Happy 5th Birthday Madison

Madison with her brand new barbie doll.



Today is Madison's 5th birthday. She is growing up so fast and has become just a beautiful sweet little girl. We started the day with her favorite breakfast of pancakes and she opened one of her presents this morning. She is going to have a party at school tommorrow and her big birthday party will be this Saturday.

Happy Easter/Happy Birthday Granddad Weekend

Jack and Madison Easter morning with the basket of goodies the Easter bunny left them.


Nothing like an Easter egg hunt in 30 degree weather.


Madison and Jack with Aunt Ginger, trying to keep warm while the eggs are hidden again.

On Easter morning we headed up to the mountains to spend a few days with Nana and Granddad. We were celebrated Easter and Granddads birthday. We had a great time with birthday parties, easter egg hunts and spending time with all our family.

Bacon Wrapped Chicken

This is a recipe I recently found and it is very good. Also, can prepare and freeze for another day.

6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 carton of creamed cheese with onion and chives
1 tablespoon butter, cupped
salt to taste
6 bacon strips

Flatten chicken to 1/2 thickness (or like me, buy a pack that is already flatten) Spread 3 tsp cream cheese over each.

Dot with butter and sprinkle with salt. roll up and wrap each piece with a bacon strip. place seam side down in a baking pan. Bake uncovered at 400 for about 35 - 40 minutes or until juices run clear. Broil 6 " from heat for 5 minutes or until bacon is crisp.

Bunny Time

I took Madison and Jack to see the Easter Bunny this past Saturday morning. Madison was so excited and had been talking about getting her picture taken with him for days, but when we got there she was scared to get near him and all she could do was wave. So we shopped, talked and thought about the picture with the Easter bunny for an hour or so and she decided she did want to get her picture taken with him. So we went back to see him and she was still a little scared to get near him, but finally did and this is the picture we got. Jack on the other hand would not have anything to do with him, would not even look at him, let alone have his picture taken with him. We'll try again next year.

Better Late Than Never

I don't know how Madison did it, but she managed to get Jack to put on his Monkey costume I bought him at Halloween. He laid perfectly still while she zipped it up and then smiled. When I tried to put it on him at Halloween (to go with Madison's Dora costume) he would not have it. He screamed the whole time, so he went as himself to the Fall Festival at Church.

Happy 2nd Birthday Jack

I know, what a sorry looking cake, but you should of seen
it before this "fix"



this is the tee to Jack's new tee ball set. He almost broke the
glass on the fireplace with a very hard swing, but Madison's face saved the glass.
Luckily she had no bruise the next day.


Jack got lots of gifts and his sister helped him open them all.

Hard to believe it has already been two years, but Jack had his birthday yesterday. Our family came down and we had a great lunch (Jack slept thru that part), but wote just in time for cake, ice cream and presents. He got lots of presents and lots of attention.

Weekend with Nana and Granddad

This past weekend we headed up to the mountains to visit my parents and drop Madison off to spend a couple of nights by herself with Nana and Granddad. She had so much fun and is still talking about her weekend. It had snowed during the week before we got there but there was still lots of snow around for Madison to play in. She has been wanting to see snow for several months now, so she finally got her chance.

The Big Show at The Little Gym

This week was Madison's last class at the Little Gym for this semester. The had their big show and each girl in the class got to invite family and friends come watch them do a tumble routine, uneven bar routine and balance beam routine ( I use the word routine lightly as these are 4 yr old girls). The all did great and were very entertaining. I took a few pictures but mostly used the video recorder for this event. She also got a medal at the end of the show.

Christmas Portraits

Christmas Pictures

Madison loves her new Kitchen




Jack loves the new hiding place the kitchen provides. Also, notice all the plastic food on top of the kitchen. Jack loves to stand at the top of the stairs and throw each piece down into the foyer.








We had a great Christmas. Everyone came to my house and we had a great time together. Madison and Jack had so much fun with all the attention. Jack found his stocking first thing and there was a small box of gold fish so once he got them opened and had a snack he was able to sit back and watch his presents being opened. After all the excitement was over he went around to check out all he got.





I took lots of pictures, but I don't know if it is me or my new camera that is making the pictures look so fuzzy (probably me).

