Smiley Face and Typical Face

NIght Owl

Seeing how Madi often stays up playing in bed til 10pm (after going to bed at 8pm) I figured it would be a fun treat to let her stay up late and go to "Crusade's Junior/Senior Broomball" event at the Cary IceHouse. She was so excited to put on her vest and gloves and hang out with the students. She was a little ice shy at first but warmed up quickly and was running on the ice by the end of the night (which was midnight - yikes). Ash spent her late night out sleeping in the Ergo on my chest - what a trooper. Madison finally got settled into bed about 12:45 am and woke up bright-eyed and ready to go at 7:45 and only took an hour and a half nap today. She is currently in bed right now at 8:45 (after going to bed at 7:30) yelling "mom, can I get up from my nap yet?" This kid is crazy - how does she do it?

Nine Months Old

It's hard to believe this kiddo will be walking and talking before I know it. Ash continues to be sweet spirited - from what I can tell so far - and still a little fussy. She actually spent the last 2 weeks without a cold or runny nose or drool so that was fun! She was a smiley, playful kid - I knew she had in her! She continues to love Madison and they have started "playing" together more each day although it mostly consists of Madi bossing her around and telling her to "follow the rules" or Madi taking Ash's toys away from her. Oh well - it's a start!

Bed Head

A Soaring Imagination

It has been so fun to see the way madison's imagination has taken off especially in the last 2 months. Believe it or not Madison will actually sit in one place and play "doctor" for an hour if you let her. The funny thing is that we dont have a doctor's kit so we use her tools to "fix" people. She usually just cuts everything off - kind of a primitive way to do medicine! She loves playing doctor, teacher and chef. Here are a few pics of her having fun at the Bass' house a few weekends ago while Daniel and I were away at a marriage conference. It was an awesome weekend away to focus on ourselves. We were challenged to really look at ourselves be responsible for our behavior and not blame our spouse. Ouch!

Possibly the Quote of the Month

This could possibly Madison's quote of the month - of course who knows what might come out of her mouth in the next few days...

Scene: Madison has just finished taking a poop on the potty and I asked her to bend over and touch her toes so I could wipe her bottom real good

Madison: Mom, this is like a ballerina does
Mikel: Kind of

Today's Car Conversations

Scene 1:I have just told Madison she gets to stay up late tonight and go bowling with me and the student athletes

Mikel: You want to go bowling with me tonight?
Madison: Yes that would be fun. I could wear my bowling hat.
Mikel: Your bowling hat? What's that? What does that look like?
Madison: My boooowwwwling hat (with a little more emphasis this time like I should have known what she was talking about)
Mikel: Ok, that sounds good (still having no clue what she is referring too or thinking about because I don't even think she knows what bowling is)

Scene 2: Driving home tonight after bowling and then running into Phil, a recent graduate who used to be in Daniel's Bible study, in the parking lot leaving

Madison: Who was that?
Mikel: Phil. Remember Phil? He used to come over to our house for Bible study.
Madison: Yeah, I know Phil. Phil is my friend. Maybe tomorrow Phil can come over to my house and play? That would be fun. Maybe I can show Phil my boobies?
Mikel: No, Madison your boobies are private - you cannot show him those.
Madison: Yeah, and my body is private too and my belly.

Witty's House

We got to spend the second half of the second snow day at Bard's parent's house - who Madi calls "Witty" because Daniel told her Brad was witty one time when he came to ababysit and now it is his permanent name! Madi got to go sledding again, Daniel got to build a big It was really funsnowman with his guy friends and I got to sit with Ash by the outdoor fire while eating s'mores and talking with friends- it does not get much better than that!

Daddy Wins

I continue to get more cautious the older I get and I guess Madison picked up on it. I don't think Daniel set her up for this interview - it just kind of came out of her. Don't worry I was not offended at all and gladly let Daniel take her down the rest of the time.

My First Sled Ride

A Sled Makes All the Difference

After day one of the snow storm, Daniel was really feeling like he had failed as a Dad by not having a sled for us to use. It was kind of a bummer because we knew Madi would love the snow if she could sled in it. So Daniel redeemed himself on day two of the snow storm by going next door and borrowing a sled from our 11 year old neighbor Christopher (who Madi calls Christopher Robin because Aunt Molly got her these Winnie the Pooh books that have Pooh and Piglet and Christopher Robin in them). She had the best time with Daniel going up and down the street! Good job Dad!

Never a Dull Moment

You just never know what to expect when Madison has something to do with it. I am pretty sure I had just settled down with some hot chocolate to read thinking how nice it was that both girls were napping at the same time (something that has been a little off the last couple of days) when Daniel came running in to get the camera and told me I had to come see this. I walked in Madi and Ash's room to find Madison throwing the very last piece of clothing from Ash's 2 drawers into the crib yelling "I did it." She quickly confessed that she "climbed up in Ash's crib and turned the light on and got down real fast" - she really emphasized the real fast part because she knows she is not supposed to be in her crib! Ash was just sitting there in this huge pile of clothes as content as could be. Ash has got some long, entertaining days a ahead of her! The last pic is what I got to do (with Madi's help of course) for the next half hour!