Couch Cushions and Back Bends

Liv and I were playing a game where she was the architect, and I was the builder, and we stacked three couch cushions on top of each other. I thought this would make a good spot for me to try a back bend (spoiler: I can't do a back bend). Liv yelled, "That's not what this is for!" and jumped on top of the cushions just as I went to do a back bend. I fell on top of her, and the cushions slid, knocking us both to the ground. "You're squishing me!" Liv said. But when I tried to get up, I could only lift my head up two inches because she was laying on my hair, and I was laying on her. So I was stuck staring at the ceiling, and Liv was stuck being squished. After yelling and giggling for Tyler to help us, he finally saved us by pulling us up at the same time. We are ridiculous.

Life Changes Yet Again for the Madsens

What do you write after an 8 month absence? I guess all the crazy updates.

I spent 3 weeks in Russia last summer and had the time of my life! All that was missing was Tyler and Liv!

I came back and started what I didn't know would be my last semester of grad school. During that semester:

• Liv started preschool at Bloomington United Gymnastics and Soccer and loved it!!
• We found out I was pregnant
• I went home for Amy's bridal shower
• Ran two Color Run 5k with Liv
• We spent most of Thanksgiving break in Chicago (freezing!)
• Tyler received a job offer in Utah with 4Life in their International Department--Eurasia
• I turned 30
• Tyler tiled the bathroom
• We packed up the house
• Moved to Utah
• I passed the Foreign Service Exam!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (A huge goal of mine)
• I interviewed for the job I have now (Director of International Outreach at More Good Foundation)

Apparently we like to have all life-changing news happen at the same time.

Thoughts on Cultural Exchange

The level of cultural exchange that has occurred among the students has been incredible! While at Kuchak, we had the opportunity to really get to know other students.  We had students finding any common language they could: some Americans using German to speak with Russian students if both had studied it in school, some using Russian, others English, and some using me as an interpreter between English and Russian.  We had a fantastic game of volleyball, with Russians versus Americans.  The Russian students won the first round and the Americans the second.  We wondered if we should leave it at that for friendship's sake, but decided to play a third anyway.  The Russians ended up taking the third match, and we all had a great time!  We even went down the line and congratulated all of the players.  One of the Russian students then introduced us to the Russian banya, which is like a sauna.  This was a great cultural experience for all involved, as we got to try something very Russian.  We then took back to the cabins for some card playing, with the Russians teaching the American students "fool," a card game that is very popular here.  The students from Indiana then taught the Russian students how to play Eucher (unsure of spelling here), a card game that is played a lot in Indiana.  Though some of this took place with an interpreter present, much of it did not, and the students were very creative with explaining difficult rules to speakers of other languages.  Instead of playing cards after the first few rounds, I decided to talk to some of the students who weren't playing.  We started with a group of three of us in the hall chatting, but by the end of the conversation, we had attracted quite a few interested students, and our numbers swelled to 8-10.  They were asking me questions about our culture, our educational system, and even our political system, and then I would ask them questions, and we would talk about the similarities and differences.  It was amazing to get to know the students better, and to hear their impressions of us, and to share all of the things that we have enjoyed about being in Russia.  The relationships that have been built reaffirm to me the importance of cultural exchange, study abroad, and language learning.  I have seen how the students on both sides have become more motivated to learn each other's language in order to communicate better.  I have heard several students comment on how wonderful it has been to meet other people in their field who are studying much the same questions as they are.  We look forward to contuing to build these relationships when we return home.

Russia on My Mind

I have had insomnia for days (meaning as soon as I wake up in the night, I can't fall back asleep, so I do get some sleep, just not as much as I'd like), and I woke up at 4:00 am.  After trying unsuccessfully to sleep, I decided to be ridiculous and ask Tyler if he wanted to wake up and bleach my hair, because who doesn't want to do that at 4:20 am?  So here we are, putting foils in my hair, hoping it'll process before I have to leave and catch my shuttle to the airport. Did I mention we're using a pinwheel because we couldn't find a comb?

