Catching Snowflakes...

Poor Madison has been sick for nearly a month now. First she caught the flu, got over that, then came down with a nasty sinus infection. She is now taking antibiotics--for the first time ever! I hope she will soon be well, and perhaps the month of February will be kinder to her than the previous two months have been. I sure hope she can avoid the nasty "stomach flu" that is going around...

The photo above was taken on the day after Christmas--the day we had snow flurries here in southeastern Georgia. Her parents bundled her up, and allowed her to briefly go outside and catch a few snowflakes. She enjoyed trying to catch them in her mouth! Unfortunately, the snow didn't show up in my photos.

Rocks...

Way back in the summer, Cade decided that he liked rocks! He loved nothing any better than grabbing a rock from around the base of the goldfish pond and tossing it into the water! He loved the splash that it made.

Since we try to limit the amount of rocks in the pond, we quickly steered him away from the pond, and over to a barrel fountain in the corner of our yard. There he could throw rocks until his heart was content, and we could reach in the barrel and throw the rocks out after he left. We played this game throughout the summer.

Once fall arrived, Cade developed a different fascination with rocks. He'd stop, pick one up, and put it in his pocket. He treated the rock like it was his treasure, and always wanted to bring it in the house. The problem was, we recently bought a new flat screen television, and I kept having "visions" of Cade throwing his rock at our new television. I just wasn't comfortable with a two-year-old having a rock in my house!

So recently, when Cade had a rock, I came up with a plan. I offered Cade two pieces of candy corn (his favorite) for his rock--and he was okay with that deal! He ate his candy corn, and I put the rock up on the shelf where it sat for over two weeks!

The other night, as Cade was leaving from his visit, I told him I had something for him. Then I gave him back his rock. He was so proud--you would have thought I'd given him a new toy! I put the rock in his coat pocket, and quietly sent it home with him! Aren't I clever?

It Was Two Long Weeks...

Would you believe it had been over two weeks since I'd laid my eyes on this little cutie? Sickness has been rampant among our family, and we just haven't been able to all get together. Then last night, Cade and his parents braved "the elements" and came by for a short visit. Cade is feeling better, despite the lingering cough. (I'll take a moment here to mention that Madison has been--and still is--sick, too.)

Cade seemed to be happiest to see "Bobs" the cat, but I'm not sure how "Bobs" felt about being the center of all of Cade's attention! "Bobs" kept running off, but then she'd come right back...so maybe she didn't mind his lovin' too much!

My goodness, the boy looked like he's grown another inch! And just look at that "big boy" haircut! He is not a huge fan of getting a haircut--and absolutely hates those clippers. His Aunt "Loulee" took him to get this haircut--and he behaved pretty good, until the clippers came out...

Cade was talking more than I've ever heard him. What a difference a few days makes! He still talks so quietly, it's more like a whisper--which means that his "E-pa" and I miss hearing a lot of what he says...Of course, when he wants a piece of candy corn (his favorite), he manages to make himself heard!

Once again, I am reminded of how fortunate I am to live nearby both of my grandchildren, so I can see them often. I hope all of this sickness will soon go away, so we can all get reacquainted!

The Happy Birthday Jesus Party...

On December 16, the day before the flu hit, I attended Madison's Christmas program at "Wee Ones" preschool.

All of the little ones--known as "The Angel Band"--marched into the building wearing t-shirts that they'd helped to decorate. So cute!

Then they sang a total of four short songs for us, which were just precious--especially one called "Two By Two" where they did imitations of the animals on Noah's ark. I took a little video of Madison singing, but have yet to figure out how to get it off my camera and on to this blog...maybe one day!

I was so excited to get to see all of the little ones perform on stage, but I received much more than I anticipated--I received a blessing-and a reminder of what Christmas is all about.

There was a birthday cake for Jesus, and everything about the cake represented something. *The cake was chocolate--to symbolize our sin. *The cake was covered with white frosting--to symbolize that Jesus' purity covers our sins. *The cake was topped with a star and an angel--to symbolize the bearer of the first glad tidings. *There were 12 candles to represent that Christ is our light throughout the year. *The cake was encircled with evergreens to represent everlasting life. Wasn't that neat? I thought so!

After the program was finished, all of the children gathered around the table at the back of the room, sang "Happy Birthday, Jesus", then blew out the candles together. It was the sweetest thing I've seen in a long time--and it definitely reminded me of "the real reason for the season"!

One of the most impressive things to me, was how those teachers managed to teach 18 four-year-olds to keep jingle bells quiet in their hands until it was time to ring them! Now that's a feat!!! If you've ever worked with little ones, you'll know what I mean.

