More Cider

Sunday after church we couldn't resist going back out to Spicer's Apple Orchard for more cider and donuts. This time we actually went and watched some of the cider being made and spent some time feeding the baby farm animals.

Yum, more cider and donuts!

Drinking cider from a straw this time

Moo!!

Maddy feeding a goat

Maddy looking at all the animals

After the cider mill, we watched the Lions get their butts beat and watched the live updates for the Packer/Chargers game. Jason was pretty devastated by the Lions game, but Maddy and I couldn't have been happier by the outcome of the Packers game! 3-0, but then again who's keeping track! :)

Maddy in her Packer gear from the week...slippers

Am I a good luck charm or what???

Detroit Zoo

This Saturday we went to the Detroit Zoo with Mike, Marnie, and Kendal. The weather was absolutely beautiful again this weekend so it was just the perfect day to be outside enjoying the weather with the kids visiting the animals. The girls really seemed to enjoy themselves...they both missed their naps but were troopers the entire time and we were there for 5 hours. We weren't all that impressed with the zoo itself as it was really hard to see the animals, but we still got quite a show from a chimp and two grizzlies...just not the kind of show we were looking for.

Here are the girls ready to go.

We actually didn't set them up for this shoot. Mike, Marnie, Jason, and I were talking in the driveway and all of a sudden we noticed the girls were sitting next to each other on the step. Yes, they were actually getting along within a foot of each other. Actually, they got along really well all day. They even walked together at the zoo...

...holding hands!!!

...and sat by each other on the tiger!!!

...and looked at the swimming turtles together!!!

....and even the alligators!!!

and sat by the snake and eggs without hitting one another!!!

Maddy really enjoying seeing all the animals, but her favorite display was definitely the prairie dogs. She just loved them!

Enjoying the prairie dogs with dad!

A close second would be the reptile display...she wouldn't get her joy of reptiles from me...I was terrified!

Who's winning this stare down?

Maddy enjoyed her first taste of cotton candy too!


All in all, it was a great day! Next year we are going to try out the Toledo zoo instead.

Sleepover at Grandma Nancy's

Maddy had a sleepover at Grandma Nancy's on Wednesday night. Nancy wanted to spend some time spoiling her granddaughter so she asked to take her for a night. I, of course, hate being away from my little stinker so it was pretty hard on me being here while she was away. Nancy had her all day yesterday and then brought her back for dinner. They had a great time together visiting grandpa and her great grandparents.

Cider Mill

This past weekend was a relaxing, beautiful weekend. We took advantage of the gorgeous weather and spent most of Saturday cleaning up Maddy's little pool and all her outdoor toys and putting them away for the winter, while Maddy enjoyed just being outside.

Where did all my toys go?

Sunday, Jason and I enjoyed a few games of testy toss while Maddy played outside sporting her Packer turtleneck (fits a little better than the cheerleading skirt). We had the game on my computer with live updates and believe it or not but the Packers won again! YEAH 2-0!


After the game, we decided to take a quick trip to the cider mill for cinnamon sugar donuts and apple cider.

Maddy had her first taste of apple cider...

...and liked it and wanted "MORE"
(she's giving the sign for more)

Yum!

On another side note, Maddy has been upgraded from her high chair to her booster seat. She has been eating at the table with Jason and I now for about a week. Its so much fun eating together as a family.

Having Fun With the Neighbors

This past week Maddy has had a couple different play dates, 2 with Kendal during the week, and then 1 with both Kendal and Ben on Friday. The kids really have a lot of fun together. Maddy even said "Ben" this weekend while pointing at his picture of the fridge. She sure has a crush on him. She treats him way better then she does Kendal. Ben is on the verge of walking, so soon enough he will be running around causing problems with the girls.

Maddy and Kendal enjoying their corn

Don't look so happy girls!

Kendal eats her ice cream just like her dad

Maddy, Kendal, and Ben playing at the mall
(Maddy was a bit bossy on the playground, telling all the big kids "no,no" whenever they got in her way; she even had a 9-year-old tattle on her)

Getting ready for Halloween

Here's some video of lil' Ben taking a few steps...

Ben's birthday is less than 2 weeks away as you can hear me say in the video. We are excited for his party!

Thanks for the Corn Grandpa!

Maddy loves it!

Go Packers!

Oh yeah...its true....the Packers actually won today! The Packers have a better record than the Wolverines. Maddy and I watched the game together and had a blast. I squeezed her into her Packer cheerleading outfit just for the occasion.

Touchdown Packers!!

Halftime ride in the wagon

"Nice mini-skirt Maddy"
"Read my finger mom, that's what I think of you"

"Kendal where are your clothes"
She must be too embarrassed to wear her Browns outfit
(Can't blame her...I would be too)

Big Girl

Just a little note for my own archives.

Maddy has been off of the bottle now for almost a month (started weening a little before 14 months). She has a few melt downs every now and then, and walks in the kitchen to where her bottle warmer was and screams with her arms reaching up for the bottle. We have to try to just distract her but it wasn't so easy at bed time. She is used to always having a bottle right after bathtime before bed. To get through this time I've allowed her to lay in bed with me and read books until she gets tired. Then I turn off the light and let her fall asleep. She is basically over it all now.

