Gymnastics Part 2

Madelyn is really enjoying gymnastics and at her second class, we had her dressed for the part! She loves wearing her leotards. She says she's a ballerina and twirls on her toes.

She's so eager to get started!

They always start with stretches . . .

She's so proud!
Butterfly stretches . . .
Marek enjoys watching and chewing on his toys!

After stretches they always do some tuck jumps, straddle jumps, etc to warm up for . . .the TRAMPOLINE!

They did some back roll overs again and Madelyn does them so well!

This made me nervous - the balance beam! Look at those little hands on her hips!

They have little routines that they have to go through - this one was a jump straddle . . .

More balance beam . . . forward . . .

and side stepping . . .

At the end they get stickers and everyone claps!

She's such a little gymnast!

Ash Wednesday

We are dust, and to dust we shall return.

I took Marek to church on Ash Wednesday after dropping Madelyn off at school. He had already rubbed his ashes off on me at church . . .

Madelyn was only about a week and a half old when I first took her to church for Ash Wednesday (I was still VERY swollen from the pre-eclampsia) . . .

February 2004 - Madelyn Grace OleyShe still has those scrumptious cheeks . . .

We have forty precious days to open ourselves up most particularly to God, to examine ourselves in the presence of one who created us, knows us, and loves us. We have forty days to face ourselves and learn to not be afraid of our sinfulness. We are dust, and to dust we shall return, but with God’s grace we can learn to live this life more fully, embracing our sinfulness, allowing God to transform us.
—The Rev. Margaret Jones

President's Day

Daddy came home early on President's Day and we took Brock to a dog park in Keller. He was so excited! Afterwards, we took the kids to a "human" park!

Brock did a lot of sniffing and "marking his territory" when he first got to the park . . .

Brock making friends with the big dogs!

I love his big dog smiles . . .

Madelyn had just as much fun as Brock!

Brock even met a 3 legged friend!
Maddie loved him/her, too!Next, it was off to the playground for Madelyn . . .

Soaking up some good Vitamin D out in the sun . . .

I love those cheeks.

Marek enjoyed walking on the pebbles . . .

What a beautiful day!

Escape Artist

Now that Marek is pulling up on everything - we had to move his crib down. I know he'll try to find a new way . . .

Birthday Party

We had a combined birthday party for Maddie, Dylan, and Landon on Feb 17th since their birthdays are all in February. It was a Dora and Diego party (they're cartoon characters and are also cousins for the non Nick Jr. watchers . . .) The party was at Let's Jump in Keller. Gena took some pictures with my camera (Thank you, Gena!) and my parents tended to Marek throughout the entire party. Thank you, Nana and Papa - you're the best parents in the world. I think the party was a hit - I don't really remember . . .

Nana and Papa feeding Marek as Maddie and Ashlynn watch on . . .

L-R: Donna and Hanah, Cindy, Amy and Nicholas . . .
The Post Family on one of the slides with the Birthday Girl!
Stephanie took Kailey Whisenant and Ashlynn down one of the slides . . .
So much excitement!
After jumping, we had two Pinatas - one of a tiger . . .

Dylan, Madelyn, and Landon all took swings at it . . .

With a little (or a lot) of help from Kelly, they broke it open and then it was a mad dash to the candy and toys!

The other pinata was and a Dora pull string Pinata - much easier.

Everyone grabbed a string and pulled!

The Whisenants with the birthday boys . . .

In true Dora and Diego style, they had an adventure to get to the Birthday Fiesta! The goodie bags were "Backpack" from Dora. They had to grab a flashlight and go through streamer cave (a spray painted box full of streamers hanging down inside) . . .

On the other end of "the cave" they had to grab a pair of binoculars and find the "Bobo Brothers" (a basket of Monkeys) and "save" them . . .

Tom was Swiper the Fox and they had to yell "Swiper No Swiping" three times . . .

Then they picked up a jar of bubbles to get through bubble forest and that's how they got to the Birthday Fiesta!! (None of this makes sense unless you have a child under 6 or 7 years old . . .)

The Batteys. . .

Madelyn's favorite friend from school, Kylie. . .

One exhausted birthday girl . . .

Just enough energy left to take a few bites of her cupcake . . .

Dylan had waited all day for this!

Happy Birthday to our babies!!