Our Summer Days...

With Matt and I both being teachers, we are lucky enough to be able to be home with Madelynn all summer. It really is nice for the most part. This summer, Matt was really busy with real estate and some days he was gone most of the day. During the summer, we forget the days of the week because we really had no place to be...every day was Saturday! It was great! Our summer days consisted of a lot of playing...

Matt finally bought MJ the Build-A-Bear Brutus. He has been talking about it for a long time and it is her favorite stuffed animal. Every morning, she points to it from her crib and carries it around all day!

We went to the Jazz and Rib Festival with our friends, Celeste and Jeremy, and their two girls, Corinne and Lydia. It was such a hot, humid day, but after we got our food, we found a really nice shaded spot to sit and listen to the music. It was a great time!

Lydia and MJ sharing some blueberries!

MJ and Corinne...hot and ready to go home!

We discovered this really neat place in Powell called the Splash Pad and it had a playground right next to it. Matt's mom and sister met us there with the boys. The day we were there a kids band was playing, too. So the kids had a great time playing in the water and the playground while listening to some music!

Our nephews, Bryce and Alec, playing on the playground!

Alec, Bryce and MJ posing for a quick photo!

At the end of the school year, I was trying to find some little friends that I could schedule play dates with for Madelynn. Throughout the entire summer, every Tuesday morning, MJ went to a play group with Celeste's little girls. Both MJ and I have made some really great friends. It is so nice to spend some time with other moms and let your kids play. It is so funny but everyone there has girls...MJ is in heaven with all the baby dolls!

Madelynn and Hannah playing in the little pool at a play date.

July '10

This year, marked the 3rd anniversary of my dad's death. I cannot believe how fast time flies. I thought it would get easier with each passing year, but it doesn't. It just makes me realize how much more I love my family and how lucky I am to have them all. We are all healthy and happy.

MJ having her 1st peanut butter and jelly sandwich...She LOVED it!

This summer, Madelynn and I spent a lot of time at New Albany's city pool. It was so kid friendly and it was a great spot for us to meet up with my friend Rachel and her son, Landon. Landon is about a year older than Madelynn but they still had fun together...or maybe it was just that the mommies had fun together :)

Landon and Madelynn playing in the fountains.

Madelynn would sit on the edge of the pool and "sneak" away because the ice cream machine was right behind her...That was always her favorite part!

I told you so...The girl loves ice cream!!

For Matt's birthday this year, I decided that I was going to plan something as a surprise for him. We started the day eating breakfast in Gahanna and then I told him to go play golf (since it was only his 2nd time out this summer). When he got home, I had got a babysitter and we left go eat dinner downtown. My friend, Brittany, recommended a restaurant called The Burgundy Room, which was great! After dinner, we were going to go to a Clippers baseball game. We had so much fun!! I am pretty sure he had a great birthday this year!

Matt and I celebrating his birthday...July '10

Clippers baseball game...We had great seats!

We also went to Touch-A-Truck in Westerville. At the Rec Center, they bring in any kind of truck you can think of and the kids are allowed to sit on them or honk the horn...It was really neat.

Madelynn driving a John Deere tractor, just like her Honnah!

Mommy and Madelynn by the helicopter. We were not going to wait in that big long line...

On Matt's actual birthday, we had my dad's 4th annual golf memorial outing. It was a great success. We raised over $4,000. It was really nice to see so many people there. It really means a lot to me and my family that so many people care about our family and raising money for his scholarship. Thanks to everyone who was able to donate their time and money!

Finally, we actually made it to the Ohio State Fair for the 1st time. We had a good time. We were able to see a lot of animals, get a bite to eat, and walk around.

Madelynn looking at the sheep.

She was a little unsure of the cows...I think they were too big for her!

MJ liked the pigs the best...

MJ enjoying her corn-on-the-cob.

The Martin family at the fair...

Now, I am just finishing up my grad school and getting ready for San Diego. I cannot believe that summer will be over in just a few short weeks...It has been a great summer. I think this summer made me realize how lucky I am to have such a great husband and daughter. We were able to spend such awesome time together this summer...and it doesn't get much better than that!