The Gray Family 4

One Week Old!

2009-02-02T12:46:00.000-08:00

Happy one week birthday, baby Mason! Oh, how we love this sweet baby boy. Madelyn is the absolute best big sister! She's a great helper and has been so loving to her little brother. We are so thankful for our two little ones!

2009-01-31T09:30:00.000-08:00

Our New Addition!

2009-01-27T18:00:00.000-08:00

Baby Mason is here! Mason Michael Gray was born January 26 at 8:44 p.m. He weighed 7 lb. 7 oz. and was 20 inches long. We are so excited!

I was sent to Labor & Delivery at 10:00 a.m. that morning to be evaluated to see if labor had really started. Out of 20

L & D rooms, we were put into room 306, which was the exact room we were in when we had Madelyn. It's a special place to us!

At 1:00 we were told that we were definitely having a baby today! I'm barely 37 weeks at this point, but they assured us that he was ready to be here. I'm excited and feeling great!

Sweet Mason was born after a pretty short labor and easy delivery. Thanks to the epidural, I never felt any pain at all the entire day. This is our first picture with our little guy!

Can you believe that we have a son? We are so incredibly blessed.

Madelyn met her baby brother the next morning. She warmed up to him quickly. She is already a terrific big sister!

Oh, so sweet. Mason was holding Daddy's finger and Madelyn held hands with them both.

Grammy and Papaw (Angie's parents) fell in love at first sight. They now have 5 grandchildren - 3 girls and 2 boys.

Madelyn held her baby brother for the first time and gave him such a sweet kiss. She loves him already!

Our sweet little boy with his eyes open at 1 day old. He is such a good baby and just sweet as can be.

The Yoga Master

2009-01-16T18:36:00.000-08:00

Madelyn saw our new yoga mat and immediately wanted to try it out! She entertained us for quite some time showing us her yoga moves (all of which she made up as she went). At one point Dad demonstrated the "downward dog," so she started naming her moves. Our favorite was her "down kitty." She is now our little yoga master!

4 Weeks To Go . . .

2009-01-11T06:10:00.000-08:00

Baby Mason is due to make his arrival in only 4 short weeks . . . wow, time has flown! We are so anxious to meet this little guy!

Christmas 2008

2009-01-04T17:57:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe that Christmas has come and gone! Each year gets more and more fun as Madelyn enjoys new aspects of the holidays. We were able to spend a week in Arkansas together with all of her cousins, Grammy, Papaw, Uncle Keynon, Aunt Amy, Uncle Matt, and Aunt Nori. The days were full of laughs, games, and good times!

Our family

The four cousins together - Baby Emma, Garrett, Ivy, and Madelyn

Emma decided she'd had enough of the picture posing!

The weather was unseasonably warm during most of our visit, making it perfect for playing outside. Time for the tricycle races!!

The girls loved racing down the long driveway over and over again.

They bundled up for a wagon ride on a cold day, so grateful to Grammy for pulling them around the yard.

Baby Emma is now 3 months old and very alert! She loved being held by Deb and watching all of the older cousins play. Oh, how she wanted to participate!!

Garrett and Madelyn had a great time playing video games together.

Katie posed for a quick picture with Madelyn.

The cousins made beautiful music together by composing their own songs.

Finally, Christmas Eve arrived, and it was time to sprinkle reindeer food in the front yard. Hopefully Santa would find these sweeties at Grammy and Papaw's house!

There's always time for a quick dance to celebrate the excitement!!

More dancing and jumping!

Madelyn's favorite presents were stuffed animals. She LOVES puppies and kitties!

After the little ones were fast asleep, it was time to ask the question: How many uncles does it take to assemble an art easel? The answer: 2 helpful uncles and 1 encouraging daddy!

Christmas morning was here at last!! Madelyn got what she asked for - a Christmas puppy! Santa brought a Christmas kitty too, so she was super excited!

Winding up for a big soccer kick in the new goal. Hooray!

She proudly showed off her "figure 8" that she drew on the new easel.

What a wonderful Christmas! Above all, we are thankful for family, friends, good health, and the true reason for Christmas. We are looking forward to a fabulous 2009!

White Rock Half Marathon

2009-01-04T11:30:00.000-08:00

Daddy ran another half marathon in December, and Madelyn and I were waiting for him at the finish line. As we approached him, Madelyn said, "I hope he winned that race!!" She immediately asked him if he had "winned." He said yes, along with several thousand other people. She was proud of her Daddy!!

Christmas Snowglobes

2008-12-20T20:52:00.000-08:00

We are so excited about Christmas! Madelyn loved wearing her new sweater dress from Grammy & Papaw and posing in front of our tree. She has been such a help with placing (and moving) the ornaments and putting out Christmas decorations!

We had some fun at the mall when we went for our Santa visit.

She stopped for a quick pose in front of the water fountains. She loves throwing coins in the water!

We were able to go inside a giant snowglobe where it was "snowing" the entire time. She thought that was pretty neat!

Trying to catch some snowflakes inside the snowglobe.

A Visit with Santa Claus

2008-12-15T17:44:00.000-08:00

Today we visited Santa Claus! Madelyn was very excited to tell him what she wants for Christmas - a Christmas puppy. (stuffed, not real) It's still the only thing she has asked for, which we think is so sweet. We were excited that she sat beside him without much hesitation. She promised that next year she would even sit on his lap!

