This one's for you, Lori

After several comments about how I never update my family blog anymore, I figured I better bite the bullet and just do it. It seems kind of weird to update it though when most of the people who comment on here are people that I see on a regular basis.
Here is a recap of the first quarter of 2011.
January - we won't talk much about January. Zach's sister got married. This is the dress I made for Madie to wear.

And here are the bride and groom. And that is all that I'm going to say about it (those who know the story understand why).

Then the next morning Madie decided it would be helpful to me if she cut her own bangs (note to self: don't mention to your two year old that you need to cut her bangs unless you are going to do it right then and there).

At least she waited until the wedding was over and that they were still long enough that I could pull them back. We are still waiting for them to grow back out. They're almost there but not quite. So all I remember about January is that is sucked. Moving on to...
February & March - these pics are in no particular order. Nothing major happened in February. Zach's birthday was in March and we had a small family celebration. As soon as Zach finished opening his presents Madie asked if it could be her birthday now. She is a little excited for it!
Madie is quite the little cleaning helper these days (her favorite is to clean the bathroom). She likes to vacuum (notice how the front of the vacuum isn't actually touching the floor therefore, nothing is getting sucked up).

And sweep, to the point that I finally bought her her own broom and dust pan. Hopefully now I can sweep the floor in peace. Ha! Yeah right. She is no fool. She likes her little pink broom, until I bring out the real thing. Oh, and she likes to put on the Happy Working Song from Enchanted while she cleans. She sings and dances with the broom and knows all of the words to the song. It's pretty cute. 

I think she spends half of her time in a dress up. She likes to practice her drums just like on Fresh Beats. 

Anxiously awaiting the arrival of her friends/cousins.

But she is not all girly. She likes her fair share of "boy" things (i.e. cars & power tools). After watching Handy Manny she put on some shoes, a hat, put a pencil behind one ear & found the toy power tools and told me that she was Handy Madie. Then proceeded to find things in the house that needed fixed. 

I swear this child would live outside if I let her. One of her favorite pastimes lately has been watering the flowers in the garden.

This one cracks me up! A bug or a bird or something flew by and startled her. I was amazed that I caught her expression on camera.

If you are looking for Madie when grandpa is home, just find him first and chances are good that you find her as well.

My parents took us to San Diego in March. Madie had a blast!
We went to Sea World. Madie is checking the map to see where we need to go to start our day.

Waiting for Daddy to get the fish so she could feed the sea lions. Pretty sure this was her favorite part.

She enjoyed the animal shows. I think her favorite part of the shamu show was the popcorn. 

We rode a few rides as well. She loved the rides. The higher and faster the better, but the waiting in line was terrible! I guess she's not quite ready for Disneyland.

We went to the beach. It was cold and rainy that morning.

Madie hiding under Zach from the water. As it came closer she moved further and further back between his legs.

If we had the space and money for it, I'd have a carousel installed in our backyard. This kid LOVES them!

After the carousel we rode the train (this was at Balboa park). My mom with her riding buddy.

Madie, not surprisingly, chose grandpa as her riding buddy.

Hiding from the tunnel that we were about to enter.

One more go round on the carousel. Each time they went past us they made a different face.

We went back to the beach that afternoon and the weather was much nicer. Madie enjoyed building a sand castle and flying a kite. It was a good trip. Thanks mom & dad for taking us!

April - well I don't have any pics to post for April. But we did get some exciting news. Zach got a job!!! He got let go from his job at ASU in January (because apparently he wasn't majoring in the correct field for the job). He found another job basically doing contract work for a guy but that didn't really work out (after a couple of weeks, he couldn't get a hold of the guy to find out about work or getting paid, so he still owes Zach some money). But now he has a real job doing drafting work for an electrical engineering firm, so he works with my BIL now. Thanks Cliff, for thinking of Zach when the spot opened up at your office!
Well I think that about covers it.

Sedona & Christmas 2010

Sedona

 Madie and Zach building a Rice Krispie castle

 I made the Santa on the inside.

 The kids on our hike. It was so cold!

 Yeah that is ice hanging off the side of the mountain.

 The kids in their new Sunday clothes that Grandma made. 

 Christmas

Madie playing with her stocking loot. She was content with just this. I had to convince her to open her presents. 

 Talking book from Zach's parents. It is one of the ones that you can record yourself reading the pages. 

 When asked to smile for the camera this is what she did.

 Abigail loves her new giant doggy.

 Madie had hit a wall by this point (she is not asleep...just super tired and cranky).

 Katie & Grandpa

 Curtis & Dustin

 I got some new Mod Podge. Here are 4 of the 5 bottles I got. Yeah, I have 9 different kinds now. :)

Christmas was great! It was so much fun with Madie because she totally got it. She was very excited for Santa to come. We were talking about how he would come down the chimney and she got very concerned because there was a candle holder blocking the fireplace! I assured her that we would move it out of the way. She is still talking about Santa and singing Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. I think she is excited for Christmas to come again.

More Random Pictures from 2010

Madie loves Grandma's scooter

We went to a pumpkin patch up in Snowflake in October. We went up for the weekend for Adam's mission farewell.  

Matt and Sarah - the horses, Adam - the pig, Ana - the sheep & Madie - the rooster

Ana & Matt

Sarah, Summer, Madie & Adam

Going on a ride with Sarah

Madie loves to help Grandpa fix things. 

Buckled up and ready to go! (Visiting Grandma's work over October break)

Helping with the pre-trip

Building a car with Grandpa on Thanksgiving morning.

After Thanksgiving dinner, Madie, Jenny & Katie decorated the Christmas tree. A new tradition, hopefully Dustin & Sarah's family will be able to join in next year.

 Riding the school bus to go look at Christmas lights. 

Madie, Jenny & Katie.

 Abigail and Jenny with Santa...

 This is as close as Madie would get. She was soo excited to see Santa too, but it was pretty late for her by the time we were done on the bus so she wouldn't go near him.

 Baking Day! We were quite productive this year. 

 Making truffles.

 The kids scooped out the left 2 rows of cookies...can you tell? :)

 Enjoying some Grandma time on Baking Day.

 The winner of the day - my chocolate orange cookies (there is a Hershey kiss inside each ball). These were a very happy accident!