Madi loves hanging out with her Aunties (Erin, Gioia and Stacey). This morning she was downstairs with them getting her nails done, something she does often, and they were able to catch her doing some performances. These are all things she has learned at her preschool. She loves school and she is so smart. She also has an amazing teacher that does a fabulous job!


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Madi singing the Months of the Year song

Madi reciting the Pledge of Allegiance

Madi singing the Money Song

Madi singing the Days of the Week song

* I apologize for the poor quality. They are from a cell phone.

Daddy's Proudest Moment

For those of you that don't know, James and I despise character clothing. Madi has a few, but they are only allowed to be jammies. In fact I can actually say James HATES Dora the Explorer! He forbade me to ever let Madi watch it, buy a toy, clothing etc.
I was a good wife and obeyed his demands... like always :)

... But then one day a certain grandmother and aunt by the names of Pat and Nicki decided to infest our homes with not one, not two, but dozens of Nicki's old Dora videos! Now our once innocent daughter has been overcome with Dora's influence.
Let's just say James is less than ecstatic.

... I don't like Dora myself, but it is was pretty darn cute when I was flipping channels for Madi and I accidently put it on a Spanish cartoon channel and she said, "Mom this is Spanish!" and then a few days later when we were checking out at the grocery store and out of no where Madi counted to 5 in Spanish, "Uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco!"

Dora is NOT cool, but Madi sure is cool.

ABC's of Me

ABC's of Me

A - Age: 28
B - Bed size: California King
C - Chore you hate: Washing Dishes
D - Dog's name: None
E - Essential start your day item: Morning Urination
F - Favorite color: Turquoise
G - Gold or Silver or Platinum: Silver
H - Height: 5' 6.5987"
I - Instruments you play: 'Rock Band' Drums and NOT well!
J - Job title: 2nd Grade Teacher (Glorified Babysitter if you ask my husband)
K - Kids -1
L - Living arrangements: 6 bed/ 3 baths
M - Mom's name: Pat
N - Nicknames: Volume, Nugget, Dink
O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: Bone Marrow transplant (5 weeks in 2007).
P - Pet Peeves: My husband saying he doesn't want a drink at the movie theater and then drinking all mine before the previews are over. Love you babe.
Q - Quote from a movie: I fall asleep before they start talking :)
R - Right handed or left handed: Right
S - Siblings: 4 sisters and 2 brothers
T - Time you wake up: 5:30 am
U- Underwear: Yes
V - Vegetable you dislike: Mushrooms
W - Ways you run late: Always. I forget that it takes 10 minutes to get Madi into the car. She is usually putting the keys in my door, running around the front yard, putting all her "things" in the car.
X - X-rays you've had: Lots, but last week was a Chest X-Ray.
Y - Yummy food you make: Sweet Pork tacos
Z - Zoo favorite: Tiger
ITS YOUR TURN NOW!!!!!!!!!!!

Christmas... Christmas... and MORE Christmas

This year Christmas was fabulous as always... even though I enjoyed most of it from the couch and bed. I was sick with fevers, head cold and a miserable cough. A cough so bad I cracked a rib! I spent Christmas Eve morning at the doctor, Christmas Day and the rest of break on the couch and in bed. Madi was so patient with me. She wanted to play with all of her new toys and would just just play next to me while I slept. Here she is reading me some of her new books with her stuffed animals.

We spent Christmas Eve at the annual Widdison Family party  in our new Christmas Jammies and then headed to my mom and dad's to open our Sibling Gifts. My sisters (who live with us) stayed the night at my mom and dad's, but James, Madi and I went home to our house.

We woke up Christmas morning and had stockings filled with goodies and presents from Santa. It was so fun to see Madi so excited.  Every present she would say, "Who is this From?" or "Thank you mommy it's my favorite!" James bought me the best gift... a really nice Digital Camera! Now I just need to start figuring out how to use it. I need to prove that it was a good investment. James got shoes, clothes, a wallet and other practical stuff. He was sad that there were no toys... maybe next year. This year was my turn to be spoiled! Madi got more than her little heart could handle: ponies, pet shops, books, stuffed animals, cash register, games, toy laptop, Cinderella doll, candy and more.

I feel so blessed to have such and amazing husband, daughter and family. I love the holidays. I love eating, playing, talking and laughing with all of them. It gets loud and busy and crazy, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. I love our different personalities, our stubbornness and our kindness. I am so glad that our Savior Jesus Christ provided a way that we can be a family forever.

Old McMadi Had a Farm, E-I-E-I-O

We celebrated Madison's birthday this year with a farm themed party. I made the invitations using Lettering Delights clipart and fonts. It was a lot of fun and really cheap to make them!

After we cancelled the party due to illness and rescheduled for the next Saturday the party was a big success. All of her friends were able to come and have a good time. My friend Holly, that I teach with, let me borrow the barn from her classroom and I made some life-size animals to decorate.

The kids had fun playing in the barn, wearing their cowboy hats, fishing for ducks and winning prizes.

A little farm bingo...

Getting candy from the horse pinata... 

Eating pizza, chicken nuggets, fruit, chips, cupcakes and ice cream. 

I had a lot of fun making the pig, chick, and sheep cupcakes with my sister Erin. They were so fast and easy to make. I love cupcakes!

Everyone was happy and went home with a sugar high!

And the little birthday girl went down for a much need 2 1/2 hour nap!