Our Weekend

Saturday morning was spent around the house, since the Razorback game started at 10am mountain time. Elizabeth started walking with us only holding onto one hand. Then I caught her walking while pushing the baby stroller, so I got the car out for her to practice walking more.

Here she is on one of her laps around the living room (I had to help her turn corners).

We had lunch during halftime then got the girls down for naptime to enjoy the stressful ending to the game. We are so excited that AR won! Go Hogs!!

After naps we spent some time playing outside, it was a great day for it!

Madilynn was riding her bike and then next thing I know Daddy comes out of the garage with the sled. The girls really enjoyed riding around the yard. I even had a short turn - until the rope pulled through the hole!

Madilynn loving it, Daddy catching his breath!
Elizabeth enjoyed her snack out on the porch

Daddy's razorback

Madilynn is doing really good on her bike. She rode for a while just in a circle in the driveway.

Saturday evening Michael, Madilynn and I headed out to the Utah State football game playing Fresno St. Elizabeth stayed at home with a babysitter.

Walking into the stadium

Mommy & Madilynn

Here we are...with our ice cream!

Can't believe this girl...she's almost FOUR and she reminds me daily!

We made it to the end of the 3rd quarter and USU was down 10pts.

Sunday morning ready for church...big smiles!

Just precious!

I needed a new picture of Daddy and the girls and this turned out great!

Utah State Fair

Sunday we headed down to Salt Lake City to the Utah State Fair. In terms of agriculture it doesn't even compare to the Iowa State Fair (which we missed this year). Next year for my birthday I've requested a trip to the Iowa State Fair and to visit friends there!

Anyways after eating lunch our first animal stop was the bunnies. Elizabeth just received the book "Guess How Much I Love You" from Granny for her birthday. The story is about two bunnies, and we thought this one looked just like Big Nutbrown Hare!

Elizabeth checking everything out
Madilynn was very interested in the map of the fairgrounds and periodically she would have to take a look and help us decide where to go next! (I love it!!)

There was a honeybee display...that was pretty interesting

the sheep - I think Madilynn wanted one!

and the pigs...

A trip to the fair isn't complete without some ice cream...

lovin the ice cream

yum yum!

This was Little Hands on the Farm where kids get to go through and learn where their food comes from and how it gets to the grocery store. (They had this at Iowa also, but this was Madilynn's first time to participate).

It started by going into the grain silo and getting some corn. Next stop, the Dairy barn where you fed the cow the corn and then milked the cow (just so you know this is all pretend stuff for kids, but I think it got the point across!). Then onto the apple orchard to pick an apple.

Next she planted a carrot seed and then went around and picked a carrot for her basket.

Then to the sheep barn to brush the sheep and grab a handful of wool on your way out. Her basket was full by the time we were done. Then onto ride the tractors...

the girls in FFA uniform...

there were FFA volunteers to keep this going for the kids, it was busy!

Finally, we made our way to the market where she put everything into its bin and then received a slip of paper for $1. Then she got to go into a mini market and buy something, she got some fruit snacks!
I forgot to get this in the pic with them, so you would know how they are being measured below...

It was so bright and sunny, they can't even look up!

Here's Elizabeth Sunday night ready for bed in her Razorback pajamas!

Sunday afternoon Elizabeth starting saying "Daddy" instead of just "Dada" and pointing to Michael. I think she's got it figured out!!

Such a great weekend!!

Razorback Day

Madilynn referred to Saturday as "Razorback day"! After breakfast out and running some errands we were home for the day. Madilynn and I made some strawberry jello with marshmallows in our new Razorback mold. She loved helping to put the marshmallows on top!

During nap time I caught this guy in the backyard...this was taken out the kitchen window!
The girls spent the evening playing hard and "watching" the game so silly
Elizabeth loves playing with the kitchen and all the pots and pans. Also, she's not walking yet, but she'll be up on her knees like this and walk on her knees, so funny!

Towards the end of the game...it was bedtime!

Also to note: Madilynn's version of calling the hogs was "Shoooie Piggy!" I thought it was so funny. I think she knew she was being silly, but she still won't say "Soooie" it's "Shoooie" everytime! Maybe one day she'll figure it out.

Listening

Where would I be if I hadn’t been lead to Christ? LOST, that’s where. There has been a lot of tears and mucus running today. Madilynn has always had a way of breaking me down. How can a child so small and so innocent literally “blow up” all the granite built up in a grown man’s heart? I guess it only takes a little stick of dynamite.

