SUMMER

Wow it is so close I can taste it....Madison has 12 days and I am down to 18!!! Yahoo! Let's get through open house, articulation day, a field trip to the park and I am home free!! That means only 27 days to get in shape for our vacation to St.Maartin! I better get my butt to the gym!

Day 2 of Summer fun...

Yesterday, my official first day off (Monday), Scott took the day off to sleep in with us and take the day and play some more. We all slept in until about 8:45 and then got up and dressed and headed to the Sacramento Zoo. Madison had a wonderful time. It is such a fun age to go to the zoo and hear her side of the animals' names and thoughts.

Here she is touching "Auburn" the snake: Here is a really cute little hedgehog:Riding the train through the zoo:
Riding on the merry-go-round:
Looking at the sleepy tiger: Climbing on the hippo:Looking at the giraffes...she had it all figured out, this one is the mommy, that one is the daddy and the baby is walking over there:

Then we headed to Landpark to feed the ducks.

She may just have a career in pitching!

We finished the day with a golf date with daddy while mommy got to rest and then we went on a great hour and 45 minute walk around a path that meanders through the country and another local golf course. She rode her bike the whole way and Scott and I walked our wild dog! She definitely was worn out last night.

Summer has started!

Well, it is official, summer vacation is here for us!! We started this summer by going to a bar-be-que at our friend's house. He is Madison's Godfather and has an adorable little 6 month old, Dylan.
We made a yummy cake to bring with us and Madison loved to help make it!


Madison had a great time playing with the baby and I got to be a designated driver! :)


Today we went to Old Sacramento and went on an old Steam Engine Train ride. Madison loved it and she was able to wave at all the passing people. She loved looking at the "Wiver" aka the Sacramento River. It was a great trip and Madison is already talking about going again!

Next, the zoo...tomorrow!!

SEATTLE

We had a great trip to Seattle...saw lots of things, drove all around the city, and even made a trip into Victoria, B.C., Canada for the day. It was a busy trip, but well worth it. I can't believe I go back to work next week. This summer really flew by!

The Seattle Zoo with cousin Hayden

The Space Needle Early in the morning:

View from the top of the Space Needle in the afternoon:

Pike's Public Market Place...Madison is knocked out in the stroller:

The 1st Starbucks:

Space Needle and Mt. Rainer in the background from Kerry Park:

Getting into Canada:

The Famous Empress Hotel in Victoria:

Madison and the Canadian Moose:

Our fairwell dinner with cousins (Ryan/Hayden and Tony/Sandy)"

Suprise Party Success!

My parents are celebrating their 35th wedding anniversay this month and after months of planning, my sister and I threw them a great party this past weekend. They were totally surprised and we all had a blast. It was stressful to say the least, but in the end totally worth it! We had about 40 people, a live jazz band, great food, a delicious cake and even dancing!

Shaver Lake...

This weekend we went to Shaver Lake. Scott's grandparents have a cabin there! We went up Friday and stayed through Sunday afternoon. On Saturday my sister in law, Kelly, and niece, Jenna, came up to stay one night. We had lots of fun even though we had to battle the carpenter ants! YUCK! But we went to the lake, made 'smores, rented a paddle boat, went for walks and had tons of fun!

Bowling

So tonight we took Madison bowling for the first time...she had a blast. The balls were a little bit heavy for her, so after she tried by herself and it took a "painfully" long time to make it almost to the end of the lane (the guy had to come rescue it) she decided she would let me help her. It is so fun to watch her experience things for the first time. Lots of first's this summer: mini golf, tubing behind a boat, and now bowling! Man to be two years old again! :) I will try and post some photos later.

Loving her bowling shoes:

I just threw the ball all by myself~

Oh no! I think is it stuck:

Bowling attitude!

Fun at the Lake

We went out today with Scott's friend Chris to Engelbright Lake...Madison had so much fun playing with new friends, making castles, riding in the boat and even tubing...check out her video...

Making castles:

Finding shells:

Here she is giving the thumbs up when they were done!

Playing in the tube on the beach: