Happy Birthday Maddie Part 2!

On Maddie's birthday, I took the day off and we had some serious girl fun together! So much fun that Taylor really thinks that we need to do the same on her birthday :) Our day started out with breakfast at a funky and fun shop in down town Olympia- The Bread Peddler. The morning was perfect....a little bacon and some very yummy homemade bread!

Next stop? A treat at a favorite downtown store....Wind Up Here. It melted my heart to see that, even at age 5, she still went for the baby. I am thinking that this might be the last year for babies and it makes me a tiny bit sad.

After our adventures downtown we were ready for a little pampering. If you haven't had your winter pedicure yet, I highly recommend it. It put a new step into my day!

After our pedicures we decided that we wanted to head home, eat lunch and then see where our day would go. We were welcomed by this guy! He had a meeting in our neck of the woods and ended up taking the rest of the day off. Maddie's b-day gift from Dave? A shaved Go-Tee! She's been begging him to get rid of it and so she was quite surprised (and happy) to see it gone.

We ended up staying inside and playing board games for the rest of the day. One of Maddie's new favorite games is Topple (thanks to the Bjella's, Smiths and Brent). We also played a little bit of Apples to Apples and Connect 4.

When Taylor got home from school she desperately wanted to give Maddie the birthday present she had bought for her.

A unicorn pillow pet was high on the list this year and as you can tell by Maddie's face she was happy to receive it!
These two are extremely tight these days (mind you, they have there moments!)and it just makes me SO happy! They are playing together, reading together, making up games together- its hard to describe- but it's great!

Happy 5th Birthday Maddie Girl! We love you!

Happy Birthday Maddie! Part 1.....

Did you know that when you turn 5 you get to have 3, yes, I said it, 3 birthday celebrations? Maddie's first celebration was curtesy of my mom. Maddie's birthday fell on a Tuesday this year and since my mom is always here on Monday's she wanted to throw Maddie an early birthday party. While we were at Ballet, she and Taylor decorated our kitchen and Maddie's bedroom and made Maddie's (one of them) meal- chicken wings, fettucine noodles and green beans with bacon. When they saw the two of us arriving home from Ballet, they turned off all the lights and when Maddie walked in the door they yelled surprise! It was the cutest thing! Cute because Taylor was so excited about what she had done for her sister and cute because Maddie could hardly contain her excitement! It was a special evening. Thanks Grandma Kathy and Taylor!

Here is the banner that Taylor and my mom made for Maddie. I know it's hard to see. If you click on the picture it will enlarge for you :)

Taylor worked really hard to decorate the kitchen for Maddie's big day!

The very happy birthday girl!

The party guests (minus the photographer!)

Taylor insisted on decorating the door to Maddie's bedroom as well! Her friend Molly's family does this and she really wanted to do it as well. I think we've got a new tradition started.

My Birthday!

This was a tough birthday....35? Wow! It hit me hard- as Dave would say, I'm half way to 70 :) I think what made it even worse was the fact that my baby turned 5 only a few short days after my birthday. It made me sad to think that I don't have any more little one's behind her. It made me feel old quite frankly. Not old enough to consider having another one though!

My birthday was actually celebrated a bit late this year- on my big day, Dave had school board and Taylor had been home for 3 days with a high temperature. So, that weekend, we went to Anthony's with my mom, Dave's mom and Jerry. I absolutely LOVE Anthony's and it was a special treat to be dining with the whole family! My favorite part about the night was when Maddie ordered a steak- the life this girl lives, I tell you!

Before we went to dinner though I got to go on a shopping spree at World Market thanks to my mom, Roger and Lynette, my Grandma and Grandpa and Connie and Richard. I've been thinking a lot about getting an entry way bench and they all gave me gift cards to get it! Not only did I have enough gift cards to get the bench, I was able to get four baskets to go under the bench and a matching mirror to go above it. My super husband came right home and assemble everything and hung the mirror that same night! I am in love with my entry way!! Thank you, thank you family!!

It was a nice evening and as usual, I feel so blessed; an amazing husband, 2 wonderful little girls, and a supportive and loving family. I'm a lucky girl!

70th Birthday Party!

We kicked off our birthday week with a 70th birthday party for Dave's mom! It was a fun filled day full of family, friends, laughter and good memories! Happy Birthday Carolyn! We love you!

The party people! Minus the group that arrived late :)

Birthday loves from Maddie girl to her Gram!


