Mads goes Fishin'

Last week was a nice week. It wasn't too busy and it wasn't too slow. Just perfect!

Monday I had off and Mads and I had a long-deserved Maddie & Mommy day since we didn't get one last week. We had a fun day that started out playing together upstairs. I took a blanket and built Mads her first fort. It wasn't as big of a hit as I was hoping for, but she did have fun crawling through it a couple times.




Then, at 10:30, we went to Menominee Park to meet up with Jen, Abby, and Baby Isaac for some fun. We played for about an hour and a half until we had to head home for some lunch and a nap. It was fun for Mads to have someone to play with and for me to have someone to talk to! :)



Tuesday and Wednesday were work days. Nothing real exciting there. The softball game was cancelled on Tuesday due to rain.

Thursday was a busy errand running day. Mads and I left the house at 10:00 and didn't get back home until after 4. We started out going to Kohls to pick up some last minute items for our vacation and then went up to Appleton. We hit up Sears and Babies R Us and then we had a super fun lunch date at Noodles. Mads polished off a whole small size Mac & Cheese. Girl really loves her cheese!! We then headed up to Kaukauna because the van had an appointment to have a sensor replaced. We were at the car shop for about an hour and a half. Then we headed home and made some dinner for dad!
Mads playing at the car shop. She's actually racing her car down the slide, you can see the car bouncing at the bottom of the slide...



Friday I worked a long day, but Andrew was done at noon, like usual. He and Mads came home and Mads napped. By the time I was done with work at 5PM Dad and Marie were here to spend the weekend with us. We had dinner and then afterwards took a wagon ride to the park.

Mads thought it was pretty fun to go fast, but had to lay down to improve the aerodynamics!

Grandpa Jeff gave Mads a few under ducks... too fun!


On Saturday we went out on to Lake Winnebago fishing. We were on the hunt for some walleye. We were unsuccessful in catching any walleye, but we did catch 5 sheepshead. We were all lucky enough to catch one and Andrew got two. Marie even caught one with Maddie's new Dora the Explorer pole! :)
Driving with Grandpa!

Not so sure about the breeze:

Checking out the worms... EW!

Helping Grandpa select the proper lure:

Learning lots about fishin'!

Mads working the Dora pole:




Andrew caught the first fish:

I got the second, Dad had to help remove it from the hook:

Dad got the third:

Andrew got the fourth:

and Marie got the fifth fish - with Dora!

More cuteness on the boat:


And this is how we ended the fishing trip, conked out!


Since we didn't keep any of the fish we caught we ended up having a yummy salmon dinner, made with the salmon that Andrew caught during his fishing trip last weekend.

Today we spent the morning and early afternoon at church for the summer picnic. The church rented at blowup waterslide and a bounce house. Mads had a blast in the bounce house!




We got back home around 1:30 and Mads went down for her nap. We said goodbye to Dad and Marie and now Andrew and I are doing things around the house. I'm working on the fun laundry and Andrew is going to go out and mow. :)

I have a few random pictures left from the week. I also want to remind you that we will be leaving on Wednesday night for vacation so you won't see a post next week. We'll see you when we get back!

Hmmm.. what did you get into Mads?



Look at all those teeth!

Driving the van:

So lovely with her tie and bracelet on!


Thanks for stopping by!

Whew!

Well, the busy week is over. I don't have a lot of pictures from last week as it was a week of work! The other Optician had last week off for vacation so I worked at the office Monday - Thursday. I was a bit scared when, on Monday morning, a patient called it and asked for what my hours were THAT DAY. I responded that we were open until 5. She then proceeded to ask what time we opened. That seemed like an indicator of a crappy week to come, but luckily it wasn't!! It was a very nice week and it went by quickly. On Friday I worked at the hospital. I was scheduled for a 12 hour shift, 6 AM to 6 PM. But I was able to leave early and was home by 4:45. It was a nice day at the hospital, no crazies, which is always good! :)

In Maddie's world it was a week at the sitter's. Like I mentioned last week, Mads did spend Monday with Aunt Jill, Claire and Nick since Jeannette was still off. I picked Mads up in Appleton after work and as they drove up I heard "Mamma!" out the window. So adorable! I missed my peanut, but it sounds like she sure had fun with her "cousies."

Tuesday - Friday Mads was at Jeanette's house. On Tuesday she came home with a really cute little visor that Jeanette helped her decorate. I absolutely love when she comes home with little art projects, they make my day!

Friday night, after work, was the return of Game Nite at the Ames'. The usuals were there: Barby, Ryan, Caden, Alexis, Danny and us. We haven't seen them since Pam's retirement party, which was about a month ago! They were so busy travelling all over that we hadn't had a chance to get together. It was so great to see them and catch up. Here's a picture of Mads playing with one of Caden's toys:


On Saturday the Josephs family split for the weekend. Mads and I headed down to Monroe while Andrew went to Green Bay. Saturday was the annual charter boat fishing trip for Eric's birthday. Since Andrew is normally gone for most of the day and night on the boat, then super tired the next day, Mads and I took advantage of our alone time and went to visit family in Monroe.

On Saturday afternoon we went over to GG's house. While Grandma and I were talking Mads had a blast playing with the toys. Toys are always more fun when they're at someone else's house, right? :)




Then Saturday night we had supper with Grandma J, Aunt Kimmy, and Jake. After Mads went to bed Kim, Jake and I played a round of Mall Madness and I SMOKED 'EM! :)

Sunday morning started out early when Mads was up by ten to 6. I guess she heard that we were planning on going out to breakfast with Grampa Jeff & Grandma Marie and she wanted to get there before the restaurant ran out of french toast! After breakfast we headed back to Grampa & Grandma's house to hang out.
Reading a book with Gramps:

Mads playing with the Chinese ball-thingies... you know the ones... you're supposed to be able to rotate them in the palm of your hand...

