Linderville

Well finally...

So Will and Madison finally got a chance to ski.  They made a whole day out of it by going to breakfast, going to Bean's to make sure she had everything she needed and then off to the slopes. 

Thankfully her first memories of skiing will be good ones. 

I was at work, so I didn't get to witness any of the "falling" ("...which was fantastically fun, Mommy") or any of the colliding that she and Will managed to do.  All of that was probably a good thing though.  I get so easily freaked out at the mere thought of her doing anything dangerous that I'm a nervous wreck around her.  Will on the other hand, Mr. Daredevil himself, loves it.  I love that fact that they enjoying doing all of these sorts of things together. 

I want her to learn to take risks and see that even though there may be some bad outcomes sometimes, that there are also good outcomes, sometimes even amazing ones.  Of course I want her to be safe, but I never want her to be afraid to try something new.  Of course, now if she could just get Mommy on that slope, but that's a whole new adventure.

Seeing Red

I know the title may confuse you at first, but this post is not about being angry.

Madison's 8th birthday is at the end of February and we've already started planning what kind of party she wants.  Of course every year her birthday also makes me feel older, but in a good way.  This year though one thing is sort of sticking out just a little to me. 

It's the first year that she doesn't want some sort of theme to her party.  No characters or anything.  She wants all of her napkins and plates and such to be red, which happens to be my favorite color.  Also what better time of the year to get stuff like that.  Her birthday is the 24th, so all of the valentine items should be on sale just in time for me to get what she wants.

Initially she wanted a chocolate cake with red icing, but has changed her mind for chocolate icing.  She is such my child.  :)  What warms my heart about this cake is that she wants me to make it for her again just like last year.  She told me last year that she wanted one that I made, not from the store.

Also this year, her party will be at our house with some girls possibly sleeping over.  This should be very interesting.  Thankfully, I have a couple of friends who have volunteered to stay with me and lend a hand.  Will has miraculously been invited over to another friends house to hang out :).  Not sure why he wouldn't want to be in a house with several 7-8 year olds.

Anyway, I'll keep you updated on the progress of the party situation.  Madison has apparently made her own list of things she wants.  And like I said, she is such my daughter, and I can't wait to see what she's asked for.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year everyone.  Well the snow has turned to freezing rain but Will and Madison are still planning to try and ski a little towards the end of the week.

Looking back on this year and everything that it had in store for us, I'm just thankful beyond words that Will is able to take Madison skiing.  I still worry every day to some degree, but thankfully its not consuming my entire thought process.

Will has started a new job now and we are waiting for the Coast Guard to complete processing his retirement.  He seems to really like his new job, although I know somewhere in the back of his mind his heart is still in the Coast Guard.  He loved it and wanted to continue to do it for his entire career.  But we have both tried to look at the positive side of it all.  We don't ever have to move again unless we want to do so.  We love it here.  We love all that Maine has to offer.  Madison's school system is amazing.  I have a good job that I love and the community we live in couldn't be better.

I think that's what I love about New Year's though.  We plan and plan and yet we have no idea what the year actually has in store for us.  Sometimes I think its funny that we even make plans.  Nothing ever seems to work out quite like you planned, but somehow no matter how off course it gets, it all seems to work out in the end.  I can definitely say that that's the one thing that I've learned from 2006; things may not work out like you planned, they may work out to be better.

Here's to 2007!  I'm hoping for another great year.