Our Birthday Girl...

We had a bar-b-que on Saturday night with family and a few friends to celebrate Madelyn's 2nd birthday and Michael's 4th birthday! We're pretty sure that they'll be doomed with joint birthday parties for the rest of their lives (or maybe triple now that their new cousin is here), but they'll live. ;) It's convenient, and fun, and they're kids! Get them together with their favorite people (okay, or just their grandparents ;) and they're happy!!!

We celebrated in full girl-style with Pinkalicious everything...

Madelyn helped me get ready all day by making cupcakes, and licking her fingers, and licking her fingers, and licking her fingers...

If you weren't here, you're probably rather thankful now. ;)

It was pretty simple. Box cake mix. A container of cherry frosting. A can of pink frosting (who knew if came like this?!?), and a jar of cherries...

She loved it!

On a side note: I think it's time I sew us some matching aprons... this dishcloth didn't really cut it!

Her big cousin Seven arrived with flowers for the birthday girl! =) SO sweet. She said, (big gasp of surprise) "For Madi!"

She's such a girl...

Then they couldn't stop hugging each other...

And acting like the crazy kids that they are...

But who can blame them?!? We may (or may not) have started off the day with a cupcake for breakfast...

I mean, you only turn 2 once!

Birthday hats are for everyone! Especially when Seven runs around and insists that everyone wears one!!!

We threw in some train accessories, like this amazing Train Cake made by All Around Cakes, for Michael's sake. He took one long look at it and said, "Is that a train cake? It's missing the connectors between each car..."

Of course he would notice!

Crazy cousin Riley, Aunt Decca and sweet baby Croz...

The birthday kids! =)

Yes, that black frosting was sort of the devil...

And we topped the night off with a brand new BIKE. I haven't gotten anymore pictures yet, but the bike has a seat on the back for Madi's baby to ride along with her! =) Yeah, it's a little too much, I know. Being a girl is rough. And being the only girl on the Lambert side of the family is even more rough... she eats it up though, don't worry!

And just for memory sake...

One week old.

One year old.

It's going by too fast! =(

I guess we'll just have to have another. =)

Happy Birthday, Madelyn!!!

We couldn't love you more!

Cousins!!!

I have so many things to say! I am currently sitting at our computer sipping on a delicious latte of some sort (delivered to me out of the blue by my FABULOUS sis-in-law Haley) sorting through pictures of beautiful little children.

Not that I'm biased.

We had a wonderful weekend filled with family and a few close friends celebrating Madelyn's birthday and then we rushed off Sunday afternoon for the Emerald City to greet the newest member of the Lambert family, Jude Alexander Lambert! It was a perfect end to our long-weekend!

Madelyn LOVES being a big cousin and she takes her role very seriously! Baby Jude is the sweetest little guy and OH-SO-CUTE too! Impressive, for a newborn, I must admit! ;)

When we told Madi that Jude was born (in the car on the way to Seattle), she instantly said, "Madi wock, wock?!?" Yes, she was requesting to rock him...

We let him have his first day of life here on Earth to adjust to adult arms and then we swarmed right in on Day 2 and got him nice and acquainted to his cousins! He seems to have a mutual affection for them! =) And, his parents were/are very gracious to share their new bundle of love with the fam!!! We sure loved it!

Michael and Madi spent lots of their birthday in a car or at the hospital. This picture depicts WAY TOO MUCH personality, if that is even possible. You can see why I couldn't resist posting it.

You see, Michael is FULL of personality (although he may appear quite dull in this picture); it just usually appears when people least expect it. For example, I recently took Michael, Madi and Crosby to the store to do some last minute shopping and I planned a quick stop at Jamba Juice (I had a coupon for a $1 smoothie, surprise, surprise ;) to "entertain" the kids while I did my business. I lugged Croz into the shop (why don't Jambas have drive throughs?!?!) and Michael and Madi followed patiently. When we got into the store, Michael decided he was going to befriend a complete stranger of a man (about my Dad's age) by walking up and grabbing around his leg. Yes, quite inappropriate as Micheal is NOT a short child. The man was very nice and so was his wife, but seriously?!?! WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HIM!!! (Insert many more examples here...)

And although it took Michael a while to admit that he does love Madi, the evidence is clear. He loves her.

As long as she does what he wants her to...

On Michael's defense, he was the youngest of the grand babies until Madelyn, the only girl, decided to be born on HIS birthday. She was clearly attempting to make her mark ever so clear to Michael and he wasn't going to just let her barge right in. Madi picked up on Michael's disinterest in her at a very young age (by at least 6 months) and began taunting him from the get go. Thus their relationship has progressed into a love-hate sort of feeling depending on the mood...

I caught a love-moment here, as Michael is going in to reciprocate the cheek-kiss...

Birthday buds!

And then you throw this crazy cousin into the mix and the party just began!!!

