days like these...

Thankfully my Art Class was canceled for today. So, I got to have a day all to myself. A free day, a day to do whatever I wanted. Nice! I'm getting to where I appreciate time to myself more then I ever have before. I guess it's because once Jack and Madi get home, it starts to get real busy around here and we are going non-stop until bed time. Having the day to myself, I was able to finish up the blog post I started writing early yesterday morning (Madi's Birthday wrap up, which I posted earlier), I was able to work on my next project due in Photography class (an abstract black and white photo), and I was able to go outside and enjoy the long awaited sunshine and 75 degree temperature. I love days like these. I also had time to wipe the dust off of my digital (it's been a whole 5 days since I used it!) and play for a little bit, my ultimate favorite thing to do. Since it was just me and the babies (Bella, Tex and Cassie) and because everything outside is still so brown and ugly, I mostly took pictures inside of them. I did get a few pics of some dandelions in our backyard, but I'll save those for a "informative" type post later on. Here are a few of the photo's I took of the wild ones.

This is Tex's "I'm 'bout to get buckwild up in this joint" look. He has been cooped up in the house since his little run-away stunt about a week ago. He gets this crazy look, which you see above, when he is about to lose it and start attacking his sisters. He hates to be in the house all the time, but he'll have to wait until he gets his microchip before he's allowed out again. Sorry little gentleman!

He's such a good subject because he looks right at me (hoping I'll give into his pleading eyes and let him out, I'm sure) when I take pictures.

This is what Bella did ALL day. Either here in the house or in the yard. Sleep. All day. I thought it was so cute when I saw her laying asleep with this tini-tiny rabbit Madi gave her some time back. Bella's pink~sleepy~mouth is just kissable! And the bunny, doesn't he just look happy?! Now that it's five o'clock, the lazy, carefree part of my day has to come to an end and time for the rush to start - Madi to swim, go exercise, pick Madi up from swim, cook and eat dinner, homework, cleaning and baths. But, after the day I had, I can do it all feeling refreshed and ready! That's why I love days like these and I think everyone needs (deserves)one every once in awhile.

350 days and counting...

We've had a busy last few weeks and therefore, I haven't been able to wrap up Madison's Birthday week as I had planned to do much earlier than now.

I say, "Madi's Birthday week" because it really seemed to last that long. As you may remember from a previous post, Madison's Birthday in Pictures, her Birthday was on Tues., February 23 and on that day Central Texas received an unheard of 4 to 5 inches of snow! So, she got pretty much a full day out of school and spent it playing in the snow. Fun! During the week she received calls, cards and presents from family and friends. On Friday night, she had three girlfriends from school come over to spend the night. I spent the afternoon on Friday making Madison's Birthday cake and once it was ready, we officially celebrated Madi's 12th Birthday! ***just a note: If you want to see the pictures better, you can click on the collages below and you should get to veiw them at a much bigger size. There were just too many pictures and I wanted to share them all, so it was much easier to make collages and post them this way.

~Madi opening gifts with her friends, Aunt Gennie & Jason.

The girls joked with Madi all week that they were going to get her play-doh as a gift. They did and for some reason, that was super-hilarious to them!

~ A visit from Cami and Johnny-Dad.

~Madi took all of these pictures. Including the one of her.

On Saturday Jack and I took the girls to Austin's Park 'n Pizza in Austin, Texas. Let me just say, if you ever get the opportunity to go, DON'T. That place was a rip off! It was lame! My sister, Gennie, and my nephew Jason went with us. We all agree (including the girls) that the place wasn't worth the gas to get there and was definitely not worth the near $200.00 cost for the park itself!! So...huge disappointment there.

Even though the park was a disappointment, all in all Madison had a great time with her friends and a fun two days shared with them.

~The girls just before we took them home. Jack and I enjoyed these delightful young ladies very much! (Jack enjoyed driving them home very much!)

We dropped the girls off at their houses around 8/8:30 on Saturday night and then went home to recover from a very active few days.

On Sunday Madi's Nana, Papa & Great Grandma came out to visit her and to wish her a happy Birthday.

They stayed for a few hours and agreed (somewhat apprehensively, I'm sure) to try Madi's homemade Birthday cake. They're either really good a faking it or they really enjoyed it.

So, Madi's Birthday week ended as Nana, Papa & Grandma Rowe walked out the door Sunday evening. Jack and I breathed a sigh of relief, but Madi could've kept it up for weeks more! Well, look at the bright side Madi, only 350 days and we'll all get to experience it all over again! Woohoo! Seriously though, it was tiring, sure, but it was nice to see Madi happy, hanging out with family and friends and being celebrated during her special time.

Well, that's a wrap, finally, on Madi's Birthday goodness. 350 days and counting! ;)