COMPUTER CRASHED!

*SCREAMING* What the computer crashed?? NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So as we were about to leave for Madison's baptism Derron informs me of this horrible event! NOOOOOOOO!!!! ALL MY PICTURES and MUSIC!!! Well, the computer is back up and Derron just has to restore EVERYTHING!!! So, until that happens I CAN NOT post pictures from the 1st day of school. And, since I will be having a baby tomorrow and neither of us will be herr to deal with this it will just have to WAIT! So sorry. I had all intentions of posting pics from the 1st day of school and Madison's baptism before the arrival of Olivia, but it's not going to happen. I will eventually post said pics and hopefully get caught up. Until then I do I have one picture of my beautiful Madison at her baptism.

Madison's Birthday and the many things we did to celebrate!

Madison's 8th birthday got off to a great start! She wanted to spend the morning with me and only me. Which was great, because we haven't had a lot of Mommy/Madison time. So, we went to get pedicures and manicures. Madison LOVED the pedicure. She said it was the best thing ever and that we should do get one every week. I agree, but Derron does not. We then came home to get the rest of our crew to head out to do some shopping. We started at JC Penny to exchange some clothes and then headed to the mall. Madison wanted her Daddy to take her to her favorite store Claire's to purchase a few special birthday items. We also had pretzels and lemonade. Gavin wanted to do something fun for Madison for her birthday, so, he paid for them to do this trampoline thing at the mall that she wanted to do. We have a tradition in our family where each child gets to choose where they want to eat for their birthdays and Madison without fail ALWAYS chooses Olive Garden. So, after a long day we headed to Olive Garden for her Birthday Dinner.

But wait! The celebration doesn't stop there. Monday night we went to Red Robin with some friends to eat dinner. Kids eat for FREE on Monday nights. My wonderful friend Katie Stowe made Madison the cutest Littlest Pet Shop birthday cake. We had a great dinner and really yummy cake. When we got home the last of Madison's birthday gifts had FINALLY arrived. Her HOT PINK Razor Motor Skooter!! She had been waiting so patiently for her final gift to get here.

We are so blessed to have Madison as our daughter. We love her so very much.

Callie's BIG news

Callie has some REALLY BIG NEWS!!! She can ride her bike WITHOUT her training wheels!! It only took Derron working with her for 45 minutes on Saturday night. Today after lunch she wanted to go out and ride her bike. Gavin asked if she needed any help and she said,"NO! I can do it on my own." And she did. For three hours she rode her bike without her training wheels and needed no help at all. She is growing up so fast.

Madison's Birthday In Georgia

Madison celebrated her birthday while she was in Georgia. How lucky for her to get to celebrate her birthday twice! This newest slide show is from her party there. I will post all about her actual birthday and post pictures sometime later today.

HAPPY 8th BIRTHDAY MADISON!!!

Our sweet little Madison is 8 today. My how time flies. She is such a blessing and a joy to us. I can't even begin to imagine all of the wonderful things she is going to do with her life. So, on her birthday I thought I would list some of the many reasons why we love our little "DIVA" so much and why she is so special to so many people.

*She's our daughter! I mean she comes from pretty good genes.

*She is such a loving person. She loves with her whole heart and wears her heart on her sleeve. She loves everyone and everything around her.

*She is very kind and helpful. She would make a great doctor or nurse someday, but for now we will settle for one of the WORLD'S BEST SISTERS and DAUGHTERS!

*She is very Fashionable! No Joke! Last night she was trying on all of her school clothes and she had to accessorize them all. Complete with what shoes she would wear and jewelry too. I love this! Derron does not!

*She is an animal lover! She loves ALL living things! From Ginger(her dog that lives with Nana and Papa) to FROGS and WORMS! Not sure where she gets this from, but she loves all creatures big and small.

*She is high maintenance and opinionated. I know, how and why would we love this about anyone. Well, she is our daughter and this is just Madison. When I say high maintenance I really mean she won't settle and that to me is a very good thing.

*She loves to learn. She loves learning at school and at Church. She loves Heavenly Father and can't wait to be baptized.

