Summer 2009

Tomorrow is Labor Day, which is supposed to be the end of summer. So, I'll make up for the past few months with a quick summer update. We didn't have any big trips or adventures, but had a really great summer.

In June, the family went to Galveston one weekend. Madeline had a fabulous time playing in the sand and jumping over waves.

We also went to my family reunion in the hill country, and got to watch my dear cousin Shaun get married. It was awesome to get to see the whole family. M had a great time swimming and playing with her cousins, Nati and Claire. I didn't take any pictures (i know kind of unbelievable, but true. For really great pictures, Julia's picasa page has tons. http://picasaweb.google.com/JuliaKateOldham/HardwickFamilyReunion2009# )

In July, Madeline went on a solo trip to Austin and Midlothian. She had a wonderful time just hanging out, and on many adventures.

The rest of the summer we have just been enjoying the neighborhood swimming pools, and getting ready for the new baby. Madeline got a slip n slide and a sprinkler toy for her birthday that have both been used extensively. Here are fun pictures from Summer 2009.

More pictures are on our shutterfly account.

We're back....

Sorry for the very long blog hiatus. I will try to be better. I promise blog posts in the upcoming week.

Cupcakes

The other day Madeline and I decided we would make cupcakes. Madeline loves to help with cooking. She is good about just sitting and watching, but really enjoys helping out whenever she can. I decided that she could help ice some of the cupcakes. How hard could that be, and they were just for fun cupcakes, it didn't matter if she ruined a few. Let's just say, she needs some work on her technique. Her approach to icing cupcake is to repeatedly stab the cupcake and generally create a mess. It was very funny to watch, and she seemed to have a really wonderful time.

Toddler's First Haircut

I realize Madeline, being almost 3, is really old to be getting her first haircut, but last Saturday was her first haircut. My friend, Rebecca, gave me a great tip on a wonderful stylist. Madeline was an angel the whole time. Now she has adorable shoulder length hair. My only problem is I just realized she has the exact haircut I was planning on getting....

When I told Madeline it was time to go, she came out of her room with EVERY purse on her arm.

The hair dresser asked if Madeline wanted to sit in my lap or by herself. Without pause, Madeline announced she could sit by herself. I was so proud of her.

Smiling Madeline getting her haircut.

Madeline poses for a picture with her new haircut outside.

I told Madeline to turn around to take a picture, and this is what I get. So cheeky!

Sunday Funday

M has been amazing the past few weekends. She has been very well behaved and we have been so busy, and not had much Madeline time. We told her last weekend we would have a special day for her. Saturday was rainy, and I had to work, so we had Sunday Funday. We went downtown to Discovery Green Park then went to Downtown Aquarium to look at the fish. It was a wonderful day with lots of smiles.

We ate at this cute little cafe on a pond. M hardly ate anything she was too excited about the getting to play!

Kids could play in all of the fountains.

They have this fabulous net that woks similar to a trampoline.

Ths is also a fountain that just sprays a fine mist from above. M wanted Daddy to join her. I think they both had a fun time. She got SO wet!

After the park, we went to the Downtown Aquarium and M saw some HUGE fish, sharks, sting rays, eels, and even a turtle.

M stopped to pause with a giant fish!

Earth Day

Madeline's teacher is so awesome and such a hippie! This was her week to shine, and she did not let us down. All the kids were supposed to bring in recycled material for arts and crafts and a plain white shirt. When I went to pick her up today the whole room was decorated in their arts and crafts projects using cereal boxes, egg cartons, yogurt containers, and such. But best of all, every kid was wearing a very cool tie dye shirt!

M is in an anti-picture phase, so all i can get are candids. This was the best pic I could get of her shirt. Isn't it so cute!

Easter eggs are yummy!

Today Madeline RAN into the living room screaming "Nelson is eating my egg!!! My yellow egg. NOOOO!" I went into the kitchen expecting to see Nelson had eaten some candy, instead I find Nelson going to town on a yellow hard boiled egg. As I was trying to salvage what was left of the egg, Nelson hid under the kitchen the table and ate the whole egg, even the shell! Madeline was crying the whole time, and I could not stop laughing.