I am really excited to be going back to Russia, but I'm nervous in a way I haven't experienced yet.  I always miss my family when I'm gone, but it's different now that I have a child.  I have dreaded leaving Liv ever since I was accepted to the program.  I'm so torn between wanting to go to Russia and wanting to just stay and hang out with her.  Luckily, she is excited that she is going on a trip of her own to grandma and grandpa's, and she can't wait to see her cousins!  I think the separation will be harder on me than on her.  I'm also sad to be leaving Tyler, and this will be the longest that we've been apart since we got married.

The good news: I'm going to Russia!  And people want to go to the banya!!! Already a very promising adventure :)  The other students seem like they will be so much fun to get to know better, and they are up for exploring, so I'm very happy!  I also get to visit Moscow on Saturday and see some friends from when I lived there.  It makes me so nostalgic for my summer there in 2009.  That was one of the happiest times in my life, and it will be weird to go back without some of the people that made it so unforgettable (Acia, Eli, and Tyler to be precise).

Here's to more great memories.  Wish me luck!

More

Earlier today I said something along the lines of, "I don't know what I'm doing with my life," and Liv said, "No, it's MY life!" which pretty much sums up why I don't really know. 

She also asked me today if I am writing about doubling in books, which made me realize she's doomed to be a literature major some day. 

We went for a walk yesterday, and Liv saw a guy running past without his shirt on.  She said, "That boy is naked!  Why is that boy naked?"

The other day, she told me I needed to get out of bed so we could go to the florist.  I wondered if she knew what that meant, so I asked her what we would get there, and she told me she wanted blue flowers. Then she brought me a pretend blue flower later.

Liv has really been into dancing and coloring the last few days.  She is really getting her coloring down.  Before, it was just scribbles, but now it is more controlled lines that she can draw.  She's also really fun to dance with.  She has some good moves!

Livisms

Liv just put me in timeout and told me I couldn't write my paper.  This prompted me to write down a few of my favorite things she says now.  There have been so many since I last posted that I will never be able to remember, so I thought I could at least put down the ones that come to mind.

She usually calls me "mommy," but often refers to me as "Mommy Kimberly" or just "Kimberly" especially when we are dropping her off at the babysitters.  I also get "Mommy Domino."  Domino is a horse.  The first name status also extends to Tyler, who is referred to as "Daddy Tyler," "Tyler," or, my favorite, "Tyler Madsen." 

Liv told me today, "I love you forever, mommy." She also told me today, "I like your pretty hair."

Last week when we woke up, she asked me, "Remember me?  Do you remember my name?"  I told her, "Your name is Liv!"  She answered, "Yep, that's right."  She says, "Yes, that's right" fairly often, and in such a matter-of-fact tone. 

Today she said, "I like triangles. They're awesome." 

She is SOOOOO excited to go to preschool.  One day she was so excited that she went out the front door and took off across the parking lot "to go to preschool."  I caught up with her and we went on a walk clear up to the high school.  I still wonder where exactly she thought preschool was that day.  Now she knows that her preschool is over at BUGS, and that she gets to go in the fall.  She gets to do "play gymnastics and soccer."  She asks everyday if she can go to preschool!

She also told me once that she couldn't go to Lydia's because she needed to stay and work on her computer.  She also will say, "Bye, mom.  I'm going to class!"  After a conference I went to on religion in Eastern Europe, she and Tyler came to get me.  Since then, she's asked I am going to conference, if I'm done with my conference, and if she is coming to get me from my conference. 

We've also been teaching her Russian phrases, and she is doing so great with them!

She sings all of the time and loves dancing around the room.

Phone calls

Liv had been wanting to talk to Amy for awhile, so when I was talking to her on the phone yesterday, I let Liv talk to her.  We were in the car running errands, and she just talked and talked and talked to Amy, Grandma, and Grandpa (DeGroff).  She would not let me take the phone back.  She kept telling them all about what she was doing and what was around her.  It was the first time she's had a really long conversation on the phone where you can tell that she knows she is talking to someone.  For a long time she's been able to talk a little on the phone, but was never comfortable just having a long conversation.  Last night, she was telling them about the water she was holding, what she was watching, what she was wearing, etc.  And she kept addressing them by name: "I have sparkle shoes, Grandpa.  I have sparkle shoes, Grandpa.  I have water.  I'm watching signing time.  I love signing time, Grandpa."  It was so cute!  If she felt like they weren't listening or didn't hear, she'd repeat and say there name.  And her intonation was right on when she said, "I love you,  Amy."

