Baths are just the B E S T!!!

So both Maddie and I have these nasty little colds hanging on. Maddie has been slathered in so much darn Vics Vapor Rub, she was starting to grow eucalyptus leaves and have menthol vapors coming out of her pores.. :D

Due to our colds, bath time tonight was hilarious. I made the mistake of saying "Maddie you stink like vics!!"...well she needed "more bubbles to gets the vics off". She wanted more and more bubbles because she thinks those are what makes her clean. :) So cute. ANYWAY, here are some pictures, I just had to...

Thank you all...

Just a quick note to thank you all for your thoughts, prayers and comments about my Grandma. Tom and I are so truly blessed to have such amazing friends and family like you. A huge thank you goes to Dad and Mom Hosford, Dan and Tracy, Katie and Austin and Kellie, for sending such a beautiful Mum plant, that we will be able to enjoy for years to come. Love and hugs to you all.

So many wonderful memories...

Today was one of those harder days in life. My Grandma C. was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer less than three weeks ago, and today she went home. She was an amazing 89 years YOUNG and acted that way up until just recently. I can't even tell you what an inspiration she was and still is to me.

She and my Grandpa (who passed when I was only 8 years old) were absolutely head over heals in love with each other. She talked of him even last week, in a manor that two teenage love birds would. :) I am finding comfort that she is dancing with him now, after 20 years of being apart. She told me more than once, that she saw great deal of my Grandfather in Tom. What an amazing thing to say, knowing how much she loved and respected him.

She found so much joy in her grand children and of course great-grand children. Maddie was her "little joy" and she couldn't get enough of her. I am posting a picture of Madilyn and her G.G. that was taken at the end of August, where they are dancing to swing music. :D The other images are from our family reunion in July. Those are the times we will not let Maddie forget.

We will miss you Grandma, but know that you are with out pain, and in the arms of your soul mate. Peace be with my Mom, Dad and the rest of my family in this time.

C R A Z Y Cat

Maddie wanted me to take pictures of Lilah ALL day today for some reason. She would ask to see the camera and see pictures of Lilah. I kept telling her that there weren't any pictures of Lilah on the camera and she would say "well take some Mommy". Like DUH...Mom. ;) So anyway, here's one that I fiddled with. ;) Made her look a little nuts. But...cats are the devil right Uncle Jay?? ;)
Not ours, she's a sweetie.

Playing in the leaves

Tom blew the leaves again today (ask him how much he loves our trees...) and Maddie was able to get out in the fun. :) A beautiful, but brisk fall day here in Michigan. Here are a few pictures.

Cutie Pie

Gracie spent a couple of hours at our house today, playing with Maddie and walking all over the place!! I was able to catch a couple of pictures...not as many as I wanted as you can see with the full on pout face near the end of shooting. :) Love it!!! This is classic! The word is on the street she gets this from her Grandma Carlson...hmmmmm...... :)

BOO!! It's Halloween Time!

Of course we had a great day yesterday, being Halloween and all. :) It was a LONG but really fun day for Maddie. We went EVERYWHERE. Both Papa's work, Grandma Hosford's work, Aunt KelKel's, Daddy's, the Optech Department and NRMS. Grandma Fanning came with us all day. :) Then she went trick-or-treating at night. Needless to say, she was a little tuckered out in the end.

Madilyn originally wanted to be Darth Vader (yes, I said Darth Vader) I talked her out of that real quick, then it was Princess Leia. I tried to find Princess Leia costumes online for two months, and they were all sold out. She finally asked to be Cinderella, SOLD!! ;) She was a perfect Cinderella and couldn't have been sweeter all day. Thanks to everyone that stopped over last night and made the night a great one!!

Halloween Party '07

On Friday we had our 3rd annual VanderWall/Hosford Halloween Party. We had a great time and saw some amazing and creative costumes!! :) A HUGE thank you goes out to everyone that was there at the end and helped clean. ;) Here are some fun shots from the evening. Yes...That's Tom as Frank N. Furter from Rocky Horror Picture Show. He rocked that costume if I do say so myself.

Fall Day Down By The River

Maddie and I took a beautiful walk today, down to the dam. It was extremely crisp and chilly out. :) Here are some fun shots from today. ;)

Carving Pumpkins

After getting the perfect pumpkins yesterday, we decided to have a go at carving. :) They turned out pretty good!! :) A cat and a silly face. If you are in town, take a look. Here are a few funny pictures. Maddie wasn't too sure about the whole inside of the pumpkin thing. Full of goo...she's a true GIRL. :)

Fun at Robinettes

We went to Robinettes Apple Haus to find the perfect pumpkin and have cider and donuts yesterday. Maddie had fun going down the slide and thought the HUGE apple was just too cool. We found our perfect pumpkins and had a great time!!

YEH!! PUDDLES!!

How much fun...to be a kid. :) We were leaving my parents today and I just couldn't hold Maddie back from the puddles. You know...why not!! That's the best part of being a kid, enjoying the small things in life like mud puddles. We could all use a little of that sense once in a while. ;) I just so happen to have my camera on hand...;)