Unexpected Entertainment

2008-12-13T20:50:00.000-08:00

We awoke yesterday morning to the loud sounds of street repair in front of our house. Madelyn was VERY intrigued! She immediately pulled her little chair to the window and made herself comfortable to watch the men at work.

She stayed put until the first phase of work was done. If only the workers knew what an exciting job they had from the perspective of a three year old!

Carving the Turkey

2008-12-06T06:10:00.000-08:00

This year we cooked our first turkey, and Madelyn was anxious to help! It turned out well and tasted delicious. We had turkey leftovers for days.

Madelyn and Daddy surveyed the work to be done. What was the best way to slice Mr. Turkey?

"Here Daddy, I can show you exactly what to do."

"This is fun!"

"YUMMMMMY!"

Thanksgiving Feast

2008-12-01T19:49:00.000-08:00

Madelyn helped Mom make turkey cookies for her Thanksgiving party/feast.

Here she is enjoying her turkey cookie with a surprise guest at the feast - Daddy!

The children were SO cute wearing their turkey hats and enjoying their special lunch.

The Dallas Half Marathon

2008-12-01T19:45:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, Madelyn was at the finish line when Daddy finished the Dallas Half Marathon. He was excited to see us there to celebrate his 13.1 mile run!

Madelyn loves playing with all Dad's medals from his races, so she was excited to see that now she has a new one to wear! We were so proud of him!

Trick or Treat!

2008-11-08T17:07:00.000-08:00

Such a pretty kitty! Madelyn was thrilled to dress like a white kitty for Halloween.

Ready to get some treats! (Her pumpkin basket is almost as big as she is!)

Princess Ava and Kitty Madelyn enjoyed trick-or-treating together. Aren't they sweet?!

Ariel (Sydnie) and Madelyn joined together for a bit to collect more candy!

Halloween Party

2008-11-08T16:55:00.000-08:00

Madelyn helped Mom make spider cookies (oreos and pretzel sticks) and pumpkin cookies for her Halloween party. She was excited to help and was proud of the final result!

Party time!

Yum! The spider cookies were definitely the favorite snack.

Such a sweet class of 3 year olds! They were so calm and well behaved for their party.

Field Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

2008-11-06T17:35:00.000-08:00

Our little school girl was SO excited to be going on her first ever field trip! The three-year old classes went to a pumpkin patch about a mile from the school. Each child had to have a parent transport them and stay with them during the visit. So, Mommy got to join in on the fun!

A good field trip always starts with a special snack. Here she is laughing so hard with some of her friends as they were all being a bit silly.

Then they played lots of games that involved running around and jumping over pumpkins. She loved it!

What a cute scarecrow!

At the end of the visit, the children went on a scavenger hunt among the pumpkins to find candy. She filled her bag very quickly!

Time to check out all the goodies! On the way out each child got to choose a pumpkin to take home. What a wonderful day!

Pumpkin Patch

2008-11-05T18:39:00.000-08:00

We enjoyed our annual trip to the pumpkin patch at the Dallas Arboretum, and it was a fantastic morning to see the pumpkins and fall flowers!

Six months pregnant in this photo, but the jacket somewhat hides the growing tummy!

I think it's obvious in this picture just how much fun Madelyn had seeing all the pumpkins. As always, she was a happy and delightful girl.

We even got some good poses from her this year. Although she was anxious to run around and explore, she stopped long enough to give us some good shots!

Our sweet little pumpkin!

Having fun with Daddy. They found a ladybug, rescued a worm from the water, and explored some paths away from the main areas. It was a special day!

She couldn't resist reaching into this small fountain to touch the concrete fish underneath the water.

We asked her to take a picture of us, and she got one that was perfectly centered on the first try! Too bad we forgot to get a family photo!

Notice the "Please Stay Off Rocks" sign next to the rock she's standing on! Oh well, no harm done.

Mr. Pumpkin

2008-10-29T19:27:00.000-07:00

Last weekend Madelyn helped carve her very first pumpkin! She was very excited to see it turn into a jack-o-lantern, which she named Mr. Pumpkin.

She was so curious when Daddy removed the lid . . . what could be inside?

"Hmmm, I think I need a closer look."

She rolled her sleeves up to help scoop everything out, but she quickly changed her mind after touching the icky pumpkin pulp.

She put his "hat" back on when the face was finished.

She gave Mr. Pumpkin a special hug and insisted that he sit in a chair beside her. What a fun afternoon!

Arkansas Fun!

2008-10-28T18:36:00.000-07:00

Cousins Ivy, Garrett, and Aunt Amy came in from California for a brief visit to see new Baby Emma. They flew into Dallas and spent the night before everyone headed to Arkansas.

Madelyn and Ivy slept together on the pull-out sofa their first night together. What a treat to sleep in the living room!! We were all shocked that they both stayed there all night!

A huge milestone happened while we were there - Madelyn rode a bike (with training wheels) for the first time!! Daddy helped her gain confidence, and within a few minutes she was having the time of her life riding up and down the driveway.

She felt a HUGE sense of accomplishment! She was thrilled!

Proud Papaw with new granddaughter Emma, who was two weeks old that day. She is such a sweet, precious baby!

The four grandchildren with Papaw as everyone celebrated his birthday. What cuties!

Hairstylist Ivy made Uncle Terry pretty with LOTS of mousse!

Garrett is quite the pro on video games, and he was patient enough to let Madelyn feel as though she was playing along. She thought she was making the action happen by pressing keys on the keyboard (which wasn't hooked up). She loved it!

Enjoying some drawing and painting time together.

