2nds All Around

So today is a day of 2nds....my second day blogging, Madison's 2nd day on her "2" wheeler, family prayer 2 nights in a row, 2nd day thinking I should really deep clean Madison's room and 2nd day not doing it...look at me go.

Goal....

I know it's not January 1, but I am setting a goal to keep up with my blog (hopefully daily). There have been so many cute things said, happy times, sad times, funny times and I've not recorded any of it. So here is a cheers to me!
In April Madison and I travelled down to Utah for Spring Break to help Aunt Jo with her new little one Saylor. I must admit that it wasn't the trip I was expecting, but I am so glad that I went and was able to help out my sister.
Saylor's blessing

Grandma Trish had a fun Easter egg hunt for all the kids big and small. She did a great job and the kids had a blast. (even though I didn't win :(
Madison took ice skating lessons this May. It started out slow and I didn't think she would spend anytime standing, let alone skating on the ice. She isn't a Jamie Sele (yet) but after 6 weeks she isn't bad.


The most exciting thing this month.....drum roll....WE HAVE A YARD. And not just any yard, a nice yard that neither Peter or I screwed up right from step 1. I can't wait til my lilacs bloom...

Yes I have the strangest daughter....

But who couldn't love a face like this...

Catch up!

Since it's -35 outside with a windchill of about -40 to -45 what a better time to get caught up on blogging? These last few months, well I guess Summer, Fall and now Winter have been pretty hectic in our family so I'll just recap each month briefly.

July
Madison and I made our annual summer trip to Utah. This was the first year since I've lived in Canada that I've been actually in the US for the 4th of July and it was so much fun. The 4th of July has always been my favorite holiday...good food, hot weather, parades, Stadium of Fire and Fireworks. This year was also Madison's first experience with the 4th of July and she had a great time. I've always been such a proud American and I hope I will be able to instill in her true patriotism.


And you thought I was kidding about it being my favorite holiday eh?

Also on our trip to Utah we went down to Lake Powell for a few days. Again this is something I haven't done since I moved to Canada and neither has Madison. Except for the weather and running out of gas in the canyon on the way down (thanks dad!) we had a blast! This was actually the first time I've ever been to Lake Powell in July where I was cold and had to wear a sweatshirt and would've had on sweatpants too had I brought them. It was unusually cold but it didn't dampen our spirits at all. I thought Madison would be really nervous about boats, water, tubing etc. But as you can see she LOVED tubing and wanted to go faster and faster. YEAH she didn't get all my inhibitions.


Uncle Jake and Madison

Sitting on the side of the road in the canyon waiting for someone to stop!

August

Around the middle of July we put our house up for sale and August turned into the month of doing what I could to get it sold. Cleaning, boxing up rooms, open houses and more cleaning! Towards the end of August when we were getting frustrated we had a buyer who also wanted possession in a week. Yeah it sold. Boo moving in a week! NEVER AGAIN!

September

The first week of September my mom came up to help me decorate the house. It was such a big help because I stink at decorating. I don't think I hung more than 1 picture up in my last house.

We also celebrated Peter's birthday.


October
October was filled to the brim with activities. Jordyn and her family came up the middle of October for 2 1/2 weeks and we had a blast! My dad came up for a weekend and we celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving and Madison's birthday. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner, thanks to my dad (it would've been BBQ'd chicken had he not been here.)and it actually felt like Thanksgiving for the first time in a long time.


Madison turned 5 and it was so fun to have some of her cousins up here to celebrate with her.


Scout helping Madison blow out the candles
I was also brave enough to take Madison and some friends to Chuck E Cheese. It actually wasn't as bad as I thought, but I certainly won't be doing it again anytime soon.






November
November was a tough month. Right after Veteran's day Don, my father-in-law went in one night for emergency surgery. He had ischemia of the bowel, which is basically a stroke or heart attack but in the bowel. It was very serious and the doctors weren't sure how it would turn out. Don made it thru surgery and was in ICU for a week. He was making small improvements and we were thinking everything was going to be ok. After 3 weeks of being in the hospital, Don died on December 1st. It was extremely hard on everyone. Just 3 weeks ago he was fine and then he was gone. I miss him everyday and am so blessed to have had him in my life. We love you!



My sister Jordyn and my dad came up for the funeral on Dec. 6th. That morning we woke up to atleast 2 feet of snow and it was extremely cold but it was a beauitful service for such an extraordinary man!


All the boys and Don's brother and YES they froze at the grave ceremony!


Madison was the oldest of Don's 2 grandchildren.

Carnival

Madison had her end of the year carnival last weekend and it was a huge success. They had a bike-a-thon before the games and everything began. As you can see in the first picture she is a little nervous...


I was so proud of her...she had the biggest bike there and didn't fall off once--it helped that she went at a snails pace! :)


At the carnival she got her face painted on both sides.

On a roll....

Madison got her 1st "big kid" bike a week ago and is so proud of it! It has streamers, a basket and a ladybug bell. She is like her mom though...likes pretty things but just likes to observe them. She has had a couple of spills and now is scared to go too fast or make turns. I don't know what happened...she was so brave as a little 2 year old.




Don't worry she does have a helmet...this was just a "test" ride.

Sunday Afternoon Delight

Funny story...Madison learned a new song in Primary yesterday about Jesus being baptized. Well when we got home from Church and finished lunch Madison went outside on the back deck to play. All of a sudden I hear her singing "Jesus came to John the Batptist, in Judea long ago. And was baptized-by immersion in the river Jordan's flow" at the TOP of her lungs. Now this wouldn't have been so embarassing, but my neighbor was out sunbathing and trying to enjoy a peaceful, Sunday afternoon. Now once thru the song would've been fine, but Madison sang it over and over and over again for 20 minutes. Yes I should've stopped her, but it was cute and I figured that she was being a little missionary. Now to top it all off...this is what she was wearing....






I love my little girl!!

Mother's Day

I'm a little late on this post...but it's been purcolating in my head since Mother's Day. Madison's preschool class held a Mother's Day Muffin tea in honor of Mother's Day and I didn't think that motherhood could make you so proud or bring you so much love. The cute little 4 year olds sang lovely "mom" songs to us, served us with muffins, and presented us with pictures of our families in frames that they had designed and painted themselves. Then all the moms sat on the ground for reading time and each had their dear sweet child in the laps while Ms. Steed read us a great story on moms. What a special day with my daughter and I'm so glad I was able to be a recipient of so much love.

Singing her heart out

My Sweet girl