The School Dilema...

pictured: Madison and her friend, at "Wee Ones", on "Pet Day"

I don't know where the time has flown, but Madison is well on her way to becoming a five-year-old. Because of her late fall birthday, she will be entering pre-K just before she turns five.

With school registrations already taking place for next year, my daughter and her husband are facing the tough decision of where to send Madison to school next year. It's a tough call.

On one hand, public school pre-K is free, but it lasts all day. Madison would have to leave her house on a school bus at 7 o'clock in the morning, and wouldn't return until nearly 4 o'clock! That's a l-o-n-g day for anyone, especially a little one.

I've also worked in the public school system, and I know the kinds of kids the teachers have to deal with. Some of the children cause real problems--even as early as pre-K! Unfortunately, in my opinion, some of the teachers are not what they should be either. I hate the thoughts of any of my grandchildren being exposed to things that I've seen and experienced.

There is a four-year-old program at the church where Madison currently attends "Wee Ones". It is only four days a week, four hours a day. The only drawback is that it costs money, and then you have to furnish transportation to and from school each day. We live 7 miles from the school. With today's worsening economy, both of these things--tuition and transportation-- could become issues...

I don't know how all of this is going to turn out, but I do know that I'm glad I don't have to make the decisions. It's tough raising children in these tough times...

We should all say a special prayer every night for the young parents who are so desperately trying to do the right thing for their children, and while we are at it, we should say a prayer for those children whose parents just don't seem to care...

Caden in Tiny Mr. Sweet Onion 2011 at OneTrueMedia.com

Our daughter-in-law decided to enter Caden in the "The Tiny Mr. Sweet Onion" pageant this year.

The pageant was held this past weekend.

My husband and I were able to take a few photos and a small amount of video, which I am sharing on the blog today.

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

MiMi's Little Pots of Gold...

Recently, it occurred to me that I didn't do a post about St. Patrick's Day this year. I haven't been feeling myself, and it sort of slipped by me...MiMi's getting older, you know!.... I didn't do anything special on that day--other than going to the grocery store! In fact, I even forgot about wearing green until I got to the store and saw others dressed in green. I came home and changed into my green shirt!..... Madison went to school that day, then came home telling me that "the leprechaun had left footprints all over!" The students made a St. Patrick's Day hat, and received some little gifts from the teachers--among them was a "light-up" shamrock necklace which was pretty neat!..... Caden spent some time at his "Aunt LouLee's" daycare on St. Patrick's Day, and she painted a shamrock painted on his face! At the end of the day, that sweet little man brought Madison, his "E-pa", and me little bags of green and yellow M&M's for a St. Paddy's Day gift. Thanks, Caden!..... My two "little leprechauns" were outside playing when I quickly snapped the photo above. We had to bribe Caden with candy corn to get him to be still long enough for me to take the picture. That boy never stops...After all, he's a happy, healthy, two-year-old boy!

Cade's Got A New Set Of Wheels...

Well, I knew it would happen one day, I just didn't think it would be quite this soon! One afternoon last week, grandson, Caden, came driving up in the yard!!!

Weekend before last, his parents bought him his first "official set of wheels"...He's got a "Handy Manny" four-wheeler! If it's "Handy Manny", what's not to love? It's red, too!!! Gotta' love a red vehicle!

Cade didn't know what to think about his motorized vehicle at first, but after a bit of coaxing, he decided to try it out. It took him a little while to learn how to steer, but he's getting the hang of it now. He can drive from his house to ours!

Driving at age two...who would've thought it? Actually, he's a "chip off the old block"! His daddy got a battery-powered tractor at the age of two and a half--and he drove it until it finally died, many months later. He enjoyed that tractor more than any gift we ever bought him...

Happy driving days, Caden--I'm sure these will be the first of many more to come!

Caden Hitches A Ride...

A few days back, I mentioned that grandson, Caden, had taken his first ride on the tractor with my husband--and I missed it!

Since that first day, Caden's hitched at least two more rides--and I haven't witnessed any of his rides! I'm always busy in the kitchen cooking in the afternoons when my husband does the tractor stuff!

Fortunately, Caden's mother loves to take photos as much as I do, and she captured this photo of Caden's second tractor ride.

The last report that I got from my husband on "watering day" (he uses the tractor for this) was that he picked up, not ONE passenger, but TWO passengers after his last round of watering! I'm really sorry I missed both grandkids riding together...perhaps I should just stop cooking!!!

Madison at the 2011 "Rattlesnake Roundup"

Here's a video montage of Madison participating in the events of The 2011 Rattlesnake Roundup. It was her first time participating in a parade, and it was her first public dance performance with her dance class.

The first part of the montage is still photos, while the last part is actual footage of Madison's class while they were performing.

Great job, Madison! It was a big day for you!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Maddie's Rattlesnake Roundup Experience...

Saturday morning began early over at granddaughter, Madison's, house. She had to be at the starting point of the 2011 Rattlesnake Roundup Parade by 9:45!

Madison was given the choice to walk or ride in a wagon since the dance school wasn't having a float. Madison's mama decided it might be best to let her ride in a wagon since the parade route was going to be around 2 miles. I think that was a wise choice!

The next order of business was to figure out who was going to pull the wagon! Madison's Aunt Sarah graciously volunteered to pull the wagon, since Madison's mama is dealing with foot problems and can't hold out to walk very far.

Aunt Sarah made a friend during the parade, who offered to help pull the wagon in exchange for giving her little girl a ride in the wagon with Madison! Two miles is a long way to pull someone in a wagon! Thank the Lord for new friends!

There were lots of dancers marching with this group! Some of them carried two "rattlesnakes" fashioned from brown cardboard, trimmed in pink glitter. That's one of the snakes in front of Madison's wagon. Madison's wagon was traveling in between the two snakes, but they stopped so we could take a couple of pictures...Wasn't that nice?

Here they are, stopped and waving for our cameras! That's Aunt Sarah waving to us. As soon as the parade was over, Madison had to rush home, eat a quick bite of lunch, then be back at the Rattlesnake Roundup activities by 2:00--dressed in costume, and ready to dance!

This photo shows just a portion of the little girls in Madison's dance class. I think there are nineteen of them in all! That's a lot of energetic little girls! Some of the little girls are also in Madison's class at "Wee Ones".



Here's Madison doing what's known in dance class as "The Boogie".



And here's Madison after she finished dancing at the Roundup! Can you tell she's just a little bit tired? Whenever she gets tired, those fingers always find their way up to those lips, and in her mouth...
I can't blame her a bit, I was tired from just following her around and watching!

Madison did a great job, and made us all very proud!

I'm linking up with Tuesday Train today.