Beach report from Maddy

The beach is great. It was about 78,79,and 80 degrees. The beach is sunny and breezy. I am loving it!

Our newest family member

I've been putting off this post. Mostly because I feel like in some way it will seem like we are replacing our Jackson. (which will never happen!) We started looking at breeders online in the Indianapolis area b/c we knew we would definitely get another Golden at some point, maybe even by the end of the summer. Well, long story short this breeder emailed us we decided to take a look and...of course took the little guy home 3 days later. Wow! Not exactly the time frame I had expected. His name is Andrew Jackson and we call him Andy. He's a little stinker, but we are enjoying all of his antics and it does help heal our broken hearts a little.
I couldn't help but post just a few pics of our Jacksy too. Even now the tears come so easily. At church Sunday Madison's sunday school teacher took her in the hallway to tell her how sorry she was to hear about Jackson and that she knew how much we all loved him. The biggest crocodile tears welled up in her big brown eyes and spilled down her cheeks. Life goes on though. The girls are busy in soccer and Dan and I are running them here and there. We have a new sweet little puppy to give our love to, but we will never forget the 10 years we spent with our beloved Jackson.

ski trip 2010

We spent last week skiing in Northern MI at Nubs Nob. It's in Petoskey/Harbor Springs. My parents came with us. Dan's parents were planning on coming as well, but Dan's grandpa Harmon has congestive heart failure and hasn't been doing well so they didn't feel right about being gone in case something happened. It was a wonderful trip and the girls are quickly becoming excellent skiers! Many of you all are facebookers so probably have already seen these pics, but I decided I HAD to update the blog. So here they are again...This pic should actually be one of the last pics since it happened on day 5 of our trip. Dan had torn his ACL (again) just weeks before we left on this trip, but the Dr. said he should be fine as long as he was wearing his brace. He did fine until day 5 when while skiing he hit a bump and it dislocated! Ouch! It happened 2 more times that day so we had to call it quits and leave a day early so he could get to his surgeon. Long, long story short he has a severely torn acl and meniscus so surgery is scheduled for tomorrow at 2:oo.

Look at those tiny skis!!!! Sooooo cute!

Dan and Mallory getting off the lift. She's a pro at it.

Mal and I

Maddy

Mallory

Dad, Dan, Madison and Mallory

Dad and Mom

Girls in the lodge warming by the fire. Everyday we'd pack a lunch, eat there and warm up a bit before heading back out to the slopes.

Watch out Nastia here comes Maddy...

Today was Madison's first gymnastics meet. She's been taking gymnastics since she was 2, but Dan and I have been hesitant to put her on team since it is very time consuming and A LOT of money!!! However, Dan designed her gym's website in exchange for lessons, making this team thing more do-able. Anyway, all season Maddy has practiced with the team but had not attended any meets. Long story short she competed today and placed 3rd in all around, as well as 3rd on bars, vault and floor! We were shocked!Way to go Maddy!

Maddy and her good friend Cassidy waiting to vault

Level 3 girls took 1st place and the coach was so proud of Madison that she let her take the team trophy home until the next practice! Woo hoo we are so proud of you, Maddy!

(on a side note I took pics of her on floor, bars and vault, but they all turned out dark! I need photography lessons)

Christmas

I know, I know, I'm kinda late getting this post out, but here it is (finally). We had a wonderful Christmas. Maddy woke up around 6:30 Christmas morning and we somehow managed to keep her in bed until a little after 7:00. We opened our gifts and the girls played around a bit with their presents before we headed to my parents house for brunch. Mmmm... Mom makes the best breakfast casserole. We also have cinnamon rolls, bacon and hot chocolate!
The girls with their stockings

Dan and his new golf bag

Mom and the girls

Mom and I

Dad and the girls playing Gassy Gus.

We left the day after Christmas for Missouri to visit Dan's family. That post will be coming next...get ready there will be a lot of pictures!

Not sure what to title this post...read and you'll see why

Madison was supposed to be changing into her pj's and instead I saw her running through the hallway wearing only a pair of undies down around her ankles! "Madison!" I yelled "For goodness sake pull up your undies and put on your pajamas!!" "Moooomm, I will in a minute, I just don't want to fart in my underwear..."

Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree!

We have many traditions in our family that we look forward to and our annual trip to Whispering Pines Christmas tree farm is one of them. This afternoon we bundled up and drove there to pick out the perfect tree.

Maddy and Mal with our tree

Mal adding decorations

and serenading us with a few Christmas songs... I'm totally loving the pink wig!