Fishing, Biking, Hiking, and More

Lots and lots to talk about since the last post. Makes my fingers numb just thinking about it. So I'll get right on to pics. They're more fun anyways.

In February, Hadley discovered a new way to play. And Madeleine followed:



I had an overnight in Columbia in early March and decided to try and take the Katy connector to the Katy and get in some serious mileage. I had the KM with cross tires, lights, a Camelbak and more and was all geeked up for a long and late ride. ~4 miles in I ran into this. I tried riding through some neighborhoods to reconnect 2 bridges later, but got lost. So back to the truck and off to Flat Branch I was:



Tutu's and hiking shoes. A good look for sure:



Fun times at home:



St. Patrick day outfits and pre-school good times:



In early March, we headed to the Mill with Jim, Patty, and Connor. Gracie and Madeleine helped me try and catch fish, but no luck. I wrote it off as a little too early:



Hadley hanging out:



Madeleine giving Patty a good scare:



Connor and Jim checking out the damn:



Hadley's first bike ride ever! Madeleine telling her how much fun she was about to have:



On our way down Grant's Trail:



Mom on her first bike ride... in at least a year!:



Hadley loved the horses:



More horses:



St. Joe's, first MTB race of the season. Having not ridden much and afraid to take on 3 Expert laps, I entered SS class thinking "race to train." This wasn't a bad idea. Conditions sucked. Here's the aftermath:



This past Saturday we decided to head down to the St. Francois river to check out the MO Whitewater Champioships. We decided this was a good idea around 9:00 and were out of the house shortly after. It was a good idea, as the weather south of STL was beautiful.

Getting ready to head down to the river:



On the overlook with Madeleine:



Throwing rocks with Dad, Madeleine's favorite river activity:



Hadley and Mom back at the overlook:



Running back to the car:



Tree hugger:

Happy 1st Birthday Hadley!

The blog has been on a bit of winter hiatus but this past weekend gave me lots of write about. Hadley Rose turned one on Valentine's Day. She had a great birthday weekend and really loved her cupcake as you can see in the picture below. She also started walking on Monday. She is a speed crawler and cruiser so I am sure it is only a matter of time before she is running around.

My friends, Tara and Holly, came in for the weekend and Holly brought her daughter Abby who is only a few weeks older than Hadley. Jim was definitely outnumbered by the girls this weekend! The weekend started off with a trip to the Magic House on Friday. It was much better than when we last went on a rainy Memorial Day. The girls all had fun. They have a new fairy tale area where Madeleine got to try on Cinderella's shoe and sit in the pumpkin coach. Madeleine and Abby both enjoyed crawling through a tunnel. On Saturday, we had a birthday party for Hadley. We all enjoyed Maggianos and some tasty Cakery cupcakes. Hadley smeared both all over herself in typical one year old fashion! We found a much better climate on Sunday at the Butterfly House. It was our first time there and it was a nice indoor activity to get the kids out of the house on cold day. It was a great four day weekend!

The birthday girl

Madeleine loved the birthday hats
"What is this thing?"
"I think I might like this"
"I definitely like it"
Hadley hugging her new frog in her new chair
The three girls in the hats Tara made for them... Hadley wouldn't let Madeleine leave her hat on
At the Butterfly House
Look at the butterflies!
Sharing a snack... we kept getting asked about the twins when we went out

End of January

January has been a slow month on the blog. We have had a lot of illness in our family this month and I am really hoping the new month will be much healthier. It is hard to believe but Hadley is going to be one in two weeks. She is very close to walking and cruises all around. She now waves, blows kisses, plays patty cake and peek-a-boo. She also loves playing with Gracie. I think the feeling is mutual. Gracie is a big fan of when Hadley decides she is finished eating and starts throwing all of her food off her tray. Madeleine turned 2 1/2 this month and is really a big girl now. She told me the other night that "I was such a big girl." Apparently we say that to her a lot. She loves to play dress up and doctor. She also has entered the "why" phase. Everything is why?, why?, why? Here are a few recent pics.

Madeleine celebrating her 1/2 birthday with a M&M cookie.
Hadley loves to snuggle with blankets, stuffed animals and even dirty laundry.

The McDonalds drive thru

Hadley planning a trip to Wyoming.

Hadley and the ribbon box. Madeleiene could spend hours with this thing.

Madeleine's Day at School

Today was a dream day for Madeleine at school. It started with riding bikes (Madeleine is in the green coat).

Then she got to dress up as a bride. I saw these pictures on her classroom's site and knew she had a great day. Her teachers said she thought the dress was beautiful. She told me when I got home that she needed to go back to school :) She also told me she got to wear a wedding hat.

Christmas Break

Erin had 11 days off for Christmas and I had almost the same, so the last couple of weeks have been a ton of fun. We spent Christmas Eve at Erin's parents, Christmas Day at mine, and headed down to the Lake for 5 days that carried us into the New Year. I can't remember how many parties were scattered in between. Uncle Dave took the same time off as Erin so we got to see a bunch of him, and Aunt Amy and Uncle Seth flew in as well.

I am now fat, lazy, and still recovering. I don't have much energy to write, so here are the pics:

Hadley hanging her first ornament:



Madeleine helping decorate the tree:



Hadley being Hadley:



Christmas Eve:



Hadley with her hand in her new cookie jar (she takes after her Dad):



Erin and I need a new kitchen but the girls got one first:



Ready for bed in their new Christmas pajamas:



Christmas morning:



Say cheese!:



Wow!:



"No Hadley!" (commonly heard around these parts):



In our new Christmas dresses:



At Butch and D's:



Uncle Dave at the mill, getting ready to unload the SKS on some produce:



Seth doing the same, Dirty Harry style:



Bob teaching Seth how to fire "The Judge":



Uncle Todd makes an apple disappear:



Tunnel Dam and Lake Niangua:

* I read about this place in one of the Lake visitor guides a few years ago and have wanted to make the trip ever since, so we all loaded up and went to check it out. The whole place was spectacular and the hills amazing. You can see a small part of the road we came in on (just barely) on the far right. What you can't see is the fact that it was muddy, badly rutted, and required 4 Lo. None of which would have been a big deal had there not been a barb wire fence running directly along the east side. Fun times! Dave and I can't wait to go back this summer to fish and maybe paddle, or both.



Uncle Dave at the dam:



Up high on one of the dam roads:

* I looked at the GPS shortly after we started going up and clocked over 250' of rise in well less than a half mile. Now I just need to figure out how to put together a ride...



Uncle Dave and Hadley at the Lake:



Hadley, happy as always:



The End: