WEEK THREE - SO MUCH, IT'S A PICTURE POST

We have had a busy three weeks! It is flying by so fast. I really need it to slow way down!!!

Monday, Maggie and I went and hung out with Jenny and Will. (Yes, we hang out with them all the time, but it is so much fun!) We live three blocks from each other!!! Will had his 18 month appt. so we made our way back home and ate lunch and just hung out for the afternoon. I got busy and made dinner while Maggie napped. It was Maggie's first night to try Spaghetti! She made a big mess. Next time I will put something down on the floor! It was a big mess, but fun to watch her! That was the only day we got a solid meal down her. She now has a habit of chewing for a bit, then hoarding food in her mouth and finally spitting it out! Yuck is right!!! If you have any suggestions or tips on stopping this, let me know.


Tuesday, Maggie and I walked to the park to meet up with Michael and Stacy. We played at the park and then hit the splash park. It was so fun. Michael is a fun playmate! He just had so much fun! Afterwards, we headed over to Stacy's house to hang out with her mom, Jenny, Will and Stacy's other little boy Jonathan! We ate pizza and hung out. The kids had a lot of fun, and the moms enjoyed our time as well.


Wednesday was a boring day for Maggie. I cleaned! Yes, I cleaned. My wonderful husband who cleaned the last time was nowhere to be found! I guess his one stop cleaning gig is over! It is up to me now to keep up with the house. It is not my favorite job, so I put it off as much as I can! I am really bad!! I think I surprised Jack with a clean house! After dinner we headed outside to play. It was s hot night, but I felt Maggie needed to play with her backyard toys! She had a blast and once again cried for 20 min. when we came inside.


On Thursday we went and met dad for lunch, saw my friend Teresa at work, and stopped by my mom's work and went and saw the airplanes.


Maggie, didn't want to leave her daddy. Can you tell from this picture who is a daddy's girl? This is what happens every time he leaves. We might have to cut out lunches with daddy. Car rides home are not fun for mommy!!!

Maggie also didn't take a nap on Thursday. It made for a long day. Daddy was not home for dinner, so we hit our favorite spot with Will and Jenny and had dinner. It was great, the kids were great, and we had leftovers!!!

We hit the library on Friday again with our friend Will. They really love hanging out and having fun. After the library we made our way to run some errands and then met back up with Jenny and Will for our leftover lunch! It was a lot of fun.


On Saturday we spent the day doing my favorite thing, shopping for Maggie! I can't get enough of it. When we got home Maggie wanted to be like me. She took my car keys, got her purse, and my glasses and took off for her car. I guess we go to many places in one day.

I have to add in the picture as well. Everyday I tell Maggie it is time to go. She has it in her head that she needs to gather up everything and take it to the car with her. It is amazing what that girl gets into her hands. I had to take a picture to show you how funny it is!


On Sunday I went to a baby shower for my friend Jenni, and afterwards we went to the lake. Here is Maggie hanging out in the air condition! She is one smart cookie!


After two attempts, she finally decided she wanted in the water! She had so much fun. She would sing and talk and try to dip her head in the water. The life jacket holds her back from doing that. Overall, it was a great day!!!

WEEK TWO! FATHERS DAY

Week two has come and gone. I am very sad that it seems to be going so fast. On Monday, Maggie and I went to explore daddy's new office. We stopped by our friend Will's house on the way and played a little bit. Of course mommy didn't have her camera with her as we played and visited daddy. While at daddy's office we toured and met a lot of people. We had a lot of fun. Maggie did walk away with a prize from daddy's office. She got a ball. We have had so much fun with that ball.

On Tuesday, Maggie and I ran some errands and ate lunch with Jenny and Will. I had a workshop to go to, so Maggie hung out with Jenny and Will. They had lots of fun taking naps together and then playing. Wednesday was pretty much the same way. I had a workshop, so we went to the park in the morning and then ended up for lunch at Aunt Amy's where Maggie hung out and took a nap. Her cousins were so upset, because they wanted some play time with her.

Thursday was a fun day. We went to Stacy's house to play with Michael, Jonathan and help watch Will. The kids made a mess. It was so fun. We stayed for lunch and then went home and took a nap. It was a long week!

