Bye Bye Binky Party

Even Grandpa joined in the fun! (Yes folks, my dad never poses for a picture!)

Two party goers-Uncle Trent and Aunt Christina (my sister)!

And you thought the odd ball in this family was me! My mother!

Lily-my sister's dog, joining in on the fiestivites without her own free will!

Madison with her Bye, Bye, Binky cake!

Matthew (my nephew) and Madison with their party hats on! Matthew was not thrilled he had to wear a pink party hat!
Madison made Pouchie join in the festivites too!

My sister gave me this terrific idea about having a binky party! The basic concept is to have a party to say goodbye to the binky! Madison would go all day without a binky at daycare, but that would be the first thing she asked for when we would pick her up. If she was at home all day, she would suck on the binky all day. So, I knew I wanted to take the binky away because it was time, but I just didn't want to be too cruel and just take them and throw them away. So, on August 8th, we had a "Bye, Bye, Binky" Party. My sister and family came up from Houston for the festivies and I got some inexpensive party hats and made a cake and had the party over at my parents house. When Madison and I got home from my parents after the party, we gathered all her binkies and put them in a bag. That night when Madison went to sleep the binky fairy came and took all her binkies and left a doll for her Madison to play with!

Madison recieved an elephant game from her dad and I that blows out little "butterflies" from it's trunk and you have to catch them with the nets. Aunt Christina, Uncle Trent, and Matthew got her a Queen Clarion little figurine thing to play with.

Madison is doing well without her binkies. She's told me a couple of times that she misses them and asked when the fairy was going to bring the binkies back, but I tell her that her binkies were taken by the fairy and the fairy gave them to another baby who needed them-big girls don't need binkies! That usually satisfys her until the next day!

South Dakota

Christina and Matthew in the water at Evan's Plunge!
Part of the area of Evan's Plunge!

We left for our South Dakota vacation July 18th and returned home on July 27th. We opted to drive because it was cheaper for us to drive than it was to fly. At the time we looked at flying, airfare was $400-500 a piece. It only cost about$200 to get there in gas and $100 for hotel for an overnight stay! We were crazy not to drive (more money for fun in South Dakota)! The only bad thing about driving was that it took about 19 hours to get there! It wasn't a bad drive though. I think the worst of it was Nebraska and that was only bad because of all the cornfields! And I mean cornfields!!!! Madison was pretty good, even considering she only took her one usual nap of the day. Her DVD player was a blessing. Unfortunately it broke our second day of traveling, but don't worry momma made daddy pull in to the first Best Buy we seen to replace it! Between the DVD player and the other activites toys I got her, our ride went smoothly.

South Dakota was a blast! The first stop we made was before we checked into our hotel. We seen signs for an 1880 Town and Madison was starting to get a little restless, so we decided to stop to walk in the town and to eat some supper. They had "Dances with Wolves" memoribilia inside as well as some equipment and tools used back then. Outside was the little town that had all kinds of old buildings from an outhouse to a schoolhouse. We liked the jail the best! We posed in the cells and were amused they had a noose for all the 'bad varmits' in another. After getting checked in to our hotel, we relaxed and watched a little tv before heading to bed.

Our first full day in South Dakota, Fern made an appointment to go horse back riding for three hours or so. If we didn't have Madison with us, I probably would have went too, but Madison was too young. So while Fern was horseback riding, Madison and I went to the Flintstone park were they had the Flintstone village arranged so you can see into each of the little houses. They also had a train that Madison and I went on several times that took us around the park and they had a playground area that Madison played on. We still ended up waiting for Fern to get through with his horseback riding. After Fern got done with his ride, we ate supper, and then back to the hotel...we were still a little tired from our car ride.

