Madison's new spoken words are starting to exceed the number of words that she can sign! It's exciting to hear the new words.
Today she said: "Shoe" and pointed at her shoes! How cute! (she likes shoes just like her mom does!)
Other words:
Dada/Daddy
Mama/Mom/Mommy
kitty
pretty
puppy
hi
bye
no (she's really good at this one!)
Uh oh!
Yeah!
share
Mmmmmmm (that means M&M!)
Night Night
Nana (used both for Grandama and Banana)
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Monday, February 26, 2007
Oh Happy Day!!!
Thank you Federal Gov't - THANK YOU!
Today, the citizens of Rochester received the best news ever. The Federal Gov't turned down a loan request from the DM&E railroad. For the past ten years, the DM&E has been trying to get the largest tax payer funded loan ever to improve railroad tracks through Rochester to run 37 high speed trains per day. These trains would carry coal and other hazardous materials. The DM&E railroad has the worst safety record in the industry and the tracks run right through the center of town - and run about a 1/4 mile from my house on the western edge of Rochester. The few trains that we get each day now tie up traffic and are very noisy. Increasing to 37 trains at a high speed each day would be disasterous. You could spit on the Mayo Clinic from the tracks...15,000 sick patients each day and a high speed train from a company with a bad safety record do not mix. We would never be able to evacuate patients if there was an accident. As a homeowner inRochester and employee of Mayo clinic - I am happy to see this project stopped. Now I don't have to worry about my property value decreasing because of the noise from the trains - and my morning commute won't be longer because of the traffic the trains stop. Mayo clinic patients will be able to continue enjoying the best medical facilities in the world and our largest economy in Rochester was saved.
Read the headlines from the Rochester Post Bulletin: http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=2&a=285765 and at the Minneapolis Star Tribune: http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1026957.html
Thank you to all the concerned citizens in Rochester who called and emailed our representatives in Washington. Thank you to those that signed petitions. Thank you to the Mayo clinic for leading this battle and thank you to our representatives who brought the concerns of Rochester to Washington!
Today, the citizens of Rochester received the best news ever. The Federal Gov't turned down a loan request from the DM&E railroad. For the past ten years, the DM&E has been trying to get the largest tax payer funded loan ever to improve railroad tracks through Rochester to run 37 high speed trains per day. These trains would carry coal and other hazardous materials. The DM&E railroad has the worst safety record in the industry and the tracks run right through the center of town - and run about a 1/4 mile from my house on the western edge of Rochester. The few trains that we get each day now tie up traffic and are very noisy. Increasing to 37 trains at a high speed each day would be disasterous. You could spit on the Mayo Clinic from the tracks...15,000 sick patients each day and a high speed train from a company with a bad safety record do not mix. We would never be able to evacuate patients if there was an accident. As a homeowner inRochester and employee of Mayo clinic - I am happy to see this project stopped. Now I don't have to worry about my property value decreasing because of the noise from the trains - and my morning commute won't be longer because of the traffic the trains stop. Mayo clinic patients will be able to continue enjoying the best medical facilities in the world and our largest economy in Rochester was saved.
Read the headlines from the Rochester Post Bulletin: http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=2&a=285765 and at the Minneapolis Star Tribune: http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1026957.html
Thank you to all the concerned citizens in Rochester who called and emailed our representatives in Washington. Thank you to those that signed petitions. Thank you to the Mayo clinic for leading this battle and thank you to our representatives who brought the concerns of Rochester to Washington!
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Lots of snow
I have lived in Minnesota all my life. It's been a long time since I've seen this much snow...probably since my days in Duluth. We knew this storm was coming - but we never believe the weather man - heck, what other job can you be wrong 90% of the time and still have a job??? We didn't have plans this weekend anyway, so we were looking forward to a nice relaxing weekend at home. HA! It was anything but relaxing, especially for Mike. We spent Friday night looking out the window and saying, "dumb weather guys, what do they know??" We headed off to the MN Icehawks hockey game in perfect weather. Madison and I left the game an hour later (little munchkin's bedtime!) and the snow was coming down like crazy!
Saturday morning, there was the ice. Wow - a lot of ice. It was about an inch thick on our front windows and door. The sidewalk was beyond trecherous. We still didn't think it would get any worse. But it did...pretty soon the snow started on top of that ice. And we started worrying that we would lose power. Thankfully, we never did - but some people living just outside of Rochester are still without power. Sunday morning we woke up to the snow still coming down fast and furious. There were cars getting stuck in the street outside our house. The plow hadn't been through yet. Mike spent about an hour getting our driveway plowed and went to his parent's house where it took almost three hours to plow them out. Right after he left, the plow came by and blocked our driveway in again. I knew that Mike wouldn't want to see that when he got home, so I shoveled it up while Madison napped. That was some heavy snow!
This is looking out at our street on Saturday morning, before the storm really got started. The mailboxes across the street are now nearly buried in snow....one more good pass by the snowplow outta bury 'em.
This is our front window totally covered in ice.
This is our backyard. The lower level of the deck is four steps up and as you can see, the snow drifts cover all of the steps. This is pre-snowblowing. There is a lot more snow from the driveway there now! Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Today is the day
Okay - I wrote and posted this earlier and it isn't appearing on my blog...weird.
