This is Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

I must admit Halloween was not something I was excited about before I had Mady. Sure, when I was younger I loved it but it took on a whole new meaning when I had Mady. I love it. So fun. So many memories to be made. 

I hope Mady has the chance to have all the special memories I have of growing up and Halloween. Trick-or-Treating. Seeing who can fill up their bag the fastest. Counting their Candy. Sorting their Candy.

Her first Halloween was last year and she was 2 days away from being one. So, I just push her around in the wagon and she helped hand out candy.

Oct. 2011

This year was SO fun. I am so thankful Matt was home this year to enjoy these special memories with Mady. He was deployed last year and came home about 2 weeks after Halloween so I am super thankful he was here!

 She was my little cupcake and had an absolute blast trick-or-treating. She did such a good job with saying trick-or-treat and saying Thank you. She carried her pumpkin the whole time and actually walked for the whole hour we were out. I hope I have a very sleepy little girl tonight. =)

 Mady and Daddy. 

 Mommy and Mady.

 Love this smile.

 Playing with the leaves before we leave to trick-or-treat.

 Trick-or-Treat!

 I'll be excited when she can walk up to the door by herself. This year it was a little hard to manage with her heavy candy filled pumpkin. =)

 Love this picture of her. pure excitement. 

 Walking with Daddy.

 This is what happens after a long night of trick-or-treating.

Such a fun, chilly, perfect Halloween night!

Oh Sandy

So Sandy is official here. Last night was the worst for us here in Virginia Beach. Very windy and rainy. The lights flickered a few times but we have not lost power. Praise Jesus! When we went to bed the flooding in the apartment complex wasn't too bad. However, when we woke up, this is what our cars looked like...

 This is hubby's car. His was the worst. The water was basically up to the door. 

My car wasn't as bad but the pictures are deceiving. There is a lot more water than the picture shows.

Thankfully, I have an awesome husband who moved our cars to higher ground since in our apartment complex there are a few hills and we happened to be parked in a valley. Haha.

But, the maintenance staff some how unclogged the drains around the complex and the water is at a much better level now. Thank the Lord.

It is still raining pretty hard but not as windy. I think the wind is supposed to pick up this afternoon for a little bit but we will see.

I'm nervous for my parents and loved ones in New Jersey since they are going to get hit with the eye of the storm. The pictures I have seen make me sad. Praying for their safety and for the power to stay one.

Lots of movies, playing and hanging out happening today. 

Stay safe everyone!

Hurricane...say what?!

Hurricane Sandy is headed our way in the next few hours/day. 

I usually don't get too worried about weather but this time I am a little nervous. Thankfully, it is not coming ashore in Virginia Beach but it is supposed to make landfall in Atlantic City, NJ. My parents and where I grew up is about an hour from there. It is supposed to be real bad. I hope it's not though.

We had Hurricane Irene last year and it ended up being nothing. But this time I am not so sure.

I think I am nervous because the hubby has to work (he's a police officer) and that just leaves Mady and I. If we lose power, oh Lordy! It should be a fun experience (insert sarcasm) with Mady girl. 

She does however, have her own flash light. She is set!

We have our water, and of course yummy food supplies. Batteries, candles, and flash lights.

But

We shall see what happens. 

Hope everyone in Hurricane Sandy's path stays safe!

Hopefully I'll be back sooner rather than later!

Life Lately

Here is a little recap on life lately around here. 

More like a Mady update since all my pictures seem to be of her. What's new?!

 Oh Lordy, I don't know what I was thinking when I thought it would be a fun idea to let her have her own cart at the Kroger. I think I ended up with half of the store in the cart. Thank goodness the hubby was there for damage control. Mady, of course, had a wonderful time!

 Mady spends most of her time playing with blocks. She often asks to "make a house" or "make a train". I love building blocks with her. She is really into her blocks and books right now. I want to get her a nice wooden block set for Christmas.

 Matt has been taking Mady to the park most afternoons. She takes her backpack with her sand toys in there which she loves! I love that they had this special time together and Mady gets SO excited to go. I love watching them walk to the park hand in hand.

 This is just a typical Madelyn attitude. 

 Every time we go to the car, Mady has to say hi to this sign. She says, "Hi sign!" So random and so funny. 

 Mady actually asked for second the other night at dinner. I was beyond thrilled!! Mady is a horrible eater so when she asked for more I happily obliged. Since she ate such a great dinner, she got a special treat. A small bowl of vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce/jimmies. She told us it was "delicious" =)

Mady loves to pretend to drive the car. She often asks for the keys as well. I think we might be in trouble.

