Friday, September 26, 2008

Apples and furniture

Madelyn had her first full day (well not full day, just two hours) of school on Wednesday. I think once she got used to me being gone she had fun. The topic for the day was apples.


We just got some more furniture - we won a drawing at our favorite furniture store. Anyone who has seen me in the last 2 months has been "treated" to grainy iPhone photos of the pieces we selected. Hopefully these are better!


This is my favorite piece, we have it inside the front door.
A close up of the detail on the front and my fabulous fall decorations *wink, wink*
From the stairs, I was trying to make sure I didn't get any of the stair rails in the picture which is why its so far away and such a funny angle.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

First Day of School

Maddy started pre-school this week. I think it's going to be really good for her (and me too).






We also had gymnastics this week. Here are Maddy and Miriam, they seem to be the very best of friends. They are a bit mischievous too. Miriam's mom is the coach so she has free reign over the gym and Maddy tends to follow her. It's pretty funny to watch the two of them.
Here's an example of monkey see monkey do. You might want to turn down the volume on your computer.

Monday, September 15, 2008

Grandma Karen's first visit to Chicago

Nate's mom spent the week with us and we had a blast. Nate was working the day I got in from Seattle so he sent a stretch limo to pick up Maddy and me. Wowzers, it was nice!


Tuesday I took Maddy and Grandma to Lambs Farm. It's a farm, restaurant, pet store, thrift shop that provides working and learning opportunities for the developmentally disabled. We went to the petting zoo, pet shop and had lunch.

Here we are brushing the goats.

Maddy really loved the goats, she kept hugging them.
Wednesday we stuck close to home, we just shopped and rearranged furniture.Thursday we hopped on a train downtown. We walked part of the Magnificent Mile, saw the Bean then got on a water taxi to head to the aquarium.This is the Bean.
Here we are on the water taxi.
Maddy and Grandma in front of the salty ol' sea captain
At the aquarium Maddy was making friends with all the kids. Here she is with a new friend checking out the turtles.



Friday was another homebody day.... actually I can't remember what we did so I am assuming we stayed home. :o)

Saturday we hopped on the train again and headed downtown to the museum. It was pouring down rain so we took a taxi from Union Station and when we pulled up to the museum the line went on and on and on. People standing in the rain waiting to go inside, so I made an executive decision and decided we should go to the Planetarium. Maddy is always talking about spaceships and outer space so I figured she would get a kick out of it. She did pretty well and it was fun to see everything.

Nice family portrait, eh? No matter what we did Maddy just wouldn't look at the camera.
Sunday we headed back to the museum and actually got in this time. I have learned that Madelyn needs an interactive museum- one where she can run and jump and play and touch things. She just wasn't that into sitting in her stroller while we read about the exhibits. Hmmm really? What was I thinking.


Sue the dinosaur
Here was something she could touch, although I don't think she was super thrilled with having her picture taken again.
There was a really cool kids play area with an art studio, a music room and a huge room to play in. Here's Maddy playing the xylophone



The blog wouldn't be complete without the random pictures of Maddy throughout the week.





Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Back from Washington

Phew we made it. After 4 flights in 12 days (one almost every 3 or 4 days) our whirlwind vacation is over. We went back to Seattle to visit our friends and we had a great time. Maddy got to see all her buddies (so did mom and dad). Here are a few pictures of Maddy and the musketeers.


Maddy and I went to Spokane to visit Grandma and Grandpa and Uncle Jeff and Aunt June and all the cousins.

Maybe not as happy to see the cousins as I was...


One big happy family :)



We went to Lake Coeur'd Alene to check out the lake and this cool playground.


Maddy swimming in the glacier fed lake.

Grandma thought it would be fun for Maddy to chase a seagull, little did she know the dang bird would just keep running and running and never fly away.

Back to Seattle where I won some $$ on a penny slot and Maddy went to a really fun birthday party for her BFF Sydney. Unfortunately, there was something wrong with my camera and none of the pictures turned out. For really good pictures check out Stacy's blog at http://theohouse.blogspot.com/ in a day or two.

A big giant THANK YOU to Andy, Carolyn Sonya and Aaron who put up with a Wehunt or two for over a week.