Madelyn's 4 year dr appt and conferences

Madelyn had her 4 year check up in April and all is well!  She continues to be off the charts for height which is why everything thinks she is turning 5, not 4.

They tested her blood pressure, calculated her BMI, did a vision and hearing screening and finished off with her kindergarten booster shots.  She passed with flying colors!  I was a little nervous about the shots but she did awesome - not one tear was shed!  She was so brave.

I can't believe that we got her health care report for kindergarten.  I know she doesn't go until next fall but with as fast as time goes.....it will be here before we know it!

Height: 43.5 in (98+%)
Weight: 41 lbs (87%)
BMI: 15.24% (47%)
Blood Pressure: 86/50

Earlier this week we had Madelyn's spring conferences.  She is doing great in school too!  She knows all her upper case, lower case and letter sounds.  She also knows her colors, shapes and numbers up to 50 with transition help.  One day she came home from school and noted the color of my shirt was magenta.....and that pink and purple make magenta.  I learned something new that day! :)  Madelyn loves writing her name and writing out messages on cards.  She is getting to be a very good at coloring in the lines.  She also enjoys puzzles and making beaded bracelets.  She has lots of friends and is a social little butterfly.....I wonder where she gets that from?! :)  She's growing up so quickly - we are trying to savor every moment!

Happy 4th Birthday Madelyn!!

Happy 4th Birthday to our sweet Madelyn!  Time flies and it's hard to believe you are 4 but then again it's hard to believe you are just turning 4 as you definitely seem like you have been 4 for awhile.    You are so sweet to your brother and it is amazing to me what you do for him.  You offer him your snacks and treats knowing those are your only ones.  You have a heart of gold and are always looking out for others.  You are doing great in preschool - you love learning and it's fun to watch you interact with your friends.  You are writing words and sounding out letters/sounds.  You love doing arts and crafts....esp if it's Frozen!  Your memory amazes me as nothing gets by you. You love being the teacher - teaching all your friends.  You enjoy biking, just like your daddy, and we can't wait to take family bike rides soon....where you are riding with us!  Thank you for being such a sweetheart - we are so proud of you!  We love you so much!

Monday was Madelyn's actual birthday so she brought treats to school which was really fun.  Then she picked 5 Guys Burgers & Fries for dinner.  Shari, Max & Gabby stopped by after dinner.  Perfect way to end your birthday!  The kids love Max and he is so good to the kids.  We had cupcakes and then they played for a bit.  Everyone was exhausted from the busy weekend/birthday but we wouldn't trade it for the world.  These are the times to soak it all in - it doesn't get much better than this!

The birthday girl!

Jack loving his cupcake....or more like loving the frosting!

Such special friends!!

We capped off the birthday celebrating with the McCormicks the following weekend.  We didn't do a big friend birthday party this year.....but we did have the twins over and we had a little birthday party.  Everyone had a blast....we always do, regardless of what we are doing/celebrating.  Evie made homemade cupcakes for Madelyn and they were sooooo good!  Thank you to everyone who made Madelyn's 4th birthday extra special - she is one loved little girl!

Madelyn's 4th Birthday Weekend - Sunday

On Sunday we continued the birthday celebration and had our families over for a birthday party with cake and presents.  It turned out to be a gorgeous afternoon!  Everyone but Uncle Eric and Auntie Heather were able to make it so it was a great afternoon!

Madelyn had her Frozen cake and then opened presents......she was in heaven as basically all her gifts were Frozen.  I'm pretty sure we have almost everything Frozen!  Nothing better for a 4 year old birthday!

After lunch we played outside.  The kids had a blast and the adults did too.  Jack played catch with Great Gpa Ray & Great Gma Darlene and then he batted with Uncle Chris for almost 30 minutes.  He wanted to do it again, do it again, do it again.  Uncle Chris was a trooped and pitched to him the whole time!

We gave Madelyn a new bike and she was very excited.  She got right out there and started riding - she did great!  Such a fun afternoon/weekend of celebrating and we haven't even gotten to her actual birthday yet!

These two.....love them!

My Bishop is growing up so fast!

Somebody loves their Auntie!

Someone's pretty excited to be 4!!!

The Greats with the Greats - special times!

Aunt Jody, Madelyn and Uncle Marc

Pure joy!  Melts my heart!

Uncle Chris & Madelyn

First time out on her new bike!

Such a good Uncle!!  I wasn't sure this was ever going to end!

So lucky to have Grandpa & Grandma spend the weekend celebrating our sweet Madelyn!

