Well, our doggie sitting is over with early! Maria and Alyssia came back from their trip early and so Toby went home....what a awesome doggie he was. We would NEVER luck out with a dog like that. I am serious when I say he was a good doggie. So good in fact I had to scrapbook a little layout of him, hee hee. Isn't that picture cute? Can you tell he's trying to get away from the camera? I got 2 photos of him though while he was here...I'm sure Toby loved spending every minute with Uncle Steve & Auntie Kelly. hee hee. Cute pup. We are going to take him again at the end of March so he doesn't have to go to Doggie Daycare.

Tomorrow is a holiday so my darling dear husband will be home with me! Yeah! I am switching daycare days for Madison again because on Wednesday she starts swimming again. So now she is in daycare with her little buddies on Mondays and Thursdays. I debate all the time if we should keep her going or not. She would really miss her buddies though if she wasn't. I think it's good for her to be in there 2 days out of the week. I am going to just quit with the mommy guilt and realize that if she didn't go to daycare she wouldn't be as well rounded with other kids. She is such a social butterfly that I think it would be damaging to her to actually take her away from socializing with other kiddies. There, poof - the mommy guilt is gone. Go away guilt...go away.

Tyler called tonight and said that he was in Nebraska doing the scholarship thing. But that's all we heard and all we know cuz he didn't call back. I have no clue how it works or if it's a 2 day or 3 day thing so as soon as I find out I will blog about it. Steve's job is going to be posted this week I think. I just can't imagine it not going to him. Not sure how long it will be posted for...maybe a month. It'll be nice when that stress is all over with....meaning if he gets the job that is. I can't imagine anyone else going into that position who doesn't know what's going on at the DNR. I am holding my breath until the job becomes his. I will keep you updated on that. We will go out a celebrate big time if/when he gets the job!

It felt so good to be able to sit down and do a little layout. Nothing fancy but as my creative outlet it JUST FELT GOOD, ok? We didn't do too much today....except go to the Mall of America so Madison could go on some rides. It was sooo cold out there. She was a little poop when we left and kicked her boots off and wouldn't put them on. I finally just tucked her jacket over her feet and away we went off into the sub zero weather. She survived just fine mom. Then I ran to target and then steve made a pizza for dinner.
Oh...did I mention that we are watching Todd and Maria's doggie Toby? Oh my god, what a good doggie he is. Unbelievable that there are dogs out there. By the way, he does NOT like his picture either so now there are 2 of them in this household who won't let me take pictures and it's driving me nuts because Madison is so cute hugging Toby all over the place. Toby even sleeps in bed with us. He is just sooo good it's unreal.
That's about it! Gotta go to bed in a few mintues. Actually catch up on the E channel. OH...the lastest show I am in is Celebrity Rehab. Remember the guy from Taxi who was also in grease? I can't remember his name but WHAT A MESS he is. He's pretty close near to death I think seriously. That's not tv stuff, that's for real. Anywho, it makes for create drama. Oh, tomorrow is the first show of Peter Brady and his model wife Adrianna Curry. I hope it's as good as the first show was. I am slightly disappointed in the scott Baio show.......bummer. I love a good reality show and feel let down when it doesn't hold up to my great expectations.
Good night.

Happy Friday!

I think this is the longest I have gone without blogging....my poor little blog! However...there just isn't anything to blog about. I know I can usually blog about nothing just fine but there really isn't even anything to bs about. Madison starts swimming next week...I think and then starts iceskating right around her birthday. And the Library reading for toddlers doesn't start until the end of the month so boredom has set in for the two of us and we are just spending alot of time hanging out and watching "hairspray" for (I am not kidding you) the 100th time. It's at least 2 -3 times a day we watch hairspray. She loves that movie. She actually likes any musical but she really loves hairspray. We are even getting to know the opening song, "good morning Baltimore"....we went to the internet the other day and printed out the words so we could really learn it. I know little kid's minds are like sponges, but this is unreal what she can recall after reading/singing thorugh the words once or twice. I get amazed when ever the song is playing and she gets the words right (and I don't!).
We are going to be watching Todd and Maria's doggie this weekend so I should have some fun pictures to scrap with soon. She still isn't letting me take any pictures of her unless she can make a face. Normally that's okay but you can only have so many funny face pictures!
Have a good weekend ya all.

well, well, well......the pressure is on. I just had one more person tell me that they check my blog everyday (nikki) and she feels lost if there is nothing to read. Lordy that is pressure to perform now, isn't it? Anyways, that prompted me to actually sit down tonight at the computer and blog abit! I wouldn't want to start off anyone's week bad by not having something to read from little ole' me. By the time you are reading this it will be Monday morning and we all need to be chipper to start off the week right and I can only do what I can do to attribute to that "chipperness". Just kidding......I was going to blog tonight anyways.