The next day, we headed to "The Dinosaur Park" where they had huge cement statues of dinosaurs. Madison was so excited to get to see the dinosaurs! She kept saying, "WOW! DINOSAURS!" After the dinosaur park, we then headed to "Storybook Island" which they had a lot of all the story book characters in statues! Madison could actually get inside, crawl, and play in everything on her own and I had fun taking pictures of everything. After we were done with Storybook Island, we headed over to Old MacDonald's Farm. It was a little on the boring side for my husband and I, but Madison enjoyed petting and playing with all the animals. Old MacDonald had a cow, sheep, goat, billy goats, ponies, bunnies, pigs, donkeys, chickens, turkies...you get the point. After the farm we got a crazy idea try to do one of the caves. The one we had went to originally, The Jewel Cave, was not doing anymore tours when we arrived. The second one we went to, Sitting Bull Cavern, had a 10 story straight down ladder that you had to climb down and the guide did not recommend us going with Madison because one of us would have to hold her....yeah, what idiot would climb down a ladder 10 stories holding a 25lbs little girl who doesn't always hold on! We opted not to do that cave and headed to The Blackhills Cave! We opted to do the one hour tour of that cave (which at the time seemed easy), but Madison wanted to be held by momma the whole hour because she was scared of 'the dark'. The cave wasn't much to look at, but we sure did get our exercise that day and Fern walked out with a little bit of rocks in his pocket! (I couldn't figure out why it would take so long for him to catch up...he was falling behind to pocket rocks!!!!). After the tour, we headed back to the hotel because my mom had called and said they were landing at the airport and they would be at the hotel in an hour or so (they went to Michigan for my grandfather's surprise b-day party first and then met us in South Dakota). However, on our way to the hotel, we passed this park where there were tons and tons of geese just walking around so we decided to stop and take in the pretty scenery and check out the geese....one wouldn't imagine all the poop those things produce! After the park, we headed to the hotel to meet my mom, sister, nephew, and brother in law and then headed to dinner.

The first day of the gang in South Dakota we went on a bus tour-we went to a Gold Mine, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Custer State Park...believe it or not they had Texas LongHorn at one of the residences in the park and my sister I commented on how lucky those longhorns were that they were getting eaten by fire ants and they get to enjoy 80 degree weather and not 100+ degree weather!!! Custer State Park was interesting! We seen a lot of wildlife, including buffalo, but the roads-pigtails turns! Dear Lord, if I was the bus driver we would have driven right over the cliff! The neatest feature to the roads were that there were three tunnels that while you were passing through the tunnels it would one way or another create a frame around Mount Rushmore faces-just like a picture!

The next day, we went to The Reptile Gardens and seen some alligator wrestling and all other reptiles and birds...then it was off to Deadwood to see "The Roo Ranch" where we all got to touch a kangaroo! You wouldn't believe how soft they were! We then went to a big putt putt and game park that we had a blast at. Me, Madison, and Matthew got on the bumper boats and got absolutely soaked! I think I still would have gotten soaked even if my dear old sister wouldn't have shouted to the little kids, "Get the lady with the brown hair!". To fill the day, the ladies and children went to the "Wall Drug Store" while the men went to the Badlands!

Our second to last day there, we got up extra early to catch the 1880 train which took us on a two hour ride. We also did the Alpine Slide that day in which we went up to the top to the slide in a tram (like a ski lift) and then you had to choice to take the tram down or slide down the slide. The first time we went down, I opted to have Madison go back down on the tram with my mom, but after she got to see me slide down and when I met her at the bottom, she told me she wanted to slide...so we went again with Madison sliding down with me the second time. Madison absolutely loved it too! While going down the slide screamed, "Go faster!"From the slide we went to Bear Country USA (it was a drive through wildlife park that features wolves, reindeer, mountain lions, and bears. They had a baby bear exhibit that I heard Baylor University gets their mascot from.

On our last day, we did the Custer Park drive because someone got a hair brain idea that it was a short cut to head to Custer in order for my hubby to get a hat, in which he ended up not getting after the long car ride in which this time made me car sick! The women, Madison, and Matthew spent the day at Evan's Plunge which was a natural spring that year round it's 86 degree's but they made it into in miniature water park with slides. While we were at Evan's Plunge, the guys went exploring a cave. I opted out of the cave after the first one! I wasn't going to carry Madison through another cave! We had a lot more fun playing in the water!