We love this little girl so much. She has so many people that love her. She is really excited about becoming a big sister again and I am excited for her to be old enough to actually enjoy being a big sister. She has a huge heart and an amazing ability to make you feel like the most special person in the world. Happy Birthday Madison. We love you so very much.

We are officially land owners!

So, the land has been purchased and now the fun begins! Derron was kind enough to snap some pictures of the land for me. They have done some clearing, but more clearing is needed. They staked out where the house is going to be built and hopefully construction will start the end of August or the beginning of September. Thanks to my wonderful Father-in-law for taking on what I feel is a MONSTROUS task in building mine and Derron's dream home. We are so grateful and we love you so much.

UPDATE

Derron flew home to GA this weekend to take care of some business and figure out where the house was going to be built on the new land. Hopefully he got some pictures for me, if so I will post. While he was there he was able to celebrate Madison's birthday early with family. He did take a few pictures of this and if they aren't up to par I am sure Vickie or Damon took some. I missed him so much while he was gone. We don't spend much time away from each other so, when one of us is gone it's pretty rough. It brings back really crappy memories of him leaving to go back out to BYU to finish school. So glad that was over fast.
While he was gone Callie, Gavin and I just kind of hung out and spent some together. No pictures, because Derron had the good camera and I refuse to use the old crappy one.
We have a SUPER busy week getting ready for school to start back. Open house for all 3 kids at 2 different schools. Curriculum night for the girls. They offer 2 different times to accommodate people and well, unless Derron is able to go to one of them I will have to stay for both times. YAY FOR ME! Madison comes home on FRIDAY!!!! YAY!! SUPER EXCITED to see my little diva. I miss her so much and can't wait to give her hugs and kisses and squeeze her. She will be 8 on Saturday so look for a great slide show titled "8 Years of Madison" to be posted.

Middle School, 3rd grade, and Kindergarten

Yesterday I received all the paperwork for Gavin's start of Middle School. I cried. Imagine that. There should be a warning label on all children that reads...They will grow up and fast, you won't be ready for it, no matter how well you think you have prepared yourself. But children don't come with any labels or warnings and as I read through the paperwork and realized that I would not be allowed to drive Gavin to school, park, walk him in and take his picture with his teacher, I cried and he laughed. So, it's the bus for Gavin this year. This is the first time I have not taken him to school, but school starts at 7:50 am and ends at 2:40 pm for him.He's excited and I am trying to be excited for him.
Today I went to the elementary school to pick up Madison's paperwork and find out who her teacher is for this year. She got a really good teacher and I am very excited for her. One of her friends from church will finally be in her class. For the past 2 years they have always been in the class across the hall from each other. Madison will start 3rd grade this year and she will be getting baptised in a few weeks. I have been planning for her baptism for a while now and thought I was prepared for it. Wrong! Saturday I was going through pictures for a slide show (I will post on her 8th birthday) and it just broke my heart. She is growing up too fast. I still see her with chubby little cheeks twirling her feet as a baby. But, she's not a baby anymore. She is a feisty young lady with lots of spirit.
We are still waiting to find out who Callie will have as her Kindergarten teacher and the wait is about to kill Callie. She is so excited! Again, I'm NOT! I try to be. I promised her I would be brave and not miss her so much, but, well, that's not going so well. She has been the baby for so long and it's been me and her for so long I just don't know what I am going to do without her with me all day. Pre K was supposed to prepare me for this, but it didn't. School starts August 18th and the kids are so excited. I will update with all the happenings of the 1st day of school as soon as I can catch my breath or stop crying. Whichever comes first.

Now that Gavin is 12...

Now that Gavin is 12 things are starting to get more busy ( I didn't think that was possible) and more emotional for me. He went to Priesthood for the first time today and I honestly thought I was going to cry all through the third hour of church. Tuesday night will be his first night in Young Men and they are going to go on a canoe ride. Not sure if I should be more worried about him or the YM leaders that will now have to put up with him. And tonight just before bed he said, "Oh Mom, Wednesday night I have an interview with the Bishop." I said, "What, not yet, I'm not ready." And Gavin said, "well, I am." They grow up so fast. But, at least I know that Gavin is ready for the responsibility that comes with getting older even if I'm not anywhere near ready to let him grow up.