KiMoNo

Ariel modeling her kimono I made yesterday. I saw this cherry fabric at the fabric store, which happens to be my new favorite hang out--I have decided to give Target a break. Back to my point. I saw this fabric and it matches Ariel's Robeez perfectly and I bought a yard of it. I lay in bed the other night not able to sleep trying to think of what I could make with it. This is what could happen to you too if you move to a small town and your husband works a lot.

Random

I am quickly posting these random photos taken this past week. We made a little vacation out of going to the St Paul temple. We had fun swimming in the hotel pool and lounging in bed with a television. Isaac is a major tree climber. When I cannot find him, I go outside in the back yard and call his name. Consistently he will drop from the bottom branches of some tree. There are several abandoned apple trees where he finds apples to eat. He says he just looks to make sure there are no worm holes. This grosses Mike out.

Tagged again

Everyone in our family has now been tagged except sweet little Ariel. I am sure her turn is coming up so I am including her 6 list with the rest of the family.
Ariel likes:
1.Mom
2.Dad
3.breast milk
4.Isaac and Lucas
5.cheese (what do you expect-she was born in Wisconsin.)
6.baby dolls and dogs

Isaac:
1.I like to go to school
2.I like playing with friends
3.I like to watch movies
4.I like reading books
5.Likes reading and memorizing the Articles of Faith in the scriptures
6.I like making projects and experiments

Lucas:
1.preschool
2.music class (Lucas says "preschool and music class" with such pride. Proof he is big like Isaac.)
3.friends
4.Boots, Dorothy, Glinda, Diego "What about Dora, Lucas?" "Kate likes Dora." he says.
5.baking stuff with mom
6.maraschino cherries

MIKE:
1. I try every night to go to bed early and rarely am successful. When I do, I think it will help me get up early and get more done. I usually end up sleeping just as long.
2. I am the most unorganized, organized person I know. I can't stand not being organized, and am always trying to be organized. You would think I do not have a clue on how to be organized. Always working on it.
3. I hate being late to meetings, especially church- but am usually running late. The clocks in our house, car, my pager are all set ahead, but again this is a challenge. Are you seeing a pattern here? (look at #1 & 2 above)
4. I have the best family. I am always amazed at how blessed I have been.
5. I love reading the news. Fascinated by what is going on in the world.
6. I carry a grudge around that my inventions always get patented by others. Pump sneakers- my idea, tablet notebook- elementary school.

Motherhood

It kinda cracks me up how moms don't let something like a 20 lb human get in their way from getting things done. I am making my kids Halloween costumes and Mike must have thought it was funny how I was trying to balance Ariel while doing it. These photos remind me of all the things I have seen sisters, cousins, and friends do with a child in their arms.
I also wanted an excuse to post some photos of me looking so fabulous. I must have worked on my hair either all day or all night!

TAGGED

I have been tagged by my friend Mandy.
The rules:
A. Each player lists 6 facts/habits about themselves.
B. At the end of the post, the player then tags 6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog, for these rules.

Here are my 6:
1. I LOVE making and creating. The past decade I have realized how much I need a creative outlet. It can be dinner, a sewing project, dinner, painting, gardening. I love the process of planning, implementing, and the satisfaction of a finished result.
2. I enjoy people.
3. I rub my nose. I am usually unaware that I do and hate to catch myself doing it. I think there is a genetic component. I see my sisters do it sometimes too.
4. I eat WAY too much chocolate. I like it in all forms- hot chocolate, brownies, candies, cake, cookies, chocolate syrup, etc.
5. A steaming hot shower always sounds good to me.
6. I like being on the move. For as long as I can remember I have loved going places and doing things.
There you go. Oh, what fun.
The six people I tag are.......
Katie, Laura, Megan, Angie, Cori, Mom, and Annee. I look forward to hearing a little more about you.

Who's the Boss?

This morning Lucas declared, "I'm the boss. Not Soren. Not Jesus."

Christmas Comes Early to the Marions

We opened the front door to send Isaac off to school and this is what we saw. My son yelled, "Mom, there is a big water truck here!" My neighbor over heard him and couldn't stop laughing.

WARNING: Mustache is highly contagious

Happy Belated Birthday Mike!

