Turkey Day 2012

Thanksgiving 2012 was filled with love and laughter, as we knew it would be. As Jason said this year, "there are very few days as good as this one when you can sit around a eat Nancy Black's cooking." He's right. If you have never tasted ole Mama Black's cooking, well then you're just missing out. She out did her self this year, as always. We decided she cooked more food than ever before with way less people there than usual. We ate for days.

It's always good to have Rachel around. She's fun and funny and we just love her company. She flew in from St. Louis to be with us on Thanksgiving. She had a glorious idea to wake up early and drive to Tyler for the turkey trot. I do things to appease her. Jason got drug along. He complained, but not to her! Madison had her own number and loved being around all those people. After words we were all glad that we went. Because this day had all of us, especially Madison off schedule, the actual pictures of thanksgiving and Madison in her cute little turkey dress don't exist. Oops.

However, that night we went to a community / neighborhood event with, ummm... well, old people. Ha. Sorry mom and dad. However, it too proved to be fun to the toddler running around in the crowds.

The people sang Christmas carole's, had hot chocolate, and lit the Christmas light displays.

Madison was so enthralled by the lights. She loves them. Christmas will be so fun this year.

Jason decided to put her on the reindeer display, much to our "NO's!" When she loved it and the reindeer didn't collapse, he proudly issued a "I told you so!"

Soon enough Santa came to visit. Who is Santa to a 22 month old when he arrives on a fire truck? A nobody in a red suit - that's who. She could have cared less. All she wanted was the fire truck. The firemen we wonderful and let her climb on it and see it. She was thrilled.

So here's another Thanksgiving for the record books. Another wonderful memory made.

Trick-or-Treat

We had the perfect trick-or-treating experience this year.
Madison was "Chica" from the Sunnyside up show on Sprout, which is a PBS kids channel. This chicken does nothing but squeaks with a kazoo and we seem to think she's a real celebrity! We are totally on board with chicken's if that can keep us away from princesses and bling for a while.

We went to Jason's parents house in Southlake to trick-or-treat. It's the same neighborhood that Jason grew up in and all the same people still live there. It's now full of grandparents giving away candy to the kids of the kids that grew up there. That in itself it something really amazing to me. Like your own little perfect corner of the world. Like the way the world once was, that you wish it could be again. I just love it. The neighborhood is very wide spread and the lots are large so we only hit 6 houses on Madison's little chicken legs.

She loved this. She wanted to walk with Pappa and hold his hand everywhere she went.

We started out at Mamma and Pappa's house where they of course give Madison all the candy and let her go wild. I am of course so very thankful that this baby wants nothing to do with candy ---yet. She played with it, dumped it out, picked it up, shook her pumpkin, and then repeated. We did add some goldfish so she could actually eat some of the fun on Halloween.

It didn't take long for Madison to figure this whole thing out. She worked the crowd. The more cute things she did, the more full her pumpkin became, so guess what? The more cute things she did. She went right to the doors, knocked, waited and then walked right in. Some she stood at and did her famous "cheeeese!" She said please, thanks and then blew kisses as she walked away. It was truly the perfect first time trick or treating experiences. Fun was had by all.

Okay now, come on. Seriously, is there anyone else out these that gets giant one pound chocolate candy bars for Halloween just going door to door? I didn't think so. Only in Southlake, Texas.

Welcome, Autumn

Well, fall is here and in Texas that means cooler weather but still lots of sunshine, which is the perfect combo for us. Everything is great except that dreaded day light savings time. I hate that it is dark so early. Our outside play time after school is really cut short by the darkness and I just don't care for that one bit. However, you take the good with the bad and fall is almost all good.
Madison carved her fist pumpkin this year. Everything is still an adventure and really just leaves us laughing. This was no exception.
She picked this pumpkin out of the "patch" at school. They said that when she found it she just kept hugging it and going back to it. They put her name on it and we brought it home to carve!

Yes, she still "cheeses" at everything! :-)

Jason helped her trace her hands on the back of the pumpkin because if she colors anything her signature hand print must go on it! Why? Who knows, but she is very particular about things being done the "right way" according to Madison and this was a must. The we drew the face and cut it out. She thought the inside were gross and kept saying, "Ewww.... yucky!"



Ewww... Yucky!

All was fun and silly until we put it in the bathroom and turned off the lights to make it glow. That made her cry and she was not in love with her pumpkin anymore. We quickly solved that by putting it on the front porch and all the neighborhood kids came and told her how awesome it was! She believed them. :-)

We kept it until it rotted and then some neighborhood punks had a pumpkin smashing night on our streets and this one fell victim to the crime! :-(

I Love Winter

Madison is 22 months old!