We went to Haley's 7th bday party today. It was a fun time. Madison STILL is on the "I don't want my photo taken" kick so this was about the extent of me getting a photo of her....

Jeepers! She was a bit tad on the crabby side though so I wasn't expecting her to participate anyways. Poor me and my camera that CRAVES a good photo op!

Oh...here's a little update on TEAM MICHAELS vs TEAM SIEBOLD.... Team Michaels appears to be in the lead with the weight loss at about 5 lbs for EACH Steve and Kelly and about 4 lbs for Kim. No word on Tom's poundage yet. We did take the advantage of us being together to get our before photos of our contest....Without further ado, here's Steve & Kelly's BEFORE pic....

and Kim's and Tom's.

I won't laugh at any of the photos but one of these things don't belong with the others (singing to the tune of the electric company or was it seasame street that did that song?) Competion is fierce and we all tried to get the other family to eat icecream...but ONLY ONE of those families is eating icecream and it looks like TEAM MICHEALS IS EVEN FURTHER AHEAD! hee hee:) Infact, team Michaels decided to decline on the sweets entirely. We rock, we rock!

Oh, we got one more sale at http://www.inkededges.com/ which was exciting as hell today! Everytime there is a sale we get so excited! yeah for us.

Team Michaels UPDATE

Just had to brag about how good Madison was while I was working out on "the ball". She had her own little soccer ball and we watched the exercise dvd together and did an entire workout! That was sooo awesome! I didn't think that I could workout at home with her but now I know I can. Jane Fonda, move over cuz here comes Kelly (and Madison). hee hee. Speaking of working out, the contest involving the siebolds is probley at a dead even so far. Not sure about Tom and how he's doing but Kelly is down anywhere from 2-6 lbs depending on the time of the day and which day and Steve is down 4 with barely even trying. I am sure he drank one less beer or something and that alone resulted in a 4 lb weightloss (grrrr). Guess I shouldn't say grrrr cuz after all we ARE team Michaels! But you know what I'm talking about girls! I think that last that I talked to Kim she was at a 2 lb loss also and I know her numbers will go up and down also. May the best team win! Which of course will be us *(the Michaels). Toot a loo.
I think I am going to start to train for my first 5K. eeks. Kim has me going in that direction. Not quite serious about the training yet but I think I may do it as a challenge. Anyone want to join a rookie?
Oh....tv shows. Ok, good stuff is happening. TONIGHT is the celeb rehab stuff at 9pm on vh1 (I think). Gotta watch that. Nothing like a good rehab show. Then on Sunday is Scott Baio turns 45 and is pregant is on. THEN I think Peter Brady and his tvshow wife starts on Sunday also. I LOVE these shows soooo much. Yes for reality TV. I am a fan, that's for sure.
Oh, we also have 3 more sales in at www.inkededges.com. That's sooo fun to watch. We have about 600 downloads to our freebie, so that's how many people have been to our site!

I know I keep posting these layouts from when we took madison ice skating...I just took sooo many super cute photos of her expressions. Hope ya all don't mind:)

Here's a little layout of the bugger from when we went skating the other day. Not much has gone on to blog about......kinda boring these days. Infact, I don't have ANYTHING to say at all! Bye!

We got a sale!

Hey...we got a sale, we got a sale, we got a sale!!!! How exciting. The store wasn't even up for 24 hrs and someone bought something! That's sooo exciting! This is just the funnest thing ever! I obsessively check our site for comments/sales/etc. It's really fun having inked edges!

Yesterday me, Mom and Lynnie went to the Casino. Of COURSE we lost. Now...I actually did pretty good and was ahead by alot and then I just kept throwing the damn money back into the machines and came home with nothing really. I thought I did but then I counted and I didn't. Oh well...it was really fun. I am not done with wanting to go to the Casino. I go in spurts of liking the casino and then not caring about it. I am glad I am in the not caring about it mode.

We took Madison ice skating this morning out because it was sooo nice out. Here is just a cute little layout I did of her while she was iceskating. She's actually getting really good!

