Memorial Weekend

What a fantastic weekend we had in the U.P. We arrived late Thursday night and Madeline did pretty well for the ride. Took a little longer than expected due to traffic in Ann Arbor but after we got through that rough patch it was smooth sailing. Friday Bri golfed with Scott and some friends and I ran some errands with Sandy and then got ready for the Happy Hour BBQ. It was so nice to see all the ones we love in Marquette and spend some quality time with them. Madeline went to the beach for her first time and LOVED watching the water ebb in and out in the sand. She also really LOVED the curvy slide at the park. Saturday was a fun day in Iron Mountain at Uncle Tom and Aunt Lynn's house for Krista's graduation party. Congrat's to Krista (Bri's cousin) and good luck at Ferris in the fall, we are very proud of you. Bri even got a softball game in while we were there. Seems like each visit makes me love the U.P. more and more!! Can't wait for Cabin week and the big softball tourn in July. I am hoping sandy can email me some pictures to share but in the meantime here is one of Maddy jumping on her tramp to enjoy:)

p.s. Congrat's to auntie Leigh as well for landing the big clerkship for the summer. WAY TO GO! We are so proud of you!!

4 day weekend... AMEN!

Tonight after work we're heading to the U.P. to visit Bri's family for the long much needed vacation/weekend:) Madeline is packed and ready to go with movies, books, snacks, blanket, and soon to be her auntie Leigh all in the backseat with her. Wish us luck:) She hasn't taken this trip in awhile and it should be interesting to see how she does. We are crossing our fingers she will eat her dinner and fall asleep around 8ish giving us a peaceful 4 hours left of the trip. Also hoping we don't run into too much construction on I-75 as well. Safe travels and Happy Memorial Day to everyone!!

Ice Cream and Friends!

Last night Madeline's parents had the excellent opportunity to attend the Red Wings game and so Madeline had a partial sleepover at her friend Addison's house. We dropped Madeline off at Hambright's and she ate dinner with them and then Julie pulled Maddy and Adds to the ice cream shop in Berkley. Madeline was so excited to go to Addison's that when i told her where she was going she tried to open the car door herself to jump in and that NEVER happens. Bri and i picked her up at Hambright's after the big WIN and she hardly woke up. Thanks to Julie and Matt for being so awesome so we could make last minute plans:)

Madeline's new headphones

So yesterday mommy made another what seemed like frivolous purchase. I was looking towards our trip to the U.P. next week and thinking how nice it would be for Madeline to be able to watch and listen to her movies without us having to. I decided at that point to purchase some headphones for her. I honestly didn't think that they A. would actually fit her head, B. she would actually leave them on, and C. that Bri wouldn't make some comment about how they weren't needed. Boy was i wrong on all accounts. Bri never said a word, they actually fit her 25th percentile head size and she left them on the entire ride to work this morning. She was so excited to watch her new Elmo movie and never said a word the whole way. This is the FIRST time that has happened. It was nice to have a quiet ride. Thank you Sony and thank you Elmo:):)

Sorry the picture is a bit shakey, i was driving :(

Madeline's Photo Session #1

A couple weeks ago we had family pictures at Immerman Park in Saginaw. It was a beautiful day with no clouds in the sky and in the 70's. Unfortunately for anyone who knows anything about taking pictures, this is not ideal. The good thing was we got some AWESOME shots of Madeline, the bad thing was they are a little overexposed due to the sun and Madeline would NOT pose well with Bri and I so we didn't get very good shots of the three of us. The best part of the entire thing is that we get to keep all of the shots for free and schedule another shoot with the photographer. Here is a link to the site so you can enjoy the photos. there are some really good ones that hopefully will make it to the empty frames on my wall at some point :)
http://www.photobiz.com/slideshowbiz/slideshow.cfm?slideshowID=61346&photographerID=2537

Save the Boobies!!

As we enter into Relay for Life time of year for the American Cancer Society Maddy's auntie Kerri got her an adorable shirt to remind everyone that we are praying and trying to raise lots of money for a cure to stop this horrible sickness that affects way to many people we know. I pray with all my heart that we can one day have a cure to end all sorts of awful cancers that people get especially breast cancer which hits all to close to home. Madeline will be participating in the Relay for Life in Madison Heights on June 13th and 14th and if you'd like to make a donation please let me know and i can give you the info :)

Here Madeline is modeling her new shirt, thanks auntie Kerri :)

Happy Mother's Day

Yesterday was a wonderful Mother's day. Madeline and Bri woke me with a wonderful card from Madeline and Bri had her say Happy Mother's day to me. It was adorable. Then they let me sleep in for awhile and made me breakfast and gave me a Detroit Tiger's decal for my new car and a new Inge t-shirt since i have apparently lost my old one. We spent the day laying around and vegging out. Brian and i even got a game of bags in while Maddy napped. Then for dinner Brian prepared my favorite meal of red skinned potatoes with grilled salmon. YUM YUM! Even treated ourselves with a little dairy queen during the red wings game. By the way, GO WINGS!! A perfect day with my two favorite people. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful husband and such a beautiful daughter. How did i ever get so lucky!
Today i begin my training regimen for the Sept 13th Chicago half marathon. i am really excited to start logging some miles for a cause and not just to keep the dairy queen off my thighs:) Wish me luck! We also have our first official Kickball practice this Friday as well. It's that time of year again and this year we will be competing as the mighty "Bayside Tigers". Yes, it's a throwback to that good ol show Saved by the Bell. I can't wait. It's such a nice way to end out a crazy work week with good friends, good beverages and some good competitive athletic competition.
Hope all you mother's out there had a great mother's day and have an excellent week!!

Ceiling Chaos

So last week i came home with Madeline to find her playroom ceiling basically laying on her toys on the floor. Yes, her plaster ceiling had caved in and the floor was a mess of plaster pieces and insulation. FUN FUN! I think today when we get home the work of cleaning, repairing, painting, etc should finally be complete. Thanks goodness. It's a blessing that no one was home and that Madeline was not playing in the room at the time of the collapse. Our landlords told us they would pay for our hotel stay and so that was fun playing in a hotel pool with Madeline for the night :)

This is the hole right after the collapse. Well, when we discovered it.

This is the mess that was Madeline's playroom floor. Do you see poor Elmo ? :(

Luckily the only things that came up broken were her Dora table which can easily be replaced and the hat on inch worm but he's all in all fine.

This week i also got my new car and i LOVE it. My husband is so fantastic to not make me drive the Rav4 with 160k miles on it anymore.

This weekend is Mother's Day and i am excited to see what my husband and daughter have in store for me :) Happy Mother's day to all you mother's out there !!!!

Here's Madeline giving all you mothers out there her fabulous fish kisses :)