I love winter. Well, I guess I should say I love winter outer wear. I couldn't live in the ice and snow, but I do want to be in coats and scarfs as long as possible. As a mom, this is my favorite time to shop for Madison. I just love looking that that little face peeking out of a hat! And seriously, is this not the cutest winter coat ever?! I am very smart when it comes to price tags and refuse to pay ridiculous prices for a kid that grows like a weed. I found this jacket at TJ Maxx (my all time favorite store) for $19.99 and about flipped that it was Madison's size. Yes, I did buy it when it was still over 90 degrees in Texas. I was so proud. We pulled it out today for our first cold winter (fall) day. A high of 57 in Texas is cold, people!  Our neighbor told her how much she liked her new coat and she twirled  to show it off. I am pretty sure we could be on those Maxx-anista commercials!

Say Cheese, Please

"Cheese!"

I remember a time when Madison was around 9 months thinking that I'll never be able to capture her sitting still again. Photos were so hard. Before you'd have the chance to click she'd be off to something else. She still doesn't sit for the photos, but if you're quick enough and ready at the moment, she'll pause, "cheese" on command ad then go off to something else. You have about a 4 second window! It really is so funny. She can be doing just about anything and if you say, "Madison, say cheese." She'll pause, put her teeth together say, "cheeeeeeese" then move on. If she knows you are taking the photo, she'll them come to you and ask to see the pictures. She loves to look at her self on the camera, the phone, the flip camera, the mirror, etc.

So vain.... ha ha

Rainy Day Shopping

Push.

Pull.

Crash .

Madison is really the only baby I've been around. Based on what I know and what I've seen, she's one of the busiest babies that I have ever met. Nothing stops her. We are so thankful that we have a big backyard. We take her out there as much as possible to let her run laps and tire out! :-)

I love rainy days and hate the rain. However, Madison loves being outside, so she plays no matter what the weather is like.This rainy weekend didn't slow her down (does anything?)  We put her in a jacket and let her go to town. She pushed her cart out of the house into the yard to "shop, shop" and was very entertained. Oh, don't we all wish it were that easy? 

Off to School We Go...

Madison started "school" in August. At 20 months, she was ready to carry her backpack out the door like a big girl. She started the school year one week before I did, so I went with her and Jason for the first three days of drop off. She screamed and I cried like a baby all three days. On day four daddy and Madison started their normal routine and she happily said "bye-bye dada" at the door and went to play with all of her friends. Jason very kindly let me that know that it was just me- and she was fine! She's been just fine at drop off every day since.
We go to the Denton ISD daycare for staff kiddos and so far we have been really happy. The enrollment is consistent, so these are the same kids that she has been with since the infant room. It's fun to know all of them and hear them say, "Madison's Mom" when you walk in the door. We have been lucky enough to LOVE all her teachers thus far. This year is no exception. Ashley and April are fantastic. Each week is a new theme, with endless supplies and ideas at their fingertips. I mean, college graduates with early childhood degrees at the daycare? Wonderful.  They send out a Shutterfly update a few times a week with photos, so it makes you feel good to be able to see all the fun your kids are having. Madison has learned so much and her vocabulary has just taken off like mad. We are happy.
She comes home so tired every day and likes to name all her classmates that she played with that day.

On this day she headed upstairs to get ready for bath and night time and made it up four stairs before she laid down and said "night-night."

Needless to say, her year is better than mine. I'm the one counting down to Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring Break, and to another summer with Madison!! :-)

Yea for Cousins!

Madison is going to be a big cousin! As you know, Madison is the only grand kid on Jason's side of the family. None of Madison's cousin's from my side live close . Jason's family is local and Aunt Stefani and Uncle Joe are having a baby! Yea! We are all so very excited. Baby cousin is due to arrive in March.

Uncle Joe and Aunt Stefani came over with a little t-shirt surprise to share the good news :-)

Pappa Retired!

Jason's dad, aka: Madison's Pappa, has retired.

He has spent the last year building his retirement log cabin on lake property in East Texas. It is fabulous. All of the Vaughan's recently met out there to celebrate the completion of all his hard work paying off. One year ago we all met to celebrate Pappa's 60th birthday. We ate on picnic tables on a wooded lot. This time we ate around a massive 7 foot dinner table inside of a beautiful log cabin. It was a great day of family, fun, and Pappa's unbelievable delicious smoked BBQ.

