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Labor Day Par-tay!

Yesterday we had our Labor Day party at......you guessed it the Lake!:) So sad though...last boat ride, last volleyball game, last wave runner ride, last time tubing....for 2008. Maybe this hot weather will keep up and we will get back out there in Sept. before the dock and boat are taken out of the water. I'm crossing my fingers but not getting my hopes up as we will get very busy with the new fall schedule. Anyway, I had my camera out there but as I went to take pics it said my battery was exausted. I just charged it too! Must not have worked so I was bummed and didn't get any pictures of the long day in the sun.

We spent most of the day playing volleyball and I am soooooooooo sore once again. It was a lot of fun playing with everyone. We also kayaked (however that's spelled) and my abbbbbbsssss HURT today. I wish I could have done that every single day all summer long- I'd have the best dang abs on the block!

My poor Madelyn had a little accident yesterday....poor girl. She fell off the bed!! It wasn't my fault but I will keep the story short so the person who is the blame for it doesn't feel any worse than she already does:( It really was a clean fall and she didn't hit her head but it scared the beejeebers out of her and she cried and cried and cried until I nursed her and she went to sleep. She was on her belly on the bed (bad idea) and scooted back and off the end of the bed. I think her legs kinda scraped down the foot board but she didn't have any marks or bruises. She really was fine. I guess the falls have to start sometime right?

Ohhhhh yeah!!!!!!!! In other news- we have a crawler now! She hasn't quite figured out that she can get around anywhere she wants but she is crawling. I still have to lure he with a toy to really make her go across the room but she can do it. Oh she just woke up so I will end on that good note:)

Things are looking UP:)

Well today officially marks the last day of summer for the Wheelers, boo:( I really get sad when summer ends because I love how relaxed and yet how crazy but exciting the summer season is. I LOVED being home with Madelyn every day, all day and being able to wake up to her and be a part of all her new and exciting milestones day after day. I love her soooo much!!!!

After searching for a teaching job all summer to no avail, last minute one popped up at Arnold Elem. in Michigan Center and I was hired a week ago! I am thrilled to be in that district. It is where I did my student teaching and I love the people and the atmosphere there. It's great, so I am very thankful. I'll be the resource room teacher for mostly 2nd graders. (I only have 7 students right now) Doors were closed prior to this job but the Lord knew where He wanted me and here I am, so thankful:) It's nice to have a paycheck each week now. Robert and I are getting paid bi-weekly but opposite weeks which convienent! I can't believe the difference of teaching in the south compared to here in Michigan. It's crazy the differences!! Pay and benefits! Moving to the north (with a Union) and being my 3rd year teaching I took a 30% pay raise WOW! On top of that the health insurance is AWESOME. No co-pays, free chiropratics, massages...you name it. It can't be beat. I know that education and the medical profession have a reputation for awesome health insurance but after having very terrible insurance in NC, I can truley be grateful for MESSA:) I had messa my 1st year teaching at Addison but was single and didn't tap into it like I will now. For those of you who don't know- we paid almost $8000 for Madelyn's birth! We'd do it again in a heartbeat but you can see how happy we will be to pay NADDA for the next one:) Oh and yet ANOTHER bonus to that health insurance-My whole family is covered at no cost either! NO COST! that means Robert was able to cancel his insurance and now his salary just jumped $2000. Cheers all around!!!

Bathtime jibber:)

I had to post this video of Madelyn because she was just jibber jabbering away in her bath. It was so funny! "Yeah Daddy!!!" was the key phrase although you won't hear it as much in this video. We were taping her for a long while before I decided to do a quick clip so I could post it on here. Enjoy!

I love camping....I really do...

Well...she's officially a camper! Madelyn did great on her very 1st camping trip at 7 1/2 months old. We went to Sugarloaf lake and camped for 3 nights in a rather large tent. Oooohhhh gosh, I decided tents suck and I won't be camping in another one again. I think I've really only actually slept in a tent once or twice before this week but never minded doing so. The weather wasn't the BEST but it wasn't bad either. The thing that crushed my attitude for tents was the rain. I think it rained twice. One evening it stormed for about 30 minutes. A bunch of us all cramped in my inlaws camper, Madelyn was getting cranky because she was overdue to nurse and all the kiddos were going crazy, acting hyper and getting their dirty nasty feet all over the beds! (haha- i'm a bit of a neat freak) Luckily it wasn't my bed so it could have been worse. The next night it rained again and this time Madelyn was already sleeping in her pack-n-play and we were trying to go to sleep. Of course the baby never made a peep and Robert fell asleep super fast and I lie their wide eyed, scared outta my mind that we were going to be struck by lightening. I seriously was on the verge of tears but it eventually stopped. Nobody understood why I was so scared either......oh well, it's over and we're safe.

Madelyn LOVES the water and splashing herself and watching the kids play. She got a little tan this time from being out so much. It's cute, her belly is so white and her arms have a tint to them. (don't get the wrong idea, I slathered 50 block all over her many times)

She enjoyed taking her bath outside using the spout from Aunt Julie and Uncle Steve's fifth wheel and having an audience of 20+ everytime.

As much as I was ready to get the heck out of there during the rain....it was a little sad packing up on Sunday. We had a great time. Can't wait for next year!

Girls just wanna have fun:)

My neice, Savannah came to visit us from Virginia Beach and we were so lucky to get to spend an entire day with her! We had a little girls day; painted our toenails (Madelyn's too!) and had lunch with Uncle Rob. She drew Uncle Rob a nice picture on his whiteboard and it now hangs in his office:) She's such a sweetheart and we will miss her! Can't wait to see her again at Christmas time:)

So excited!

We are going camping this week and I cannot wait! I used to camp all the time and now it's been a couple years since I've been. These pics are of us camping 2 years ago. (I forget where) We are going to sugarloaf near Chelsea with Robert's family and aunts and uncles etc. We're staying 3 nights and will have a wedding one of those nights that we will leave for and return afterwards. I'll post pics when we return!
I just hope it all works out with a 7 month old in tote:)
If anyone has any tips they learned the hard way...I'm open to them!!