Madison's 3 rd Birthday

Maddie's birthday was June 23rd which was a Tuesday. Normally on Tues and Thursdays she has Pre-School but just so happen that that week was summer break so we had that whole day to do fun stuff. The night before, I sponge rolled her hair. Here's a pic with her rollers in. She liked having them in her hair.

So the next morning when I took them out and styled it, this is what it looked like.

Before we started on her hair, I asked Madison what she wanted for breakfast, Jason was gone by this time so it was just for me and the kids. I told her that I would fix her anything that she wanted and surprisingly she picked something super easy. She wanted muffins. So we had blueberry and banana nut muffins with chocolate milk(choc.milk is a treat at our house).
Here in Greenville they have a summer movie program that 3 times a week they offer two older movies for free. So around 9:30 we left and headed to the movies. We saw Charlotte's Web which Maddie really likes, so she enjoyed it. When the movie was over, I let Maddie chose where she'd like to eat for lunch and she choose McDonald's. So we went there to eat and let kids play for a little while. Then it was nap time. (A few pics at McDonald's)

On Tues (during this rotation), Jason gets home around 1pm. So after naps we all went to Jumping Monkey and the kids had a good time playing. Here's some pictures of them there:

Maddie playing in a little house and playing "mommy".
Jason playing with the kids.

Maddie coming down the slide and jumping in the Castle jumper.

Driving with her baby in the back seat. LOL Playing in the house again.


Jonas and Maddie on some ride-on toys.


After Jumping Monkey, we came home and had dinner and ice cream.

Before bedtime, we let Maddie open a few gifts. She got a couple of sets of new PJ's, a princess toothbrush/paste, some books, and a new Hello Kitty shirt and dress.

Maddie opening her gifts. Books and her owl jammies.



Maddie showing off her new princess nightgown, and her new princess pillowcase that I made for her.

It was a good day for all of us. We had a lot of fun. And now our little Maddie is 3.

Our Baby Girl is 3!!!

Well today is Madison's birthday. Our first precious baby is three now. It is amazing all the things that happens in a child's first few years. After having carried my first born for the short 9 months but seemingly long at times, and reading all that occurs in those 9 months I found that every time a healthy child is born, it is truly a beautiful miracle. Jason and I have been very fortunate throughout the 6 years we have been married but nothing compares to the two miracles that have been given to us...Our precious Madison and our sweet boy, Jonas. There's nothing like looking at your own kids and knowing that they are yours forever. I can't imagine my life without them, and luckily no matter what happens here on this earth, I know that I can always be with them. I can remember my very first day as a mother. It was something that only happens once, no matter how many children you have, you never have that day like that one again b/c from that point on, you are always a mother. I remember when they handed her over to me. I stared at her and checked her like I think all mom's do. But after a few moments, I rememeber feeling guilt b/c I just didn't feel like she was mine. I didn't feel like I was her mother. I loved her but I didn't LOVE her. Well I guess it was more like I had love for her but I didn't truly love her yet. I hadn't fell in love with her yet. Oh how three years changes all that. Of course it didn't take 3 years, I don't think it even took 3 days. It was a love that grew faster than anything that I have or ever will experience in this life. A love for your children, I believe that is a miracle too. Just how a mother can start to love a little stranger in just a matter of minutes. I'm so glad that I have been blessed enough to have children and to have a relationship, bond, and a love with them that you can't have with anyone else.
I know that Maddie can't read but this is for her. Maddie girl, I love you. I love you so much that even that isn't enough. But you'll understand one day when you are a mommy. I'm so glad that you are the one that Heavenly Father sent to me b/c you make me so happy. I love the way you smile and when you are silly and funny. I love your hugs and kisses and it makes me so happy when you tell me that you love me. I can't wait for the days that we can talk about your day and you can depend on me when you need someone to listen or just a shoulder to cry on. I will hold you until your last tear has dropped. I want to be your friend but mostly, I want to be your mother. You are like no one else. No matter how many brothers or sisters you may have, always know that you are important and loved. I will always need MY Maddie in my life. Well I could go on for days about how much I love you and what you mean to me but I'll save it for next year maybe.

For my blog readers, here are pictures of Maddie on each of her birthdays.

I'm sure you can tell that this was taken on her BIRTH day. Just minutes old!


Madison's 1 st birthday and party!! It was on a Saturday so her party was actually on her birthday.

Madison's 2nd Birthday Sad to say, I didn't take any pictures of her on her actual birthday but this was taken at her party (June 21).

Happy 3rd Birthday, Bug!!
Mommy loves you!!!

AHHHHHHH!!!

