I love my sissies, but they need to get a bit more into the "modeling" for their model photoshoot...

The little ones have it down pat!....see?.............

Hee hee, look at this cute photo of Madison this morning. I walked by the door and this is what I saw...
Okay, I have had enough of adding photos to my blog tonight. I am tired.

Here are mine and kim's model shots that we took today. I like them! We went to Kylee's 18th bday party tonight. It was really fun. Here she is with her scratch off tickets. I bought her 18 of them and Grandma Gracie bought her 25. She ended up winning something like 38 bucks off of them or so.....

Even Madison got into the modeling tonight. She was pretty funny....

Do you know that tonight I took 120 pictures? I had a blast taking photos. Here's a little group picture of us without Grandma Gracie....oops, she's in the background I guess, hee hee.

Well, there's not too much to blog about. We are pretty tired. We spent this morning going to the place where you can get wood chips for free and we put them under our pine trees (that I hate). They just needed a little bit of refreshing. Doing that really wore us out. Steve's got a really bad back right now. Poor guy. Guess I could be out there giving him a massage instead of doing modeling pictures.....

Oh what a fun day today. Steve took the day off of work and we went to go see Madison's last day of gymnastics. I do have some video of her but I am too lazy to put it up on screen. Maybe later on.

Here she is at the end when they get little stamps on the hands and feet...

Then we went out on the boat on the lake all day fishing. Never caught one fish...
But I did catch myself one hell of a sunburn. Hey...I know I should use sunscreen but being a 70/80's kid we are lucky that I didn't have oil and the reflective blanket (remember those?) on....
I'm too tired now, but remind me to tell you how we took madison to the park yesterday and I walked over to the ropes part to find my daughter dangling outside the protective area. Oh, I will tell you now....anyways, she had somehow gotten outside the protective area of the ropes area and couldn't get her feeting quite right and was literally hanging on a wall that was about 4 or 5 times her height. Oh, I was so scared shitless. I had just gotten there and saw here and screamed at Steve to "go get her". *I was jumping up and down by the way (I guess that's how I deal with fear..I jump. ha!) and he ran up the ropes the same time another dad ran up there too. I could just cry thinking about my daughter dangling there. She surely would of broken her leg or arm or something if she fell. It was a very scary mommy moment. Steve said he was waiting cuz he thought she'd find her footing. Men, I swear....I don't know what they are thinking. I wouldn't of let more than the mere second I saw her before I'd run up there. And I am not a overprotective type but this was seriously 4 or 5 times her height. God you guys...it was so scary how she got out of the protective area. Not quite sure what happened. She wasn't scared though when it was over because she had to clue what would happen to her if she fell. For SURE a broken bone or worse I guess if she landed on her head, although I don't think gravity would of flipped her over, but I guess you never know. One wrong fall and she could be paralzyed. There...NOW I am being melodramatic. Then again..you never know.

I can't sleep so I made a layout. I actually WAS sleeping but Madison woke me up crying so hard (and loud)...she fell out of bed and was pinned between the wall and the bed frame (we have that big heavy wood frame) while sitting on the floor. I actually thought she was exgaratting but she was really pinned in and after the 3rd attempt I tried to get her off the floor and couldn't I got super pankicy. Steve's sleeping out on the couch and I didn't know if I run out to get him and leave her there alone or if I scream out for him and freak her out even more. Anyways, I ended up acutally lifting up this big heavy frame off of her leggies (it wasn't ON her leg but it was so close to the wall that she couldn't bend them). Don't ask me how I lifted that bed but I did. Must of been the aderaline kicking in. She was hugging me afterwards so hard and I was just shaking like a leaf. That was scary....I didn't know if I broke her legs by getting her out or what. Okay....that was my drama for the night and I haven't been able to get back to bed since. It's now 4:30 am. Maybe I'll go back in and try to sleep. Yes, she fell asleep right away.
You know, this is the biggest blogging day I have ever had. I almost wrote a book today! Aaaaah, the day *and night, in the life of a Michaels.

