The Splash Park

On Friday night we attended a BBQ for our friend's birthday. They had rented out the pavilion at the local park and you can use the Splash Park as part of the rental. All the kids loved it! As we pulled up to the park I heard Madelynne squeal with delight from the backseat. She then said, "Mommy! Look at that!" We could not get out of the car and into the park fast enough. This was Madelynne's first time at the Splash Park and she had a blast.

The BIG 30!

I am getting old! Last Thursday, June 26th, I turned 30. Where has the time gone? The day started with Madelynne coming in our room and telling me she was stinky and needed her diaper changed (we are working on being toilet trained). I lived such a charmed life... Matt had to work (for some reason my birthday is not recognized as a federal holiday), but he and Madelynne took me out to dinner when he got home from work and then we came home for cake and opening presents. It was fun to spend my birthday with my family. Thank you to all the friends and family who called, stopped by and sent fun packages. It meant a lot to me that you all were thinking of me.

Sunny Days

One of Madelynne's absolute favorite ways to spend a sunny, summer afternoon is in her wading pool in the backyard. It has been a great way to get her to take her nap. I just have to tell her "if you take a good nap, when you wake up we can go swimming". It is like magic! One day it did backfire when she woke up and it was raining and thundering. Needless to say Madelynne was not happy with me that she took a good nap and could not go swimming! Now everyday when she wakes up from her nap she says, "It's not raining! We can go swimming!"
Trying to figure out how to get the water to come out of the hose.

She finally decided it was just fun to put her mouth on it. No matter how many times I told her not to do it.

Madelynne hopped out of the pool and ran over to water the flowers with her watering can and water from her wading pool.

Super Madelynne diving right into the frigid water!

Lovin' it!

Watering the grass.

Too excited to get in the water to even let me get her hair ties out of her hair before she got in the pool!

Look how tall she is getting!

Lunch Bunch Picnic

For Lunch Bunch this month we met at Sims Park and had a picnic lunch. We also celebrated my birthday with balloons and yummy cake. The "bunch" gave me a gift card to Pampered Chef and a really cool recipe album with recipes from each of them. Thanks ladies! The kids had a blast and really enjoyed the cake as you can see in the pictures. We love summer days spent at the park!

Be Prepared

You never know when you might need your snow boots...in the middle of June! I mean this is Cleveland. Winter does seem to last F-O-R-E-V-E-R!

Father's Day 2008

For Father's Day we took Matt to a Captains game (the local minor league baseball team). It was the first half of the Northern Division Championship and the Captains won! The game was a double header because the game scheduled for Friday night got rained out. So, we got to see two games for the price of one. There were also fireworks after the game which Madelynne calls "fire truck". She also said they were very loud and go "Boom!".


At the game they were doing free face painting and Madelynne was so excited! After we got to our seats it was all she could talk about. She tried to take off on her own a couple of times to go get her face painted. Once we were all settled in I took her up to the booth, so she could get her face painted. There was a board of pictures of the choices and at first Madelynne wanted the tiger. Then she decided she wanted the pony. Then she saw the dog and wanted the dog. But, then when it was finally her turn she told the girl she wanted a pony. Since that was the second time she selected the pony I figured that was what she really wanted. I was incredibly surprised at how still she was while they painted her face. I mean she is only two and a half...

Close up of the pony! When we got home that night we told Madelynne she had to wash the pony off in the tubbie to get ready for church the next day. Matt held her up to the mirror and let her say bye-bye to the pony. Sunday morning when she woke up she said to Matt, "Oh no! Where did my pony go?" Matt reminded her we had to wash it off the night before and she replied, "I need to go to baseball game to get my pony." Apparently, she thinks you can get your face painted at every baseball game.

Cooking Daddy Father's Day dinner.

Flashback Friday

Madelynne discovers grass for the first time in Great Grandma Hanson's yard!