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

scrapbook pages

Here are the 2 scrapbook pages I made Sunday night
they are not great pictures
it's been really cloudy and well i'm not good at taking photos of my scrapbook pages

rained out

Sunday we had plans to take the family out to one of the lakes
plans changed when the dark clouds rolled in
and the rain started
then it was pouring and really cold
(a nice change for the family visiting from the valley - it was over 110 down there)
the forest road to the lake would be a muddy flooded mess that we didn't want to risk it

so we hung out at the house
the crazies took a long walk in the rain :)
the rest of us sat outside enjoying the weather (under cover), and waited for them (and our kids) to come back

we made chicken spaghetti
the boys played lots of video game
the little girls did crafts (painted Halloween crafts, scrapbooked, made pretty barrettes)

it was a fun day,
even if we didn't to go the lake

and as usual
lots of pictures

Madison was so happy to have Kailey
to climb and explore in the front yard

Me and my Pixie (Kailey)

Madison and Kailey let us take a lot of pictures
well, Madison told me that she only likes
Aunt Alicia taking her picture
so Alicia took a lot of Madison's pictures

my crazy sisters out in the rain
looking for worms
gross

Angie playing in the rain

Angie's shoes
Madison turns her feet in just like this

the munchkins painting

Austin playing video games
he did take a flash light walk with he aunts and uncle today
it was nice he got outside and away from the computer for a bit

Oh, and after the little ones went to bed, we kicked the boys off the xbox so the adults could play Scene It. So all in all it was a really good day.

sister visit

Two of my sisters and their families came to visit. 3 more adults and 4 more kids in our little 3 bedroom townhouse. It was tight, and so much fun. I love hanging out with my sisters, brother-in-law, and their kids. I can't wait to have them, or any of our family back. Hoping in a couple weeks family will come for our county fair.

And what is a blog post without a few pictures.

the first day we went for a walk
explored the neighborhood
and showed off our much cooler weather

Austin and Luke

family picture
missing Zachary - he was back at the house playing video games
man, i love these kids
i miss living closer, hopefully we have many many more visits

these two loved climbing and jumping
not as much as they loved video games
but they had fun being outside

The rest of day one was visiting, eating, and just hanging out.

birthday party

Madison's best friend from kindergarten turns 6. Madison had a blast at her party. She got to see a few friends from her kindergarten class and swim. I don't have permission to post picture of any of her friends, so her is some pictures of Madison at the pool.

hanging out in the pool

Madison begged and begged to go down this slide
i was really nervous
she is not a strong swimmer
we talked to the life guard in the pool and she said she would       "catch" Madison when she came down

the slide
Madison loved it
she is our little daredevil

all the kids loved this bucket
it filled up with water
then tipped over and dumped the water on the kids

Thank you C P and K for inviting Madison, she had so much fun. I can't wait to get the kids together again.

future fashion model

We went to the valley to visit family and for Madison to go to a friends birthday party. The first night Madison and her cousin did a fashion show with aunt angie's dresses.

hands on hip
popped leg
hip jutted out
fashion model in the making

hard to believe this dress fits her, and her 25 year old aunt
missing from this picture are the super cute black heels