I was laughing at the caption that I wrote for mom and dad.....it's the Love Boat theme! Anyways, this is one of my favorite pictures of mom and dad. The other one is the one that mom has in her bedroom. You know the one at Fair Hills where both mom and dad are standing in front of the sailboats, in great shape, looking like the athletic family of the century. hee hee.

Here is the last picture I can remember taking with Daddy. Poor daddy. I miss him. But this is the last picture I can remember taking with him. I must of had taken others because this was in 1997 I think. hmmmm. I know Kim has one the night with him before he died. Why don't I have something abit closer than 2 years before he died? But I like this picture of us. It's funny now because you look at him now and he is looking not too good and you can tell that his body is shuting down, but then at that time, you'd never know that's what was going on. I mean, we knew but I didn't know that dying actually has a look. IS THIS A DEPRESSING blog or what? Sorry. Sometimes I just get on here and start typing what I am thinking. I actually don't think it's depressing...I just kinda look at that as a matter of fact and that's that! So, it's not sad to me, but it might be to you...the reader of my fantastic blog. hee hee. See, how I can change the mood right before your eyes and you don't even see it comin'. Anywhoooo...

I finally cleaned Madison's room tonight. I may of mentioned that in my earlier post today (really, how much can I actually have to say anymore?). Thought I'd take a little photo for you disbelievers. Even madison swifted her own floor, with my help of course. I like her new dresser. We finally got rid of the recliner that we've had in her bedroom for all these years. We put it outside on our curb for "Bloomington Curb Clean Up Day" last week. Usually people drive around all day and night looking at other people's junk. It's kinda fun. If I was a drinker, I'd sit out there and make a drinking game out of it. Anyways, no one took the recliner, which I thought was wierd because seriously, if you see what the people driving around takes, you'd be suprised too.
Here is a picture of Madison tonight at the flower shop. We went tonight and picked out our flowers for this year. Steve was going to take me on Mother's Day, but remember I wasn't feeling well and I just wasn't up to looking at flowers then. But tonight was another story. I was bored as hell (after my cleaning episode) and the mintue Steve walked in the door I told him I wanted to go do something and the only thing we could think of was to go get our flowers.

Bought some of our normal impatients and a spikey thing for our front steps. And this year in the back Steve ONLY wants perennials..............so we ONLY got perennials. We didn't even know what we were doing, so if you come to our house and we permanently have these flowers that don't make any sense, you'll know why. I think I finally gave in to his perennial idea sometime last summer when I didn't have the energy to fight. I will surely miss our backyard porch (what the hell is it called? deck? no,....patio is the word I am looking for), our backyard patio filled with tons of pretty flowered pots all over the place. Our pond area will look pretty if what we picked out turns out fine......but we don't excatly know for sure what permanently will be there, will we now? I guess there's always a shovel. I am sure it will allllll work out just fine. Positive thinking kel.

Doesn't this look like Madison? I am going to assume I was 3 1/2 or so in here. I think I totally look like her. Why do I think that's so wierd? She's my kid! Ok...funny, madison just walked in here and I said *in a little kid's tone, "hey madison, does this look like you?" she said "no" and walked out. ha! That's halarious! Maybe it doesn't look like her.
This is the photo that I took it from. Kim always gives me crap when she sees this because of my "low" ponytail. I was going through a sophaticated peroid. I even remember going through that little peroid. Surely didn't last through my adulthood, hee hee. Mom says she hates this photo because she remembers trying to take this so many times. Thank GOD for digital cameras, huh? I am trying to scan all the photos that mom gave me and maybe make a book out of it. I just remember so much about being little that I think it would be cool for madison one day. I kinda always get a bit paranoid that I will put all the work into it and it end up not being around one day, like a fire or something. Which brings me to this weekend was the weekend that I had my fire back in 1999 and lost everything. That must be an aftermath of someone being in a fire, thinking that what ever they have is going to be gone again. It's not like it a total paranoia or something, but I guess somethings that I do I go back to that type of thinking. Anyways...guess I am not sure if I want to put all that work into it or not. But then again, it would of been so cool to read through something like that of mom's with all her childhood memories. So who knows....maybe I will. I guess I would take the time to do any of madison or tyler's stuff so why not my stuff, right? Dang right I am worth it. hee hee. Nice motavitional talking I did to myself. I am worth spending the time on my own little book. I sound like the guy from Saturday night live....you all know who I am talking about.
Oh, speaking of tyler. He called the other night and said that he got a 200 dollar scholarship from school. Not really sure who or what again...but hey, that's awesome! We also hear that he is going to chicago to go perform with the bearded men group at 2nd city, which is a famous improv theather which is known for hosting Saturday NIght live people. Wow...is this blog just flowing with talking about one thing and it leading into another with similar tone. This is a photo I took off of the bearded men's website. Obivously Ty is in the middle of doing some type of improv.
Well I had best get going. I just feel like sitting here and blogging. But again, I will say it...I sure in hell have alot of nothing to talk about. Just wait until I actually have a subject to talk about and see where that goes;)

