I'm On A Boat....

I'm on a boat!!!! First family boat day of 2010 on Lake Martin.

Madie cooling off in the cool water.

A day of family, boating, sun, water and fun!!! It doesn't get much better. We enjoyed every minute.

P.S. Madie and I used plenty of sunscreen.....hubby did not.

Donkey's and Goats and Peacocks OH MY!

This weekend Madie and I went for a visit to Nana and Paw-paw's. After breakfast Saturday morning we headed to a flower nursery that is located on a farm. They also have animals that you can pet and feed. There are donkey's, goats, peacocks, cats and kittens, rabbits, sheep, cows, dogs, pigs, chickens, roosters, chinchillas, ducks and I'm sure there were more livestock there that I can't remember. It is just a fun place to go and see all of the animals.

As soon as we got there Madie reached out to pet the peacock and got pecked. I felt so bad for her. She learned very quickly to ask before you stick your fingers in an animals cage.

Here is Madie petting a sweet rabbit. The owners of the nursery were so nice and took time out to show us all of the animals. This is Mrs. Garrett holding the rabbit so Madie can pet it.

Madie holding a chinchilla. They are sooooo soft.

Madie petting Daisy and Ivan, her new donkey friends.

Madie posing for a picture with Daisy and Ivan. I swear it looks like they are smiling too.

The BIG pig Sally....I don't think she moves around very much.

Madie petting her new friend Melody the goat. Everytime we would walk away she would say, "Come Baaaaaack!"

What a great day! (Other than Madie's peacock peck and running into an ant bed while trying to see a baby calf.) We can't wait to go back soon and see all of our farm friends.

Happiness is......

Flying!

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.

Let's Go To The Movies

Yesterday I decided it would be fun to take Madie to the movies. My SIL was in town visiting and I thought it would give us something to do. Kung Fu Panda is playing and I have heard good things about it, and I thought Madie might enjoy it.

We grab some lunch before the movie so that we have more for lunch than Popcorn and Rasinettes. We get there 20 minutes before the movie is to begin. Plenty of time to go to the bathroom, get our yummy refreshments, and find the perfect seat for Madie to enjoy her first movie.

When the previews began, Madie was a little startled by the noise and large screen and before the coming attractions were finished, she had decided that she wanted "no, movie....go home."

So I started pulling out the snacks, Popcorn (which she has never eaten before because I am paranoid about her choking) and rasinettes.

She looks up at me as says in a very loud voice, "Popcorn, I like it!" and continues to say it over and over. She wiggled and squirmed and went from my lap to SIL lap (she couldn't sit in a seat by herself....she didn't weigh enough to hold the seat bottom down). She asked for a diaper change 2 times (they were both justified...one was really wet and the other was #2).

****note to self, get more serious about potty training

I think she may have watched 10 minutes of Kung Fu Panda and I wish that I had not seen any it. It was terrible! There had been way to much hype and I was extremely disappointed. As we were leaving, I asked Madie if she was ready to go home. She looked at me very serious and said, "No! Go to movies!" It's a no win.

Next time, I will do more research with our movies. They must have singing or dancing or some kind of music and oh ya.....we MUST have popcorn.....I like it!

Fireworks That Scream = Madie Ready To Take A Bath

We were getting ready to watch fireworks at our neighbors house for the 4th of July and Madie seemed to be all about it. She was doing extremely well, considering she had not taken a nap.
I was very nervous about her seeing them. I knew she would certainly have a meltdown and cry. After a few fireworks went off she said "wow!" and began to wait anxiously for the next and saying "one more time?"....until the screaming kind began to go off and she very quickly turned and looked at me and said in the most serious voice, "I'm ready to go inside and take bath!" She NEVER asks if she can go take a bath.

A minute later we were heading inside....no looking back. Now when you say fireworks, she says "POP!"

So to review:
Screaming Fireworks = Madie ready to go inside and take a bath....who knew?

Back To Reality

Back to reality----Vacation was wonderful. We had such a good time. And other than the occasional meltdown, because she was tired, Madie was great! We got home yesterday afternoon. Since then, hubby has gone back to work :( and I have spent my time unpacking, washing clothes, entertaining Madie, cleaning the house and wishing for more time on vacation.
I'll make time later to sit down and post some of the happenings and some pictures from our trip to the beach--but I have to get my house back in order first. I love being on vacation, but I hate being out of my routine. I've got a lot of catching up to do. Back to reality!

Everything But The Kitchen Sink

Why is it that when you are packing to go on vacation you pack way too many things? I've caught myself packing shirts that I haven't worn all year.....why would I wear it the few days that we are going to be gone? From the looks of our luggage---Madie and I are planning on staying at the beach for a while....I think I've packed everything but the kitchen sink.

Vacation Count Down

We are leaving to go to the beach on Thursday. I am very excited. I will be crazy busy getting things packed, ready and organized tomorrow. We (Hubby, me & Madie) are going on vacation and also celebrating mine and hubby's 8th anniversary. It doesn't seem like it has been that long. Happy Anniversary Babe!

Hopefully, Madie will like the sand more than her last visit to the beach. She would only walk in packed sand and she didn't like doing that. Last year when we went, she wasn't walking yet, well not upright, she walked on all fours (like a crab) so she was very familiar with the ground and everything on it. Thank goodness the place we stay at has a zero entry pool. I think if you have a small child who doesn't like playing on the beach, they are the best. They can play in the pool and you can sit in the water and stay cool and still entertain the little one. It should be a lot more fun for her this time. I've been talking to her about it and getting her excited about going. When hubby gets home from work she always asked him "Dada Beach?".....only 2 more days!

White sandy beaches.....here we come!

Pools and Parks and Picnics....Oh My!

I finally found the pool I wanted to get Madie last weekend but couldn't find it. Hubby and I set it up and had it ready for her yesterday morning.

She had so much fun!

This morning Madie and I went to the park to have a picnic. When we got there, we were the only ones there. Like we had our own private park. We had our lunch and then I pushed her in the swing, played on the slide and steps and walked around for a bit.

Here is Madie having a great time on our picnic.

Here is Madie, just being cute!

Swim Day!

Hubby was going fishing on Saturday, so Madie and I decided that we would go spend friday night with Nana and Paw-paw so that we could swim on Saturday. We got out in the pool around 10am and the water had not yet been heated by the beaming sunshine because the water was COLD! Madie didn't seem to care. She wanted to swim. She had so much fun and was so exhausted. We had a picnic with Nana, Paw-paw, Uncle B & Lyn-lee and then Maw-Maw(Madie's great-grandmother) came by for a visit to watch Madie swim.

Around 2pm she looked at me and said "nap."

Note to self: trips to swimming pools makes for tired child and long nap.

Here are a few photos from the day.