Madsen Kiddos: travel

Airport

I was grateful the airport had a playground today. And I've been up over for hours already and it's eight in the morning. Ten more hours. Eighty five more days. I think life goes faster every day...

We spent last weekend in New Hampshire with my family. My grandfather passed away and we were able to drive up to the funeral. I was glad that I went up to visit when my mom was still here. Grandpa seemed like he was in so much pain every day. I still wake up in the night feeling sick so I would hear grandpa. He sounded like he was choking in the night. He had Parkinson's disease and I guess the difficulty swallowing is part of the disease. I didn't know about the pain, or if that was from something else. But I felt glad that Mark got to meet him and that my mom got to see him before he passed away. I also felt glad that he was in a better place, and wouldn't be in so much pain anymore. It's heartbreaking to see someone slowly suffer from a disease that will never get better. I remember my grandpa being so smart and amazing and kind. He always had the best candy stashes and loved presents. I'm honored and lucky that I got to know him.

Baby Mark was very interested in Grandpa. He probably spent the most time hanging out with grandpa. He would go and sit in the chair next to grandpa's bed and watch shows with him. Once he stole grandpa's flashlight and grandpa was concerned he wouldn't give it back. It was interesting to see how much Mark wanted to go hang out and watch shows with grandpa. Mark would tell grandpa about the shows and in his little style it wouldn't make any sense but I don't think Mark noticed and grandpa didn't say anything.

We saw my grandparents on their 54th wedding anniversary. Grandpa reminded him the date and grandpa remembered it was their anniversary. Grandpa or Mr. Ed as we used to call him was bedridden when we visited and he would come out and eat the table with us but he has a hard time eating and after a few minutes he would looked like he was in horrible pain so he would want to go back. I was glad that he got to come sit with us when he wanted and the kids seemed very interested in him. On their anniversary he was out and sitting at the table and grandma made strawberry shortcake. Grandpa reached across the table and held her hand, which looked really painful. I almost started crying because at first Grandma didn't realize what he was trying to do.

It broke my heart a little when Danielle wanted to to with grandpa. I didn't realize how upsetting it was to a child when they loaded the coffin in the car. I wondered if I should have told her about grandpa dying. She wanted to see him and say goodbye but then when he was leaving she was very upset that people were stealing her grandpa.

I didn't cry at the funeral because I was worried I would have a hard time since I'm pregnant and I didn't want to get started. Danielle was very sad. She loved grandpa. I tried to prepare the kids before we drove up there and I've heard that small children don't really understand what death means. I don't remember anyone in my family dying until my grandpa Sharp died, and I was a teenager.

Danielle loves grandpa a lot. She wanted to draw him pictures so he could see them from heaven. She drew him some beautiful mermaids and princesses in New Hampshire and when we came home she drew a happy family.

Weekend Trip

here I am with my crazy eye. did you notice that Claire squints in some photos? I had to search for one but here she is- doing the same squint I do. Now THAT is what family is all about- searching through photos to find one where you look related.

I went to Portland last weekend. I saw the beautiful Sarah Pond get married to Joe Cotton. They are adorable. I could just put them in my pocket.
Except I couldn't actually do that because these people are part of the tall club that I wasn't invited to. It was awesome to see people from the area and also eat loads of unhealthy local food I probably should have abstained from. It was so fun to see Claire and Jen and I've decided girl trips RULE. any time John wants to watch the kiddos for a weekend in the right time- but girl trips to weddings- my brain explodes with the possibilities.

I am in love with weddings. Claire is a super good gym partner because she wakes up at the crack of dawn to work out. that is some seriously awesome dedication. Jen is an awesome partner in late night going out because she is there until the end of it all. and she is a good mixer.

not in love with: not having a flash that works- but check out these tall beautiful people. I think they are probably talking about it- oh isn't it nice to be super tall? yes of course and think of the giant basketball player children we will have... I'm glad that even though I'm taller than average I can wear heels and dance with you, and also tower over all of our less beautiful, common, short friends. I could have been a model if I had wanted to, how about you? There is always the next generation I guess...

