Madsen Day 1

I promise he likes it! Really!!!:)

The kids this morning on our way to pick up Emma.

The bike! We will have to come up with a name or something!

So we went to the house last night and got the bike. The family we got it from ended up being some old harp students of mine and a family I LOVE!!! It is funny how we spoke to each other on the phone but didn't put 2 and 2 together until right before we pulled up. THANKS BENNETT FAMILY! IT IS AWESOME!!!

The kids had a great time taking rides around the park last night and this morning Claire asked me if we could take it today on our errands. I told her my legs might not make it to the bank today but maybe someday!:) Our goal today was to pick Emma up from school. I am not sure how far it is but maybe round trip just over a mile or something.

The bike really isn't bad when you get going and me being a total novice at bike riding I am enjoying the gears it has to offer. The only embarrassing thing that happened was when we were at the school picking up Emma today. As we were heading out a couple of kindergartners dodged out in front of us and we toppled over. It was pretty heavy with all the kids and I and needed help from some other moms but I guess if you are going to fall, fall big!:) Nothing like making a total spectacle of yourself in front of all the other moms. The good news is the Madsen totally took care of the kids and no one was hurt. The bad news was I was a bit shaken and had to bike them all home. We will be sure to watch out for those pesky curbs next time!:)

Day 1 of owning a bike that can haul all my kids in one go...SO MUCH FUN!

Soooo excited!

Hello! It has been far too long to recap the past month and a half. Crazy how May seems like December in terms of commitments that you have. I don't know how all you who have kids in "real" school (something other than kindergarten) do it! To keep up is insane.

So I wanted to post that I am beyond excited. What might you ask has me all hopped up? Well Kent and I recently have been contemplating the move from a suburban as our family vehicle to a minivan. Before all you naysayers of minivans get going please remember I have 4 kids 6 and under and 4 car seats. I love my suburban but am getting really sick of putting the $$ into gas rather than other things. So while we have been contemplating this I have been secretly (and not so secret to Kent) coveting the mini vans of bikes. Yes! You read it right I who have not owned a bike since I was 12 am going to make the purchase today. I am sooooooo excited!

Check out the Madsen cargo bikes. Also known as the Madsen cycles. I found a great deal on one from KSL (don't you love KSL?) and am super stoked to start doing playdates, picnics, ice cream runs and so much more in my new minivan bike.

In preparation for the purchase I went to Robert J DeBry to pick up some bike helmets for the kids. The deal for the helmets was too good to pass up. $5 per kids helmet!!! Now they are set and I am to. If only I could pick it up right now!:)

So if you see a mom with 4 kids in a bucket on a bike chances are it is me. Don't be afraid to wave at the kids as I am sure they will be waving back!


I will keep you all posted about how it moves with 4 kids in the back as I am anxious to do the first kindergarten pick up tomorrow at 11:30.

WE DID IT!!!

I had the best time in So Cal with my cousins this past weekend. I never thought that the Ragnar race would be as much fun as it was. I am not a hard core runner but would seriously love to do this again. Check out this AMAZING video my cousin Padgett put together of our adventure!

ROCK ON TIBBY'S TRACKSTARS!!! (We have a lot more cousins to help run next year. We might have to have a Roy's Rockstars added to our team!:)



p.s. does anyone know how to make my video fit the screen? It is cutting off half the movie! Thanks!

Crazy or Fun?

I am heading down to So Cal with Kent and my family to run my first Ragnar next week. This is monumental in the fact that
a) it will be the first night away for Kent and I alone without the kids since the boys were born. Nothing like spending it with 10 other sweaty people for 24hours plus in 2 suburbans!:)
b) I haven't ran a race...or really ran since before the boys were born.
c) I will finally have a visual of what Kent really does!

Thanks Simmons/Morgan cousins who have agreed to this crazy adventure and make our team possible.

ROCK ON Tibby's Trackstars! ROCK ON!

Happy Birthday Boys!

Tomorrow Mack and Morgan turn 2. I really can't believe it! Kent and I were talking about how the memory of their birth day is still vivid in our minds and that 2 years really does seem to fly by. In hindsight. The reality of having the boys these past 2 years has been slow moments and days but quick years.

We have been through a lot the past 2 years as a family and looking back I feel like the Lord blessed us with the boys so that we couldn't worry to much about the day to day things. We have just been in survival mode and have not had a chance to worry at details really. Probably a good thing!:)

These guys are so adorable and fun and sweet that I feel extremely lucky to be their mom! I still don't know how we have done it and honestly can't believe most of the time that they are mine. I love them both so much though and can't wait for more years and more birthdays!

Happy Birthday Mack and Mo! We love you!!!

love,
Mom, Dad, Emma and Claire

Need Help!

Before you get worried we are all just fine in our house! All is well and by some miracle we are all healthy.

I need blog lands help though. I want to teach my harp students this year about classical composers. Not just famous harpists but really open their eyes to a bit of the amazing classical world. I want to somehow help them be well rounded musicians not just well rounded harpists (if there is such a thing!)

So I am trying to come up with a list of AMAZING classical composers that we can learn about. I am thinking one a month (at group lessons) then possibly having a little quiz the next month or something like that.

There are so many composers that I love and want to share with them but the ages of my students range from 3-18. I want to somehow keep it light and memorable. Does anyone have suggestions?

I know the greats like Beethoven, Mozart and Bach but what others do you like?

Kids say the craziest things...

Claire has been so funny lately I can't help but write a few of her "moments" down.

So the other day she was telling me that tomorrow she would be going away to college. She was very adamant that this was going to happen and even packed a box with all the things she would need. Her pillow pet, her doll, some dishes from a tea set, her blanket and some clothes. She was then getting ready to go to bed and I told her I would miss her a lot while she was away and she told me "mom. I just received a text from my dear friend who told me that we are not going to college tomorrow. So I will be staying home!" It had me laughing so hard I couldn't say good night to her. Thank goodness she is not even going to preschool yet. I would miss her terribly!

She has also been watching a lot of this bear movie and they always ask the viewer "what do you like to practice every day?" and Claire's answer is, "Harp." Yep. Claire started harp lessons two weeks ago and has been such a joy to practice with. Whether or not it will last when the newness has worn off I don't know. I am just riding the good wave with this one.:)

Then today she had to get two shots. After the deed was done she told me with tears coming down her cheeks, "mom. Dad is going to hear it today. Shots are NOT fun and I am not having a good day!" Seriously. Where does she get these lines?!

I think the best news and biggest step for us is that this past week was her last speech therapy. Yes. She has officially caught up to her age group and our therapist told us she didn't need to come anymore. We are sad to see Jean go since she has been such a HUGE part of our lives but thrilled that we made it to this point. AMAZING!

Hope you have a great week! We are.:)