Below is a close-up of Madison wearing her "Angel Band" t-shirt. I just loved it, and was so proud of my daughter for helping to make those shirts!

I Hope You Had a Merry Christmas...and a Happy New Year...

Let me begin by apologizing again for my extended absence on this blog. December 17 arrived, and the flu arrived along with it! This wasn't just any old flu--or maybe it was, and I just didn't realize it since I'd never had the flu before.

Anyway, that flu bug knocked me off my feet for just over two weeks--literally! I ate, I drank, and I slept--and watched television. That was pretty much it for two solid weeks.

I'm feeling better now, thank goodness, so I'm trying to get back to the business of blogging. I'm still not feeling my old self though.

Granddaughter, Madison, had the flu the same time I did. She began to feel better a few days before I did--I'll chalk that up to our age difference! LOL For a while, she was a sick little girl, though.

Neither one of us could think of anything that we wanted to eat while we were sick, so both Maddie and I came out of the flu experience a few pounds lighter--which was not a bad thing for either of us, since we are "well-padded"! We had plenty of fat to sustain us through those days of not being hungry...

Christmas came and went. Fortunately, Madison and I were feeling well enough to celebrate--then I had a relapse. I didn't feel like celebrating New Years, but little Madison stayed up to see the New Year come in. I, on the other hand, was in bed asleep!

Today is Maddie's first day back to nursery school, and she was ready to go! I think she missed her friends and her teacher. I haven't seen her since she got back from school, but I'm hoping she had a good morning.

In just a few hours, she'll be off to dance class! I just know she's excited about that since she got a "frog princess" dance bag and an Angelina Ballerina doll for Christmas...My bet is that she will take both things with her to dance class!

I haven't seen my favorite little man, Caden, since Christmas Day. I'm sure he's grown a couple of inches since then. I'm looking forward to feeling stronger, and getting reacquainted with him soon.

Before I have Caden over again, I really need to bring the pretend kitchen back into the house. He asked where it was every time he visited during the month of December! Who knew that he loved to cook so much?

Have no fear, little man, I'm working on getting the Christmas decorations put away...As soon as I do--I'll bring the kitchen back inside! We'll even find that "pop-up" toaster that you like so much!

The Making Of A Gingerbread House...

Where has the time flown? It's been forever and a day since I was able to post over here.
As Christmas kept approaching, I noticed that I kept moving slower and slower...then it hit me--the flu--just seven days before Christmas!

Unfortunately, about that same time, the flu hit poor Madison, too. She and I spent the final week before Christmas, sick as we could be! However, we were able to rally-- just in time to enjoy Christmas--even though neither of us was "our best" on Christmas.


About two weeks before Christmas--and before the flu hit us--Madison's class at "Wee Ones" made Gingerbread Houses! Madison's mama stayed at school on that day, and helped with this project. From the looks of the photos, it was great fun for all!

For Madison, having that plate of decorations sitting in front of her was "Heaven"! Brandy said that Madison ate about as many decorations as she put on her house! When she arrived home, she even had some of that sticky white frosting in the sides of her hair!!!

Of course, Madison and her mama brought the finished house over for me to see. I just loved it! I still remember when my own children made these! Madison didn't want me to take her photo with her Gingerbread House--and so she claimed "that her face was tired". LOL That little stinker...

Precious memories, for sure. Time is marching on by--much too quickly!

Maddie Says...

I wanted to document a couple of things that our little Maddie has said recently, because you know, "Kids say the darnedest things!"

First of all, the other day when I was trying to take a picture of Madison with the gingerbread house that she had made, she quickly told me "My face is tired."

A couple of days later, when her mom tried to get her to sit on Santa's lap, Madison replied, "I'm not sitting on his lap, his beard is dirty!" Oh my goodness--I guess a poor excuse is better than none, right?

A couple of days ago, Madison was touching the ornaments on their Christmas tree, when mom caught her, and asked her what she was doing. Maddie replied, "I'm playing with the "instruments!" (her word for ornaments).

We're sure going to miss these moments one of these days...

I hope you enjoy that photo of Madison in this post...it's rare to get one these days. She's posing with Minnie Mouse who happens to be holding "Buddy", the elf on the shelf. Every night "Buddy" travels to the North Pole to talk with Santa, then returns home, and rests in a different spot--in order to observe Madison's behavior the next day. "Buddy's" been creative with his observation spots this year--from Minnie Mouse's arm to the middle of the nativity set. Yesterday he was spotted on to of the curtain rod! He was also in Clint's camouflaged Christmas stocking one morning! That "Buddy"--he's a sly one!