10 Years

This weekend JR and I will be taking part in our 10 year high school reunion..... Can you even believe that?! 10 years just sounds like it has been SO long when in fact, I don't really feel like it has been that  long at all. Looking back though so many things have changed it will be interesting to chat with some of those I haven't seen since leaving high school.

I have been doing the planning with a few other classmates which has been interesting and fun. Who knew people moved so much and so far!? (JUST kidding!) We decided to do a short questionnaire and I have been putting them all together. Its been fun reading them and now I am just excited to get a chance to actually catch up with everyone.

Enjoy your 4th of July weekend! If you are back in our hometown, we hope to get a chance to catch up!

Random Photo Stories

After a long weekend on the farm we were cleaning out my parent's garage Maddox thought it would be a good idea to hide in Bear's kennel. Little did he know that it didn't bother us that he was "hiding" in there. It kept him busy for awhile

When that got boring, he decided that rolling on top of a ball was much more

interesting than actually throwing it.

After our big garage sale we were planning to hit up the band "Hairball" at an outdoor concert. Unfortunately the weather got really nasty and the concert was cancelled. So what do you do when you can't go to a concert but already have a babysitter?? Hit up the town!!

We've been loving the beach at a local park lately. Maddox has really become a water baby and we spend a few hours there each week if we can. So glad he likes the water! Now if only we had a boat.........

but I wanna go play with the big kids!

As usual, we have to take a trip down a slide whenever there is one in sight.

Happy summer everyone!

Our Father's Day Adventure

To celebrate Justin's day, our family spent some quality time together. We started our day of adventures at a park/petting zoo here in town. Maddox and I had been there earlier this spring but not all of the animals were out so I knew it would be a great place to start our day.

These 2 are 2 peas in a pod

Maddox thinks horses say moo...... It would be cute except that he knows better. :)

This cutie got my heart (and all my food!)



Our little family



 After the feeding was over, we headed over to wear Maddox out on the playground equipment. He did great sharing the slide (kinda) and really got great at jumping off everything (including the slides-yikes!)

After an afternoon nap we headed off to swim and play in the lake. It took Maddox a little time to

re-adjust to life in the water, he loved being in there. 

Looking for Daddy in the water

Getting a little braver, almost ready to get in the water

Here he is!

Daddy and Maddox played in the water for a bit and it was off to the playground equipment again. The day was great, and very relaxing. Exactly the thing Justin ordered and I am glad we could deliver! 

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day, Daddy!

He asked and he received!

Apparently Maddox was listening when Daddy was hinting and he got his "bigger than my bedroom" tent. Though no plans have been made to use the tent, Justin insisted on trying it out. I think it would be a great Father/Son bonding experience.... I still say they can count Mommy out! :)

Gone Missing

Anyone that has ever spent any time with me probably knows that the sight and sound of other people brushing their teeth completely grosses me out. I mean the I-wanna-throw-up-on-the-spot- if-I-see-or-hear-it kind of grossed out...

Well, obviously we have been brushing Maddox's teeth for awhile (and strangely enough it doesn't bother me as much as you would thing) but he has suddenly taken a real interest in taking his tooth brush EVERYWHERE with him.

GROSS!

I take it away and put it away but not 20 minutes later he has it in his mouth.

Weird....

Last night JR and I went out for the night and Maddox stayed home with a sitter.... When we left we both had our own tooth brush safely in their respective place to suddenly having NO tooth brush! I have been looking everywhere but have not come across anything yet. Darn kid!

Too Big!?

One would think that if you had a "full size" 4 wheeler that you could ride, you wouldn't find it

necessary to ride one that is a toy.....

Apparently Maddox missed the memo!

Maddox Milestones- 20 Months

Maddox's vocabulary has really started to take off in the past few weeks. Since he has babbled for so long I think it took us a little longer actually start "listening" to what he was saying.

What can I say, the kid can talk!

We've been working on animal sounds and he has some of the basics mastered: lamb, cow, dog, duck, and my favorite, the pig.... for some reason he doesn't actually make the oink noise, he does the funniest thing with his tongue. My goal is to get a video of it soon but so far I can't get him to "perform" while being taped- shocker! Some other favorite words are Mom/Mama, Dad, Bear, Bonnie (a friend's dog) Maddox, Nana, Papa, Grandma, Cody, cup, foot, nose, tub, bed, dog, cow, outside, coat, shoe, truck, tractor, yay (while clapping) and several others I can't seem to remember at this time.

He repeats everything and gets so excited when we clap and give him praise. I am really working on please and thank you but he is absolutely resistant to both of those for some reason.  Maddox is starting to put words together and says things like "sit, Bear" which gets old (especially for Bear when he is ALREADY sitting or even better, sleeping!)

We sing lots of songs and though he isn't really singing along he dances and knows which songs he wants to hear. He will clap if I "guess" the right one. (our repertoire isn't that large, Mommy needs to start playing more kid music) A favorite is "Wheels on the Bus" by far. the actions are coming but "swish, swish, swish" for the wipers gets him pumped every time!

Ever the busy body we cannot sit down when Maddox is awake. He will jump around the house- hopping from place to place, running if hopping isn't fast enough and when he's tired he MIGHT walk.

The kid LOVES the outdoors. I sometimes wonder if it would be better if we didn't have a full pane glass door out to our backyard because Maddox will just stand there and whine if we don't go outside. I think he plots with Bear to see who's turn it is to whine more so we can go outside. I have been known to leave the park down the street with one ticked off, screaming kid who is fighting my every move as I try to get him back in the wagon... Those days are not fun. I guess you could say we have an independant child! :)

Something new is always coming up and he is growing and changing every day. Hope this update finds you well!

New 'do

After Jess and Mitch's wedding I couldn't wait to cut my hair off!!! I really missed how easy it was to get ready every day went for something a little different. :)

Airport Visit



While we waited for the plane to arrive, Maddox made
 himself at home in the helicopter

My sister, Ali had the privilege of being in a wedding in Brainerd, MN on my parent's anniversary so when she flew in MSP International JR, Maddox, and I headed up to surprise her with my mom, Jean (my mom's mother) and April for dinner. I had spoken with her on the phone a day or 2 ahead of time and didn't say a peep about seeing her. Needless to say, she was shocked to see us all there.

Quick photo opp before we headed out to eat.

a short bonding session

The 3 of us. I miss these kinds of dates!

We had a great dinner at Bucca's and even better time catching up. I know we got her and she was more than thrilled to see us. Since we had just gotten to see her a few weeks before, it wasn't so difficult to say good bye. From the pictures saw she made a beautiful bridesmaid and the wedding was gorgeous. So glad we got to spend a few hours with her!!!

Is this Heaven?

No, we are just on the farm for the weekend but it sure feels like it! JR has been living the high life doing lots of yard work and just enjoying the great outdoors.

Maddox has been running, and running, and RUNNING which is both good and bad. He thinks(or believes, maybe) that he is Superman. He thinks he is invincible and will jump off anything including 4 ft stone walls (not a good thing!)

I am beginning to think moving back to the country is where I need to be. I feel a peace there..... Yep, my country roots run deep!

Well, off we go to celebrate a childhood friends big day. Hard to believe today is my parents 34th anniversary too. So many things to celebrate!