La Grande, Oregon

Maddie and I had a great trip to La Grande... mainly for Benjamin's graduation, but we love any excuse to go visit Parker, Brooklynn, and Jackson. Daddy couldn't make it with us this time, he was too busy at work, and we left way too early for him! So, Maddie and I got to hitch a ride with grandma on Wednesday morning, and didn't come home until Monday.
The kids had so much fun playing in the sprinkler together, going to the park, and swimming at the hotel pool where grandma and grandpa stayed. Maddie is a little too brave in the water... she didn't want anyone to catch her, and she wanted to jump in when nobody was around! I ended up buying her a life jacket/floating device so I wouldn't be so nervous about her "no fear" she has for the water! Maddie loved spending time with her cousins, Miles and Jackson. She is still talking about them! It was also fun spending Brooklynn's birthday with her. Happy 26th, Brooklynn!!!! We are very excited for Brooklynn & Parker to move to Portland area in a couple weeks! Maddie and I will definitely make a trip down on the train to see them this summer!
Although we had a great trip (minus Maddie having pink eye... yuck!), it was so great to come home and sleep in my own bed. But best of all, it was so nice to come home to my house spotless, laundry done, the stoves completely cleaned out (they needed it REALLY bad!), and I even had flowers waiting for me on the table! Maybe it's not so bad to go away for a couple days!!! Thanks Mike!!!!! You're the best!!! :)

Tutu Cute Birthday

I am so behind on posting, life has been just a bit busy lately! Thanks to my sister, Brooklynn, for being my photographer, thanks to my talented mom who made these cute little tutu's for all the girls, and to my family who all helped me get ready for this fun and crazy birthday party! Here are a bunch of pictures from Maddie's second birthday party she had with her cousins over Memorial Day weekend! I think they all had a lot of fun!

2-Year Old Pictures

Yes, we have more pictures!! I can't decide which ones to order....

Maddie's Best Friend

Maddie's BFF, Ilee, dropped off a birthday present for her yesterday. It is the cutest little outfit and necklace... a princess 'best friends' necklace, I had to blog it! She wore it today for church and called it her "Ilee dress" and loved spinning around in it. Thanks Ilee for thinking of Maddie!!!

Maddie's 24-Month Check Up

Maddie had her check up at the doctor yesterday. She gets so excited to go to the doctor... for the sticker! Weird, I know! Anyway, she impressed the doctor and nurses with her vocabulary. And she impressed her mom with her bravery getting her shot! She usually screams... louder than any baby at the office! This girl is LOUD! But this time, she only needed one, it happened so fast, she whimpered for 2 seconds... as long as it took for the nurse to put the sparkle band aid on her arm. It's amazing that a simple sparkle band aid can make everything all better. That's all she could talk about the rest of the day! She still has it on her arm... she doesn't want me to take it off! The good news: that's her last shot until Kindergarten! Yea!!!

Maddie is definitely GROWING! Here are her stats:

Height: 35 inches (86%)
Weight: 28 lbs, 4 oz (70%) -- This one has really jumped up since her last appointment!
Head: 18.5 inches (46%) -- Hard to believe it was in the 10th percentile when she was born!

Trip To Utah

We are home and settled from our trip to Utah. We had such a great trip, but were so exhausted, I have to admit, it was nice to come home and get some well-needed rest!

Our main purpose for the trip was to welcome home Mike's brother, Jacob, from his mission served in North Carolina. Maddie was born just a week or two after he left, so it was fun having him meet her for the first time, and she just loved him instantly!

The weekend was packed full of family stuff! Mostly having tons of people over to the house for Jacob. I think Maddie celebrated her birthday just about every night we were there. We had to sing "Happy Birthday" to her with every dessert we ate, and she had to blow out her candle all over again. Her cousin, Brody, who turned two last month, and to have a song sung, and a turn to blow out the candle too. It was pretty cute.

Maddie just LOVED playing with her cousins there, McKenzie (5) and Brody (2). They all did so well together for not having much sleep at all, and going, going, going all day long! They played hard out in the sun every minute of everyday. They played in sprinklers, in a little sandbox Heather made for them, and loved playing with bubbles and sidewalk chalk. They also loved Maddie's princess birthday cupcakes Mike picked up! The kids even stayed with a babysitter one morning for a few hours while we all went to the temple to do sealings. It was such a neat experience to have all of Mike's siblings and parents in the temple together, and the kids LOVED their babysitter!!!

We are excited for all of our Utah family to come up and visit us in a couple months, after the new baby is born! Thanks for a great trip Dudley's!

Look Who's Two

Where has the time gone? I can't believe Maddie turns two today! Here is a flashback... {3 weeks old}

{1 year old}

{2 years old}

The Best Husband

I have the greatest husband in the world! After Maddie finally getting over being sick, and me being in bed sick all day Saturday, I have been just a little bit stressed about everything I need to get done before we leave for our trip this week. On Sunday for Mother's Day, Mike and Maddie got up early to make me breakfast in bed. I don't think Mike thought that Maddie was quite old enough to spill the beans, but she came into my bed and told me, "dad make a breakfast for mom". When she ran back out to help Mike, I heard him say, "Maddie, you're not supposed to tell mom. It's a surprise." Of course, she ran back into me and said, "A breakfast, a mom, a prize." I got a good laugh, and breakfast was yummy!

I still wasn't feeling very good, but didn't want to skip church on Mother's Day so we all went, and it was actually a really good service. I even got to go to Relief Society, rather than my normal calling in Nursery, which I loved!!

Mike got me this really soft, cozy robe I've been wanting, and some soft, comfy slippers to match. I also got a gift certificate to get a manicure and pedicure, which I really need! But the best gift of all, Mike knew I hadn't been feeling good and stressing about everything I needed to get done... so he cleaned the whole house, did all of the dishes, took care of Maddie, and even did ALL of my laundry; and there was a lot to do!! Holy cow! My husband played "mom" for the day! I loved it! I haven't stopped thanking him all day, and I feel so relieved to have so much done, and I didn't even have to lift a finger! He even got up early this morning before work to fold the last load of laundry and put it all away. That is probably the best gift anyone could have gotten me!!! Thanks Mike!!!!!!!!

Happy EARLY Birthday, Maddie!

Last night, the girls I nanny for gave Maddie an early birthday party, as we will be out of town for her actual birthday. Maddie LOVED it! She was definitely princess for the night! (as if she's not every other night....) They fixed some of her favorite foods for dinner... Salmon and Broccoli. They even got her a Nemo cake because they know she has this crazy obsession with Nemo.

Maddie could hardly wait to eat her "happy birthday cake" and blow out candles! While we were eating cake, she kept asking one of the girls to sing "Happy Birthday" to her. Maddie just sat there with a little smirk on her face, she was in heaven!

She actually opened her presents before dinner, because between Maddie, and the two older girls, they couldn't wait any longer! She loved them! She has been playing with them since she got up this morning. She keeps saying over and over again, "Maddie Happy Birthday". I really need to get her on camera saying it, because it is just the cutest thing, and so clear too!

I must mention, Maddie has had the flu the past few days... this has been a new experience for us all, she has never had the flu before! So we were in bed for a couple days. She still isn't back to her normal self yet, hopefully she will get all better and back to her active self again soon!!