ALL of the grandkids, make picture taking quite the challenge! Seven, of course, is a natural poser. Michael does NOT want to acknowledge a camera 3 feet from his face (personality, noted). Madelyn is OBSESSED with other babies' binkis. Crosby is too young and innocent (and overpowered) to do anything besides chill. And Jude, well, he's just experiencing this all for the first time...

It was worth an attempt. I didn't actually expect to get eye contact from everyone...

Pure sweetness... Michael David (05/16/2007). Madelyn Ann (05/16/2009). Jude Alexander (05/15/2011). Jude missed "the day" by a little less than eight and a half hours. We were a little disappointed, but I'm still giving Krista credit for getting him so close! =)

The biggest and the littlest... He's a PRO at being a big cousin/big brother. I.can't.believe. he's almost 6!!! =(

It seems like just yesterday we welcomed you into this world, Seven! At this very same hospital too! We were SOOOO excited to meet you!!!

We are so blessed. Blessed with wonderful family. Blessed to have good relationships with each other and blessed to be welcoming another baby boy into the family in August.

And for another post:

I can't believe I have a TWO year old daughter...

=(

Daddy's Little Helper...

Today is "Take Your Child to Work" day and Matt couldn't have been more excited to bring his little cutie pie to work with him this morning. The plan was that I would take her to him after her dentist apt at 9:30, but she happened to wake up EXTRA early today, so I went ahead and sent her first thing this morning so that she wouldn't be exhausted...

I'm pretty sure I have the cutest family EVER, but I also acknowledge that I'm a little biased...

I guess I'll let ya'll make your own judgments about that. ;)

But I'm sure these two melted the hearts of lots of middle schoolers when they showed up bright and early this morning!

Watch out SMS, she's a mini-in-the-making...

and she can blow a whistle!!!

The wings...

What am I ever going to do when our child decides she is done napping? Besides cry my eyes out of course... I just love the peace and quiet and the potential to get so many things done around the house. Although lately, I must admit, the "so many things" usually means a bowl of ice cream, the couch and maybe a phone call or two... but still, usually the kitchen gets cleaned too and things get picked up for a short period of time, maybe a couple of loads of laundry will get folded.

I am quite thankful, actually! Madelyn is a great sleeper and generally sleeps 12-13 hours every night and takes a 2+ hour nap everyday. Now if only we'll be so lucky with "baby brudder"...

I'm being ambitious today and after I finish this post I plan on making 2 batches (okay, one big batch, split in half) of my Aunt Lisa's yummy chicken enchiladas, and a batch of chocolate chip cookies, and start packing for our trip to Seattle tomorrow...

I suppose I should be quick then! =)

It's always on days like this that Madi decides to wake up early! And, I take a deep breath and remind myself that I need to enjoy every awake moment that I get with our little bug...

Speaking of the little bug, the pictures I have been forgetting to share:

I really don't know what to say about this...

so many of her favorite things, all at once!

Her bike.

Her wings.

Her binki.

It's like a little peace of heaven for a 23-month old, right here on earth!

Eye contact!

It's a miracle... no bother trying to buy a smile!

Especially when she's plugged up!

Sometimes, okay most of the time, I just wish that I could wear butterfly wings and tutus around all day long.

Dressing like a princess on a regular basis,

*sigh*

what a wonderful life...

This is just too much, I know.

I'll stop now.

I hope everyone's having a great hump day... I definitely got a coffee on our way to run a few errands this morning. =)

Caramel latte on ice - you were just what I needed this morning!

Bubbles...

We have a new favorite thing around our house... BUBBLES!!! Grandma Missy stopped by for a few minutes during spring break and she brought with her some bubbles! We took advantage of the 5 minutes of sunshine (literally), and put them right to use!

Little Miss Independent doesn't need any help doing things and so I just get to follow her around and take pictures...

As you can see, making eye-contact with the camera has nothing to do with blowing bubbles and since we take our hobbies seriously around here all pictures result in the top of Madi's eyebrows...

Of course her best-friend Winston got to partake as well... things just aren't the same without him around!

I just can't say enough about how magical it is to watch such small children attempt to do things by themselves. Everything is such a chore, and yet so rewarding when it finally happens (for them and for their not-always-so-patient-mothers...)

This face says it all!

... and the bubbles NEVER leave her hands while we are outside. In fact, most of them time when we come in, unless there is some other VERY distracting motivation, our fun times end with not so fun times.

Like, tears and snot.

And maybe even some kicking and screaming.

It's unfortunate; I agree, but the whether just isn't permitting of camping outside...

yet!

Summer, you can't come fast enough!!!

Special Moments...

I have so many things I should be doing right now, but I FINALLY downloaded pics that were on our camera and I just had to share these adorable ones...

Last Thursday night Matt came home and sat down to finish some of his small group Bible study questions for the night. Madi was VERY excited that her Daddy was home and insisted on copying everything he did.

She ran around the house until she found her Bible and then climbed up next to him.

It was pretty much priceless...

She loves to talk about Jesus...

and the big whale in her Bible...

It was a very special moment, definitely my favorite kind! =)