In fact you can see how good if you watch this film footage of her! hee hee, it's really funny. Of course we at least think so! Just click on this link and you'll be able to watch her....http://s202.photobucket.com/albums/aa115/kelmichaels/?action=view&current=20080105068.flv

How did you like it? Pretty good huh? Well....the baby girl is sleeping so I am playing around on the computer and Steve just wrote a song. It's a really good song. Now he just needs to learn the guitar that I bought him and he'll be the rock star we all know he is.

Some cool stuff I've been working on.

Gotta say, I am having a blast designing. These are all the new paper packs I have made in the last few weeks...it's totally addicting. I had to even design a little layout of the ones I have done! That was fun making that layout above. None of these papers are in our store yet. By the way, you can now go to www.inkededges.com to check out our website. Fun stuff I'm telling ya! Haven't made a sale yet but no one knows we are there yet! hee hee. I can't wait til the first sale comes! Hell, I don't even really care about a sale, I am just having fun doing this. But I can definately use some time away from the computer before Steve starts getting mad! Maybe I'll take a little break now from doing stuff. Just to keep the little feller happy:)

team michaels to win....

Ha ha ha ha ha....this is the funniest thing (above). I am laughing my head off right now. Kim and Tom and Steve and I are in a friendly little competition of who's family can lose 10 lbs the fastest. It's even funnier because we know the guys can lose weight at the drop of a bat *(Steve gave up drinking mountain dew and dropped 10 within 2 weeks or so) so it's really coming down to me and Kim and who can acutally lose 10 and the guys will have to be helping us out by rooting for their little wives and not letting us give in to tempetation. The loser has to buy dinner for us all. Team Michaels is going to kick some serious ass in this competition. I even went to the gym and did 60 minutes of cardio today. I acutally usually do 60 anyways, but today I put a little more *oopmh* into my workout. Anyways, I am laughing at my Team Michaels VS Team Siebold sign because it reminds me of those t-shirts that were going around when Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt got together and they made up the Team Jolie VS Team Anistion shirts. So basically Kim and I think we are Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Anistion. hahahaha I think I am going to die laughing.

Well, it's 2008! Yeah. Personally I am happy to have 2007 behind me and have a brand new start in life with a brand new year! I can just feel that 2008 is going to be a good one for me. I usually predict what type of a year I am going to have and it's usually pretty acurate, sooooo that means that this will just be one dandy of a year. Maybe I'll win the lottery or something. Wouldn't that be cool? Remember that you read that on my blog in case if I did win! hee hee.

We didn't really do anything today (it's new years day). I DID take down the christmas tree. Now our living room looks so big again. I guess not that it has ever looked big but without a huge ass tree in the middle of it, it looks pretty darn okay now!

It's been fun watching our little business run now. I put out a call (to the digi scrap community) for a creative team and the response has been unbelievable. We'll decide by the end of next week who will be on the creative team. I didn't think that I was going to have one and then at the last minute decided to do it. It's really addicting going to our inbox for email and see how many people are responding stating they love all our papers and want to design for us. It's kinda cool! I wonder when we'll get our first sale? That will be so exciting. We have to do adversting and stuff *with in the digi community again, in order to get our name out there because as of right now no one really knows we exist except for the people responding to our creative team call. Anyways, it's been pretty fun having this up and running!

Have a good short week everyone!

Not much going on today. The Vikes are on right now and are doing the typical MN thing...losing. Oh well....I guess it isn't over yet and since I am a 1/2 empty type of gal, it could actually turn around! Well see.....
Today Steve, Ty and Madison and myself went to the Mall of America. Steve bought a pair of pants and the kids got cookies/ice cream cones after we took Madison on some of the rides. That was good and wasted a few hours. I have been very, very...did I mention VERY bored lately? Winter has really been LONG for me and it's only december. I just can't believe how boring days can get ya know? I will try to keep my whining down about being bored.
Alrighty, gotta go. Things to do people. I can't just sit at my computer and blog all the time ya know!

I forgot about this cute pic of madison looking out the window on christmas eve. She said she thought she heard santa. Doesn't that just make your heart melt for the little innocent one?

Well, we finally went ice skating this morning....Madison did awesome! She was able to get herself to stand up by herself and actually skate just a little bit. It was cold out so I wanted to get back! There was a little girl there that was Madison's age that was skating all by herself. I asked her mom if she had taken lessons and she said no, that yesterday was her first time ever. A natural! That was cool to see. I want to bring madison down to the park alot. Too bad winter is so cold!

