Maddy is dressed and ready for a rainy, cold homecoming game. NB got creamed by Irondale.

Took the girls riding a week or so ago, things turned out OK despite numerous possible disasters with the horses fighting. We had fun, joined by my mom, sister and her kids Trav and Sadie. This is all three of the darlings with Al.

Madds' taking a breather in the shade once we were done riding. The trail was about 1 hour 20 min ling.

Allie pumped water for us to drink.

Aerial view of Maddy behind me on the trail, with Al close behind.

John and I rode The Tribute To The Troops ride again this year. 3 days, just short of 1000 miles. John is here with Rani and his GF Jenny is behind him. It was in the 40's in the morning when we left and warmed into the 80's mid day. Lots of clothes changes.

Isn't he beautiful!!!!!!!!!!! I lost this dear friend to a terrible respiratory illness. You can see here how he is fighting for air with his nares flared and his jaw muscles super flexed. He is dearly missed, he carried me safely for 11 years. I really loved him.

Allie started 7th grade this year, WOW! I had to zoom in from the front door and surprise her, she wasn't really in to a first day of school photo.....adolescents.

Spent Labor Day weekend at the cabin with the Johnson's. The girls found the loft and the food, well that is always the best.

Maddy caught her first fish at the cabin with daddy. Sam would like to help her with it.

Looks like "little girls weekend" to me.

John has been working with Allie and teaching her the love and safety of shooting at targets. Maddy would love to participate. For now she is simply learning the eye protection aspect.

The girls and I took a ride on the Taylor's Falls Princess. What a nice relaxing and informative ride. Madds has her face paint on from the state fair the day before.

We met John's family for a picnic at Wm O'Brien state park. Nice day, just a little windy. Allie and G pa Jim collected 20 species of leaf samples for a school project. Who would know that there were that many right there, Jim the forester said we could have gotten many more too. Amazing to me.

I picked up a fun little summer toy, John and his dad are trying it out. Good-bye savings account!

Maddy inherited a yard sized trash bag filled with dress up clothes, here she is modeling one of her favorites. Notice the glass slippers, she had to wear them to daycare the following day. I brought her other shoes, but when G ma brought her home she had nasty blisters!

Allie joined volleyball this fall, here she is setting the ball.

John and I took the bike to Milwaukee via Green Bay to celebrate our 4th anniversary. Cold very cold. We are at some waterfalls between the two cities.

We camped on the river with the Johnson's, weathering quite a storm.....really, there was 4 inches of rain in the rain gauge when we got home and from what I heard Osceola, WI. where we were got the worst of the storm.

We took the girls to Valley Fair, that was a gas! The never ending rides. We split up and I took Madds to kiddie land while John and Al went to the big spinning rides that make me ill. We met up for those rides we could go on together and the water park.

At the Almelund Threshing Show in August we took a stagecoach ride together, and below, Maddy is with one of her friends from daycare, Jack. We spent alot of time that day with Jack, Madds just loves him and he her.

July Jams

Maddy snuggles in to a lawnchair while the rest of us pack up to leave our campsite at Interstate Park this past weekend. Maddy and Ashley make the best of a cool clowdy morning on the river.

The girls enjoying s'mores by the campfire Saturday night.

Tequila!

Maddy and Ashley joined in the Wannigan Days Kiddie Parade in Taylors Falls.

Allie introduces Maddy to tubing behind the boat at Matt and Sheri's annual summer party. Maddy's reaction was as always, "I wanna do it again!"
Allie poses in a Captain's Hat compliments of Henry Johnson as Maddy plays in the surf.

Maddy and girlfriend Violet share a private moment at one of their daddys' softball games.

A bit of a blur here but just capturing the dog, cat and rooster in a play session. They all get along well and play together whenever possible.

Sammy.

An example of Maddy's temper.

Lucky.

Dynasty.

A cute little photo I found on Allie's camera.

A day spent at Wild Mountain water slides with cousins Travis and Sadie.

May, June, July

July 4th was celebrated on sunny Green Lake with our friends at the Carlson's home. Pictured here are Allie, Ashley, Steven and Thomas Holmquist and Maddy on a pontoon ride late in the day. Allie and Hailey ride the inflatable jet ski on Cedar Lake in Aitkin.

