Fall Farms & Pumpkin Patches

 

Maddie getting ready for a trip to the pumpkin patch

School trip to Gizdich Ranch

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Time to learn about how pumpkins grow and sing lots of songs

Maddie's request: "Row, Row, Row da Boat"

Singing along to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Climbing on the tractor with her schoolmates and friend Greta

Lunch at the farm -- so much cuteness

Next, a trip to Rodoni farms to pick pumpkins on an unbelievably beautiful 80 degree October day.  Here's Maddie riding with friend Parker 

Fun with farm pipes!

With Daddy in "da cave"

Flying!

..just a cute pic

Vacation!

We were lucky enough to escort Maddie on her first cruise. Here are some highlights: 

Maddie taking in the view of Land's End (Cabo) from the balcony

 

 

Admiring a statue of Ariel, The Little Mermaid

With Pluto and cousin Zach during a Character Breakfast

With Zach in new matching PJ's (courtesy of Auntie Lorie)

Exhausted!

Getting ready for the Pirate Dinner!

 

 

 With Daddy & Dada after the Pirate Dinner

 Maddie, Zach & Nana

A trip to Gilroy Gardens

We took a quick day trip to a local kiddie-oriented garden theme park today. Maddie, fearless as ever, wanted to go on EVERYTHING we'd allow. Here's a little proof:

With Daddy on the Ferris Wheel:

On the Merry-Go-Round:

Racing!

Driving a fire truck: (Funny story: see the truck in front of Maddie? The little girl in the back had to share with her sister and stayed in a hunched position for the entire ride.)

On the Flying Balloons:

Again on the Merry-Go-Round:

Road Trip! (yet another)

We recently received the ultimate gift: two weeks off of work (OK, a little work). After Maddie's dads took some long awaited time alone, we returned to pick up our little wonder from her Nana & Papa and Auntie L who spoiled her rotten, headed home, and headed right out again.

Following are a few pics from our road trip to Sonoma..

Maddie by the pool ("be a dear and fetch me a drink"):

In the pool, where my fearlessness was a bit worrisome for dada and daddy:

Cozy following a post-swim shower:

Penguin feeding at the Zoo!

..finally, in the petting zoo:

We had a great time, and are trying to keep it going, leaving this morning for a day trip to a local kiddie amusement park.

More Holiday Pics

Some more December/Holiday Pictures:

With Cousins Taylor, Katie, Aaron & Zachary @ Nana & Papa's house:

With cousins Bridgett and Megan @ Aunt Mary's:

Presents!

Another Present!

Watching gorillas @ the L.A. Zoo with cousin Zach:

With Cousin Megan @ the L.A. Zoo:

December 2010

Sorry for the complete lack of updates! Here are some pics from December of last year:

Maddie in an outfit from our friends R&M:

Cookie Party:

More Cookie Party!

With Daddy in the snow:

Fun in the tub:

Look, pa: No Cast!

Two weeks after Maddie's arm went into a splint, we heard the news we were hoping for -- she wouldn't need to have a plaster cast. Phew! Here's a pose showing off her healthy arm:



She's back to her little monkey ways: climbing, running, tickling and giggling all day long.

Trick or Treat!

Maddie had a fantastic Halloween! As I type this, she's walking around saying "tick-uh-teet". We'd hoped that she would love her Pebbles costume as much as us, but she didn't want anything to do with either a bone in her hair or carrying a bone. So, she ended up as a hybrid Pebbles-Punker. She quickly learned what it was all about though, and had a unique way of getting candy: After receiving her first piece, she'd just stand there waiting for more. ..and more. ..and more.

An unfortuntate and not-so-great look.

This past Monday Maddie fell down and bit through her upper lip. ..all the way through the skin below the outer portion. The lip started to look better on Thursday.

Then while running from one end of the couch to the other, she tripped, fell to the floor, and did this:


We're headed back to the Doctor first thing on Monday to see if we go to a permanent cast or if she can stay in this temporary splint for a shorter time. Keep your fingers crossed.

She's got the look..

We REALLY like to see Maddie all dressed up in her different outfits. ..and thanks to her cousin's hand-me-downs and a recent visit from Nana and Papa, Maddie's turning into a bit of a clotheshorse. We thought we'd capture some of her "looks":

Pretty in pink:

"The Sophisticate" (probably ordering one of us around):

Ready to go see her favorite band:

Ready to tour with her favorite band:

Sweet in purple and white:

Gettin' urban in her puffy coat and pink boots:

"The roughneck" -- wanna knuckle sandwich?

Gettin' her geek on:

A bit dressy for picking her ultimate pumpkin:

Totally 80's:


Summery in the park:

More to come..