Madi turns 14!

It’s a question asked by so many parents, I know, but seriously – where has the time gone?! Wasn’t it just yesterday that we were celebrating Mad’s 13th birthday and wondering what the teenage years would bring? And now, in what seems to be the blink of an eye, she is 14! It just ain’t right!

I have to say, proudly and with all honesty, that Madi sailed through her first year as a teenager! She has really grown in so many ways in the past year and it has been truly exciting to watch. She surprises us with her courage; like trying new sports such as Cross Country & Track, and with her ability to stay positive and fun-loving as she goes through her days. She’s an absolute joy and we are blessed by her ever shining light in our lives!

So, where did the last year go? Here are some Madi-highlights from the past year...

Snoozin' Sisters - March 2011

A sketchy bridge crossing at Miller Springs Park

March 2011

Breaststroke at her first long course indoor meet at UT

April 2011

Johnny-Dad's retirement celebration - April 2011

Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center with Dad - April 2011

Spring Swim in Nana and Papa's Pool - April 2011

Watching (sort of) her first scary movie with help from piggy pillow pet.

May 2011

Feeding Willie the Canada Goose with Cammie - May 2011

Madi and Dad at the last choir concert of the seventh grade school year.

May 2011

Madi and Mommy at the last choir concert of the seventh grade school year.

May 2011.

It is well known that people and their pets begin to look alike after a while. Here's proof.  May 2011

Saving a little bee from drowning in the pool - June 2011

Fort Hood outdoor swim meet, breaststroke...

And butterfly - June 2011

Madi and Mommy one Sunday afternoon in June of 2011

Goofball in goggles - swim meet in July 2011

At Stillhouse Hollow Lake - July 2011

On Stillhouse Hollow Lake tubing with her Aunt Melanie 

 July 2011

Family photo with Nana, Papa, Mimi, Jimmy & Jason

July 2011

With cousin, Mimi - July 2011

Fun with her cousins in the summertime!

July 2011

Our family - July 2011

Outside Cracker Barrel with her cousins - July 2011

being a dork (and we say that lovingly) in Hobby Lobby.

July 2011 (yes, they already had Christmas stuff out in JULY!)

Galveston, TX trip - Aug. 2011

Schlitterbahnnin' it up with Papa and cousin Jason in Galveston, TX

Aug. 2011

Because we love this picture - Aug. 2011

After her "new do" before starting 8th Grade - Aug. 2011

Another favorite photo of ours - Aug. 2011

1st day of 8th grade!  Aug. 21, 2011

1st Day of 8th grade - Aug. 21, 2011

1st week of 8th grade down! Aug. 2011

Road trip to Red River, New Mexico with best bud, Carly.

Sept. 1, 2011

Taking pictures of the Mountains in New Mexico

Sept. 2, 2011

Dinner at Timbers in Red River, New Mexico.

Sept. 2011

Horseback in Red River, New Mexico - Sept. 2011

Getting ready to go rafting on the Rio Grande (in the background) in Taos, New Mexico

Sept. 2011

Just before some rafting F-U-N on the Rio Grande in Taos, New Mexico

Sept. 2011

Hiking the mountains in Red River, NM -Sept. 2011

Cross Country Season begins and Madi survives her first ever Cross Country Meet
 Sept. 2011

Relaxing with her proud Johnny-Dad after a her 2nd Cross Country meet

Sept. 2011

Cousin Jackson thinks Madi is getting tall too!

Sept. 2011

1st dance of the 8th grade school year.

Sept. 30, 2011

Shooting some hoops with her old man as Bella guards from atop a picnic table
Sept. 2011

On the course against stiff competition! Oct. 1, 2011

Madi demonstrating, for Jason, how the coaches "yell" at her and her cross country teammates.

After the Oct. 1, 2011 meet.

1st Choir Concert of the 8th grade school year.

Oct. 11, 2011

Finishing strong during the last track meet of the year. 

Oct. 12, 2011

Madi's proud family after her last track meet.

