Acting and Birthday Cake

Another type of class has come to end.  This time it was acting!  A HUGE accomplishment was made with weekend when our little girl not only acted out a little play in front of people she didn't know.  She even had a small speaking part and didn't give in to her anxiety!!!!  She made us VERY proud!!!

Standing with classmates

I've posted the play here...First acting class. Click on link to see the video.

Her best friend Alli came along for support. When all the hard work was behind her, she celebrated by playing on the playground.  Isn't that what any budding actor would do? ;-)

Alli and Madison

To make a full day of it, we had lunch and ran a few errands.  Good girls always get frozen yogurt!

Luckily the girls got outside when they did.  As the day progressed, it got so much colder and Sunday was a no go for being outside.  Well, not really...as you will see.

I use Madison's mirror to write little notes of inspiration or just funny things to get her through her days sometimes.  Sunday morning, I woke up to "Happy Brithday, mom!"  Very sweet and thoughtful.  LOVED IT!!!

Jeff and I braved the 16 degree that morning and took Lucy out for her Sunday long walk.  Nobody in their right mind should have been out for more than a pee and a poo with the dog that morning.  The wind froze our faces.  I couldn't wait to get home.  Jokingly, when I walked in the door, I asked Madison if she wanted to go out and play basketball.  Guess it's never too cold for basketball for her.  When I was out for my walk, I had on three layers AND a thick jacket and two pairs of workout pants.  My child, when playing basketball, has on leopard pattern flats (no socks), her flannel pjs, and a jacket, unzipped!!!!  Guess too many clothes would hinder her basket shooting skills!!!!

Check out that move!

And again, Lucy playing defense

My birthday celebration started around noon as we made our way to the local Japanese Steakhouse.  I would like to thank Madison's Uncle David for introducing her to this dining experience.  We would go YEARS between visits to such places; however, now that someone has had a taste, she can't get enough.  We have to reel her in from time to time.  But this was a special day and worth the visit.

Despite having WAY to much for "dunch" we came home to fix our award winning White Chicken Chili.  With the weather turning and knowing the week was going to be SUPER cold, we took the chance to prepare a simple, yet yummy meal for the week to come. Madison has really taken to wanting to help with meal preparation and learn how it's all done.  And Lucy likes to be there for "moral support"...and clean up!  There are days the kitchen just isn't BIG enough!!!

What a wonderful weekend!!! 

I can't thank Madison and Jeff enough for spoiling me on my birthday!  

Love you both very much!!!!  XOXO

Let the Birthdays Begin...

But first, it FINALLY HAPPENED!!!

For what feels like MONTHS we kept trying to pull out Madison's other front tooth. Jeff and I couldn't touch that tooth with a ten foot pole! We couldn't figure out why she didn't want it to come out.  But last Thursday...after much bribing...she finally let Jeff pull the tooth.

It took nothing to come out but she cried and cried and cried.  Moments after it was over, she was all smiles and giggles!!! And so happy that was all behind her.

*******

February starts the beginning of birthday season for us...Alli starts the celebrations.

Ben, Alli, Madison, Nick, and Sam at Chuck E Cheese

The weather last Sunday gave us a taste of Spring.  With time left to kill in the afternoon, we took the girls and dogs up to the tennis courts to skate and throw the ball around.

Lucy, Allie, Madison, and Toby

Playing keep away from Lucy and Toby

Not quite sure what those crazy girls were doing

No, they are not kissing...Toby is trying
to get the ball from Lucy

We are so thankful for good friends, crazy dogs, and wonderful girls who love being together and celebrating the outdoors!!!!

Monday we found out what song they will be doing for her dance recital in May.  After class, she was grinning from ear to ear!  Check out the video...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GVpM1i3Ob4

Super Bowl Weekend 2015

We have to start the week out with Tommy is now officially Toby!!!  To celebrate the name change, we took the fury kids to the tennis courts to play for a bit.

Lucy and Toby playing

This weekend was super quiet.  I got hit with a hard cold starting Friday afternoon.  It hit hardest come Saturday morning.   Staying in bed all day Saturday was not how I planned the weekend.
Lucy summed up how I felt while chilling with Jeff Saturday night.

Lucy with Jeff

Madison took a few pictures of her best friend.  This is the by far the best one.  The others were a bit blurry. What a cute little girl :-)

With the rain holding off on Sunday, what better chance to play a little bit of basketball.  Not only is Madison getting better, but Lucy's doing much better as well.

One of the best ways to get the ball from Lucy

The video is a bit long but it's cute to  see how Lucy plays basketball with Madison.
To see the VIDEO, go to the blog....http://sanfordsaga.blogspot.com/

With illness running through the neighborhood, the neighborhood Super Bowl Party got cancelled. Although I missed hanging out with friends, chatting and drinking, I'm so glad that I get to go to bed tonight not feeling like I've got to have my stomached pumped from eating in so much very good food!!!

