Littlest Pet Shop's Tonight

Tomorrow Madison is having 3 ingrown cut out of her 2 big toes. Two sides on one toe and one side on the other. This surgery sucks. I had it done when I was in middle school. And although that feels like it was a million years ago, I still remember this awful procedure. I remember the ugly toe wraps I had to wears for 3 days, to middle school - (embarrassing!). I remember a gazillion shots in each toe. It was horrible.

 

I am so thankful that they are sedating Madison for this procedure/minor surgery. 

 

But tonight Madison is playing Littlest Pet Shop's, eating Pizza (and soon to be eating the tomato soup she just requested) and watching Disney Channel. I love watching my baby girl playing with her toys and just being a kid.    



Today was our first visit to the ER. We have been in our small town for just over 2 years so I guess it was time, right :)?

The Story:
We were picking up The Girlfriend this afternoon. Austin got out of the car to go get her and closed his finger in the door. He had to open the door to get his finger out. It was pretty weird to watch from inside the car. Anyway, he got his finger out, told me he was ok and went in to get The Girlfriend. They came out and we were driving back home and I asked him how his finger was. He obviously said that it hurt and that I needed to stop the car that he thought he was going to be sick. I really looked at his finger and it looked pretty bad, dented in and turning purple, not swollen. I decided it was a good idea to get it x-rayed. So off to the ER we went. A million dollar copay later - it's not broken, he got a band-aide and a ice pack and off we went.

Maybe I over reacted but I thought it looked bad and was pretty sure that it was broken. And nothing is open but the ER on Saturdays and Sundays here.

So that is the story of our first ER visit in our small town. Glad to say that it was a pretty boring visit.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

I just finished reading speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. It is a book that Austin read in 9th grade English. I really liked it but agree with some reviews I have read that the book does a quick U-turn in just the last few pages.

Goodreads summary:
 Melinda Sordino busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops. Now her old friends won't talk to her, and people she doesn't even know hate her from a distance. The safest place to be is alone, inside her own head. But even that's not safe. Because there's something she's trying not to think about, something about the night of the party that, if she let it in, would blow her carefully constructed disguise to smithereens. And then she would have to speak the truth. This extraordinary first novel has captured the imaginations of teenagers and adults across the country

Good easy summer reading.

 

Kickin It

Madison has been playing soccer for about a month now. She loves it. And she is getting better every practice. She is not as aggressive as some of the other girls. She doesn't want to take the ball away, and she doesn't kick as hard as she could but she will learn. She is doing really good. I'm really proud of her for trying her best everyday and wanting to learn.

Our small town is the best place for outdoor sports. The weather has been great. Some practices it has rained, some have been warm (never hot) and some a little cool. We pack for any possible weather.

Her next game is this Saturday. I have a feeling she will be playing a lot of defense. She is pretty good in that position.

Good Luck Madi Rae.

sending a love note

Madison is really struggling with our sweet Fuzzy passing away. I realize it has only been a day but I want so bad to make this easier for her. She has been writing in a feelings journal and was worried that Fuzzy wouldn't see the letters that she has written to her. So today I had her write a note to Fuzzy and send it off attached to a balloon. It is a windy day so we waited for the wind to slow down and she sent her note off. The balloons went the opposite way the wind was blowing. I told Madison that the balloons knew where to take her note and that they were making sure it would be delivered to the right place. I think it made her feel better knowing that she can send letters to Fuzzy this way. I will let her send as many as she needs.  

Saying Good Bye

today we had to say goodbye to the best dog in the world. we are going to miss Fuzzy so much.

some things I really want to remember...

she loved the snow

she loved the kids

she barked like crazy whenever anyone picked Madison up

she was a good friend

 

we all love her so much

 

 

I miss you Fuzzy

it's that time of year

Just about right on cue, Madison gets her beginning of the school year sickies. She stayed home from school today and J and I talked about keeping her home tomorrow since she still has a fever. Poor thing. This is the 3rd year in a row that she has gotten sick within the first 2 weeks of school.

Snappy

Madison and I went with J to Home Depot today to get caulking. J needs to reseal our windows. It has been raining so much and so hard it is getting through the window that my computer is up against. Not good.
Madison's favorite thing at Home Depot (beside Kids Club) is the plants and flowers. She can spend hours looking and touching and smelling the plants and flowers. Unfortunately both Madison and I were born with out green thumbs and every plant we get only makes it about a week, or most likely less then a week.
Today Madison feel in love with this cute little flower; Snappy the Snap Dragon. J let her get it. Poor little plant. Madison and I planted it in our flower bed out front, and added her cute pink caterpillar decoration. I think it's really cute and maybe if we can keep this one alive we will go back and get more flowers. Here's hopping.

