Madilyn is 7 today!

Here was what this day brought us...7 years ago. What joy... a beautiful, spunky litle girl.
Born Sept 23, 2001 at 3:08pm 7 lbs 15.1 oz 19 1/2 inches

Madilyn lost another tooth!

Yesterday Madilyn's tooth was hanging by a thread. She asked me (Missy) to pull it out for her since "I am the only parent that isn't grossed out by teeth". (Andy is a bit squeemish about loose teeth.) So, I did. The newest lost tooth is the one on the top! And...the tooth fairy came last night. She is over the moon.

Bubbles!!!

Drew's Music Therapist always ends therapy sessions with bubbles. It's fun, but it also helps him practice the "b" sound while he yells "bubbles" and "pop". The b, like the m, n and p are bi-labial sounds (meaning you have to press both lips together to make the sound properly) that he still lacks in almost all cases, but is showing improvements slowly. The current theory is that his low tone is also found in his mouth muscles and is part of the reason it's been so hard for him to produce words...he has no trouble understanding words. Yesterday, he was having such a blast popping bubbles that I snapped this quick video.

Drew and I have spent time this morning working the shape puzzle shown below. Everytime he puts a shape in and it fits... he claps his hands and yells, "Yeah!" So, co cute!!! We've also played with the doctor kit taking each other's temperature. Drew had a ball "re-arranging" the band-aids! He has also helped himself to at least three snacks in the pantry and decided it's okay to push buttons on the DVD player (much to Jack's chagrin)...oy vey! Independence is not all it's cracked up to be.

Madi's first Cross Country Meet

Monday was a big day for Madilyn. She ran the mile in her first CC meet. She was pumped. At the end, she was happy and exhausted! Here are some pics.

Before Warm-Ups


During the Nat'l Anthem


Midway through...


In the home stretch!


The Post-run celebration...a ribbon and a snack!

New name for a fly swatter

Jack just told me he saw a fly on the window that was alive. He said he used the "bug deader catcher" to "dead" it. Hmmm.

Life is busy with kids....

So, between the last post and this one Jack had his first soccer practice and Madi and he both had their first games two days ago.

FIRST PRACTICE

THURS NIGHT SCRIMAGE AT PRACTICE

WARM-UPS SAT AM

TEAM MEETING

FIRST GAME DAY FOR BOTH

Madi's first track race is tonight. She'll run the mile!

We also attended a picnic on base, where the kids ended the evening with their first tree climb ever. Andy wasn't there b/c he got stuck (for security reasons) inside Cheyenne Mountain...for hours!

DINNER PICNIC

SO CUTE!

TREE CLIMBING

We walked in the Komen Race for the Cure...3 miles...very hilly terrain. Yes, my legs were sore, but my arms were the most sore from pushing the kids in the stroller.

Madi decided one morning that she could tie her sneakers...and did...just like that. She also fixed her hair into a low ponytail, too! Life with Madilyn has always been like that. She didn't crawl until she could do it well. She didn't walk until she could do it without toppling over. She resisted potty training and then when she was ready she was done in 3 days. She just knows when she is ready for things.

HER FIRST TIME FIXING HER OWN HAIR

Here are a few cute shots...

He's trying to go down standing up...not crawling!

He has strong arms...

Two more Jack funnies

The kid is a natural comic!

1) Today riding home from the grocery he says to me, "When your van breaks and you decide to get a new car...can we get a mini cooper?" I tried to explain that we have too many kids to fit comfortably in such a little car. He said in response, "They can ride in the trunk!" I asked him if he was volunteering himself or his brother and sister. No answer. Hmmm.

2) Before lunch he picked out a Batman fruit roll up to eat as his dessert. As he sat down he showed me the unrolled treat with the Joker and Batman stamped on it. I was distracted a little when he asked if he could eat it...so I said yes (instead of instructing him to wait until after he'd eaten the rest of his lunch). He finishes his meal. Then, asks me for a dessert. I said, "Didn't you already eat that Batman fruit roll up for dessert?" He replied, "Yeah, but I ate it first." I was quick to add, "So, if we give you broccoli last...does that make it dessert?" He smiled a very "knowing" smile and said ,"No!"