Sunny day at the zoo

Yesterday we spent the afternoon with Tracy & Gracie, Kelly, Jonah & Laney, and Wendy at the John Ball Park Zoo. We had such a wonderful time and the kids had a BLAST. It was absolutely PACKED, but the kids did am amazing job staying with us and listening. That's always a plus. :)

Maddie and I along with Kelly and Jonah road a camel. Jonah did NOT want his ride to end. :) Maddie loved it too, which I was really surprised at.

Maddie really thought the sleeping flamingos were so funny. She just couldn't understand why they were on one leg and when she asked me why...I had no idea!! :) Those are the questions I'm really looking forward to.

Just Dance'n

Maddie was in the mood to dance...after two and a half days of absolute FLU. I'm saying a 48 hour bug, but I'm no doctor. Temp. of 102.5 and toss'n her cookie's...but only for two days. After laying around for almost three day's she was in the mood to let it loose. We put on the digital music 80's channel (per MOM) and let it go. She was dance'n and all of a sudden she stopped...turned to me and said "Mom...I just CAN'T dance with these Pj's on!!." So she took them off and put her "Princess shoes, aka white dress shoes" on and went to town. We danced to Madonna, WHAM! and the Beastie Boys. It was sooooo much fun!! Apparently she is gifted in the left leg... ;) I just HAD to share our fun time with you all.

Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend and SAFE TRAVELS for all you leaving the area.

Rest in peace Grandpa

Tom's Grandpa Hosford passed away early this morning. These past few weeks have been ups and downs for him and he is finally at peace. He has lived one heck of an 80 year life. I have never heard or seen anyone work as hard as that wonderful man. The stories of his life are those of hard times and many great times. He worked at and owned Mutual Auto Parts for decades. In fact he worked there at least one day a week up until last year. He loved it and wouldn't have stopped working but his health just couldn't hold up. He was also one of the most generous men I have had the honor of knowing. He would give you the shirt of his back if you needed it.

He called all of us girls "dolly". :) I thought for years he didn't even know my name, because he always called me "dolly", but then I found out that he called all of his grand-girls "dolly". There are MANY grand and great-grand girls I might add. :) When he was admitted to the hospital a few years ago, Tom and I went up to visit him and the doctor asked him which one of the twins Tom was and he said "Oh, that's Tom and his sweetheart Lauren." I almost cryed. :)

Many people loved him and called him a friend...
Grandpa you will be missed greatly. Sleep well Gramps...

The Best Gift

I took these last week, just having fun. Can't get much better than this for a Mother's Day Gift. :) Smiles and silly faces.

Happy Mother's Day

I had such a wonderful Mother's Day!! Maddie gave me a gift certificate to Celebration Cinemas to see all the movies I want to see this summer! :D I'm not sure how she drove there and paid for it, but I guess that doesn't matter. ;)

We took my parents to Grill 111 for a wonderful brunch and then relaxed at their home for the afternoon. We then went over to Tom's Mom's home to celebrate!! :) What a great day!

There is nothing like being a Mom...you just can't explain it. I am so very thankful for Maddie and the chance God has given me to the best Mom possible. I am also so very thankful for my own Mother. She has shown me what it means to care and raise a child. Thank you so much Mom you are my inspiration.

Here are some fun pictures from yesterday.

A baby no more...

So after last night with the big girl bed and the whole potty thing, Tom and I were talking about how our little "baby" isn't a baby at all anymore. I signed her up for pre-school (fights tears) and she wants to "take dance" this fall too. OMG!! What is happening?? All these "babies" are growing up WAY too fast.

As we were sitting on the front porch this evening, just enjoying this amazing weather I snapped a couple of pictures. When I uploaded these, I honestly got a tear in my eye. She is so grown up...turning three and no longer a baby at all.

Big Girl Bed...FINALLY!

After many attempts made my Tom and myself to convert Maddie's bed to a big girl bed (actually just take the front off the crib) Maddie FINALLY asked for her big girl bed yesterday.

We have taken the front off of Maddie's bed before and she would play and think it was great and then say..."put it back on please" when it was time for bed. Yesterday she said she would like her big girl bed and was all about it!! :) That is...until it was time for sleep. She again said, "put it back on please, I need my crib". Only this time we said nope, you are too big of a girl for a crib. She fussed for a few minutes saying "oh PLEEEEASE....may I PLEASE have it"...talk about killing us!! :) She feel asleep and did great all night. This morning she woke up and said, "HA, Mom I have a big girl bed, you wanna see???". :)

She is growing up so fast, we just want to keep her this age forever. She is such a sweet little girl, with so much heart and so very smart. We love you oodles and oodles Madilyn Adele!!

YES!!!! Spring Has Sprung!!

We are so utterly THRILLED that spring is here. It's finally time to be outside, go for walks downtown, play at the parks, color with chalk, blow bubbles and of course we can't forget Daddy's favorite spring time activity GOLF. :) Maddie is going really getting going on her golfing this year...or so she says.

I hope everyone is out enjoying this fabulous weather. Spring love to you all!!

Spring Break 2008

We got back from Orange Beach (Gulf Shores) AL. on Saturday afternoon, after a wonderful week vacation. We had such a great time with all of our family and made some really awesome memories.

There were lots of "firsts" for some of the family this year. My parents came to Gulf Shores for the first time, Jamie and Gloria Para-sailed for the first time and Maddie saw a dolphin for the first time. What a great vacation!! :D Here are some pictures....of course there are a million. :)