last day of school

Here are pictures from Madison's last day of school. I think it was harder for me than for her, but I also don't think she realized what was going on. All of her teachers gave her presents and the class made a big card with all their handprints. Her two main teachers, Tesha and Shauntea cried and so did I. When I told them we were moving they we both very upset. Madison was getting ready to move up to a new classroom, but they would still be able to see her around. So they were sad that wasn't going to happen. They said she was a big helper in the classroom and one of their favorite kids. Made me so proud.
Here is Madison with one of her best friends, Ava. They have been buddies since she started daycare here 2 years ago. We would often get Madison up in the morning by telling her she would get to see Ava. Her other buddy Jocelynn was on vacation that week and wasn't there for this picture. But she gave us a frame with a picture of all 3 girls that Madison loves and keeps in her room.
Shauntea and Tesha with Madison.
Some of the class with Madison. We couldn't get everyone to sit down.

Easter bunny

On Madison's actual birthday, the Easter bunny came! She got a basket full of goodies and Bolt. She was very excited about Bolt. We also had a Easter Egg hunt in the house. Then after a quick bite to eat, we headed back to Dallas. We hurried back to make it to one of Madison's friends birthday parties. And there was another Easter Egg hunt at that party. Way too much candy. Most of it made it to my office for others to eat :) But we continue to hide and find the Easter eggs to this day.

scootin'

Testing out our new scooter. She went right out and knew what she was doing without any coaching at all. She loves it! (we have a video too, but I can't get it uploaded right now, so more later.)

Madison's 3rd Birthday

We had Madison's party at my parent's house after the Easter Egg Hunt. Ashley, Cy, Spencer and Sarah were there too. We had Mickey Mouse decorations complete with ears for everyone. After blowing out the candles on the cupcake and eating mostly the frosting, she opened presents. She got a Princess Tiana book and If you give a Cat a Cupcake book from Ashley and Cy. Spencer and Sarah gave her Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy book. Grandma and Grandpa gave her a cute ladybug dress, a stacking marble game and some butterfly bath toys (which she actually opened the night before). Rick and I gave her a tee ball set, a stuffed Bullseye from Toy Story and a new scooter. Grandame and Grandad had already sent her Fancy Nancy doll. And the Pedersens sent a microphone and boombox, a pink one of course. She loved it all!
BTW, I can't believe she is already 3 years old!!



Dad helping her eat the cupcake.
Check out those ears!

on the hunt

Saturday morning we went to the Easter Egg hunt and festivites at the club. First lunch and dying Easter Eggs, then the petting zoo and finally the Easter Egg hunt. Madison loved the animals, but was a little impatient for the egg hunt. At it was a little chilly. But she got lots of good candy and a photo with the slightly creepy Easter bunny, and that is all that matters, right?

first things first

Easter weekend we went to Wichita. As soon as we got to Grandma and Grandpa's house, we had to go check out the flowers in the garden. Madison is obsessed with flowers. She usually wants to pick them all, but we are working on just looking and asking if we can cut some of them.

I really do have a good reason...

First of all, I'm sorry it has been sooooo long. Life has been beyond crazy and upside-down since before Easter. And then I got behind and it just got overwelming. So this is a start, but I realize I have a lot of catching up to do. So here is what has happened:
The Thursday before Easter and Madison's Birthday (they were the same day), Rick accepted a new job in Kansas City! Yeah! We were so excited and overwhelmed. We had already planned to go to Wichita that weekend for Easter and Maddie's birthday. So Saturday morning we had the Easter Egg hunt at the club, then birthday party right after that. It was a crazy day! Sunday morning we headed back to Dallas so Madison could make it to one of her good friend's birthday party that afternoon.
Then the Thursday after Easter, we put our 2 weeks notice in at work and at daycare. Rick was supposed to start work at the new place on May 3rd, and we knew that we didn't want to be 8 hours away from each other. So the plan was to move some stuff to my parent's house, go to Colorado for 5 days, then Rick would start work in KC, stay with his folks and Maddie and I would stay in Wichita with my parents. And then our house sold in 3 days! That very same weekend.
So the time we had left in Dallas was spent packing like crazy and fixing a gas line into the house :(. Then we pretty much went straight to KC to try to find us a house. And that is where we still stand. Still no house. We have looked at everything there is for the last month now and nothing. You would think there is a lot of houses on the market now. And there is. But there is a lot of not very good houses out there.
Meanwhile, Madison and I have come and gone to KC a couple of times and Rick has visited us once too. So we'll see what we can find and hopefully I can tell you that we live in KC again soon.
Until then, I'll do my best to tell you what we have been up to and keep things up to date.
Thanks for being patient...