Our Super Bowl food spread ;-)

Meeting Tommy

It was a quite weekend at the Sanford's...

The usual Friday night pizza and a movie and Saturday morning acting class.

After dropping Madison off to enjoy an evening with Emma.  Jeff and I went with our neighbor, Lisa, and her daughter, Alli, to check out a possible new member for their family.  Lisa had been searching for months and she finally found the dog that made that connection.

Going home

Alli and Tommy

Tommy's Home!!!

Although they named him Tommy, he will always be Ricky "D"eflate to Jeff and I.  Ricky for Lucy and Deflate for the Patriot DeflateGate scandal that is taking place.  We are so happy for them and can't wait to watch our furry children grow up together!!!!  Congratulations guys!!!

MLK Weekend

What a busy weekend!!!  A beautiful weekend too despite the downpour on Saturday night into Sunday morning.  Our yard is so wet it has NOWHERE to go but sit on top.  There are little puddles and streams t/o the yard.  Makes for many messes but we didn't let that get in the way of our outside activities!

Friday was just like a nice Spring evening.  Nothing like cooking up some PEEPS on an open campfire.

Roasting a Gingerbread man...
Seems so wrong but OH so Tasty!

Saturday was beautiful.  We took advantage of it by getting the kids together and letting them play, play, play.

Sunday started VERY wet and we weren't sure what the day was going to bring.  Since Lucy needed to get out, we took her up to the tennis courts to run around.  She doesn't get NEARLY as dirty and she just runs, and runs, and runs.

There was a threat of more rain during the day so we hit the bowling alley.  Its been awhile for most of us but what a great time. Madison passed on rolling the ball down the ramp and tried throwing the ball like a big girl.  Not too shabby!

The best part of this Sunday was knowing that we had one more day to the weekend.  Our morning started by hoping to catch a free movie at the local library.  However, the library was closed so we made our way into the city.

Watch out NC Museum of Natural Science!!!  With so much to see and do, where do you start?

All that learning works up an appetite.  Spent the afternoon just doing odds and ends.  Seems every shop we hit that afternoon, Madison got comments on her outfit.  Not bad for a six year old fashionesta.

There was just a little time before heading off to dance to play outside.  With a quick outfit change it was time to throw the basket ball around.  Lucy plays great defense!!!

The day was topped off by dance class and preparing for the last full week of track out. 

Frozen Weekend

Christmas is in the air and Madison is the cutest little elf!

Our Frozen weekend finally came!!!  The tickets had been booked for MONTHS!!!!!  There were times when Madison just couldn't contain her excitement.  

Getting ready to leave

The show was fabulous and from the words of a child, "I didn't like it.  I LOVED IT!!!"  She belted those songs out like she was on the stage performing.

The Frozen Crew!

Showed something Madison I used to do as a child.  Love the smell of oranges and gloves.  She started pushing the cloves into the oranges..this is about as far as she got.

Smile

Since being chosen for the accelerated reading class at school, Madison has been working very hard at night and even harder at school.  She's made us very proud of the work she's done.  This week she had testing at school and got high remarks from her teacher for seeing a big improvement in her skills. The weekend before she had also done really well with all the shopping that took place.  To reward her, we took her, for her first experience, to Build-A-Bear.

She insisted on making a Rudolph. It had to be the reindeer.  Very cute and she loves that little Rudy. He even had lunch with us!

With half of December gone already there is still more to see and do!  Gotta love the busy holiday season!!!

Jeff's Birthday Weekend 2014

Nana and Papa came to visit for Jeff's birthday...at least that is what Bonny tells us! ;-)

When you talk to Madison about what we did over the weekend they came to visit and she'll say...Shop, Shop, Shop!!!

Took her out of school early on Friday to hit the outlet mall. Had to get a bit of shopping done for Madison.  She was okay with that, but first stop was lunch at White Swan BBQ.

Papa and Madison

Saturday started VERY early by heading to Mark Hewitt Pottery.  To get the good pottery, you have to get there early.  Bonny (and I) did a little Christmas shopping.  There were a few more retail establishments we needed to hit.  One was Home Depot for the Kids' Workshop and we got one more visit with Santa!

Sunday was stay home and get a bit of work done.  With winter just around the corner, the leaves have almost ALL fell off the trees.  Took advantage of the nice afternoon to get a little leaf blowing done.  Jeff uses the big one and Madison helps out with the smaller one. Makes blowing leaves go a bit faster with a little help.

Madison helping Jeff

While at the Home Depot, I had picked up a few pieces of extra greenery for any "projects" I would have during the Christmas season.  Got one project completed.  What was left was spread through the yard with the help of my Christmas elf!

Lucy helping me

Forgot to post in the Thanksgiving blog that Fred now has his own blog for the Christmas season.  To follow Madison's elf, check out Finding Fred the Elf.