Monday, July 28, 2008

Madalyn's Party

We had a family birthday party for Madalyn on Sat. (July 19th). We decided to go to Lions Park to celebrate. The kids rode every ride once and then we all rode the train.

The Horse and Carriage ride

Cailyn (friend)

Becca (friend)

Emily & Josh (cousins)

Madalyn (Birthday Girl)

Gabe (cousin) & Ethan (brother)

The Carousel ride

Jackson & Madalyn

Cailyn, Ethan, Josh & Emily

Gabe

Aunt Amy & Teegan

The Boat ride

Teegan & Emily

Cailyn & Josh

Jackson, Gabe & Madalyn

Ethan & Becca

The Spaceship ride

While all the little kids were having fun at the Kiddie park Uncle Travis, Uncle Clifton, Mason & Bryson when next door to play Putt-Putt Golf. I didn't get any pictures but I know they had a good time. Mason & Bryson wanted to play another game.

The Birthday Cake

Madalyn picked "My Little Pony" for the theme. So I made a cake out of cupcakes. We took Popsicles, water and juice pouches due to the heat from celebrating outside.

This picture was taken before I put the ponies on. Madalyn lifted the cake a little so I could get a good picture. She lifted it just a little too high and the cupcakes started sliding.

I finally got the ponies on and all the writing is gone.

While singing to the birthday girl she leans on her Daddy.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Madalyn through the years...

Madalyn was born on July 16, 2003
6 lb. 0 oz. 19 in.
1 day old (hospital picture)
3 weeks old -Aug. 2003
3 months old - Oct. 2003
5 months old - Dec. 2003
1 year old - July 2004
1st Birthday - July 2004
14 months old - the week Ethan was born
14 months old - 2 weeks after Ethan was born Sept 2004
21 months old - April 2005
2nd Birthday - July 2005
2 years old - Nov. 2005
Halloween 2006

Soccer - Fall 2007

Pre-K - Fall 2007

July 2008

Madalyn's 5th Birthday - July 16, 2008

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MADALYN!!!!

4th of July Fun!!

This year we spent the 4th at my parents. That morning we went to the end of my parents street a watched the parade. The kids all had fun watching the police cars, fire trucks and families riding in the parade. Teegan was a little worried about anybody stepping off the curb onto the blacktop. Ethan did not enjoy the sirens but they all enjoyed the candy. I wish I had remembered my camera but I don't function very well in the morning.

That evening we cooked hamburgers and hot dogs in the backyard. We had lots of family around to enjoy the evening.

Everyone at the party:

Papa & Meme

Pepa & Mema

Aunt Amy, Uncle Chris, Mason, Bryson, Jackson & Teegan

Uncle Travis

Ryan, Heather, Madalyn & Ethan

Grandma Velma (Chris' Mom)

Donella, Dallin, Makay, Riley, Cami, & Elise (Chris' sister and her children)

The kids enjoyed playing on the water slide and the younger ones played in the baby pool and swing set.

Playing "catch - up" continued

I am back to play "catch-up". On Sun. Jun 15th Amy brought Jackson & Teegan to my parents for a few days ( She had cub scout day camp that week). On Mon. we took the kids to the Zoo. It was fun to see the kids enjoy the zoo with cousins.

On Tuesday night we went to Bryan to visit with Ryan's family (especially Elissa and her kids before they went home) and take Jackson & Teegan back.

Wednesday morning we took all the kids to the Bounce for a few hours. This was really fun having all the cousins together (on Ryan's side). Wednesday evening all of Ryan's siblings and spouses went to eat at The Road House. This has become a tradition with us when ever we are all together. We all had a great evening enjoying each others company and catching up.

Thursday (June 19th) I watched Amy's younger kids so she could volunteer at cub scout day camp.

Friday we hurried back to Waco so we could meet with our realtor.

The next weekend Fri. (June 27th) & Sat. (June 28th) Ryan and I helped Amy & Chris with a job they had in Belton filling in an old pool. That was lots of work.

Sunday (June 29th) Amy took Madalyn & Ethan back to Bryan so they could spend a few days with Grandma & Grandpa Bennett.

Wednesday (July 2nd) Ryan started his new job here in Waco.

Thursday Mom and I drove to Belton to pick up Madalyn & Ethan from Amy.

Friday, July 11, 2008

Playing "catch up" (June-July)

Wow! I can't believe it has been a month since I blogged. I feel so disconnected.

Okay everyone you will have to bare with me. This may take a while to recount all that we have done in the last month.

On June 5th we made our first offer on a house. It took about 2 days before we heard back from the seller. She counter offered and so did we. She said she was firm with her counter offer and we decided it was still a great deal on the house so we accepted.

During this negotiation of price we were in RR so Ryan could work and I could pack. Madalyn and Ethan stayed with my parents. Due to some unexpected events this also ended up being Ryan's last week at Firehouse. Which turned out to be really nice. We had Ryan all to our selves for about 3 weeks. Now that he has started his new job the kids are a little confused. They want to know where Daddy is and don't understand why they cannot talk to him whenever they want.

So, Ryan's last day was Sat. June 7th. Sunday went to church to teach our class and make sure we would have help the following Sat. when we were loading up the Uhaul. After Church we drove back to Waco.

We spent this week enjoying time with the kids. We went to the Zoo one day and played outside on the water slide at my parents. We also went swimming at the Baldwins a couple of times.

(Madalyn & Ethan watching the rhinos)
(Madalyn the Butterfly)
(Ethan the Butterfly)
(Madalyn having fun in the pool)
(Ethan discovered that he loves goggles)
(Ethan learned how to hold his breath under water)
(Madalyn & Ethan swimming around)

We were also in our "option period" on our house during this week. So we had the inspection to be at. The good news from the inspector was that this was a structurally sound house. The bad news was that the AC did not work and the tub in the master bathroom needed to be replaced. The seller had the AC in the house replaced now it works great. She is also paying for the tub to be replaced.

On Friday June 13th Ryan and I went back to RR so we could pick up the Uhaul. We got the Uhaul around 9am and went to our storage unit to start loading up. It took us 2 hours to empty out the storage unit. It was really easy b/c we had flat carts to use at the storage place. Our unit was on the second floor of a climate control storage facility. The Uhaul was backed right up to the loading dock for easy loading. Once we were done at the storage unit we went to our apartment and got the truck backed in and ready for loading. It was lunch by this time so we went and grabbed a bite to eat. When we returned we started loading the truck again. We got everything out of the bedroom, closet and kitchen that evening. I was also able to clean the empty rooms.

Saturday morning our help from church was not coming until 10am. Ryan woke up early and we took everything down stairs and put it on a tarp(except for 5 pieces of furniture that I could not help Ryan with). I finished cleaning and we waited for our help to arrive. It took 20 min. to finish with 2 extra people. I vacuumed on last time and then went to the office to turn in our keys. We were on the road to Waco by 10:50am. Ryan & I got cleaned up so we could meet with our realtor to sign some papers after lunch. That evening we unloaded the Uhaul at another storage unit. We only had one person show up from my parents ward. Luckily it only took us about an hour to unload.

While we were unloading the truck Mindi & her family, Marion & Seiko, and Adrienne & her family were at my parents playing on the water slide with my kids. I wish I could have visited more with my good friends that I rarely see. Sorry, Adrienne it was good to see you and your adorable family for the short time that we had.

I helped my mom and a few other people make a memory scrapbook for a Becky Gropp. My mom and Sis. Webb asked everyone to write letters telling Becky how much she means to them. We then put the letters together in a scrapbook.

(Amy, Leigh, Mom, Sally & Myself)

Well I still have more to write about but I think I will stop for now.