Stream of conscience

I have all these thoughts rolling around in my head this morning. I wish I could just have a few minutes to myself this morning but that's not on the agenda today since my lovely daughter thought 5:30 was a decent time to get up for the day. And once she is up, there is no time for quiet thoughts. 

The past 2 days I have just had a heavy heart. Not really been myself. I am not sure what it is. I've been sick with this stupid cold for over a week and have spent the majority of our time inside or playing on the deck. I get in these moods where all I want is to be in my little bubble. I don't feel like doing much or socializing or chatting. I just want to be with my little family doing our own thing but I know that is not reality. I need to snap out of it. Today we have bible study and community group and if I am being honest here, I don't want to go. I have too much on my mind. But, it's time to get out of this rut and go. 

This past year has been so difficult and honestly, I am ready to move onto better times. If you know me, you know I LOVE the holidays. Like, love, love, love. And this year....I just want them to be over. Sad. We aren't going home for Thanksgiving. One of our favorite holidays and traditions of looking through all the black friday ads with my family. Sitting at a big table surrounded by the people we love the most. It just makes me sad and also Matt and I always have gone Black Friday shopping but not this year because there is no one to watch Mady. That was one of our first traditions. And it makes me sad that we can't do that. And Christmas this year will be very different. I know presents don't make the holidays, and that's not what it is about but there will be very few presents this year. Mady is getting a kitchen and a few little things for Matt and I. Somedays I am totally ok with this and other days this world makes me feel like a horrible mom. I see and hear all these moms buying their child everything under the sun and some days I wish I could but I know she does not even know the difference. There will be no gifts for Matt and I for each other and I am ok with that. We used to go crazy and it got us into a lot of trouble. 

This holiday season is just going to be different, a different I am really not looking forward to but I need to change my attitude. I need to trust the Lord. I need to realize that it is not going to be like this forever. Still, I am struggling with it. 

I need to focus on the real reason for Thanksgiving which is being thankful for what we do have and the real reason for Christmas which is Jesus. But this stupid world makes it so difficult. We can get so caught up in the hustle and bustle. This year I am going to try really hard not to.

Thoughts

*Remember my whole October Goals post I did earlier in the month. Yeah, some of them have stuck while the important ones like snacking and working out not so much. I need to find the will power and sometimes it's just too hard to say no! Ugh. I want to lose weight so I need to get my butt moving. 

*My biggest fear is losing all this weight and then get pregnant again. It's sad but true. I know being at a healthier weight the 2nd time around will be better but still. 

*I am still sick! Ah. I woke up this morning feeling worse than I did yesterday. Hopefully this is the last day of not being able to breathe, blowing my nose every 5 seconds, and constantly needing a cough drop in my mouth. Oh and not sounding like a man. 

*Mady's birthday is coming up in 3 weeks and I am so excited. I cannot wait! We are going to the children's museum on her actually birthday and then the following week we are heading to my parents for a little birthday party with family. Very low key but I know she will love it. 

*I find Halloween to be so stressful now! I do not want to spend a boat load of money on a costume she is going to wear once but I want her to look cute and have a fun day. Old Navy had a sale last week so I was able to get her costume for 16 dollars. Not too bad. It's so stinkin stressful though. I wish I could make her one but I am really not that creative. 

*I cannot wait for Mady's birthday and Christmas just for the mere fact that I am tried of playing with the same toys everyday. Ready for some new ones like a kitchen and puzzles and craft stuff! 

*Mady talks in sentences now and I love it. Oh and she also says things like "Mady sad" or "hey that's Mady!" Love, Love, Love it!

*Really looking forward to the next few months. I love traditions, holidays, birthdays. I am such a sentimental person and those things just make my heart happy. Lots to look forward to. 

*I miss my family and am ready to move back to NJ like yesterday but that is nothing new. Hopefully soon. Trusting the Lord to give Matt the perfect job for him and move us closer to family. 

*Matt has tried to get me to watch the Walking Dead and I was dead set on not watching it because really I don't want to watch a show about zombies. Well, I caught the first few episodes of it while we were away for the wedding and now I have to catch up. It is really good. Of course, he is right again. He always knows how to picture the best TV shows.

*I think I might declare today another sick day.

