Fun pictures

Madelyn found this mustache in Randy's work truck. (don't ask!) And Randy took some pictures that I thought were hilarious. My little trucker girl. Her face in this one just cracks me up. She sure can wear a mustache.
Although he doesn't admit it, I think that Randy wants a boy. Well..... actually, come to think of it, Madie might be boy enough . She loves to work on Daddy's Scout with him. (his new project.)
My sweet little Lanie at the beach. I just thought I'd throw this one in for good measure.
Oh yeah.... A momentous occasion. You have to be a mother to truly understand! Delaney is officially potty trained. I'm so proud of her! Here she is on her potty seat while big sis reads her a book. And of course Madelyn is naked. She simply cannot keep her clothes on. If she gets even remotely hot, she has to strip them off. She is so much like her Dad it's not funny. I hardly ever notice, except when someone comes to the door, and I have to yell at her to get some clothes on. I don't know what she's gonna do in kindergarten.

Easter Pics

We had a great Easter. We were able to spend it with both our families. So needless to say it was a crazy day.
Easter morning before we left for church,
Mae Mae with her basket.
Lanie with hers.
Mindi and Tyson were down so we got a picture of all of the grandkids together. Aren't they all sooo cute?
From left to right... Kaleigh holding Ace(Rick, and Marissa's), Delaney, Madelyn (Mine), Riley holding Aubry (Mindi and Tyson's), Drake holding Jett (Rick and Missa's), and Cade (Rick and Miss) holding Jasper (Justin and Amber's).

The Huntington Library

Maddie and Lanie in front
of a Koi pond

Yesterday, the girls and I went for a visit to the Huntington Library. It was so much fun. I've been there many times, and every time I go I am amazed at how beautiful and peaceful it is. I felt as though I had stepped back in time a hundred years. Henry E. Huntington began one of the finest research libraries and a collection of priceless artwork in the early 1900's. He also created many different botanical gardens with plants from all around the globe. To imagine that this place was once his home.

It was kind of a tease because there was so much I wanted to see. In the Library are such a wide range of rare books, including the Gutenberg Bible, many early editions of Shakespeare's works, and many more. And an Abraham Lincoln exhibit. (Which I had to run through because my kids kept yelling that they wanted to go play in the children's garden) People kept giving me dirty looks. I suppose that's because museums aren't really for yelling children.

I decided that we needed to spend our time outside. In the many wondrous works of art created in the wide open. Which are just as beautiful and breathtaking as the indoor exhibits. Most of our time was spent in the Children's garden. Filled with pathways and tunnels surrounded by greenery. And water fountains to play in. They loved it.

I did manage to get a peek at the Chinese and Japanese gardens. Which were amazing. The Chinese garden truly is a work of art. As you stroll through the winding paths, new scenes unravel. Everything was placed so articulately. Every arch and window seemed to frame a perfect work of art that looked like a painting. I felt so at peace. They really are onto something with their balancing of yin and yang.





Madelyn and her bestey, Ella. They had a blast.
They had this magnetic black sand that I believe is called magnetite? (not sure) Anyway it was the coolest stuff. It would stick to the metal shafts they had placed and completely change it's form. So Cool.
Madelyn Mae.

By the end of the day the kids were so tired that Madelyn said, "she just couldn't take another step." So I had to put her in the stroller and carry Delaney on my shoulders and walk like a mile back to the car. ugh!

Over all a great day!!!

Smarty Pants!

Okay, so I know that this post is going to sound a bit like bragging, but too bad. It is a mothers prerogative to brag ever so often.

So Delaney just turned two about three weeks ago. If you can't tell from my blog before this one, I'm not really the flash card kind of mom. I figure when children are ready to learn their numbers and letters you will know. Lately, however, I have been spending a bit of time working with Madelyn to get her ready for kindergarten in the fall, playing learning games and so on. Delaney likes to stand in and be a part of it also.

We have the Leapster "Word Wammer" that you stick on the fridge with all the letters of the alphabet to go with it. Delaney plays with it every once in a while. This morning I heard her playing with it and didn't pay much attention, as usual. Until I heard it say "Let's spell the word POT. The first letter in the word POT is P." Then I hear Lanie say," hmmm... P? Oh, here it is." Then pick it up and put it in the first spot for the word. This caught my attention. I really did think it was just a coincidence. Then I hear, "The next letter in the word POT is the letter O." She proceeds to find the letter O and put it into the next spot. Okay so now I am really paying attention. Then comes T. She picks it up and puts it into the next spot. WHAT? I couldn't believe it. Especially since I have never worked on it with her before. (It makes me feel a little guilty that she learned all this on her own.)

I went through all the letters and she knows every single one. Even the sounds of most of them. I was so excited, I called Randy right away, but still felt I needed to tell someone. I didn't want to sound like I was bragging, so to my blog I went. I mean, of course I thought she was smart (I am her mother after all) but I am still caught a little off guard. Woo Hoo!!


Here she is with her "Word Wammer"!!!

I Love this face!! She is just too cutie!