Date Night

This evening Ryan and I are going on a date, just the two of us. We hired a babysitter for a several hours and we are going to go see the movie The Dark Knight and then go to Granite City for appetizers and brews. It has been quite some time since Ryan and I have been to a movie together. I go to all of the animated movies with Madelyn but it will sure be nice to watch a flick without animation and to be able to have adult conversation. Ryan and I usually are with other couples when we go out. We just love to be around other people so this is a rare occasion that it is just the two of us. Hopefully we can find something to talk about. If all else fails I'm sure we have plenty to say about Madelyn.

Chef, Dancer or Hair Dresser??

I often wonder what Madelyn will become when she is older. Of course, I have many dreams for her but it is highly likely that her dreams will be completely different than mine. It is just so much fun watching her grow and enjoying the different stages of her life. I snapped a few pics of things she enjoys. I wonder if she will decide to be any of these when she grows up?

A Chef - she loves to help me in the kitchen. She has her own little mixer and likes to sit on the counter and mix away.


A Dancer? She was dancing to her Bella-Dance-A-Rella DVD. She told me that she wanted to be a Pop Star Veternarian when she was doing this? Hmmm.... I think we may have something here.


Madelyn fixed my hair and make-up. I'm thinking that being a hair dresser is not her calling.


Whatever she decides I will be her biggest fan and be cheering her on along the way. (unless it is something that would harm her or completely ruin her life) :)

Just Jen

- For the first twelve years of my life I lived on a farm, I was devestated when we had to move.
- I had braces for two years and loved them.
- I'm an obsessive picker, whether it is zits or plucking hairs. I could spend hours in front of the mirror looking for something to pick or pluck.
- I like sardines in mustard suace on saltine crackers.
- I really enjoy water skiing although I haven't had the opportunity in many years.
- I cannot sleep if the closet doors are open or my hands have not been washed before going to bed.
- If I go more than 2 days without running I feel gross, fat and cranky.
- My favorite color is red, although I'm really starting to dig brown too.
- I have a birth mark on my right shin and for the longest time I thought it was a bruise that scarred.
- I had stitches on my chin when I was 5. Adam Kluesner tripped me with a jump rope in Kindergarten.
- I was 16 when I had my first real kiss. I ended up marrying that boy.
- My favorite meal is chicken fried pork w/heinz 57, mashed taters and gravy and corn.
- I love the smell of burning pastures and rain.
- I say crick not creek.
- I can touch my nose with my tongue.
- I have a lazy eye and it is really noticeable if I'm really tired or drunk.
- I'm addicted to myspace, facebook, and blogs.
- I have completed 4 -1/2 marathons.
- I have never smoked dope or any other illegal drug.
- My dream job would be to work at St. Jude's Hospital with children with cancer.
- I only had 3 wisdom teeth which I had cut out in high school.
- Although I wasn't very good at sports, I loved playing volleyball and softball in high school.
- I wish I knew how to play the piano.
- I didn't ever want kids until all of the sudden my maternal clock kicked in after two years of marriage.
- I love, love, babies, but kids 4 and older drive me crazy.
- I do not like video games and think they burn up brain cells.
- I color my hair every 6-9 weeks because I have so much gray already. Thanks grandma Hight.
- I would love to be a foster parent for kids age birth - 4 years old.
- I am a pessimist by nature. I see the glass as half empty. I need to work on this.
- I'm opinionated and speak my mind.
- I never liked to read until after college. Now I enjoy a good book.
- I always wanted to be an only child.
- I have my funeral plans typed up.
- My favorite flower is a daisy.
- I love lying in a tanning bed or worshipping the sun (yes, I know I will regret this one day).
- People coughing or sneezing get on my nerves very quickly.
- Farting almost always make me laugh.
- I've known one of my best friends since Kindergarten.
- I do not sleep well without the sound of a fan blowing.
- Ryan and I met when we were thirteen. I couldn't stand his cockiness. I once punched him in the stomach and knocked the wind out of him.
- I detest physical labor. I will do anything I can to avoid it.
- I hate to cook but love to bake.
- I learned how to casturate pigs when I lived on the farm.
- I watch very little TV but I'm addicted to the Big Brother reality show.
- I love going to bookstores. I love the smell and the environment.
- One day I would like to make a quilt or sew something.
- I had to go to therapy as a kid because of anger issues. That just made me more angry.
- I would love to move to another state.
- My feet got bigger and my hair got curlier after pregnancy.
- I almost always lie on my right side when falling asleep.

I'm Bringing Sexy Back

Well obviously if you ever took a look at me you would know that I'm not talking about me. But, I had an interesting brief discussion with Madelyn about this song today. We were on our way to the library (Grandma Judy, she cannot complain about that this week) and I was listening to the usual hip hop station when that song comes on. We were in midst of a conversation about her starting school and her legs being so big (how is that related?) when she said, "that song is not appropriate, don't you think you should change it? You wouldn't want me repeating that word, would you?" Can't argue with that. I quickly changed the channel and we continued the discussion of her big, growing legs.

Fun with Family

Ryan's sister(aka Aunt Bun-Bun) and our two nephews came down early Sunday morning to spend a couple days with us. They joined me and Madelyn for church and then we picked up Ryan at home and headed to the water park in Derby. I took the day off on Monday to spend the day with Jen and the boys. We had a fun day school shopping and swimming in our pool. We had a great time while they were here. I wish we lived closer so we could see each other more often. We always have such a good time when we get together and Madelyn and Garrett have so much fun playing together.

Scuba Garrett

Cousin Matt floating on the lazy river

Cousin Garrett on the lazy river

Ryan and Madelyn on the lazy river. She was very disappointed that she had to wear a life jacket and sit on daddy's lap just because she was a tad bit shorter than the required height to go solo.

Madelyn took a close up of her and Aunt Bun-Bun

The End is Near!!

It is hard to believe that in less than a month the summer break will be over and Madelyn and Ryan will head to school. They have had a fabulous summer (or so I've been told). They spent time fishing, swimming in our pool, completing home projects, going to story time at the library, completing swimming lessons, scooter and bike riding, hanging out with friends and maybe even taking an occasional nap. I know these are the memories that Madelyn and Ryan will treasure.
I cannot believe my baby starts Kindergarten in less than a month. To think I only only have 13 more school years with her. That is a startling and sad fact for me. But not only am I sad that she will be starting big girl school I'm also sad that my house will not be spotless and dinner will not be on the table when I come home most evenings. I sure do get spoiled during the summer!!

Here are a few pics of how Madelyn spent her summer:

Room Transformation

For Madelyn's 5th birthday we changed her room from a baby/toddler room to a big girl room. We had not painted or changed much around, except her bed, since she was born. Her only request was that it be pink. My mom came down and spent an entire day painting Madelyn's room. I bought her new bedding and Ryan painted the TV, light, and letters pink and refinished the trim in her room. This was completed the week of her birthday I'm just a little late on getting the after shots taken.


Here are a few Before Shots....

and after shots.....