::Madi and the Big Debate::

Before I post the wonderful details of our experiences at the Temple last Saturday{that will be in my NEXT post so this won't be forever long}, I'm going to preface it with a story.  A story of wit, cunning, attempted trickery and a little girl too smart for her own good...

So, last week I realized that the girls have to have white earrings in {and since we just pierced them a few months ago, they HAVE to have them in}, problem: Madi has sensitive ears {courtesy of her mom, sorry about that babe!} and thus, her ears hurt when we change her earrings.  In fact, she hasn't let me change them for over a month!  {Yes, my little girl was the one wearing pink earrings with her Christmas dress.  No one else cared but me, I know, I know.}  I thought about this problem and, I thought, came up with a very smart solution.  I hid Madi's earrings in my pocket, brought a hand mirror and sat next to Madi while she was coloring.  The scene played out like this:

Tiffany: "Hey Madi, do you know where we're going this weekend?"
Madi: "The Temple!"
Tiffany: "That's right!  And did you know that the Temple is SO special that when we're inside, everyone wears white.  All the dresses are white, the shoes are white, even the BOYS dress in white!"
Madi: "Wow!  That's cool, Mom!  But what about my hair?  Does it have to be white?"
Tiffany: "No, you can just wear a white flower, ok?"
Madi: "Oh, ok."  She thinks for a second and then gasps.  "Mom!  What about my earrings?!"  I was TOTALLY amazed that she actually thought of that by herself!  So, now I'm thinking this is going to work, the spirit is on my side, right?... Wait and see for yourself.
Tiffany: "Heavenly Father wants them to be white too.  Here, look in this mirror and tell me what color your earrings are."  She looks at one, then the other.
Madi: "Mom, they're pink."
Tiffany: "Do you think Heavenly Father would want you to wear pink earrings in the Temple?"
Madi: "No, I don't think he would."  I pull out Madi's earrings and ask her to pick out the white pair, which she does.
Tiffany: "So, Madison, what do you think we should do?  Should we change your earrings for Heavenly Father?"  Oh, I just knew I had this one in the bag!
Madi: Thinks for a bit, then says "Hmmmmmmm.  I think..........................................................  I don't want to go to the Temple."

I KNOW, RIGHT?!  Where does this kid COME from?  So, I'm trying to not bust up laughing, and grasping at anything I can trying to still come back and win this debate.

Tiffany: "Well, Madi... it's really exciting that we get to go to the Temple.  We'll get to have Sister Sue sealed to our family so she can be ours forever!  And only really nice people get to go in the Temple.  Mommies and Daddies who go to church and pay their tithing, and at very SPECIAL times very good little boys and girls get to go in with their Mommy's and Daddy's.  Aren't you excited to get to go in the Temple?"
Madi: She thinks for a bit again then, "Mom, I was mean to Bear {our dog}.  I hit him and told him 'No bark' so they won't let me in.  Sorry."
Tiffany: "Oh, Madi!  Heavenly Father will forgive you, so it's ok.  You can still go."
Madi: "He doesn't care if I'm mean to Bear?"  I tell her no and try to steer the conversation in a new direction... Bribery.
Tiffany: "Ok, Madison.  If you'll let me change your earrings, we'll go to the store and you can pick out ANY toy you want.  You can get a toy {"Mom, I have lots of toys."}, or a new puzzle {"Mom, I have lots of puzzles."}, or a new book {"Mom, I have lots of books."}!  You could get anyting you want! {"Mom, I have lots of stuff, I don't need anything else, but thanks."}

WHOSE KID IS THIS?!?!  She's definately not MY child!  Oh, wait.  She's CLINT'S offspring... that explains it.  {He was SO proud when I got to this point in the story}

Tiffany: "Alright, Madi.  You have 3 choices.  You can either let me change your earrings right now and get a prize at the store.  OR I will sit on you and change them anyway.  OR I will sneak into your room tonight when you are sleeping and change them while you sleep!"
Madi: Contemplates her options, carefully weighs the pros and cons then decides: "I think you better change them when I'm sleeping tonight Mom."

So that's what I did.

If this is what I am faced with when she's 3 1/2, what ON EARTH will she be like when she's 13?  That is one ridiculously smart girl, and I am in trouble!

::Exciting Exciting Exciting!!!::

First off, Madi is now a SUNBEAM! 

Wha...?  Whe...?  How in the...?  Yeah, I know.  I'm right there with ya.  She did great after the first 10 minutes of being "too shy" or "too sad" or wanting "my OLD class!".  They said that once she got comfortable, she was singing {or, trying to sing} along with all the big kids and wanted to be a part of everything.  :0)  Fun fun and crazy insane!

Second, we went to court this morning and FINALIZED OUR ADOPTION!!! 

Maelee Namakaokeahi is now officially and legally our daughter!  So EXCITING!!  She will be sealed to us Saturday, January 16th at 9:45am {if you would like to come, please be there by 9:15} and we will bless her Sunday, January 17th at 1:00 {here, in our home ward}.  We will have a luncheon at 11:30am at Russell and Jonnet's house for anyone who would like to join us to celebrate this awesome addition to our family.

YAY FOR ADOPTION AND YAY FOR FAMILIES!!!