Then this morning, she grabbed a pretend phone while I was getting ready and said, "Hello, Liv is here.   Uh huh." She was having the cutest little conversation.  I wish I could get all of these things on camera, because describing them just doesn't do it justice!

Daddy "taked" it

We went shopping yesterday and had some apple slices with us.  Liv had been eating one and took it into the store with us.  She handed it to Tyler, leading him to believe she was done, so he ate it.  Then I came over to them, and she told me she wanted her apple, and that "Daddy taked it!"  It was so hilarious!

Then today on the way to church, Tyler ate the last pretzel, and just after he popped it in his mouth, Liv said she wanted one.  We had to tell her they were gone, and she said, "Daddy ate them all!"

Needless to say, Liv will probably be a little more careful with her food around daddy ;)

Dolphin Show

We took Liv to Indianapolis to the zoo today for the dolphin show.  We ended up going to the 12:30 and the 2:30 show because she loved it so much.  On our way out the second time, she said, "Dolphins are amazing!  They're great jumpers!"  She's already asked us a few times to go back and see them :)

We also loved seeing the seal, elephants, zebras, and the fish.  She liked looking at the sharks, but didn't want to pet one!  I'll post some videos we took.

Violin

Ever since we took Liv to the orchestra concert a few weeks ago, she has been talking about violins and cellos (really, she was before that, but even more now).  She told me she really wanted a violin, so I asked if she would practice every day if I got her one.  She said, "Practice every day.  Promise."  So Tyler and I found an electric violin for kids online today and got it for her birthday.  It looks real, and plays music only when the bow moves across the strings, so it seems realistic.  Can't wait to give it to her!  And we just found out our friend Amanda used to teach kids to play the violin, so we're hoping we can have her teach Liv when the time comes!  We're in the same program, and she just started with me this year, so we'll be here for the same amount of time :)

Keep Your Eye on the Ball

Tyler, Liv, and I were playing catch with her little soccer ball, and Liv was doing a pretty good job of catching it.  One time when she missed, though, Tyler told her to keep her eye on the ball, so she put the ball up to her eye!  Love her!

Another great moment tonight was when she told Tyler and I to "Stay there.  I want a timeout."  It's so exhausting dealing with parents.

Next, she said, "Bye mommy, bye daddy.  I'm going to school!"

She makes being a parent so fun!

Mr. Autumn Man Party and Twinkle Baby Star

We went to Kate and John's "Mr. Autumn Man Walking Down Street with Cup of Coffee, Wearing Sweater Over Plaid Collared Shirt" (basically We Love Fall, but Really Hate Winter) party tonight.  On our way to pick up Amanda and Andrew for the party, Liv was singing in the backseat.  She sang all of the words to Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, but on the last line added in, "Twinkle, twinkle, baby star."  It was so sweet!  I just love her little singing voice!

Between the Halloween party last week and tonight's party, we've been able to see a lot of our friends from school.  It has been so fun to get to spend time with friends from our department!  They really are so great!  I met a girl from the Chekov class, Lizzie, that was really fun to talk to.  She is from the comp lit department, and talking with her and our other friends just reaffirmed how excited I am to be studying literature!  So many fun people were there tonight (Michael, Bryan, Natalie, Alyona, Amanda, Lizzie, Andrew, and Kate and John, of course).  Happy to be studying/friends with such amazing people!

Happy Halloween!