A Halloween Pose

2008-10-17T18:08:00.000-07:00

On her way into school the other morning, Madelyn told me to take her picture in hew new Halloween shirt. She had picked it out several weeks earlier because of the cute kitty on the front. She's a happy girl!

Complete with pumpkin socks and all!

Future Gymnast

2008-10-17T18:04:00.000-07:00

Madelyn had a great time at her friend Sean's birthday party the other day. She got to hang and climb the entire time - two of her favorite things to do!

Looks like a future gymnast hanging from the bars . . .

A good dismount . . . landed on both feet!

Walking the balance beam very carefully . . .

Golf Practice

2008-10-02T18:58:00.000-07:00

Madelyn enjoyed a little putting practice at our neighborhood golf course the other day. She was excited that she had her own clubs!

Daddy gave her a few pointers before her first putt.

The swing was good and the ball was headed for the hole!

A few more hits . . .

And she made it!! This picture was taken right as she was taking her bow.

Onto the next hole. A golfer's job is never done!

Our Big News!

2008-09-26T16:45:00.000-07:00

We are SO excited that Madelyn will become a big sister in February!! We were told at today's sonogram that it's a healthy little boy. Sweet Madelyn and a sweet boy . . . we feel so blessed.

Soccer Practice

2008-09-18T12:37:00.000-07:00

We took Madelyn to some soccer fields to let her

practice her kicks. She loved it!

Pretty good form for a 3 year old!

Daddy cheered her all the way down the field.

Making a goal!

Hooray!!

School Has Started!

2008-09-12T08:09:00.000-07:00

Madelyn met her new teacher, Ms. Kayla, at Meet the Teacher last week to prepare for school starting this week. She was excited!

She enjoyed playing with new toys in her new classroom!

She quickly made her way to the kitchen area to cook up a few yummy things before we left.

Her new room even has a dollhouse!

She was anxious to get to her classroom on the first day of school. She was in such a hurry that she wouldn't even pose for a picture!

Doesn't she look like such a big girl as she goes into her room?

She was happy and all smiles when Mom left.

This is her special area for all of her things. She picked out this lunchbox because it had a kitty on it.

Because it was the first day of school, Madelyn got to choose any surprise from "the ornament store," (Hallmark). She really loves all of their stuffed animals. But she got sidetracked with a large pumpkin on her way to all of the puppies and kitties.

She was so excited to start selecting her favorite animal!

So many choices!!

She placed every doggie and kitty that she could find in a line that she called the Animal Parade. She had a hard time making her decision!

She FINALLY selected a little yellow puppy that she had seen here last week. It was a great way to celebrate a successful first day!

First Dance Class

2008-09-08T20:13:00.000-07:00

Today was Madelyn's first dance class, and she was SO excited! She gets to learn both ballet and tap in each one hour lesson.

She warmed up for a few minutes before class started.

It's hard to tell in this picture, but here she is running and jumping over the mat. Each girl took a turn doing this activity.

Halfway through the lesson she followed directions to get her bag, take off her ballet shoes, and put on her "tapping" shoes. She's such a big girl!

Here she is doing the "boogie woogie" when it was her turn.

Birthday Lunch

2008-09-06T10:45:00.000-07:00

Daddy and Madelyn took Mom out to a birthday lunch to enjoy cheese fries and cheeseburgers . . . yum!

Madelyn took this photo on her own. She loves using the camera!

Make-up Lesson

2008-09-06T10:43:00.000-07:00

Madelyn showed Mommy some important make-up tips while getting ready the other day.

Preparing for Dance Lessons

2008-08-15T15:15:00.000-07:00

Today we went shopping for Madelyn's dance leotard and shoes for her upcoming dance lessons. She was happy to show off her new things!

She feels REALLY cute in her new dance outfit!

She wasted no time trying a few dance moves in the new leotard!

Craft Time

2008-08-15T15:12:00.000-07:00

We've been enjoying a little craft time each day lately. Here's Madelyn doing some great work in an activity book after making her bumble bee craft. She was so focused that she didn't notice (or care) that she had forgotten to put her pants on!

The little artist!

Library Time

2008-08-02T15:06:00.000-07:00

Our favorite new place to visit is the public library. Madelyn loves seeing so many choices of books! She made herself at home by climbing on the bench to get a better look at the books on the top shelf.

She carefully selects a few that look interesting . . .

"Ooh, I found a good one!"

"This is a wonderful place!"

Happy 3rd Birthday!

2008-07-16T06:58:00.000-07:00

Madelyn was lucky enough to have two birthday parties to celebrate turning 3 years old! The first one was at Grammy and Papaw's house. She requested a puppy and kitty cake for the special occasion.

She had so much fun blowing out the "smokes" (candles) that we had to do it twice!

Her second party was a Dora party with all of her friends. She was SO excited to have so many special guests coming to her house!

About an hour before the party started she said she was going to get ready . . . and two minutes later she looked like this! She thought some lipstick would complete her party look!

Here's the group of friends posing with Dora.

As you can see, the birthday girl loved having Dora here and getting lots of attention from her.

They played "Ring Around the Rosie" MANY times!

Madelyn sang, danced, and jumped.

The girls enjoyed storytime with Dora.

Then it was time to "break" the pinata by pulling strings on the bottom. Loads of candy fell out everywhere!

They used shakers and maracas during many of the songs.

Finally it was time for cake! A special strawberry cake had been prepared for the big day. Dora helped serve the cake and ate at the table with Madelyn.