Sunday, we headed home (not before getting in one more ride down the alpine slide!). On our way home, we found one person selling Nebraska corn on the side of the road. We got some...put in the the front with us....yup, forgot how many bugs come out of corn!!!!! (We were even intelligent enough to leave the corn in the car while we checked into a hotel for the night...that's when the bugs made their escape out of the corn and into the car!)

Pictures to post later...too tired to post tonight!

Snake Farm

Madison loved this little baby llama! We ended up with several pics with her and this llama! I don't know why it was here without any other llamas. It did have some company with the chickens/rooster that flew in and with turtles and ducks.

Madison and I feeding the goat. This goat got mostly all of our two baggies of food because it would head butt anything that it thought would get 'her' food. Mean old goat! There were also some pigs in the petting zoo too, but we just threw some of the feed on the ground for them. We did go inside, but as soon as the goats figured out we had food for them we started getting jumped on and were surrounded by 'hungry' animals! So we got out and stayed where it was safe...on the other side of the fence.

One of the peacocks that were there.


Madison and I posing where the zebras, longhorns, deer, and other animals called home.

Turtle sex 101! Leave it up to me to take a picture of it!






Today we went to the Snake Farm in New Braunsfel! It was the spur of the moment idea and left the house early afternoon, but got stuck in that wonderful Austin traffic several times. We finally got to our destination about 4:30 pm. I wasn't expecting to be in traffic that much, but what can you do...Madison took her nap in the car so I was happy for that! They had every kind of snake imaginable there at this 'farm'! Dummy me didn't take one picture of the snakes! I didn't think much of it until we were practically home from the trip! It's hard to take good pictures when every species is behind glass and a cage! They had a little petting zoo area where for $1 a bag you can feed the animals that were in the petting zoo-goats, pigs, and chickens! We first attempted to go into the area where the animals were, but we were bombarded with goats and pigs as soon as they figured we had food to give them-which was even before we got into the gate! When the goats started biting my bag of food before I had it opened and jumping on us....we moved to the outside of the fence!!! From there, Madison fell in love with the baby llama that was so cute and seemed so friendly-but in the back of my mind Germany flashbacks were there with the llama who spit on my mom and ripped her little wooden Holland clog key chain that was on her purse and ate it-so we tried not to linger long! We seen all kinds of different animals and birds. They had hyena's, wolves, monkey of different kinds, turtles, alligators, crocodiles, peacocks, geese, a zebra, some longhorn, some deer, a wort hog, etc. We even got some turtle sex 101! I don't know if I would have even noticed the turtles, except one of the turtles were a little on the loud side with the moans and groans, that I went looking for where the noise was coming from and found the two turtles....loving each other! It was a nice day, and we were done and the rain started to come down-for the short period of time that it rained.

Rabbit Fest 09

We didn't do much this weekend! Saturday, it rained off and on and when it stopped raining it looked too nasty to chance a venture outside. Sunday, we went to Rabbit Fest in Copperas Cove. It's the first time that I have gone to the Fest and I think it was the first time Fern ever went too. I was expecting a little more, as usual, but we had a good time out of the house. We still couldn't put Madison on any of the little kids rides because she was still too short. I really should remember that when we decide to go out to events like this, but I'm always looking for something to do and anything is better than just sitting around the house. They did have some arts and crafts and I scored some really cute hair bows for Madison. I also got her a pair of flip-flops that some crafter had put ribbons on. I don't know if Madison is going to wear them or not, but it's worth the try to get her out of her socks! She just has to have socks on her feet! As we were getting up to the craft part of the Fest, Madison spotted the animals-mainly the ponies first. They had pony rides and a little petting zoo type set up which had goats, roosters, a donkey, a pony, some rabbits, ducks, and a pigeon whose wings had been clipped. Madison liked touching just about everything EXCEPT the roosters. She wanted nothing to do with the roosters and when they got too close to her or headed in her direction she went right to the closest leg and put a death grip on it! All in all, it was a pretty good time! Today, it was back to work for Fern and I and off to daycare for Madison.

