*Book Worm

Madison LOVES books! She is constantly carrying books around our house. Even at daycare her teacher told me that she is constantly carrying a book around class with her. Since starting in daycare Madison now tries to hold the book like a teacher and show me the pictures. It's really cute.

Tonight, like most recent nights, Madison has grabbed an armful of books for our nightly reading. She tries to carry them over all together but she usually drops them and makes several trips. She then tells me which one to read and shortly after I start reading it she wants to hold that one. It's really kind of funny.

As I was reading to her tonight she "arranged" herself on her pillow. Seriously so funny! Gotta love this kid!

*Seven years!!!

I can't believe it's been 7 years. Some times it seems like it was just yesterday. Other times I can't believe that it has been 7 years already.

Mom and I went to visit Nates grave for Veterans day. I was really impressed. Ususally I will call mom up and see if she wants to go, but she called me. She struggles so much with his death. Don't we all?

I do really like the view from his grave. Especially right now with the mountains being snow capped. I also like the fact that it is so close to work and I can just run up whenever I feel the need to be close.

Anyway, I miss you Nate. I miss talking to you. I really miss your hugs and hanging out with you. I can't wait to see you again. Thanks for watching out for me.

*Lovings

Madie is such a little snuggler! I love it when she puts her arms around my neck and holds me so close. Well tonight as I was putting her to bed she patted her pillow for me to lay down like she always does, and then she wrapped her arms around my neck and just pulled me into her arms. I love these tender moments that I get to have with her. I love when in Costco she reaches up and pulls me close and just wants me to hug her while walking down the isle of the store. I love it when I get to lay down with her at nap time and she just curls into my tummy and wants me to wrap her in my arms. For the last month or so she has not wanted to go to bed without me and cries whenever I leave. She consistently wakes up at 2am and just wants to snuggle in bed with me. It is hard, I miss my sleep, but I also know that this time wont last forever and soon she will no longer want mommy. So I know that the "experts" say you should never allow your child in your bed, but I say "I don't care!" She is my baby and I love that she wants some lovings from her mommy. I am going to have these memories to hold onto when she is older and doesn't think I am so cool any more!

*Pumpkin patch 2010

Well today we decided to go the pumpkin patch today. Madie wasn't the happiest of little pumpkins today, but we headed out despite the melt downs! :)

When we got there we found us a cart to carry our "lut" in. Madie was the first of the pumpkins to go along for the ride...

We stopped to go through the maze.. Madie did a good job leading us through!
We loaded her back in the cart and headed into the fields.... of course we couldn't just pick a pumpkin that was already picked out of the field. That would make going to the pumpkin patch TOTALLY pointless, and it would also be like taking the first gallon of milk off the shelf.

Daddy didn't waste any time finding some good pumpkins.

Madie did a good job of finding one herself.

Of course Madison thought she was big enough to pull the cart alone. After a small battle of wills and a few tears she decided that Daddy could help pull.

All and all it was a fun experince. Daddy's favorite part of the whole day was stopping to get ice cream on the way home! I just can't believe how big she is getting. She is so much fun! I love this job of being a mommy!

*Day two

Okay... so today was not so good! In fact I learned something new about my daughter today. This kid can throw a mean look!!!

Once again Madie was excited to get up, get dress, and leave with me. However it was TOTAL melt down when we got to day care. She was not happy and she was letting me know!

Again I called throughout the day and they said that she was doing great. When I picked her up this evening when she saw me she completely went to tears again! She was more than happy to go home! The whole way home when I would look in the mirror at her if she was looking at me she would just give me the biggest crusty! HOLY COW. Cut me straight to the heart.

It took her a full half hour after getting home for her to snap out of her crumpy mood and smile or laugh. I guess this is going to be a longer road than I thought! I just keep praying this wont have to last forever! I miss spending my days with my girl!

*First Day

I can tell you she gets this first thing in the morning look from me!!

Today was Madie's first day at Day care. I have been telling her all week that she was going to start school, but let's be honest she had no idea what I meant.

When I started back to work full-time I noticed that there was a day care in the building right across the street from my building. One day I went over to investigate. They didn't have any openings (and I really didn't have a need yet) so we put her on a waiting list. I got a call at the end of August that they would have an opening in October if we still wanted to put her in there.