Madelyn was very happy to be able to blow out the "smokes" again! That's definitely her favorite part of birthdays.

After eating it was time for more jumping!

Finally it was time to say goodbye to Dora at the end of the party.

Nana's special gift for Madelyn was a beautiful dance leotard, slippers, and a handmade tutu. She danced and twirled all afternoon! She will enjoy wearing her new dance outfit for dance lessons this fall!

Happy 4th of July!

2008-07-04T15:10:00.000-07:00

We proudly wore our red, white, and blue and celebrated July 4th with our neighborhood parade! Madelyn was very excited to be a part of the parade instead of just watching it.

Golf carts, bicycles, tricycles and scooters made up the parade.

Madelyn and Sydnie discussed their parade strategy.

What patriotic cuties!

She decided to ride her tricycle with Daddy following behind with her pom-pons. Sydnie chose to run part of the parade and ride in her wagon for the rest of it.

Madelyn rode her tricycle the entire 1.5 miles of the parade route. She didn't even seem tired or hot!

After the parade, she posed with the fire truck that escorted us through the streets. What a fun morning!

3 Year Pictures

2008-07-03T14:52:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of our favorite pictures from Madelyn's recent portraits. The photographer took over 120 pictures, so it was hard to narrow them down!

Happy Fathers Day!

2008-06-22T08:35:00.000-07:00

We took Daddy out to lunch to celebrate Father's Day. He is such a wonderful daddy! He is patient and kind, and he is always a doting father to sweet Madelyn. We love you, Terry!

A sweet kiss for Daddy!

Helping Daddy read his cards.

Madelyn was SO proud of her special gift for Daddy. It was a recordable picture frame that had her voice telling him how much she loves him. She pushed the button over and over for him to hear!

"Listen one more time, Daddy!"

Ft. Worth Zoo

2008-06-14T14:54:00.000-07:00

We spent a wonderful morning at the Ft. Worth Zoo! It was Madelyn's first visit to this particular zoo, and she loved it.

She was determined to pick up all the sticks on the way from the car to the gate. She had quite a collection by the time we got into the zoo! You'll notice her new orange camera tucked under her arm that Grammy & Papaw sent her. She was excited to take her own pictures at the zoo!

She watched the monkeys very intently.

When the beautiful white tiger put his paw on the glass next to Madelyn, she "touched" it and thought that was so neat!

Although she had talked about seeing a giraffe for days prior to going to the zoo, she seemed more interested in looking through this machine rather than watching the giraffe.

Watching the elephant roam around held her attention for awhile.

She couldn't resist climbing on the baby elephant statue!

Another view of the elephant with Daddy's help.

A highlight of our visit was riding the Zoo Train from one end of the zoo to the other. Here she is giving a little wave while riding with Daddy.

Here are Mommy and Madelyn riding the train on the way back to the front of the zoo.

Her favorite part of our zoo visit was the carousel. She could have ridden it all day!

At the petting zoo she was able to touch a baby calf. The calf licked Daddy's hand first, then he licked Madelyn's hand.

"Ooh, that calf's tongue felt like sandpaper!"

A Playdate with Karson

2008-06-10T15:38:00.000-07:00

Madelyn visited her friend Karson today for some playing and lunch. They were super sweet and well-behaved, even during lunch out. What cuties!

The children played while the mommies talked. It was perfect for everyone!

Sweet Karson willingly shared his toys with Madelyn. Her favorite was the little red Clifford dog.

A goodbye hug at the end of a fun day. We hope to play again soon!

Fun at the Pool

2008-06-07T14:13:00.000-07:00

We visited our neighborhood pool last weekend, and Madelyn had a great time!

She spent all of her time in the kiddie pool, and her favorite toy was this kickboard.

She decided to use it to surf around with Daddy's help! She rode all around the pool on it.

We may have to move to California with cousins Ivy and Garrett so that Madelyn can become a surfer girl!

This happy girl had a good afternoon in the pool!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

2008-06-03T19:35:00.000-07:00

Today was Daddy's birthday! Madelyn sang "Happy Birthday" to him throughout the day. She was so excited!

Mommy and Madelyn took the birthday boy to lunch at one of our favorite places. Madelyn kept asking when we would have cake!

No cake today, but a yummy brownie and ice cream dessert instead! After everyone sang to Daddy, we all dug right in.

What a sweet helper! She enjoyed feeding Daddy!

One of her favorite hobbies right now is taking pictures. Here's one she took of Mommy and Daddy. She does a pretty good job!!

No birthday celebration would be complete without a horse ride. She met a new friend and they enjoyed a few rides together.

3 Year Check-Up

2008-05-31T17:47:00.000-07:00

This week Madelyn visited Dr. Stone for her 3 year check-up. We can hardly believe that our little girl is almost 3!! She received an excellent report! She's still a petite little girl - 26.5 pounds (12th percentile) and 35" tall (20th percentile).

She enjoyed looking in the mirror and seeing how big she is! She has always loved this mirror.

We are so sad that our wonderful pediatrician is retiring. We will miss Dr. Stone, who has been Madelyn's doctor since birth.

Last Day of School

2008-05-28T17:56:00.000-07:00

Today was Madelyn's last day of "school." They celebrated by having Splash Day and enjoying a pizza party for lunch. It's amazing to see how she's grown this year. We were so very fortunate to have such wonderful teachers and be at such a nurturing and happy school!

Madelyn and her two teachers at the end of Splash Day. They were tired, but very happy!

She couldn't wait to get out of the car for this fun day!

