A whirlwind of fun

The kids have been exceptionally hilarious lately but that will just have to wait...

I have a TON of pictures from one of the best weekends of the year. Halloween and Maddie's birthday. And Jim and Kris were here to join in the festivities with us.


I love how all these pictures tell the exact story of what when on at "the orange park" (as Maddie and Lyndon call it) this lovely Fall morning...

Just take note of WHO are the ones playing all over the jungle gym... :)

I can just hear them discussing their plans now as I look at this picture. Jim and Jonathon came up with a brilliant plan...a timed obstacle course. Starting with monkey bars, flying over the climbing wall and sprinting down the stairs to just name a few of the obstacles. Kris and I threatened that the hospital would be a bad place to spend a vacation but it just fell on deaf ears. I must say it was very entertaining watching them compete. I also must add that it did look so much fun that Maddie, Lyndon and I all had to try it out at least a couple times. Kris would have been on board as well except that she was still recovering from out last game night in Nebraska where she broke and dislocated her toe. Yes, we take our game playing to the extremes in this family.

Kris taking the kids on a little walk. They LOVE their Grandma and Grandpa.

Now for Halloween...

This year Kris made the costumes for the kids. Maddie was the purple fairy from Tinkerbell. Kris did such an amazing job on their costumes. They are perfect down the the last detail. On a side note: Kris made Jonathon and I costumes the first year we were married. Mine is Dorothy and Jonathon's is the scarecrow.

Without fail, whenever we have worn those costumes to a costume contest we win. every time.

...and Lyndon was a Ninja!! ...Or should I say LYN-JA! Yeah, we have some pretty darn fortunate kids who have both grandma's who will not only make them ANY costume their little hearts desire but are also so creative that they think of things like Lyn-ja! How cool is that?

I threw this picture in because it makes me laugh just looking at it. That's Lyndon all the way...smiling and running.

We are just about ready to go trick-or-treating and what is Lyndon doing? ... eating a cupcake. Mother of the year... right here.

I love these two...

The shear amount of candy is sickening. Remember when getting a candy bar or anything chocolate was so rare? Now that's the majority of their bags!

At least he wanted a little water to go with all his sugar.

Maddie's Birthday...

Phew, what a whirlwind of fun events! This one jam packed, fun day. We started out with opening gifts.

Lyndon was upset that he didn't get to join in the fun.

There's a gift for Lyndon! Phew, that was close.

Maddie got some amazing gifts. It was extra special thanks to Jim and Kris and my Mom and Dad. Maddie loves her gifts, we really appreciate it.

After we opened gifts we went to the outlet mall, then straight to Maddie and Lyndon's favorite place in the whole (a close second goes to...The Dollar Store) ...Chuck E. Cheese!! It was pizza, games, music, games, tickets, games and prizes. Everything Maddie could ask for.

Then later that evening we went to The Oasis on Lake Travis for dinner. It is so nice there. Good food, beautiful and relaxing. The perfect end to the evening.

The birthday girl.

When we got home we finished off the night with cake and ice cream. Pink balloons, pink cake, pink frosting, and pick ice cream...of course.

I loved this...When we finished singing to her she closed her eyes and make a wish...

...then blew out the candles.

Unfortunately, Jim and Kris had to leave early the next morning. Talk about a depressing day. ...for all of us.

Dear Maddie,

I can't even wrap my head around the fact that you are 4 years old. How is that even possible? I swear it was just yesterday that you were just a tiny little baby staying up all night and sleeping the day away. I love every little thing about you. I love that you still have that little speech impediment that Daddy and I still can never mimick. I love that you want to be me. I love that you are a little pack rat. I love that you bat your eyes at me thinking it's going to help your cause. I love what an amazing big sister you are. I love your hard core infactuation with anything pink and girly. Sometimes I look at you and I can't believe how beautiful you are. I love you with all my heart my Maddie girl. I'm gld you had such a magical birthday.

Love Always,

Mommy