kids would be...but they were great!  In fact, Mal had a bit of an accident on the swing.  It had poured the night before, so there were puddles underneath all the swings.  I gave her a push and she slipped from the swing.  Landing directly into the mud, mulch puddle.  She had mulch all in her hair and EVERWHERE!  I had a bit of a panic attack but collected myself.  She handled herself very well.  A trip to the car, to retrieve a whole new set of clothes and she was fine!  It's amazing to me how resilient she can be at times and how NOT she can be at times. 

9.  Testimony.  Ummmm...I may be a nerd about this, but my chiropractor asked me to write a testimony/success story for him.  I am more SO excited about it--and it lets me reevaluate again how far I've come.  I used my blog post back in February--I think--and added/deleted a few things.  It still is such a perplexing thing to me--how food can have so much effect on how your body feels and looks.  With this heat, I'm craving POP.  Bad.  I've resisted, but it's hard.   Nothing like a fountain diet Pepsi.

8.  Northrup FUN.  Now that our friends are out for the summer we have more people to see and hang out with--it's GREAT!  An impromptu playdate Monday--ended being an all day/evening meeting, dinner.  It was great fun for the kids and Mommas.  We even had two babysitters come over halfway through to take over so we could make a trip to Kalamazoo to do some birthday and grocery shopping!  YEAH!

7.  Pool is OPEN.  Great-grandpa's pool is open for the season!  I wasn't sure how the kids would react to the water.  But BOTH of them LOVE it.  In fact, if they could, they would go every day.  We enjoyed dinner and swimming with the other Newell clan EVEN though it was freezing outside.  In fact, the water was warmer than the air.  Crazy.  I'm hoping that by the end of this summer they are little fishes. 

6.  Strawberry Picking.  It was my first time this week.  The kids were great.  Mal loved looking and finding the perfect ones, while Clay pretty much ate ANYTHING he saw--even the not-so-ripe-ones!  I sure learned a quick lesson.  NEVER dress your kids in light colored clothes.  Clayton's outfit he wore is permanently stained from strawberries.  It was well worth it though:o)  But I will definitely remember next year!

5.  SUMMER is here!  Tuesday and Thursday of last week were extremely busy for us!  I seriously felt like we went nonstop from the time we got up until the time we went to bed.  I try my best to make sure to have a down day the following day so the kids can collect themselves again.  I feel like they need some rest and time at home after busy days like those.  I hate to admit it--but I kinda like those crazy busy days:o)  They go by fast and the kids do enjoy them--socializing and being out and about.  For example on Tuesday...we went to my chiropractor, to a park party, back home for lunch, then to strawberry picking, home for a nap, and then I'm not even sure what we did after Jay got home.  BUT it was crazy busy.  And my kids are handling it well.  Thank goodness.

4.  Malloryisms.  She is really picking up on things I say.  Ummmm....makes me a little nervous;o)  Like several times I've made a reference to her in my conversation without saying her name, and she's been like, "Are you talking about me???"  Cute but yikes!  I need to start watching what I say.  She's also been very observant about people around her.  Jay and I were hugging in the kitchen on Father's Day and her direct quote "That was cute guys....you hugging."  I was actually embarrassed.  My face turned red.  Why??? Not exactly sure.  It's not like we were doing anything wrong.  Maybe it was because my daughter noted our PDA.  I don't know.  Another Mal Funny--"Remember when we were marsh mellowing out and..."  She means when we were roasting marshmellows.  Totally adorable.  Don't you think?  We've also created a "Fish Fund."  For things I catch her doing/saying that are wise choices, she gets a coin (penny, dime, nickel, quarter--whatever we have around) in her Fish Fund Jar.  When she fills the jar up--she gets REAL fish.  Jay is more excited about this than I think she is--but whatever.  I'm hoping this means I don't have to take care of them:o)  It's going to be awhile--the jar is kinda big.

3.  Clayisms.  Still potty training.  He's using this against us during bedtime still.  Not fun.  This week new phrases/words:  Get down, duck, Kattie (seriously), and all the gibber gabber he says that I know he's trying to tell us something but it sounds like nothing.  One day this week my kids were playing chiropractor.  Cushion pillows, throw pillows, and a doctor kit later--it was adorable.  They took turns being the doctor and patient.  Clay also put himself in a time out this week.  For nothing big.  But Mal was there to console him and even put her arm around him trying to calm him down.  I really was shocked...but enjoyed seeing her sweet side come out during a time that Clayton needed it.  He is stronger, faster, louder, more adverterous than Mal EVER was at this age.  Sometimes I wonder if I can keep up with him.  Dead serious. 

2.  Party!  My mom and dad's birthdays are two days apart which usually always are around or ON Father's Day weekend.  So we met up at out house on Saturday of Father's Day weekend.  It was nice having the whole family over for a cookout to just sit, eat, and catch up.  Weather wasn't the greatest...but we still had a great time. 

1.  Father's Day.  Jay spent the morning fishing with his brother and dad while the kids and I piddled around at home.  He came home, we had lunch, naps, and headed up to Kalamazoo to shop for daddy and grab dinner.  I fret about Father's Day.  Trying to make it "just right."  But halfway through the day I realized it doesn't really matter.  As long as we are all having fun and enjoying each other's company it's all good.  And we did.  And I hope he did:o)  Because he deserves it!  Love you Jay.

Onto another week!
The Fourth is just around the corner!
Crazy.

Hope you all are having a great week!
My mom and I are off to Shipsy tomorrow!
Kidless!
And I cannot wait!

Enjoy your week. 
Until next,
Mrs. Newell