Muddy Buddy 2009

We had a blast on Sunday at the Muddy Buddy. Tucker and his friend Ronnie, along with David (Tucker's brother-in-law) and his friend, Brian competed in the event. The idea behind this event: the race is a 6-7 mile course and 5 obstacles. At the start of the race, one team member will run and one will ride the bike. At the 1st obstacle, the rider will drop the bike, complete the obstacle, and begin running. The runner will arrive, complete the obstacle, find their bike, and begin riding. Teams will continue leapfrogging each other through the entire course. At the end of the race, racers will crawl through the Mud Pit crossing the finish line together! Both teams did a great job and had a fun time.

Tucker and Ronnie (pre-race)

The Mud Pit

David and his partner, Brian at the finish line

"Hey Tucker, what the heck are we doing..?" Tucker and Ronnie crawling through the mud pit

At the finish line

After the race, the kids can compete in the Mini Muddy Buddy. Maddie wanted to join in the fun and I went with her (if the child was 4-6 years of age - a parent had to go with them). The race consisted of tires, a balance beam, and a wall, then the mud pit. Maddie did a great job and had a blast. I was very proud of her and I believe we just might have a competitor among us! Her cousins, Audrey and Hallie also competed. It was a fun, but messy morning. Enjoy the pictures! :)

Maddie's pre-race smile

Maddie and Nathan

Pre-race pose

Maddie taking off in the obstacle course

Maddie and I crawling through the mud pit. It was actually kinda of fun!

"Come on Maddie, come on!!"

Doesn't she look so cute? After race pose

She's just a little dirty, don't you agree?

Kara crawling through the mud with Hallie

After race smile Audrey crawling through the mud pit

The three little mud pies

Group picture

The Graduate

Friday night, my little girl graduated from preschool. She was so excited and did a fabulous job! At the beginning of the ceremony, they had put together a video of pictures from birth to present of all of the graduates. Of course, I got a little teary eyed because of the heart-touching music that went along with the video. Then, the kids lined up and walked in. They had several songs they sung, "The Star Spangled Banner", "America", "My Country", and then a few cute songs. Everyone sang so pretty and "loud". It was a really cute program and the teachers did a great job putting it together. Then, the graduates got their diplomas and then flew their hats up in the air.

I am so very proud of Maddie and I know she will do great in school. Her teachers talk about how smart she is and how she strives to learn. I just can't believe how fast she has grown up and how more independent she is getting. I have a feeling that the first day of Kindergarten is going to be much harder on me than it will be on her!!!! :)

The Class of 2009

The family with the graduate
Maddie and her little brother, he really looks up to her!
My sweet little girl

Maddie and two of her friends

Maddie walking in....

Maddie singing her heart out.....

Maddie receiving her diploma

The graduated... "we are outta here!"

Testing...123

I set up an application for this blog on my iPhone today and checking to see if this works. I believe I am only able to free text and not add any pictures. I am going to keep looking to make sure there is an "app. for that"; if so, then this phone is way cooler than I thought!!

Our Anniversary

Today is our 9 year Anniversary! God has blessed me with a wonderful husband, a great marriage, and two wonderful children. Happy Anniversary Tucker, I love you!

Happy Mother's Day

I hope all of you moms are having a great Mother's Day! We took my mother and Tucker's mom out for breakfast this morning. I wanted to share some pictures of our mother's with you. Have a fabulous day!

My wonderful kids and me this morning after breakfast. It was a little sunny, but who is complaining!

My mom, the kids, and me.

My mom and me. Maddie actually took this picture, pretty good, huh?

Tucker, his mom, and his sister after breakfast this morning. Tucker is mocking the way the girls are standing. He looks a little feminine here, but nonetheless, a great picture!

And Then There Were None

Well, our tadpoles grew into frogs, but unfortunately they did not survive. The tadpoles developed at different rates. There was a little tadpole that developed into a frog first and loved to live on the pirate ship that we had bought for them. We named him Captain Jack Sparrow (from Pirates of the Caribbean). The other 3 developed about the same time and were the first to die. We found them one morning floating with their legs straight out. Maddie was highly upset and had a little crying spell. I explained to her what had happened and then we said goodbye as we flushed them down the potty. Then, one day after work, we found Captain Jack at the bottom of the aquarium by "his ship." Maddie was very upset about Captain Jack's death, he was our favorite! Then, Friday our last tadpole had finally developed into a frog. We had decided that on Saturday we would take him to my mother-in-law's house to let him live in her waterfall pond. When we went to get him to take him to his new home, he had passed away.

I am not really sure what we did wrong. Once, they had developed into frogs, I don't think they were eating like they had been. I believe they starved to death, but not sure. It was a great learning experience for the kids and very interesting to see them transform into little frogs. I just hate that not even one of them survived.

So, yesterday afternoon, we went to the pet store and got 4 fish. Maddie and Nathan took $5.00 out of their piggy banks and helped buy them. We made their new home for them and I think they are getting along well. This morning all looked healthy and were swimming around. Wish us luck with these guys. I hope we don't let them down like we did the tadpoles!