Buffalo Chicken Appetizers

Mini Buffalo Chicken Pastries

a Pillsbury recipe

 

 

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil (i didn't measure the olive oil)

1 boneless skinless chicken breast (4oz), cut in half crosswise

2 tablespoons buffalo wing sauce (I used a lot more, maybe 4 or 5 tablespoons)

1 tablespoon chopped celery

1 can (8oz) Pillsbury refrigerated crescent dinner rolls

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley

1/2 cup blue cheese dressing (I used ranch instead of blue cheese)

 

Directions:

 Heat oven to 375. In 10-inch skillet, heat 2 teaspoons of the oil over medium-high heat until hot. Cook and stir chicken in oil 3 to 5 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink in the center. Remove from heat; place chicken on cutting board. Using a fork, pull chicken into shreds; return to skillet. Stir in buffalo sauce and celery.

 

Meanwhile on a cutting board, unroll dough and separate into 8 triangles. From center of the longest side to the opposite point, cut each triangle in half, making 16 triangles. Place rounded tablespoon of chicken mixture on center of each triangle. Bring corners of triangle to center over filling, overlapping ends, press gently to seal. Place on ungreased cookie sheets (I put down parchment paper). Brush each lightly with remaining 1 teaspoon oil. Sprinkle with parsley.

 

Bake 10 to 13 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm with blue cheese dressing for dipping.

Everyone in my family loved these, even Madison who doesn't like anything spicy, and especially Austin who really likes spicy food. I tripled the recipe and had no leftovers.   



Skipping

Madison had a play date scheduled with a friend from school to see The Odd Life of Timothy Greene today after school. The friends mom text this morning and let me know friend could not go. So I decided to take Madison out of school to see the earlier time. That way we would still be able to pick up the boys rather then have them take the bus. She was so excited about getting to skip school. What she didn't realize was she was only going to miss lunch and last recess. Fridays are half days. We ended up having to see ParaNorman because I got the movie times wrong. But she still had a fun day.

cutest girl

Dear Aunt Angie,
Thanks for the super cute orange (and red, purple, blue, teal..) pants
I'm officially the (cutest) most colorful girl at school.
xoxo,
Madi Rae
 

morning eyes

I love her early morning tired eyes.

a day to say yes

Today I took Madison to the Children's Music and Art Festival.

Where are Austin and Zac?
They didn't want to come.
I guess I don't blame them.

I decided to make today a day to be completely checked in with Madison.
no cell phone, computer, TV, book, or any other distraction.
And since it was one price for the bracelet,
it was a day to say yes.
No excuses.

saying yes to all natural strawberry slushy 

saying yes to hula hooping
a bunch

saying yes to letting you play with all the toys scattered
across the park
as much and as long as you wanted
no rush



saying yes to adorable butterfly wings
not even trying to talk you into something smaller
and easier to clean off

saying yes to painting
whatever you want
no input
and I don't care that you had paint on your hands
 and in your hair
you had fun

saying yes to the piano

saying yes to the guitar

saying yes to the cute little drums

saying yes to the accordion
you loved this

oh yes,
and saying yes to the washboard

yes to jumping
lots and lots of jumping

yes to sliding
even head first

saying yes to petting
and feeding

and saying yes to playing
and prizes
over and over
until you got tired and hungry
and you were ready to move on

and finally saying yes to putting the camera away and staying to play in the rain. We had such a good day. It felt good to say yes, over and over...

New challenge for myself: Say yes to the kids more. Stop being disconnected. Remember they are only kids for such a short time and really enjoy that time with them.

2nd grade = swings

In 1st grade Madison could almost always be found at recess on the monkey bars. 2nd grade she still likes the monkey bars sometimes, but so far this year she can be found flying high on the swings.

(i love that some of our mornings are already requiring a sweatshirt, fall is already in the air.)

Even though I know Austin is laughing at some completely inappropriate youtube comedy video, I still love this picture. I love seeing him smile or even better laugh.

I love this kid with everything in me.

So much if the time I feel like I am failing him in so many ways. He has always been and, will always be such an amazing kid.

I am making sure Austin and I spend time together everyday talking, about anything/everything, playing cards, or even watch his ofter inappropriate youtube videos. He is growing up way too fast for me. I'm trying to hold on to the few (kid) years I have left.