people...is is ever going to become summer out? I don't think so. Technically it really only is may something...i don't even know the date, but it's the mid of may so that's fine and all, but I look at the other end of summer where it can technically get cold at the end of aug so we could have a really short summer.
That was nice polite talk, huh...about the weather!
Oh...I have decided it's time to take the "boot" off. I couldn't stand it any longer and for the most part it feels okay. After weighing myself this morning and seeing that I have gained 5 lbs, okay actually 4 lbs that I need to start walking. So I am going to try to go walking and see what happens. 2 weeks of being inactive and all more has gone to hell than the original "gone to hell". Jeepers.
Madison and I are going to run to Target AGAIN. I am so sick of that store. She needs more medication though so we have to. She has totally associated Target with Starbuck's cookies. My bad. Totally my fault! Darn. Live and let learn..........
It looks like the sun is peeking in. There I go again with polite talk. We may have to go to the park which for some reason I absolutely LOVE going to the park this year. Last year I always kinda dreaded going for some reason. Not sure what that was about. I expecially love watching how Madison interacts with other children. She is so positive and outgoing and friendly. Always introduces herself to the other kids (hi, I am madison and I am 3) and shares her stuff with them. They on the other hand aren't always so friendly back which of course breaks my heart. You can tell the kids that go to daycare, have older sibblings or go to school. They interact so much more. But that doesn't always mean they are friendly or will share. I have realized how advance Madison is with her speaking and social skills. Also her coordination. Maybe she's normal and some of the other kids her age are behind. Not sure but there is definetly a difference. I guess it's nice to know that she is holding her own with her development. Now, if we could only get her to sleep in her own bed. Which is the latest issue I am having with her. I am going to make a star chart and start using that soon. Kim and Tom gave us Kayla's old bedroom set *dresser and headboard, and we are going to take down her toddler bed and put up the twin bed because she never used her toddler bed anyways. Anyways, that is what we have to work on. I still don't know how we got in the habit of her sleeping in our room but that has to stop. I guess I know...it was easier. Trying to take the easy way out. Which bums me out because the whole time she was a baby, not once did we ever bring her in to our bed. That would of made life sooo easy back then if I did that. If I could of forseen the future and know we'd be going through this NOW, I would of just said, the hell with it and brought her into bed. By the way, the dresser looks good in her room. I am tempted to change the paint in her room, but I am not sure. I like how it looks I guess.
Madison is sitting on my lap right now. I'll let her type out a sentence or a word.
daddy
She wanted to spell out daddy. She does a good job of finding her letters on the keyboard.
Guess I should go now. She's eating a freeze....and it's dripping on me. I have another thing to work on...her nutrition. She had fruit for breakfast but she always thinks she'll get a treat after she eats breakfast, lunch or supper. She doesn't need a treat every time. At least she gets in alot of fruits and veggies and good stuff for her. I'd still like to take her off of alot of foods, like hot dogs though.
Madison wants to spell tyler now...
tyler michaels