So today was day 1. Madison was excited to get up and get dressed and even leave with me. She wasn't exactly the happiest person when I left! In fact she was pretty quick to turn the water works on. Seriously how do kids know so early on in life just what buttons to push on their paretns? Anyway...I called a couple of times throughout the day and even went to sneak a peek. She seems to be doing well.

When I went to pick her up she was so excited to see me! Made my heart happy. She came running to me in her cute little Madie way and was saying "Mama! Mama!" Love this kid. She took to showing me the toys she was playing with. I thought.. "Wow! Maybe this wont be so bad!" I guess time will tell.. Anyway.. here's to the first day going so well.

Brice had bought some Oreo's and so after dinner I gave Madie a couple. Seriously she makes the funniest faces!! Love this kid!

*Visitors at work

The last two mornings Madison has still been asleep when I have had to leave for work. She really doesn't like this. Yesterday mom called me shortly after she fed Madison breakfast so Madie could talk to me. She told me that all morning she kept doing the "Momma?" with her hands in her questioning signal. I really don't like it when I don't get to love on her in the mornings. I miss our morning snuggles!

Anyway, around 10:30 this morning I got a text from Brice saying "Madison wants to see mom!" He was on his way bringing her out to see me. I was so excited. As soon as I got to the car I opened the door to that backseat where she was. I smothered her face in kisses. She then started pulling at the locks on her car seat that she wanted out. I got her out and we both sat in the front seat.


Most kids can't wait to drive. I think I might have a lot of problems in this department! Madison at 21 months already has this problem. Every car or truck she sees or we pass she wants to get in. I blame Brice for this! :) Her she is driving Daddy's car in the parking lot of my office.


such serious concentration.....

She looked really cute today and I wanted to take a picture of her, but this is how we take pictures now.. I follow her around calling to her and she just walks around IGNORING me like she can't hear me!! Little stinker! Anyway, cute good posed picture or not she is still adorable and I can't get enough of her. Can't wait to go home....

*HOT!

Today when I got home it was just HOT! I am really sad that I am missing all sorts of fun summertime - outdoor activities with Madi! But... what do you do?

Anyway, after dinner tonight I pulled Madi's little kiddie pool out and blew it up. I first got her in her suit cause I knew that all sorts of excitement was going to come when she saw the pool. She didn't disappoint. Lot's of "ohh's" and intakes of breath! Squels of delight!! :)

Anyway, we got it inflated and took it outside. I attached the garden hose to it and it started to fill up. She was so excited that she could hardly wait! She got right in that COLD water.

She loved it! Even Sadie thought that the cold water was a good idea. Madi didn't appreciate that to much.

My favorite (I didn't get a picture of this) was when Madison was pulling on Sadie's fur to try and get her out! Madi was pleading her case with me, but I thought it was funny. Brice said "I think the dog is hot!" Weren't we all?

Sadie couldn't decide if this was a cold bath or a really big water bowl of ice cold water.

After Madison had sufficent chills from the cold water I took her in and got her dressed. Once we got outside again she wanted back in. Sadie was still enjoying the cold water! Love these kiddos of mine!

*Dear Nate... I mean Dear John

Tonight I finally saw the movie Dear John. Every one had told me what a great movie it was, and that I would cry... so I was ready for all that. What I wasn't ready for was how much it made me think of and miss my Nate.

The story is a of a young solider who meets a girl on leave. Channing Tatum plays the solider. He reminded me so much of Nate. His size and physical features for one thing, but also his mannerisms. It really was a little uncanny!

I cried! I cried in the sad parts of the movie like every emotional person does, but I cried really hard when he was shot in Iraq. That is where my soldier's story ended. He came home in a box.

I really like the part when he is taking about coins. How coins are made at the mint. He says "I am a coin in the United States Army. I was minted in the year 1980. I have been punched from sheet metal. I have been stamped and cleaned. My ridges have been rimmed and beveled. Each and every batch of coins are personally examined just in case any have slipped through with the slightest imperfection. But now I have two small holes in me. I am no longer in perfect condition."

It made me think of several things. It made me think again of Nate. He to was a coin in the US Army. He was stamped and cleaned. His ridges were rimmed and beveled and he because a man! The army was good and bad for Nate. It made him even stronger than he already was, both physically and mentally. But it also broke him.

The monologue also made me think of the gospel. It made me think of the Plan of Salvation. We are all coins in God's plan. We have been punched from sheet metal. We have been stamped and cleaned. Our ridges have been rimmed and beveled. Each of us was personally examined before coming here and NONE of us had the slightest of imperfections.