Pictures

Just wanted to post these pictures! Thought they were worth posting!

Pool Time

Video one-sets the tone for the attitude!

Video Two-THE ATTITUDE comes out!

Well, we (I should say Madison and my mom) got into the pool for the first time! I was only brave enough to put my legs in-82 degree water is still too cold for me! I'm a pansy! Madison was so excited to be going to grandma's and getting into the pool she talked non-stop the whole way there-the mile and a half (not too long of a wait!)! I told her that she couldn't pee pee in the pole when she was swimming, so it was so funny that when she got out and seen that her bathing suit was "peeing" she had to assure me "not pee pee mama! Just water!" In the clip her dad is sitting next to me pool side tormenting her telling her she's pee peeing (Is that a word???) We're going to have to go out shopping for a smaller bathing suit! The one I thought would fit is obviously too big! Yeah, a reason to go to a store! Can you tell we are in the terible two stage???? Um, I wonder where she gets her attitude from??? Not me! ;)

Madison catching a ride from Grandma!

Madison showing off the balls she was playing with!

Update

No pictures to post with this post-just wanted to do an update. We haven't been doing much with the nasty weather all the time. I'm glad to have the rain and my green grass is glad to have the rain, but it sure puts a damper into making any plans!

Well, the potty training was unsuccessful! Madison is still going for the most part at daycare, but when I get her home and take her to the potty, she screams bloody hell! So, I delayed it! I don't want to traumatize the poor girl. It's very frustrating! Potty training is worse than giving birth-mind you I had an epidural! Nothing like having three potty chairs going to waste! Oh well, the time will come when she's ready.

Even though I said I wouldn't plant any more flowers last year, I used some of our tax return and went out and bought flowers a month or so ago. I'm sorry to say, one plant is dead and another on it's way out! I have to remember to get out there and water the blasted things!!!!! We'll see how long the others hang on for? It's mostly the hanging baskets I bought. I'm surprised that the flowers I planted in our new little flower bed under the palm tree are actually surviving in the dirt! I'll have to get outside one of these days with the camera and take a few pictures before all the plants die!

Madison got out and rode Casino again a couple weekends ago. No pictures this time-same horse, same kid! I have a hope to finally be getting some horse back riding lessons, but the plans are not finalized yet! It's something I've been wanting to do, just didn't have the initiative to start the plans! I'll keep everyone posted on when and if I start! (I'm sure I'll be complaining of how sore I am!)

Fern is officially a-capping (I think that's right). He's starting to get all the briefings about getting his resume started and stuff along those lines to help him prepare himself to get out of the army and find a job. Still can't say that I'm excited, I'm scared. He still doesn't know what he's going to do when he gets out and he has no college education to fall back on-just experience with the army. I'm apprehensive, but he's very much looking forward to getting out. I'm sure if I asked him right now, he'd be able to tell me how many months, weeks, and days he has left!

Work is work for me! Scott and White has pretty much made the floor's go to 12 hour shifts! Mostly everyone has started already, but I will officially start mine next schedule. I'm not looking forward to working 12 hour shifts all the time, but in the long run it makes it easier for the hospital in staffing. I kind of like going home at 3pm when everyone else has to stay there! It puts a little devil grin on my face! :)

I hope everyone is enjoying the start of their month of May! Check back for more posts and pics....when the weather clears up!

Texas Bluebonnets

Today we went to Brenham and took some pictures in the bluebonnets! It made for a good drive! I learned not to just take my 'I'll just snap the picture' husband with me next time-I need someone who pays a little more attention to details! He did get the good shot of Madison and I that I edited and put the butterfly frame around! I love that drive out there. It's always so pretty and it always makes me dream about my dream home with land! I did notice someone is building a humongous new house just outside of Brenham that is to die for! One day! I'm waiting on that pot of gold or winning the lottery-which ever comes first!

