FIVE

FIVE is huge.


I've noticed a difference in her.
It's funny to me how changes happen.
So quickly before your eyes.
But gradual at the same time.


Out little girl
Went from being a
Quiet, shy, to herself girl.
To a social, friendly, comedian.


She loves people, talking about God, animals, family & friends, watching TV, being crafty, wearing dresses, fancy things, reading books, dancing (LOTS of dancing), princesses, BUGS, spicy things, her cat Leo, playing pretend, veggies/fruit, fairies, her corner, stuffed animals, building forts, painting, and her snuggles (blankets).


She dislikes commercials, being wet, water on her face, being in the spotlight (sometimes), being forced to interact with people (only on her terms), getting her picture taken, and taking naps.


She's a hard one to figure out. 
But I think that comes with figuring out yourself.


She's spiritual and a thinker.
And observes everything.
So, I honestly shouldn't be too surprised
About the words that come out of her mouth.
But I still am at times.


I'm so proud of the lady you are turning into Mallory Jayne.  And I can't wait to be able to experience the world with you.  Thanks for being sweet, inquisitive, and spunky.  And for teaching me how to be MORE patient, playful, and creative.  I love you to the moon and back.


Top 10 for the Week:
January 13th, 2014


10.  What's under your bed?  So, our humidifier has been on it's last leg.  This is, I think, our third or fourth winter with it.  With a wood burner (and me being the way I am), we need one all the time.  Anyways, I moved our humidifier, which ended up moving my bedside table (it was plugged in behind it), which caused me to take a glance underneath our bed.  OMG people.  Have you looked under your bed lately?!?!  Obviously I hadn't.  I wanted to throw up.  SO much dog/cat hair, dander, and dust.  Required me to instantly take our bed apart, move it, and vacuum/dust the best I could with both kids going bananas.  It was a HUGE job--which also required me to use my new tools--but I feel great knowing that underneath my bed is clean.  Honestly people, I don't think I'd be sleeping on my bed, IF I had known.  Disgusting.


9.  Tuesday Busy.  Jay bowls on Tuesday nights, which means I'm alone with the kids to put them to bed.  Clay has been a challenge to put to bed lately, so I really wasn't looking forward to this.  I ended up turning ALL of the lights on in the house.  He only came out 2-3 times, which was a great improvement!  I also emptied the dishwasher, folded clothes, and cleaned the kitchen.  ALL with the lights out!  I felt so productive!  And had no clue I had energy after 9PM.  Who knew?!?!


8.  Broiled Chicken.  I broiled chicken this week for dinner totally on a whim.  It was delicious.  Everyone loved it.  Will be doing it again:o)


7.  Rearranged Mal's Room.  It's like I gave her a HUGE present or something.  She's so funny about me rearranging her room.  Something about displaying different toys or making different areas makes her happy.  But then again, it makes me happy:o)  Guess she takes after me.


6.  Cleaned Fridge.  It's amazing to me how a little party can make you do and fix things that you haven't done in MONTHS.  Seriously.  I don't mind having our kids' birthday parties because I know a few things that have been needing to get done WILL get done the week before the party.  IT ROCKS.  Cleaned my fridge this week.  Needed it bad.  Clayton played in the water while Mal was at school.  Which was awesome.  Cause his older sister always played in the water at his age.  But with two kids, it's impossible to do this inside. 


5.  Missing Dance.  Mal has truly missed going to dance these past few weeks.  She was SO excited to go.  And even made her teacher a picture.  It was ADORABLE.  Especially since I had her dance teacher in FIFTH grade!  Yeah, it's crazy!:o)


4.  Impromptu Date Night.  Weekdays are crazy.  And being 30 minutes from the nearest biggest store, makes it difficult to get the supplies we needed for Mal's party.  We ended up going up to Kalamazoo on Friday when my parents got here.  We finished in record time and was even able to share a drink out.  Unbelievable.  And much needed.  Thanks Mom and Dad!  Or should I say Nana and Papa!


3.  Clayisms.  He is a CLIMBER.  For real.  I'm nervous about him.  And Jay commented this week about him climbing trees this summer--I'm not looking forward to that!  This week, he panicked while climbing (but then again who wouldn't?!?!).  The first time, I was in the kitchen putting dishes away and heard him scared yelling from the play room.  I ran in to get him and he was hanging from one of our board game shelves.  Hanging people.  He had climbed up onto our play kitchen and grabbed ahold of the shelf.  I am thankful he didn't rip the whole shelf down!  The second time, I heard him screaming from the basement...went to go check it out and he had climbed onto the back of the couch, jumped onto the front of our treadmill, and was dangling.  Scared shitless.  We are in trouble.  I know this.  Help.  Clay's also a pincher.  Hard pincher.  Mal and I were chatting with him about how to love with your hands.  Mal suggested we "hug and play with our hands."  It was sweet.  He still seems to be missing the idea.  But we will keep pressing on.


2.  Malloryisms.  LOTS of funny sayings this week...so I'll just list them.
*"I want a new brother."  (not as in another brother, but to replace the old)
*"I go to three churches."  (yes, she does.  Her school, one in Decatur, and one in Kalamazoo)
*"Abbra cadabra..."  (she put on a few magic shows for us during dinner this week.  SO CUTE!)
*"I have 3 best friends--Raina, Hannah, and Ben."  (LOVE this.  She adores each one of them).
*"The best part of my birthday was my American Girl Doll."  (A Target one:o) from Nana & Papa)
*"Mom, you need to take Clayton to daycare so you can just chill out.  No really.  For real."  (We passed by a friend's daycare and she said this.  Word for word.  Are those my words in her sentences??? I think so!  Cracked me up.  She sounds SO MUCH older than five to me.  I LOVE her.  And so thoughtful for her to think of me!  I might take her up on this! Ha!)


