Easter 2008

We had a wonderful Easter!! Maddie found her Easter basket at home RELUCTANTLY....due to the fact that she thought it was Christmas morning. :) We woke up to her singing "Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer". :) It did snow... We thought that was pretty funny.

We went to a beautiful Easter Mass at OLC with my parents and then we went to their home for a fabulous Brunch. YUM!! Maddie had an Easter egg hunt there right off the bat. Only in Michigan will you see a little girl, in a suede and fur coat, hunting for Easter eggs in the SNOW! Ahhh...Michigan. ;) She had a wonderful time hunting for eggs and found all but one. ;) But that wasn't her fault, right Grandma Fanning?? She also found an Easter Basket.

We then went over to Papa and Grandma Hosfords and had great dinner with the family. Both Maddie and Gracie got baskets there too. They were so sweet and tuckered out by the end of the evening. The pictures of them snuggling are some of my favorite. :)

We hope you all had a Blessed Easter!! :D HAPPY SPRING!!

Butterfly Fun

Tracy and I took the girls to see the butterflies at Fredrick Meijer Gardens on Tuesday. The butterflies are out in full force and just stunning. The girls were not in photographing form however. :) Gracie was all about running (right Trac?) and Maddie wouldn't stay in one spot long enough for me to get a really great shot. :) The two of them together??? YEAH RIGHT! The best I got was the one I posted with them behind the butterfly posters. Crazy girls. :)

I just love the guy talking about were butterflies come from, he didn't flinch when that butterfly landed on his forehead. He says they love him, and it happens all day long. How cool!! I got a "real" butterfly kiss from this same kind of butterfly, as it flew past my face and it's wing touched my check. Maddie of course loved that. :)

Two weeks and counting...

We are heading south to the Gulf Coast again this year, and couldn't be more excited. Sun, sand and ....ok, sun and sand. Do we really need anything else?? ;) Tracy and I are driving the girls and leaving at WHAT EVER time we want on Wednesday, stopping (shopping) WHEN EVER we want, eating WHERE EVER we want and going to the bathroom EVERY TIME we feel like it. Now THAT's a girl's trip baby!! :D Tom and Dan are flying down on Friday night. If you think the boys are getting the good end of the deal, re-read what I just wrote above in capitals. ;)

Maddie is so stink'n excited about this trip I can't even tell you. Asks every time she wakes up if we are leaving. :D She thinks it's just hilarious that pretty much her entire family is going. She just can't believe it. My parents are going this year. We are really excited for them to be getting away and to be able to show them some of our favorite places down there. :)

Here are a few pictures of years past in Gulf Shores. :) Time sure does fly...

Pictures wearing the sunglasses and with Aunt KK is in 2006

Pictures running and in the sun hat is in 2007

Pictures in 2008 are to come...

Happy Birthday to the Man I Love...(and his brother...)

:) Gotta love the title...come on. :)

Tom turned the BIG 28 this past Friday. :) He of course doesn't look a day over 21. :) We had a great family dinner at the Hosfords, as always.
I love you so much Tom. The card I gave you says it all...you are absolutely my best friend. There's no one else in the world I would want to be with till the end. We will be old, gray and have'n the time of our lives together. I love you so very much, Happy Birthday.

Oh, and Dan...Happy Birthday too. :) Love you tons as well.

This picture is of the day Maddie was born. :) I just love Tom's smile here. :) His eyes say it all. I don't even need to tell you why I love him...

The Many Moods Of Maddie

I had to share these funny pictures with you all. Today I was taking some random pictures of flowers and Maddie asked me to take some pictures of her. I ended up taking about 50 and they ALL made me laugh. I had to post a few. She may look like her Dad, but she gets her attitude from ME! :D

Our little light

I had to post this. No reason other that the post before this. :) She is out little light.

Amazing Friends and Family

This is a tough post for me, as I never got the post the "good news". I felt as though I should post something on this, seeing that Tom and I have received notes, flowers and other things from people I didn't realize new I was pregnant. I needed to let you all know how thankful we are to have you all in our lives.

We had another miscarriage this week. It's actually the identical situation as last year. I won't get into details. I am a firm believer that this really do happen for a reason. I'm not sure the reason of this now, but someday perhaps we will.

As always Maddie is the little light in our lives and we are soooo blessed that she is here with us. Everyday she becomes more of miracle baby.

Thank you all again for all the thoughts and prayers.

Well what do you know...

I saw this on the Hansen's blog and thought...everyone is ALWAYS telling us that Maddie is Tom's clone. ( Which for the most part I agree with) She does have some of my "looks" that's for sure. But this...really surprised me. I'm going to try my Mom, Dad and myself next to REALLY test it. Because I look just like my Mom...we'll see. :)

Daddy/Daughter Dance

Tom and Maddie are at the "Daddy/Daughter Dance" at the Rockford High School right now. :) I'm sure they are having a great time. :) She was so excited about it, talked all day about it actually. Here are some pictures of Daddy and Maddie all gussied up. :)

The best cousin in the world...

So, we have voted Gracie the best cousin in the world. Until the next little hosford comes, she the one and only in Maddie's eyes. :) Gracie spent a little time with us today and we had so much fun. Dance'n and playing all morning. She is so much fun to take pictures off...look at those lashes people!! :D

We love you Gracie-Poo!!

Afternoon at the Children's Museum

Tracy and I took the girls to the Grand Rapids Children's Museum today...what a riot. Maddie and Gracie obviously with the age difference, have very different types of "play" right now. :) Gracie sure does hold her own with the older kids I will say!! :) They had a ball with the bubble and the mirror. Of course the play kitchen was a huge hit. :) It's such a fun place to get these kiddos to get some energy out and they play so well together. Here are some fun shots from the day. Gracie wasn't so sure about the mirror tunnel at first, but ended up love'n it.

Update on Katie

I just talked to Austin and Katie is doing wonderfully! She didn't get much sleep last night as she was asked to get up and walk already!! Along with random walks, her vitals were taken all the time. Hopefully she can get some rest today. They told her walking will help the healing process that much quicker, so knowing Katie she'll be up and about. :) They have quite the facility at Blodgett, and she is getting great care. Fell better soon dear!!

Katie's doing GREAT!!

Katie had her surgery this morning and went great!! She is obviously sleepy, and out of it but she is doing really well. I'm sure she would want me to thank you all for your prayers as she starts this journey. Tom and I are going to see her right now, so I'll update this a little later.

WAY TO GO KATIE!!

Oh yeah...Big Girl Potty Time.

So Maddie is getting to be a BIG GIRL people. :D She is now going on the "Big Girl Potty" almost every time. :) *ALMOST*

It's like a light clicked on and she's all about it now. :) THANKS BE TO GOD. She gets better and better everyday.

Not too sure about this weather...

Yeah, Maddie's not so sure about this super cold weather. :)She doesn't really like the whole idea of getting this bundled up and then NOT playing outside. Think about it...it's really not fair for a kid. :)

I love this expression.

Drive safe everyone!! :)