Friday is our library day. We meet up with Kinsley, Madison, and took Will along. The kids just have a good time. Here is a picture of Will and Maggie waiting on the bubbles. I have to get the other girls as well.



After the library we headed out to feed the ducks. Maggie loved this. I was so worried that she would fall into the lake. She did great, and we had lots of fun!!



Saturday Maggie and Jack had a father daughter day. They went to the park, ran some errands, and just hung out at home. I on the other hand went to Student Teacher training. I will have to keep you posted on that!!!

Sunday was Fathers Day! I can't tell you how much I love Jack and the fact that he makes a wonderful father. Maggie is a daddy's girl! She loves him so much and runs to him everyday when he gets home. He takes such good care of her and I and has been so wonderful. He wins father of the year in my book. (Don't tell him I said something so cheesy!!!)

After some yummy cinnamon rolls for breakfast we meet my dad for lunch at the lake. It was a lot of fun testing out the new restaurant.



After nap time, we went to Lori's house for a continued fathers day celebration. We had burgers and a great dessert. It was just a portion of our family, and it turned out to be a great time. Maggie and Kennedi (Kiki) had so much fun. They played all night! Maggie didn't make it to be until 10:30. Wow! She slept great for me the next morning!





Wow, we have really done a lot! I promise this week has been a lot better with my camera! I have been taking it everywhere! I really have been enjoying every moment of our time! We have no plans this week, so we will see where it will take us!

WE'RE BACK - WEEK ONE DOWN

We made it! I survived yet another school year. I would say out of 10 years of teaching that it was the longest one. I am done, so I guess you can say how exciting it is! Last week was my official first week of summer. It was a great first week. Maggie and I did something everyday!!! Here are our journeys!

We kicked off summer with a visit from Thomas and Amy. (Jack's brother and sister in-law) Caroline, their little girl, is about a year older than Maggie. She is a pretty amazing kid. She does so much and is fun to be around. I had to work on the Saturday of their visit, but they made their way to the splash park right by our house. From the million pictures that they took, you can tell they had so much fun.


On Monday Maggie had to go give blood. It was not a good experience. She gives blood about every quarter if not more for her thyroid. They have to check and make sure it is all good. Let's just say it took them four pokes of a needle to draw the blood. I had to hold her down as three different people poked her! It was awful! We did however follow it up by going swimming with my sisters. Maggie had the best time.

I once again forgot my camera on Tuesday, but we delivered mommy's kids Six Flags tickets. (Yes, I forgot to pass them out, so I hand delivered them!) Then, we went to our friend Stacey's house for lunch, nap time, playtime and dinner!! We had a lot of fun hanging out!

On Wednesday we did a day full of laundry, hanging out with mommy, and celebrating my sister Amy's birthday. We baked her cupcakes, and went to Jason's deli for dinner. It was lots of fun! We are going on a big family vacation this summer, so we had to make the big decision to cancel our trip. We are no longer going to Gulf Shores, but we are going to hit the friendly Texas beaches. We will be staying on Crystal Beach. It should be a much different experience for us. We are very excited just to have a place to go.

Here is where I remembered to bring my camera with me!

On Thursday, we headed out to Northeast Mall. We meet up with one of my best college friends and her daughter. Janet and Maddie are always fun to hang out with. Maggie and Maddie played in the play part, and put up with us as we went shopping. It was lots of fun. Maggie got pushed down by a little girl and suffered a busted lip. It was not a pretty sight. She did bounce back up and kept on going. She is one tough cookie! (Better than her mom!)

We also went and got a hair cut. Maggie set on my lap, and did an okay job. It will just take going more and more to get her use to it. Here she is pre-hair cut! We just did a little trim. She looks so much better. No bangs as of yet. I still love the pony in her hair or a bow!


Friday we went to the library for Story Time. Maggie had so much fun singing and dancing. At the end they had bubbles! "Bubbles," Maggie yells! Can you tell she is so excited. We went from the library over to our friend Jenny's house. Maggie, Will, Michael, and Jonathan all played. We stayed over all day. We even made a night of it! Lot's of fun!!



On Sunday we made our way to the lake for our first trip of the summer. Maggie had so much fun. We hope to do it again over and over. Here she is as we start off on a boat ride!


