Happy Birthday to Madalyn

Yesterday was Madalyn's 4th birthday. It has been amazing to be her mom for 3 1/2 years! The one thing I never realized is how much closer a child brings a family. It's awesome to watch the love my parents and sister have for this child! She gives us reasons to take trips together, to eat together, and take bike rides together. All these things are things we would want to do, but because of Madalyn we actually find AND take the time to make them happen.

Madalyn celebrated with her school friends at the Jump Zone on Saturday. Happy 4th birthday Madalyn! You are such a big girl now!

Trip to the mountains

At the end of the summer we took a trip with our family to the Smokey Mountains! We saw a momma bear and two cubs. We spent two days at Dollywood watching the singing shows and riding kiddie rides. We hiked to a waterfall. We inner tubed down a river with some little rapids. Oh, and mommy got a new clutch in her car when it burnt out on the way up a big mountain to our cabin.

First trip of the summer-to the beach