Monday, September 30, 2013

Just Me and My Dad


So glad Matt snapped a few pics with his phone.  Love these priceless snapshots of Madderdoon in absolute HEAVEN!  "Happy, Happy, Happy!"










A few weekends ago (September 13th and 14th), Daddy made all of Madi's wildest dreams come true!   For months now, ever since she read, re-read, studied, pondered and read again...for the billionth time, Just Me and My Dad by Mercer Mayer, she has been begging to go camping.  Well, each busy weekend came and went without us squeezing in a coveted camping trip.  The warm, summer weather was quickly bidding us adieu and we still hadn't been able to satisfy Madderdoon's persistent yearning and take her camping.  Finally Matt decided THIS was the weekend--he would not let his little girl go disappointed yet again--so he pledged his word and was 100% set on taking his witto buddy on an adventure she'd not soon forget.  The weather did everything it could to dissuade him.  From Wednesday on it was wet, wet, wet.  Grandpa helped us set up the tent in the basement while Daddy was at work.  Madi played in it for days.  I tried to convince Matt that she'd be pleased as punch with an over-nighter right in the comfort of our warm, dry basement.  They could still have loads of fun and even eat a hot dog for dinner.  He didn't budge or take my offer of an easy-out.  I suggested they at least stay local...like in the backyard.  Nope!  After a long week of work and several soggy days, he was still set on a real camping adventure with Madi...just like he'd promised!  On Friday after work, Matt threw a few things together, strapped a grinning, giddy Madi in to her carseat, and out they headed in the mini-van as the storm clouds rumbled.  I figured I'd see them in a few hours.

Matt filled me in on the details later.  Madi was in absolute heaven...blabbering, blubbering, gabbing, chatting, singing and talk, talk, talking Daddy's ear off the entire weekend.  She fished, sat in a camp chair around a real (SMOKY...spent the next week scrubbing and washing every item that accompanied them on this fumy, fun adventure) toasty fire and slept in a tent out in actual nature.  Daddy took her to his favorite place--Newton Reservoir and pulled out all the stops to treat her like his precious, perfect princess.  They snuggled in the tent after dark and read book after book.  They giggled.  They sang.  They listened to the coyotes howl in the distance.  And not a drop dripped on these two besties as they camped under the big, black sky.  Matt said the weather was perfect and they never got too cold.  Madi only woke up once to proclaim..."Daddy....Daddy....Daddy... I LOVE YOU!"  To quote our new favorite show, Duck Dynasty, they were "Happy, Happy, Happy!"

It makes Mama "Happy, Happy, Happy" to know that Madi and Hannah have a Daddy who will move heaven and earth to make them happy.  He treats us like queens and honors his word!  It thrills me to know that his girls will always be able to trust their Dad because when he says he's going to do something, he DOES it! We love you, Daddy/Matty!!! Thanks for making Madi's wildest dreams come true!

     

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Noodlehead Ned


Hanny is a BIG fan of pasta...mac 'n cheese, alfredo, but ESPECIALLY Grandma Black's chicken fettuccine...YUM!  Hannah is a bit of a comfort eater and moans and groans in delight the second some sweet morsel touches her lips.  She loves her "happy place"--the heavenly high chair--and it truly sounds like a haunted house anytime she is happily snacking away--"MMMMMMMMmmmmm!" (delighted moans and groans the entire time she eats...Grandma tried to convince me this is ADORABLE and not ANNOYING!) We love our little Noodlehead!




Thursday, September 26, 2013

Lawn Care Crew

One of Matt’s favorite things about being a homeowner is lawn care duties!  He has loved tenderly nursing our dry lawn back to green-lush health.  He secretly wishes we had a flat plot of land with no rolling hills…just even, boring grass.  I have to admit, though, that one of my favorite features of our beautiful home is the view out back.  I LOVE gazing out the windows to watch “our” six horsies peacefully grazing in the beautiful meadow that stretches up a hill behind our lot.  It is more calming to me than prescription drugs to watch the graceful stallions running in our breathtaking backyard.  I know it’s probably a doozy to mow the hill out back (and shoveling our steep front driveway is gonna be a real humdinger in the winter)  but I truly wouldn’t trade our yard or house for anything.  True love!  And talk about true love…I sure enjoy these pics of the girls cheering on their rock-star Dad as he mows the lawn.  Cutest fan club ever!


Love...EARTH TO HANNER...she's waving at the horsies while Madi waves and cheers Daddy on!
These little groupies got a front row seat to the "clippin concert" and cheered on their Rock-Star Daddy as he mowed the lawn.  Cutest fan club ever!

Daddy stops to sign autographs and mingle with his adorable admirers. 



Hough Family Fotos :)

Lindy's sweet and talented cousin took these fun family photos at Mack Park in Smithfield.  It's a good thing the rest of the family is so camera-ready . . . it almost makes up for the Matt & Kaye crew's mega dose of unruly/unsightly/un-photogenic!  Ugh, NOT our finest shoot (although Matt is just as handsome, tan & buff as ever).  The tiger tots were in especially WILD form--absolutely REFUSING to cooperate...lots of tears, tantrums and other un-photogenic behavior. :)  I was sooooo embarrassed.  Yes . . . those are MY little $H*TS!  Plus what a reality check pictures can be . . .boo . . . so depressing it makes me want to eat a cupcake....oh, could this be my problem?!?  And yet, there are always those priceless few pics that turn out and make it all  mostly worth it! 



Hannah's about to barf she's crying so hard in this pic and Madi is right behind her . . . GROUCHY GIRLIES!  Nice attempt at Grandma Patsy and her grandbabies photo. :)  One more precious princess grandbaby will be making her debut in November...we can't wait to kiss on Jenn & Paul's Kimbree Jo! 

Madi is only cooperative when she's completely unaware of cooperating.  Gotta be candid with this kiddo.  But, ooooh, how cute!  Cousin Kennedy wading with Monster Madi.

We thought she was gonna stick her piggy toes in the water but she marched in with no fear and waded in to her waist before Daddy caught up.  AAAAAA!






Thanks for setting up this family photoshoot, Lovely Lind!  You are the best.

More Than a "Fair" Time!

August 10, 2013

We were so happy to have a mini Hough reunion in August.  Jenn and Paul's cute crew and Grandma Patsy came up from Price to spend the weekend with us.  Josh, Lindy and Brenten had recently moved to their beautiful home in Smithfield (just minutes away from us now...YAY). We all had a great time at the Cache County Fair, lots of delicious food, Family Feud games, celebrating Hannah's 1st Birthday (yay...more cupcakes), Back-to-School shopping, family photo shoots, etc.  The weekend flew by too quickly but we always treasure these special times with family! 

















Wednesday, September 25, 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAY...and the next day, and the next day, too!

Each night of Hanner's birthday week, we celebrated anew with a cupcake and candle.  Madi even overcame her fear of cupcake candle combustion and eventually dared blow out the candle all by herself...which never even exploded...phew!  (see previous post in which Madi is terrified of blowing out candles due to a JibJab video where the puppet singing "Happy Birthday" goes up in a burst of flames when blowing out the candle on his cake)

Why not drag a really great thing out?  Hannah's birthday was two months ago but I'm suddenly craving another cupcake.  Time to PARTAY!  :)

 







Clutching on to Daddy...still pretty terrified of exploding cupcakes.







Mustering up the COURAGE...and SPITTLE...and a puff of brave BREATH to show that fearful flame who's boss!

WE DID IT!

CREAMY DELICIOUSNESS...and the cupcake aint bad either!

After Party In The Tubby

Let's do this again tomorrow!