Thanksgiving in Northern Idaho

Pappa and Madison

Madison, Mommy, and Daddy

Nichole and Owen, Jr and Madison, Matt and Leah ( Madison was so terrified, but we were all so excited about the fireworks and I was trying to get a picture that we didn't even notice for awhile)

Daddy and Miss Madison, Nichole, and Owen, Matt and Leah

I'm sorry, but Madison's face makes me laugh :)

Owen and Madison (she was trying to talk to him, but he already has that glazed look that her Daddy and Grandpa get)

Pappa, Madison, and Grandma

Miss Madison said she had to put a "hooker" on the ornament :)

Madison and Grandma decorating the tree


Madison took this picture of Pappa

Kelty wanting to come in

Miss Madison


JR, Aspen, and Madison shoveling snow

What a beautiful week we just had. We have been up here in Coeur d' Alene for almost a week and will head back tomorrow. We have been very busy, but it has been relaxing at the same time. It has been a beautiful white week. We had Thanksgiving dinner here at the house with Mom, Dad, JR, Madison, and my Grandma. We went and visited our friends Matt and Nichole that morning and Madison had her first kiss. Their son Owen gave her a kiss on the lips on the way out and Madison kissed him back. It was so adorable, but JR will deny the whole thing.

On Friday we went down to the parade and the lighting ceremony. Madison really enjoyed the parade, but once the fireworks started she became terrified and we had to leave.

Saturday, Dad, JR, Madison, and I went down to the CDA library, had coffee, and then walked to the shops and did a little shopping.

Today we went back to Matt and Nichole's and the kids went sledding behind Matt's lawnmower. I went with Madison and it was a lot of fun. Tomorrow we head home ( I don't want to). I would move up here in a heart beat. It's just nice to be surrounded by our family and close friends.

Letting Go

painting Mommy's fingernails


Painting Daddy's toenails


making lasagna

Daddy and Madison making dinner... yum!!!!

Madison is becoming more independent and with that JR and I have both had to let go of our control a little bit. Madison loves to cook now and so the other night she was helping JR make lasagna. JR had a hard time letting her add things in the wrong layers. Miss Madison has also gotten into painting fingernails and toenails (thanks Aunt Mic :) and I have had a hard time not letting the paint job be perfect, but she has fun and that's the important part.

odds and ends

Madison's Halloween costume for next year

Madison took this picture of Daddy and Aunt Dani

This is the bite that Madison gave me when I tried to rock a bye her instead of Daddy:(

Helping Daddy with the leaves. She was dumping them in the garbage can

Shoveling up the leaves

I think she was spreading them out at this point :)

Beautiful Miss Madison :)

Aunt Dani and Madison doing yard work

Madison in her pseudo Halloween costume. We only went to Aunt Mic and Uncle Mark's and Steve and Nina's house. She handed out candy at our house, but kept saying that the kids were scaring her.

Madison playing with play dough for the first time.

The other night we looked out of our window and there was a firetruck at the neighbors house. Madison started to freak out because Aunt Mic was kinda excited and Madison was feeding off of that. At some point she started calling it a ladybug

Avoidance

Sorry, I haven't posted in awhile. I think I have been avoiding the blog because my Grandpa passed away and he loved the blog so much and I don't want to think about the fact that he will never be able to see it again. Grandpa was the most supportive, loving Grandpa that you could ever ask for and I am going to miss him very very much.

Farmstead Pumpkin Farm

Madison loved the cow train


Mommy, Madison, and Daddy


Madison playing in the hay palace


Madison enjoying the cow train again!!!!

playing in the corn box.... this is cooler than a sandbox

Madison petting the goat

Going down the pvc pipe slide (it was pretty fun) with Aunt Mic

Daddy and Madison

Mommy and Madison on the jumping pillow.... it was a lot of fun

Madison and Aunt Mic swapped sunglasses

Last night JR, Aunt Mic, Madison, and I went to the Farmstead Pumpkin farm. It was a wonderful evening, but a bad night. JR ended up getting very very sick :(

Toddler Bed

Sitting on her pumpkin that she picked out with Grandma


Madison and Kelty are buddies


Madison was watching Winnie the Pooh with Pooh and tiger


Taking her crib apart

I had left the room for 5 min. to clean up to vacuum and this is what I came back to!!!!

her new slippers

Madison and Pappa

Aunt Mic, Madison, and Uncle Mark

Grandma and Madison getting dinner ready

Aunt Mic, Madison, and Grandma

laying in her new toddler bed

Madison and Daddy enjoying her new bed

This last weekend we finally made the big leap into converting Madison's crib into a toddler bed. I have been putting it off because I was not ready for my baby to be a toddler in her own bed!!! The transition has been great; no problems at all. I think I had the hardest time.

Mom and Dad were here last Saturday through Tuesday. We had a really nice visit. Madison and Grandma went shopping just the two of them while I gave Dad and JR a peel. Unfortunatly, Mic had school that day. It has turned into beautiful fall weather and we've been enjoying the outdoors.

Madison got sick last night and so Mic came over to help me because JR was working a 24. Thank heavens for her. I have such horrible fear and anxiety about throwing up that it was nice to have her here helping me. She had to get up at 5 am to get ready for practicum... if that isn't the best sister, then I don't know what is. Thank you Mic.

Independence

On the tractor


Getting ready to do the Alpaca obstacle course

painting her pumpkin

She is so shy, just like her Mommy

Feeding the Alpaca's

We went to a coworker of JRs a couple of weeks ago who has an Alpaca farm. Madison had a wonderful time watching the Alpaca's, painting a pumpkin that she will tell everybody about and going on a hay ride.

Madison is sure showing her independence. We spend half the time in tears (both her and I). As JR puts it, she is conflicted. She wants to go see Daddy and work, but she doesn't want to see him. She wants that outfit, but then she doesn't, she needs to go potty, but she doesn't, etc...... Let's just say for every activity it probably take 30 min. just to get her ready for it. Thank goodness she is so adorable..... things that she says that make me laugh are: "Hungry in the car." I will keep you safe, Mommy." and she calls Grandma "Gram cracker."