Christmas Day 2008

We had a great Christmas in Arkansas this year. We almost got all of our moving boxes unpacked before we had to add alot more toys to the mix. And these were big toys this year that seem to take up a lot of room. But the kids loved them. It was a great sunny day and Jack and Madison had a chance to get out and ride their bikes. It is always so much fun to watch kids open their presents and see the look of delight on their faces.

Jack gives 2 thumbs up to the work bench from Nana & Granddad.

All the barbies in my house will be living and cruising in style.

That tire wheel has about 50 matchbox cars. Jack was in heaven when he opened it up.

The grand barbie doll house.

Jack loves riding on his train.

New "old" photos

We had these pictures taken at Madison's school for a fundraiser. We got our $10 photo, but there were so many cute photo's we ended up with a boatload of pictures. I think they turned out pretty good for two kids where were quit sick.

Madison, Jack and Santa 2008

Finally! Jack's 1st picture with Santa.

Getting ready for Christmas

We have been so busy the last couple of weeks. We did not move into our new house until 12/15, which happened to be the week everyone decided to get sick, so we have spent this last week busy as beavers. We got our Christmas tree this past weekend and to our delite, when we pulled up to the Lowes garden center there was a sign....all Christmas trees $5.oo. So we got a 6 ft tree for just $5. There is a small whole where some branches are missing in the back, but put that in the back against the wall and no one would ever know. We got our stocking hung a few days ago and today Madison and I made a ginger bread house, please remember it is the first time either one of us have tried this. Now all there is to do is to go out on Christmas eve day when I can be by myself (Bruce will be off) to pick up a few more presents and I will be all finished.
Whew...I'm starting early next year!

We're back online...

Well we made the move and are now in the northwest corner of Arkansas. I haven't quite figured out if we are in the ozark mountains or the foothills, but it is a beautiful area of the country and I think we are going to like it. Madison is adjusting well to her new school. She only had one melt down when she cried and begged me to take her back to SC so she could be in Ms Thomas' class again. We are making friends and found a great new church. I picked a church from a website I found and when we got there I thought what a small world. The music minister filled in once or twice for the music minister we had at our church in Texas so it was nice to see a familiar face, even though he does not know who we are. We made it thru a month in a two bedroom apt and now we are in a house again and as soon as I get unpacked things will be great. It is much colder here. Yesterday the high was 19! and today only 29... so that is something we are going to have to get used to. I had to go shopping for gloves and hats and warmer coats, since that is something we did not need in Texas and SC. Anyway, if that type of weather keeps up I will be blogging a whole lot more...

Weekend in the Mountains

This weekend was the last before we move so we went up to the mountains to visit Nana and Granddad. Madison and Jack also got to see their favorite aunt and uncle, Ginger and Terry. Madison and Jack had so much fun as they always do when we go up there. They spent the weekend riding piglet (a little motorcyle), playing the drums and playing at jump off rock park.

My little drummer boy...he's a natural.

Madison and Jack had so much fun jumping around on the big rocks. Although Nana almost had a heart attack each time they did thinking they would fall of the rocks or worst the mountain.

Jack taking his first ride with Uncle Terry on piglet.

Madison riding piglet. She was scared at first, but once she started riding, she got the fever and did not want to get off. of course Terry went slow and stayed in the driveway. Next time she wants to take her hello kitty bike helmet so she can ride up and down the mountains.

Kindergarten 2008

Madison has had great year so far. She loves going to school and always asks on Saturday mornings...Do I get to go to school today? She has made lots of friends and apparently is a little social butterfly...she has even had a marriage proposal..well not so much a proposal as Joseph informing her that she will be marrying him when they get older. She even asked me if she was going to have to marry him. I told her she did not have to, but she showed me who he was when I had lunch with her at school and he is a handsome little boy.

A True Princess....

tired from all her princess duties, Madison fell asleep today with all her princess gear on.