Easter Bunny

Madison and The Easter Bunny!

I was shocked! She actually went and seen the Easter Bunny! She was extremely hesitant, but she slowly walked up to him and let me pick her up and put her next to him....the rest is history. I didn't think she was going to sit with him!

Easter '09

Madison and Matthew Easter Day posing for pictures!

Madison and Matthew with their Easter baskets full! (They had to empty those pitiful small baskets a bunch of times while hunting for eggs!)

Matthew and Madison hunting the Easter eggs left by the Easter bunny!


Matthew and Madison with Madison's goodies from Aunt Christina, Uncle Trent, and Matthew for Easter!



Matthew and Madison coloring eggs Saturday before Easter!



Easter was fun! My sister and her family came up from Houston and we congregated at my mom's house! My mom cooked a great Easter dinner! We had a busy weekend! Friday, Madison went and seen the Easter Bunny at the mall! (I have to post that picture separately.) Saturday, we colored eggs after my sister and her family arrived a little later than planned. Sunday, my sister took Madison for her first haircut! I thought it would probably be a better idea if my sister took Madison for her hair cut because Madison always sits really still for my sister when she's doing her hair. That wasn't true this time! Madison put up a good fight! Poor Angie, my sisters friend who cuts hair, had her hands full! Never the less, the hair got trimmed and it's finally all even! After they got home, we enjoyed a nice game of Rummy, ate dinner, and went home!

It's official! We have started potty training! Madison has been going on the potty at daycare, but would not at home. I could get her to sit on the potty, but she wouldn't sit long enough to do her business-even with books. So, finally I decided while I had five days off in a row, the diapers would come off and the panties would go on. I asked Madison's daycare teacher if there was a problem with me bringing her in panties the next time she comes to daycare and she said, "That's the best way to do it. Just bring extra clothes and underwear." (No brainer!) So, Wednesday night I pumped her up by telling her tomorrow when she woke up she could wear all her pretty panties in her drawer and NO DIAPERS! She was excited about getting to wear her "sleeping eauty's" (that's right, sleeping beauty without the b)! So, when she woke up Thursday, off came the diaper and on went the panties! And increased mommy's workload! She peed three times and pooped once in her panties....then we had to go to WalMart so the pull up had to go on! Thank God, I have a carpet cleaner....it's my best friend right now. I ended up having to throw a puzzle frame and her sleepy time Dora away because Madison happened to be standing too close when the accidents happened. Dora was electronic so I figured I couldn't put her in the wash and the puzzle frame was wood so off to the trash they went. Today was the success day! The morning started off with an accident and I thought to myself...'Here we go again!' But the second time, daddy got her on the potty while I was napping and we hit the jackpot!!!! She went pee pee on the potty! Her reward....mini M&M's. After getting her cleaned up, because although she went pee pee on the potty, she hasn't quite figured out she had to pee down into the potty-it's squirting out, she was given her M&M's. I guess she liked them because she told us after eating about half that she had to go pee pee again. I figured the little terd is getting good...already knows that she can try to con us out of her reward candy!!!! This picture is her sitting on the potty eating her mini M&M's after she pee peed on the potty, showing me her candies! (Yup, that's a gold toilet....we rent....landlords motto..'If it ain't broken, don't fix it!') The whole potty training isn't over...but it's a start!!!!

Madison and THE dogs!!!

I thought I would post this cute picture of Madison with my parents dogs! When you ask her if she wants to go see Grandma and Grandpa without missing a beat she says, "And Pouchie, and Aussie, and Wally, and Joey!" Pouchie seems to be her favorite-he's the one who sticks by her, but little does she know he sticks by her in hopes to be pet. (Yes, the dogs are named after Kangaroos names-mom works at Killeen High and both my sister and I are graduates of Killeen High!)

Family Fun!

The Goats!
Posing after the Shamu show in SeaWorld

Madison and I in SeaWorld

Daddy took Madison to get a balloon at the circus! (That balloon is still inflated!)