This was on her next to last day, which was also a day when they got to play in the sprinklers during "recess" time. As you can tell by her happy face, she loves life and truly enjoys each day!!

20 Year Reunion

2008-05-25T19:55:00.000-07:00

My, how time flies! This weekend was Angie's 20 year high school reunion. Seems like just yesterday that we were leaving high school for the "real world." It was great to see old friends and pretend everyone was young again!

On the way to the Friday night party - a good ole' Southern fish fry!

Angie with a dear friend, Rhonda.

Saturday night was spent at the Country Club eating and dancing. A good time was had by all. The party lasted until about 1:00 a.m., which was pretty late for us old folks!

More girlfriends from the Class of '88.

On the way to the Saturday evening party.

Blossom Festival '08

2008-05-21T19:19:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we went to Arkansas for the annual Magnolia Blossom Festival. The weather was perfect for the fun weekend! We enjoyed spending time with Aunt Amy, Uncle Keynon, Garrett, Ivy, Uncle Matt, Aunt Nori, Grammy, and Papaw!

Garrett and Ivy watched the "Parade of Cookers" with Aunt Nori. This is when everyone competing in the steak cook-off parades down Main Street to show off their cookers. There were also motorcycles, fire trucks, and local pageant queens in the parade. Although it lasted almost 2 hours, we didn't stay for the entire show.

Mommy and Madelyn found a shady spot to watch some of the parade.

The best seat in the house: Daddy's shoulders!

The seesaw provided many hours of entertainment as always! Garrett, Ivy, Aunt Amy, and Madelyn were on one end with Uncle Keynon on the other.

Looks like it's balanced well!

The cousins had SO much fun together!

"Whee!!!"

Grammy and Papaw even had a jump house for the kids to enjoy. They were so anxious to get out there each morning that sometimes the came out in their pajamas!

Taking a little rest . . .

"Cheers!"

Such a sweet kiss for Papaw! Papaw has always been one of Madelyn's favorite people.

Mother's Day 2008

2008-05-21T19:10:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful Mother's Day we had! We had lunch at our favorite Mexican food restaurant, then we spent the afternoon with Mimi, Nana, Aunt Sealy, Aunt Barbara, Aunt Beverly, and Cousin Leeann.

Madelyn enjoyed a hug from Nana.

She loves her Mimi!

It was a special treat to see Aunt Sealy, who we hadn't seen in many months.

Huntington Beach

2008-04-30T19:44:00.000-07:00

On day 6 we arrived at the beach at last! Madelyn had been asking all week to get to the beach to see the ocean and the sand.

"Hooray!! We're finally here!"

Last summer she didn't want her bare feet to touch the sand. This time she wanted to walk in it, but after a few minutes she decided there was just "too much sand" at the beach and wanted to be carried.

It was COLD on the beach on this day! Daddy put his feet in, but Madelyn was a bit too chilly to try it.

The view from our room. Just amazing!

Here she is practicing her floating and kicking. The pool was heated, so it was a better choice than the ocean.

She learned her way around the hotel immediately and loved riding in the elevator. She knew which floor we were on and remembered our room number!

The Children's Museum

2008-04-30T19:32:00.000-07:00

The Palm Desert Children's Museum was full of exciting things to do! We only spent two hours in there, but we could have been there all day.

Daddy helps hoist Madelyn high in the air by pulling the rope.

Madelyn stopped at an old typewriter to compose a quick letter.

A little grocery shopping had to be done! She picked out her produce carefully.

The cart got full very quickly!

Taking a turn on the motorcycle as California Highway Patrol.

Turning these gears was especially fun for her.

She spent some time as a veterinarian and brushed this kitty's hair.

She took care of this large puppy by putting him back in his cage. (It was a tight fit!)

A masterpiece was created when she put her touch on this car with some orange paint. Both Garrett and Ivy have painted on it in the past, too!

Making her final mark on this beauty.

Since lunchtime was approaching, she made a quick pizza for a tasty treat!

She forgot to wear her oven mitt when getting it out of the oven. Oh no!

The Windmills

2008-04-30T19:30:00.000-07:00

One of the most unusual sights we'd ever seen was the Windmill Farm just outside of Palm Springs. These 4,000 windmills stretched for 10 miles along the highway! The blades are the length of 1/2 a football field. It's a very windy area, which we could tell by how it was pulling our car as we drove. We read that they generate enough electricity to power all of Palm Springs. Pictures really don't do this sight justice. Madelyn couldn't believe how many there were, and we couldn't either.

Palm Desert

2008-04-30T19:24:00.000-07:00

On day 3 we left Aunt Amy's house and headed two hours away to Palm Desert. It was one of the most beautiful places we've ever been. We were in a condo right on the golf course.

This is the view from our patio. The mountains in the background made for a spectacular sight!

This family of ducks visited us each morning. They were very friendly!

Madelyn fed the ducks from her hand, which was so fun to her!

She would have given them an entire loaf of bread if we'd have let her.

Riding on an alligator in the kiddie pool.

Soaking up the sun. This is the only family picture we got on this trip.
Madelyn loves when Daddy throws her in the air!

This is her favorite way to swim.

Legoland!

2008-04-30T19:15:00.000-07:00

We spent a perfect afternoon at Legoland with Garrett, Ivy, Aunt Amy, and Uncle Keynon. It was Madelyn's first time at an amusement park, and it couldn't have been any better!

Riding in a boat through Fairytale Land.