Tyler sent me the nicest mother's day card! I was so surpised. Even more surprised when Steve laughed and said that he didn't even remind him to. It was such a nice card! Nikki sent me an "aunt" mother's day card too! That was awesome. I didn't know that they had auntie mother day cards. Thanks Nik! (I know you are reading this at work RIGHT NOW)!
Madison went potties in the potty chair for real again tonight. She even said that "she felt like she had to go" and then got out of the tubbies and sat on the potty chair! That was great! She wants to wear a pull up to now and it's bed time.........we put one on her but I am going to change it into a diaper for bed because this is all really just luck and it's not like it down to a science yet.
I still am pretty sick. Such a horrible, horrible sinus infection. I was looking on the internet about remedies and then I read, "could lead to brain infection"....jeepers. Not info I was looking for. Of course this information is just sitting in the back of my head. My brain that could become infected.
Gotta go to bed and watch the finale of the HILLS. Stupid show but I'm sucked into it.

Here is my mother's day photo for this year. I am sicker than sick and I guess I don't really care what I look like. Or else that's just age. Must just be because I am sick. Because I guess I wouldn't be embarassed if I didn't care. I have a horrible sinus infection and it feels like someone hit me in the face really hard. My teeth really, really hurt. Very annoying pain if you have never had a sinus infection. Anyways, I finally crawled out of bed this morning. I actually didn't crawl, I kinda got dragged out my madison and steve, which was good because I'd probley still be laying there since I have been since friday night. I never got up yesterday except one time to go out in the living room.

Other than that, this has been a nice mother's day. This morning we went fishing...

We each caught some little fish. It was fun. Then we went to the big park and played. Well, I sat and steve played with madison. Then we went home and steve right now is cooking us steaks and later on we'll go to dairy queen. They also bought me the new neil diamond CD for my present. So over all it's been really nice.
Speaking of mommy's, mine has pneumonia in both of her lungs. She still doesn't feel well and will go back to the doc's on Tuesday. Scary. Hopefully she'll get better between now and then.
Have a good mother's day to all the mommy's out there! And if you aren't a mommy, I also hope you have a good day today too. I know how hard it was for me wanting to be a mommy and wasn't and then mother's day came and it was kinda sad. So if you aren't a mommy, hope you have a great day!

Hey Mom...I finally found the letters that you gave to Madison for her bday! I don't know how I couldn't see them in her armoire but there they were, as clear as day! Anyways...tonight we played around with them...
We spelled all of our names. Steve wanted to throw in the word "baby" to put in the picture and I thought that was mean cuz it wouldn't be funny...everyone would think we were preggers. AND WE'RE NOT! He apparently thought it would be funny. Thank God I am here to straighten him out.
I LOVE these next 2 photos of Madison! These are the money shot photos that I was looking for earlier! The top one doesn't even look like her body is connected to her head. I am laughing so hard right now. But it doesn't, does it? She has such a large head and such a small body.
Could you get any sweeter than this? I LOVE it when she plays along with the camera. If she did this all the time, I'd be in heaven. You know there will be more of these photos popping up in my layouts that I do. They are so cute!
Oh, here is my solution to her bangs.......just shove em' up there in a ponytail. Looks cute on her. I like her hair off of her face.
Anyone getting sick of this dress yet? Probley the best 20 bucks I have ever spent! It's starting to get really raggedy though. I hate to see the meltdown that occurs when the dress has to be tossed.........anyone want to watch her that weekend? It'll be worse than getting her off the bottle or getting rid of her pacifier.
I TRIED to mow the lawn tonight. Pretty dang hard to do while you are wearing "the boot". I usually love doing it so Steve told me to try. I could only get done with 1/2 of it before my leg starting hurting bad. We have both agreed that I have done pretty good without bitchin' about my leg. Pat myself on the back for that:) I just wish I could go workout. I really want to go walking. That I really miss and it's only been a week.
Today down at the park I flew the kite that was at the scene of the incident. I got it really high up in the air. It was pretty cool. Don't ask me why but I am obsessed with getting a kite super high up and keep it there. In my mind, it's windy-er up there and I think once it's up, it will stay up. I have yet to prove my therory. Not that it's a therory. Come on people, we are talking about MY mind! You never know what I am going to think up. Anyways...that's how I tore my calf muscle...trying to prove a therory that only exists in my mind. No wonder I am on meds:)

Here's Madison with the little bubble blower machine that I bought at target! It makes a ton of bubbles. I have to do something with these bangs again....jeepers.

