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.

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.