Dallas Aquarium

Madelyn and Grammie


You can find wildlife just about anywhere in the Aquarium


Look, there 's Nemo!!!!!!!!!!!

Madelyn wanted to make the observing sting ray tank and touch and feel exhibit

The highlight of the aquarium is a long tunnel that runs through the shark tank. While posing for a picture, Madelyn found the large shark swimming over top to be more interesting than the camera.

Madelyn admiring the sleeping leopard

Madelyn pretending to be a flamingo and stand on one leg.

Grammie got to do her fun visit with Madelyn, rather than a week long hospital stay. So to celebrate her recovery we all headed downtown to the West End to the Dallas Aquarium. I was a little leery of going because the admission price is pretty steep, but "you get what you pay for", and we had a great visit. You start on the Canopy level of the rain forest and work your way through the jungle levels and end up on the bottom of the aquarium. There are birds and other wildlife roaming round the exhibits and building, and with so much to see, Madelyn was totally enthralled with everything she saw. Especially the fish! Oh we had to find Nemo and she near hysterics when she actually found the clown fish.

After the aquarium, we meet up with Michael to eat lunch and then I got to play tour guide with my mom and show her Deely Plaza and the Sixth Floor Museum where JKF was assassinated. There is a giant white X in the middle of Elm street, exactly where he was shot. So in between quick traffic signals, I got her to go out into the street, so I could get her picture. I took the picture and my mom is still standing there and cars are now starting to get closer. "Run mom", and she takes off remarking that if I had waited any longer to take the picture there would have been two X's on the Elm street. Good news, I got the picture, mom is still in once piece, but all the pictures I got of the West End are on her camera.

Passed Out

I love days when Madelyn in so worn out that she passes out cold for a great nap. How is something so cute and peaceful, so destructive and messy around the house when she is awake?

Pool Rat

We have spent a a lot of time this summer at the pool. And Madelyn is a true pool rat! Anytime you ask her what she wants to do, she immediately pipes up with "I wanna go to the pool".

She is fearless of the water, which in some regards is great for introducing new swimming concepts, but also rattles my nerves as she has no qualms about jumping head first into the big pool. I usually hear this response, "no, mommy, I wanna jump by myself. Move back, move back!" And we couldn't make a trip to the pool with Maddy's trust side kick, Dora the Mermaid. Dora does every thing that Madelyn does and vice-versa. Its actually good for when I am trying to cox Madelyn into trying something new. "Look Dora is floating all by herself, can you do that?" Much to my delight, she has really made a lot of progress this summer. Maybe I have a future Katie Huff (Olympic swimmer) in training.

Bubble Bath Fairy

Maddy loves taking a bubble bath!

A Day at Little Gym

Bells, Bells & More Bells. How many bells can I carry?


Just hanging around

I can walk across the balance beam all by myself

All smiles : )

Ms. Kirsten helping Maddy balance on one foot

laughing after completing her somersault

climbing monkey

bouncing balls

eating bubbles... new favorite snack

Ms. Kirsten helps Madelyn pop bubbles with her toes

Getting stamps is Maddy's favorite way to wrap up the day

Madelyn just finished her first semester at the Little Gym, and today was Show off Day. Our little monkey thoroughly enjoys,and looks forward to attending every Wednesday. She has developed quite interest in the uneven bars and loves to walk across the balance beam all by herself. If you ever ask her what she does at Little Gym, she will sum it up to bells, bars, balls, and bubbles. What more can a kids ask for!

Memorial Day Cook out

Chad and Jen...husband vs. wife boxing


Suzette...Master Bowler looking very cute


Mikey vs. Jon Boxing

We had an awesome Memorial Day weekend! Jonathan and Suzette, Jen and Chad, and Anne Marie and Matthew all came over for a cookout and Wii tournament. Although it was already very hot outside, Madelyn and Mathew had fun playing outside, while the rest of the big kids challenged each other on the Wii. It was so much fun to see our wonderful friends and just relax. I just wish that we lived closer and had less hectic schedules so we could see more of each other.

The Wii tournament went over so well, that we didn't even get to our traditional smack down of Trivia Pursuit : ( That's OK, just an excuse to come back over! Bowling and boxing were the biggest highlights....I never would have imagined how much of a work out you can get from boxing. I think all of us had sore arms the next day. But there is something fun about saying that I knocked out my husband with our leaving a mark!