Here we are this morning at the park. It was sooo nice out and I decided to try and clean abit before we went to the park and then when we got there the storm blew in. Bummer. Last time I try to clean! ha! I'll tell that one to Steve. I was able to get her bangs back in a binder so that's good!

We have fun at Jim and Alexis's. Pretty much relaxing for us which is kinda hard for us to do. We both didn't know what to do without Madison for 2 days. We can handle one day without her but 2 is kinda pushing it unless we are actually going somewhere or doing something. Sitting a relaxing just ain't our thang. Don't get me wrong...it was fun down on the farm at Jim & Alexis's...we had a good time. Just wierd without this little thing constantly talking to us or walking into us or having a fit and crying!

NO more crutches...they gave me "the boot". Lovely, huh? It'll take 6 weeks to heal. That's just great! Mid june I'll be able to be done with the boot.

OMG I can't stand her bangs any longer. Can you? Am I going to make it growing them out? I don't know guys.....this may not happen.
I'm looking a bit busty in here. Some people wish this...I don't.

Isn't this kinda cool? The two of us have the same smile...I still see more of Steve in her than me. Well, everyone is sleeping but me. I thought I'd come here and see the 155 pictures I took of Madison outside in her little princess dress. I only got a couple of good shots out of all those photos. I am sure most would think they all pretty much turned out good but I am looking for the money shot. And I didn't really get one out of all those photos! Bummer. Such of a life in the day of a model. Or photographer. Gotta go to bed now. Nighty night.

Yep..here I am on crutches. What did I do you ask? I got a kite injury. We were down at the park last night flying a kite and I turned around to run with the kite and I pulled a calf muscle. The doctor thinks that I tore the actual calf muscle fibers. How gross is that? I heard and felt a "pop". How gross. Anyways, it's literally a pain in the ass with first, trying to walk and now second, trying to use crutches and 3rd, trying to "take it easy"...yea right, when have I ever taken it easy? It's VERY hard to sit still. Poor me. It took me 38 years to get my first pair of crutches. Madison was funny last night because she was imitating me walk. Anyways, I am sure these crutches aren't the most body flattering thing in the world....of course I am worrying about that! Oh, which brings me to the point that do you people realize that I can't work out at all? This is horrible, just completely horrible. Once again, not that you can even tell that I work out, but OhMyGod....now I can't work out. This is not how I envisioned summer would start. I don't know how long this is going to last. God, I have a feeling it's going to take a long time to heal. Maybe if I walk around with the crutches alot it will burn calories or at least keep (first it has to get) my arms fit. Oh, then today I found out my gym is closing down. This is my cute little gym right by my house. Oh, what a horrible day for news. This means my tanning bed is going away. I can't possibly drive far just to go tanning. Yes, people...this is the stuff I worry about. I will TRY to look at all this positive. But it's sooo hard. Poor me. I am having a pity party for myself. I just hope it doesn't take too long to heal. sigh.
This weekend we are going down to Jim and Alexis's house. Grandma Gracie is going to watch Madison. It should be fun. It's too hard to bring Madison down to their house.......or to anyone's house. She just gets into everything and is so loud! Anyways, it'll be nice to get away for a day/night or so. Talk to you all later!

These are for the lady I do layouts for...kinda cool...sorta looks like ads.

Oh my God, how cute can one kid get? hee hee. I just wanna give her huggies!
Okay...I guess these are cute enough to make up for Inked Edges to sell. Here are mine that I just created....I guess to everyone these just look like layouts. They are actually premade layoutouts and you just put the photos in place. Anyways...I think mine are alot cuter.

Oh..look at my sculpted arms....sigh. You'd never know that I now go to the gym 5-6 days out of the week. I got to quit looking at these photos. sigh....