Today is the big day for our close friends C&J. They have bravely been going through IVF in hopes of being blessed with a child. Today is the day that they implant the fertilized eggs. I have no idea how they have remained so strong through this whole process. I admire their strength, bravery, and openess throughout their journey. Everytime I get a little cuddle from Madison, I thank God for the gift of her and I pray that our friend's will be blessed in the same way. Today, I have said countless more little prayers.
C&J - Good luck today and in the coming days. We love you guys!
Today is the big day for our close friends C&J. They have bravely been going through IVF in hopes of being blessed with a child. Today is the day that they implant the fertilized eggs. I have no idea how they have remained so strong through this whole process. I admire their strength, bravery, and openess throughout their journey. Everytime I get a little cuddle from Madison, I thank God for the gift of her and I pray that our friend's will be blessed in the same way. Today, I have said countless more little prayers.
C&J - Good luck today and in the coming days. We love you guys!
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Scrapbook Page
Last weekend while we were visiting my Mom and Dad - Madison and Grandpa played dress up. I think Grandpa is dreaming that Madison will be a deer hunter. Anyway, I got some really great shots of them in the 'ole blaze orange and I'm makin' a scrapbook page. I'm looking for the best "grandpa's little deer hunter" title.
Here is what I have so far:
Grandpa's Blaze of Glory
Hunting for Madison
Grandpa's Little Deer (hunter)
Blazing new trails with Grandpa
Orange you Grandpa's little deer
So - leave a comment and tell me your favorite. Better yet, give me some more ideas!
Monday, February 05, 2007
Random thoughts and emotions
Wow - today is kind of a crazy, mixed up day. I'm happy, sad, and mad all at once.
Mad and Sad
Two things made me mad today. Did everyone hear about that home invasion and murder that happened in Waseca? Read about it at http://www.startribune.com/467/story/982051.html. The guy says it was an accident. AN ACCIDENT??? How is walking into someone's house in the middle of the night and shooting three people an accident??? That makes me angry and sad that two people are dead, one is fighting for her life, and another child has to face life without a father and brother due to a criminal's "accident."
Did you hear about the mother in Duluth that left her child in a car that wasn't running for 30 minutes? That is bad enough - but it was twenty degrees below zero outside and the child wasn't dressed for the weather. http://www.startribune.com/462/story/980695.html. They make you get a license to own a dog - but they'll let anyone have kids! I know plenty of people that would take that woman's babies and love them enough to not leave them in a car period. It makes me sad that there are people out there who can't have children and then this person doesn't care about her children.
Happy
I'm not just angry and sad today. I'm glad for a few things:
1. When I dropped Madison off at daycare she ran off to play. I shouted after her, "have a good day, be good!" and she ran back to me for a hug. So Cool.
2. I'm thankful for heat. Really Thankful. Dang, its cold.
3. I'm thankful for a car that is reliable and that started today! Yah! When it is -18 degrees when you leave for work, the car starting is a really good thing!
4. I'm a scrapbooking addict. This is a really cool new line of scrapbook organization stuff by two of my favorite scrappers! http://www.lisabecky.com . Very cool stuff. I'm adding it all to my wish list!
Mad and Sad
Two things made me mad today. Did everyone hear about that home invasion and murder that happened in Waseca? Read about it at http://www.startribune.com/467/story/982051.html. The guy says it was an accident. AN ACCIDENT??? How is walking into someone's house in the middle of the night and shooting three people an accident??? That makes me angry and sad that two people are dead, one is fighting for her life, and another child has to face life without a father and brother due to a criminal's "accident."
Did you hear about the mother in Duluth that left her child in a car that wasn't running for 30 minutes? That is bad enough - but it was twenty degrees below zero outside and the child wasn't dressed for the weather. http://www.startribune.com/462/story/980695.html. They make you get a license to own a dog - but they'll let anyone have kids! I know plenty of people that would take that woman's babies and love them enough to not leave them in a car period. It makes me sad that there are people out there who can't have children and then this person doesn't care about her children.
Happy
I'm not just angry and sad today. I'm glad for a few things:
1. When I dropped Madison off at daycare she ran off to play. I shouted after her, "have a good day, be good!" and she ran back to me for a hug. So Cool.
2. I'm thankful for heat. Really Thankful. Dang, its cold.
3. I'm thankful for a car that is reliable and that started today! Yah! When it is -18 degrees when you leave for work, the car starting is a really good thing!
4. I'm a scrapbooking addict. This is a really cool new line of scrapbook organization stuff by two of my favorite scrappers! http://www.lisabecky.com . Very cool stuff. I'm adding it all to my wish list!
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
I love being an Auntie!
I just can't get enough of all of my pint-sized loves! Aren't they cute? We FINALLY got to meet little Riley. Glad I got to meet him before he started walking. The kid already weighs 11 pounds! Can you see him in the picture? Yea, that's him...with his brother leaning on his head! He is a big baby, but I nearly threw him the ceiling when I first picked him up. I'm so used to picking up a 22 pound toddler that he was a little lighter than I expected!
Madison sure was jealous. If she was in my lap holding Riley with me, she was just fine. She would give him hugs and kisses -- she really loved him. If I picked up that sweet little baby without holding her at the same time, she was mad! She would kick and scream and try to climb over Riley and into my lap. Mason is getting big - he and Madison had a lot of fun playing, doing somersaults, and chasing each other around.
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