The Wii

Last year we were able to try out the Wii at Mike's family Christmas with the Determan's which Maddy was very interested in.

At Christmas this year, we were able to play some Wii with Kelly, Ron, Grandpa and Maddy. Maddy is learning more and more and wanting to do some playing on her own...

She is also getting very good at the drums!!!!

Christmas

Here's a few shots of Maddy at Christmas this year with our family and Mike's family. We have finally bribed her enough to let us put on dresses and jumpers on different days :)

Even though Christmas last year was quite exciting being Maddy's very 1st.. this year proved to be even better. She was actually able to get presents from under the tree to open, tear into them, and check out what the presents were. Even though she didn't know what some were right away, she figured out what they were or how to play with them. In all the excitement she even chose to play with each toy for a little bit before moving on to opening the next. On Christmas Eve we even set out some cookies for Santa and some milk. To Maddy's amazement in the morning they were all gone!!!!!! She just couldn't believe it and couldn't wait to tell Daddy that Santa ate her cookies on the plate. Which made Santa "Naughty, Naughy". gotta love this child. Even better the next day, when Maddy woke up, she insisted that we go check the table again to see if Santa ate more cookies!!!!!! So here's a picture of Maddy from last Christmas and this Christmas.

We also spent some time with Mike's family... Here are Maddy and Evan finally getting along with each other and interacting at Christmas.

Softball

Most of the ENTIRE SUMMER has been spent at various softball games on league nights and tournaments most of the weekends. Really the only night we aren't at a softball game is Tuesdays and Thursdays... of course an occassional Friday if there is no tournament. Maddy is getting pretty accustomed to knowing her way around the diamonds and beginning to wander a little bit farther and farther each time she starts to play. But I guess that also goes with knowing all the people sitting in the stands too. Little miss social butterfly has to make her rounds and say hi and bye and give a little wave to everyone.. A trip to the diamonds is not complete if this doesn't happen. Here's Maddy at the latest tournament right in front of the bleachers so she can be the center of everyone's attention.

What softball post wouldn't be complete if you didn't get to see the 2 families that we spend most of the summer with.

Time is flying by

Time seems to be flying by lately. With the start of school, it seems to have left me little to no time to be talking on the phone or even updating on the computer!!! Most mornings are spent getting Maddy and myself ready for the day before I leave at 7:45 and nights are spent getting Maddy picked up at 4, home to start supper, and spend as much time with Maddy as possible. Though it's been getting colder we've been spending most nights trying to be outside for as long as we can. We've been especially busy at the parks because Maddy loves to run around and swing and of course go down the slides 1,000 times!!! But I guess this is just a sign of all the fun to come now that Maddy is getting older..

A Little Behind and A Little Busy

So it's the midst of the weeks of my last days of vacation..... I have totally slacked on posting anything... and have been reminded again and again to keep everyone updated. Really the month of August has been jam packed full of slowpitch softball for Mike. That pretty much takes up Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday for most of the week. On Monday, Wednesday, Friday mornings for 2 hours I have been working with the 21st Century Program in Clinton to do some fun stuff to get the kids back into the groove of going to school, but without a doubt, don't think i'm doing it without getting paid. Who can't pass up 21.50 an hour!!!!!!! My afternoons have been spent getting my room ready for the upcoming school year, which starts on the 21st of August. I just received my class list of 23 students, so most of the afternoon today will be filled with calling each one of the them to set up a time to meet and let their child come to the room next Wednesday before school starts.

Don't be fooled.. I haven't given up all my time with Maddy. She's been coming to school with me and playing in my room and is getting to know the people in my building.. which is good, considering she is a future Whittier kid :) She loves going outside to play on the playground and has managed to go all the way down the twirly slide with no help!!!!! Because I've been slacking we'll just post some pictures of Maddy from the past few weeks :)

Saturday's Zoo Trip

So life with us has been pretty slow lately. Really just enjoying time that is left of summer vacation before August 18th. On Saturday Maddy and I enjoyed a trip to Niabi Zoo with Grandma and Grandpa. Wherever Maddy pointed, that's where we went. She even got away with riding the carousel two times... just because she pointed and walked back over there :) Here are some pictures from our Zoo Trip!!!!!!

I'm a Poser

As always, our excitement includes getting dressed up and going out in public for lunch or to the store. My little poser today was pretty funny before we left; blowing kisses, smiling, and basically cheese'n it up.

The funniest was right before we left, she decided she needed to take my nice Coach purse and use it as her own to go out with today.

Couldn't Miss Posting This Picture

Just like every other day Maddy and I get to spend lots and lots of quality time together. On Friday, her excitement was playing with Grandma's doll. Usually it's feeding it or giving it a bottle, but Friday was a little bit different. She started sharing her toys and wrapping the doll up in a blanket and telling us to "Shhhhh". Well here is my absolute new favorite picture of Maddy. She was soooooo darn excited to get the doll sitting on her zebra and was even more happy when she was making the zebra go, giving the doll a ride.This is the best face of all time!!!! And like most other days this summer we decided to go out to eat with some friends and catch up for lunch. We sat by the window. Big Mistake!!!! Maddy took it upon herself to wave at EVERYONE that walked by and everyone inside the restaurant we were at. She would wave, and they would wave back and smile. And then she'd give us one of these looks...... Yah kid, I don't know them either, but you waved first!!!

Maddy's Latest Accomplishment

After a long weekend, we have a finally got to relax all week at home. But in this week, Maddy has accomplished one more thing. To my amazement, as I walked out of my room Thursday Maddy was sitting in her seat showing me what she had done. She was holding up her leg and pointing to her foot, showing me that she has put on both of her own shoes. Of course, they weren't on the right feet, but that's okay. So yesterday and so far today all she's wanted to do is put on shoes!!!!!!!

Monday at Grandma's House

We can't go too long without seeing Grandma and Grandpa around this house so we ventured out to Morrison today for some fun. Of course we can't take a trip to Grandma and Papa's without having some ice cream.

Not only did we eat ice cream, but had to do some playing too.

After doing some playing inside, we did some riding on the Kabota and Maddy got her tractor ride with Papa. Maddy's got this thing with wanting to wear her sunglasses. Today after wearing them around, she decided BooBoo needed to wear them too. BooBoo didn't quite agree with what Maddy had in mind though.

4th of July

Thought we better give everyone an up to date picture of Maddy celebrating her 2nd Fourth of July in 2008.

Happy 4th of July!

A little flashback to last year....

Swimming

We played in the pool today.