Yes, let it be known that I, Kelly Michaels, have become domesticated with a sewing machine (see photo below for proof) and all! I figured out my sewing machine once and for all and sat down on this lovely snowy saturday afternoon and actually hemed Steve's work pants. Awesome huh? This is a sewing machine that I won at the TIP banquet last fall. Actually Linda's son won it and I wanted it so bad that he actually gave it to me. Now, in my newest and latest phase of doing stuff, I want to sew a whole bunch of stuff. Not sure what excatly but I feel like sewing. It would be fun to be able to make Madison some fun costumes or something. I am sure I won't get that advanced. But still, it would be fun to do.

This is kinda a fun Saturday. We really aren't doing anything but getting stuff done around the house such as laundry and cleaning abit. But without pressure. Ok...Steve isn't putting any pressure on me. He usually doesn't go as slow as I do with getting stuff done. I'd rather putt around and get things done as they get done without rushing but he'd rather get it all done and then sit around. I say, "why through in the pressure?". I think I just feel like the second you get things picked up and cleaned, it justs gets messy within minutes and I'd rather be spending my time blogging or doing something that lasts abit longer. So the question is...."why would we stress ourselves out by trying to get it all perfect when within a 1/2 hr or so it's going to get back to how it was?". I KNEW you'd all agree with me:)

Well Christmas has come and gone. The end. All over with. This was acutally a very nice christmas this year. Madison was sooo much fun being this age and asking all those questions about Santa Clause! I wonder if we'll ever get an acutal picture of her sitting on Santa's lap. I doubt it if it hasn't happened yet. She was scared of him when she saw him the few times at the Mall of America. Each time I asked if she wanted to sit on his lap and tell him all about her baby crib that she wants him to bring her and she said no.

Here's some christmas pictures to take a little looksie at:

As you will see, there are NO pictures of Madison because she's in the stage of not wanting her picture taken. As you can imagine, it's freaking me out because I NEED to be able to get good photos just to satisfy my photo obsession...

It's been really fun with Ty home. Last night he had a little party over with about 8 kids or so. Of course Madison had to interact with them the whole night. She absolutely loves hanging out with the big kids. Ty should be home until the 5 of Jan. I think. He said he's going to go up to school for a new years party but then will come back down again. It's just fun with him here in the house.

Well, Madison and I have to run to target right now...I have to fill a perscription and then we'll see what is left in the christmas clearence section. I got a gift cert to Target from mom so I might try to find myself another sweat outfit. I am so sick of me wearing sweat outfits, but they are just so comfortable. And they are the only thing that seems to fit. I gained the holiday weight they say you always gain and I didn't even think I did that bad. Oh well.....good thing I have been working out like crazy so I am sure that did some damage control. I have big plans, big plans......hee hee. I have never had a hard time with losing weight really so I am not sure what's going on. It must be the age thing becuase things sure are different. Maybe I'll have to blog more about it and be accountable for what does really go in my mouth. I am going to pull out some old weightwatchers menus and try to follow an actual diet. Wierd.......I'm dieting I guess. Weird.

Oh...forgot to say that I found a pair of skates for the little girl. Maybe when we get back I will take her ice skating for the first time ever. We did buy her a little helmet so if she falls bad at least she won't split her head open. I can't wait till she takes some lessons and one day can actually skate. I assume if this is something she likes she'd be pretty good at it and with taking lessons at such an early age maybe she'll get really good at it. I think this is something I wanted to do so it's kinda like I am living my dream thorugh my child...hee hee. Not really...but I guess kinda if it's something I wish I would of done. Kim and I acutally were able to skate pretty well but of course we just didn't do anything with it. I'll try to take pictures of us skating. It's snowing out AGAIN so it should be fun!

UPDATE: We didn't get to go ice skating because I couldn't figure out her skates....I thought I broke something on the latch of the skate and then Steve fixed it when he got home from work so we'll try going this weekend. I really wanted to go today because it wasn't that cold out and it was snowing. Oh well....I am just happy that Steve fixed the ice skates.

