Saturday adventure - Cinder Hills

Today J and I took Madison and Zac (Austin is visiting my family in the heat) quading with a friend of Jason. He has 3 quads. Don and Madison were on one, J and I on another and Zac had the 3rd. We had a blast. See...

Madison and Zac

Madison's ready to go

Madison and J

Zac

Madison and Don
He taught her how to drive the quad
with an escort, of course
She is really concentrating
no messing around

Zac coming down one of the hills

J and Madison walking up the hill
i wasn't ready for her to drive that one
even with Don or J

Madison - getting dirty

Madison and J
getting her helmet back on after our break

Madison and J's friend Don
this area of the trail was really fun
just a bunch of bank turns

Madison and daddy on the banks
she rode this part of the trail
3 times coming back

Madison waiting for me to finish taking pictures
so she can get going again

Madison driving J back to Don's

Madison full of dirt

Sugar Cookies

Madison decided she wanted to make sugar cookies
we have an awesome recipe for sugar cookies,
but it makes a ton and it is just me and her here to eat them.
so we bought sugar cookie mix at Target
came home and started baking

her favorite part ~ decorating

she decided to leave some plain, for her dad
he doesn't like frosting

she did a great job
and we had a lot of fun
I can't wait for the holidays ;)

Ladybug Hunter

Madison finding the perfect stick

searching the ladybug plant

caught one!
the ladybugs are getting smart and it is getting harder and harder for
her to catch them

rain rain

our front yard after todays rain storm
i love the colors and the smell (wet pine)

as soon as the rain stopped Madison wanted to go splash in the puddles
she was a little slow getting in the water...

but soon she was splashing away
in her cowboy rain boots

Reading

i found Tana French's faithful place at the     library this week
and finished it in just a few days
it was a great book, just like her first 2
i'm sad it's over, and can't wait until she     releases another one

Lemon Cream Cheese Poundcake

this is so good
i don't remember where i found the recipe
i don't have a mixer, just mixed by hand...      it still turned out great

Lemon Cream Cheese Poundcake

2 sticks of butter, softened (1 cup)
1 8oz pkg cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
zest of 2 lemons
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 1/4 cups flour

with your mixer, combine butter, cream cheese, and sugar until nicely whipped. Add in eggs one at a time, mixing to incorporate. Continue mixing while adding the zest, lemon juice, vanilla, baking powder, and salt. Slowly add in your flour until everything is mixed.

In 2 greased bread pans (or 4 small bread pans) divide your batter evenly. Bake at 325 for about 45 minutes to an hour, depending on the size on the size of your loaves. When a toothpick inserted comes out clean your bread is done.

Immediately brush tops of bread with extra lemon juice. Then make a glaze.

Lemon Glaze
3/4 cup powdered sugar
3 Tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla

Once mixed together pour over your bread loaves. It will absorb quickly.

 When cool, slice and serve.

great kid

today i took the kids with me to the grocery store. madison always goes everywhere i go. austin prefers to stay home (to play computer or xbox games) whenever possible, he was not happy being forced to get out of the house.

when we were checking out the bagger asked the kids if they wanted their jolly rancher drinks (yuck) left out for them to carry. austin didn't answer. i turned to see him unloading an elderly lady's cart. i am not big on letting the kids talk to strangers, so i never taught him to do something like this. i am so proud of him for seeing someone that needed hlep and doing it without being asked.

what a great kid

saturday adventures - forest road 125 and lake mary

angie thanks for teaching me to braid
i still need a lot of practice
but she looked really cute for our outing today

Madison and Austin
getting ready to go...
and the loving start

view from the truck
i wonder if i will ever get over how beautiful it is here
i really hope not

forest road 125
this was the road to a small lake we wanted to see
we never made it
the adults misread the sign
we thought the lake was 2 miles down this road
it was actually 9 - we didn't go that far



on the way back we put the kids in the back of the truck
lesson one - bring jackets, it was pretty cold
from the back of the truck Austin saw a small pond
so we stopped to play
lesson two - no flip flops on saturday adventures



J and Madison
these two are as close as any father daughter pair could be
she always wants to hold his hand
he, of course, never minds

found: new plant
austin called them cat-tails
(from plants vs zombies)
she loved how soft they were

i know i don't get as many pictures of Austin
he is a little faster them me
and likes to hide from my camera
but sometimes he lets takes his picture
i'm glad when he does

my shadow -
i was thinking this was going to be my only proof      I was there...

Madison and Austin playing in the cat-tails

Madison found this fallen tree
and HAD to climb it

she did really good
J was there, just in case
but she is getting so brave

J and Madison exploring

Madison and Austin climbing

Me and J
Austin asked if he could take our picture
i think i will have him do this more often

i love her smile
she is giving me a flower she picked

the flower
in Madison's hand

the misread sign
we found it on the way back
9 miles, not 2

on the side of the road:
lots and lots of cows

Lake Mary
Austin taking a video of me taking his picture :)

J and Madison getting close enough for Madison to      feel the water
suprise :) it was cold

Madison and Austin

Madison throwing rocks in the lake
I'm sure the guys fishing across the lake loved us
(she only threw a couple)

Austin on our way back to the truck

when we got home Madison just couldn't wait
she HAD to help J open one of his father's day presents

helping turned into taking over and opening the      present for him
he doesn't mind at all
they spent the next hour building this star wars spaceship
Madison picked out for him

5 years ago today

5 years ago today our baby girl had her first surgery (6 hours)
she was diagnosed with a stage 2 brain tumor June 14 2006
astrocytoma - shaped like stars
she did amazing
she is amazing
we are so lucky to have her
thank you God for the last 5 years

The tumor was in her spinal cord - literally inside
this caused her spinal cord to resemble a straw
we were told to be prepared for her to be paralized because of the
location and the nerves that had to be cut
we were told at best she would have several sever physical problems,
she would walk with a wide gait, she wouldn't be able to be potty trained...,
she wouldn't be the same baby girl we sent into surgery
and she's not
she is an amazing fighter
she has amazing spirit
and she came out stronger then ever
  

It is so hard to believe our journey with cancer started 5 years ago, that seems like a life time. Today Madison has a very minor physical issue, her thumb occasionally will go numb, tingle, drive her crazy. She was able to go to Kindergarten with the limited restrictions of no football, trampolines, wrestling, or tumbling. It reminds me to be so thankful that she doesn't have any other issues.
I love you so much Madison Rae. Thank you for teaching me to be strong, and how to fight right along with you.
  

just a pic

Madison eating brownie mix
she loves baking with me
i think i figured out why :)

make a wish...

just a pic



our beautiful girl
Madison with her pillow pet