Be the Best YOU!

Maddie flew to UT in July to spend a week at a Girls' Camp put on by a marvelous woman whom I met over 20 years ago at EFY, Barbara Barrington Jones. She does a week long camp once a summer in Utah at the U for girls ages 12 to 18 -- with a complete focus on being the best YOU that you can be. They did lots of community outreach (Senior Centers, Boys & Girls Club, Huntsman Cancer Center) each day and they also had classes taught by ex-Olympians, pageant personnel, motivational & LDS youth speakers, etc. She LOVED it and is ready to go back next year with some fellow Texan chicks....

Maddie's dorm room door at University of Utah

In the dorms (3 fun roommates)

Maddie and cousin, Ellie sleepover before and after Be The Best You Camp

hanging out at Cowabunga in Utah

Ted missed her the most i think because he said it was kind of quiet...no one was hiding dolls or trolls, no one snuck up on him at night when he was locking the doors, no one gave him the "shocker" (waist grab/shock) when he was in the fridge at night...and no one came in and tickle-tackled him. I think he was medio-bored with me and nick :)    Maddie is super fun-loving, but she has become a huge jokester in the past couple of years. Go Maddie!

Hair today, gone tomorrow--

Here she is in the chair at my sister, Holly's salon, in Salt Lake City, UT.

Maddie has loved her long hair for several years, but she decided to take the plunge and cut it off and donate it to Locks of Love http://www.locksoflove.org/

Here it is just about shaped and styled...you might note scabs on Maddie's chin: a few days earlier she was injured in a sledding accident in Murray, UT.

What a cutie!!

Choir Babes

Maddie sang with these lovely ladies (friends since 3rd grade!) and the Varsity Choir at their Annual Christmas Concert. We love these girls!

Music, maestro?

This Fall Maddie has played her french horn for Pep Rallys

and sang in the Fall Choir with the middle school Varsity Choir

We love to see her perform and especially enjoy that she likes it so much.

School's Cool

If you know Maddie, you might think this is her locker.

Fooled you!

Nick wanted this backpack this year as he has become a fan of one of the Jo Bros. songs (due to Maddie's several CDs of them) and requested this backpack, even after hearing my warning about possible teasing. He replied, "I don't care. They're cool."

Way to stick up for your feelings, Nick!

Way to not change yourself or worry what others might think!

First day in late August, Maddie came with us to drop off Nick at his beautiful new school. Walking/biking distance. We LOVE it! Oh, important note: Nick went to UT with Ted in August and at some yard sale (Ted's favorite Saturday activity, besides football games), they bought this way-too-big shirt for Nick that says, "I go to school for the chicks." No comment. Here is Nick's excited face as we pulled up to school and I asked to take his photo. If you saw that funny movie, Bedtime Stories, and remember the gineau pig, those are the eyes and below are some pretty 'beaverish' teeth... Nick at his desk the first day, being goofy and below, getting down to business. Here is Nick's best buddy, Malik, who loves to play sports, as does Nick.

These 3rd graders have lockers in the hallway (no locks) for backpacks & coats. Nick loves finding his every year with his name on it. MIDDLE SCHOOL: 7th grade!!

Maddie and her good friend since 3rd grade

We went a day early to set up her locker and pick up her schedule. She has the basic academic classes plus: Varsity Choir, Skills For Living (Home Ec.), Athletics (plans to try out for basketball next week), Student Council and she is in the Fall Musical, Aladdin. Busy and happy about it all!

Maddie is so excited about her new desk!! IKEA treats you right!

She keeps photos of her childhood, family & friends; crafts she has made, homework files, art stuff, etc. She looks so cute studying at it and we love that our kids love school, have great teachers, great friends, and high ideals!

We heart you, Marty and Bert!

(Nick's new nicknames for himself and Maddie)

Maddie's Birthday weekend

When we asked Maddie what she wanted to do for her oh-so-special 12th birthday, she said, "Go to the Dallas (LDS) temple..."

We took her and she was able to go inside to see the baptismal font resting on the backs of 12 oxen (representing the 12 tribes of Israel). We brought the names of some of our Czech ancestors and she was baptized in their behalf (vicariously) for them. We believe and follow what the apostle Paul referred to in 1 Corinthians 15:29...that people back then were baptized for their dead, knowing it was a required ordinance to return to God. We do that in our temples all over the world. It was a super special and memorable day! Mom and Dad with Maddie at the LDS Dallas Temple

Of course, Maddie also wanted to celebrate all weekend at school and at home.

She made 3 pans of brownies throughout the week; one for her great friend, Jordan's going-away (moving) Wind Ensemble (band) party, one for another school-event, and the last pan on her actual birthday for her homeroom class. She puts extra chips in the batter and once they come out she sprinkles little pieces of Andes mints. Oooh, delectable!

Blowing out her candles! She wanted cupcakes (neon, but they didn't turn out quite as bright as she'd hoped) and she shaped them into a huge peace sign...

She went swimming with her long-time school friends. She has had these friends since 3rd grade when we moved here; in fact, I remember substitute teaching for all of the 3rd grade classes and knew them all then, too. How fun!!

Sunday night, our good friends and neighbors came over to enjoy ice cream cones in chocolate-dipped cones (Maddie's scrumptious choice). They raced on foot and scooter. Then I got the bright idea (from my childhood) to grab our extra balloons from inside and...

tie them around each kids' ankle (and we got Ted out there, too!)

