All Aboarrrrrdddd!

Oh yes! We did it again...The Polar Express! This is truly one of the most joyous, fun-filled times we have as a family. Scott and I soak in the joy and wonder that our girls ooze during our train ride to the North Pole.

Molly clapped and danced while Addy waited patiently to give Santa that giant "hug" she'd been talking about for weeks. Mary Ella sat, clutching her book with excitement hoping to get Santa's autograph this time around.

All the girls were gazing at the North Pole as Santa and his elves boarded the train

They are eagerly looking down the train cars to get a glimpse of Santa!

Addy ran to give Santa his special "hug"....what a sweet and BRAVE girl!!!!

We listened to carols and ringing sleigh bells all the way back home. In the end all goals were accomplished from hugs to autographs. Such great memories we make during the special outings.

Christmas program

Upon returning from our Thanksgiving trip, we quickly got ready for Mary Ella's Christmas program at church. We dolled her all up and went to Marvin UMC to listen to little children sing and talk us through the birth of our Savior. You can imagine though...taking two toddlers to watch this performance after days on the road. Before the program even began, Molly was wiggling and yelping at each attempt to restrain her from running through the pews and aisles. After multiple attempts to keep her still and engage her in the performance I handed the camera to Scott and took her outside where she proceeded to yell, "YAY!!!!" and clap after each song and speaking part was completed. Therefore, I moved on to the "cry room" where I watched a live feed and Molly happily toddled around free. Ahhhh, the life of a two year old :). The program was completed and all the kids did fabulous. We went on for hot chocolate (aka evening caffiene for children) and cookies (aka sugar high inducing drug) when Addy kept telling me she was cold. We quickly wrapped up, got home and realized Addy was officially sick with a fever. It seems like everytime we come home from a trip, we have one or more kiddos come down with something. The trips are still worth it and the circumstances do not take away from the fact that Mary Ella and all her friends delivered a beautiful reminder that evening. In that respect, it was the best start to Advent ever!

Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving at the Maedgen Farm (my mom's) in Pfleugerville, Tx. For those unfamiliar, it is near Brenham, TX. The kids spent much of the time running free around the great outdoors, feeding cows and riding in this bright orange car (much to Scott's dismay). Unfortunately because I am busy chasing kids, it does not afford me much opportunity to take many pictures. My mom hosted a beautiful Thanksgiving dinner with a beautifully set table as always. She refuses to use anything but china and crystal for her holiday tables, so you can imagine what it is like to clean up after 20+ guests. It was all worth it. We enjoyed the company of grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins, siblings and parents. You combine that with good food and you just can't beat it! What a blessed time it was for all of us. You will find a few pics below. There are many more posted on facebook courtesy of my brother :)

Addy preferred to stay in the mule and watch the fun at a distance....don't blame her, really.

Addy became a little more brave the second time around, with her sister's encouragement

Need I say more??? Molly Kate is wild and crazy out on the prairie!

The funny and sweet

Addy Scott keeps us on our toes. If only I could leap into that head of hers for a few minutes to go to the same glorious, wonderful places her imagination takes her. I often find her talking to herself and creating a storyline with her as the lead character, of course. As a result, she often disappears at times as she escapes into her imaginary world. Well, one day she had been quiet a little too long, so I sought her out and found her in my makeup. She had created this masterpiece:

oh how I giggled and she smiled so proudly while I took this picture, but then she wanted to see her "work" for her self. When she saw this picture, she burst into tears from embarrassment. It made me so sad the pride had melted away into sadness. Darn! I wish they could live forever without knowing what embarrassment was. There was no convincing her that she was "cute"...poor baby!

Below is a picture of one of those "tender moments" I blogged about earlier. I love to witness all the sisterly differences put aside for security and love. What a blessing that they find comfort in each other's presence.

Catching y'all up

Yep, I've really been slacking on this thing...I'll try my best to catch you up. On October 31st we welcomed a new member into our family, James Tommey. He married our sister, Kristin in Boston, MA. Mary Ella and Addy joined us on the trip and were actually flower girls. Molly (the two y/0) stayed home with grandparents. Below are a few of the pictures from the wedding

the happy couple

all the pretty ladies

Mary Ella and Addy Scott all dolled up

the flight up...notice the scab under Addy's nose...she put a hole through her lip that week :)

We are so excited that James and Kristin have now relocated to Texas were they will pursue careers in the Austin, Tx area. We are so thrilled to have them closer to us and were so blessed to be part of their beautiful wedding!

Tender moments

So I posted that last entry and went upstairs to do the last "tuck in" of the night. I went to Mary Ella's room and pulled the blankets up, then went on to Addy Scott's room. I reached for the blankets and realized Addy was not there. I looked on the floor thinking she must have rolled out of bed and still, no Addy. So the heart started racing and I turned on the hall light to look in Mary Ella's room and there she was sleeping up against her sister. Sweet little moments like that help me cope with those "other" moments. Thank God for that little blessing tonight.

