The Perfect Day!!

So bare with me while I tell you about our fabulous day we've been having, thus far....as I type this at 3pm on Monday....there are still plenty of minutes left to be filled with happiness or frustration but we are headed down the pathway of happiness.  To start the day Maddox slept in till like 6.30, PAST the turning on of her green alarm clock....which she has been doing very well with lately.  I got up about 7 and started the daily process of just getting things going for the week. I was able to get 2 loads of laundry done, the kitchen picked up, counters cleaned, and the kitchen floor swept all before KTK woke up at 7.45!! I was a moving machine.  Maddox was OVERLY happy and just in general in a good mood excited to eat one of Grandma Jean's muffins I had frozen from last weekend.  KTK woke up just as happy as lark as well. Maddox showered him with books in the crib while I quick vacuumed the downstairs, the green braided rug and the debris that I had swept up ( best to do the vacuuming without little people underfoot...way more efficient).  I came upstairs to a happy BRO and SIS entertaining themselves.  We all got dressed, brushed teeth, and got ready for the day.  KTK had a quick breakfast and it was off to get Maddox's hair cut.  We had a little wait at the haircut place but the kids literally danced around to the jammin' music until it was Maddox's turn.  She did really well and came out with a fabulous haircut.  Kennon also happily rearranged all the haircare products on the shelves :) We then loaded up and headed for the park. The weather was fabulous this AM and we spent more time than I had planned playing at the playground...!! We were all soakin' up the vitamin D and gettin' in a lot of laughs.  Kennon was all over the place, way more interactive than the last time we were at this playground last fall. Just goes to show his motor skills have really improved. We then hit HyVee where I was pleasantly surprised to have more time with 2 happy kids AND a gallon of milk was only $1.99 and the bags of shredded HyVee cheese were only $1.18 AND we got two free boxes of the expensive organic Kashi cereal ( yes....GRAMMY....lots of bargains..!! )  On the way home I took a detour as it was a nice day I had the sunroof open on the van and decided to check out all the building around our house....it is literally maddening to see all the new houses going up around us!!  The longish drive allowed both kids to fall asleep which actually worked in my favor as they were both happy enough and recharged just a bit to make it through a completely efficient and happy lunch with both kids cleaning their plates of turkey, blueberries, green beans, and organic bunny crackers!!  Their happiness allowed me to get an entire pot of chili on the stove while they were eating and playing with the stacking cups...!!  Then they both went down without a peep and have been sleeping since 1.30PM.  Now if there is someone who knows how to replicate the above day I would likely pay them.  I have gotten so much accomplished AND gotten to spend some great quality happy time with the kiddos.  Now back to the prior format for the blog. I don't have a lot of funny things to write since it has only been a week.

Maddox with her baby at church

Maddox and Eric fixing up the swing set roof.

Kennon headed down the Noah's Ark church slide.

Getting a little 'help' from Maddox above and below....

I envision using this photo in her wedding day/college day collage.....

Maddox decorating her Valentine bag

Maddox and Kennon making quick work of the Valentine stickers they received in the mail from Grammy Papa Dick Grandma Jean and Grandpa Jim

Making OATMEAL cookies

Maddox in her new hand me down sweater from the girls across the street 

I love this shot.....Kennon Papa Dick Maddox Grammy

Great Grandma Berg llooovveess to sit and watch the kids....particularly Kennon

Kennon ready to slide at the park today....56 degrees!

The finished product....a stable roof 

1.  We were saddened to get a letter from the City of Bettendorf this weekend re the possible rezoning of the land to the East of our house. Luckily it is going to be rezoned for single family homes and not commercial but we will be sad to see our great view go.  I"m hoping it won't be for another year or so, looking forward to having corn and tractors in our backyard again this summer.  Eric is going to the council meeting tomorrow evening to see what's up.