Trying on the life vest to make sure it still fits this year!



We headed back over to Gramma J's house around 11 and had lunch there with Gramma, Grandpa Thom and Grandma Honey. We had scalloped potatoes and ham. Mads scarfed down 3/4 of a large slice of ham like it was going out of style!

We left Monroe around 2:00 and Mads was asleep by Monticello. Apparently she had a fun weekend!

About an hour after we got home to Oshkosh Andrew got home. He had gone cherry picking in Door County with Grandma Mary, Aunt Jill, Claire and Nick. He brought me home a huge tupperware full of the cherries, which I made into a crisp that's baking right now. Mmmmm!!

Well, that's all from our week. I have two random pictures for you before you go.

Excited and waving to Gramma J:

An interesting new vacuuming maneuver!


Thanks for stopping by!

B is for Busy, Babysitters, and Bay Beach!

Last week was a departure from the ordinary at the Josephs' household. Our babysitter was on vacation all week, so that meant that we had a live-in nanny! Aunt "Mimmy" came up on Sunday evening and stayed until I was done with work on Wednesday. Mads and Mimmy had lots of fun all week. They took trips to the park, saw the ducks at South Park, went swimming, went to Target, and even went out to lunch! Kim took lots of pictures while she was here, so I will share those with you. We had fun having Kim stay and we really appreciate her help!

Playing in the sand on Monday:

Swimming on Tuesday:



Fun in the coupe:


Speaking of "Mimmy" Mads has had a language explosion in the last week. She's now able to tell you when things are "hot" or "stuck." She can also point to her "shoe," "bubbles" or "baby" and tell you what they are. She also loves to say hi to "Melmo" - That's Elmo if you don't speak baby! :) She can also say "Peees" (Please) when she wants something. She likes to repeat words to you when you ask her if she can say something. We've gone through names and she can repeat all of them to the best of her ability. This includes: Grandma, Grandpa, Kimmy, Jill, Eric, Claire & Nick. I love listening to her learning new words!

On Thursday I had the day off. Mads and I ran some errands in the morning and once those were done we headed over to the Menominee Park Zoo. It's a little zoo here in Oshkosh that has free admission. It was a fun little trip.
Watching some new friends:

Sheep:

Goat:

Calf:

That afternoon, after Maddie's nap, we did some swimming in the pool. Mads is such a fish. She could play in the tub/pool everyday!



Friday was Maddie's 18 month check up. She weighed in at 22 pounds, which is a little less than 25th percentile. Her height is 30 1/2 inches, the 25th percentile, and her head circumference is 46 cm which is in the 45th percentile. She only had to get one shot, which was a piece of cake compared to the evil thermometer! She cried and cried about the thermometer, but barely fussed when she was given her shot.

Saturday was a busy day. I like busy days, they're much more fun than sitting around the house! :) We started by driving to Madison to meet with Gramma Jackie, Grandpa Thom and Grandma Honey for lunch. Mads had a blast playing with all the toys they brought in their goodie bags! She loves seeing her Grandmas and Grandpa Thom!

When we got home that night we took a bike ride down to Menominee Park for a dinner picnic. We packed up some PB&J's, chips and Twinkies. It was Maddie's first time to have both a PB&J and a Twinkie! It was the perfect weather for a bike ride and a picnic.





Sunday was another busy day. Before we could do anything, though, we had to take Maddie's 18 month pictures. I busted out the 12 month outfit, and wouldn't you know - it FINALLY fits!! :) These are probably the last pictures we will get out of the outfit because it will be too short when Maddie turns 2. I can't believe that my little Peanut is already 1 1/2 years old!






We went to church and then headed up to Green Bay. We first had lunch at Grandma Mary's and then we headed out to Bay Beach with Grandma, Aunt Jill, Claire and Nick. It was a super fun day and Mads loved every single minute of it! I take that back, she didn't love when she had to get off the rides!

Sharing a ride to the rides!

Fun for a quarter a ride!





Mads was big enough to ride on the ponies this year!



At the end of the trip Grandma said that the kiddos could get a tattoo! The legal age for tattoos is 18 - I didn't realize they meant 18 MONTHS! ;) The kids loved their new tattoos and Claire was especially excited because hers matched Maddie's!





After Bay Beach we didn't head home quite yet - we went to the park that has the little swimming pool. The kiddos got into their suits and cooled off in the little pool. It took Mads a few minutes to warm up to the water, it was pretty chilly, but once she was warmed up she was a swimming fool! She even showed off some of her swimming moves.






After the pool we did call it a day. Mads actually went home with Aunt Jill, Claire and Nick as our babysitter still had Monday off. Mads was lucky enough to be able to go stay with her cousins. The report is that they all had lots of fun during the sleepover. Thanks so much to Aunt Jill for watching the babe!

That's the recap of last week. This week is going to be pretty long and uneventful as I work Monday thru Thursday at the office and Friday at the hospital for 12 hours. Have to put in some extra time so that we have a little extra cash on our Myrtle Beach trip that we're REALLY looking forward to!

Here are some more pictures from the week.

Playing with Aunt Mimmy at Dad's softball game:

Checking out the potty:

Playing tug with Lily:

Blueberry pancakes!

Pulling Nick around:

Holding hands with Nick on the way to Bay Beach:


Thanks for stopping by!