Behind the scenes

We all try to take the perfect picture. I have shown some of these pictures before, but I thought I would also post some behind the scenes pictures to make you laugh.

4th of July

Mady wasn't having it.

Mady decided to take one for the team and just look up at the right moment.

At Noah the Musical in Branson.

Mary-Kate was "melting down." It was only 100 degrees that day.

Now we look so pleasant

Mary-Kate is saying "Mom, she is getting heavy."

Mady is saying, "I love my Big Sister."

MK and Isabella looking so sweet for the camera.

No Words for this one.

So much to say

My dad has been in the hospital for 15 days fighting for his life. He has been getting chemo treatments for cancer they found in his bones and prostate area. His immune system is weak. Somehow he got a staph infection in the blood. The situation was dire. My dad is doing better. He is pretty weak still. Not sure when he will leave the hospital. I have never seen him so sick. Staph is bad stuff. I would take care of the girls during the day and then run and see my dad at night. My mom stays there all day and night with him. Please pray for her. It is hard on her.

My girls are doing great. Mady started daycare on Thursday. Our hearts were broken. She did fine. I cried. ALL DAY. She only stayed for a few hours on Thursday and Friday.

We went to Little Rock today. Will post more soon.

Mady is 2 months old

Mady is 2 months old.
She weighs 11 lbs. 5 oz.
She "talks" to us. Especially Mary-Kate.
She can roll from her belly to her back. She holds her head up great.
She is in a size 1 diaper.
MK tells me, "Mommy, our baby is so cute." I agree.

Mary-Kate wore this dress for her very first Easter. I was thrilled to get it out and let Mady wear it now. They weren't born in the same season so some things of Mk's just don't work for Mady. This did though.

BTW: Someone told me they didn't like that I was spelling Madelyn's nickname MADY. They thought it should be Maddie. Well I really like Maddie. But I have a MARY and thought a MADY would be cuter for my kiddo. The nerve of people sometimes.

Smile

These two make me smile! I hope they make you smile too!

Almost 2 years

Dear Blake,

It has almost been 2 years since you were killed. You just turned 40. You weren't sick. You were hit by a car on your way home from work. We haven't been the same. Dad has been real sick. The last thing you said to me was to take care of Dad. He was put in the hospital while we were in Branson or I never would have gone. You didn't get to meet my Mady. You would sure love her. She is a dandy. We were watching old baby videos of MK and you were on there. I had forgotten. It was such a pleasant surprise hearing your voice. We sure could use your help with Dad, but you aren't here.

My MK is so muck like you. She is a thrill seeker. She loves to laugh and has a good time no matter where she is. She is strong willed. She asks why? a lot. She makes friends easily. You were that way. Everyone thought you were their best friend. People always came up to you and started talking. It was funny in a way. She loves to fish and be outside any chance she gets. She loves riding rides at amusement parks. She doesn't take no for an answer. Sometimes you just need them to comply. Wonder if Mady will do that? She has a dimple like yours. Makes me smile.

Today is your birthday. It is also our brother Jim's birthday. He doesn't like to celebrate it without you anymore. This is such a hard week. I was talking to Mom the other day about death. We as a society act like it is the worst thing ever. Like someone going to prison. Death is a part of life. We will all die. We were in a moment because of worrying about Dad and not willing to let him go. Going "home" to be with Jesus is a wonderful thing. I will think next Monday about your HEAVENLY BIRTHDAY. Heaven is a place for prepared people. Blake so many people think they are going for just being good. That is so scary. People don't realize that if that's all it takes then Jesus wouldn't have needed to come and die for us. We have to be ready this side of the grave. Jesus calls us to believe in HIM, repent of our sins (turn away from sins), confess that He is the son of God and be baptized. HE wants to be the LORD OF OUR LIVES. Today, I am reminded of the lyrics, "I'm in a hurry to get things done. I rush and rush until life's no fun. All I've got to do is just live and die, I'm in a hurry and don't know why." For being such a technologically advanced country, we don't really talk to people anymore. We know what they are doing instead of how they are doing. We over schedule our kids and then wonder where the time in our day has gone. We need to get back to basics and love people.

I miss you!

