Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

On my recent trip to Amarillo, my friend Jordan sent some books home with me that her kids had outgrown. Madden has been reciting this book for months (from school), but we didn't own it and I had no idea what he was saying. When I saw this book in Jordan's pile, I knew I had to have it!

When I arrived home and showed him the pile of books shared with us, he saw Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and got SO excited! Here is a short video of him "reading" it!

AMARILLO!

Last weekend, I went to see one of my dearest friends from college. She lives in Amarillo and I hadn't been out there in several years. We tried and tried for a big girls weekend, but couldn't make our schedules mesh, so Jordan and I just had a mini one....and it was so.much.fun!

In fact, we had so much fun, we didn't take any pictures. :(

So, instead of pictures, here is my top 10 list of fun things we did (in no particular order!):

10. Amarillos Largest Garage Sale
9. Key Lime Pie Milkshakes on the square in Canyon
8. Getting to know her precious kiddos, Eli & Phoebe
7. Getting to see the Taj McCall (their new house!) So pretty and full of great ideas!
6. Eating fabulous home cooked food and coming home with new yummy recipes
5. Chatting and catching up on life
4. Ruby Tequila's Mexican Food and Big Sky Burgers
3. Shopping! Especially on tax free weekend... :)
2. Crafting - hairbands are the latest rage! We may have 1 to go with every outfit we own!
1. Sitting on the porch - listening to the cows and coyotes and enjoying a cool breeze!

It was such a nice weekend! I enjoyed getting to go jump into someone elses family (and the chaos that comes with it!) and realize that my family is quite normal! :) Usually, the girls meet together without kids/spouses, so we never get to spend time with each other's families. I'm really, really glad I was able to do this.....

Swing, Batter Batter, Swing!

Uncle Ben went back to college last week, but he and Madden got a quick game of baseball in before he left.....wonder if we have a future MVP?



He bats left handed, but does everything else right handed. I hear that is a good thing and daddy hopes he will keep that up!

PLAY BALL!

Linked Together Retreat 2011

We attended our church retreat in early August. It was a HOT weekend, but we made the most of it! At least the hotel rooms had a air unit that made it as cold as you wanted.

Madden enjoyed time with his friends, singing with Singer Dude and playing!

Group game - Minute To Win It - one of the activities was similar to beer pong (without the beer, of course!) Madden loved chasing all the ping pong balls and we might have come home with a few!

A fun weekend with our church family!

Birthday Festivities: Day 2

On Friday, Pops, Lainey and Care Care came to visit (and the puppies!) Ben was already there and his girlfriend, Megan came in town too. We had a FULL house! But a fun one!

Friday night, we cooked out burgers and Madden was excited to have all the attention!

Saturday morning, we had tacos and then the girls went to eat and shopping. All I wanted to do for my birthday was to eat at The Chocolate Angel and shop at Beaucoup and Get Noticed....and that is what we did! Such a fun afternoon!




We came home and the boys were busy preparing dinner. Marc grilled our new favorite BBQ chicken recipe and Pops worked on making homemade ice cream.









....and since the big boys were outside, Madden thought he needed to be out there too! It was 105 degrees and no one felt like being out there, except Madden. He washed his cars and I finally turned on the sprinkler...

Megan, Ben and Pops

We ate and then it was times for CAKE!

3 and 33!

So sweet - listening to everyone sing to him!

Blowing out his candles...

Then, it was off to open presents!

A new guitar from Care Care! He loves to play it and pretend he is Singer Dude! :)

A doctor kit....

And a new kitchen....that mommy needs to re-paint to make it more BOY colors! But, what a deal - Pottery Barn Kids wooden kitchen for $40 on Craigslist!

Anyone want some milk?

...or some tea?

Lainey and Care Care with the pups!

Pops "tuning" the guitar...

....and playing doctor....

On Sunday, we went swimming.

What a FUN birthday weekend!