Love, Larry, Katie, Carter, Chase, Corbin, Caleb, & Chloe

For Good Behavior

For Isaac's good behavior, his first grade teacher let him choose a reward. Isaac wanted to go read to his former kindergarten teacher's class. There couldn't have been a better audience. The only sound was Isaac's voice and the pages turning. It was a lot of fun to watch as Isaac got a little nervous with anticipation and then see him enjoy the good feeling of accomplishment.

Monday Night Football

Fun and Games at Home

After some complications at the airport, I made it home from New York on Tuesday afternoon. Tuesday evening I commented to Mike that somehow during my short vacation I forgot how exhausting motherhood is. During the next three nights, we celebrated Mike's birthday, said goodbye to his mustache, had another party night with games, had Friday night twister and super hero adventures. And Ariel perfected the finger holding walk.

WANTED

In dire need of good music. I am burnt out on the 5 radio stations- 3 christian and 2 country we get here in the middle of Wisconsin. After reading Sara's blog on old music (fight for the right to party) and Mandy's blog looking for running music, I feel inspired to request new music. I know some of you are major music buffs and would love to know what you have on your iPods. I am tiring of my Coldplay and Beastie Boys. The lengthier list the better!

I just got back from New York City yesterday. Couldn't sum it up better than this logo other than adding how crazy I am about my New York friends!

Glinda the Good Witch

My friend Emily in Rochester gave us the McDonald's Madame Alexander dolls Wizard of Oz collection a few weeks ago. I think they were intended to be for Ariel to play with when she got a little older. Well, my boys played with them the entire 3 hour drive home from Emily's house. Lucas still plays with the dolls on a daily basis. This got me thinking it would be fun to have the Marion family dress up in the theme of the Wizard of Oz. Ariel could be a little Dorthy, I could be the Wicked Witch, Isaac wants to be the Tin Man, Mike the Scarecrow, and I was thinking Lucas would enjoy being the Lion. Boy, was I wrong. Lucas insists on being Glinda the Good Witch. We have now talked about it a hundred times. Mike and I told Lucas that the Lion could have a magic wand like just like Glinda. He wasn't having it.

It seems kinda wrong for a mom to dress her little boy out as a beautiful queen/fairy/goddess or whatever she is and have him trick or treating. Today he wants me stop what I am doing and make his Glinda costume.

Devil's Challenge

Our family drove to the Dells Friday night. Wisconsin Dells is a town in Wisconsin comprising mostly of Water parks and Hotels. It boasts the World's largest outdoor and America's largest indoor water parks. We visit the Dells quite frequently and are quickly becoming water slide junkies. Saturday morning Mike participated in the Devil's Challenge Tri in Baraboo, WI which is 18 miles outside of the Dells. We heard it was record setting cold that morning. The water looked amazing with all precipitation coming off of it. The name Devil's challenge seemed appropriate. It is a very hilly scenic course. Mike rocked it and we loved cheering him on. It was thrilling for him to go crazy speeds on his bike, sometimes over 40mph - making me very nervous watching! I was worried about him being so cold since he was a novice on this course and was wearing a short-sleeved shirt and biking shorts and I noticed the veterans were in wet suits, long pants, beanies, jackets, and vests. He said his body was so frozen he couldn't feel his leg muscles which made the burn of the hills painless, but was not able to tell if his legs were going to be too fatigued for the run. I was also a little concerned that Mike's mustache might slow him down and suggested he shave it off and was surprised there were not little ice crystals hanging from it as he got out of the water.

Wild West Stampede Physician and Staff Appreciation Event

We are a family of champions. After I win the gunny sack race Isaac takes the gold in the egg race


Marion kids with the Lonsdale kids who won the well deserved costume contest

Mike, his new mustache, and Ariel arriving at the stampede.

From the looks of Ariel's hat one would never know that her grandfather Marion was a world famous cowboy hat connoisseur

This picture does not lie. I beat out the other 10 and unders for the gunny sack championship

Isaac, Lucas, and Mike competing in the egg race

Quasimodo

This morning when Lucas woke up he came to me and said "Mom, why is my eye closed?". His eye was so swollen he could only open it a sliver. We are assuming it was a bug bite and gratefully tonight his eye is looking much better.

Oxbow Lake

We spent Labor Day weekend at a friend's lakehouse and had a blast. We were up with the "U-pers" = people from the Upper Peninsula = Northwoods = middle of nowhere. What you won't see here are the pictures of leeches on the boys legs, field mice running around, or pictures of a midnight kayak ride with 360 degrees mirror image off the lake. Incredible place to visit.

1st Day of School for Isaac & Lucas

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