Hey, faithful blog readers. I felt the need to apologize for not posting for awhile now. I left my camera at my sister’s house, which makes it very difficult to post pictures and videos. 
I’ll be getting it back this weekend, so you can expect to see something next week. Thanks for your patience!
Sorry for the Inactivity
Learning Every Day
I heard noises coming from Maddie’s room this morning, and this is what I walked in to see…
Our Weekend
Mark, Maddie, and I spent the weekend with the Witvliet kids so their parents could have a little weekend get-away. It was interesting to go from a family of three to a family of five in a matter of a day! We had a lot of fun, and Jacob and Sarah were awesome. I had hoped to take a lot more pictures with Maddie and the kids, but I just didn’t seem to fit that in. The only picture I got was of Jacob and Maddie. The last two pictures are of the “art” that Jacob and I created.
“Ba Ba Ba”
Maddie was happily playing and talking today on the floor. I thought it was cute enough to video and put on the blog. Really, what isn’t cute enough when it comes to Maddie?!
She’s finally getting back into a routine after being on vacation for so long. It’s taken her some time to get used to playing by herself without a bunch of people giving her endless attention!
A Couple of Videos
These two videos were taken near the end of our MN trip last week. The first one was when I was visiting my best friend from high school and her daughter. Maddie LOVED playing with so many fun toys! The second one was taken when we were in the car on our way back to Minneapolis before flying home. I think it’s the first time Maddie initiated peek-a-boo on her own (which explains why the video might seem a bit long).
Final Highlights of our MN Trip
I didn’t get a chance to post the final “leg” of my trip back to the midwest, so here it is. We spent the last 4-5 days with Mark’s parents in East Grand Forks. We fit in a lot of visiting in the short time that we were there. It was a very relaxing way to end our trip. Thanks, family, for the fun trip back to MN and ND!!!
Vicki, my dad, and Mark’s dad Don
Cousin Siri and Madelyn
Cousin Signe and Madelyn…Maddie loved Signe!
Mark’s mom made a yummy birthday cake for me…it was a fun surprise!
my dad, Vicki, Maddie, me, and Mark taking a picture before they headed back to the lake. Mark’s parents had a backyard BBQ, and Dad and Vicki came for that. It was nice for them to see Mark since he wasn’t at the lake with me earlier in the trip.
We went downtown and took some pictures with the statues. Mark’s mom got a lot of good pictures.
Catching up with Anne, her son Wyatt, and Faye (friends from UND)
Maddie and Grandma and Grandpa Leonard
Maddie getting her first taste of ice cream from Grandpa Leonard. She wasn’t happy when Mom and Dad made her stop before the bowl was empty.
Thanks for the Birthday Wishes!
Thank you to all of you who remembered my birthday today with phone calls, cards, and gifts. It was a very special day. Thank you SO MUCH! Mark really made it a special day for me as you’ll see in the following pictures. He surprised me by decorating the house, took me out to dinner, and even had my birthday gift ready at the restaurant for the server to bring with my birthday dessert. Mark, you are the best ever! Thanks for a wonderful day. I love you!
Mark (with help from Matt and Cheryl) decorated the house for my birthday before going to Minnesota last week…what a fun surprise to come home to!!
Beaver and Denise surprised me with a flower delivery today.
Another picture with more decorations…Mark really went all out!
Each of us with Maddie at the restaurant where we ate (B.J.’s Brewery…yummy!)
They came out with my birthday “pazookie” (which I expected) and a gift from a jewelry store (which I did not expect)…
Mark picked out a BEAUTIFUL watch since mine died on me this past week. I LOVE IT!!!
The traditional birthday candle
And last, but not least, a video taken of Madelyn. She was hamming it up for us, so we had to record her.
Pictures at the Lake
I thought I’d post a few more pictures of Maddie at the lake. We left there yesterday and are now headed to Minneapolis to finally see Mark!!! We are both pretty pumped about that.
Video Messages for Mark
Isaac and Carlie get very excited whenever I take out my camera to record them. They have a couple of special video messages for you, Mark. We miss you!
Pictures and Videos
I’m having some technical difficulties uploading the three videos, so I’m just gonna start with the following pictures. We are now at the lake with my dad and his wife and having a great time. We had the first sunny day today, so we spent a lot of time outside. More later!!
Maddie enjoying the nice day at the lake
Maddie and Uncle Brad
Maddie, Me, Caleb, Grandpa, and Carlie
Aunt Vonda and Maddie
Maddie and Uncle Paul
The five Dekkers kids with Mom
Maddie and “Mayor Beav” (we’ve got connections).
Carlie and Maddie with their matching dresses from Grandma B
Grandma B and Maddie