We had most of our Halloween festivities last weekend, so I thought I would actually post today.  We'll be taking Liv trick-or-treating tonight with her friends Jo and Lydia.  She'll be donning the butterfly costume, as the bumble bee costume is a little too small.  And itchy.  After I took these pictures, we took the costume off, and Liv refused to put it back on, due to it being slightly traumatic taking it off--she was pretty stuck in it, and I was afraid we'd have to cut her out.  But we got her out and all is well.  We took Liv to the trunk-or-treat with our ward Friday night.  She went to Tyler first for some candy, and then she and I made the rounds while Tyler handed out pumpkin cookies and candy.  True to form, he made everything look great--he lit candles and brought our pumpkins and table to display everything by the back of our car.  The combination of the candle and pumpkin cookies made our stop a pretty popular one, and the cookies were gone in minutes!

On Saturday, we got a babysitter (Peri, who was so cute with Liv!) and went to Natalie's Halloween party. It was so fun to get to hang out with everyone, and the costumes were amazing!  Alyona was a pioneer (Soviet-style), Melissa had a horse head and wore a fancy dress (by far the most popular costume), our friend Michael came as a member of Pussy Riot (another Russian reference), and so many other great costumes.  Tyler and I went as Viktor Yuschenko and Yulia Tymoshenko (former President and Prime Minister of Ukraine and huge players in the Orange Revolution).  I think it's safe to say we are made for each other!  Who else would dress up like Ukrainian politicians with me? :)   

Here are some photos of our Halloween so far:

Our little bumble bee

Our sweet butterfly (lucky back-up butterfly costume)

Tyler at the trunk-or-treat

Liv's first trick-or-treat, and it's from daddy

Me as Yulia Tymoshenko

Viktor Yuschenko and Yulia Tymoshenko

Us with Alyona as a pioneer

I just love this little face!

Just another sample of some amazing costumes!  Alex and Coady were amazing!

We hope you have a Happy Halloween!

Bedroom 2.0

Ever since Kim and I got engaged, what our bedroom should look like has been a topic of "discussion". When we were selecting items for our wedding gift registry at Target, we realized how incompatible we were for each other. When it came to home decor, we both had very different tastes. Strange, considering how many other things we agree on. Well, I'm happy to say that after two and half years of matrimonial bliss, our tastes have moved much closer together. Here are some pictures of our new bedroom, which is a synthesis--and I think a harmonious one--of our two styles.

And of course, the BEFORE pictures:        blah, blah, blah

The room in progress:

 Note from Kim: As you can see, Tyler really did all the work ;) (Actually, I learned how to use the saw and cut most of the vertical pieces...and then Tyler did pretty much all the rest)

 It turns out Liv is really into this home improvement stuff, too.  We finally broke down and bought her a tool set (pictures to come)

The finished project:

 Except this part.  This is not finished in this picture.  It is in real time, though!

 So our question to you:  Do you like the white and brown bedspread, or the white bedspread?

I'm Studying Literature!!!

I talked to the department, and I am now officially on the literature track of the PhD!  I am so excited!  I have loved linguistics, but I have really missed literature.  Now I can have the best of both worlds :)  I will still finish the MA in Slavic Linguistics, but I will do the MA/PhD in Slavic Literature.  YAY!!!!!!!!!

LOL

Tyler went to get Liv up from her nap, and when he walked in, she said, "Dirty diaper, daddy.  Check it out!"

Liv slapped Tyler twice really quickly, and then when he went to say, "Ouch, Liv, that hurt!" She put her fingers up to her lips and said, "Shhhhhh!" so he couldn't tell her not to hit.

We started a babysitting exchange, and when Venita and Jeph were here to pick up Benson, Liv and Jo were downstairs playing.  Liv yelled up to me from downstairs, "Come here mommy!  Come back here!  Come back here! Right now (in a sing-songy voice still)! RIGHT NOW (not so sing-songy)!!!"

Today at the store, she told the fish, "Goodbye!  Have a fun time!"  Then when we went back over with Tyler, she told the fish, "Come here! This way!" and tried to lead them out of the tanks.  She also pretended to feed them and told them to eat.  But the best by far was when she said, "I love you, fish!"

We were skyping with Tyler's family Sunday, and Liv recognized Dani and Jariek.  When we went to tell them goodybe, we told her to tell grandma goodbye, and "I love you."  Instead, Liv said, "I love you, Jariek!"  So sweet!

