Worm Lover

This girl loves worms, hates bugs, is scared of ladybugs, but loves, LOVES worms. She plays with them, names them, and then when they stop moving or "break into smaller pieces" she is begging for more.

She also develops whole families of worms. She tells them who their Mommy is, Grandpy is, and even gives them kisses.

Who do she get this from?? It's definately NOT me!!

Soccer! Soccer! Soccer!

Soccer

Day 1:

What? You can't find Madelyn in this picture? Oh right, the first day of soccer was a disaster!! We had been practicing in the backyard and she was all excited about it and playing with some of her friends but it went downhill quickly. In the car she refused to put socks and shoes on. So after about ten minutes of arguing, bribes that didn't work, and threats of time-out she finally walked to the soccer field BAREFOOT. Once we got on the field, her team was assembled and ready but she still refused to put on shoes so I told her an ant would bite her toes if she didn't put her socks and shoes on. So she promptly sat down and put them on only to then refuse to stand up. So I told her that an ant would bite her bottom. Thank goodness my little white lies worked and she stood up looking ready to go, except for the scowl on her face and the white knuckle grip she had on my hands. And by now we were fifteen minutes into practice and I had to go back to school for Fine Arts Fair. Whew, I handed her offer to Coach Daddy with a quick good luck glance, and I listened to her scream "Mooommmyyyy!" all the way to the parking lot. Matt said she eventually stopped screaming but wouldn't let him do any coaching.

Day 2:

It would be an understatement to say that we were nervous about the rest of the soccer practices/games. We were just hoping for a slight improvement each time but we were pleasantly suprised when she willingly put on her soccer gear and got out of the car to the field without any protest. She didn't want to leave me but hanging onto Matt with a death grip made it much easier.

Getting a stern talk from Coach Daddy

She even participated a little!

Day 3 and Beyond:

Even though she never let go of Matt for more than a few seconds she did start to open up and enjoy herself a little! I know Matt was frustrated because he isn't shy and cautious at all and therefore doesn't understand her sometimes but he really enjoyed interacting with her and all her little buddies.

Don't be fooled, she's not running after the ball, Matt broke free from her death grip and she is running after him, oh well!

Summertime Fun!

This is how we spent last week in the beautiful weather...

Closer,

Closer,
Got it!

And summer is just begining...

Cotton Candy Kiddo

One of the greatest Christmas gifts Courtney and I ever received was a cotton candy maker!! My parents have held onto it all these years and now Madelyn is enjoying the same sugary snack we did!!

Is it ready yet?

Sugary Heaven

Tall Tales

Our conversation on the way home from school yesterday sounded like this:

Madelyn: "My eye hurts...because one time a bird bit me... in the eye...with it's beak...when I was sitting in the mud...wearing my sparkley silver shoes...eating vanilla wafers...when I was a little baby."

Me: "What?" (that is only thing I could think of to say)


And our bedtime conversation from yesterday sounded like this:

Madelyn: "Can you tell me a story?"

Me: "Which one?"

Madelyn: "The one about Courtney and the dog"
(I've been telling bedtime stories about some of our childhood memories and I use my sister Courtney and myself in all the stories, her favorite involves Aunt Courtney and getting her dog Jasper for Christmas.)

Me: "Once upon a time..."

Madelyn: "Mommy, remember when Courtney was tiny...like as tiny as my pinky...after she was an alligator?"

Me: "No, I don't recall that one!"

My Favorite Things

In no particular order:

1. Holding hands with my hubby

2. Waking up early with everyone else still asleep to sip my coffee, read a book, and mentally prepare for the day

3. A really, really good book. (Recently read: The 19th Wife and The Glass Castle both are great reads

4. Late Harvest Vignoles from Holyfield Winery

5. Singing Jingle Bells and Oh Christmas Tree every night with Madelyn (yes, even in May)

6. Time for scrapbooking

7. Our Jack LaLanne Juicer

8. The way I feel after the treadmill and stepper

9. My Mom's coconut cream pie

10. Lilacs

Chocolate Milk Madness

She can definately fend for herself around our house!

The chocolate is the best part anyway!