Now we are here. Life has given each of us experiences. Some have been easy and others are not. Each experience wears on our sheet metal a little. Some of these experiences just roughs us up, dulling our shine. Some leave scratches, nicks or dings. Some experiences we feel could crush us all together! No matter what those experiences does to our sheet metal....we have a way of returning to that perfect state.

It does not matter that we are no longer in perfect condition. The Lord does not want us to return to him in perfect condition. We need these experiences, trials and lessons to show US just how strong our metal is. And then when we have passed our test....HE will make us perfect again!

How I love the gospel. How grateful I am for prayer. When I feel like a train is rolling over my coin and trying to flatten me I can turn to the Lord. I KNOW He is there! He lightens my burden and helps me carry my load. How grateful I am for that.

On another note....Brice sold the Jeep tonight. He actually sold it last night, but the deal was made final today and they drove it away. This comes with mixed emotions. It's great that he sold the Jeep. Brice inherited the Jeep and it was a good project for him. He made A LOT of improvements on it and it really looked amazing from where he started. Also, the Jeep had a reclaimed title because it had been in a wreck. Brice sold it for a really great price seeing as what the banks would loan on it and that we paid nothing for it. So excited for that aspect, but sad to see it go to! It was a fun little Jeep to drive around in.

Since March we have been trying to sell the Honda. We had to many cars and to many payments and with the way things are right now we just needed to unload. This past weekend we decided that we would take the Honda and Acura and trade them both in since we hadn't had any bites on the Honda, but that turned out to be a not very good option so we still have all these cars!

I have always wanted a Jeep, however now that I have a baby I just don't feel real safe driving her around in it. So while I like it, it isn't my first choice of cars to drive. Brice recently has really needed a truck for doing automotive work. Jeeps just don't have a lot of trunk space - shocking I know - so when picking up parts it hasn't been his first car of choice either. Brice put the Jeep online Sunday night and now it is gone. I guess that was the car to go! We are still hopeful to sell the Honda (would really like to sell it by the end of the month seeing as it needs to be registered!), but until we do at least all cars fit back into the garage.

*Swings and trampolines

Tonight when I got home from work I decided to take Madison and Sadie for a walk over to the park. Brice was talking to a guy about selling the jeep so off we went. Madi was, of course, had to pushing her stroller instead of riding in it until she got tired. We got on the other side of the street when I think she got hot her little legs got tired. It was hot out there. Anyway she had condesended to sit in the stroller and let me push. I got to the edge of the park when she noticed the playground. She immediately got up and started running towards the playground. She kept looking back at me and doing her little arm circle the "come on" move. Sadie took off after her. It was cute. As soon as she got over to the playground she was up and onto the slide. She sat down at the top of the slide and said - before even going down - "weee". SO CUTE!!!

She was loving it! She even wanted to go on the swing. She has never wanted to do this before, in fact when I have tried before she has always put up a fuss. Tonight however she was just laughing and having a great time.

Today while at work I got a call from my friend Jodi. They live just a couple of streets north of us. Their swamp cooler still isn't working despite her husbands best efforts to get it working. Anyway, she called and asked if Brice would be able to come over and look at it. I don't know how they have lived this long. Today it was in the 90's again. She called while Madi and I were still at the park to tell me that I should come over when Brice comes to fix the sprinklers. Her girls had their swimsuits on and were playing in the water. I thought that was a great idea. We headed home to get Madi's swimsuit and get Brice.

We got over there and they have their trampoline over the rotating sprinkler. Madi had never been on a trampoline, so she was a little hesitent. It didn't take her long to get the hang of it. She was having a great time! Jodi's youngest, Gracie, is just four months older than Madi so it was fun for Madi to go over and play. Need to do some more of this friend thing! Oh how I need more time in my life.. and not to be working full-time!

After jumping on the tramp Jodi got them some chips and water. I guess I should have done dinner before going to the park. However I really feel that I need to do some fun things with Madi when I can. Brice and I work so much and poor little Madi has just had to learn to entertain herself. Not that that is a bad thing. I just wish I had a little more time to do some fun things with her. It was really fun to see Madi just being her little self making friends and playing. I really hope that she will have an easy time making friends.