The first canine (upper right) tooth broke through this past weekend (Labor Day). Maddy now has thirteen teeth.

Maddy still is not really talking. Every once and awhile she will randomly repeat something you said like "Silly Goose," "Oh Shoot," "Wet," but nothing when you ask her to. She has also said "Cheetoh" a few different times when over at the Schmidts (their dog's name is Cheetoh). She has tried saying "Juice" and "All Done" a few times too but won't repeat it. Her favorite word is definitely "NO, NO." She has that down great, especially when she wants to boss her puppies around.

Labor Day Weekend

What a blast we had this past weekend up north! Crazy and busy...just the way I like it! This year was even crazier than most as my parents house is under construction so my parents, my sister and her family, and Jason, Maddy, and I all squeezed into my parent's 1000 sq. ft. apartment above their garage. There wasn't even enough beds so my parents actually ended up in their fifth wheel out in the driveway. It was so much fun being crammed into such a small space together. :)

The weekend started with a big hit on Saturday afternoon. We had a surprise 60th birthday party for my mom. It wasn't easy getting her to the lodge, but we managed to pull it off. I wish I had some pictures from the party but I was so busy visiting with family and friends that I never got the camera out. So many people met Maddy for the first time and couldn't believe how much she looks like her momma! It is so weird to hear people say that as everyone thought she was 100% Jason as a baby.

After the party we went swimming at the Holiday Inn Express. A bunch of family from out of town were staying there so it was a perfect stop to let the kids swim, while the adults visited. Of course, Jason and I ended up in the pool.


Swimming lasted until almost 9 pm. Just in time for a 4th meal run to A&W for some root beer floats.

Jason, Maddy, Mom, Joe, Jordyn, and Brooke

Ummm...I love a good root beer float

Sunday morning started early so we could all make it to church. We some how managed to even get their 10 minutes early. My parents were late though as they had to go get my brothers 3 kids, so that he could take Laura (my sister-in-law) to the ER. All the kids went and played in the nursery. Maddy apparently had a great time and even behaved herself.

Jordyn, Maddy, Izzy, JohnV, Brooke, and Jack

Grandma and Grandpa Kreider came along this trip too. So after church she got a ride with grandpa to the car. She just loves his wheel chair.

Maddy riding with Grandpa Kreider

Maddy driving Grandpa Kreider's electric chair

After church its tradition to eat lunch at Storheims (similar to a Culvers...yummy, greasy food and custard). We had a great time as always making quite a scene with all the kids. We had to kinda hurry off and forget ice cream because we needed to get ready for the water ski show. Both of my brothers and my nieces Jordyn and Brooke are part of an amateur water ski club that puts on a show all summer long and Labor Day weekend is the last of the year. Again I forgot to pull out my camera as it was a bit crazy. After the show, we all packed up and headed out to camp for the night. We had a great time walking through the woods and riding the 4-wheeler up and down the dirt roads.

Jordyn, Maddy, Izzy, and Brooke posing on a rock out at the Shanty

Lexi joins the other girls

Look out Maddy's driving
(Brooke, Izzy, Jordyn, Jaelyn, JohnV, and Maddy)

Maddy had a minor accident out at camp. She pushed through the screen on the sliding door and fell right on her face. She fell only two steps, but right onto the concrete. Her nose took the brunt of it.

Surprisingly, we got all the kids to bed without a fight but we all ended up sleeping. Not a single game of cards was played. It was pretty disappointing. We are just getting too old. In hindsight it was a good thing we all went to bed early because the night was more eventful then we had anticipated. My mom showed up to get my brother Joe just before midnight. The headlights of her car, of course, woke us all up. Laura was back in the hospital with viral meningitis. Everyone fell back asleep after they left, until Jordyn woke up at about 2 am crying. She was running a fever and had a horrible headache. I was now in charge of her since Joe left so I was trying to stay calm and help her fall back asleep. I ended up double dosing her with Maddy's infant motrin. She felt better in the morning and was so grateful for auntie's love and care. In the morning, I took all the girls for another 4-wheeler ride as the guys cleaned up the cabin.

The Overnight Gang
(Brooke, Jordyn, Izzy, Jaelyn, Jaclynn, and Maddy)

We spent the whole day on Monday out at the river. We had a great barbecue feast and the weather was just perfect.

Cousin Labor Day Photo Shoot

The kids played in the water and most of them even tried skiing.

Brooke Waterskiing!
Izzy Waterskiing!
Jaelyn Waterskiing!
JohnV Waterskiing!

Next year it is Maddy's turn.

Maddy was having so much fun that she didn't nap all day long except for the 15 minutes in the boat while Jason was skiing. I got to do a little swivel skiing with my cousin and then went off the jump for my brothers entertainment (my brothers can talk me into almost anything). He was hoping I would fall but I didn't. I hadn't jumped in 15 years so I was pretty nervous. My landings weren't pretty but who cares I made it.

Here's the Proof

The weekend was just so much fun, hence the long post. I love spending time with all my family, especially the nieces and nephews. Maddy is really starting to fit in with all the other cousins now too so it is a lot of fun to watch her interact with them. John V and Maddy are still the two to watch out for because they are double trouble when they are together.

Double Trouble