We had a strange visitor during the party....Really, Taylor? We love you!

Centerpiece for the food table!

Flowers galore! Fitting for our flower loving Grandma!

And I had to show off my new dessert tower that my mom got me for Christmas! Love it!

Ballet!

Maddie decided that she really, really, really wanted to take ballet. She had already taken a mommy and me (it was actually a Grandma Kathy and me) class when she was three and she just really didn't enjoy it all that much. So I was hesitant to sign her up.

Lets just say I'm glad I did! If not for anything else but for the pure joy on her face when she got to put on these brand new (yes, her very own!) ballet shoes. She insisted on me taking multiple pictures of her new shoes!

She and her friend Macie are in the same class. Maddie did an amazing job of following directions and participating without hesitation! Here are Macie (in the pink) and Maddie (in the black)...I can't resist cute buns in leotards! :)

Maddie is so excited to go back next week! Every morning she asks: "Is it Monday today?" I'm one happy momma! I love that she has something to call her own and that she is loving life!

And to all family members....coming near you in June...hold your breath.....wait for it.....a DANCE recital in June! yes, Papa, this includes you! You are due for a nap right? :)

Basketball, a flat tire and a baptism!

It has been a busy start to the new year in our house! You forget how easy it is to get into "no school" mode and how brutal it is getting back into the groove of things. After 2 weeks, I think we might be back on track :) Here's what's been going on so far this year!

Basketball:

Much to our excitement Taylor decided to play basketball this season! On one condition....that Dave be one of her coaches. Upon signing up, we learned that there were already two other's coaching- thank goodness they let him join them! Let's just say that the team is hysterical, horrible and full of surprises. One of the boys loves to get the ball and run as fast as he can with it to the other end of the hoop- ending with a big slide on his knees, some can't stop talking long enough to hear what's going on ( I love to hear Dave tell me about this! Welcome to my world all day, every day!) and then there is Taylor....our sweet, shy, timid little girl! Picture this. First game. No idea what they are doing. Taylor's stress level shoots up. We all know what happens when she gets stressed out right? She cries. We had to do the whole :"Taylor, you are going back into the game. We know you don't want to but you have to" bit. It was horrible. But you know what? She went back in and even ended up having FUN! She has been practicing all week with Dave- lucky him, outside in the rain. She had her second game yesterday and guess what? She shot and she SCORED!! Of course, did I have my camera? nope. Her face was priceless. I thought, yes, she's got this, she can do this...and then. the most dreadful. thing. happened. she fell. and got a floor burn. You would have thought her world was ending! She did go back in, limping and then managed to fall again on the same knee. And that was the end. Can you say knee pads anyone? Kate Starbird wore them..... We would love for family to come check her out sometime! They play every Saturday until the end of February. All games start at 10 and are at Reeves Middle School. We will you feed you lunch afterwards :)

Taylor's number 59

The big deal in the games is to pass the ball in or to be the one who catches that pass.

I swear...she IS having fun. We just have to work out a few kinks :)

Mom: "Maddie, do you want to play basketball?"
Maddie: "No way mom. I want to do ballet". (She's set to start on Monday!)

Daddy the coach....for those of you who know Dave and his coaching style- you'd be proud of him! Laid back and calm....you should hear him in the car though :)

Go Taylor!

Flat Tire:

Taylor and I were driving up to Everett last weekend for Kylee's baptism (Maddie had to sing at her preschool church that day) and on the way up this is what happened to us. Thankfully, we were only just outside of Olympia and Super Hero Dave came and rescued us.

Baptism:

It was worth it. You have to love watching a new family member being baptized. Look at this beautiful family! L-R....Katie and Kylee, Brent, Jill, Mike, Tim and John.

Happy 2001!

We ended our 2010 and brought in the year 2011 with our friends the Kovals, Gentrys and Longmuir's. It's become a tradition to choose a house, make a ton of food, graze all night on it, play board games (our favorite is Things) and let the kids play together. I love it because it's low key, stress free and FUN! This year was no different! In fact, all the kids are getting older and have become so much more dependent that we even broached the subject of maybe, just maybe next year leaving the kids with grandparents so that we could go stay the night somewhere and have an adult New Years. We are thinking that might be fun for a year and then we would go back to our regular tradition :)

We wish everyone a Happy New Year! I hope it's been off to a great start for everyone!