Madison's new favorite recess activity. She is becoming a bit of a daredevil, and totally stressing me out. She wants to hang upside down like the rest of the girls. She doesn't do that when I am there but I would guess she does when I'm not there. I worry about her falling and getting really hurt, but at the same time I want her to have fun. I can just hope she is making "good decisions". (the only rule on the playground is to make good decisions, this school is all about kids being kids)

1st grade picture preview

Today is picture day. Here's a preview.
Pictures I took - not the school picture professionals
Mad had fun taking these pictures this morning

pose all hers - where does she get this stuff

there's my sweet girl

Madison thought it would be great if she could wear her
vampire teeth in her school pictures

our 1st grader

The barrette was made by my sister Angela. Madison has a few of them and she loves them. They are easy for her to put in by herself. I need to get a better picture of them, they are adorable.

A-1 Mountain Road

Our Saturday adventure was on Sunday this week. Sunday morning Madison decided she wanted to go for a drive to see if she could spot some deer. Unfortunately it was already 8am, and I've heard it best to go out before sunrise. But we thought why not, it was a good day to get out as a family.

A-1 Mountain Road
a forest road not far from where we live
we have to come back here - it's so beautiful

we pulled off the road and went exploring
so fun
such a change from summer days back in phoenix

I absolutely love wild purple flowers

we all climbed around on these rock piles for a while
don't worry J stayed close to Madison
she was never in any danger

these two are so close
they are almost always holding hands
J is her protector
Madison brings out the fun kid in him

J helping Madison down from one of the rock piles
i like how he lets her be brave - but is always there to catch her

the kids

Me and Madison
thank you Austin for taking a few pictures

another thing I love about forest roads
bumpy dirt road + no traffic = kids in back
(J is very careful, they are safe. I promise)

me and Madison
taking fun pics together

2nd stop further down the road
deep in the forest
we saw deer here - in the distance
Madison decided we were going to follow them
so we hiked up the mountain

about half way up we had to take a quick break

finally at the top
"top of the world"
we could see our whole little town

and back down
this was the fun part

my typical picture of J and Madison
they alway joke that I am taking pictures of their bottoms
actually i just love seeing them holding hands
i love Madison's choice of shoes - rain boots

J and Madison jumping down the mountain
they were having so much fun

Austin - thankfully he lets me sneek in a few pictures of him

these 2 are so done having their pictures taken
I promised them that they would be thankful for all the pictures someday

Fun Run

For the past couple weeks Madison has been calling our family asking everyone to pledge her in the Fun Run at her school. She ended up being pledged a total of $16/lap. She's quite the little sales lady.

Today was the Fun Run and she did so amazing, beyond amazing. She ran, or jogged as she keeps telling everyone, all 36 laps. I could tell it was really hard for her, 36 laps is just over 2 miles. She worked so hard and really pushed herself today.

I'm so proud of her.

another book

good book, quick read.
i enjoy james patterson books - not too thought provoking, just a good escape for a few hours

Homework

Ever since Madison was little she has wanted to do homework. Her brothers would come home from school and take out their notebooks, school books, pen, pencils... and do their homework.

Not only did Madison not get to go to school (that being to young thing), she also didn't have homework. She felt left out.

Last year Madison started school, Kindergarten. And guess what? No homework. Again she felt left out.

Now Madison is in 1st Grade, and she finally has homework. She loves it. She spends over an hour a day on homework without complaint (I totally hope I am not jinxing myself saying that). A quick run down of all she does each day:
-one side of a worksheet (math)
-finish her rocket math timed test (math, guess that one is obvious)
-300 sight work flash cards (reading, currently she is getting over 250 correct)
-a timed reading passage, she has one minute to read the passage to determine her words read per minute (next week she is being moved up a level in this, our little smarty pants)
-and finish any class work that did not get completed that day (our smarty pants is a chatter box too)

So, now she is not left out. In fact, most nights she has more homework then her Freshmint (another post) brothers.

another guitar player

Just like her brother Austin, Madison started taking a guitar classes. She has really been excited. All week she kept asking if it was Saturday yet.  Well, today is Saturday. The instructor was late and Austin's guitar was too big, other then that she loved the class. She is able to borrow a guitar that fits her better until we know that she wants to stick to this (which I think she will). This weeks homework is to remember her chords. Top and bottom - E, and Eddy Ate Dynamite Good Bye Eddy (EADGBE), which Madison thought was really funny. Bet she remembers that one.

summer reading

the last of the girl with the dragon tattoo series
i'm sad this series is over

good book
just a random find at the library

yikes!
just finished this one a couple days ago
(and it's still with me)
it was so sad, i cried (or sobbed)
i have a son in high school, and i just can't imagine
it definitely makes me think about
how i treat everyone.

more playground picures

just a few pictures of morning recess

Madison and I found this flower walking up to her school
so pretty
i had to take a picture

our beautiful girl

waiting in line for the...
you guessed it,
the monkey bars

our little monkey

bell rang
time to line up

guitar

Austin took guitar for one of his electives in school

a long time ago i had hopes to be a football or soccer mom
athletics ... not a big interest for him

so, when he signed up and got guitar as an elective
i have a new hope
i hope that he enjoys this, or may photography (next semesters elective), or both
i just want him to find something that he enjoys

day 2

no, i will not be posting pictures everyday
these were just kinda cute

so, these last few posts are back dated -
Madison ends up falling off this balance beam
on Monday August 22nd
and really scratching her legs up
(she was wearing shorts)
she hasn't been back on since

wish i knew what was going thru her mind sometimes

back on the monkey bars
the right way today
and they are a favorite

again with the thoughtful expression
i wonder what she is thinking today

first day

off they go
excited
nervous
and (again) ready

but not in the mood for pictures

I stayed with Madison until a little after school started
so I have a few, or a ton, more pictures of her
checking out the slide

curvy monkey bars
she is actually going the wrong way - up, she should be going down
but she was the only one out there so we didn't know

swinging
she has always loved the swings
Angie, did you notice her hair clip

this year i think the monkey bars may be her favorite

she was excited to get an exercise ball for a chair
a special treat to start her day

and she got right to work
ready for 1st grade

and I went home to an empty house, i couldn't help but cry. my kids are growing up too fast. i wish time would just slow down.

ready or not...

nope, i'm not ready
not for this one
not for my and j's babies to start high school
how did this happen so fast
i must have blinked

they, on the other hand, are ready,
and excited
and, maybe a little nervous
but ready

Austin

Zachary

our boys
on there way to freshman orientation, and
to start high school life
i hope you guys love it
that you learn a lot
meet some really good friends
and start learning your way to adulthood

meeting her teacher(s)

today we got to meet Madison's teachers
she has 2
they are sisters
and, they seem really nice

they were ok with my (maybe crazy) requests of Madison not sharing crayons, pencils,  glue sticks... and whatever else
(we're doing what we can to keep her healthy)

Madison is super excited, and can not wait to start 1st grade

Madison took off running as soon as she got out of the car
she is so excited to start school

Madison, Ms L, and Ms O