The Backyard Project

This is what our backyard looked like BEFORE: DURING: And finally, AFTER: (started right after Thanksgiving, finished Dec. 23rd) Better pictures to come as soon as I get some time to take them!

Decorating for Christmas!

 

The Sunday after Thanksgiving was a perfect time to start decorating, so we jumped in. Dave's mom helped out and the girls absolutely loved putting ornaments on the tree. Madison's little face lit up and she kept giving Dave hugs saying "Daddy, it's Christmas!"

 

Dave decorating the high branches.

 

Marilyn even got a picture of our little family with the tree. Thanks grandma!

Thanksgiving 2008

 

November 27th was turkey day this year. Dave's mom, Marilyn, and my mom and step-dad all came to visit. Steve and Dave fried the turkey while we women made the sides. It was a beautiful, warm day.

 

Dave took his mom and Madison on a ride in his new-ish convertible. Only in Austin can you ride with the top down on Thanksgiving!

 

Dave, Wanda, Linda, and Steve

 

Marilyn and Dave

Visit to Huntsville

 

November 19-23, 2008 Dave had to attend a conference in Nashville, so we girls flew to Huntsville to see the relatives. On Thursday, we drove up to Tennessee and visited with Deana and Papa. That's Madison on the tractor. The girl's most favorite thing was the cats. There were 5 that Deana had been feeding that were just tame enough for the girls to pet (if they could catch one). Then we climbed onto one of Papa's buses (he manages the school buses for Huntland schools) for a photo. I wish we could have spent more time there. I have lots of wonderful memories of Papa's house.

 

Here's a picture of Dad with the girls at Papa's house.

 

Huntsville has this great new outdoor shopping center called Bridge Street. It is absolutely gorgeous complete with a lake, gondolas, high-end shops, and a swanky, new movie theater. Dave had finished his conference and driven down to be with us in Huntsville, so we all (including Dad and Teddy) went out to eat and to see the Christmas Tree lighting ceremony. These are pictures of the girls at Ketchup (a restaurant) and on the carousel. It was a cooooold night, so we were all bundled up. This was a very fun night out.

 

Grandma Teddy made a fresh batch of cookie dough and made Christmas cookies with the girls. They thought that was SO fun! They even got to use all the multi-colored and shaped sprinkles. Thanks Grandma Teddy - you're the best!

Random Kid Quotes

We're driving home tonight from Applebee's (where we celebrated Mackenzie's perfect school attendance record with her coupon for a free kid's meal) and Mackenzie flips on this smooth, adult-sounding voice and says: Let me tell you some things about me. I like playing and I like playing with friends. I don't like to be alone. I like to wake you (meaning me, Mommy) up in the morning. I don't like it when you sleep or take rests. And I do like playing with Meredith (her best friend whose backyard runs into ours). End quote. How's that for classic?

Madison does this funny, yet, annoying thing sometimes when you ask her a question. It goes like this: Madison, where did you put your shoes? Answer: Nuffing, Mommy. Me: No, Madi, where did you put your SHOES? Answer: NUFFING, Mommy! So when did a 2 year-old's version of the word 'nothing' become a catch-all expression? She uses it all the time to answer questions like: Where is your blankie? Why did you hit Mackenzie? Why did you take your pants off? Why don't you want to wear your seatbelt?... If it wasn't so darn cute it would be infuriating!!!

Mackenzie's First Report Card

The first page with all the important basic information. Followed by Satisfactories in all areas. Followed by the truth. I've know for years Mackenzie has a very "attention-grabbing" kind of voice (when she wants, that is), but for Ms. May to point it out made me shake my head and laugh in pity for her (Ms. May, that is). But I really will keep trying to get Mackenzie to keep it down... I promise.