Copperas Cove, Texas - Oct. 12, 2011

Roasting marshmallows (for the first time ever!) with JD.

Oct. 2011

Handing out halloween candy with Johnny Dad (ghost) and Max (Batman)

Halloween 2011

Trail running with her family

Nov. 3, 2011

Sisters in snuggies (yep, we bought a snuggie for the dog)

Nov. 5, 2011

I love having my picture taken -
Madi with her pal, Sammy on Thanksgiving Day
Nov. 2011

It must be passed bed-time for Madi and Cassie (and Tex in the bottom right corner)

Nov. 2011

Ready for the parade to begin the Gathering of the Clans in Salado, Texas

Nov. 2011

A good way to stay warm during long swim meets.

Just after a swim meet on Dec. 3, 2011

Christmas Choir Concert - Dec. 2011

Just after the Christmas concert - Dec. 2011

Wearing a crazy outfit complied of things she got for Christmas.

Christmas day - 2011

All Smiles with Dad - Christmas Eve 2011

Madi with her Papa, Nana and Jason - Christmas 2011

Madi and Jason - Christmas Eve 2011

Madi and "friends"; Margret, Fred, Will and Greg. :)

Dec. 31, 2011 

Self portrait - Jan. 1, 2012

Fort Hood Swim Meet - Jan. 2012

In deep thought with her Dad. 

Hiking at Mother Neff - Jan. 12, 2012

Beautiful girl - Jan 2012

Helping her Mom with Valentines Day Cookies

Feb. 13, 2012

Valentines Day morning, before school.
Feb. 14,  2012

Make a wish!  Madi on her 14th Birthday - Feb. 23, 2012!

Heading to Jumpstreet (a trampoline park) in Austin friends, Mariah, Cheyanne and Taylor on her 14th Birthday!

A message to Madi -

It seems like this past year we have watched you grow from a girl into a young woman. You have suddenly gotten taller and can now wear the same size jeans as your Mom when just last year, I could swear we were buying everything from the kids department! Not to mention the fact that every week there's seems to be a new adult standing next to you saying, "I can't believe she's taller than me!"

We couldn't be more proud of how you've grown and all of the changes but, we're just as proud of so many of the ways that you've stayed the same. You are still so caring and kind to others, so focused on their happiness even at the expense of your own. You love everyone around you and bring out the very best in them!

It seems that as you get older, there's no way to avoid finding yourself in new situations and you have really embraced new challenges and experiences in the past year. You're growing up so fast now and even though boys are still mostly a rumor in your social life, the time is coming when they will be taking up more and more of your time and attention. For now, we are soo happy for you to focus on enjoying your friendships and letting yourself have a chance to grow up. Stayin' drama free! We know that in a few years we'll look back and laugh at your obsession with the "Hunger Games" and that will seem like something silly and childish to you but, your Mom and I truly cherish all of your interests and the chance to watch you grow and change each day.

Madi,  we hope you know how special you are to us and that you never doubt the love we have for you. The most precious and most beautiful blessing in our lives is and will always be YOU! Happy 14th Birthday, sweet Madi! We love you so very much.

One amazingly beautiful child

The purest love I’ve ever known is for this beautiful girl, who will be turning 14 in just two days. I’ve always known that she is a true blessing, but I’ve come to realize more recently that she is more than a blessing – she is a miracle! God blessed me with just this one amazingly beautiful child; an absolute miracle and a blessed assurance that I am worthy of such a precious gift.

We have a runner!

  This is a horrible picture, I know, but in my defense, I was running when I took it,  plus I had to take it with my not-so-great camera phone.

Anyway, just in case you can't make it out - those two figures in front of me are Jack and Madi.  Madi's in the pink shorts {of course...because that would just be weird otherwise}.

I took this picture because I wanted to remember this moment.  It was a proud Momma moment.  You see, back in the summer, Madi began running {for the first time} with me.  I knew she was interested in running Cross Country and I wanted her to practice over the summer so that she would be prepared when the new school year started. 