It’s been rough. It’s been rough on my wife. It’s been rough on my kids. I don’t want to sound like a whiner because I couldn’t get through some of the things that our friends in Iowa have been going through with their new baby. Praise God for strong Christian men like James Carlat. Yet the act of balancing life, family, and work has been really tough. I sit here barely able to get through this note. I’m a mess today. I guess it’s an every two year thing or maybe I’ve slowed down just enough to listen. In the past two years we’ve lost family members, gained a new member (thank goodness Elizabeth looks like her mommy as well), graduated ISU, got a job at USU, celebrated 5 years of marriage, and moved approximately 1,312 miles from our families.

What provoked this random blurb was on the way to pre-school this morning “Lead Me” by Sanctus Real (Men, I challenge you to sit still in a quiet place and listen) was on the radio and Madilynn was singing along. I was in awe. She is going to be 4 years old this year (in 21 days). Not a baby anymore, not a toddler but a little girl who is a free spirit, a random act of kindness, a social butterfly, a beautiful child. She is going to pre-school for crying out loud. One of my colleagues at work was impressed by how well she can speak clearly and talk in complete sentences. What’s next, college then medical school? Thank the lord she has her mother’s smarts and looks. I still pray she accepts Christ as her savior and follows Him all of her days. We talk about Christ living in her heart. I still pray she marries a godly husband and remembers the things we teach her. I cherish reading her the bible at bedtime and praying with her. I wanted to give a shout out to all the grandparents for raising us right. I hope that it gets passed on. Friends thank you for your kindness. Darius Rucker said it pretty well in his song “it won’t be like this for long.” Watch out you might just miss the point trying to win the race. You might even be running the wrong race.

“Life’s not the breaths you take but the moments that take your breath away” ~ George Straight, “Breath you take”

Thanks everyone for listening to me and Happy Birthday, Madilynn. I love you so much.

A cold, cold, wet day...

Well today was a great day to stay at home, and good thing we didn't have anywhere to go! It was pretty cool and rained just about the whole day. So, we did some fun things at home!

We began just after breakfast with fingerpainting!

Elizabeth's first experience with paints...

She did really well and only tried to eat it a couple times...i don't think it tasted very good!
Madilynn loved painting...she enjoyed mixing a lot of colors!

the creations...

Meanwhile, something was baking in the oven...zuccini bread! The girls love it, and we sure enjoyed it with our lunch!

After nap it was snack time...

being silly

yes, she's still in her pajamas...she did get dressed shortly after this picture was taken and before Daddy got home!

And, in case you were wondering...

this is what happens everyday when Daddy gets home from work...

he's attacked, with lots of hugs of course!!

For supper we tried a new recipe for chicken & rice involving a ranch dip packet and a stick of butter...it was so good, (sorry no pic) with steamed broccoli from the garden.
To top off the day Elizabeth received a birthday package from Granny & Pepaw in the mail! We were able to video chat with Granny, so she could watch while Elizabeth opened it!

wow!

she loved all the animals and they make sounds too - so cool!!

Elizabeth kept saying "Hi" and waving at the camera like she really wanted to talk! She has also started repeating us (sometimes) when we say "bye-bye" and it's too cute.

Another thing to note about today...

All day long I've had the Dr. Seuss book The Cat in the Hat going through my head. It starts out with something like they stayed inside on that cold, cold, wet day... I didn't say anything about it though, and we didn't read the book today, but while we were at the table for supper Madilynn said something about this cold, cold, wet day like she was thinking of the book too. I thought that was pretty cute!

Wooo Pig Soooie!!

Even though we are in Utah we still dressed for the Razorbacks on Saturday!! We were even able to watch the first home game on the laptop, it was great!!

The girls enjoying their pumpkin bread!
Mommy and Daddy

Madilynn showing off her new necklace that Granny sent to her...

Daddy & Elizabeth hanging out watching football on Saturday

We had a relaxing weekend and didn't do anything big - we just spent time together and watched a lot of football!!

This afternoon I caught them reading a book together...

Here are a few videos of Elizabeth and what she's been doing lately!

The first is Elizabeth dancing and singing!


Elizabeth playing...


Elizabeth reading a book, then the spider crawl, as fast as she can go!!