Cancer Follow-Up

So my August 1st post left out the after-drama of the secondary pathologists findings. I just want it documented so I don't forget why I was so angry after everything seemed all peachy keen. So, my first pathology report said my 1.6 cm nodule wasn't cancer. Unfortunatly the specialist up North somewhere disagreed. SO, the second report said I had 2 cancer spots, both papillary carcinoma. One 1.6 cm the other 1.4 mm. This meant I definitely 'qualified' for radioactive iodine treatment (RAI) - which absolutely sent me spinning with anger at the irony of things. Why didn't they just find that in the first place? Then I'd be happy to have the RAI and would have been expecting it. Now, I feel like someone told me I wasn't going to have Christmas, then said I was, and then changed their mind again. YOU CAN'T DO THAT IN THAT ORDER and expect it to be taken well. Long story short, I thought about it... alot, and felt/feel that the RAI would do more harm than good right now. I'm not going to go through all the technical reasons of why that is on this blog, but suffice it to say (along with the fact that a 2 year old doesn't understand she can't touch mommy for 5 days b/c her mommy is radioactive and there's no where for me to do the stupid treatment but at home), I am not doing the RAI. So we are watching my TSH levels and calcium, etc. very closely. And someday, I'll understand all this and why it unfolded this way.

Halloween 2008

 

Halloween 2008 was great. These are pictures from Madison's school party and parade. She was a 50's girl and was absolutely adorable if I do say so myself.

 

Mackenzie was Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, mostly because Dorothy got to carry Toto in a basket and any costume that has a stuffed animal involved was A-OK with Kenzie. We painted her old white shoes red, and then I actually got brave and braided her hair. Her school does a parade with only the kindergarteners dressing up and it was adorable. Afterwards her class did a finger-puppet song about pumpkins and they all did great.

 

Here's pictures of the girls all trick-or-treating. We walked our neighborhood loop with our neighbors, the Lannans, and the kids had a blast. Thank goodness for the stroller!

 

Here's pictures of the pumpkins we made the Monday night before Halloween and all the girl's candy after trick-or-treating. We love Halloween!

Prague!

 

October 3-12, 2008 I got to tag along with Dave to Prague, Czech Republic. He had to go for his company's Value Forum meetings, and I was dying to go. Jessica and Chris Brough offered to watch our kids, and we took them up on it (can't wait to watch baby Ezra next April! Love you guys!). It was an amazing trip. We stayed at the hotel Andel in the south west part of the city along with about 80 other people there for the conference. Dave didn't have to work every day we were there and we took advantage of it. We saw the Old Town Hall and clock tower, Kolovy Most (Charles Bridge), Prague Castle, Wencelas Square (where the Velvet Revolution occurred in 1989) and other amazing places and sites. I learned so much about the people and communism and capitalism and how going from one extreme to the other can be devastating to many. I also learned that either form of government can be cruel if the people and their leaders have no morals or values holding up their societies. I saw some amazing things and some very sad things, but everything I saw opened my eyes to the beauty and honor of living in America. We truly live in a blessed place.

 

This is the view off the Charles Bridge. It was a gorgeous day and the leaves were just starting to change colors.

 

Another view off the Charles Bridge.

 

Although I failed miserably at getting pictures of all the people of the trip, here is one of us with Greg and Jayne Jackson. Jayne and I got to pal around a lot on the trip while the guys worked. It was a great time.

SeaWorld San Antonio

 

September 27, 2008 Mackenzie had been asking to go forever, and since we had season passes and had only used them once, we decided it was time to take a trip to SeaWorld. San Antonio is only 90 miles away from Austin, so we drove down that morning and back that night. The weather was beautiful and we had fun seeing the dolphins and sharks and riding the little Shamu roller coaster. Of course, the girl's (especially Mackenzie) favorite part is getting a stuffed Shamu to add to her/their collections. We love SeaWorld!!!

