Is Summer over already?

Terry, Madison and Jack working on their sand castle

Watching the waves

I think one of the reasons Madison liked Tennis

so much is because it is a sport she can play

while wearing a skirt.

This summer has just flown by! I cannot believe Madison will start 1st grade in just 2 days. After T-ball, where Madison's team place 3rd in the tournament, she went to Tennis camp for a week. She liked tennis, but does not want to play in the summer anymore unless we can find an indoor court. It was so hot that week.

Then off to swimming lessons for two weeks in the morning. I cannot believe how far she has come with the swimming. I think I saw some actual swimming this time around. She also enjoyed a week at VBS.

Then mid July we drove the 12 hours to NC. We stayed at the beach for a week and then with my parents for a week and just got back this weekend. Madison loved being in the ocean. I am glad that granddad and uncle Terry like going in the ocean, cause I just cannot enjoy myself in the ocean thinking about all the things that could be swimming around me that can bite or sting. Jack got to touch a baby shark that was caught by a man fishing nearby and thought that was so great, Madison on the other had thought it was to yucky to touch, and of course they like playing in the sand. We have had such a busy summer, but has enjoyed all of it.

Play Ball

This was Madison's first time at bat.


T-ball ready

Madison has been playing t-ball this spring and has had a lot of fun. We are playing thru the local parks and rec league and she is loving it. Madison's team is sponsored by the Fire Dept so they named themselves the fire girls. This is a girl's only league and each team is divided up by the local elementary schools. So half of the girls are in her class and the others she met on the playground at school so it is just one big party for the girls. I have found the secret to get Madison to play sports is to be on an all girls team. The end of season tournament is this Saturday and I think we may do ok. The team has come a long way. At the first game her team reminded me of the bad news bears. The girls did not even realize they had to run after they hit the ball. They got bored in the outfield and played in the dirt. But now, they pay attention and actually throw the ball to the correct base to try to get an out. You have never seen so many pink bats, cleats and gloves. One team even painted their bats pink and put flowers and butterflies on them.

Wish us luck this weekend. A full day of t-ball then off to tennis camp next week...

Happy 6th Birthday Madison

Madison had her birthday party at Chuck E Cheese's this year and she had so much fun with her friends. It snowed the morning of her party which I think kept a lot of non-birthday party people away so we practically had the place to ourselves that Saturday. Madison had fun dancing with Chuck E Cheese, playing games and of course opening all her gifts.

Pierced ears

For her birthday, which is coming up next Wed, Madison decided she wanted to get her ears pierced. We headed over to the mall and I fully expected her to back out especially after we found out that both ears could not be done at once since there was only one sales lady, but she wanted it done. She walked over, picked out her earrings, got in the chair and held on to the teddy bear. After the first ear was pierced, she looked like someone had punched her in the stomach and I thought she was going to cry, but she closed her eyes, sucked it up and got the other ear pierced. No tears! She is such a big girl and was so brave. I was so delightfully surprised there was no drama. Now if I can just survive the Chuck E Cheese party this weekend.

Happy 3rd Birthday Jack

Madison lost her 1st tooth

Madison finally lost her first tooth. I think she was the very last of her friends here in Arkansas and in SC to loose her first tooth. She has been asking me on a weekly basis for months now when she would loose her tooth. Two days ago she lost it and got her first visit from the tooth fairy. She was so excited.

The Ice Storm

This is the lake that is accross the street from our house. Just a sheet of ice.

Madison and Jack in front of the lake.

We survived the ice storm last week and only lost power for one night. It was soooo cold that night. Our gas stove just doesn't cut it when it is 15 degrees. I used to think that if I was going to be without power, I would rather be in the cold than in the heat, but after being in Houston without power after hurricane Rita and now going thru and ice storm without power, I can offically say they both suck!! There are still so many places around here that don't have power so I am thankful we do. Our church, which is Jacks preschool is running on generators. Madison's school got power back on over the weekend so she was able to go back after being off all last week. It is so sad to see all the trees that snapped under the weight of the ice and are going to have to be cut down and cut back.