Easter

This year, my birthday fell on Easter, so it was a big day!

The day started off with breakfast and bday songs for me.

Then we went to church, came home and tried to take our own family pictures!

Gaga came over for lunch, and we made resurrection rolls afterwards, had an Easter egg hunt, opened bday presents and read through our resurrection eggs!

The kids STILL love egg hunts!

We ended the night going out to eat for Mexican food!  While my first choice is Mi Cocina, I settled for Nico’s since it’s cheaper and closer.  You know you’re getting old.  Haha.

It was a busy, but good day.  Happy Easter!

Bible Bowl

LTC Bible Bowl was tonight at the Anatole!  Nathan had a good time with his friends, and he did better than he thought since he hasn’t put a ton of time into studying.  This year the theme was Sanctuary - the life of Moses.  We always tell the kids that it’s all about learning something new and just being in the Word, not how well you score!  We’ll find out next week what he scored.

Track meet

Nathan ended the season with a time he wasn’t too happy with.  I think it’s pretty amazing, because a few days later we found out he had TWO stress fractures in his shins!  He’s been running in pain for several weeks, and he finally had to quit, right before the district meet.  He was pretty heartbroken, but at least this isn’t his senior year.  He learned some things and is ready to heal so he can get back to running!

Dutch Bros fun..

I'm not sure why this makes me laugh so hard!  Madison can't stand when it rains, because they always put her on outside order taking and she has to wear this crazy thing!  Customers always laugh at her, which makes it even more fun.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Madison's day...

We surprised Madison with balloons the night before her birthday!  She had breakfast with her friend, Jheel at Chiloso.  Then she went to the park with Nathan for a nature walk...and he even took pictures with her (a lot)!

We went to Mi Cocina for dinner...her choice of restaurant!

After dinner, she met up with Ceana and went to Barnes & Noble and Dutch Bros!

I ended up being off for her birthday because I was just getting over Covid and had to be out the 5 days.  Timing worked out well since I was finally feeling better!  She had a great day and enjoyed everything.  My grown up girl!

TWENTY...

How is my baby this old?  Time is flying by way too fast.  Not only is she an adult, but she's in her TWENTIES now.  Seems unreal.  She was JUST this little not too long ago.

So many things that Madison loves, but top on her list is Max and taking pictures of him and with him!  She loves this dog so much, and I think her entire phone photo library is of Max!

Madison loves being with friends, shopping, getting her nails and hair done, and anything that has to do with getting drinks.  Energy drinks, Dutch Bros drinks, Starbucks...anything where she can bring home a drink and leave it on the counter.  Haha!  I give her a hard time, but honestly, that's the worst of Madison - she's really an amazing girl!  She loves reading mystery novels, shopping on Tik-Tok, playing the piano and teaching herself new songs, spending time with family and she loves being out in nature.  Madison's favorite restaurants are Mi Cocina, Olive Garden and Chick-fil-A.  Her favorite thing to do when she is bored is organizing (the pantry, her room, etc.), and she is so good at it!

She is such a silly girl, and makes us laugh so much!  I love her sense of humor - she definitely brings laughter to our family on a daily basis.

Madison loves hanging out with Nathan.  They have the greatest relationship and I just love it.  If anyone would've told me 10 years ago that they would be so close, I wouldn't have believed it!  They love going to breakfast together and just being silly together.  Nathan really looks up to her, and she is the one he opens up to and confides in!

She also loves doing Bible studies, listening to Christian music and developing her faith in God.  She's been in a tough spot lately with church and having no friends with her, but she isn't letting that stop her!  She loves God, and definitely shows it in how she lives.

Madison, I love you more than you'll ever know.  I am SO beyond proud of you...I really am.  You teach me so much every day about positivity and dealing with struggles.  You have grown into such a wonderful young woman and sometimes I just can't believe God blessed me so much!  You are so fun to be around, and I love our lunch and tea dates.  I love hearing your stories and "one more thing".  Other than leaving your drinks around the house, I can't think of anything I'd change about you!  I will always be your mother, but also your friend.  I love you so much...happy 20th birthday, sweetie!

Sibling love…

Madison and Nathan went and got a drink, then had dinner out, and then took a walk together through the trails of our neighborhood!  I say this all the time, but I’m SO thankful for their relationship and how much they enjoy being together.  They talk about life and problems, and they act silly and laugh.  Love these two so much!

A VERY cold track meet!

Tonight, Nathan had a track meet in very cold weather!  It doesn’t sound that cold, but it was 50 degrees, cloudy and damp, with 21mph winds!  Being out in it all day/night was tough for these guys.  Nathan didn’t do as well as he hoped, but considering the conditions, it wasn’t too bad!  He got a 54.61 in the 400m and a 52.9 in the 400m relay.  Not sure how he managed to do better at the last one when he was even more cold!  He was one happy guy when he got to a blanket and some heat though.

Track meet….

Another track meet - another PR today for the 400m at 52.1 seconds!  All this on an extremely blistered foot from the last meet.  Proud of him!

Dancing with the Stars!

Madison was invited by her friend, Addison, to attend Dancing with the Stars!  She had so much fun!  We are trying to figure out which night it will air, because she had really close seats!