Anyway.. it didn't take Brice very long to get things blowing for them. They were all quite happy when he said he was done. We stood around talking for a bit before we left and you could already feel the difference in their house. I really like the Starr's. They have really been so helpful to us the past couple of years. Brice was glad to have the opportunity to help them.

*Excitement of Friday nights

I remember when I was younger how exciting Friday night were! What were you going to do? Who were you going to hang out with? Did you have a date? Plans would be made days in advance!!!

Now..I'm just old! And to me Friday nights mean I can sit on my couch and I don't have to worry about what has to be accomplished before I go to work the next day. I have been so tired recently (could be the 4-hours a night sleep schedule I have going on!) that all I wanted to do tonight was come home and sit! Didn't care what was for dinner.. just wanted to sit.

Mom had been down today to watch Madison and I knew that she and Brice wanted to go out to dinner. I didn't. Brice and I had gone and looked at a car last night and I really wanted to go see what kind of a deal we could work out. Brice was suppose to go pick his parents up from the airport earlier this afternoon, but they got pushed back on their flight and wouldn't be in until after 7 so car shopping was out! I conceded to dinner.

Brice left the restaurant for the airport. Mom and I came home. She loaded up her stuff and was on her way. So it was up to Madi and I to do the daily inspection! I am really enjoying my garden and chickens. I didn't think I would enjoy the chickens as much as I am, but that is among one of the first things I do when I get home from work is go out and inspect/let out the chickens.

The Monday before we left for Yellowstone I fertilized my garden. WOW has it grown! My tomatoes plants have shot up and gotten so large. Even the plants that were touched by the frost at the beginning of June! My squash plants are taking off as well. I love to watch it grow! Here are some pictures.

Madison is a LOVER of strawberries. In fact every night as we are inspecting the garden she is looking for strawberries to eat. She doesn't care if they are red or green! She wants them! I don't think anyone else is going to get any this year.. well any whole ones. I have eaten a few "left overs" and they are pretty tasty!

I love this picture! Such a cute face!

Sadie spends much of this yard investigation time watching/chasing the chickens. She just wants to play. In fact she really acts like a puppy with them. She just doesn't understand why they run away from her. She just wants to be one of the "chicks!" Poor dog....

Feeling quite left out of the group!


The past week or so as I have let the chickens roam the yard in the evenings after I get home from work. My white ones, Lily and Ivy, have started to become really friendly. Ivy (whom I was worried was a rooster) has taken to coming over to me. Even Brice commented on this the other day. If I am in the garden she will come over to the garden or where ever I am. She then will crouch down and let me pet her. Madi was running around the yard tonight and Ivy started following her running right behind. Poor Sadie.. she gets so jealous!

Anyway, Ivy was following Madi around and so Madi went to pet her. Ivy crouched to let her pet her and so Madi went in for the kiss! To cute! When I got close to Ivy again I noticed the feathers on her back were pink - from Madi's strawberry hands. Good clean loving!!!

Madi does the FUNNIEST little trick. If we are in the back yard and there is something in the house that she wants she will climb in the dog door. It is hilarious. One of these days I am actually going to get it on video or photos... she is so fast. By the time I notice she is doing it I can't get over to capture it, but this was as close as I got tonight. That is her little bum as she has fallen into the house.

The funny part comes in that once she is in the house she isn't sure how to get back out! She stands at the window and cries for me. Funny kid.

When Brice got home Madison was begging for a 4-wheeler ride. Brice drives around our back yard with her on. She says "wee" the whole time she is on it! She was just a giggling. She hates to have to get off it. Sadie once again just follows them around wanting to be in on the action.

Can you tell she is having a good time?
As I was finishing my nightly inspection I turned my attention to the chicken coop. I opened the hatch to check the food and water and I looked into the nesting box and guess what?

My first egg!!!!

I was so excited!! I really didn't think I would have any eggs til the middle to end of July. Usually around 20 weeks is when chickens start producing eggs. My chicks are only about 17 to 18 weeks, so I guess it is time, but still I was quite surprised and excited. I had to call mom and tell her! Brice took a couple of pictures of me with my egg. Let me just throw this out as a disclaimer... .the other picture was worse! :)
The egg is quite small right now. My egg is the egg on the right, but they will continue to grow in size. I am so excited! Can't wait to taste it. Everyone tells me the taste of a home grown egg is so much better than a store bought one! I'll keep you informed!