My Heavenly Cherub

Madison and the rest of the 4 yr olds at her school had their Christmas program last night. They all did a great job and looked so cute. She was a cherub in the Heavenly Choir. Be warned, I was by myself with Jack, who had not had a nap, so I was only able to tape the song with my little digital camera from the balcony.

Before you watch, please note, I have had a talk with Madison about how to scoot back into a chair when you have a skirt on.

Well I thought I had finished my Christmas Shopping

then I had to take Madison and Jack to see Santa. Madison asked for things that I had not heard of before so now I feel like I have to at least buy one thing that she asked Santa for. So looks like she will be getting some kind of Dora Mermaid doll after all.

As for Jack, he was to scared to get on Santa's lap and just cried when I tried to get him near Santa ( that's why only Madison is in the pic w/ Santa). At least he is the age where I can still take him with me to get his Christmas presents. I let him play with the toys in the buggy and if he likes it I buy it then wrap it up for Christmas.

Great alternative to Pumpkin Pie

I had this Pumpkin Crunch cake at a party I went to when I first moved to Texas. A local restaurant was serving it and a friend got it straight from the chef. It is so good. Even those that don't like pumpkin pie (like me) will be asking for the recipe.

Pumpkin Crunch Cake

1 can (15 oz) pumpkin

1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk

4 eggs

2 cups of sugar

1 tsp of salt

1 tsp pumpkin pie seasoning

1 yellow cake mix

1 cup of pecan pieces

1 1/2 sticks butter

Combine first 6 ingredients. Pour into 9 x 13 greased baking dish. Sprinkle with dry yellow cake mix. Top with pecans. Drop pats of butter over top of nuts. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Center should still jiggle when removed from oven. Top with whipped topping and can sprinkle with a little cinnamon if you like.

Back at the Gym

Madison on the mat with Ms Katherine getting ready to do a back flip.


Madison has been back in Gymnastics for a few weeks now and could not be happier. She loves her teacher, Ms Katherine and has a great time with all the other girls.

My little messer upper...

a.k.a. Jack. Today he was able to completely empty out the bottom shelf while I was unloading the groceries. When I came in from the garage I just saw two little feet hanging out of the doors. All this with an ear infection and 101 temp. But there was a camera around so a smile was on his face.

Artist at Work

Madison got this easle for her 4th birthday this past April and I don't think a day as gone by that she has not used it. She loves to paint and draw. Today was such a beautiful day that we took the easle outside so she could paint and get a little inspiration from nature.

4 yr old preschool picture

After 2 and 1/2 soccer games.......

Madison is out. She decided she does not like to play and stopped playing. I mean she literally stopped. Right in the middle of the field during a game. She stopped running and just stood there. Her coach asked her what was wrong and she said she did not want to play. They moved her to goalie and she just stood there and let the other team score two goals. So they let her take a rest and she decided it would be a permanent rest. I have to say I did not see this coming. I knew she was a little apprehensive at the games because most of the other kids were bigger than her, but I thought she was having fun. She just looked so sad and like she was going to cry if she even had to stay and cheer on her team. So we left at half time. She told me when we got home that "I wanted her to try it, she did, and she did not like it". So she starts back in gymnastics this week and could not be happier.

First Soccer Game

During dribble practice, Madison stops to fix her hair


Coach Kristen giving the team a pre-game pep talk




Madison is showing her friend, Sanili, her baby Jack on the sideline.




Jack sitting on the sideline.

Madison had her first soccer game this past Saturday morning. It was so much fun for her and for us. Watching a bunch of 4 yr olds running around and only about 1 or 2 of the kids actually knew how to play. Madison's team is the Bears and we lost to the Owls (3-2) and one of our goals was scored by the other team. Although in this age group the score is not officially kept, you know all parents were keeping track. But we all know the most important thing is having fun, learning new skills and how to be good sports.

Madison's First Field Trip

Madison's class went to the local fire department today. She had so much fun and was just as excited about riding the church bus with her two new best friends, Sarah and Clair. She also thought it was great that they were all dressed alike (They had to wear their school shirts). The 4 yr olds have been studying community workers like firefighters and policemen and the work they do. They took a big box of goodies to the firefighters to say thank you. Now that she has learned about the police, she cannot wait to grow up and be one, because she will get to blow a whistle in the street and tell cars which way she wants them to go!