Aunt Amy, Uncle Keynon, and Garrett were in the boat in front of us.

Big hugs for Terry!

The girls showed off their excellent driving skills by steering and using the gas pedal on the oval course. They each earned a driver's license when they finished!
Although the minimum age technically was 3 to drive the cars, Madelyn fit right in.

Enjoying a helicopter ride with Daddy. She loved flying so high!

She liked this ride so much she did it twice!

Riding the train with Ivy. They had a terrific time!

Time with Cousins

2008-04-30T19:08:00.000-07:00

The first part of the vacation was spent with cousins Garrett and Ivy. They have a beautiful house in a San Diego suburb. Ivy was excited to be the big cousin able to teach little Madelyn a few new things!

The scooter lesson: Ivy showed Madelyn how to position her feet just right.

"That's it . . . now I'll pull you along."

"Great job! A successful ride!"

The cooking lesson: Ivy showed how to make perfect toast and a delicious smoothie!

The gardening lesson: Ivy excitedly showed the fruit growing on her little tree in the backyard. Madelyn wanted to eat it right off the tree!

The three sweet cousins!

Our California Vacation

2008-04-30T19:03:00.000-07:00

We were fortunate to be able to spend 8 days in beautiful California last week. There were so many fun and exciting things to do!

Our flight left so early that it was still dark outside.

Madelyn was watching closely for the luggage after we landed in Santa Ana.

So happy to be here!

Car Wash

2008-04-11T19:00:00.000-07:00

What a great helper! Madelyn was thrilled to help Daddy wash his car.

Got to get a little more soap . . . this is a dirty job!

"Hmmm, did I miss a spot?"

Easter 2008

2008-03-27T19:28:00.000-07:00

Madelyn surveyed the color choices as she prepared to make some Easter egg masterpieces!

Her eggs had a combination of dye, markers, and stickers. She was very proud!

She concentrated hard on what she wrote on each one.

This was so much fun!! She wanted more eggs to decorate when we were done.

We enjoyed our annual Easter egg hunt with Madelyn's girlfriends the day before Easter. The weather was beautiful!

"My basket is full, so I think I'm done!"

Our hostess, Camie, helped her mom make a delicious bunny cake for everyone to enjoy. It looked incredible!

On Easter morning Madelyn found out that the Easter Bunny had stopped by to leave a few goodies.

She was excited to go through her basket! She was also happy that Mimi was here that morning to share in the special day.

Happy Girl

2008-03-17T20:04:00.000-07:00

Madelyn was very excited to be going to school! On this day they were having an Easter celebration and an egg hunt. She loved wearing her new bunny shirt!

Little Rock Half Marathon

2008-03-17T19:45:00.000-07:00

Just a couple of minutes after finishing the Little Rock Half Marathon earlier this month. It was a wonderful experience!!

The Artist

2008-03-11T19:35:00.000-07:00

We completed a little painting project the other day. Madelyn wore a Snoopy smock that was Mommy's when she was little. We're glad that Grammy saved it all of these years!

Preparing to create another masterpiece!

Our Cute Valentine

2008-03-11T19:32:00.000-07:00

Madelyn enjoyed playing with her new heart-shaped tape measure from Grammy & Papaw.

"I need to measure a few things . . ."

Our cute little Valentine!

She proudly wore her "I love Daddy" shirt on Valentine's Day!

A Snowy Day

2008-03-06T15:21:00.000-08:00

We had a surprise March snow day! It was Madelyn's first time to see snow.

She was anxious to make a snowball as soon as we got outside.

"I think we should build a snowman right here. It's a perfect place!"

"He's small, but I like him!"

Madelyn and her snowy friend. Time to go inside and warm up!

Playing with Mimi and Nana

2008-02-24T12:41:00.000-08:00

Madelyn enjoyed playing with Mimi and Nana the other day. They brought her lots of surprises!

She shared a sweet hug with Nana.

"I love you, Nana!!"

A Snuggly Bed

2008-02-16T11:52:00.000-08:00

Just before Christmas Madelyn helped Mommy shop at Pottery Barn Kids. This little bed was just so snuggly that she climbed right in!

"Just a quick rest from shopping . . . I could stay here all day!"

Running the Loop!

2008-02-12T12:12:00.000-08:00

Mommy ran her first "loop" of White Rock Lake this past weekend - 10 miles!! Only three weeks away from the half-marathon . . .

A Carousel Ride

2008-02-09T13:36:00.000-08:00

Madelyn discovered the carousel at the mall last week. She LOVES riding the horsies!

"Let's ride again!!"

Minnie Mouse

2008-01-29T17:12:00.000-08:00

Madelyn loved wearing her new Minnie Mouse outfit to school the other day. She said that she felt cute!

Painting a Masterpiece

2008-01-29T17:10:00.000-08:00

Someone got a little carried away while waterpainting! Looks like she decided to paint herself some lipstick! She was quite proud of herself.

Still Hanging

2008-01-29T17:08:00.000-08:00

Even after all this time, Madelyn still loves to hang! The kitchen island is one of her favorite hanging spots. She said, "Mommy take my picture!"

Future gymnast??

Family Picture

2008-01-13T12:36:00.000-08:00

The whole family on Mommy's side: our family with Aunt Amy, Uncle Keynon, Garrett & Ivy; Uncle Matt, Aunt Nori & Katie; Grammy & Papaw

Christmas 2007

2008-01-13T11:48:00.000-08:00

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care . . .

Madelyn watched pancakes cooking on Christmas morning. Yummmmm!