The first week is down! We had so much fun. We are already halfway through this week. Check back next week for our new adventures!!

MAGGIES FRIST ZOO TRIP

Saturday we got to take Maggie to the Zoo for the first time. My friend Janet had her daughters 4th birthday at the zoo. We packed up the car and made our way to Ft. Worth for the day. It was lots of fun, and a good time. I highly recommend a zoo birthday! Very easy set up, party, and clean up! Plus you don't have to have it at your house!!! Any how, it was a great day. Maggie had lots of fun! Here are jut a few picks of our trip. Check out more of our adventures on www.jackash.smugmug.com

During the party they showed off some animals! My child played with a chair. Next year I think she will really show an interest!! I thought this was a really good pic!


This was a bubble that looked into the water of a fish tank. Maggie had a hard time figuring out the bubble. It was a cute picture of her in it.


Maggie and a giant croc!


Daddy and his little Monkey!


A family shot!


Overall, it was a great day. As we drove home I wished I lived in Ft. Worth sometimes. I just think that city does a fabulous job of making things look great! I get a little jealous sometimes!!

FALLEN OF THE WAGON

I feel as if I have fallen off the wagon! The past few months have been just so overwhelming. I think the craziest I have been in all of my years of teaching. This year I have one of the hardest group of kids. It has really taken over my life. I work so hard at school, and then come home and feel as if I have no energy to do anything. It shows! It shows so much that my husband who stayed home yesterday with our kid got the whole house clean! Yes, my hero came in once again and rescused me. However, I think he draws the line at blogging. So, with a clean house I hope I can get back to the blog world. I will start today with a picture post of our last few weeks! Hope you enjoy.

My sweet little girl!!!


We got a new play set in our backyard. Maggie loves it. We go out almost everynight after dinner as a family and play ball, sidewalk chalk, and climb on the new play set. It has a door and a window part and she will lean out the window and say, "Hi!" It is so cute. We have so much fun.


Max made is First Holy Communion last week. Here is the whole Martin family together!


What a sweet face!

HELP WANTED!

It is that time of year again when I need your help. I know right now we are all very busy. A few months ago I wrote about a sweet little girl name Laurel. Laurel was diagnosed with cancer in February and is now completing a 42 week chemo treatment. It has been really hard on their family, but the Batchelder family is very strong and making the best of the bad situation. Here is how you can help. Every year my school participates in the Frisco Relay for Life. Relay for Life is an event that raises money to help the fight against cancer. I am raising money to help in the fight against cancer. Not only for my family members that have been affected by the disease, but for Laurel Batchelder a 3 year old currently fighting. If you can donate anything, now is your chance. Please go to this website:

http://main.acsevents.org/goto/ashleymartin

Thanks in advance for all that you do. If you can't donate as this time, take the time to go to Laurel's website and read all about her. She really is a beautiful little girl who has so much to look forward to.

Laurel's page: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/laurelbatch"

I leave you now with a picture of Laurel and her little brother.

EASTER 2010

Easter 2010 was Maggie's 2nd Easter. We took her to see the Easter bunny a few days ago and this is what we got. Poor Maggie. Hopefully, one day she will forgive us.


This is Maggie's Easter basket. She got lots of goodies! She didn't pay much attention to it. Hopefully, next year she will get excited!


Here is our family photo. Not the best picture of me, but it's all we got!


We had a busy day. We went to church with my mom then came home and ate lunch with our friends Rick, Stacy, and their kids Michael and Jonathan. After lunch Maggie and Jack napped before we were off to Easter round 2. We headed to my sister Lori's house for dinner and an egg hunt. Lori got a new play yard and Maggie decided to climb up the big ramp to get to the top. She had a few struggles with her dress, but she had lots of fun and did it over and over again.


We had been working at home with Maggie on putting eggs in her basket. She always had no problems, but we never put anything inside. Well, maybe we should have. On Sunday she figured out how to open them and out fell all of the treats.


Maggie dumping all of her treats in her lap. We salvaged a few treats!


Lori had a castle in her backyard. This is where Maggie hung out the majority of the time. She loves to be inside of things. It was so fun just listening to her laugh and peek her head out the window.



We had a great Easter. I can't wait till next year for her to be another year older and to understand more!