The kids ran around trying to stomp on the other's balloon, while trying to protect their own balloon. It was crazy and perfect birthday fun!

Maddie brings such brightness, compassion, creativity, and fun to our family. We love her like mad and can't wait to see the great things she does in her life!

Happy 12th Birthday, Maddie!!

Today (and all month) we celebrate MADDIE!!

This a FAVORITE photo of Maddie from South Carolina in August. An older couple walked by and saw her posing and asked if they, too, could take a picture of her imitating this frog. It was unusual, complimentary and fun! These photos are all from our recent trip to Kiawah Island, SC. with her nephew, Jonah Allen from NYC

with her adoring madre :)

with her active padre

and with the brother she loves to pieces

(and kisses him more than he likes) :)

Maddie is enthusiastic about everything! She enjoys life every single day and it blesses our home to have her in it and a part of our lives. We love her more than we can say and are so thrilled to honor her and shower her with extra love and attention today and all weekend.

We will have more news all weekend of the BIG NEWS that 12 is for her: She begins the Young Womens' program at our church, she can attend our church's temple in Dallas (tomorrow!), she gets to play her French horn at the Pep Rally today (good timing), and she made a huge pan of minty brownies to take to her homeroom class. That's just the beginning...stay tuned!

Maddie's Discovery Camps '09

We just finished our 3rd summer of hosting DISCOVERY KIDS CAMP at our house. Maddie runs the show and help a bit. She loves it and we think it is a great preparation for becoming a teacher, which is what she has always wanted to become; that is, if she doesn't become an American Idol, star on Broadway, or make a famous album or be in a movie. :)

Self portrait-photo of the Camp Director

and her side-kick, the Camp Comedian!

This funny guy does the daily "Lunch-N-Laugh" and the kids crack up like mad! He 'accidentally' sprays himself in the eyes with his water gun while trying to figure out how to use it; he trips himself, he hits himself with a small football while trying to make a pass; you get the idea. He is a big hit and just loves doing it. Some years ago in NH, a 13 year old in our church offered these summer camps for kids and I loved it! Four and five year old Maddie loved it too! They had weekly themes and crafts and time outside.

So about 3 years ago, Maddie and I started to have them at our house. We have a great group of kids who come to it every summer and more sign up each summer. A gal a bit younger than Maddie comes to help and gets some good experience for future babysitting. And now, Nick is a big help, too. Maddie makes excellent money for a girl who is four years away from being 16. She enjoys it so much and has always planned to be a teacher herself (since she was about 5 or 6 years old). I offer my skills in Spanish and Yoga and make some healthy little snacks, whole wheat zucchini muffins, which are a gobbled right up. We make homemade popsicles, too.

Discovery Kids' Camps 2009

Mondays & Wednesdays from 9am to noon

Here is one week's (two days/week) kids: Maddie does a coloring time warm up while waiting for everyone. I teach a little stretching and yoga segment which can get a bit wobbly...in Eagle pose and Tree pose...then they all fall and laugh, so it's not like a 'normal' yoga class of quiet introspection and breathing :)

Is anyone following me in this photo??

Maddie has a weekly theme and crafts to go with it:

like Space, Ocean, Jungle

plus a color and letter of the week.

Jungle week masks

Nick and Mads show theirs off.

Puppets the kids made and then did a puppet show--

These are the puppets and the kids

The morning has snacks, recess and ends with storytime. We go to our public library before each week starts and check out books based on the theme of the week.

We will have a blog dedicated to this camp, especially for those who came and want to see their cute kids at this link:

http://www.discoverykidscamp.blogspot.com/

Photos will be posted soon (before 8/15)

Enjoy!

Dancing Queens

June 2009 Encore School of Dance Recital

"Hooray For Hollywood"

This is Maddie's second year of dance classes. In the Spring, Encore offered a dance class for Mothers-Daughters. Of course, I couldn't wait. If I could ballroom dance/latin dance/jazz dance every day of my life, I'd be in heaven.

We danced to a song from "Chicago" called "Ragtime Honey" (we think) that was really jazzy, sassy, and fun. Moms and daughters were separated for parts and together for parts of the dance. I felt exhilarated up there with huge, white lights on me. This is one of my FAVORITES of Maddie: And at the finale, the song had a drumroll to which we hip-shimmied, raised our arms out to each side til they were behind us, and then 'boom'

Here we are in the dressing room after Maddie has changed for her Jazz I number, "I Will Survive"...to our family, they know that Maddie has had that song memorized since she was about 6 years old and karaoked it at Mike's wedding reception with a bunch of moves. Admittedly, my love of disco/dance has passed on to Maddie...

Change #3: Pre-ballet

Maddie danced to an instrumental song from "Lemony Snicketts" which was an interesting choice for ballet. Very unique, kind of mysterious. We liked it.

Flowers after the finale--

It was a very busy weekend, as one day was rehearsals and the next was the recital. There are so many numbers (so many dance classes and some dancers are in 12+ dances; how do their parents drive them that much, afford it, how do the girls do homework, relax, or do anything else???) that we had to wait for, so it was a bit taxing, but we always enjoy watching the numbers and hearing the terrific music they choose. We performed in the Will Rogers Auditorium which seats hundreds of folks. The only bummer was that Ted didn't sign up for Father-Daughter Dance which ended up being a DISCO MEDLEY!!! with full-on rainbow shirts, long-big-haired wigs, tall boots, shaking' booties...rats! He said after that show, he is interested in doing it next year. :)