I think that's how tall people talk.

10 hours on a plane each way with no kids = just a good time to read a book or two.

Home Again Home Again

well given extra time Danielle likes to ask to visit Eddy and Maya and Lucy and Aida. She loves playing with them. so we went to New Jersey so she could see her best friend ever- Eddy. Also it's a little weird when she calls my uncle dad but I'll get over it some day. And Mark and Sara have the coolest bathroom ever. That's all I'm saying.

On the way home we stopped at the dinosaur museum- the Museum of Natural History in Philadelphia. The kiddos loved it. While John was paying at the kiosk I tried to capture a picture of the kids on a bench. Mark was not pleased.

What he was pleased with was the Mark sized automatic faucet in the bathroom. Danielle loved the butterflies- at first she was quite frightened that she was going to step on one and kill it. So frightened she didn't want to move. Maybe we overstressed that lesson. We was also really good at practicing her crocodile walk.

Speaking of frightening Danielle was quite frightened of the tyrannosaurus rex. She told everyone that they walked on two foots. She told the girls that were preserving a new fossilized dinosaur that. And the security guard. and a random stranger she wanted to go home with. at the end of the day we got home and she got to watch dinosaur Dan. She wasn't quite sure why the dinosaurs at the museum weren't just like the one's in the show, but I think she loved it anyway.

Positive Post #7

image from All-Pie-Recipes.blogspot.com

Today wasn't a day where I felt the most positive to be honest. (cue sad music) Tuesday I didn't end up going to Utah because I didn't feel good and Danielle had a fever. Now Mark has been screaming at me all day and wanted to be held. And I'm a walking disaster. Everything I touch seems to break. For example- I over corrected to get off the curb at the bank and rammed my car into a post. I damaged the paint and two panels of my car.
I have a history of hitting poles, but I thought I moved past that stage in life in high school, where I hit stationery objects over five times my senior year. It is so hard to focus when my kids are screaming at me the whole time. Poor Nichole probably wonders what the heck is wrong with me. I could have been at a shop hop and eating Old Spaghetti Factory with my family, who loves me. I wouldn't have hurt my car if I wasn't driving it. I probably wouldn't have had a mini panic attack last night either. boo on that crap.
reflective segue
Maybe I'm being punished for promoting childhood obesity by taking my children to McDonalds and feeding them chicken nuggets. IT IS MONOPOLY TIME THOUGH! I could win. OK probably not but I love monopoly time. a lot. and Danielle had fun on the play place. Mark didn't like it. So he threw chocolate milk on the floor. and ketchup. and ranch dressing, and nuggets, and fries, and everything he could get his hands on. He practiced his screaming skills. I should never chicken out on a trip again.

cue dramatic music:

Then a miracle occured: my children took a nap. Not Child as in Mark but children. They both slept together at the same time. For Two hours. Danielle never takes a nap anymore but I knew if she didn't it would be disastrous for us. As in I shouldn't be around people when I want to curl up in a ball and die or cry. and she went to bed. I cleaned up all the kid stuff and vacuumed.

I don't remember what else I did, but I think it involved nothing productive which is perfect. Milk Duds might have been present.

Then Sister Lord invited me over for apple pie making. I was supposed to bring a young woman but she canceled and I was still invited. So I went. Right now I am eating that apple pie. Some people have told me I wouldn't get along with Sister Lord- but I'm convinced they are wrong. The woman knows how to do a lot of things I want to be able to do. I've decided we are going to be new best friends. I'm going to learn how to smock. I don't have a ton of interest in learning how to cook- if I did I would have learned it from my mom, but I do want to know about French embroidery technique.
I wonder if my mom and Sister Lord would get along... My mom's pretty neat you know, even if she doesn't really like apple pie.