Sparks

Madison started back in AWANA's a couple of weeks ago and last night she earned her new red vest and workbook. She memorized John 3:16 and had to say it to her leader without any help. She was so proud of herself. She graduated to Sparks now that she is in Kindergarten.

Jack's First Day of Preschool

Jack started preschool last week and he loves going to school. I think he was most excited that he got his own backpack. When I took him to school, he opened the door, walked in and started playing. I had to make him come back and say good bye to me. I am actually so glad he loves going and not afraid to be away from me for a few hours.

First Day of Kindergarden

Well, I dropped Madison off for her first day of Kindergarden a few hours ago and if Jack and I had not stayed up watching NOGGIN til 1:30 am (I have a love/hate relationship with Benadryl) I might be a little sad that my first born has started school.

It was totally crazy trying to get her to the school. The cars, the people the video cameras. It was a little overwhelming to Madison so I did not get to take many pictures of her at school. Once we got to her class she was ok, she saw a friend she met at the open house and her teachers are great. I know she will have a great time at school.

Jack and Speech Therapy

Jack has been meeting with an Early Interventionist and Speech Therapist for about a month now and I have seen so much of a difference, or maybe I should say have heard a big difference.

He used to grunt and point to want he wanted and now he is actually talking and is understandable. He has been thru tests with different professionals and he always scores average or above average on everything but his expressive language. I love hearing his sweet voice and actually knowing what he wants or wants to show me. He still has a ways to go to get to the average for his age, but afterall he is only 2 1/2 yrs old.

A BIG SHOUT OUT TO MOMS: I have learned more useful information from sitting and talking to other moms at playgroups, by the pool during swimming lessons or at the gym during gymnastics or cheerleading than from any book or doctor or other professional.

THE LATEST: Families can get help for their children with developmental delays. We were referred to a private speech therapist by Jack's dr and found out our insurance does not cover developmental delays. Another mom told me about SC's the Babynet program and there is no income limit and any child that qualifies can get services. So instead of having to pay $260 for an evaluation and $150/wk for an hour of speech therapy, Jack is getting two hrs/wk at no cost. (well not totally free, cause we pay lots and lots of taxes), just kind of excited to see my tax dollars working for me and my family, after working for social services for 10 yrs, I did not think that would ever happen.

Anyway...every state has this program. It is a Federal program that comes thru the Americians with Disibilites Act and mainstreaming children. It may not be called babynet in your state, but you could probaby google early intervention for children in your state and get info. Hope this info may help someone.

The Newest Mustang

Madison starts Kindergarden next week and today we found out who her teacher will be and completed the second part of registration. She got her new school shirt and wanted to wear it right away. She is so excited about starting school.

Our newest family members...

at least for the next few weeks. A Wren (state bird of SC) and her 3 new babies. She built a nest on our upper front porch and by the time we noticed it she had already laid her eggs so we could not get rid of it, then Friday they hatched and we got our first glimse of the three babies this past Saturday morning. Madison has so enjoyed seeing the babies and watching them from the window. We are a little afraid the momma bird might come after us so we are just watching them from the window and taking pictures from the window. Although we are enjoying seeing the babies grow, we do hope it does not take to long for them to fly away since they are getting a bit messy and we are trying to sell our house.

Jam Packed June

After preschool graduation, Madison has had an activity every day of the month and has loved every minute of it.

We started out the first to weeks of the month with swimming lessons. We went to the swim lesson company at the gym where Madison takes gymnastics and cheerleading and these were the greatest lessons I have seen. Madison had so much fun in the pool and hardly knew she was learning to swim. They swim coach starts out by throwing pretend food to the other side of the pool and the two girls had to swim out to do the grocery shopping and bring it back and put it in the basket. They had a dolphin puppet "danny" and he got both girls to put their face in the water. They pretended they were super girls and all this to get them to practice their kicks, floats, water safety and putting their face in the water. By the end of the two weeks Madison, who was at first horrified of being in the water by herself, would get upset with coach Miranda if she tried to help her. She wanted to swim all by herself (and I have video proof). I could not believe what I was seeing.

