At Least M Loves the Snow

Because I'm kinda over it. Anyways.

When Madison woke up from her nap yesterday I decided to take her out to enjoy the snow! I wasn't exactly thrilled for our February Snow Storm, but I knew she'd love it!

And hey...at least it makes for fun photos! :)

She wanted her ball out with her for some reason. She quickly lost interest in the ball though.


I showed her how to make a snow angel, and then she said she'd try it. But, she didn't like it! Haha! This picture makes me laugh though.

She loved finding big sticks under the snow fall.

Eyelashes!

This was great packing snow, and she loved all the snowballs I was making her.

She also enjoyed drawing in the snow with her stick.

Rosy cheeks.

HAPPY GIRL!

Ok, snow. Now you can go. :) 

F-U-N with the Allens!

Last Thursday our friends (Rachel - and her daughters Julia and Fiona) from MN were in town and were able to come over for a visit! I am happy to report that I survived watching three 2 year olds for an hour and a half! :) LOL! Kidding. It was super fun and easy. I stayed upstairs with the girls while Rachel was just downstairs for an on-line meeting/conference call for her employer.

Just a few snapshots of the girls having fun.

Fiona and M enjoyed making their pasta necklaces. Julia...not so much.
But, they all loved eating the fruit loops!

M and Julia making music.

Paint in freezer bags. LOVED it.

Our three beautiful brunettes!

We had a lot of fun with the Allen girls. :) Hope to see them all again soon!

TWSS - Luhb You (and more)

Just some fun-random conversations with our darling M.
(And a few recent random pictures.)

Madison's been using the word, 'love,' a lot. It's adorable when she says it though because she pronounces the 'v' sound as a 'b' sound. Same thing with the word, 'favorite."

"I luhb you SO much Piggy and Bunny!" (Thought we were going to hear Mama and Daddy...but nope.)

"I luhbe apples. They my fabe-rit." (Which is funny because she doesn't even like apples!)

"I buy this for Jengo, and Jengo will luhb it!"
 (Later on when we gave Jengo the toy)
"See, Mama, Jengo luhbs it!"

Conversation about our recent adventure to Minnesota.
Me: Madison! We're going on a trip tomorrow!
M: A trip?! Yay!
Me: We're going to Minnesota!
M: Yay! Daddy luhbs soda!
Me: Yes. Daddy does love soda!

Later that evening.
Josh: Hey, Madison, do you know where we're going tomorrow?
M: Yeah. To get Daddy his soda!



While in MN I was away from M getting myself a Coke.
M: Where my mama go?
Jenny (our cousin): She's getting a Coke.
M: Oh. My mama luhb Coke.

And...evidence of her sassy-side.
Me: Tell Daddy you love him.
M: I don't want to tell Daddy I love him.
And then she walked away.



Grandpa Dave: Hey Madison, do you want to go help me find my shoes?
M: No. You go find you own shoes, Grandpa!
(She usually enjoys helping my Dad find and put on his shoes when he's leaving...but not on this particular day I guess.)

Josh: Madison, come give Daddy a hug.
M: No. I'm busy making you dinner!
(Dinner was over...she was just using that as an excuse since I had been telling her that earlier that evening when she wanted me to play with her!)

As I tried singing a song with her:
"No! No Mom. You no sing. I sing it MYself!"

Foto Friday - Band Aids

She's obsessed with band aids.

I now hide them from her, (she somehow found these), because if she's wearing one and it falls off and is lost she seriously loses it. I mean loses it. *sigh*

Minne-SODA: Family, Friends, & Fun! - Part Two

Part two: FRIEND FUN!

During the week, we stayed at our friend's, The Willms', house. I met Laura at UNI (I was her RA) and we've been friends ever since. Gosh...I think we've known each other since 2002 then?! Over 10 years!!! Anyways, she has twins that turn 2 at the end of February. We had SO much fun with BABY Kate and BABY Matt and all our friends!

Side Note: I had to call them BABIES because M was a little rough with them and pushed them down a LOT the first couple days we spent together. I think M pushed all of them or stole their toys at some point of this trip. Oh, and she also threw a toy that just happened to land on baby Lydia's face. So yeah...she made all of the kids cry at some point.