This morning we all went outside to play after breakfast. Here's a little clip of the boys and maddie playing around...it's kinda funny.... (just click on the link)
http://s202.photobucket.com/albums/aa115/kelmichaels/?action=view&current=20071222048.flv
Last night Steve, Ty and I went to the casino....totally LOST. Bummer. But it was fun. That was Tyler's first time at the casino. He lost too though! Loggie and Auntie Lynnie babysat the little girl. They went to a basketball game and Lynn said she was perfect! Oh....this is soooo awesome....While we were driving back from the casino Tyler got a call from his professor to tell him "the billboard of you is now up in North Dakota". The kid is on a fricken BILLBOARD. As in, you are driving down the freeway and you look up and there is a billboard of Tyler. Isn't that just totally awesome? I can't believe he's on a billboard. They'll get photos of it and send it to me so I can post it on the blog. I think I am more excited than anyone here. hee hee.

Here's another picture of today out in the snow... sorry..they are sideways.

Hey, here is a interview that Ty did at school and it's on their internet.....go to this link:

http://www.mnstate.edu/recruitment/students/tyler_michaels.cfm

aaarrgh, I can't sleep at ALL! It's been a long time since I have stayed up this late. Not sure why I get like that but I have always done this my whole life. Anyways.....I am even bored of the computer believe it or not. There really is only so much you can do on the computer, ya know!
I haven't said anything about Madison's latest with the bladder/kidney infection stuff. She is all better from the bladder infection but the doctor's want to do a kidney test on her because her right kidney is a little smaller than the left. Needless to say, we have been very disappointed with how this whole issue has come about because after we had the ultrasound done, they never called us back to let us know anything and then when I called finally to get the results they put me through the "red tape" of saying that nothing was faxed over so I needed to call the uroloigists and then when I called the urologists, they insisted they already had and I needed to then call them back and tell them they had already done it. Then the doctors/nurses didn't know anything still and said they would call me back. So they called and said that her right kidney was slightly smaller than her left kidney but it shouldn't be a concern. Then a week later I got a call saying "pick up her referral to the surgeon's office"....OF COURSE I called there asking what this was about and they didn't know but that was why we should bring her to the referral. So when I called to make the appointment "greg at the front desk" wanted to know why she is being referred and I said because her right kidney is smaller than her left, and he said what other tests have even been done besides the ultrasound and I said NONE! He transferred me to their nurses line to tell them that he doesn't know how to schedule Madison. FINALLY the nurse called me back and said they want this test done and yes, it will be tramatizing with a cathidar but they can give her laughing gas while putting the cather in but not for the whole procedure.........and although the nurse was really nice I asked her what are the concerns with her kidney being smaller and why would she be put through this to find out what? Anways....there was alot more questions and "what if's" and I said I perfer not to put her through an unnecessary test like this and I would need to talk to my husband before I make any appointments.....Anways....Steve and I both discussed this and we have decided that we will not put Madison through this test unless there is another reason down the line to put her through that. We just can't do it because we know what she had was a bladder infection and there were NO signs of anything kidney related. She took the medication for the bladder infection and just like when I have had one, the meds take about 1 day to work which they did on her and she's never had a problem since. We are both sure it is because we probley wiped the wrong way when she went poopies. We are both content with our decision on this. Poor little Madison. You can't always trust what the doctor's say and sometimes need to use your own judgement. Which we BOTH are in this case. I am sure they do not like it when a parent goes against their wishes but sometimes it is necessary. I trust my instincts a hell of a lot and with Steve backing that up it's even more so.
Oh, I hear the little boogers up.....maybe I am typing too loud.

Here's a layout I made of us making cookies on Saturday afternoon....

Well, I FINALLY finished the downstairs bathroom. Once again....I will never paint red again because it is just too hard and seriously way too may coats of paint to put on! Here are some photos....BTW Steve did a fabuolous job on the chair rail that he put up in there! Pretty professional looking on his part. My part was so-so....still not particuarlly happy with my painting, but it's OKAY.

These are the brown and red towels that I bought to go downstairs. Now I just need to find a picture to put in there but I am not in a rush for that!

Did I already mention on Saturday me and Madison went over to Barbies to make Xmas cookies with Nikki and Kylee and Kim, Kayla and Haley? We had a ton of fun...

The above picture is us later that night at the "High School Musical on Ice". That was SUCH a good ice show. I never saw the movie(s) but now I want to because it was sooo good.

Well, I just got a kiss from Steve for cleaning today and having supper ready when he got home. He said that is his dream....I told him he was full of it.