Madison loves water and could easily fit right under the ledge of the dock if we'd let her. I was a bit nervous to let her play down there. We'll have many more years to grow into this place.

I  have never seen anyone who likes to fish more than the Vaughan boys. I don't get it, but it keeps them entertained for hours. Yes, I do mean hours. I am pretty sure Uncle Joe won the fishing competition. Pappa already has Madison a princess fishing pole ready to go when she's big enough!

What's better than a baby who loves water and boats to be able to "row, row" in her own? She really just climbed all over these and when I made her go inside to cool off she left kicking and screaming all the way up the hill!

Retirement. What a fabulous word.

Congratulations Pappa! We are so happy for you. Now let's just get Mamma to retirement and you'll really be good to go!

18 months

The product of happiness is more happiness.

Madison has been on this earth a short 18 months but she easily made her way to the top of the happiness list.

There really is an unconditional love which you don't truly understand until you're a parent. I'm sure I'll learn a lot more about that in years to come.

At 18 months Madison is in love with chickens and ducks. Her quacks and her wing movement to the chicken dance are adorable. She is still a very healthy eater. She loves fruits and veggies. Pineapple has been added to the list. She will repeat any word that you ask her to and can tell you what she wants without giving up or getting frustrated. Her grunts are less and her words are more. She loves playing ring around the rosie and the bigger the circle the more fun she has. If you are in the room, she will pull you up and make you play. She's a leader!  She is very helpful around the house. She cleans up, throws her diapers away, helps load the washer and dryer, and can reach the counter tops... Uh-Oh! She still loves to be outside. She is still obsessed with bubbles and chalk. She loves water and really enjoys the pool. She will go under (not by choice, usually) and comes up like a champ, goes to wipe her face off with her towel and comes back to do it all over again. She continues to be a beam of light, full of energy and happiness.

Oh, did I mention that she's still tall? She continues to be in the 99% and it wearing a 3T at 18 months. :-)

Good Girl

I have many "soap boxes" that I can get on and will get me going. One of my big soap boxes, especially as a teacher, is the lack of imagination and creativity in kids today. In my early childhood days I lived in the country where kids played outside, rode their bikes and ran through the woods. We had a tree house that the neighborhood kids played in and fell out of on more than one occasion. We played baseball in the backyard, basketball in the front yard,  and neighborhood hide-n-go-seek. Now, don't get me wrong, because I also know that the dynamic of the neighborhood has change quite drastically since that time, but that time wasn't that long ago. Where do kids play today? What do they turn to when their bored?
When asking a kindergarten his/her favorite "game" the popular answer last year was angry birds! Computers, video games and television.... UGGGH. I boycott it as much as possible. Noise pollution, I say. We didn't grow up on t.v. I think that is why to this day my sister won't invest in cable. She doesn't watch television at all. I grew up with one t.v. in my house and it was never on at dinner. I love that. Still to this day my parents have one t.v. in their house, even though they have 3 living areas. They have areas to talk and have conversations. Our house does have the rule of no t.v. on a dinner and we eat dinner at the table every night.
So what do you do if you're not watching television? You're playing of course. You're talking, having conversations, dressing up, making animals sounds, counting, coloring, building sand castles, watering the plants, just to name a quick few from this morning. Kids need to use their brains more.
I'm on a tangent, huh?
This is where this blog was intended to go...
Okay, so we also know that kids learn from observations and then from doing.
Madison did just that last week while at Pappa and Mamma'a house swimming and playing in their back yard. We have a dog and Jason's parents have two at their house so dogs on a leash are a common sight to Madison. The dog leash was out and she took it to Mamma saying, "good girl, good girl." Madison wanted to be the good girl. She took the front of the leash gave the back end to Jason's mom and took off.

We of course think that everything that M does is adorable and this was just added to the list. I had to take photos and e-mail them to the siblings kidding about how Mamma keeps her grandchildren on a leash. They made their way around the yard and when they returned, Madison came up with a better plan:

She would be in charge! Why be the "good girl" when you can be in charge? We watched this unfold, laughing of course and said, "Well at least she has an imagination!"  We had all sat down and moved on to other things when Madison came to Pappa holding the leash, pulling him out of his seat, and telling him to play "good girl, good girl." And what do you think happened?

So funny. So yes, we will keep playing outside and we'll see what she can think of next! :-)

Logged OFF...