Then Madison went to cheerleading and tumbling camp. She had so much fun that she was a little upset that I was there to pick her up after only a half day. So the second day, she started with the full day cheerleading camp. She had so much fun and on the last day they had a recitial. Madison was all dolled up in glitter and makeup and did two cheers and a dance routine. She did really well. But she wanted to take the makeup off so fast I could not get a picture of her.

We finished up the month with a week at VBS Outrigger Island. Madison had such a great time. She loved all the music they had for this years theme. She wants to find another church to go to so she can go all over again. But I think one will be enough. This was her first year to be with all the big kids and get to rotate to different activities. Even though she was with her age group the whole time she liked seeing all the big kids and feeling like she was one of them.

Speech Therapy

Well I just finished the book, I mean paperwork, that the Speech and Language Center sent me to fill out to get Jack an appointment. He is not talking much, so his Dr at his two yr check up decided it would be best to send us to speech therpy for an evaluation. The center wanted to know everything about me from the time I got pregnant until the time I gave birth then then they wanted to know everything about Jack from the time he was born until now. I can't even remember what happened yesterday, let alone what happened when I was in a drug induced state ... aka...labor and delivery. Thank goodness for this blog and the little bit of scrapbooking I did, I had to do a little research on my child to find out exactly when some of his milestones occured. The paperwork goes out tommorrow and hopefull my sweet little boy will start talking a lot more soon.

The Reed Family Reunion

This past Saturday, we went to the Reed Family Reunion at the Reed Gold Mine. Madison had so much fun playing with her cousin. They are more like twins than cousins. They are so excited to see each other, they hug and then just play and have the best time together. I also had a good time seeing family that I know as well as those I did not know or have not seen for years and years.

We had a beautiful day to spend at the gold mine, where we learned some family history , took a tour of the mine, pan for gold and end with a family picnic. The Reed Gold Mine is the first documented gold fine in the whole US. It is a NC historic site and a fun place to visit....(see Reed Gold Mine under links).

Jack and Madison in front of an iron ore cart.

cousins : Wyatt, Jack, Madison and Madison

Uncle Terry showing Jack somekind of machine that helped get gold.

Madison and Madison 50 ft underground in a gold mine shaft.

Madison getting to ring the bell that miners would ring if they needed help.

This past Saturday, we went to the Reed Family Reunion at the Reed Gold Mine. Madison had so much fun playing with her cousin. They are more like twins than cousins. They are so excited to see each other, they hug and then just play and have the best time together. I also had a good time seeing family that I know as well as those I did not know or have not seen for years and years.

We had a beautiful day to spend at the gold mine, where we learned some family history , took a tour of the mine, pan for gold and end with a family picnic. The Reed Gold Mine is the first documented gold fine in the whole US. It is a NC historic site and a fun place to visit....(see Reed Gold Mine under links).

Story Book Parade

Yesterday, Madison's school had a story book parade. All the 3 and 4 yr old classes dressed up as their favorite story book character and paraded up and down Main St. All the families and friends lined up on the sidewalk and cheered for all the kids. It was alot of fun and they all had a great time.



You should have seen all the flashes from the cameras. It was
like the paparazzi had spotted a movie star.

The Big Party

group shot with bears


silly face group shot with bears


time for cake


Madison and Sophie


Sophie, Madison and Mary Grace ready to ride



Madison and Kaitlyn getting ready to stuff their bears.




Dominic, Claire, Madison, Kaitlyn and Mary Grace waiting to pick out bear clothes




Jack patiently waiting and watching all the action.







Saturday, Madison and 11 of her friends went to Build-A-Bear Workshop for her 5th birthday party. They all had so much fun building their bears together. They played games and sang songs while building their bears with their bear leader, Britney, who did a great job. Then we headed up to the food court for chick fil la, cake and a ride on the carousal. Madison had a great time at her big party.