Luke looks like he's taking a little tinkle here! 

Playtime w/ Nana

The Maddry Rockstars!

Here are some pictures of my boys having a little jam session with their Gee-Pa! Nana got a keyboard for them and Luke took over the keyboard while Caleb grabbed his guitar. Luckily there are no drums involved yet!!!

Made by Aunt Carami

Since I can't do anything technical my loving little sister made this for me. :)

Jeanie Schuetz

My grandmother unexpectedly died last week, so the kids and I went to Houston to attend the funeral. It was a beautiful service where everyone shared their memories of her and really captured who she was. My brother and I had a very close relationship with our grandma. She was spoiling, doting, fun, and everytime we were with her she made it a special time. As I have gotten older I realize that there aren't very many kids who have been as lucky as I was to have the kind of memories & relationship that I had with my grandma. I have also realized that though there are a lot of things that my parents do that drive me crazy (let the kids stay up WAY too late, allow them to eat all over the house, treat junk food like a meal, buy them something everywhere we go, sleep with them, get them up before nap time is over, allow the kids to be demanding...just to list a few) they are building memories and a very special relationship with them that will last their life time. My kids need that special bond with their grandparents that I had with mine. They will be better for it just like I am better for knowing, loving and having my grandma.

ps. i'm know my grandma drove my parents crazy breaking all the rules...i can't wait 'till it's my turn!!

(Here are the thoughts I shared at ther funeral:)
My grandma was a lady who lived life to the fullest. She had energy and zest for life that I’ve rarely seen anyone with. I don’t remember many times where she sat still or looked bored. She was always moving, always going and always doing. There were many things that she enjoyed in life, but was particularly passionate about music, friends and family.
Grandma loved music and some of my greatest memories involve her singing and dancing with, & for, Danny and I. One of my earliest memories of her is when she used to rock me to sleep on the porch swing she and my grandfather once had. First she would tell me a story and then she would sing to me until I fell asleep. As soon as she would stand up to put me in bed I would wake up and tell her, "not yet", so she would sit back down and continue singing. I just loved falling asleep in her arms, smelling her scent. I also fondly remember all the times that she used to put on this crazy Disney record she had and Danny, grandma and I would dance around until we were all three on the floor laughing. Many of my memories involve her singing and dancing around the house with music in the background.
Grandma was a "doer" and was always doing something for someone. She loved taking care of people and one of the many ways she showed her love was by cooking for them. I have fond memories of her in the kitchen making fudge, Mississippi mud pie, her "cool whip cake", or her famous Hawaiian chicken wings. She was a lady who loved to cook and you couldn’t tell by the size of her, but she loved to eat too! One legacy that I want to pass on to my children, that was modeled to me by my grandma, was her love to do things and take care of others.
What grandma loved the most in her life was her family and friends. She was always telling Danny and I stories about the people in her life. Some of her favorite stories were of her brothers & sisters, when she got pregnant with my dad, the time that Uncle Mark flushed a bird or a fish (something) down the toilet, the first time that she and my dad gave me a bath, how Danny used to pronounce my name when he was a baby and her favorite one that she would tell all the time was how she met her Ralph. She had many stories of her family and did an amazing job passing them on to me so that I can pass them down to my kids.
My grandma was such a huge part of my life. I have the greatest memories of spending the night at her house, all the time Danny and I spent in the car with her, her love of dressing up - in costume or for "Rodeo Days", her bright red lipstick, the smell of Tabu, the decorations in her house, her love of family photo’s, her bird Tippy, watching Johnny Carson (who she loved) with her, listening to Bette Midler with her, the many tears she shed over my grandfather, all the crazy times we had, my school events she went to, her love of the beach; the list goes on and on. Many of the things that I most enjoy today are largely due to the influence that she had on my life.
I’ve missed my grandma for many years now. Whenever I came in town it was so hard for me to see her because she was only the shell of the woman who took care of me and was such a huge part of my life. I know that she would want to be remembered as someone who lived and danced and served and loved with joy and incredible enthusiasm. I may not recognize many of your faces, but I recognize all of your names because my grandma loved you and probably had a story about you that she’s telling her Ralph about now. Good-bye grandma. I’ll try to carry on your love for life, music, service and family, but doubt that anyone could do it with as much passion as you!

A beautiful Puritan Prayer

(I read this and thought it was amazing)

O God whose will conquers all,
There is no comfort in anything
apart from enjoying thee
and being engaged in thy sevice;
Thou are all in all, and all enjoyments are what to me
thou makest them, and no more.
I am well pleased with thy will, whatever it is,
or should be in all respects,
And if thou bidst me decide for myself in any affair
I would choose to refer all to thee,
for thou are infinitely wise and cannot do amiss,
as I am in danger of doing.
I rejoice to think that all things are at thy disposal,
and it delights me to leave them there...
I can myself do nothing to glorify thy blessed name,
but I can through grace cheerfully surrender soul
and body to thee.

-From The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotion

Bunkbed brothers!

So, one of the things that Caleb really wanted when we moved to Texas was a bunkbed to share with his brother. And here they are in their bunkbeds!! It was Luke's first time in a big boy bed, Caleb's first time sleeping out of his toddler bed and their first time sharing a room!!! They love it! And even though it drives me crazy that they are up to all hours of the night, I love listening to them! They really transitioned well, much better than we thought and love being near eachother. Luke actually even stays in his bed and waits for us to come and get him! We love our boys and love that they love eachother!

