McLaughlin Clan: Puddle Stomping Joy

Monday, January 18, 2010

Puddle Stomping Joy

I have great memories of puddle stomping in the California rain up and down Edenpark Drive when I was a little girl. We didn't have goulaches...

sometimes we'd do it barefoot, but my mom taught us how to

find joy in the simple things.

Today it poured rain longer & harder than it has in a LONG time. It poured and poured and poured until the streets were flooded and I couldn't help but share some puddle-stomping joy with my kids and their friends. Capped off with a cup of hot chocolate, chocolate chip cookies, and homemade bread (not all at once), it was the perfect afternoon to cure any blues.

5 comments:

Teresa Beth Brower Timms said...: So nice to see the tradition lives on. When it's a warm rain, do it bare footed - it's WONDERFUL.

I find myself "snow" stomping and making snow angels - Kelly doesn't get it - guess I'll never grow up!; January 19, 2010 at 7:14 AM
Heather said...: What sweet pictures! Mattie is always asking to stomp in the puddles, and I think that this year I might just buy her some goulashes and let her go to town! It rains quite a bit here, so I'm sure she'll get lots of use out of them! Thanks for inspiring me.; January 19, 2010 at 8:47 AM
brooke said...: fun!!! i loved puddle-stomping growing up. i need to teach my children the same. this is supposed to be a great week to do it too!; January 19, 2010 at 9:33 AM
Carrie said...: Great pictures! The only time it is a little annoying is when you are on your way into school and your child decides to take a leap into a nice size puddle. How can a 6 year old boy resist!

For us old folk puddle-stomping sounds like great stress relief!; January 19, 2010 at 3:50 PM
Tammi said...: Adorable pics, Shay! CRAZY storm, huh? So sorry to hear the news about Curt's job...we'll keep you in our prayers...LOVE Those quilts you made for ALL your munchkins. You just kill me (and make me look bad) with all your many talents!; January 29, 2010 at 12:27 AM

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"Mom, how come that moon is following us wherever we go?" --Izzie 2/17/10

While eating a pear...."But if I eat a seed, a flower will grow in my mouth."-Lexie 1/19/10

"Don't even try to make this our cuddle time, cause that just doesn't work for me." -lexie when I try to cuddle her before bed & call it our cuddle time.

"I can't stop hugging you, Mom!" -lexie everyday

"I want my name to be Uniqua..you know, from the Backyardigans." -lexie 2/5/09

Izzie says, "That was Izzie" when pushing the Staples 'that was easy button.' -Izzie 1/09

After returning home from the movies Izzie exclaimed, "blankie!!! I missed you!" 11/27 /08

"Mom, do I have sprinkles on my face like you?" (I think she meant freckles) -Lexie 11/20/08

"How do raisins get in our fingers when we're in the bath too long?" -Lexie 11/18/08

"Where did the other one half of the moon go?" Izzie 11/08, when looking at a half-moon in the sky.

"I'm pretty sure that's a caminel over there..." Said Lexie while looking in a pasture at the horses--thinking they were camels. 10/15/08

McKenzie hurt her wrist and wrapped it up all the while complaining how it hurts so bad..."I probably have ortholitis or something." 10/12/08

We were headed out the door to go visiting teaching and Izzie said, "when we get there, no running, no whining, no yelling!" At least she can ramble off proper manners unprovoked! 9/25/08

"I'm dramatic and exhausted," exclaimed Lexie after playing at the park." 8/9/08

"Mom...can Brother and Sister Cox (her Sunbeam Teachers just released) sleep over at my house? I'll let Sister Cox sleep in my bed and brother Cox can sleep downstairs." --Lexie 7/6/08

I have repeatedly asked Izzie how old she's going to be on her birthday...consistently, with a ginormous grin on her face she replies, "six and a hab (half)!" She makes me laugh, my little two year old turning THREE! 6/2008

Out of the blue this morning Lexie came to me and exclaimed, "The Parry's need a brother...they don't have one, so I'm giving them Monson. He teases me so they can have him." 6/9/08

I was rocking Lexie and she looked up at our family photo before she was born. She got tears in her eyes and became a little upset because she wasn't in the picture as I explained she was still in heaven. This morning we were looking at baby pictures of Curt, as Vivs is his twin at one (who knew?!) and Lexie said, "Where am I in that picture?" We told her she was in heaven, to which she replied, "I don't want to be in heaven anymore when I'm not in the pictures." 5/23/08

We were reading about our Prophet, President Monson, in the Friend magazine tonight. Izzie said, "No, it's not President Monson, it's President Brayden!" Izzie makes me laugh. 5/8/08

"Patty pake patty pake bakers man, snow it, roll it as fast as you can." Sounds more like making a snowman than playing patty cake!-
Izzie's version 3/14/08

As we were driving today I pulled down my visor and opened the mirror to make sure nothing was in my teeth. Lexie saw this and like she discovered treasure she excitedly said, "MOM! You have a mirror there???" And then very frankly & sharply said, "You ARE KIDDING ME!" Like it was the greatest invention ever made. 3/10/08

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In her prayers tonight, "Bless that Santa Claus will bring me the rest of my kitchen." Lexie 12/29/07
(she got the pbkids oven...the pie cabinet hasn't arrived yet)

While trying to get to sleep Lexie said, "Mom, I can't sleep without my dreams." -12/14/07

Luckily I knew exactly what Lexie was talking about today while she was sick and said, "Can I have some alligator, Mom?" She meant gatorade...for some reason she calls both gatorade and elevators 'alligator.'

Izzie insisted on wearing pull-ups and then had an accident. I told her pull ups are for big girls and when you go potty on the big toilet you can wear pull-ups and big girl underpants. She replied, "you need to wear pull-ups, Mom!"

"Izzie, what do you want Santa to bring you for Christmas?" Without a beat she responded, "Disneyland!!!"

Lexie was sick for a few weeks so I often kissed her forehead to see if she was feverish. This morning she pointed her head towards me and said, "mommie, smell my fever." I guess she thought that's what I was doing when I put my lips to her forehead-maybe my nose is just too big and she couldn't feel my kiss!!! 11/07

"Can we do Halloween again today?"--Lexie 11/07

"The moon's not going night-night because it doesn't have a bed." --Lexie 10/07

"I can't give you a kiss, Daddy... because I have to check my email." --Lexie 10/07

"My bottom hurts--I need Heavenly Father to give me a new one." --Monson 12/03

"Mommie-turn the rain off."--Lexie 7/06

At 6 years old Brayden declared "Daddy is one of Santa's elves." I said, "What makes you think that?" Bray replied, "Because he has pointy elf ears." --7/03

"If that's an english muffin, what does a spanish muffin look like?"--McKenzie 8/03

Monday, January 18, 2010

Puddle Stomping Joy

5 comments:

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