Maddy flies down and nearly off the waterslide at the Carlson's party over the 4th. Allie has her hands out to catch her as I am taking photos.

Grandpa Mark at his place in Aitkin with Allie, Maddy and Hailey. Grandpa and Grandma hosted us for 3 days while I was on a summer vacation from work. Thanks Mom and Dad!

The big girls Hailey and Allie take Maddy for a paddle boat ride.

Maddy sits in the sand at the beach with our girlfriends young and Henry.

The girls and I went trail riding with Auntie Christie and cousins for Maddy's first alone ride on her new horse Dynasty, pictured below.

Following her 3rd birthday Maddy moved into a big girl bed and said good-bye to her cribbie. Daddy is pictured in the transformation.

At the end of the school year Allie performed in another band concert. Go Al! you sound great.

Memorial weekend brought us to Gilbert 4 wheelin' with the Johnson's, Crusty, and Larry S and family.

Maddy is here meeting her new horse for the first time at her birthday party.

Here is Maddy in her Cinderella dress and next to her castle, what a little princess and what a mother won't do for one of her little princesses

Five generations at Mother's Day brunch.

Three angels gazing into a pond at Como Park.

April Ketchup

The first weekend in April Maddy entered her first horse show, she won a 5th place ribbon with Daddy helping out.

Here she is in action, the horse is Princess and she belongs to cousin Travis.

Maddy is celebrating Sheri's moon roof, "whoo hoo!"

We attended a play at the Children's Theatre with friend Ashley and her Mom Sheri.

A visit with cousin Summer. She is growing so fast too.

Post Easter Egg hunt at Grandpa Mark's with Travis, Sadie and Hailey.

Allie turned 12 and we had a celebration at home with friends and family, then after a sleepover headed for Interstate State Park.

Allie's birthday cake holds the Cullen Family Crest as she is a true Twifan.

Hello Spring Break and Goodbye winter

The air has begun to warm and here Maddy in sunning herself in the snow. and again, I am not really good at this......

The girls were able to skate on the pond at home after a thaw and refreeze allowing the water to melt and refreeze crystal clear and smooth.

John and I attempted snow tubing as a Valentine Treat, not for the weak! The hills were sheer ice chutes.....fast and exhilarating.

The girls on another day of winter sports, quite the athletic bunch.

After a long cold winter we decided to take a warm weather break. We boarded a plane and flew south to Florida for a week. Here is the girls, Maddy's first plane ride, she tolerated it just like her big Sissy the pro. Here we stand at Clearwater Beach, one of my personal favorites. We all loved the warm sun and sand. The water was a cool 59 degrees but tolerable to Minnesota kids.

Having a little snack on the beach. The girls really enjoyed the vacation eating plan, whatever whenever.

Here everyone in working on the sand sculpture of a gator, how appropriate as we encountered several living gators during our stay.

Here is Maddy taking a dip while doing an impression of her father in a bikini.


Goodbye for now.

2008 Holiday Season

Snow day, during xmas vacation John took a snow day and we went snowmobiling for the day, good time. We went down lots of trails and to N.B. for pizza. Maddy fell asleep on the way to town and the way home.

John and Maddy decorating a Gingerbreadman at my grandmas christmas party.

Maddy and Great-Grandma at christmas.

More from our snow day!

Christmas Eve at home with Summer (cousin).

Allie performed in our church's Christmas Program, she is in the bergundy turtleneck on the left.

Maddy posing in her new Jeep, Grandma and Grandpa gave her for christmas.

A big squeeze for cousin Travis.

A stylin' head, one of Maddy's favorite gifts from Santa.

Allie in her awesome new hoodie from grama Emilie and Harley hat from Santa.

And lastly a shot of Maddy and Daddy sliding.

Alot happens this time of the year and I have managed to capture a few great moments. I took Maddy, Allie and her friend to the Macy's display of the Elves. Maddy was amazed as well as the older girls and myself.

We took the girls and my Mom to the Holidazzle parade, the weather was perfect and so was the company. The light parade was beautiful as always.

Allie and Maddy with Santa at Macy's.

The three girls in the winter wonderland at Macy's.

We attended a christmas tree cutting party in the morning prior to going the the parade.

We got the tree up and decorated, here is some footage of the girls, the tree and the dancing.