Santa brought an electric Dora car to Madelyn!

Reading a new book with Daddy in between opening presents.

She got the hang of opening gifts VERY quickly!!

Going to see the big tree at the Galleria is a favorite holiday tradition!

Watching all the people ice skating around the tree and wanting to join them!

The Cousins

2008-01-07T17:50:00.000-08:00

Madelyn enjoyed spending Christmas with her cousins Ivy and Garrett! They composed a beautiful song on the piano!

Posing with Grammy and Papaw in front of the tree.

The three cousins having fun!

Cuties!

The sweet girls shared a hug!

Christmas is Coming!

2007-12-20T12:47:00.000-08:00

Madelyn is SO excited that Christmas is almost here!

She examines the ornaments very carefully then puts them back in new places on the tree!

Checking everything out . . .

She enjoyed playing in the oversized chair at the mall. We took her picture in it when she was only 6 months old, too. My how things have changed!

Getting comfortable during a busy day of shopping and seeing Santa!

Here she is taking a peek at Santa while waiting her turn. She chose not to sit on his lap this year. But she sure did like seeing him!

Well, this was as close as she would get to Santa. But we still considered it a victory since there were no tears and Mommy didn't have to pose with her this year!

Christmas Party

2007-12-09T22:16:00.000-08:00

The girlfriends got together last weekend for a little Christmas party. They REALLY enjoyed decorating the gingerbread house!

Madelyn ate more candy than she put on the house!

A final touch with the knife . . . then all finished!

The friends exchanged gifts and got lots of neat new toys!

New Christmas Tree

2007-12-09T22:14:00.000-08:00

Madelyn read a book while sitting on the tree box as Daddy assembled the new tree. What a patient girl!

Yummy Breadsticks

2007-12-09T22:11:00.000-08:00

Madelyn thoroughly enjoyed eating breadsticks for the first time!

"They're so good that I need three!"

A Trip to Build-a-Bear

2007-11-06T13:56:00.000-08:00

Grammy and Papaw treated Madelyn to a trip to Build-a-Bear to design her own stuffed animal. After much consideration, she decided that the yellow kitty was her favorite.

She picked out a heart for kitty then watched as the stuffing was put inside. Kitty also makes a "meowing" sound when her paw is pressed. Madelyn loves hearing it!

She named her special friend "Meow." She had so much fun!!

Happy Halloween!

2007-10-31T19:57:00.000-07:00

Madelyn was a flower princess for Halloween this year. She LOVED her costume!!

"Let me in, please!"

Two cuties! Madelyn's friend Ava was a kitty cat and SO cute!

Three neighborhood friends trick-or-treating together. So sweet!

Here she is checking out the loot with Daddy. She was very excited to have a lollipop and M&Ms.

Madelyn's First 5K Run

2007-10-31T19:53:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday Madelyn enjoyed her first 5K run with Mom and Dad. It was a cool 45 degrees when the race started at 8 a.m.

She was all bundled up for the fun morning.

Daddy and Madelyn made a good running pair!

With the finish line in sight, Madelyn got out of the stroller to run on her own.

This was her sprinting toward the finish line!!

"Great job, Madelyn!! We're so proud of you!"

This 5K was fun for the entire family!

The Pumpkin Patch

2007-10-23T17:18:00.000-07:00

Madelyn had a great time visiting the pumpkin patch at the Dallas Arboretum last weekend!

Her favorite thing was playing in this large wooden pumpkin-shaped structure.

"I'm having SO much fun climbing on the pumpkins!!"

"Hello Mr. Scarecrow!"

Back in the pumpkin-shaped structure again and climbing, of course. Thank goodness Daddy was close by to help!

Since orange is her current favorite color, this big orange bush (shaped like a pumpkin) just had to be touched!

Fun with Grammy & Papaw

2007-10-12T15:01:00.000-07:00

Madelyn loved gathering leaves from Grammy & Papaw's yard when we visited last weekend!

A special leaf for Grammy.

A leaf for Papaw, too!

She loved riding in the wagon with Katie, Uncle Matt & Aunt Nori's little puppy!

Some Weekend Fun

2007-09-27T19:39:00.000-07:00

We visited the Dallas World Aquarium again last weekend, and Madelyn enjoyed it so much. Here she is looking at a very large turtle swimming overhead.

In the water tunnel she saw many sharks. This was her favorite part of the visit.

She pointed out a loud bird on the way inside.

We stopped at the new Victory Park area outside American Airlines Center so that she could see the fountains. The water shoots up for a minute then stops for just a second. She was amazed when the water disappeared!

Standing with Daddy next to the big fountains. She loves riding on his shoulders!

Hanging Around

2007-09-27T19:35:00.000-07:00

Madelyn loves to hang from anything she can grab onto! Here she is on the playground at school in her favorite spot - preparing to hang from a bar before going down the slide. She climbs the steps over and over just to hang and swing.

Even at the Aquarium last weekend she found time to hang from a rail. Future gymnast, maybe??

1st Day of "School"

2007-09-12T18:05:00.000-07:00

Madelyn will be attending "school" (mothers' day out) twice a week this year. She was excited to see her room and meet her teachers last week!

Her teachers are so sweet!

Today was the first day! She was excited to see the playground and many new "friends" when we got there.

"Let's go, time to get inside!!"

"My room is this way, Daddy!"

They nap at the end of the day. What a tired girl!!

At the end of the first day all was well. She was sleepy, but happy!

Swimming Again!