Water Table

Playing with her new water table

Look at that wet yet adorable smile

Recently made got a step stool in her bathroom. Although I love her new found Independence of washing her hands, she has also decided that everyone of her toys needs a bath in the bathroom sink. Madelyn loves to play with the water and if the will bill wasn't so darn high, it would probably be OK. Given the opportunity, she would happily play in the water all day. So to save my bathroom from future water damage we got Madelyn a water table. It has already been a real hit and it fabulous afternoon heat breaker. I have learned to just strip her down and just let go for it. She usually finishes the afternoon soaking wet!

Mother's Tea

My adorable proud artist shows off her hand print butterflies.


Momma and Madelyn


Joey and Ms. Shauna. Joey and Maddie are just one day apart and have been best buds at school

Madelyn's Mother's Day out program CLC had a Mother's Tea, and it was the most precious thing ever! The kids made for their moms a canvas bag that they decorated themselves and it was stuffed with masterpiece artwork they had been creating through out the year. Madelyn was very of herself as she guided me to her seat and started to show me some of the things she had made. Throughout the year, her teachers had been videotaping the kids in action and it was adorable to watch, but even more amazing to see how far they kids have developed. I am so thankful that Madelyn is already receiving a great Christian education. What CLC and the teachers offer there can not be found in just any school. There really is nothing more heart warming than watching your child recite Bible verses and her class prayer, and knowing that she understands that its for the glory of the Lord. And can I say that I loved watching all of the kiddos get up and sing is nothing short of adorable and makes me beam as a mom.

Fort Worth Zoo

Isn't this the cutest baby...elephant

Look, its really Madelyn in disguise

Hitch'n a ride on the giant crocodile

Merkat Manor

We picked the hottest day of the year in the Texas to go the zoo. We had been having such beautiful weather, we were hoping it would out. Boy were wrong, 100 degrees plus the humidity made for an extremely hot and sticky day. But that didn't stop Madelyn from having a great visit. Her squeals of excitement every time she saw a new animal and her attempts to mimic their sounds were the most precious thing ever. I love her zeal and excitement for life!

Butterfly Festival

trying to see the butterfly that landed on her bow


Madelyn and Cara

Finally holding a butterfly

Michael, Madelyn and I joined a group of our friends at the Plano Butterfly Festival. We thought that Madelyn would really enjoy seeing the colorful butterflies and getting hold them. Well, she enjoyed them at a distance and the only way she would hold one is by letting it land on a piece of cantaloupe they gave us to attract the butterflies-- a tasty dessert. When it did land on her she would yell, "Bug" and swat the poor butterfly away. But now when we see a butterfly, she is much more intrigued.

Show Off Day

Madelyn clapping after finishing counting to twenty with her class.

On Mondays, Madelyn goes to Carrollton Christan Academy. They had the end of the year show off day, in which the kids took the parents through what they do in a typical day. I am so proud of how far Madelyn has come this year and she just loves going to Ms. C.C's and M.S Beth's class. She has come home singing some of the cutest songs and the most precious art work.

Artist in Training

Madelyn loves to paint---even herself. Today she was try out the french mustache look.

Abilene Zoo

Madelyn and daddy feeding the giant catfish


Spring Beauty enjoying the nice weather


Madelyn feeding the giraffes


That's a looooong tongue!

Hmm, that sucker looks good!

Which ones the monkey?

Madelyn posing with the flamingos

We celebrated earth day in Abilene with Michael's family. We had a fun filled day at the Abilene Zoo. While its much smaller than the Dallas Zoo, the exhibits were great because you could get so close to animals. They even give you "safe" crackers to feed the animals with--a really hit with the kids. You couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day to spend outside. And Madelyn had a great time visiting with her cousins, Mackenzie and Jonathan.

Just Say Cheese

I was folding laundry in my bedroom when I heard Madelyn say "I love Cheese". Thinking she had just gotten a cheese stick from the refrigerator, I came out to the living room to find that she had taken the Parmesan cheese and dumped it onto a plate and was eating the cheese by the spoonful.

Leslie's Shower

I got to make the cake!!!


Big hugs from Madelyn

Courtney and Jody

such cute gifts

All the girls playing a game

We hosted Leslie's TWIN baby girls shower here at our house.

It was so great to have some many fun and sweet ladies over as we showered Leslie with our love. We are very excited to help her welcome Kate and Kennedy to her family!