Best (and only) picture we got of our family!  Not bad?!

Madelyn's 4th Birthday Weekend - Saturday

Saturday was a very fun day for Madelyn!  Our neighbors, the Millers, had a little birthday celebration for Madelyn in the front yard.  They are such awesome neighbors and always so good to our kids!  Madelyn has spent the majority of her time with Colleen but now that it's spring we have been playing with all the kids.

The smile says it all.....
So excited....more Frozen!!

Madelyn, Colleen, big Jack, Katie and Joe

Little Jack was hanging out on a tree stump taking in all the action

Then it was off to Disney on Ice Frozen!  A dream come true for Madelyn.  Ryan's aunt had a suite for her kids and grandkids and they had a few extra tickets so Ryan, Madelyn and I got to go.  It was such a fun time and couldn't have been on a more perfect day......to celebrate Madelyn's birthday!  She had no idea what it was all about but she loved it and it was so perfect to be able to spend one on one time with her and take it all in.  Aunt Joan and family were celebrating some of their family birthdays and they were so sweet to include Madelyn's name on the cake!  After the show we went to the hotel and had pizza with Ryan's cousins and their kids.  Grandpa, Grandma and Jack joined us.  It was a great day!  And to think we hadn't even gotten to Madelyn's birthday party or actual birthday yet!

Quick pic with Grandpa and Grandma before we take off to Disney on Ice Frozen!

This picture makes my heart melt.....Ryan is such an amazing daddy!

Rather blurry but it was the best we could get with our iPhones.
They wouldn't allow other cameras into the show.

Now we finally got a smile from the Birthday girl!

Madelyn loves her new Frozen tin purse!

Grandma Emily's Birthday and the start to Madelyn's 4th Birthday Weekend!

It was quite the 4th birthday celebration weekend for Madelyn!  We were busy all weekend long and Madelyn couldn't have been happier!

It started off with Grandma and Grandpa coming up on Friday.....which was Grandma Emily's actual birthday.  Happy Birthday Grandma Emily!  Madelyn was very excited to share the birthday weekend with Grandma!  We made bars for Grandma and the kids gave her a flower for her garden.  We sang Happy Birthday and the kids helped Grandma blow out the candles.  Doesn't get much better than that!

Even though it was Grandma's birthday, Madelyn was still very excited to open her presents.  She opened up her gifts from Gpa & Gma and she was thrilled.  The start of her Frozen birthday weekend had begun.......Frozen backpack, Frozen fleece blanket, Frozen socks and Frozen pjs!

The birthday girls and Grandpa! 

Easter Weekend

We went to Owatonna on Saturday to celebrate Easter with my family.  It was a beautiful day and we had a great time!  Always fun for the kids to play together and of course there was lots of candy which is always a hit!  We met at the park to feed the ducks -- this is a staple activity anytime the kids are at Nana & Papa's -- then we played at the park, went back and had lunch.  After lunch we did an Easter egg hunt in my parent's yard.  The kids loved it!  Jack preferred to go down the slide on the swing set and Madelyn was more interested in finding purple eggs to give to Nora!  Bishop loved getting the eggs and he always was so sweet and shared them with Nora and the other kids.  So sweet to watch the kids interact as they grow up.

After lunch we went to Wilson School, where I went to elementary school.  It was so awesome to be outside and enjoying the fresh air!  I could tell Jack was getting tired as he tripped a couple times as he was walking but he was determined to keep up with the big kids and keep on playing.  Unfortunately when we got to the bigger playground he tripped on a step and ended up falling straight on the wooden step.....his lip instantly swelled and the upper gum was scraped open.  Needless to say that was the end of Jack playing.  He was really a trooper though.  He had a hard time eating on Saturday but by Sunday he was back to himself.

Auntie and Jack! 

Papa and Madelyn picking up eggs!

Love all these kids!!!

The girls.....aka sisters! :)

The boys!  This is about as good as you get with Jack in pictures these days!
Love my sweet nephew - he is so handsome and always such a good smiler!

On Easter Sunday we met the McCormicks at church and then went over to their house for brunch afterwards.  We've started an every other year tradition celebrating with church and brunch with their family which we all enjoy.  So blessed to have become such great family friends - feels like we have known each other a lot longer than 3 years.  We had an egg hunt at their house and a delicious brunch.  It's always easy and fun when our families are together!!

Happy Easter from the Bormann's!

Evie, Teagan, Madelyn & Jack
Ready for the egg hunt!

The girls.....

......and Jack on the hunt for eggs!