Mommy and Madison at the circus!


We've gone on some adventures in the past couple of weeks. On March 14th we went to Circus Gatti at the Bell Expo Center. We were a bit disappointed, in that, for the amount of money that we paid the entertainment was a little on the crummy side. It was basically the same acts that we had seen at another circus, just motorcycles were added to the mix. For the price it was to get in, I was expecting more I guess. Nevertheless, Madison enjoyed herself and came out with an arm full of souvenirs from the circus. She was so excited about seeing the elephants perform she could hardly wait! Unfortunately, she feel asleep RIGHT when the elephants appeared and was walking to their ring they were going to perform in. We tried to wake her up, but she was out for the count! She woke up as we were leaving, and the first thing that she said was, "Momma, missed elephants??" My heart was broken and as we were walking out, we spotted a vendor selling a elephant on a stick-so she got one of those too!

This past weekend, March 21st, Fern, myself, and Madison met my mother-in-law and sisters-in-law at SeaWorld in San Antonio. We took in the sea lion show, the dolphin/beluga whale show, and of course the Shamu show. I think Madison liked the dolphin show the best! Her little eyes got so big each time either a dolphin jumped out of the water or one of the performers dived into the water. From SeaWorld, we followed mom to her house and spent a few days there. One of the days we went out to Fern's granddad's ranch to see all the baby goats! Once again, Madison so excited to be going to see the goats! When we got out there, we took her into the goat pen, but as soon as she took a step towards the goat, ALL of the goats would take off in the other direction! My husband finally had to just grab a goat and hold it while Madison pet it!

I'm still trying to get Madison to the San Antonio Zoo before it starts getting too unbearably hot here, but it may have to wait until Fall! That was on my to-do list with so many days off from work-but my plans don't always work out the way I plan.

Cameron Park Zoo

Today Madison and I spent early afternoon at the Cameron Park Zoo in Waco, Tx. I like to get her out of the house when I can. She loves animals and I hadn't taken her in a while so I thought today would be a good day. The day was a pretty good day as far as weather goes! It was probably mid-70's with some winds. The zoo has a lot of trees and bamboo so the wind gusts weren't too bad. Tolerable-they could have been a lot worse! We seen lions, tigers, bears...oh my! (I couldn't resist!) I really like going there because it isn't a huge zoo and you can get through it in an hour or so...perfect for those with small children. By the time we were at the end of the zoo, it was potty time and snack time! Madison enjoyed herself and when we got home she told her daddy about all the things she seen. I personally enjoyed the little meerkat exhibit and the lemur exhibit, where the wild birds of the area decided they would be a part of the exhibit. (The pic is included with the post!) Madison was a little ornry when it came to taking pictures. She wouldn't look at the camera long enough for me to snap the pictures. Hence, the reason the pic with her and the bear she's looking away. I was finally able to get a picture of her looking at me when we were over in one of the cat exhibits-but only because she looked in every direction until she finally looked at me. We have to work on getting that pacifier away from her! She broke the bottle and formula all on her own, but she won't give up that 'binky'!

Weekend Fun

This is my first blog page entry! You'll have to forgive me as I try to figure out how to do everything and explore the different options! Who knows-each time you log in you might find a new look each time!

We had a busy weekend this week! We went out to the ranch Friday afternoon. Madison wanted to ride Casino, our horse, again. She loves getting out there and seeing and hearing all the horses. This time she fed all the mares, including Casino, a couple of carrots! The last time we were out there, she only fed Casino. Saturday night, we went out to the Bell Expo Center and seen the "Mud Bog"! It was very interesting watching the trucks trying to get through the 4-feet of mud! It was a little boring when the trucks got stuck and they had to do the whole process of towing them out! Madison is still talking about the "stuck trucks"! She enjoyed the motor-cross riders jumping in the air. Unfortunately, because of the mud and lack of tire traction the riders were not able to do a flip in the air! Nevertheless, Madison had a good time spectating all the fun! She was amazed and had a priceless look on her face when they flew through the air!