A Branson Christmas

Here are a few pictures from our trip to Branson this past weekend. We had a great time...

Silver Dollar City Fun...

We met Miss Branson at Cracker Barrel

There really is no place like home!!!

Halloween

Here are a few highlights from Halloween Friday night...what a beautiful evening. Snow White did not even need a jacket covering her pretty dress. Sorry can't write more I must get to bed and get my beauty sleep...I'll post more pictures from our Branson weekend soon:)

Happy Halloween!!!

Mr & Mrs. Darrell Cox

Mom and Darrell got married last Saturday. It was a lovely wedding and day.

Congratulations Mom and Darrell!!!

Pumpkin Patch

It was a beautiful fall day...Jordan, Isabel, Grace, Gwen and I all made the trek on the gravel roads...the only bummer is now I have a tire that keeps going flat. I must have drove over something out there. Well, I'm off to bed so that I can get up and go to Sam's club in the AM and get it fixed.

Happy Fall Everyone...

Girls Night!!!

Isabel and I had a night out at the spa...well actually it was the strip mall with our favorite Chinese restaurant and nail salon right next door. While I was getting a spa pedicure, Isabel got her nails painted for the first time by Ms.Tracy See how pretty my "pink" nails are...

I told Tracy that her dad is not going to like this...it's only the beginning of her growing up. What next "getting her ears pierced?"

Mommy's feet and Isabel's nails...

No boys allowed on this trip...Jordan was with Grandma Connie.

Fall & Football

Jordan's Football Picture
Jordan catching one of the "extra" points after a touchdown...
Isabel and me...
Isabel playing dress up with the dog...
Smile for the camera...

Thomas The Train

Ok...we don't really care for Barbie, Dora or the Care Bears...Isabel LOVES Thomas the Train. Go figure since I recently sold ALL our Thomas stuff except a few videos and a couple of books. I'm not sure that she would actually "play" with the trains anyway, she mainly loves the videos and reading the two Thomas Books that we have. Basically I can read them in my sleep. Please someone help me out and if you run across any at Garage sales pick them up for me (DVD's too).
Isabel on her "Yoga" ball watching Thomas - I had to take a picture!!!

Robbie - Oops I mean MSgt Rob Madrigal

Robbie comes home next month from Iraq...we don't know when but we know he's winding down his stay there. I know Sherri is very anxious for him to come home and we are trying to be patient and wait. I know in his AF career everyone calls him "Rob" but no matter how old we get, he will always be "Robbie" to us. Sorry bubby...

I thought since tomorrow was September 11th or "Patriots Day" I would honor him and post a picture he sent me this summer. As always bubby - I am so proud of you and the job that you do for our country. You are my hero!!!

Love your sis...

Happy Birthday Jordan!!!

August 30, 2008

Jordan turned 10 today...Chad drove in last night in the wee hours to surprise Jordan and make biscuits and gravy for him for breakfast this morning. Chad left about noon and Jordan begged me for a sleep over tonight, so we invited Nicholas over.

It might be the first and the last sleep over we ever have...no really they have not been that crazy other than they won't go to sleep and I can't go to bed till I know for sure that they are out.

Jordan got a new iPod Nano for his birthday this year...we'll try not to wash this one in the washing machine (that iPod shuffle was so small - lol).

It was a good day...Happy Birthday Bubba!

Jordan will be 10 - Double digits

Oh my...it seems like just yesterday that I was over nine months pregnant with Jordan. Chad and I were enjoying one more dinner of just the two of us - I remember we went to Ruby Tuesday's for that last dinner (why I remember things like this I will never know).

Little did we know that in just two short days from that dinner we would begin the adventure of parenthood. Now looking back 10 years it seems like we have been through so much in such a short amount of time.

Tomorrow August 30th is Jordan's 10th birthday...I hope he has a wonderful day complete with cookie cake (however that may have to wait till his party on Monday).

Happy Birthday Jordan

Love,
Mom

Daddy's Home

Chad came into town yesterday morning...we were all sleeping and he was locked out (since I was not expecting him). He brought the truck home to give it a good wash. The kids loved that the "big" truck was there in the driveway. I'm sure the neighbors loved it too - LOL
Look at me!!!
She barely even reaches the head lights...
Bye Daddy...it's time for him to go back out on the road. It really felt like that country song they sometimes play on the radio "Roll-on Highway." I think it is sung by Alabama...

First Day of School!!!

4th Grade - Jordan and Mrs.Stevens at Sneak-A-Peek last night.
Jordan - so excited about school...Isabel did not want him to go.
Here comes the bus...
Finally off to school with Isabel and her cinnamon toast.

Loss and funerals

Sometimes I think with all Chad and I have been through this year that things should mellow out soon, and I know that God will not give me more than I can handle...but sometimes I still struggle. Especially with loss...

Not only did we lose Grandma and Eddy this year, I also lost my Aunt Cuca (dad's brother's wife) in July and just this weekend Chad's cousin Ryan passed away.

Aunt Cuca struggled with diabetes for many years and her loss will leave a void in our family. We will miss her tamales and chicken molle (spelling?). Uncle Rudy and the boys will miss her terribly.

Chad's cousin Ryan passed away this weekend, he was only 33 years old...it seems that there was some sort of accident. Ryan was a groomsman in our wedding 14 years ago. Since he was so young, this loss will be tough on his immediate family...especially his mom and brother.

With Chad's grandparents last year, I will have gone to six funerals in the past 16 months...poor Jordan has gone to more funerals in his young life than some adults attend in a lifetime.

While we will miss all these family members tremendously we are always reminded of the memories that we share with them. And for those of us that are left behind to grieve we have the promise that we will see these beloved family members again some day.

Yesterday, I had a "sad moment" when I got to work and for some reason I had to talk to my brother Robbie who is in Iraq. I needed to talk to him at that moment...not quite sure why other than he's always someone I can lean on when I need a friendly voice to talk to. I emailed him and he called me back...we talked for about 20 minutes and when I got off the phone I felt better. I'm not sure why I wrote this other than it confirms that we need these important people in our lives...

Take care everyone and be safe...
Love
Jackie

Vacation - SDC

Last weekend the kids and I went with Chad's parents to SDC and Branson. This picture is of Isabel at the gate.
Tired little girl...
On the train...
Grandma, Grandpa, Jordan & Isabel
Jeff, Cathy & Owen joined us last weekend too...it was hot, but we had a good time.

4th of July!!!

First we went over to Mom's house and then stopped by Aunt Donna's to see my cousins from OK. After a stop at the fireworks stand, we then headed to Dad's house to our annual Madrigal picnic and fireworks display. It was a good day, I got to see a lot of my cousins and Isabel and Amanda played really well together. I of course had the flag shirts for the kids...I can't do the 4th of July without our shirts.

Happy Summer!!!