Love,

Your Baby Sister

Branson 2010

We had not planned on a family vacation this year because of our new baby. We decided at the last minute to take a quick trip to Branson. I wanted to go to Tanger Mall and the Carter store to look for outfits for the girls. I say outfits because we are about to have pictures made and I wanted us to be color coordinated. It is hard to find a size 6x and 3 month in the same thing. I want to have sister pictures made as well as family pictures made. I had MK's pictures made at 3months, 6, 9, and a year old. When she was 3 months old, each set of grandparents had their picture made with her. I want to do the same with Mady. My Dad is in the hospital again, fighting for his life. My sister is flying in from Alaska. He had been doing so well. Now it is awful. Please pray for him. I want to have his picture made with the girls. Of course I have snapped some with my camera, but I want to continue the tradition of the grandparents being at the photo-shoot.

My husband's parents went with us to watch Mady so we could spend some one on one time with Mary-Kate. On Friday we were headed out to Silver Dollar City. My MIL got sick and couldn't keep Mady. Mady had to go to Silver Dollar City with us. I know what you are thinking. I not only thought it, but said it too. How could I take such a young baby to a place on the hottest day of the year?
Well, Silver Dollar City had locations throughout the park for nursing mothers. They look like cabins. They have changing stations in them. It is air conditioned. It had rockers in there for Mommies to rock and nurse their babies. I met 3 of the nicest new moms in there. Mady and I spent the majority of our time in there. We didn't stay at the park long because it was too hot. MK loved it. We took turns riding rides with her.

The next day we took MK to see Noah The Musical. It was so awesome! Although I must say, it is 2 and 1/2 hours long. We got there an hour early. MK had a meltdown. She couldn't help it. It is hard to be patient that long and be 4. We all loved it. It is a wonderful way to explain that Jesus is coming for us and we must be ready.

We did a little shopping. Then came home. It was a quick trip, but glad to have spent the time with MK before school started. I start back to work next Thursday.

Week in review Mallory's reception

We had a fantastic week filled with company.

My dear friend Susie and her daughter Stephanie came to visit us last week. Stephanie's little boy Stephen is a year older than Mary-Kate. Her daughter Stacia is a little older than Mady.

My friends from Las Vegas, that our now moving to New Mexico came to see us too.

This is Beth

And her husband Curtis

Mallory's reception was beautiful. All of my babysitters were there, so we brought the girls with us.

My Dad with Mady

The reception was held at a golf course. These were pictures of the view.

Thara and I had our reception there too!

Mallory had games set up outside for the little kids. They played croquet and checkers.

The Happy Couple

Where is the Time Going?

Happy Birthday to Papa today!

My doodlebug!

I like this one because you can really see her face. Doesn't look like MK's baby pictures at all.

Yep, she can sit and hold her head up. My babies are strong like that.

I have been working on Mady's baby book and catching Mary-Kate's up. I scrap book. I have scrap booked every year of Mary-Kate's life. That doesn't mean that I am good at it. I just like it. I kept all of her school papers this year in a portfolio. I have her artwork all over the house. To think that I need to do the same for Mady is overwhelming . I haven't to me right now. I haven't videoed much of Mady. It is a shame because I have a ton on video of MK. When chasing after 2 it is amazing where the time goes. One thing I have done consistently is journal. My sister in law kept a journal of Mallory (my niece's life from birth to 18.) She presented it to her when she graduated from high school. I thought to myself what a neat thing to do. I have been doing this for Mary-Kate all along. Now I have started Mady's journal too. It is fun to go back and read things. So much I had forgotten. Whether you blog, face book, scrap book, or journal, I think it is important to document what is going on in your life. It is sure fun to look back and enjoy the memories. I love listening to the older people in my church tell stories of the good ole days. What's your story? Make some good memories today.

Firecrackers

Happy 4th of July Weekend!

Here are a few pictures of my little firecrackers!

We are just enjoying the summer. It is going by too fast. I start back to work on August 2nd. I was told I could bring Mady with me. The teachers will come back on August 12th. Then Mady will have to start daycare. I can't think about that yet. Hurts too much. She and Mary-Kate will go to the same school.

After I told about how awesome my Dad was doing with his treatments, I jinxed him. He has been in the hospital. He had a fever and was feeling so badly. He is home now. Thinks he might have pneumonia. It wasn't the chemo directly that made him sick. His weakened immune system is the problem. The good news is the chemo is killing the cancer. His PSA levels are going down.

Hug your family members tightly this weekend!