Valentine's Day

Maddy got her first Valentine from a boy this year. Ben made her a Valentine and cupcakes and Maddy was very excited about it. Thanks Ben!

"I'm Yours Ben" - Maddy

I made Jason and Maddy a big chocolate chip cookie for Valentine's. We have been enjoying it for the last week.


Maddy especially loves the frosting.


The last few weeks I've been under the weather, as was Maddy but she seemed to get over it faster than me. In fact, I got a touch of the flu this past weekend again and spent some time hugging the toilet. Ugh. Maddy on the other got a few days of rest and now is doing tons better.

Sick day position on the coach

We seemed to find the reason for her runny nose and fever...her first 2 year molar is coming in (top left). She had one rough night in which she threw up hot dogs and ketchup all over her crib and was sleeping in it. It was the strangest thing because she didn't wake up until Jason found her. She didn't have a fever or anything either. It was really weird. She is doing great now and has just been a big sweetheart lately. I've loved it, especially since her and I have been spending a lot of one on one time together with daddy working on the basement and now out of town for work.

Other than that a few other things have been going on with us is that we are in the process of getting her to stop sucking her thumb. She is doing really good. We wanted to stop the habit before it got out of control. We put MAVALA on her thumb, which gives off a bitter taste when she puts her thumb in her mouth. It really seems to be working great, but I'm still keeping my fingers crossed.

The other news is that we have officially started finishing our basement as I alluded to earlier. Jason got all the wood in the basement Friday night with the help of our neighbors. Maddy and I went swimming instead. This weekend he got almost all the exterior walls framed in with the help of Greg and Mike. We sure have some great friends that are extremely helpful. Maddy and I got to spend some time with Sarah and Ben on Saturday while Greg helped Jason and then with Kendal Saturday night and Sunday night while Mike and Jason were working. The kids all did really well this weekend. They seem to do better in pairs then when they are all together. I gave Maddy and Kendal and bath after dinner and took this picture. Are they cute?


Here is a picture of the two of them from last summer taking a bath together. Look at how much they have grown up. They especially have a ton more hair now.

Playing in the Snow

This winter Maddy has really enjoyed playing outside in the snow. She just loves being outside and hates when it is time to come in.

Playing in the snow with daddy

Helping daddy shovel the driveway

What a helper!

Eating the snow

Papa Jack made Maddy a slide the weekend that he came to visit. She had a lot of fun sledding down the slide.


Grandpa spoiled Maddy too by giving her rides around the house in the sled. He has asthma though so he had to take a break. So instead Maddy decided to take her piglet for a ride around the house.

My Parents Visit

This past weekend my parents came down to visit to spend some time with Maddy and to spend my 28th birthday with me. My cousin Christopher came over to visit too. We played a few different board games, dice, cribbage, and a lot of cards. We had a nice dinner at home on Friday night and then went out for a yummy dinner on Saturday night. We had our traditional Subway, taco dip, and oreos for the super bowl yesterday. Since it was my birthday yesterday we had some ice cream cake too at half time of the game. Ugh...this week, we really need to work off all of the food we ate this weekend. We had a lot of fun even though Maddy ended up with a fever and was pretty irritable all weekend, especially yesterday. It was so great having my parents here I just wish Maddy would have been feeling better. She didn't want to leave Jason's side, which made it difficult for my parents to get their time with her. Maddy was especially mean to me yesterday. She would throw a fit if I was around, give me a scowl every time I looked at her, and if I asked her if she loved her ma-ma she would shake her head no. I will never forget my 28th birthday for how horrible my daughter treated me.

Dinner at the Outback

I had to skip out of this picture as Maddy spilled my pop all over my lap

Grandma Simone and Maddy

Papa Jack and Maddy

Cousin Christoper and Maddy

P.S. I can't believe the Giants beat the Patriots last night. It could have been the Packers. I said to Jason last night...another good thing came from our trip to the NFC Championship...at least now we can say we watched the Superbowl Champs play this year. And who said the NFC wouldn't be able to touch the AFC???

Makinac's 6th Birthday

Monday was our dog Makinac's 6th birthday. Maddy was very excited to give Makinac his birthday cake...carrot cake dessert. We sang him "Happy Birthday" and gave him lots of loving that evening.