Sparkle Shoes, Chili, and Good Helpers

After being sick the last few days, Liv seems to be getting back to her usual self of wandering around, pulling me around after her, and saying fun things.  Tonight we had a chili cook off for the ward, and Liv loved exploring everything.  A few times, she would wander off, and then come to find me and mistakenly grab another blonde woman in the ward instead.  She was pulling on her hand to come follow her and trying to crawl into her lap.  It was really quite funny.

We headed off to Once Upon a Child after the activity and got Liv some new sparkly shoes.  She loves them!  Tonight when we were putting her to bed, she asked to sing Old McDonald Had a Farm. We let her pick the animals to sing about, and about our fifth round, she picked shoes.  So I sang, "a shoe, shoe, here, and a shoe, shoe there," to which she replied, "Sparkle shoes!"  So we did a couple of rounds singing about sparkly shoes, too.

My favorite thing she said today was when Tyler was taking out the garbage.  We were all outside, and as he made his way to the trash, Liv said, "Daddy's taking garbage.  Daddy's a good helper!  You're a good helper, daddy!"  So fun!

We also called Aunt Amy at Liv's request, and got to talk to Grandma and Grandpa Madsen.  She was hoping to talk to Dani, too, but didn't get to.  Liv loves her family!

Favorite Phrases

Liv cracks me up.  She says the funniest things these days.  Like when the DVD stopped working the other day, and she said, "What's going on?" followed shortly thereafter by, "What happened?  What's going on?"

She also yelled at me to "Go in the kitchen!" tonight.  She wanted some privacy, and apparently I was getting too close.  At other times when she wants privacy, she'll say, "No! Stay over there!"  This is then followed by a very sweet, "Hi, mommy," and a wave.

She also asks, "Where did daddy go?"  and "What are you doing?" several times in a row, even when you give her the answer.

A week ago, on the way to the sitters, she said, "Super Why, with the power to read!"

She can sing most of the words to a ton of songs by herself, and I love catching her singing to herself.

Liv also knows almost all her letters (she mixes up u and v with w) and points out letters wherever we go.

She also says really sweet things like, "I love you very much!" and she gives really great hugs :)

AATSEEL Conference Submission

So Tyler, Alyona, and I submitted a proposal to present at the AATSEEL (Association of American Teachers of Slavic and East European Languages) conference that is being held in Wisconsin.  I really hope we get to do it!  Tyler has been painting, so I spent a bit of today working on the proposal.  Alyona had started it off for us, I finished it up, and Tyler made it sound great.  Our working title is: This Isn't Your бабушка's (grandmother's) Textbook:  Moving Toward a Multimedia eFormat in Russian Language Learning.

Little Update

Well, we survived our first and second week of school!  We love our classes, and Liv has loved getting to play with her friends while we are at school.  We've had a great couple of weeks since I last blogged.  Here's a run-down of the happening:

The Friday before school started we had a grad student get together with the other Slavic students at Natalie's house.  We got to meet the two incoming students and see old friends.  The next night, we got together with some friends for a BBQ at the park.  Bonnie and Adam did a fabulous job hosting!  The food was delicious and the company was even better!  Stacie and Spencer, Erica and Jake, Mami and Jeff, and the Waltons were all there.  Liv and Lydia had so much fun playing in the little stream by the park and swinging in the swings.  I'm afraid Liv gets Lydia into things she wouldn't be otherwise, but they just have so much fun!

We have also started going to our new ward--the Clear Creek ward.  We miss seeing our friends from the other ward, but love our new ward, too!  We have seemed to really lucked out here with amazing Sunday School teachers, and this ward has not disappointed!  We loved our lessons from Gordon and Julia in the old ward, and our new teacher is absolutely amazing, too!  I don't know his name yet, but we think he is quite impressive.

Tyler and I have also started our new callings as institute teachers.  We lead the Friday forum.  Last week Tyler made so much good food for it, and Sister Tibbs was so great to cook for us for today's Friday forum.  We have loved getting to know more people through our calling.