She has a BIG heart!

Saying Madalyn has a BIG heart is actually an understatement. She has the most amazing heart and it is bigger than the state of Texas.

Every teacher she has had has commented at her student reviews that she has a kind heart and that is so true. A kind heart is not something you are taught or learn, but are born with and grow. It is what you are and how you react.

It seems that each year she comes up with a plan when she hears someone it fundraising for a good cause. She has raised money for the Ministerial Alliance, American Cancer Society and many more.

This year she tackled Breast Cancer Awareness in Sonora. A committe of people plan an annual event to raise money for Sonora and surrounding counties. It helps pay for mammograms. Madalyn heard this event was happening because I planned to participate in the 5K and David and the kids did the 1K Fun Run. This got her brain to spinning and came up with a great idea.

Madalyn wanted to sale baked goods at the Homecoming Football game. The first order of business was getting approval. She wrote a letter to Mr. Gibson, our superindendant. He was all for the idea. I baked for 1.5 days to get it all ready. It was over 300 items and 100 plus bags of goodies.

She and Jaci Dutton worked hard the entire game. When people stopped coming in the stadium, she ran up and down the stands selling goodies and raising money.

In the end she raised $361 to donate to Breast Cancer Awareness in Sonora.

On October 1, my family and my parents participated in the morning events. After the race was over Madalyn was recognized by Dr. Kristy Edwards and given a few goodies including a beautiful bracelet that she wears almost everyday.

She is amazing, she is more than amazing, I don't think a word has been invented to describe the kindness that she holds in her heart.

3rd Grade @ Sea World

I truly love that I have a job that is flexible enough to allow to participate in almost all my kids activities. I had a blast helping out Mrs. Powers on September 30. It was a perfect day with great weather and the kids were GREAT!!!!

We just entered the park...and the fun begins

We first ventured to the dolphin pool and they sure were playful. I was able to touch them several times and so were the kids.

The splashing helps to grab their attention, so they thought:)

The entire class particpated on this roller coaster and it was many of their first time.

Later in the day, I took 4 kids on the BIG roller coaster, the Steel Eel. They LOVED it. I did threaten them that I would not take them on another if anyone cried:)

Getting off the roller coaster and ready for the next adventure!

Mrs. Parks is the one covered with her plastic parka. Smart lady, the rest were soaked!

The new Shamu show, it was beautiful.

Jimalee, Jaci, Madalyn and I left out and ate dinner at PF Chang's, our favorite place, before heading home. We beat the bus by more than an hour, thank goodness.

10 Years - We went to Boston

Boston is one of those places David and I have always wanted to go. We have our real, BIG anniversary tripped scheduled for June 3-8 but I don't want to spoil that surprise.

A few weeks before our anniversary I cooked this whole trip up without David knowing. Before I paid for everything I had to tell him we were going to make sure he hadn't plan any ranch stuff for the same time. Thankfully, nope.

We headed to Boston on September 22, exactly 10 years to the date. The trip went smoothly and we landed in Boston in the early afternoon. We headed to our condo. Rather than a hotel room I found a nightly rental not too far from Fenway Park and many other tourist attraction for much less. We loved it, you really get to experience the city and its people this way.

We enjoyed a fabulous dinner that night at the top of the Prudential Building with a great view.

The rest of the weekend was spent doing was the other tourist do in Boston, soaking up the scenery, riding the subway, and enjoying the amazing food.

If you haven't visited before, GO, it is a great place to visit. We spent 3 full days hanging out and there was always something to see or do. It was fantastic!!!

We scored an actual game puck at the Boston Bruins hockey game. They was the Stanley Cup last year. The game was so much fun. We were on the 5th row.

That dome is actual gold and we look odd but this is the only picture of us together from the whole weekend.


Statute of Mr. Hooker, yes, this is where the word hooker comes from in our English language. He loved have loose women around and therefore they were named, Hookers.

The largest bell Paul Revere ever built. It was made and still used for the King's Chapel. So amazing to be so close to such an amazing piece of history. We also visited the crypt below the church. That was my favorite part. It was very creepy. Most of the crypts are enclosed and covered but one, just one is missing bricks. We were able to see in it with a flashlight. The caskets were so old and worn that you could see the bones, including the skull. So cool and creepy.

This is one of the funniest things. I hope you can read the marker.

We spent the better part of one day at the Art Museum. It was amazing and HUGE. We saw Picasso's, Rembrandt's, and Monet's and so many, many more.

We spent the last day down by the water and went to the aquarium. It was gorgeous and amazing. I love those places. It was one large room and a spiral ramp that leads to the top. Very efficient use of space and you are constantly surrounded by fish.

These are just a few of the many adventures we had in Boston.

Oh, I love Boston Creme Pie at the Omni Parker House, where it was invented.

Here's to 20, 30, 40, 50 years and more!!!!