Expanded Vocabulary

I must say, when Mary Ella started kindergarten I was not prepared. She came home saying things that would make me cringe. They weren't horrible things like foul language...just things you know likely came from a child with an older sibling and yes, I'm well aware our two younger ones will probably be "those" kids as well. Anyways, most of those things were easily extinguished using the "inappropriate" lecture and so on. Well, in first grade we continue to learn to read, write, math and other "fun" (enter sarcasm here) sayings/words that must be extinguished. So on to the story....it was a beautiful afternoon and the kids were all outside playing. My mother was outside with them. I had asked Mary Ella to come inside and the conversation went something like this:

Me: Mary Ella, it is time to come inside and clean up for dinner

Mary Ella: Noooooooo

Me: Mary Ella, it is time. Now come on and let's go clean up.

Mary Ella: Noooooooo

Me: Now Mary Ella, you've got two choices...come inside and get ready for dinner or stay out here and get in trouble

Mary Ella: No mom, YOU'VE got two choices. You let me stay out here OR I can give you a wedgie and I KNOOOOOW what a wedgie is.

Me: (Insert a grandmother in tears laughing so hard she can hardly stand it...thanks mom, glad it is humorous) Mary Ella! (trying extremely hard not to laugh at the fact that my mother just witnessed this showdown) Get inside now.

Fortunately, Mary Ella came to her senses and got inside. Good grief! Do they really have to know what a wedgie is at six years-old. Geez! I guess there are worse things.....

She's TWO

On October 19th, we celebrated Molly Kate's 2nd Birthday. It is interesting to say that we now have a 6, 3 and a 2 y/o. I think despite heading full-steam into toddlerhood, she will always be "the baby." Here are a few of her favorite things...

1. Her pink blanky- the smell of it is forever etched in my sensory memory. No matter how many washings, it still smells yummy like Molly Kate

2. FOOD- she came into this world hungry and does. not. stop. Lack of food becomes a national emergency at our house

3. Hide and seek with her daddy and sisters

4. Being held my me. Yep, she's a momma's girl

5. Dancing- the girl has the best rhythm out of all of us!

6. Play-doh- what kid doesn't like play-doh??

7. Swinging

8. Her baby- how we have raised three momma hens, I do not know. But ALL THREE love their babies!

9. Barney and Yo Gabba Gabba

10. Last, but not least...when daddy comes home. She joins in the chorus of squeals when he gets home.

What I love about her is that she is in no rush to wiggle out of my arms. In fact, she would probably prefer to stay there most of the time. I love to kiss her dimpled cheeks and to see those beautiful brown eyes cut over to the side in delight. Not too often does a week go by without someone making mention of her happiness and good disposition. She is such a blessing and is emerging into a precious (gulp!) little girl, but as I said, she will always be our baby. In fact, I am typing this right after sending her off to Shreveport for a couple of days while we attend my sister's, Kristin's, wedding in Boston. There is already a void because she is gone. Molly, you hold such a special place in my heart and in our family. Happy Birthday sweet girl!

Good reports

Mom went to the MD Anderson today and met with her oncologist. Fortunately, the cancer is still the same type from 8 years ago and hasn't morphed into anything bigger and badder. This basically means that the drug she was on to block estrogen production quit working and the tumors grew. They are very, very tiny and hopefully will be responsive to a new medication that binds to the tumor itself to block the estrogen and this, in turn, will hopefully keep it from growing and may actually kill the existing cancers cells there. All indications are that this is a very slow-growing and not very aggressive form of disease.

Thank you for all your well wishes, support and prayers. Our family has felt every bit of it! Please continue to pray for her and MANY others like her who are fighting this horrible disease. God bless!

Pink

As you probably know, this is breast cancer awareness month. This time of year has always been personal as my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer 8 1/2 years ago. It was caught early and we thought that was the end of it as long as she stayed on her medication. Well, we were wrong. She recently discovered the cancer had come back and metastasized to her bone and liver. She will now be followed and treated through MD Anderson in Houston, Texas by a fabulous doctor. Our family appreciates all the thoughts and prayers already said on behalf of our wonderful mom, Cynthia Maedgen. We just ask that you keep her as well as countless others battling this disease in your constant prayers. I will keep everyone informed as I get information. Thank you so much my sweet family and friends in Christ.

more....

First day of preschool for Addy and Molly Kate....sooo excited

Enjoying the new swing set and the last warm days of September...notice the sprinkler (just can't beat sprinkler fun!)

Not giving up!

Ok, so I've gotten really bad at this blogging thing, so instead of getting caught up with words I will leave you with a few pictures to mark the beginning of school and gymnastics:)

First day of 1st grade:










Addy practicing gymnastics...she's best at the monkey bars, of course!

Molly and Addy at meet the teacher



We are settled into our new school year and the kids are doing very well! More to come....