Dance Recital

Let me just say up front, I was not looking forward to Maddy's dance recital this past weekend...I was actually dreading it. With everything going on in our lives, the thought of driving to Galveston for a two-minute performance irked me. I really thought the whole pomp and circumstance of it all was rather ridiculous....make-up on three-year-olds, the famous Grand Opera House as the performance venue, having to drive to Galveston one day prior to the recital for a run-through, etc., etc. However, I am SO glad we participated and I had the chance to experience the day myself. I suppose never growing up in a "girly environment" nor remembering a major dance recital, I was certainly not familiar with all the excessive and over-the-top formalities involved in such an event.
Pa Pa and my parents were over for the weekend, and Brad had planned a biking tour in conjunction with the local SPCA for the men that morning(and really wanted nothing to do with the recital...at that time, I couldn't blame him), BUT after a morning of pure bliss and radiance from Madelyn and Omi, I changed my mind and overall outlook about the performance. This was something that Madelyn was super excited about...she was grinning from ear to ear and couldn't wait to go on stage (the idea of actually putting on more make-up than lip gloss was, I think, the real kicker!!). I basically threatened Brad and made him go with us, and I think he also enjoyed seeing all the hype.
I really didn't know what to expect from Madelyn....she hasn't really proven herself to be a performer or star dancer (I am 90% sure she has her father's dancing skills), so when she walked out on stage all confident and smiling, I couldn't help but tear up and laugh....it was the most adorable thing to see her perform! Brad, Omi and I were just beaming and chuckling with adoration.
If we have the opportunity to go through another year or more of dance, I will definitely remember to leave my pessimistic attitude at home and appreciate the event for what it is...a chance for these girls to strut their moves on stage and be super girly!

Another school year come and gone...

I've gotten my first taste of year-end parenting craziness....who knew this time of year could bring so much scheduling commotion! I feel like we have been running around like madmen the last two weeks trying to finish out softball, soccer, dance and school...and now with the start of summer, there are vacation, day camp and birthday plans to hash and finalize...

Madelyn sadly finished her pre-school days at Creative Corners last week, and her beloved teachers, Ms. Dobson and Ms. Weeks, will sorely be missed. We had a good two-year run at this Mother's Day Out program and we would gladly recommend it to anyone.

The last weeks of school proved only fun and more fun for little Madelyn. She had her class spring show, where I am almost certain she was trying her hardest to be the loudest student singing, she had water day where she received her year-end certificate, and she had pizza and a movie day..hard work, right? Can I please go back to pre-school now?

Last Day of School

Certificate Ceremony

Ms.Weeks, Maddy and Ms. Dobson
Spring Show Highlights

Maddy, Brinley & Addison...in school together since age one...Maddy will miss them next year no doubt!

Season Endings

With the end of the school year comes the end of the sporting seasons...our short whirlwinds of softball and soccer have officially come to a close, and we now have our Monday nights and Saturday mornings back to do as we please....YES! Here are some highlights from the last gatherings...
YMCA Softball:
Maddy mostly enjoyed going to softball to socialize with her BFF's. She did take batting seriously though, and she loved throwing the ball back and forth to her dad.
City Recreational Soccer:
Since the last game was rained-out, the awards were given out at Chuckee Cheeses...here is a pic of Maddy with her trophy and with Coach Dylan...she just loved him as a coach. When we got home Maddy went on and on about how much she loved soccer and how she was such a great player (obviously the trophy went straight to her head)...I reminded her of what an amazing flower-picker and observer she was during the games and how much she always cheered her teammates on from the sideline...she said she would work harder next year..chuckle, chuckle....

Adonis

We spent our Sunday afternoon celebrating the high school graduation of Brad's little brother Adonis. It is hard to believe Adonis is done with school and joining the Army....he's all grown up now. He heads to Ft. Knox, Kentucky for training and duty on June 1, and he will be sorely missed. We are so proud of Adonis and all he has committed to...my fondest memories of Adonis typically involve video games, bowling, eating out or grilling, and just hanging out at the house laughing. He is our gentle giant....macho and confident on the exterior and all warm and loveable inside.
Brad became Adonis' big brother more than eight years ago through the Big Brother/Big Sister Program, and the bond they have has remained strong. As Adonis rode away with Brad last night for home, Maddy and I were quiet with a bittersweet saddness...here was one of the "family" going off for the next phase of his life...we hope he will have many memorable and joyful adventures in the armed forces, and we look forward to traveling to visit him during his eight-year committment. Congratulations Adonis! We wish you nothing but the best! Every year I try and make Adonis a cake for his birthday, and every year I am some how made fun-of for my efforts! Adonis' favorite cake is marble swirl, and this year we went with his school colors (green and yellow)...of course, Maddy helps me know, but this was supposed to be a cupcake, and Adonis thought it was a mushroom! Any ways, we celebrated his birthday too, which was May 8. We are so bummed we will be out of town for his graduation.

My little kitchen helper...