Happy Saturday! Me and Madison are getting ready to go down to Barbie's house to make cookies with Nikki and Kylee and Kim and Kayla and Haley. Then we (minus Madison cuz she's too little still) are going to go to the High School Muscial on Ice at the Excel Center. It should be fun. Nice quality time spending with the nieces! I'll have pictures to post tomorrow.

Happy Friday everyone! Not too much to blog about today so I'll start ya off with a photo of Madison in "outspace" with her "friends". She's been on this kick about outerspace lately which is obiviously a daycare creation. Tonight we are going to do FRIDAY NIGHT fun night at the michaels and throw a whole bunch of blankets on the floor and watch movies and eat pizza and popcorn. I am going to try to be good and eat only 1 piece of pizza. Not sure if that will work though. Oh....maybe I'll just make some chicken or something for me cuz seriously...when was the last time I have been able to eat one piece of pizza? I'd say NEVER.

Oh my God these things are just too funny. Here's another jibjab if you even care to see another one. Of course it's funniest when it's you on there vs other people being on it.... here ya go again...

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1359328034

I hope you are able to get that to work (post below). Steve, Madison and I laughed soooo fricken hard watching it. I tried to send it email to alot of people too. I know these are going around the internet right now. They are just so funny. Here's a little hint on getting it to work if it isn't for you....hit play and THEN hit replay. Then it should work!
Today was Madison's last day of swimming! She got a little report card which was so cute. Definetly going to have to scrapbook it! She'll take mommy and me swimming classes until she turns 4 and then they go in the water alone with the instructors. That just seems sooo young to not have Mommy in the water with her...don't cha think? The next thing I am going to sign her up for is taking ice skating lessons. She'll start in Feb. because I just missed the deadline to sign her up for december! She'll be 3 then when she starts. I will have to get her a pair of ice skates pretty soon and I'll try to bring her down to the park as soon as the rinks are ready to skate on. I remember being 3 or so and going ice skating. I think I was 3 anyways...maybe not..... I remember that I had white skates with red trim. Funny how I can remember that. But I loved going skating and always said if I had a little girl she was going to be an ice skater. Me and Kim use to make up these eleborate dances on the ice doing twirls and stuff. We acutally were pretty good skaters for never really having lessons other than the simple ones we took. I do remember taking classes and having to line up to take turns. Anyways...I am sure Madison will kick ass on the ice. hee hee.

Don't send a lame Starring You! eCard. Try JibJab Sendables!

I made some really fun grunge paper and had to make a layout! If you are wondering where we are on our little biz....we are slowly still getting there. Kim has had to take a break the last few weeks because her real job is too stressful right now. And I don't know how to do the part that she is doing with the website right now. I am HOPING for our little store to be open by Valentines Day now. We were shooting for Christmas, but that's not going to happen. Oh well...I am not really in a rush I guess. We haven't really done anything for 3 weeks now. It gets tiring trying to set everything up. Lots of work involved. And this isn't the fun part either. The fun part is designing. It'll get there. I did manage to lose just about most of my designs though. That SUCKED. I really liked some of the ones that I lost and it's too hard to recreate the items. In fact it's pretty impossible to recreate them excatly. I learned a HUGE lesson.

Tonight is Steve's boss's retirement party. Fun Fun! Tomorrow Steve becomes the ACTING DIRECTOR! That's so exciting. Hopefully all will turn out fine with him becoming the actual Director. Anyways, tonight should be pretty fun. Considering these are all the people that I use to work with. I really do miss working there sometimes. And then again, sometimes I don't. Far too much drama goes on at the DNR. I prefer my life simple and drama free. Or at least try to, hee hee! Grandma Gracie will be watching the little munchkin tonight and then doing a little sleep over here!

We have our last day of swimming tomorrow. I am bummed that it is ending. But we'll take the winter session when it starts.

I am waiting for Grandma Grace to come. We are going to go run to Caribou Coffee and then try to find a dollar store.

Isn't this a cute little layout of Madison? I am just aching to do layouts with some of the papers and frames and stuff I have made and the little stinker is just not participating with the photo opps so I am not having that many great photos to choose from!

Not much going on over the weekend. I cleaned Kim's house on Friday for some extra money and I was soooo exhausted I could barely stand it. How did I have my own little cleaning company ontop of a normal 40 hour work week? I have no clue how I did it. Mind you that WAS a few years ago when I was younger and childless. I guess I never understand how a few minor years and a little 30 pounder *(madison) can tire you out so much! Jeepers!

