The Hills Are Alive...

With the sound of music.....

The Sound of Music is Madie's new obsession. She got the DVD a few weeks ago when we were in Muscle Shoals visiting her Maw-Maw C~ Needless to say it has been on a loop since then. She knows almost every word to every song. And nothing is funnier than listening to her sing the song, "I am Sixteen Going on Seventeen." It is also quiet humorous when she calls me the Reverend Mother (she has no idea what it means) and tells me that wiener schnitzel is her favorite. I am so glad that Madie enjoys the movies from my childhood and that I can re-live those times with her.

I love the movie phases that she goes through. Here a few movies that I know she will never tire of:
Finding Nemo
Bee Movie
Annie
The Wizard of Oz
Mary Poppins
The Sound of Music

They are all pretty good ones if I do say so myself.

Dora Live!

The Day FINALLY arrived...Dora Live! We've had the countdown going for quiet some time. As part of Madie's birthday we told her that we would take her to see Dora Live! (Great marketing NICK for running the promotional commercial that it would be "in a town near you" for a million zillion times...it worked!) This morning Madie was soooo excited!!! She was going to see Dora. My mom came over to go on this outing with us and I think she was as excited as Madie. Or.... that was until we got to the BJCC.

When we arrived at the much anticipated Dora Live! Show, Madie decided she wanted to go home. She didn't want to be there. Maybe it was the large gang of kids under 5 going in all directions attached to the hand of someone much taller then them? Or maybe it was the loud yelling and/or screaming of most of those kids under 5 going in all directions? It was a little overwhelming, even for me. Whatever it was, at that moment she wanted to be home. And this state of mind continued until the curtain lifted and then it was on. It was as if a different child had joined us.

Up she jumped and began to dance, clap and sing. It's amazing how Dora can just get all over you. She had the best time and I was so happy that we were able to take her. The smile on her face was worth the price of the tickets.

Side note: I would have had pictures to share (I even took my fancy camera) but the aisle Natzi would not allow anyone to take pictures...not even of your own children sitting in their sets. The lady a few rows in front of us got threatened that they were going to call a manager if she took another picture. They were very strict today and I didn't have it in me to try and beat the system so...no pictures. Only precious memories~

Imagination Overdrive

I'm not sure what happened when Madie turned 3? But since then her imagination has been in over-drive. She has always played and acted out scenes to a movie or pretended that her dolls, barbies and princesses talked to her and each other...but never have there been imaginary people who not only talk but do things as well. (My mom always told me that I had imaginary friends. I remember a little but not very much about "my friends.")

But Madie and her friends are everywhere all the time. She has to tell me what they are doing and what they are saying. But when are imaginary friends getting too close for comfort?

I'll tell you....

Last night, Madie and I were taking a bath (During the Summer it is just easier to put her in the tub with me so that there is only one bath time instead of two, especially when we stay outside until late in the evening.) and this was our conversation:

Madie: Mommy, they want you to sing Somewhere Over The Rainbow.

Me: Who?

Madie: Them.

Me: Who's them?

Madie: My friends.

Me: Where are they?

Madie: Right there.

So, I play along and start singing Somewhere Over The Rainbow and then she says....

Madie: Hey mommy....they want you to look at then when you sing to them.

Okay, okay I get it....I want my child to be creative and imaginative. But at bath time, I'm keeping the door shut...my tubs not big enough for Madie and all of her "friends." And I don't give private concerts for people I can't see while I am taking a bath. Now, if they want to have a sing-a-long while I am cooking dinner I am all about it--but bath time...we are going to have to talk.

Almost Wordless Wednesday

My two favorite people!

Catching Up And Chattanooga

Wow! Summer is in full swing. So much so that I just noticed that I haven't written a post since Madie got out of school. Time has certainly gotten away from me. Madie and I have been on the go go go. We made a trip to visit Madie's grandparents in Muscle Shoals and had a great time. They have just recently bought an Ice Cream Store and what kid (or adult) doesn't love ice cream. I think we sampled every flavor. And then we had visits from my mom and those are always filled with shopping, eating out and staying up late. And this past weekend we went on a mini -vacation to Chattanooga and then went to visit hubby's grandmother.

Chattanooga was great! We left on Thursday night so that we would have all day on Friday to play. Chattanooga is such a cool city. I felt safe the entire time I was there. We stayed in in the downtown area, parked our car when we got there and didn't get back in the car until we left on Saturday. Unlike Birmingham, I think Chattanooga has got the tourist thing figured out.

First we went to the Tennessee Aquarium. Madie had a wonderful time. The Otter and the jellyfish were her favorite. She got to pet a snake, stingray and sturgent. We saw Nemo, Dory, Gill and Squirt. And we loved watching the penguins. After we finished the aquarium we grabbed some lunch and then headed to the IMAX. It was the same one we had seen at the McWane Center but this one was in 3D. It was cute to watch Madie reach out and try to touch the fish swimming by. With those silly glasses on, it looked as if they were swimming right for you. When we finished the movie we went to our room for a few minutes and then headed for the Chattanooga Choo Choo and from there downtown again for dinner and then to the Free Friday Concerts in the park. We were so tired by the end of the day but had a wonderful time. I had

forgotten what it felt like to getaway.

Madie looking at the jelly's

Madie petting Mr. Ray

Beach vacation countdown has begun.....20 days and counting.