Madelyn adores the kitchen. I swear she wasn't even fifteen months old before she could open the refrigerator and pantry doors. She has always been a "woman who knows what she wants" as my brother describes her...and she has always, always triumphed in the kitchen. with extreme focus and perseverance, she pushes chairs across the room and from other rooms, uses magazines as extra "arms" and does whatever she can muster to get her hands on the snack or piece of fruit she wants. If at any time she hears me preparing or cooking meals, I need only blink a few times before she is dragging her chair over to my side to "help." Helping for Madelyn consists of many things...stirring, transporting ingredients, washing produce, and of course her favorite form of "helping"....tasting...no sauce or bowl is left unlicked, no chopped vegetable left untouched...yes, she is a bold one who needs hawk-eye supervision. What other four-year-old do you know who enjoys the full gambit of food this child does...king crab legs, buffalo wings, sushi, raw veggies...she is no picky eater. She does have an obsession with ranch dressing or dip though, and baked Cheetos probably come in as a close second....but I am pretty sure this is commonplace among most little kids. Here are some pics of her helping me this morning...she looks like a little girl...so grown up, no longer a toddler (sniff, sniff).

Dia de las madres...

Brad did a superb job of spoiling me this past weekend. We relaxed, went shopping (Brad NEVER does this with me except on mother's day or our anniversary..SOOO it's kind of a big deal!!), had some nice meals out, and just enjoyed our little family of three. On Sunday, after a nice breakfast, we decided to surprise all the grandmothers by showing up to Oma's nursing home around three for a tea party the home was hosting...it was perfect, and Omi, Oma & Abuelita loved the surprise.

Cinco De Mayo!!! Aye, Aye, Aye!!!!

May 5, 2010
We had a fun Cinco De Mayo picnic with friends today....there were all sorts of delicious foods and a huge pinata to top it off. Unfortunately we had no margaritas, but the company and incredible weather made up for it! This top was actually given to Maddy when she was a baby. I have kept it so she could wear it again, not as a dress as she did when she was a baby, but as a top....it was perfect!! I also dug up an old pic of her with it on as a dress at 16 months...hehe...

Entomology Museum...

May 3, 2010
Monday morning I decided spur of the moment I would take Maddy somewhere special. It had been a while since we visited the museum district, so we headed to the Entomology Museum and Butterfly Habitat. The first and last time I took her was when she was 15 months old, and this visit was very different.
May 2010
September 2007This time she was so into all the bug exhibits and learning models. This place is very hands on, so there were tons of things for her to experiment and play with....my camera is not working well at all, but I did manage to get a few pictures...
I so see how this could look to a predator now...awesome butterfly wings! After the museum, we ate lunch outside and then took a walk to Hermann Park... ahhh, I forget how much I love this area of town. There is so much to offer: endless oak-lined trails, Memory pool & fountains, Miller Outdoor Theatre, Countless Museums (children's, fine art, science, entomology, Holocaust, health & sciences, medical center, The zoo, the Houston Garden Center, The train, Children's parks galore, Rice University, Hotel Zaza, amazing restaurants, and the list goes on....it was so beautiful and relaxing!!!

wedding wonders

May 1, 2010
Christy came to visit this past weekend, and we all had a nice time talking up wedding plans. We spent most of our time researching for the big week, and Christy took Maddy to pick out her flower girl dress. She was such a little ham at the bridal salon....check out this candid Christy captured with her phone...ha! Madelyn loved trying all the dresses and had a hard time taking them off when it was time. She loved this dress the most because it was so much like a princess dress...big, poofy, and of course, the priciest!It will be so sweet to watch her walk down the aisle wearing it in Breckenridge! Thanks Aunt Christy!

Crawfish Invaders!

Some new pests have decided to take up residency in our backyard....with it's wet, damp and humid setting, I'm not surprised, but I would LOVE to catch a glimpse of of one of these!!! They are really only pests becuase of their extensive mud mounds!! Brad and I have tried to wash them out of their holes, but their chambers must run deep and plentiful, because I can't get them out. Through several coonass web sites, I have come across other peoples' ways of baiting them at night by using bacon, scrunchies, fire and chemicals....really, the discussion boards are loaded with all kinds of advice. Luckily we only have three holes. I'll keep you posted if they multiply... but I might have to steak out one night just to see the critters!!!

What is that stink?

So the other afternoon, after a long day of chores and time with kids, I headed to my usual spot... a comfotable chair placed intentionally under the afternoon shade of our backyard Magnolia Tree. Halfway across the back porch I stopped in utter horror as a wall of pure putrid hit me.... I immediately looked at the dogs (because they unfortanately are always who I turn to first when something goes wrong outside),...and there behind Bailey and the grill I saw the source of damaging power: Brad's makeshift compost was lying open and the contents were sprawled everywhere along the fence.
Now it's important to note that we live in a city and we have neighbors on all sides of our yard. It's also important to note that Brad refers to a large five gallon paint bucket with screw lid as a compost. So, I look over and see Brad's makeshift "compost"....when I say the stench was bad...it was horrible...it was utterly grotesque to the point I could not even stay in the backyard. I could even smell the stench in our front yard!! I was almost certain someone was going to call the department of sanitation or health on us it was so intrusive.
A couple of months, yes months, ago, Brad came up with the "brilliant" idea of forming a compost...again, his idea of a compost is placing our leftovers in a bucket with a lid...no soil, paper or anything else to absorb all the chemicals and acids...now this was not the first time he had tried to "recycle" our food...in fact, there have been several times over the past year where I have been out in the yard and randomly been overwhlemed by odors...only to find old onions, carrots, crab leg shells, you name it ....just rotting in random areas of our yard.
We still have a large area of the grass that has been "burned" by the contents of "the bucket," even after Brad stood out there for an hour trying to wash the smells away with the hose. Point of this story, if you are going to compost, do the research, and do it properly.