Pre-Halloween Activities

Madison's Halloween parade at school was inside this year (it was so cold outside). Don, Lily, Taegan and I were there to watch and then I stayed to help with the Halloween party in her classroom. She had such a great time. They played all kinds of fun games and of course got some candy too! Here are some pictures of all the fun!

The next day we did our annual pumpkin carving at the Engel house. I helped Lily carve her pumpkin and surprisingly, I came up with something actually creative! I'm normally a triangle eyes, nose and regular mouth kind of girl, but she and I worked together and this is the creation we made. Lily really, really, wanted ears, so I made sure she had some. Madison and Don made her pumpkin - so cute!! (Notice that both of the girls' pumpkins have eyelashes!!) And then Don, who had never carved a pumpkin until I met him, made this interesting creation. The girls thought it was so funny!!! Mommy, Taegan and Reese's didn't get carved. We left them whole so we can save them as decorations for Thanksgiving. We all had a great time, as always and we all loved the result when they were all lit up that night!!!

The Pumpkin Patch

On Saturday when I was at a Tastefully Simple party and working at Gymboree, Don and his mom took the kids to the pumpkin patch. Don and I normally do this every year, but this year sickness had delayed our plans. Madison had been sick with the flu and we were all pretty tired of being in the house, so it was a nice change of pace!

Everyone got to pick out a pumpkin, even Reese got a baby pumpkin! They all had a great time with Daddy and Grandma! Now we just have to find time to carve the pumpkins!!

Uncle Eric and Aunt Tiya's Reception

Recently my brother married a wonderful girl named Tiya. She very quickly became Aunt Tiya and we (especially my girls) love her!! A couple weekends ago, they had a very nice reception in Carthage, Missouri. Madison and Lily got to be flower girls and we all had a great time. We had my cousin's wife, Annie, take some pictures and when I get those I will post some of them as well, but for now, here are a few of my snapshots of our night.

My brother, Eric and his lovely wife, Tiya cutting their wedding cake.

Here is a picture of my crazy son playing with his blanket during the reception!!

Don and his daughters. They were so excited to be flower girls and they did a great job!!!

Madison's Makeover Party!

A friend had told me about a makeover party her daughter had been invited to attend, and when I told Madison about it, she was SO excited to do that for her 7th birthday!! We had 8 girls there and they all got their hair fixed, nails painted and makeup put on. They all seemed to have a blast (I know Madison and Lily did!).

Madison really enjoyed spending time with all her friends and had so much fun getting made over with them!!

Here is a picture of Madison and Faith (her best friend from Kindergarten) getting their nails painted.

While some of the girls were waiting their turn to go to the next station, we took this picture. Here are Lily, KayLynn, Madison and Erica.

And here is the final picture of the whole bunch after they were all done. They all did so good and it was such an easy party for me!!!

Happy Birthday Madison! I hope you had a wonderful time!!

Happy Birthday Madison!!

7 years ago today at 7:00 in the morning I gave birth to a baby girl who weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces!! Madison Grace Engel, our first baby and first daughter. What a whirlwind it has been ever since! Now 7 years later, she is in first grade and learning all kinds of new things.

Tonight to celebrate, Madison chose Steak n Shake for dinner and then she got to open her presents. Here are the girls drinking their dessert after dinner...

And here are some pictures of Madison's gifts from us. The main item she really wanted (and what Daddy really wanted to get her) was a real, pink guitar!! Here she is learning to play it...

I can't believe 7 years has past already, and so quickly! I hope the next 7 slow down, but some how I doubt that! Happy Birthday Madison!!! Mommy loves you so much and is so happy to be able to call you my daughter!!!

Lily's Birthday Party!

This year when we sat Lily down to decide which birthday party theme she wanted, she looked through the party catalog many, many times and finally decided on "High School Musical". She was so excited for her party! We had really liked a face painter we met at the KU kickoff rally and hired her to come to Lily's party. Lily was first in line and couldn't wait. Most of the kids tried it and they all loved her! Madison and Lily went pretty crazy with it and ended up with painting all over their legs, arms, face, neck... everywhere!! Here is Lily getting her first creation.

Here she is with her High School Musical cake!


She received so many wonderful gifts from all her friends and family! Lily is really getting into organizing her Barbie stuff, so Nana and Papa got her this Barbie storage box. She loves it, but also loves to use it as a "suitcase" and wheel it around the house!! I just love that she seems to like organizing stuff!!!!


Lily had so much fun with everyone and has told me for her next birthday she wants a Hannah Montana party with the face painter again! I guess I can go ahead and start planning now!!

Lily is FOUR!!!

I can't believe my baby girl is 4 years old!! It feels like just yesterday she was born... What a day that was! I was scheduled to be induced since she was measuring so big and frankly... I was BIG!! My nurse promised me that I would eat lunch that day. That didn't happen. I started pushing before noon and didn't have Lily until 4:16 pm!!! She was a big baby, sunny side up, and her shoulders got stuck. Obviously she wasn't ready to come out!! (I also blame the epidural. I never got one with Reese or Taegan because of this!)

Anyway... here we are 4 years later. I decided to make a list of my 10 favorite things about Lily (in random order) to share with you.

1. Her smile.

2. How caring she is.

3. Her willingness to share.

4. The way she melts my heart just looking at her.

5. The way she loves her family and friends.

6. How passionate she is about life.

7. How she already knows what she wants to be when she grows up - a mommy. (Oh, and she is going to marry Brennen and has already planned out their wedding, reception and where they are going afterwards!)

8. The way she loves purses and shoes!

9. The way she loves babies.

10. The way she plays with her toys. I know this sounds funny, but she plays with her barbies, dolls, etc. the same way I played with mine. She has to have everything set up the way it would be in real life! And the fact that she plays all by herself so well!!!

That is by no means all of my favorite things about Lily, but that gives you a good idea of what a sweet little girl she really is. I'm so happy that God has blessed us with her and allowed me to be her mom!! I can't wait to see where she goes and what she does with life... or wait... maybe I can, because if the next 14 go as quick as the last 4... I'm not ready for that!!!

Happy Birthday Lily!!!! Mommy loves you more than you will ever know!!!