Living It Up

We went to Sedona Arizona again to visit Grandma Karen. Maddie was brave enough to get in the freezing cold natural water slide, called Slide Rock. She is so awesome.

Every year when we THINK we are getting pregnant or having a baby, we go on a live the high life frenzy. We do as much fun stuff and travelling as possible because I remember very clearly how hard it is to do it with a baby and toddler. It's kind of (just KIND OF) funny that everytime we do it, it isn't actually necessary because there isn't actually a baby. But this time there just might be an actual baby. So we have been to a bunch of concerts lately. And they are all very different (the bands, the music, and especially the audiences).

Poison - So, so awesome. I had big huge curly hair for this concert. It felt good to go back to my 80's child roots.

Def Leppard - kind of icky in my opinion. Josh loved it. 

Coldplay - we happened to be staying in the same hotel as the band. I thought I was so cool that I was in the elevator with the bassist. But then Josh saw Chris Martin and the drummer in the hotel gym and talked to them. Now they are best friends or something. He is so much more of a rock star than I am.

Miss Madeline - definitely my favorite performance of them all.

Summer Reading

The Madster had her Mommy and Me Book Club meeting again last night. She dressed up like the character "Frankly Frannie." I think she looks very "grown up" and "professional", don't you?  :o)   She loved the book and loved the meeting. 

California Lovin'

Newport is a happy place. We got to spend a few days there with Grandpa Stucki and my sister's family. It makes it so much more fun to have buddies there.

Josh taught Maddie how to throw and catch a frisbee.

And they found lots of starfish. I know I'm doing my job right when Maddie says, "We have to throw them back into their natural habitat so they don't die." Yes Maddie! Yes!

Despite the protests of everyone in the family, Angus got to come too. He was as crazy as ever, but man does that dog love the beach! He loved chasing Maddie into the water and he dug about 20 holes every day. He was so filthy and sandy and happy.  And completely pooped by the end of the day.

This weekend was especially special because it was my birthday and Father's Day. I sure do love my little family. 

Sharks and Politicians - some would say it's the same thing!

Maddie had a field trip to the Shark Reef that she guilt tripped her daddy into chaperoning. ("It's the last field trip and you haven't been yet and you can be one of the only daddies to go on a field trip.") So Josh went and said it was the best field trip ever. I think it's because he got assigned the very nice, obedient girl group to chaperone.  :o)

 Maddie was happy that she got chosen to be the shark in front of the class.

I couldn't go because I was given an invitation to see President Obama speak on the same day. I felt really important having a thick piece of paper with the presidential seal on it.

Despite what you may feel about what he says, he is a great speaker. I felt his enthusiasm all the way from my seat. I really appreciate the respect that people give our president. It's the hardest job in the world, besides being a mother.  :o)  And the synchronized acts of the secret service agents were fun to watch too.

Family Accomplishments

This weekend was a moment of pride for my family. First off, Madster had her first guitar recital. She seems so tiny, but I realize now that she is growing up. I'm glad I have enjoyed every minute of it.

The next morning she had a choir performance and performed pretty flawlessly. How does she remember all her lines, songs, and dance moves? I don't know. The only answer I have is that she LOVES it. (I figured cousins Lucy, Emma, Elena & Cole might enjoy this little Farmer girl video.)

We hurried down to San Diego where Josh ran his first half marathon with his cousins. Shhhh. Don't tell Maddie that everyone who finishes the run gets a medal. She was so proud of her dad too.

What did I do this weekend? Finished a law school paper and continued to grow a baby. Not too shabby.

Night on the Town

Maddie had a date with a very handsome man and didn't get home until very late. Josh and I were laughing because we saw a foreshadowing of our lives as parents when this beautiful little girl turns 16. We were both yawning and doing our best to wait up for our "little girl" to come home from her date.

First they went for a proper English dinner.

And then they went to the new Smith Center to see "Mary Poppins." I'm a little jealous that she got to go to a show that I couldn't get tickets for.  :o)

Poppy snuck her a coke at intermission (since Mom wasn't there!) to help her stay awake for the whole show. Apparently she loves Coke.  :o)

Sweet Surprises

It's kind of awesome to go through Josh and Maddies' cameras and see what sweet surprises they have on there. This was our first family walk with our crazy puppy.

The Madster being sneaky with my Mother's Day breakfast in bed.

That tiny pink dot three stories up is my Maddie girl doing rock climbing on her daddy daughter night. Fearless.

Maddie snuck these pictures on one of our drives somewhere. They make me happy.  :o)