Sick Day for Momma

I thought moms were not allowed to get sick. We have a household to run, dinner to make, laundry to be done, and children to take care of. Unforuntaely colds are unbiased on who they attack! I can't remember the last time I was sick with a cold. No fun.

 Pretty much sums up my day. Oh and add in some cough drops.

I think it is from this weekend. Just the running around, no sleeping, not eating right, and stress. Mady started the cold this past weekend at my parents. She has a cough right now and a runny nose. No more fever, thank Goodness but she passed it along to her momma. 

Usually Wednesday's are very busy for us. Bible study in the morning, chick-fil-a date for lunch, nap, playing, dinner, and community group. I love Wednesday but all of that got put to a halt today. I was not up for much today. 

It was a nice unexpected morning. Mady and I cuddled and played all morning. It felt good to just do whatever. Laying or sitting on the floor with her. Not worrying about the dishwasher that needs to be unloaded to the bathroom that needs to be cleaned. I declared a sick day! I just did the bare minimum to get by.

 Mady loves to "make a train and make a house" It has been so fun to play blocks with her lately. Thanks to my Momma since she was playing blocks with Mady all weekend.

 I walked into her room to find this scene. Love! We spent a lot of the morning reading and stacking our books.

Silly girl

Mady asked to watch Frosty around 10:30 so I put the DVD on and she curled up next to my arm and watched the movie. I love those moments. Next thing I knew the DVD was over and she wasn't moving. She actually fell asleep. Precious. 

The rest of the day was pretty uneventful and I am thankful for that. I made spagetti and meatballs for dinner for Matt and Mady before they headed off to community group without me. It hurts to talk and I think I blow my nose every 2 seconds so it was a no go for me. I am thankful that those two got to spend some one on one time together. It makes my heart happy when I see them walking hand in hand to the car. 

Early to bed tonight. Hoping I wake up and this cold has gone "buh-bye!"

A trip to NJ, a wedding, and a weekend at Nana and PopPops.

We just had a crazy, fun, awesome, tiring, exhausting, wonderful weekend! We headed up to NJ on Thursday morning for Matt's brother, Jake's wedding. We have been looking forward to this day for a long time. Mady was staying with my parent's for the weekend because they are awesome like that while Matt and I traveled for North Jersey for the wedding. Two nights sans goob! (Trust me...I think I got more sleep when we have Goob...like I said long weekend!)

It was so beyond wonderful to see my parents and get to spend Thursday with them before Matt and I left on Friday morning for the wedding. Mady was in pure grandparent heaven! I swear my parents spoil her like crazy.

 Stopped at Wendy's on the way up. Oh my. She looks so big here!

 nummy frosty!

 baking Addie (Cinderella) cookies with Nana. 

 Two of my favorite people ever!

My mom got Mady this Curious George sweatshirt so she had to wear it while watching George. 

Friday morning, Matt and I left around noon to head north about 2 hours. Ok, driving on the NJ turnpike gives me major! anxiety. Omg. People are crazy. Thank God the hubby drove it. We got a little turned around like we normally do and could see the hotel but could not figure out how to get to it! Finally we made it and it was sooo nice to see family again and spend time with people we haven't seen since our wedding!

Matt was the best man so that night we had the rehearsal and the dinner. It was a long but fun night. I think we went to bed at 1 and we were up the next morning at 6:30. Let's just say I need my 8 hours of sleep. 

Saturday was the wedding and Matt had to leave around 11 to go to the church to get ready. So myself, and his sister, Megan's boyfriend, Andrew, hung out in the room, watched the walking dead and got ready for the wedding. It actually was a relaxing and low key morning. 

The wedding was beautiful! Matt and I first met April at our wedding almost 4 and 1/2 years ago. They had been waiting for this day for a long time. They both wrote and said their vows. Beautiful. It was such a fun day! 

 Before the wedding

 My gorgeous sister in law and her boyfriend who is wonderful! No I seriously love him!

 The best man

 The beautiful bride.

 Saying their vows. Yes, tears were streaming down my face at this point.

 And some more...both tears and vows.

 Mr.&Mrs!

 Finally eating some food with my handsome.

 The most handsome best man ever!

 Both Matt and Megan were in the wedding so Andrew was my wedding buddy. Love him!

 Best man speech.

 Matt dancing with his grandmom! Love this.

 Dancing with the groomsmen.

 Love this girl!

 Brother and Sister!

Exhausted after a long night.