Mackenzie's First Bike

 

So, we realized that Mackenzie is closing in on 6 years of age and has never ridden a bike. This is mostly because we have a super steep driveway and live on a busy section of our subdivision. But because no child should grow up without knowing how to ride a bike (I mean, how would she ever understand the phrase, 'It's just like riding a bike, you never forget.'?) and it was a beautiful Saturday in September (the 20th to be exact), we decided it was time for a trip to Wal-Mart. Mackenzie tried out several different bikes before falling in love with this one. She rode it all around the store and was so proud of herself. Later that same day, Dave walked as Mackenzie rode her bike to her friend's birthday party. She was so excited to ride the whole way! Now, we need to build up her confidence and get rid of the training wheels. Oh well, one thing at a time.

Camille and baby Madden come to visit!

 

 

 

 

We had been in Dallas twice since baby Madden was born but kept missing each other. The second time Mackenzie and I were up in Dallas by ourselves and Kenzie said, "Mom, we have to try HARD to see Camille - not like last time." She was referring to the first time we missed them when we were speeding through town trying to get home after our July vacation. So when Camille called me up out of the blue and said she was coming down because Dean had a business meeting, I was so excited. It was a short visit but we went and had lunch at Mackenzie's school so she wouldn't miss meeting baby Madden. I knew if she had missed Camille that day she would have been terribly sad. She was so excited to see Camille and the baby. He looks a lot like his Daddy. We are so glad he is finally here and happy and healthy. Love you Camille, Dean, and Madden!

Madison the Drama Queen/Fashionista

 

You may be wondering, what is Madison doing while Mackenzie is conquering her first month at school? Well, Madison is coming into her own. She's talking more clearly, and a lot more, everyday. She loves to wear her clip-clomps (which is what she calls her little dress up shoes) or mommy's shoes. She likes jewelery and will currently only wear dresses. She has an opinion EVERYDAY on what she will and will not wear. She thinks she's growing out of naps but mom still sneaks one in most days. She is a total drama queen and could give Scarlett a run for her money. I don't know where she gets it all, but she is definitely a girly-girly-girl. She is also so dang cute these days her parents can barely stand it. A week after Mackenzie started school, Madison started her mother's-day-out program 3 days a week. She loves going to school and mommy loves it, too! We love her and are so glad she's part of our family.

Riding the Bus

 

 

After taking Mackenzie to school the first week, it was time for her to conquer riding the bus. She got to sit with her friend Meredith and said it was fun. She looked so little walking down the steps to get dropped off. I had treats for after school that day. She loves chocolate covered doughnuts. Honestly, who doesn't?

Mackenzie's First Day of Kindergarten

August 25, 2008 It was a zoo at Mackenzie's school this morning (Cypress Creek Elementary). Every parent taking each of their children to their first day for the school year. Hopefully it will calm down in the future. We left our house with 25 minutes to belltime and the school is 1 mile away. We were late! We had to park almost a mile away and of course, Madison is not the fastest walker these days. Finally Dave carried her and we raced to Kenzie's class. She had met her teacher, Ms. May, twice before and been to the classroom so she was excited for it all. She also has her best friend, Meredith Lannan, in her class. I'm not sure yet if that's going to get her in trouble or if it will be a good thing. Either way, she said she everything went great at the end of the day. She didn't even seem tired or cranky. Perhaps we'll skip the kindergarten adjustment period and go right into the year seamlessly. She is such a happy-go-lucky child!!!

Our First Visit to the Circus!

August 23, 2008 Saturday - We heard the Barnum & Bailey circus was in town and decided the girls would love it. So, Dave got tickets and off we went. We were right about Mackenzie loving it. A little premature on Madison. Not that Madison didn't like it. No, it's just she wanted to use Dave as a swing and be IN the circus herself (along with dancing, chair climbing and stair stepping as her main events). She is only 2 and a half, but I thought she would have been slightly more captivated by it all. Maybe in 3 more years she could appreciate it. Nontheless, we had a good time and the girls got to try their first Dippin Dots (those tiny, frozen balls of ice cream) and both picked out white stuffed tigers to take home. They LOVED that part. I remember the first time I went to the circus (I think I was about 5) with my Dad and Wade. I thought it was amazing. Luckily, I still do. Hooray for the circus!