Believe it or not, I've been working on the same scarf for over a year! I had taken that thing EVERYWHERE with me! I'm almost done now and have been itching to make a new alpaca scarf. So, after a day of drilling holes and an afternoon baby shower to attend, I came home and informed Kyle that I wanted a few minutes to start my new scarf...He obliged after having 3 hours to himself (3 hours seems like an eternity when you don't have the kid to watch!). So I got started and soon after Madigan wanted to also be part of my knitting. She kept saying "I watch", and she did.
We got started on the fence building this past weekend. Sunday we rented a 2 person auger. Lucky for me, my brother,Matt, was able to take the place of that second person needed. To my amazement it took under 2 hours to get all of the holes drilled. The earth here was so soft and came up so "easily" (easy for me to say!). When we built our fence in Belgrade it was 100% rock and so difficult and so much work! Madigan happily tinkered around the yard for about 4 hours before heading in for lunch. She has always loved tools and as long as we let her help, she's content. She's sporty her new hat from the Schultz Gerlach family--thanks guys! She LOVES it!
Nana and Pappy sent Madigan a wooden green tea set. It's ridiculously cute and it must be very tasty, because I had tea no less than 20 times yesterday with Madigan!
We tried to prepare her for her birthday party by singing "Happy Birthday" and blowing candles out over our eggs in the morning. We talked about the Farm we were going to and that we'd go for a tractor ride and see pumpkins and have birthday cupcakes....for days we talked about this...And then the day came, she was so excited all morning, singing "Happy Birthday" to her babies, talking about the tractor and her cupcakes.... But then we got there and it was too much for her..she fell silent. In retrospect I think she had a fun time and she smiles when we talk about it. We tried to keep it very simple-pizza and cupcakes, no gift bringing was requested. We hung out by the tipi and picked raspberries and apples....and the weather actually held out for us!!! It was a very nice birthday celebration. Happy 2nd Birthday Madigan! Tractor ride to the orchard and raspberries bushes: Opening presents in the tipi-Madigan had no idea about ripping into the presents... She gently opened each one very slowly: Birthday cake and singing. It was too windy so she didn't get candles: Picking apples with Dad and friends:
Here's Madigan decortaing her birthday cupcakes. I was so amazed that she did this so well. We use the learning tower often now- mostly to help Mom bake and cook stuff, but also to wash her hands and watch Dad make juice in the juicer. I know there's too many photos, but how could I leave a single one out?
Daddy took Madigan for a walk a night last week before dinner. Mom needed some time to pick up the house or craft, or something (geez, do I need excuse!?) Luckily he had the camera. It's Fall here in term sof color, but it's been in the 70's and 80's.....everything is supposed to change tomorrow though. Something about little 2 year olds wearing New Balance tennis shoes makes them look way too old.....
We helped Beckett ring in his 4th birthday at Rocky Creek Farm last Friday night. It was the perfect day and the perfect simple little boys birthday party. The kids got to run around and climb the haybales, open presents in the teepee, eat pizza and blue ice cream birthday cake. And it was 80 degrees! Madigan and I had talked about going to the farm all day, but she thought we were going to one with chickens, horseys and goats. Those must be her 3 favorite farm animals because she asked for all 3 each time she brought it up. Sorry to say, there's was just a dog name Charlie...But we had a great time. Madi was a little shy and worried with the older kids and all boys, but she warmed up at the end and even joined Dad in the haybale tunnel.
We're debating having Madigan's party there, but we think we'll hold off and do next year's there when she and her friends can enjoy it a little more...she's still pretty young and we're determined not to make her birthday a huge crazy event.