I don't think I was a very good couch, but I tried.  I just didn't want her to hate running before the school year/cross country even started!  By the end of the summer Madi was running just a little over a mile - maybe 1.3 miles, her technique wasn't very good and she was slower than me - which is pretty darn slow! Sorry Madi, but I'm going somewhere with this, I promise.

So, fast forward to this evening - five months later {that's how long it's been since the summer and since our last run together} and our girl is running laps around us!  She's been running in Cross Country and I'd have to say - those coaches have truly transformed her into a much, much better runner.  Her speed and technique are really good and she looks great; strong and relaxed.

When we started this run I just assumed that we would all stick together as a group. Ha! About a quarter of a mile in, Madi took off and, because Jack wasn't about to let his 14 year old daughter out run him, Jack picked up the pace and ran on ahead fo me too.  Before he ran ahead however, I looked over at him and said tearfully {because I'm always super emotional - especially about my Madi girl growing up!}, "She's running so good!  Her technique is awesome!"  And he said - "I know, it's better than yours."  Yeah, he said it, but since he was talking about our daughter, I let him live. ;)   Madi ran a mile and a half before slowing and then finished the three mile run next to her Dad and I.

So, Madi's now a swimmer AND a runner!  We'll have to see how long she can juggle the two sporting activities and still make good grades in school.  I'm thinking she'll have to choose just one before she starts the 9th grade.  Her school & athletics schedule is crazy now - I can't imagine how it will be when she gets to High School next year.

When I look at this picture, I will forever be reminded of how proud I felt watching Madi run tonight. I will also be reminded of her spirit and determination.  She may not be {and may never be} the fastest runner on the Cross Country team, but she is always at practice {6:30am} and is at every meet trying her very best. She's tough, self-motivated and doesn't quit.  She makes this Mom and Dad so very proud!

Down by the creek | A family Outing

We spend a lot of time outside as a family - we all {Madi is getting there slowly but surely} have a great love of the outdoors.  So, when the weather is as beautiful as its been for the past week {a rare thing since it is the first week in January}, we try and take advantage of it and get outside.

This particular warm and sunny January day, we decided to feed the ducks at Nolan Creek here in Belton.  The City of Belton is really working to beautify the creek as well as the whole down town area, so it has become one of our favorite spots in Belton.

There's always something to see on the creek - especially nature related. I go there just to walk around with Bella and my camera whenever I have a free day. I've captured tons of photos and have enjoyed  many quit hours with nature on the creek.   But, it's the times when Jack and Madi are with me that I enjoy the most.

It's times like these...  

Gimme that!

It's not fair! The ducks are eating it all!

Madi laughing at something one of the ducks did.



Bella considering going in after the bread that Madi and Daddy are throwing in - or maybe it's the ducks she's wanting.

Back off dog!

 

This picture cracks me up because she looks so vicious!

This time she has a super cute face! :)

Our girl.



The Belton Courthouse

 

It's hard to see, but there is a hawk on the corner of the courthouse.

 

The backside (I think) of the Belton Courthouse.





Is that a spider?!





Madi and Bella chasing the ducks.



Time to rest

Madi's first day of 8th grade!

Remind me to never, ever, wait four months in between posts again! I’ve spent days mulling over creative ways to fill you all in on our summer.  I’m tired just thinking about it; all the writing, all the pictures! Ugh. It’s really no wonder I’ve been putting this post off for so long!  Anyway, I've decided to save myself the headache and just skip it all! Yup, skip it, because honestly after all this time, who cares anymore?? It’s old news man!

Let me say, in short, that our summer was pretty good. The highlight of which was my sister, Melanie, nephew, Jimmy and niece, Mimi's visit.  If we’re “friends” on Facebook you’ve probably already seen the pictures from that week.  I think it’s pretty apparent how much fun we all had!  It was so awesome and we truly enjoyed every minute of their visit!

I figured the best place to pick up posting would be with the official end to our summer – August 21, 2011, Madison’s first day of 8th grade.

