Free Happy

An exercise of taking a step back. Away from things that cost and thinking about what makes you happy... for free.

Maddy's laugh
The first smell of Fall, right in the beginning of September
Cool showers on a very hot August day
A freshly cleaned house, before the toddler and dad get to it :)
When something is so funny you laugh until your stomach hurts
An unsolicited compliment
Being able to run around with Maddy at an arcade

I'll work on some more...

What a Wonderful Life

This weekend Daddy took Maddy and I up to the Cawley Camp. It was the best respite we have had in a long time! And what a beautiful house those Cawleys have! It was a perfect home away from home. The pictures are below and I'll explain some more about our mini-vacation.

After waking up on Saturday morning we headed to the Outlets where I FINALLY found the Gap Sweater I've been looking for!

We came home for a nap and a little snackeroo before hitting up Funspot.

We had so much, especially with Maddy walking. We got to run around the different arcades for hours.

Maddy did not like the ride below. You can barely tell this is her in the picture... I don't think I'd like it either. It jerked around and went a little too fast.

This one is for Papa... It's not a Harley, but we are in Laconia!

The highlight of the night!!! Ray hit the jackpot... 1,000 tickets! It literally took 10-minutes for the tickets to spit out of the machine. We caused quite a commotion and we were really excited! Daddy got Maddy a HUGE dinosaur with his thousand tickets!

More rides with Maddy...

Here is a bonus collage I made for Ray :)

Thank you Cawleys' for letting us rest our heads at your beauitful home! (We also ate a Reese's... we will send replacements :)

It's his Birthday...

...and he can cry if he wants to.

Just kidding, there was no crying!

Happy Birthday sweetheart! You make me look forward to forever. I love you!

Run, Baby, Run!

...Well she is not quite running, but she did walk around the house like nobody's business yesterday. I picked her up from Mary's and she came around the corner and walked over to me! By herself! As I drove home with my walking toddler... I almost cried. She isn't a baby anymore, huh?

Side Note! Side Note! ....She walks EVERYWHERE, unless Daddy is looking. What's up with that? Daddy-O hasn't be able to check out her new walking ways.

She's a Walkin... Just in Time

Maddy has taken her first tentative steps in the last few days. With a little prodding from her parents she can take about 3 steps. Progress feels wonderful, but sad. Where is that little baby I held in my arms? I do still pick Maddy up and hold her in my arms "like a baby," but she now thinks it is funny... not comforting. :)
This new accomplishment may have come just in time. My body feels like it is starting to fail me. Most days I am convinced I am aging at a much more aggressive rate than someone else in their twenties... and the pain on other days makes it hard to play, change, run, jump, skip or even walk with my baby girl. There are many, many, many days I feel wonderful.... but on the days I don't (*like today*) I throw a little pity-party for me. Want to know what is served at this party? Dunkin' Donuts White Hot Chocolate. It makes all my aches melt away.

Burfday... Smurfday!

Ray's birthday week has officially begun.
It started out a little bumpy with no electricity or... CABLE...but things eventually came back on and everything was forgiven. Happy 32nd sweetheart. You are the love of my life, now lets eat cake!
We went to the movies Saturday to see Shutter Island. This. Movie. Is. Freakin. Incredible. Double. Thumbs. Up. We came home to find a nice birthday surprise from Grandma Bridget and a very tuckered out little girl who had Nana wrapped around her finger most of the afternoon.
Sunday we went to Nana Pam and Papa's for a D.E.L.C.I.O.U.S. dinner and cake. Please take a look at the cake below.

Pretty cool cake, huh? Did you happen to notice the skateboarder dude is off his skateboard? Papa says that since he is "32" he is too old to be skateboarding- so he put an end to that nonsense! After desert we said our goodbyes and trekked out into the snow/sleet for our ride home.
Once we arrived.... BAM! Another surprise for daddy.

Maddy was a little late to the party here she is finally creeping in...

What was Ray's surprise from Nana, Maddy and I?
Check it out...

Happy Birthday to the best daddy in the world.

Remotes are for Kids

This is how I found Maddy the other day watching Wiggles...

Hmmm.... The resemblance to her father is eery!

Ray, Maddy and myself are going to the Cawley camp next weekend for a nice little retreat. Ray's birthday is right around the corner and we though that a little family time by the lake would be the perfect treat!

Here are some extra pictures to enjoy... :)