Birthday parties in Houston

The weekend after we got to San Antonio we went to Houston for some time with family and to celebrate Caleb's birthday. Both of my parents wanted to have a little party for him and of course Caleb loved the idea of 2 parties! It is so great to be able to celebrate special occasions with family. And even better that all we have to do is get in the car for a short drive over.
This is the only picture that I got of the party that Caleb's Nana had for him, but she made him a cake, be had tons of presents to open, my aunt came over to make gumbo and we all had a great time!
The next day we went over to my dad's for another fun party!

Caleb's second favorite gift was the one that his Grampy got him...a guitar! He has been wanting one for a while and my dad was tickled to be able to get him one. My dad is passionate about guitars and is thrilled that one of his children may be a guitarist someday!

a little jam session with Grampy! 

Happy birthday to Caleb! 

I am totally in love with this sweet little face!!! 

Joseph looks like he had been out in the sun too long and had one too many beers in this picture! 

And here is the masterpiece that Grandma created for Caleb! MUCH better than my fireman cake!! 

On the road

The boys loved the Penske truck that held all our worldly posessions! Caleb actually rode in it for the last couple of days of our trip. He loved being so high up and looked so cute in that huge truck. Actually it was a sight to be seen - Joseph, Caleb and Titan all in the front seat of the truck! Joseph said that they got more than a few points and stares!

the gang!

A picture of the Maddry/Zeigler clan before we head our separate ways! It has been wonderful living so close to them over the past year and we made many memories together that will last a lifetime. We will miss them very much!

Our birthday gift to Caleb

Before we left our much anticipated birthday gift arrived for Caleb...a flight suit! I found this company that does them and takes great pride in making kids suits that look like the real thing. It even has his name on his name badge and patches that Joseph got to pick out for him. To say that Caleb loved it is the understatement of the year. His first comment was, "I have been wanting a flight suit my whole life!" And boy does he wear it everywhere! I was thinking that when we got down here he wouldn't wear it as much because it is so hot, but nope he wears it even though when he does, sweat is usually dripping down his face. He wore it to Lackland AFB commissary the other day and got lots of comments on how sharp he looked. He leaned over to me at one point and said, "Mom, people really think that I'm a pilot." It was kinda cool - there was a 1 star there who had a flight suit on and he stoppped to talk to Caleb. Caleb said to me, "Look mom, he has a flight suit like mine!" My Caleb is such a funny boy!

Check out this future pilot! 

Everytime I look at this picture I crack up! This is Caleb's "Blue Angel" smile. He is a nut! 

One of Caleb's birthday parties

Caleb really wanted to have a birthday party with his friends before we left Maryland. This was the first move that he really understood that we were leaving some of his friends, so despite our crazy week of packing and moving I had a party for him at his favorite park. He wanted a fireman theme this year so we had a fireman cake and pinata. Our best friends the Zeiglers came from Delaware and it was nice for Caleb to get to spend some time with Josiah before we moved. Caleb had a great time with his friends!!

Pizza party at the park! 

Joseph with the babies 

Caleb and his buddies 

another picture for the wedding slide show 

Caleb wanted so badly to be the one to break his pinata!  

sweet kids grabbing their loot 

Here is my sad attempt at my first theme birthday cake. It did make me feel better that all the kids knew what it was. (I learned a lot for next time!) 

Joseph got caught with his hand in the pinata candy! Shame on him!! Stealing candy from little kids! 

Poor Luke had a pretty bad virus. He was so sick, but he still looks stinkin' cute! 

Caleb and his 2 best buddies - Josiah & Eli 

Cubby Night

Here are some pictures from Caleb's end-of-the-year Cubbies ceremony that he got to attend before we left. There is a picture of mommy and Caleb, Cubby and friends, Caleb not sure that he wants to go up to the stage to get his award and one of Caleb smiling with his Cubby leader and friends. We are really going to miss our church in Maryland!

On the Road again!

Well, we are all packed and ready to go! We leave in the morning for Texas and I can't believe that we are already leaving the DC area! It came fast and furious. Luckily at the end here we have had help from my amazing friend Amy Z, my step-dad, and my sister. Without the three of them I think that this would have been more painful than it already was! (Amy, I love you like a sister and will so miss spending time with your family! I am blessed more than words to call you friend!!!)
Joseph has spent most of the last 3 weeks studying for his BIG test that covers all he has learned in med school over the past 2 years. He took that wed. and is so glad that it is over! Hopefully there will be no books for the next 2 weeks and then he starts his first rotation - psychiatry.
I have given him plenty of preview of what he may see in the psych ward. I have pretty much single handedly packed this entire house with all of us taking turns getting the worst illness we have ever had. It has been a stressful time for me, but I know it will be so worth it to be closer to my family! Though this last couple of weeks have been so difficult God has really reminded me of what he has been trying to teach me over the last 2 years...total surrender and reliance on Him. There have been many times where I have felt so alone here and in the wilderness, but God has met me there and reminded me that he can provide all I need. That HE IS ALL I NEED. I have grown so much since we left Minot - as a mom, wife and most of all as someone who wants to know God's love. As usual the growth has been so painful at times, but God has always been faithful! I came here as mom of one, who was way too dependant on her husband, full of pride, shame & remorse. I'm leaving feeling like the most blessed woman with an amazing husband, 2 beautiful boys and full of God's grace. And now I am so excited to see what amazing adventure God has in store for us in this next chapter.
I'm not sure how long it will be until we have access to the internet again, but I do have some great pictures of Caleb's early birthday party, our last times with the Ziggy's before we both move & I'm sure I'll have some of our adventures on the road. So peace out from Maryland and we will chat when we arrive in Texas!