This is our gorgeous girl on her first day as an 8th grader!  She picked out the outfit for her first day without any input from me, which was a first!  I gotta say, before I actually saw her wearing it, I thought the shirt (which her Nana got for her, thank you Nana) looked a little too grown for her.  But, what do I know?!  'Cause once she put it on, I realized I was wrong.  She looked Perfectly beautiful! 



She was really getting tired of all the pictures at this point! But, she managed half a smile.



Gotta include one with Madi and her sister, Bella!  Do you see Bella's face...she's totally pouting!

I didn’t cry when I dropped her off at school on that first morning, which is another first. But, she made it easy for me, she was worry-free and seemed eager for a new school year.  Plus, just before Jack and I drove her to school, we (Jack, Madi and I) joined hands and prayed for her.  So,  I was pretty confident that Madi would have a fantastic first day!

Jack and I continued to pray throughout the day for our sweet girl and our prayers were answered as Madi came home to report that she had had a "great day"!  And thankfully, most of Madi's school days have been great, so far. 

As an 8th grader, Madi is doing something a little different this year; sports wise.  She had decided last year that she would continue to with club swim at Swim Belton, but that she would not swim for the Belton Middle School Swim Team.  She didn't want her only other sports opportunity to be another swim which would be the case if she swam for the middle school again this year.   Instead, she wanted to try her hand at other sports, such as; volleyball, basketball and track. Her Dad and I totally supported her decision on this – especially since she’s continuing to swim regardless.

So, since Madi does not have swim practice for the middle school, she now has an “athletics” period. It’s during this class that she is couched on the seasonal sports. Remember when I said most of Mad’s days have been great?  Well, there was on day that wasn't so great.  A day of pure heartbreak over not making the volleyball team. :-(  She really wanted to be on the team!  I tried to reassure her,  tell her that she had never even played the sport and that she needed more than four days training (in a 50 minute class) to prepare herself for it.  She's been a swimmer all these years, not a v-ball player.  She just needed more prep time is all.  I know had she had more time to prepare, she would have made the team.  Anyway, She was pretty tore up about it and it was sad to see her so upset, but in true Madi fashion, she was over it in no time!  Now, she preparing for basketball.  I think basketball starts up in October, but I’m not exactly sure. Anyway, Jack has promised to help couch her after school (when there is time) and on the weekends.  So, with her training during athletics and her Dad couching her for the next month or so, she’ll have a better chance of making the team, I’m sure.

On a super positive note however, Madi is on the Belton Middle School Cross Country team this year!! She has totally stepped out of her comfort zone and has dedicated herself to the sport!  She's been running and training (which is usually at 6:30 in the morning!) for about three weeks now and I've already seen an improvement in her running. We took her for her first trail run with us on Saturday.  She never quit, she whined a little, but never quit!  I can’t even begin to tell you how very proud of her we are! 

As you can imagine, Madi's weekdays are total madness between school, XC (Cross Country) and swim!  But, so far she is balancing everything nicely! Her longest days, which are Tuesdays and Thursdays, are 12 hours long!  It's reall crazy and I'm amazed at her drive and energy!

Y'all pray for Madi today.  She has a XC meet this evening at 5pm.  It's her first ever non-swimming event!  YAY!  She’s really nervous about it and I can't blame her, I would be too.  Jack and I are praying for her to do well - if only for her self-esteem and confidence in the sport.  Unfortunately, Jack is out of town on business travel, so he will not be there. :(   I know Madi's going to miss seeing her Dad there, but her Aunt Virginia and cousin, Jason will be there with me cheering her on!  I pray that she will keep in mind what her Dad and I have been telling her this week - that it doesn’t matter where she places, just as long as she doesn’t quit!!  

I haven’t gotten pictures of her in her XC uniform yet, but I plan to today during the meet. She does not love the uniform, so she might freak if I take a picture of her in it and post it here. But, I think she looks great in it and if I’m sneaking enough, she’ll never even know! ;)

It's going to be 102 today, so please pray for all our kiddo's out there running in this heat. Thanks!