We went and watched the Vikes win yesterday at a bar. That was fun. Madison was really good and only cried a few times which I am SURE bothered the hell out of people. I told her "there is no crying at bars"......she didn't listen. But it was fun. She was pretty good overall!

Today Madison and I played outside in the cold and snow. It was actually fun. I pulled her in the sled down to the park and just about died from walking up the hill so we could slide down it ONCE. Here is a photo of her today. She would NOT let me take any good photos of her so this was the only good one I got....

It was pretty fun. She was really tired though and kept making me try to pick her up when she'd fall down in the snow. Very hard to do with major winter stuff on. I am sure I burned a few hundred calories this afternoon!

We had swimming yesterday. One class left. Bummer because I really enjoy taking swimming class with Madison. She's been so good in class. We'll end up taking the winter class too, whenever that is. They took photos of the kiddies swimming that they will use for the winter catalog. I hope they use Madison. Here's a class photo...

And then the one above is Madison taking a plastic egg out of the bucket so she can learn to blow the egg across water and then try to practice blowing bubbles which she has yet to do. She tried once in the bathtub and sucked in instead of blowing out and choked on the water, poor little girl. I am sure she's afraid of doing it again.

Not much more is going on. Nor has gone on.

Made these layouts for my last 2 design teams I am on.....obiviously some photos are from last year!

Oh, I was looking through some old pics and saw these cute little ones of Madison from when she used a pacifer and a little blanket. We had to combine the words to bankee-passie because we were so tired of saying the words while we were looking throughout the house 100 times a day for them.....

I think I was having baby pains of wanting another. BUT DON'T WORRY...it's already passed! haha! Everyone once in awhile I'll get the baby pains and then I just have to *think* a little and ****poof**** those thoughts are gone just like that, so nobody get excited. Thankfully that Steve and I go through different phases of this at different times cuz maybe that is how babies are made....when 2 people have insane thoughts at the same time! Just last night Steve said he would do anything to be able to snuggle up and watch a movie uninterrupted! (isn't that sweet? hee hee) The only time we can do that is if Madison is sleeping and since bedtime for all of us seems to be about 7:30 pm (not even kiddin') that never happens.

Oh..I forgot to tell you that we got portraits done of Madison so everyone will get their little pictures of her. Here is the funniest pic of her. It's kinda cute, but crabbiness glore. Holy cow.

Oh...she was SO crabby while we were taking these that I didn't think that I'd be able to keep any of them. But she ended up being her normal cute self after awhile. This is the one we picked.....

She looks like herself in the pic. There were a few other cute ones but her hair looked way too messy. I like this one alot. It's about time I got pictures done. Her last one was her one year old photo. For someone who is absolutely nuts about photos I have done a bad mommy job of professional photos. Her smile savers session at Sears is done in March so I'll try to get another set done by then. Maybe a nice spring picture. The pics come back I think on Dec. 18th so I'll either send them out right away or else I will bring them to Christmas eve.

That's about all I can think of to blog!

Look at Madison's first braid EVER!~ We went to Grandma Gracie's for a sleepover with Auntie Lynnie on Friday night and got snowed in! It was fun. Then we went to Auntie Kimmy's on Saturday night to do our sleepover there! Made it home this morning!
Oh, not excatly sure what Ty's grades are but we got a letter in the mail congratulating him for having over a 3.0 grade point average and now he qualifies for studying in another country if he wishes. I hope he doesn't wish that cuz we hardly see him now...can't imagine if he went to another country! I am sure he doesn't wish to study anywhere other than the United States. Then again...who knows! Glad to hear he at least has a 3.0. Smart feller he is!
Steve is back from hunting. He got a few pheasants he said but didn't bring any home per my request. I still have "issues" with pheasant from the time I was pregant and I literally could smell it driving down the street. I was never so disgusted by a smell in my entire life! Steve is grinding deer meat right now. Ick. I mean it tastes good but I don't care to see how dear sausage is made. gross.

Our son rocks! Our son rocks! We are so proud of him for making the lead...as in Mr. Sweeney Todd himself. It's a musical so I'm even more excited. I have never seen the play before, but Steve has. Not sure when it is but we are so excited for him! Way to go Tyler~whoo hoo!

Today me and Madison went to the Mall of America. She wanted her picture taken in front of one of the big trees on the main floor.