I think Saturday night we went to bed around 12:30 and were up at 7. I never sleep well in a hotel room. We ate some breakfast, enjoyed spending some more time with family and then packed the car up and headed home. I was so excited to see Mady. I had missed her all weekend but she was having a blast with my mom and dad.

We visited with Matt's parents and sister for a little while and just hung out the rest of the day.

Mady was up at 5:30 this morning so we packed up the car and headed home. I'm actually glad we left as early as we did so we could have the day to rest at home. 

We are all actually feeling a little under the weather. It was such a fun but long weekend. Words cannot express how excited I am to sleep in my own bed. It will be glorious!

Weekend Recap

We had a super fun weekend! It all started on Saturday when we visited the "punkin' farm!" and had a fabulous time! It was a rather warm day but Sunday, we woke up to temps in the 50's. LOVELY! I think fall officially arrived this weekend and I love it! Plus I love dressing Mady in all her new cute fall clothes!

Sunday was out typical Sunday. Church, football, yummy food, and family. We had new friends, from our small group, come over and watch the football games with us. We had a great time with them! Mady was cranky as usual when she woke up and super cuddly since she didn't know who they were but give her 15 minutes and she will be your best friend. By the end of the night she was sitting on Franki's lap, playing with her phone and giving hugs. I seriously just love Sundays. 

I made homemade chicken noddle soup, honey beer bread, and a peanut butter/choc sprinkle football for Sunday. Deliciousness all around!

 Honey Beer Bread made with Sam Adam's Oktoberfest!

Stupid picture won't rotate. But I think it came out cute and it was yummy!

Today was a low key day for us. Chilly rainy day. We love those kinds of day in this family! We had to make a quick trip to Target for toilet paper and milk..ya know the fun things but we pretty much hung home most of the day. Mady woke up with some crazy bed head!

It was out of control!

Matt and I caught up on Homeland during her nap time! Seriously, if you have not watched Homeland you are missing out and need to go watch the first season right now. SO good! We played a lot today, cleaned out some clothes, and just hung out. And of course had a yummy dinner from none other than Pinterest. Seriously, I love finding recipes on there. I have found so many that we love and it has made me really enjoy cooking!

We have a busy rest of the week and weekend with my brother in law getting married on Saturday and being in Jersey from Thursday-Monday for the wedding festivities. SO looking forward to a few nights away with my one and only and of course, seeing family. Super excited to Jake and April!

Happy Monday! =)

Punkin Farm!

Today we headed to the Punkin Farm! It was 84 degrees out mind you. Not fallish at all BUT we had a wonderful time.

We have been gearing up for this day for a while. We've read our pumpkin books. Bought our pumpkin t-shirt and talked and talked and talked about the punkin farm! She was so excited! (And so was I!)

I seriously obsessed over where we should go. Since we aren't from around here, I didn't know where the good spots were so we just decided to go with the one closest to home and hope for the best. 

It was wonderful! Mady was free of course! (less than a month left for that freebie!) and Matt and I were each 8 dollars which included the hay ride, petting farm, playground, etc. There was so much to do which we didn't realize and didn't bring any cash with us for some yummy food and face painting but that's ok because Mady had a wonderful time. We could have spent all afternoon there but did I mention it was 84 degrees out...yeah hot and sweaty! (side note-You should not have to wear a tank top to go pumpkin picking...sigh...-end sidenote!)

We played, went on a hayride, visited the petting zoo, played on the playground, and picked out some pumpkins. Perfection. 

I'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking. And Yes, I was that annoying mom who tried to get a bazillion pictures of my kid. What can I say...I love them. Too bad I had a uncooperative child.

Waiting for the hayride with Daddy

 And now with Mom...

 At first Mady was VERY unsure about the animals. It was so cute though. 

 She always does this crouch down thing when she is nervous. She kept wanting to touch them but then would get so nervous. 

 Daddy is showing her that its ok. 

 Finally touching the goat.

 My cute pumpkin!

 Playing in the dirt waiting for the hay ride. What's new. This child loves to get messy. I'm working on it!

 Our attempt at a family picture...fail

 This is where the attitude came in. She wanted to sit by herself on the hay ride. 

 Love this

 Time for the slide!! I was too busy taking this picture that I didn't catch her coming down and she keep into the dirt then got up and said "again?!" Haha.

 Riding the Tractor. 

 Picking her pumpkin!

Found the perfect one!

Too many pictures?! Oh well. 

We had a wonderful time!

Love, Love, Love these special memories!