2007-09-05T18:54:00.000-07:00

Swimming is one of Madelyn's favorite activities! She's walking fast to get to the pool, but she gives a quick wave to the slide and swings along the way.

She loves kicking and paddling her arms like she's really swimming!

"Whee!! Jumping to Daddy is SO fun!"

Birthday Lunch

2007-09-05T18:53:00.000-07:00

Mommy had a special birthday lunch with Madelyn and Daddy.

A Little Golf Game

2007-08-20T15:33:00.000-07:00

Madelyn has REALLY enjoyed her new golf bag and clubs. She spent some time on Sunday evening playing a little golf outside.

"Hmmmm, which club should I use?"

Time to load up the club and walk to the next spot!

So Glamorous!

2007-08-07T22:07:00.000-07:00

Madelyn had LOTS of fun with Grammy's jewelry! She just couldn't get enough necklaces and bracelets!

It took some work, but she got all of them on just like she wanted.

More Fun in the Sun

2007-08-07T22:04:00.000-07:00

The neighborhood girlfriends enjoyed some fun in the sun by running through water sprinklers and playing in the kiddie pool. They all had a great time!

Happy Anniversary!

2007-08-07T22:00:00.000-07:00

We just celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary! Seven wonderful years . . . a precious daughter . . . life is good and we are very blessed!

A Saturday Morning Swim

2007-07-25T19:02:00.000-07:00

Madelyn was ready for a morning swim!

She practiced her kicks while holding the side of the pool.

Her favorite part was jumping to Daddy!

Helping Dad out of the pool - what a great little helper!

Fourth of July

2007-07-25T18:58:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Independence Day with a family lunch at our favorite restaurant. Madelyn loved wearing her red, white, and blue!

Happy Birthday Madelyn!

2007-06-25T20:27:00.000-07:00

Madelyn took a few quick tastes of the cake before the candle was lit.

It was so yummy that she just couldn't stop eating the icing!

Her favorite thing was the balloons!

She got a stroller for her dolls (and anything else that would fit into it). She loved pushing it around!

Happy Father's Day!

2007-06-25T20:25:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's Day, Daddy!

2 Years Old!

2007-06-21T15:10:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that our little girl is turning 2! Wow, the time has gone so fast. Here are some of our favorite pictures to mark the special occasion:

The Golf Lesson

2007-06-17T19:31:00.000-07:00

While Dad dusted off his golf clubs the other day, Madelyn had a few pointers for him:

"Um, Dad, I think you're supposed to hit it that direction."

"See, watch me. I'll show you how to swing the club."

"Let me get it all set for you. I know you can do it!!"

Time to Come Home to Texas

2007-06-09T21:49:00.000-07:00

"Bye-bye Florida!"

Very excited about another ride on the airplane!

Flying sure can make a girl tired!

So Much Fun in Florida!

2007-06-09T21:45:00.000-07:00

Dancing the night away with Caroline and Catherine, Madelyn's new friends from the trip.

Dancing and running around is SO much fun!

Two cuties enjoying the ocean view.

"Could this vacation be any more fun??"

Mom and Dad had a night out at a fancy restaurant.

Seeing the Ocean and Beach

2007-06-09T21:36:00.000-07:00

"Please don't get in my way, I'm headed somewhere called the beach. It's supposed to be REALLY fun!!"

Madelyn's first time to feel the ocean. She loved it!!

"Mommy, where did my feet go??"

"I won't walk in the dry sand, but I'll shovel it into my pail!"

"Hello . . . room service??"

First Plane Ride!

2007-06-09T21:28:00.000-07:00

Madelyn experienced her first plane ride last week when we went to Destin, Florida, for a 6-night vacation provided by Dad's company. She preferred to ride in Mom's lap so that she could see out of the window.

Right before take-off . . . she was taking it all in.

Getting a little friendly with the people in front of us. Thankfully they didn't mind a little girl playing with their hair!

The little traveler was very tired after we landed.

Farewell Lacy

2007-05-26T11:23:00.000-07:00

Our beloved Lacy left us this morning after a long life of 15 years. She will be missed so very much. Our family just isn't the same without her.

Madelyn adored Lacy! They enjoyed sharing the backseat on roadtrips.

Another Kindermusik Graduation!

2007-05-26T11:18:00.000-07:00

Another Kindermusik semester has come to a close. Here's Madelyn getting her "diploma."

It was a special treat that Daddy attended this last session. He loved seeing Madelyn sing, dance, and make music!

She loves using instruments to make her own tunes!

Sitting so nicely listening to the story with the other students.

More Fun in Arkansas

2007-05-26T11:12:00.000-07:00

Madelyn was amazed to see real cows!! Each day she asked for the cows, so we got to know them well.

"Wowie!"

"Who needs city living anyway? This is MUCH better!!"

Papaw and Madelyn had fun outside watching the birds, squirrels, and dogs.

A last hug from Grammy and Papaw before heading back to Texas.

Fun in Arkansas

2007-05-26T11:05:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we visited Arkansas for the annual Blossom Festival. It was a lot of fun, as always! Madelyn had fun with Grammy, Papaw, Uncle Matt, and Aunt Nori!

A highlight of the Festival was the Dog Show. Madelyn thought this giant dog was a "horsie!"

The Parade of Cookers is definitely a Festival favorite! Madelyn was decked out in her shades for her first parade.

"This goose in Grammy's front yard looks like the real ones in my neighborhood!"

The slide is a big hit at Grammy and Papaw's house!