End Positive Post #7

The Road Trip Tryout.

I know you might want to go on a road trip with me and my children. Just the other day I volunteered to drive to Colorado with a friend.

oddly enough, she is no longer interested in road tripping with me.

I don't know why- all we did was drive to the outlets in Lancaster together. Baby Mark cried the whole time. Literally almost the entire 2.5 hour drive in the car he was crying. I tried to time it so he could sleep over his nap time but he had other ideas.

also Danielle fussed about her neck hurting.

and about someone pretending her new bedding was a towel.

and about her headphones getting wrapped up in her hair.

and about being hungry.

and about being thirsty.

she didn't really cry about sharing her game, which I was happy about. Or maybe I just forgot that part.

the girls did try to unbuckle and climb around the car.

and we moved the seats around

and we filled the car too full really.

and Danielle peed her pants in the middle of a store.

Mark finally fell asleep after 12 hours of sleeping- he learned to self soothe from all that great sleep training people recommended to us. I guess Danielle's new big girl seat is too big for her since the seat belt gave her a cut on her neck. I felt terrible when I realized what had happened, just like the whole time the children were crying or complaining I wanted to stop driving and help them. I guess I just don't press on very well, which is probably why it took us 7 hours to drive to New Jersey the other day even though it should have taken 3.5.

I guess if you really want to get somewhere you have to keep driving.

Nichole said I could have warned her.

You can imagine that I was non-plussed, is this not one of the greatest joys of parenting? Don't all children have a constant stream of screaming or complaints in the car?

Danielle, with the help of one dear salesman, learned what Jibbets were, and is now the proud owner of a some which were placed on her new crocs that I bought to replace the urine soaked shoes she had with her. I knew I should have brought along an extra outfit- confirming my faith that my mother's intuition is indeed growing. Also for all you parents if you are buying one light up fairy you should really buy one for each foot or your child will drive you nuts with stomping.

Nichole claims that children like Mark should be able to stay asleep when they fall asleep in the car.

I suppose next she will think it is inappropriate to climb all over furniture at restaurants and try to crawl all over the floor with the baby. I don't know how people ever leave their homes with children. Maybe they have Alien children like Darla that are really good.

Nichole has two girls aged three and two (the three year old is almost four) and they didn't seem to contribute at all to the complaining.

But I think it's important to contribute. I guess I'll be searching for a new friend for road trips with children.

Do you have any road trips planned?

Friends

Mark likes Monte.
Monte likes Mark.
I am glad because mark misses Danielle, who entertained him all day every day before.
Monte comes from a family with pets, so he is really careful around the baby.
Like every dog, Monte knows baby vomit is a tasty treat. He also likes baby food and the smell of diapers. Monte plays with his ball and grouchy Mark laughs.

New Hampshire

Right after moving in to a new house I would recommend driving to New Hampshire. We are now less than six hours away which is pretty nice, and we don't have to drive through New York. Last time I drove up there on my birthday and it took just about 8 hours- 2 of which was spent parked on the freeway. I took a picture.
I couldn't face all the boxes so after moving in Sunday we left on Wednesday. We were able to find some clothes, although they weren't clean.
Danielle really likes Grandpa Ed. I think they are kindred spirits in their love of chocolate. He was in the hospital while we visited, and John helped set up the house for him to come home. Parkinsons has really affected his balance. I went to the baby store with Aunt Sara and got a juice box holder. This is my new favorite item. The one at onestepahead.com is fancier than the one I have and I am considering buying another one. My sister in law Kathryn told me about them at family camp and I saw them. I had to buy one and Danielle loves it. Gone are the days when Danielle squeezes juice all over herself before taking a drink. You can just hand her the holder.
It was nice to see everyone and have John help Mark a little with getting ready for Grandpa. And Danielle got to see grandpa, who shared chocolate with her. She asked for him on the way home.