What a week!

 Monday was a super cold and windy day.  But we still found ourselves outside taking a picture.

 Staying late on Tuesdays and Thursdays is still a hit and something Madi looks forward to weekly. 

 Madi drew this picture of her and Tuck to give to Tucker.  I've heard through the grapevine that a certain someone (ahem! Maci) tore his picture.  So a second one has already been developed.

 Matt was impressed by the detailed flower.  I was shocked that their clothes had designs! 

Wednesday - Madi was a little spunky and wanted me to take many, many pictures.

 Hopefully, modeling is NOT in her future! :)

 Wednesday was my first day of classes.  I also have a 5 week night class I teach (pray I can stay awake!).  So Daddy took Madi to their favorite (not my favorite!) place to eat.  Super Salad!

 I got this picture in a text along with "my date even puts my straw in my glass for me!"

Thursday

I love that our mornings are lazy and peaceful. 

I know once Madi starts "big" school they will be less so, therefore, we are going to enjoy the calm while we can! 

 She was bouncing around again . . .

 So I caught this one a little off center!

 Friday

 I wish I was in her good mood each morning.

I guess she knows it's Friday and the long weekend is here!

Building

  

 This was our view for most of last weekend.

Matt was such a trooper building, un-building, and building again!

I think they built each fort imaginable! 

The puppies like to join her in her forts once she covers it with a sheet and adds blankets and pillows inside.

Back to school . . .

 Madi started back to school this past Tuesday.

 We made a little change in our routine though.

Starting this month, Madi's going to start doing "extended stay" at school on Tuesdays and Thursdays until 2:45.  

The exciting part (for Madi) is bringing her lunch and eating with her friends.   

Here she is with her lunchbox all ready! 

 Wednesday - I couldn't choose a picture.  Both too cute.

 Wednesday night was Meatballs & Rice night in our house.  A favorite!

Anytime this is on the menu, you can find Madi parked right by her Daddy rolling the meatballs!

 Thursday was a cold and rainy day so we were prepared with our boots and vest!

 Madi wanted to wear "dangly" earrings today.  They make her look so grown up.

Friday - again two very cute pictures so I included them both.  

 We are heading to the Foley's house tonight for dinner and games and then a nice and quiet weekend at home.

See Madison Read!

 As part of our night time routine, Madi reads a book with one of us in the living room then another "easy" read in her bed with her Daddy.  

The last few weeks Matt has been having Madi read the "easy" read with him.  Which makes me happy since teaching reading isn't my specialty!

Last Monday night, Matt came out of her room saying, "she read the entire book by herself without any help!"

 So, this morning I remembered that I wanted to get a picture of her with the first book she ever ready by herself, "At Bat."

 I was going to stop there as we had to get going to school, but she started opening the book and reading each page . . .

 Upside down . . .

 So I let her!

 I wish I would've had my video camera handy too as that would have been a great video.

 I did get a cute video of her "reading" another book last night so hopefully I'll get one of her reading "At Bat" soon.

As you can see, she was VERY proud of herself when I said what a good job she did reading!

 I never realized how exciting this moment would be.  I always think about doing math problems together later on or something as equally nerdy, but her reading has been so exciting around here. 

It's a whole new world opening up for her!

More fun . . .

 I want to remember the sweetest gift from my husband this year.

I've seen these necklaces before on etsy.com and Matt really wanted to get me one.

The m&s is, of course, for Matt & Sherre and we had Madison's name put on it plus stars to represent the sweet babies we won't hold this side of Heaven.  

I love that I can wear this everyday as a sweet reminder of all we have been through and survived. 

 I sent this picture to Matt while he was out playing poker of our new bedding from my parents.  

I love how it turned out.
We haven't had new bedding since we got married so it was definitely time. 

 

 Again, this lab set was a great gift for Madi, but man we feel like a chemistry class at our house lately!

 We experimented with celery and food coloring . . .

 And Madi begged her Daddy to do the volcano experiment again but this time she promised to watch!

 Random marshmallow picture . . .

Not sure why but she loves to stick marshmallows to her face!

"Mad"i Scientist

Madi has asked and asked for a magnifying glass so we thought for Christmas a lab set would be a good gift.  

 She begged and begged to open it but we told her first we were going to breakfast . . .

 She loves to build things using the creamers and jellies.  We put everything back how we found it!

 Once we got home there was no use putting it off.  Out the lab set came!

 The set comes with 10 experiments to try.  First, we used the primary colors to make orange, green and purple. 

 Then we used baking soda and vinegar to make a volcano.  Madi ran from the room at the best part!

 The next day she begged and begged again so we did one more experiment.  We made a chart to record what items would sink or float.  She guessed beforehand and was right alot of the time.

 There have also been MANY MANY Uno games played by these two!

 My sister and I were crazy and took the kids to the mall with us to shop.  They wanted to stop at every fountain and throw money away, I mean, throw pennies in the water!

 After playing in the play area they still wanted to ride more rides.  But thankfully we still got quite a bit of shopping in too!

 The nice part about Christmas break is getting to play at eachother's houses.  Tucker and Maci came to our house one day so Shelle and I could shop some more and then Madi went home with Aunt Shelle today from Chickfila to play some more.

There was also a new truck purchase in our family.  I think someone is VERY happy in our family! 

We've had such a nice break so far and luckily we have five more days! 

Christmas Morning

 Christmas morning we woke up extra early so we could get the gifts from the front porch that "Santa" left per Madi's request.  She still doesn't like the idea of Santa (or anyone really) coming into our house while we sleep.  I can't say I blame her!

She got some wonderful gifts!  Grandma and Grandpa Heider sent some gifts home with us for her to open Christmas morning.  She loved adding the Brave doll to her Barbie collection and she's not too sure about the gun yet, but I'm sure in no time she'll be outside shooting away!  Santa brought her a hula-hoop and a fun playhouse that you color.  Her stocking had a harmonica, stamp markers and a crayon piggie bank to name a few.  She did ask how Santa was able to use our wrapping paper. I quickly said that I left it on the porch for him.  She then asked if I left the tape and scissors too!

 Day 31:  Fred spent Christmas morning reading the Christmas story from the bible.

 Another Christmas surprise was waking up to SNOW! 

 Madison couldn't wait to get bundled up and head outside. 

 Thank goodness her Daddy didn't mind going out with her because I froze just taking these few pictures and running back inside!

 Sadly, they weren't able to build a snowman because the snow wouldn't stay together, but they still had a lot of fun. 

 Aunt Bevie gives pjs every year for Christmas.  This year Madi's came with pjs for her doll.  She begged me to wash them right away so her new Baby Alive doll (that you feed) from Aunt Shelle could wear matching pjs with her.

 We were surprised by the size of the house from Santa!  We could all fit in there together!

 Thank goodness it's easy enough to fold up and put out of the way when needed.

We spent the majority of Christmas day coloring on her house and making it beautiful! 

The day after Christmas we were ready to get out of the house so Daddy took us to breakfast at Madi's favorite place Cracker Barrell then we did a little shopping at Market Street where Madi thinks she needs to get a cookie each time we go.  She picked a bumble bee cookie this time and it had two black stripes but we were surprised at the mess it made with only a little icing!