Our little gardener!

Last week and this week at school, Madison is learning about parts of the plants and different types of plants.  The class is starting a vegetable garden and by the looks of it, Madison is the Head Gardener!

Adding JUST the right amount of dirt

Making sure that they all get a fair start!

Our weekend was really uneventful for her.  Mom and dad got quite a bit ticked off their "TO DO" list.  She did get swimming in on Saturday and then a lot of outside time on Sunday despite the slightly chilly weather.

Babies, Babies, Babies...

Thought I forgot didn't you ....

Madison got her fair share of babies this weekend.  Saturday afternoon we had a get together with Missy and ALL her boys as well as Lisa, Allie, and Jeff.  The newest addition to our neighborhood family is Nicholas!  He's five weeks old and Madison is already in love with him!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Missy won't have to ask her twice if she wants to hold him!

Sunday was the first time in a LONG time that we were able to get together with Emma and her family.  And this is the first time Jeff and I got to meet Emma's baby brother, Grant!  Madison had met him a couple of times at school and couldn't wait to see him again.  Didn't get pictures but just replace the ones above with another baby boy just three weeks old!

A Two Part Weekend

Okay...We're back!  I've heard the comments and I'm going to try my best to keep everyone up to date on Madison's activities.  It will be a bit easier since the weather has turned and we will be spending more time doing fun activities outside!

The weekend started on Thursday for Madison as she went up to NoVa with Nana and Papa to get an extra day of spending time with Mackenzie and Parker. 

Saturday was Parker's second birthday. He's always had a thing for tools and he wanted to share some of his skills with all his friends.  Check out that tool belt around the #2!!!

Activity One...Madison, Parker, Mackenzie, Will and Lily decorating birdhouses.

Activity Two...Playdough (well almost) shaping.

In between all the activities, the children took time to eat their lunch knowing that the
 best part of the afternoon was only minutes away!!!
CUPCAKES!!!

Cupcakes then led to running around the backyard and playing on the swing set. 

Playing then led to a good hard nap!

Parker woke from his nap ready to open his gifts.  

At our house, Sunday mornings means "coffee".
Uncle Mark was so gracious to oblige and I think Mackenzie was okay with that.

The second part of our weekend started when we got home.  Madison and I started a few seeds a couple of weekends ago and it was WAY time to transplant.

Madison helping to build the raised bed frame.

A little soil to give the seedlings a fighting chance.

Emptying the soil into the frame.
Thank goodness she is not too worried about getting her feet dirty!

And it's even more fun kicking around in dirt with a really good friend! 

It's JUST the start of Spring and there is so much more to do!  

Happy Birthday Parker and Happy Spring!!!

Baking, Baking, Baking

I can't pull the mixer out nowadays without a 4 year old with blonde hair and a seven year old covered in fur being in the kitchen!  Madison has really taken to helping me out with baking and even a bit of dinner preparations from time to time.  And of course, I can't step into the kitchen w/o Bullpen being under foot.  Between walking over him (he lays out in the kitchen and takes up the WHOLE kitchen floor) and trying to remember to walk around Madison's stool, it's a mine field in my kitchen when I'm in there baking or cooking!

First, she helped me bake Jeffry a birthday cake...

And that was just the start.  Seems we have been baking every weekend since then!

The weekend before we were in the kitchen making Christmas ornaments for Madison's teachers.  She loved running the mixer and making sure that everything was mixed up JUST right.

Then there is the rolling of the dough.

This past weekend, she and I were off to a Christmas Cookie Exchange playdate.  I picked the cookie, she helped me make them.   Her most favorite part was putting the Hershey Kiss on top!  One for the cookie...one for her :-) (Not really, but almost).

We are all looking forward to next week starting a LONG vacation!  Madison and I are getting 11 whole days together with my mom and dad coming for Christmas and then Jeff's parents coming for New Year's!  It's going to be a very festive ELEVEN days!!!

Parade and Winterfest

Saturday was a VERY busy day for us.  The day started with decorating the house for Christmas and then it was down to Garner to watch the small town parade!  We had a really great time with our friends from down the street.  And the best part was watching the look on the children's faces when Santa finally came down the street.



With the parade behind us, it was time to head down to the city of Raleigh for the Winterfest activities.  Ice skating rink, ferris wheel, carousel, and food vendors all over the place! 

Our first stop was the ferris wheel.  This was Madison's first time... 

"It takes THIS many tickets for the two of us to ride this!"

 The anticipation continued to build (it took awhile since the line was so long).

And the moment finally arrives!!!

She looks like she is having fun on the first go around and then Jeff said she got bored rather quickly.  Guess there was not enough excitement on that ride for her.

The rest of the eventing was spent with friends and checking out the sites.  Another first for Madison that evening was watching a movie on a big screen outside.  She thought that was way too cool!

Happy December everyone!!!

Leaf Blowing

Got home safely on Saturday afternoon.  Sunday there was time for cleaning up the yard.  It appears that ALL (or at least we hope) the leaves fell off the trees while we were gone!  Madison was eager to help...

 

 

She was told if she wanted a pile to run through, she would have to help build the pile.
Oh how quickly she picked up the blower!!!

The pile was then quickly scattered throughout the yard.

 

She went on to help Jeff clean up the yard.
Needless to say, we had a very tired little girl on our hand this evening.
 Monday morning is not going to be very fun! 

Happy Thanksgiving 2012!

For Thanksgiving this year we made our way to Hendersonville, NC to visit with Madison's Uncle David and Carson.  Aunt Debbie and Uncle David, along with Michael and Billy, were also there.  Dinner was awesome!!! And even better that I didn't have to do much to prepare for it!!!  As you can tell, Madison thought the turkey legs were pretty darn good...

Dessert was pretty good too but it was more fun to play with the whipped cream.... 

 

and then have Billy lick it off your face!!!

 

Friday we had to work off dinner.  Went for a hike to find a letterbox in a trail close to David's house.  Carson was able to find it and then it was time to focus on hiking and having a really good time together.