Fire Prevention Week

Madelyn's school had fire prevention week and as an extra special treat, Poppo sent her entire class firemen hats and special treat filled bags and stickers all the way from the San Antonio Fire Department. Ms. Chasity her teacher made it an extra special day, as they learned about calling 911, and stop, drop and rolling, learned several fun firemen songs and topped the week off with a visit from the Plano Fire Department. Madelyn even got to drive the firetruck that day. Oh and each classroom decorated a pumpkin and Madelyn's room had a firemen pumpkin, complete with its own hat. Thanks Poppo for making it an extra special week for Maddie!

Future Aggie Cheerleader

Grammie got Madelyn an adorable Aggie Cheer leading outfit so she can wear it to the high school football games. She has even managed to perfect her Gig'em thumbs up! Maddie has taken a keen interest in the high school cheerleaders and will stand at the fence at the games and mimic the girls cheering. I am so in for it when she gets older!

Birthday Party at the Farm

Best Buds


Cooper getting kisses, not from Madelyn but the goat. Cooper now give your mama a big wet kiss!

Jody and Jessie Paige

Cowgirl---Yee-haw!

Madelyn is the same height as the Shetland Pony

Murphee and Madelyn

I wish you could see the rest of the picture, the lady is holding a hairless rat and well you can see Madelyn's reaction.

Madelyn and I went to her sweet friend, Ella's second birthday party at Grisham Farms in McKinney. All the kids had a great time, especially during the exotic animal presentation. As you can see from the picture above, she wasn't found of the rat, but really enjoyed the Sugar Glider and the Albino Porcupine. And the best part of the day was feeding the Pot Belly pig! What a fun farm party! Thanks Ella!

The Big Orange Pumkin Patch

WE made out third annual visit to the Big Orange Pumpkin Farm in Celina this year. One would hope for some cool Fall weather, but not here in Texas--hot as always. Despite the heat we had a fun afternoon with Matthew and Anne Marie soaking up some Fall fun. We took a lot of pictures, but I think we only got one good one of Madelyn not doing her cheesy fake smile. None the less it was great family adventure.

Plano Balloon Festival

On great Saturday evening, we ventured out to see the Plano Balloon Festival and discovered that the traffic jam to get there was a nightmare. We quickly realized that Plan B was going to be even better. A little park across the highway was in the direct path of the balloons taking off. And we even got a personal show when one of the balloons had some technical difficulties and landed right behind us. And the best part, the park was free and there was no traffic jams!

Michael's White Coat Ceremony

Madelyn, Michael and his mom Judy



Michael officially got his White Coat from Texas School of Osteopathic Medicine-Physician Assistant Studies at a ceremony at the Will Rogers stadium . Congratulations!

Effects of Hurricane Gustav

The effects of hurricane Gustav, the high tide and waves closed the beach the last day we were at the beach, so we spent more time exploring the rest of the island.

Texas State Aquarium

Michael, Madelyn aand Grammie

When Madelyn saw this fishing coming at her, she loudly prclaimed" Woah, that's a BIG fish" and then proceed to give the fish kisses.

Looking for a sheel with a hermit crab

petting the sting rays

U.S.S. Lexington

Madelyn and Grammie

We spent a fun afternoon at the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus iwth Grammie and Poppo. Madelyn really enjoyed watching the dolphin show and got a kick out of the peeting stingray splash pool. It was a quite weekend in Corpus since so many had left to due to Hurricane Gustav that never made an appereance along the Texas coast line. But the humidity was higher than ever..I know because my hair is a great barometer, so it spent the majority of the trip tied back so not scare people with its puffiness.

The Nina, Pinta, and the Santa Maria

The New Royal Family

Just the three of us!

Grammie, Mom, and Madelyn

This bucket sure is heavy

Maddie ringing the Mast bell

Madelyn working the Bilge Pump

The Santa Maria-dry docked when a barge it and now its unsafe to board

On deck looking at an hour glass

The Nina

Grammie and Madelyn driving the boat

Hanging like a bat

Playing at the Light House

On the ferry back to Port Aransas

Labor Day Weekend, we packed our bags and flew down to Corpus Christi for a long weekend on the beach in Port Aransas with my Mom and Bryan. The weather could have not have been more perfect despite Hurricane Gustav recking havoc along the Louisiana Coast. While we

were there we spent an afternoon at the Corpus Science Museum, that was displaying the replicas of the Christopher Columbus' Nina, Pinta, and the Santa Maria. They also had a great kids museum that totally captured Madelyn's attention. But the ships were awesome! I can't even imagine having been a sailor and overcoming so many obstacles for the sake of advancing navigation. Not to mention how far in terms of terms of transportation have come since 1492. We think traveling is difficult now, just think back a few hundred centuries!