A busy May!

Once again there is a lot of catching up to do. Since graduation we have been going nonstop. After graduation we got to spend time with Uncle Jake and Aunt Amanda. Madalene and I went to South Carolina to see Aunt Carole with Jake and Amanda. Always good times when we get down to visit. It was nice being able to spend the extra time with Jake and Amanda.Then shortly after that Madalene and I met Les, Janice, Melissa, Christian, Kathy, Scott, Chelsea, Andrew, Sara, Kerry, Jeannie and Kyle at Daytona Beach. Madalene had really been looking forward to going to the "Beach". These last two pics are courtesy of Uncle Kerry. He got really great shots and this one of Madalene is probably the best picture ever taken of her. Love it!!!!!!!!!

We also got to see the shuttle launch. Madalene is still talking about the rocket that went to outerspace. Lots of fun and good memories were made on this trip.

This weekend will be off to the river. Hopefully we will have pictures up soon.

A lot of catching up to do!!!!!!!!

Last time I wrote was in February when we were putting the swing set together. It has been finished since that weekend and was ready to go for Madalene's Birthday party.

Madalene is always a big helper. She helped finish with putting the Mulch around the swing set and made sure the walk way was swept before her guests arrived. She also helped Becky put the finishing touches on the Soccer ball birthday cake.

Grandpa Bob giving a good push!

The swing set was a big hit at the Birthday Party!

Later that night Madalene and a friend tied up Ian as they were playing dress up.

It had been a long day and when the kids went out they went out hard!!!!

In the middle of March Madalene and I went home for a friend's wedding and Easter. Madalene was so excited about getting on an airplane. On Southwest it was open seating, Madalene had a window seat for every flight and enjoyed being able to watch the luggage being loaded. When we were coming into Chicago Midway there were a lot of ponds and she said "Mommy look at all the mud puddles!"

While we were home we took advantage of the Zoo once again. We were really fortunate with a beautiful day and the animals were also very cooperative.

After a good trip home we flew back to Virginia and packed up for Rendezvous. The picture below is Madalene at the kids tent playing.

A couple weeks back Madalene and I went up to Richmond with Seth who has class there every other weekend. While we were there we went to an activity at the High School for the district Bobby works at. They had all kinds of fun activities and Madalene played hard.

Finally, this past weekend Mom, Les, Melissa, Christian, Kathy, Scott, and Sara were in town for graduation. It was a very busy weekend, but we had a great time. It was such a treat to have us together for Mother's Day. The three little ones had a great time and were plum worn out come Monday. Everyone left by midday on Monday and Madalene slept Monday night from 5:45pm to 8:30 am. I would say she needed some rest after a big weekend.

Maybe Today?

Yesterday was a good day. A trip for mulch yesterday set us back several hours, but with the exception of that things went well. We did not finish the swingset, but everything will be completed today.

The First Frame

By this time of the day is was nice to see something coming together.

As you can see Sammy is making sure everything is going as planned!

Big Helpers! They wanted to measure everything and kept asking if they could do anything else to help.

Our big helpers also reorganized the wood for us!

Snack time. The dads didn't get a break for snack time. Although, I think they took their fair share of beer breaks.

After a long hard day of play we took a bath, went to get something to eat, and then went to Uncle Tim's to play the Wii. Take note of the get up: pajamas, coat, stocking cap, and don't forget the ever so special "Magic Crown".

We have a lot to talk about!!!

Hello to all!!!
It has been an eventful time since the last blog. The last time we showed you how wonderful she could write on the walls, and this time it only gets better.

I will start will the uneventful things and save the best for last.

These are pics of Madalene at Grandpa Bob and Grandma Jaynie's sitting in her princess chair. We went up the first weekend of February for Seth's masters classes.

Madalene as usual has to have her accessories!!!!

We went to a friends house the weekend of the 7th. I had to capture her sleeping. There are times that I wish she always looked so sweet.

Also the weekend of February 7th we went to help a freind work on an addition to his house. Madalene always likes to be in the middle of things, just in case Dad needs some help.

So now on to more interesting things. We have had a very eventful time with Madalene since I have started my student teaching. Within the last two weeks she has tested all of the limits. You saw the writing on the wall, then there was the day she emptied an entire tube of foundation on the back of Sammy,(telling me "Sammy has his makeup on) and the other night she dumped gallons of water onto the bathroom floor (we have carpet in there). So to top off her wonderful behavior on Thursday night we were at Uncle Tim's house and she does the one thing that I have been terrified of her doing. Madalene found a pair of scissors, Tim didn't even know they existed, and cut herself some bangs!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! This is what we get for saying that we have been so lucky to have a child that has been pretty easy thus far to raise. So here are some pictures of her hair cut. I have not trimmed the hair, what you see is what she did. She does not like the fact that her hair is always in her face, so we have decided to let her suffer for a little while.

She did not want me to take pictures of her hair, so she told me she was going to have her angry face on!!!!!! She does not like to talk about what happened!!!!

So on to what is going on today. We got Madalene a swingset for her Birthday, and today is the day for the construction of it. I have some pictures from this morning and hopefully later there well be more.

(The Before)

This is the site were the swingset is going to go.

The Hardware!

The lumber.

We recruited some help from Garrett and his boy Collin. As you can see we now have two big helpers.

Everything is set out and ready to go!

Seth and Garrett went to get some mulch, so the kids thought they would play before work started again.