Well I did it. I quit facebook just now. Moments ago I signed off and just quit. I kept saying that I would and I did and why do I feel nervous? I feel a bit panicked! Am I that invested in "fake life" that I think I can't live without it? That's a problem. That's why I quit. I am breathing deeply. I will be okay. But how  will I know what the people I knew in high school 14 years ago are doing with their pets on Thursday night? Why would anyone care? There again is the problem. I find myself interested in fake life about people that I have a fake relationship based on posts that make me believe that I care. In reality, I don't. I have been so angry at ignorant people lately over opinions that they hide behind on facebook that I get angry. Really angry. I want to scream at them. I can't of course because my status updates are on a screen. Ridiculous.
I have found myself in a great deal of self reflection over the past five days, since August 1st. I hate August in general, but I really have August 1st. The first of August means that you are actually in the month when school will start. If school starts this month then summer for a teacher is officially over. The doors open back up. You have to go back and sweat like a dog moving heavy furniture that the cleaning crew wrecked over the break. You have to put up bulletin boards, arrange desks, try to remember what worked and didn't work from the year before.  I hate August. For me this also means that the sweet little baby at home (yes I know she's a 19 month old toddler, but she's still a baby...) has to go back to daycare. I really hate August. I have already cried over this -- the night of August 1st when I bravely opened my work e-mail that I have refused to open all summer. The dates came rolling in - teacher work days, meet the teacher night, and Madison's report back day.
I just kept thinking - how am I here? Why do I have to send her back? I am going to miss her so much. I still can't fathom the idea that I send my child away to someone else for 8 hours a day, while I do the same for someone else's children.
I've thought back over the summer and how I really do believe that we spent quality time together. We learned a lot from each other. We played and laughed everyday.
But there were days I wanted to do something else. I wanted adult play. I wanted other conversation. There were days that I was so tired that I sat on the couch and read "status updates" while Madison played. I won't get that time back that I wasn't present. My new goal is to always be present. Make the moments after daycare count. Swing and laugh again. Be present. Pull Madison around the yard in the wagon 75 times before dinner and know that these days are short lived. Stomp in the puddles, roll in the grass, lay in the hammock and talk to the birds. Be present. Spend my time more wisely. These days will not come again.
I have added this canvas to my bedroom and I read it everyday.

The artist is Kelly Rae Roberts.
I am so in love with her work right now.
I saw this hanging on a little wall in a boutique and my eyes filled with tears as I read it.
This is my story
"Her favorite moments were those when she let go of all expectations and worries and just simply celebrated the very moment she was living. In those precious moments, she was truly present and listening to Grace."

Isn't that wonderful?! My heart just sings...
Good bye facebook. Hello real life.
I bet I'll blog more, so check back later.
In the mean time I still e-mail (hint, hint!)

Making Memories...

Well folks... it seems as though we have a beach baby on our hands. That really does not come as a surprise to us, I suppose.
We really wanted to take a family vacation, but couldn't figure out where to go where we could drive with Madison. We knew we didn't want to fly with her yet, so choices were limited. We decided that we were going to Gulf Shores and then couldn't get a late notice reservation, so we just decided that we'd stay home and keep playing. That's actually been really fun! :-)
Then my parents called, said that they were hot and were driving to Galveston and wanted to know if we wanted to go with them. Let Madison experience the beach for the first time -- Yes, please. Grandparents are going too? Double yes, please!

My family moved to Texas when I was very young. I had a set of grandparents in Arizona and one in Iowa, so trips like these never happened. We were lucky to see them once a year. All of my aunts, uncles, and cousins lived far away as well, so my siblings and I never had the opportunity to get to know them or really see them. I feel like we missed out on so much, so I am PRO-memory making with family.

So we hopped in and headed off. Madison was perfect on the way there and lost patience in the last 2 hours on the way home. We totally understood and were very patient with her and it all ended well.

So Madison's favorite part of the beach was the sand, the waves, the hermit crabs, getting muddy in the sand then running into the water to wash it all off, collecting shells, letting the waves splash on her....She loved EVERYTHING!! She was happy just being there. Before it was over she'd crawl in head first and then belly flop right into the wave. She roll around, laugh, and then would come out high stepping just to do it all over again.

One of my favorite things is how Madison would sit on the balcony and watch the waves from our condo eating snack and just look at the water. She'd come running out yelling, "water!" then she's sit and relax. Now if you know Madison then you also know that she doesn't sit still -- ever!

Madison also calls Grandpa and Nana by name and when she needs them she'll go looking calling out their name from room to room. She'd wake up and say, "Mama, Dada." We'd let her come up into bed with us for all of 2 seconds before she would head to the door to leave saying, "Nana, Grandpa."

Those are good memories. Grandparents.

It was a short trip, it was a fun trip, it was a trip where memories were made.