1.  Mallory turns FIVE.  Last night, after everyone had left, Jay and I sat down and talked about the day/night.  I burst with awe when I think about all the friends and family Mal has in her life that love her.  Truly love her.  To sit back and watch all the interactions--hugs, smiles, warm wishes.  One proud Momma here.  Thank you to everyone who came and celebrated our little girl turning five.  We (she) is truly blessed to have you in our (her) lives (life).  I'm SO happy she has many loving, wonderful people around her.  We felt the love.  Thanks again.


Well, a new week!
This next weekend is our couples weekend away!
Jay and I are pumped!


Hope you all have a great week!

Until next week,
Mrs. Newell

Operation Kindness

Operation ONLY kind words was in FULL force this week.


Holidays were rough on us (mainly the kids).
Too many parties.
Too much junk food.
Too many people.
Too much stimulation.


BUT...
I know they enjoyed it.
And had a memorable holiday.


BUT...
That doesn't mean it doesn't effect them.
Which in turn effects me.
And I'm talking about mainly our MOOD.


So...
Taking that into consideration this week,
And after reading a fellow mom blog,
I chose to try my best to alter BOTH of our moods.


AND IT WORKED!
(ask Jay).


I started out first thing in the morning.
"Wow Mallory, you were so quiet when you came out of your room this morning."
"Thanks for kindly asking to change the TV channel."
"I LOVED how you helped your brother with his blanket."


I put "it" on THICK.
REAL THICK.


Didn't take long for her mood to change. 
Which made my mood change,
And her brothers.


I've been able to work Operation Kindness in daily.
Any time I feel our moods are going sour,
All I do is put in a few good compliments--point out the good--
And everything changes.


Incredible I tell ya.
And SO needed at the start of this New Year.
And the end of the holiday season.


Try Operation Kindness.
It works.


Top 10 for the Week:
January 6th, 2014


10.  Sick Again.  Ugh.  My digestive system has been out of whack again!  I've concluded it's to accidentally having gluten somewhere, sometime.  NOT fun.  One whole day was spent at home JUST for this reason.  Lesson Learned:  I need to be more careful.


9.  Nap time Success.  TWO days this week the kids BOTH took a nap.  Awesome.  Never happens.  TWICE this week it did:o)  Nice break for me!


8.  TV Time.  We were snowed in and home for FOUR days.  You get bored.  Restless.  You watch TV.  I found a channel that was doing a Little House on the Prairie marathon.  Mal LOVED them.  Kept asking for me to turn the channel to this!  It was cute...and brought back memories for me.


7.  House Back in Order.  Our house is finally getting back to order after a month of running and enjoying the holidays.  Just don't look in our closets:o)  But we are getting there! 


6.  Dance Time.  I had the privilege of watching a pirate and pink ballerina dance this week.  Best
 show I've watched in a long time!  Kids enjoyed it as well.


5.  Crochet.  I learned a new crochet stitch this week--the popcorn stitch.  Making an afghan for our living room.  I also taught myself (thank-you Internet!) how to make crocheted hearts.  SO adorable.  SO easy!


4.  January Birthdays.  The start of celebrating January birthdays has begun!  We had our dear friend's daughter, Hannah (turned 7) and our nephew, Ben ( turned 5) this past weekend.  SO much fun to get together and watch these little ones grow.  Mallory's is this weekend.  She will be 5 as well.  Crazy, I tell ya.


3.  Clayisms.  Clay had his hearing tested on Friday and it was SUPERB!  The man who tested him was SO great!  He loved Clay.  But then again, who doesn't?!?!  One check off the list.  He's really taking off on his language.  He's on a roll with -uck and -ouch endings.  Stuck, truck, touch, ouch.  His effort was strong this week.  Second syllables are coming out!  It is SO exciting for us!  He's still SO boy.  While out in the garage this week, he turned the boiler off.  It's just like a light switch.  Well, with the temperature being 0 degrees outside...our house cooled off rather quickly.  All of a sudden I realized the temperature in the house was at like 63.  SO not the temperature for me!  Started thinking about it, and realized it had to be him down in the garage.  Sure enough--the switch was turned on off.  He actually did it twice, but I quickly realized it the second time. 


2.  Malloryisms.  She's really growing up.  Her thinking and mannerisms are of an older child.  Seriously.  She catches things--in conversations and situations--that a normal 5 year old wouldn't.  She truly is a sweet, gentle sister.  With Operation Kindness in effect this week, I noticed such a BIG change from her.  Especially to her brother.  He adores her and she feels the same exact way about him.  I love how close they are to each other.  In fact, after 3 weeks of being home, Mal's first day back to school was a little rough on both of them.  He didn't leave her side after she got home.  And she right away wanted to play with Clay and be around him.  I know this will not always be the case.  But I am loving these moments right now. 


1.  Snowed IN!  I really thought I'd lose my mind.  But I actually gained some sanity!  And some REAL time with my kiddos.  We did SO much.  In the HOUSE.  I dressed the kids up as mummy's using TP, made our OWN ice cream (not with snow), made an obstacle course, brought REAL snow inside, used cotton balls for a pretend snow ball fight, played our Wii (that hasn't been played with in years!), and SO much more.  Jay actually stayed home on Monday--he couldn't get out of our driveway--so he was even able to join in some of our fun.  With Operation Kindness in effect, it was a true pleasure.  And I would totally do it all over again:o) 


It's Monday people!
And we are celebrating a birthday this weekend!:o)
Woohoo!


Hope you have a great week!!
Until next week,
Mrs. Newell