Well today is the day...I found my first official GRAY HAIR!!! I thought in the past a few times that I had found one but after I pulled it out I realized that it was just a blonde hi-lite and not an actual gray but today that wasn't the case. It was gray. It was right in the center of my head, thank goodness it wasn't that crazy wiry kind. It was brown from the bottom up half way and then just gray from there to the root. I feel most people dread this stage but honestly, I really don't care. I'll be the BIG 3-0 this year and I'm finally just feeling my age. I mean isn't gray hair suppose to make you more mature and distinguished, who doesn't need that? ;o) This is probably the first year in my life that I have actually felt my age. Isn't funny how when you are young you want to be older and when you are older you just want to be young. Well that was the story of my life until recently. I think my kids have just sucked out every bit of energy I had and now I feel 30. I mean just last year Jason and I were talking about how we felt like we had just graduated HS but it was really 10 years ago or more. Well I guess it's good to know that I still don't look 30 b/c last night when I was at Wal-Mart I purchased some sparklers and I got carded. Then when I showed her my ID and she was like," OMG, I can't believe you are even 20 much less almost 30." Though I finally feel 30 I guess it's nice to hear that I don't look it. So even though I thought I'd write this down(blog it), finding a gray hair isn't that big a deal but it is the first of what's to come.

On Sat May 16th, we were in Fayetteville for Tresea Birthday. We drove up on Fri night but we got there in the late evening. David and Tresea live on a lake (picture shown above) and so that night we took advantage of it. Jason, Maddie and I stayed out on the pier even after dark and fished (Jonas was already asleep in his bed). I, Lena Adams, at the age of 29, caught MY FIRST FISH!!! I was the only one that caught anything that night. I mean it wasn't really anything special but hey it was my first one. I think I may have been fishing a few times and I do mean few, in my life but I was never really proactively fishing. I really don't like it. I think it's cruel and boring. I think it's cruel to the bait that you are using, that is if it's live bait and I think it's cruel to the fish that you are catching. I don't mind it so much if you catching to cook it but Jason and his dad mostly catch and throw back. But now that I'm older and a mom, you know taking up fishing as a hobby doesn't sound so bad after all...ahhhhh, peace and quiet!! SOUNDS GREAT!!! Well here are some pictures of our little fishies:Me and Maddie with my first fish ever!!

Jason and Maddie making fishy faces with MY little Brim fish.

Jason, the next morning(Sat), sitting out on the pier fishing and studying. And here's what he caught:
Another Brim and he also caught a turtle but I didn't get a picture of that, wish I had.

David grilled out. We had some hamburgers and some cake for Tresea's bday. Then after that, David and Jason took the John boat out on the lake for a while and this is what Jason caught.
We were all hoping to be able to jump in the pool but it just didn't get hot enough to warm up that water but we all just sat around it and admired it. Here's a picture of David and Maddie by the pool.Here's a picture of David doing what he does best...putting someone else to work.
LOL!! J\K David

Me and MJ's toes testing out the water. Yeah, a little to chilly for anymore than this.

Well here are some pictures that I took of different things but I was mostly just trying out my new camera, which I love.


How cute are these pics of my doggie and my baby girl.



This is another reason of why I love my camera, these never would have turned out with my old one.

Here's some of Jonas playing with Tresea's Coca-Cola Truck and Bucket. He was having a blast, making the Vroom-Vroom sounds and putting things in the bucket and carrying it around. He's a cutie!!




Saturday was also Jason's step-sister's first prom night. Here's a picture of Morgan and her date, Bryant. She looked so very pretty!!!
Then on Sunday we went to church and drove back home to G'ville. That was pretty much that weekend.

Petting Zoo

On Friday, May 15th the kids and I went to a different Strawberry patch than we normally go. It was our Play Group Activity. So a few kids from church and their Mom's came to pick some strawberries. Since we had already picked some this season, I wasn't much into picking them, plus all the good ones were gone. We pick one some pint bucket full and that was it. At this farm they too had a small petting zoo. The kids enjoyed that much more than the strawberry picking. Here's what they had:

Maddie just loved that she could get this close to them and pet them.
She hugged and kissed this baby.

Maddie feeding the Momma Goat some hay.


Here is Maddie(above) and Jonas (below) petting and feeding the goats hay.



The kids checking out the bunnies. Jonas just giggled when the bunnies would hop around.


Some pictures of the beautiful peacock that was there. I was so excited that I actually caught a pic of him with his feathers all fanned out. There's just something amazing about peacocks, well I think there is anyway.


I've got to add this little story. Well Maddie was just capativated with the goats and so I was showing Jonas the peacock. Maddie was standing right behind me and all of a sudden she let out a loud sqeaul, followed by crying and tears. I asked her what was wrong but she just can't crying but when she finally calmed down a little she told me that the mommy goat ate her hair. LOL I'm sorry but I couldn't help it. Yes, I laughed. The momma goat would put her front legs up on the gate and could lean out some and so Maddie was standing there and she grabbed her bangs and started to chew. I think it scared Maddie more than it really hurt. We both laughed about it once she had gotten over it.

The FIRST Father/Son Campout

A few weeks ago, our ward held a father/son campout. Though Jonas is young and not able to really participate in many activities, Jason and Jonas did go. It was held at an LDS Camping Ground in Eagles Nest, NC. It's an hour away, right in the middle of Greenville and Fayetteville. They got there around dinner time on Friday night and then left after breakfast on Sat. They didn't do much of anything except mingle but it was enough to say that they both now had been on a Father/Son campout, but there will be many of those to attend in the years to come. But I'm glad that my boys got to attend even for a few hours. Here are a few pictures that Jason took of Jonas sleeping in the tent and then eating breakfast the next morning.




**And Chelsea, it's a banana!!! OK