Ok...now for the pictures.

Matthew and M playing at the kitchen set later on Sunday after we had arrived.

On Monday we went to music class with the Willms and the Allens.
M and the Allen girls share the same hair! :)

Three adults and 5 toddlers out to dinner after music class.

On Tuesday we went to an Open Gym. M loved it! Here she is (im)patiently waiting on Kate.

Swingin'.

In the foam pit.

Being so careful on the beam.

On Wednesday we ventured to the Mall of America because I really wanted to take her to The Disney Store. We both loved it!

We also went to IKEA to get some storage stuff for the Willms. M enjoyed the cart ride.

M and Matt playing.


Kate-Kate (my nickname for her) and Me!

Wednesday evening we went to The Allens' for the dinner. The kids were wild...but had fun!

5 Toddlers! Run while you can!


(Picture from Rachel)

Thursday morning we attended a super fun music class at the library. M and Kate were pretending to nap (part of the song). How cute are their matching outfits!?! (Thanks, Laura!) 

Rhythm sticks!

Fun, fun, fun!


After music class M and I headed back to the Mall of America. M really loved the mall. She oohed and aahed at all the lights and fun stores. We spent a couple hours just her and me before heading back to our cousin's house.

Of course she got a Vikings hat.

And I couldn't let her leave MN without having a smoothie from Jamba Juice! 

After our short stay at our cousin's for a couple more nights, we headed out to lunch with our friends, Mark and Allison Pitts and their new baby girl, Lydia on Saturday. After a delicious lunch at Pei Wei (we miss that place so much!), we went back to their house to visit for a bit. M loved holding Lydia.

Then...it was back to the Willms' for a bit. M and Kate were happy to be reunited!

Finally, we all gathered back at the Allens' for pizza and conversation. I didn't take any pictures...so I'm so grateful my friend Rachel had her camera handy and shared these next few pics with me. Thanks, Rach!

The Dads and the Kids.
Madison, Josh, Matthew, Kevin, Katherine, Julia, Steven, Fiona, Mark, & Lydia.

Love this picture! :) Me, Laura, Rachel, and Allison.

We left early Sunday to head home. We stopped in Cedar Falls for lunch at Pepper's!!!!


We had SO SO SO much FUN with The Willms, The Pitts, and The Allens while we were in MN. The last time we were all together was in 2008, and since then we've all become parents and have added 7 children to the mix! I truly appreciate all the hospitality from them as they welcomed us all into their homes. We are so thankful for friends like all of them! :)

Minne-SODA: Family, Friends, & Fun! - Part One

Part One: FAMILY FUN!

We took off Friday February 1st for a long trip to Minnesota to visit with family and friends! We arrived at our cousin's home Friday evening just in time for a delicious Olive Garden dinner. Mmmm Mmmm! M enjoyed playing with all of Kinley's toys, and after the little girls went to bed we played a few exciting games of Spoons!

The next morning (Saturday) M had fun with Kinley's roller coaster ride.

We went to Cam's hockey game. At least Josh and Lex are lookin' at me for the picture!

After the game and lunch, we headed off to go snow tubing! M fit into her very own tube. A lot of our cousins joined us...I just failed at getting a group shot. Boo on me!

They were having problems with the electricity so we had to WALK up the huge hill every time. Madison walked up it 3 times by herself. It was a work out that's for sure!

Here we are going down in a big train. Madison LOVED it!

M took a break (from the walking) with Josh and Cam and watched some snow-boarders.

And then...she was SO so tired (no nap this day) and about to fall asleep in her tube!

She fell asleep as soon as Josh picked her up.


On Sunday Josh left for Las Vegas for the World of Concrete Convention with our cousin, Jason, and M and I headed to our friends, the Willms' home to stay for the week. We returned to our cousin's house Thursday (Josh was returning Friday).

M enjoyed watching her older cousin Dominic play his DS.

She also enjoyed making a huge mess with the army men she found somewhere.

On Saturday Jenny made us some delicious pancakes for breakfast before we had to pack up and head to lunch with our friends.

We LOVE our MN family! 
We had so much fun and they were great hosts! :)