I thought it was so funny that she actually wanted her picture taken. We did see Santa Clause (we didn't get her photo taken) but she got really freaked out by him. I told her that's okay because I yelled across the way that "Madison wants a dolly crib" from him and that he nodded "okay!" I think that's the closest we will get to seeing him. I always felt guilty last year for her not to get her picture taken with Santa cuz the lines were too long and this year it isn't going to happen because she gets too freaked out. I told her that Santa can hear us from far far away. Maybe we'll write him a letter and mail it. Mom...you may be getting the letter if Madison puts a stamp on the letter and we need to ACTUALLY throw it in the mailbox. Anyways...we went on a few rides today at the Mall and that was about it. She has it down today to wanting to go on the carosouel *(which I got yelled at by the lady who ran the ride because I was also on a animal and not chaparoning my child. I told her that it wasn't a problem the last time we rode but I'll happily not ride and chaparone my child) and the frogger. I took some film footage of her going on the frogger but I'll spare ya cuz it really isn't that exciting watching a child go up and down with their little leggies bouncing. That's all she wanted to do and then she wanted her habitual ice cream cone that we get everytime we go to the mall.

That's about it. Oh, tomorrow we will be doing a sleepover at Grandma Gracie's with Auntie Lynnie. Steve is going to go down to Jim and Alexis's to do some pheasant hunting.

Steve got to bring home a deer yesterday that the conservation officers confinsated from a illegal hunter. Now we'll have about a year's worth of meat again. I seriously think we went a whole year of not having to buy hamburger. I don't know if you get grossed out from deer meat, but we like it. Madison does too.

100 posts!

This post celebrates my 100th post. Wow....I need a life.

Here's a cute little picture I took of Madison today after I cleaned my mirror!

Well, gotta go to the gym...I told Steve to MAKE me go and I have just been sitting at the computer procrastating going....and NOW he just yelled at me, so I gotta go! Bye!

Did I ever happen to mention that I am STILL painting my downstairs bathroom? I am seriously on about the 9th coat of RED paint. Did I mention to tell you to NEVER paint a small bathroom red? Oh my God, I have never been so frustrated in my life, nor have I ever done such a shitty job painting something in my life. I pride myself with my skill on painting and I am just down on myself with how I have done this bathroom. However the good news is I am almost done now, but jeez!!!!!!!!!!! I will take a photo of the "after" when I am done buying some new towels for it as well as some rugs. I am going with brown and reds. Maybe once everything is in it will look okay. Just not all that proud of my own doings!

Oh....I haven't told you the latest and greatest of Steve's little "trying to find a hobby" stint. He made a crab tower for Madison's fish tank. By the way, our jurrasstic park fish (the honking HUGE goldfish that we had) died. Finally. I am not sad one bit. They were freaky fish if you ask me. Anyways....Steve is into buying madison little crabs and little fish now for the tank. The crabs need something to crawl upto the top so they can apparently get a breath of air and Stevie boy made something for them to do that. I actually am impressed by his artistic ability. I laugh over this crab tower because when ever I find something I like his words are..."I can make that!". This time he made it for real. Here's a little photo of it.

It's made out of concrete and is super heavy. Steve just called and asked if I could take a picture of it and send it to work because his coworkers thinks he's nuts and they don't get it. That's why I remembered to blog about it!

Happy Thanksgiving.

Did everyone have a good thanksgiving? We did! It was nice having T-Day over at Grandma Gracie's house and then a little dessert (just me and Madison having dessert) over at Todd and Maria's house. Didn't eat too much, thank God!

Saturday we went over to my cousin's house who was having a bday party for her daughter's 1st birthday. Her name is Daisy. Isn't that cute? I LOVE that name. It was a 9am breakfast party which was actually really nice! We took this little photo of us there...

Those were the cute little tiera's that all the little ones got to wear at the party. Not much more is going on that I have to blog about.....Ty went back to school yesterday. It was nice for him to be home and spend a little quality family time. Didn't see him too much as he was out with his friends but he was home with a friend on Sat. night so that was fun. I had my nieces come over and we scrapbooked and watched "knocked up", which is a great movie to rent if you haven't seen it. Oh...that reminds me, I forgot to tell you that I shopped on Black Friday! It was a blast. I acutally got done with ALL my Christmas shopping. Not only that, I actually WRAPPED all the presents too. The only thing that I need to get now is stocking stuffers. Oh, that was just so much fun. I had a really good time. I probley had a good time cuz I got to spend money shopping.

Tonight I am going out to eat with a few high school friends! That's about it. Have a great week everyone!