2.  We had pink mashed potatoes the other night for Valentine's day....a Knowles family tradition ( next up green- for St. Pat's day).  I made them from scratch and they turned out fabulous and the kids really enjoyed them.  I ALSO had Eric grill us some great chicken from Fareway. I had cut up several pieces and put them on Maddox's plate. After stalling quite a bit and clearing her plate of the potatoes and green beans she counted aloud ' 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.....Mom there are 8 pieces of chicken on my plate....that is too many. You need to take some off!'  I'm not sure if she thought counting them out loud was going to impress me to take some off or what??  She finally finished her plate coaxed with a homemade Valentine treat from my PT friend Katie. Kennon on the other hand had like 3 servings of chicken.

3. Last Monday the kids and I made homemade cranberry oatmeal cookies. I had told Maddox that we were going to make oatmeal cookies and she very quickly said 'I want to make cookies but I don't wanna put oatmeal in them....'     LOL

4.  Saturday evening before church we went to Chipotle for dinner. It is one of our favorite spots and the kids scarf up what I think is relatively healthy food, cheese, brown rice, black beans, and organic white milk. They LOVE to go to Chipotle and are generally in good moods during the visit. Eric and I enjoy it as well as it is perfect for our healthy diet, protein and lots of veggies. Anyhow this time when we arrived Maddox was quick to spot a black lab dog much like Spook, for those of you who knew Spook. This dog was most definitely a working dog as the beautiful lady that was with her was blind.  So we quick had an educational talk about the working dog and Maddox really seemed to get it.  Later in the meal Kennon finally spotted the dog and as loud as he could he shouted repeatedly DOG DOG DOG DOG. Maddox quickly gave HIM the educational lesson on the black lab dog and he quickly quieted down.  He is going to learn so much from her in the coming years.

5.  The kids are REALLLLLY into Finding Nemo these days. They LOVE it and know all the fishes' names.  So most of you know there is Nemo the main fish, then Marlin, Nemo's Dad and then Dori, the blue fish that is played by Ellen DeGeneres who helps Marlin find Nemo. Anyhow I was covering for a co-worker of mine on Friday and was down on the Southwest side of Davenport.  I went to this not so nice house and inside was a nice guy and 2 huge aquariums ( pretty typical for SW Davenport....house falling down but ya got 2 huge aquariums.....oh how I have become accustomed to my nice Bettendorf territory....good for me to go down south again).  Anyhow I could barely do therapy with the guy because I was so mesmerized by the fish..!! I happened to look up at just the right time to see a real live DORI fish.  It was so cool. I immediately told Maddox when I finally got home at 6pm that night...( a long day).  She said ' When I grow bigger can I go to see the Dori fish with you Mom?'   I think we may need to take the kids to the aquarium to see all the real fish.  Even I was like....'wow that is cool to see a real live DORI fish'

6.  BasementUpdate- We will be receiving the 2nd of the 3 bids on Friday at noon. I anticipate we will end up going with this particular builder and he TOO can start in March.  We have really been cleaning out and organizing the basement and it is starting to look like it's ready for some construction.

7. Both kids slept for over 2 hours this afternoon and we just finished a nice chili dinner. There was a fair amount of protesting to get their bowls cleaned but we ended on a fairly high note and Eric is now playing duck duck goose with the kids.

8.  As you can see from the video Maddox has become quite teacher'ish.  She loves to read books to Kennon despite him rarely actually giving her his full attention.  The other day she was 'reading' Kennon and I a book. She had in her hand 'Snowmen at Night' but was actually telling/saying a story about Nikki and Babba and animals and a mitten???? I had no idea what book she was describing but defiintely one from school as I didn't recognize it from anything that we have around here.    I was describing what she was saying to Grammy a few hours later and Grammy was able to identify it as 'The Mitten'  We now have our very own copy of 'The Mitten' compliments of Grammy.

9.  Happy Birthday to Granmda Jean!! She celebrated a BIG day on Saturday. Despite not being with her we were sending her lots of Happy Birthday wishes and love. We love you Grandma Jean.