We Made It!

First McDonald's :)

Well, I know you are wondering and I think I was pretty great on the airplane. I fell asleep on for about 30 minutes on the first flight (1.5 hours) and then spent 45 minutes eating, getting changed, and a little walking in the airport before boarding my 9 hour flight. I was awake (and Mommy says cranky) for the first 3-4 hours... then had a restless sleep for ~4 hours and finally was happy and playing/ reading with Mommy for about the last hour of our adventure. They gave Mommy a great seat with plenty of leg room and offered a bassinet (that hangs on the wall) for me to sleep in. Much to Mommy's dismay, she put me in it and I sat straight up to see what was going on. I was sooooo afraid I was missing out on something. The remainder of my 'sleep' was on her lap and I shouted out about every half hour to make sure she was still there.


Oh, and do not worry, Mommy got a cart and handled the luggage like a champion... for those of you wondering how - she pushed the cart (due to its crazy maneuvering) and pulled me in the stroller :) I liked this "new perspective" on all the people in the airport! Daddy met us at the exit door and not only took over the cart, but gave us both hugs and kisses and gave Mommy flowers. We are lucky gals!!


I did everything I could to stay awake and talk to people at the airport while Mommy got something to eat (I occupied her on the plane and she didn't get a chance to eat there). Once the luggage was situated and car seat properly installed, I protested as I went in, but was fast asleep before we left the car park and had a great nap all the way home.


Then came night... I had a lot of trouble sleeping and had Mommy up at every hour settling me back down. Finally at 2:30 we got up and played for a while, shared some cheetos with Daisy (she loved this) and then had some milk and went back to bed just before 5. Regrettably Mommy had to wake me up at 10 to put me down for a nap at 12, and we both slept until 3 p.m. She then worked very hard to keep me up running errands and bathed me with hopes of a better night. I let you know next week how long infant jet-lag lasts!

My Uncle Chad has lots of toys he Really wants to share with me!
Mommy spoiled my fun and road with on the 4-wheeler (she only let us go across the street and back at like 4 mph!)

Our last week at home was nice and mostly spent with family. My Grandpa's funeral was on Wednesday and time was spent with family on both ends. Thurs/ Fri was spent with some retail therapy and Mommy finishing her list of wants/ needs before we jetted back home to the UK. Unfortunately, very little of it fit in our luggage and Nana Olstad says she is mailing 6 boxes! (Well, she did help create the piles that went in them) Oh it will feel like Christmas :)


That is it on this end of things. We hope to get our sleep sorted. Get the house cleaned and majorly baby proofed. I learned so much while we were away, Mommy says she is getting a crash course in baby safety with no gentle introduction.

Proof that I can be happy when Papa has me

Cheetos are the best! I love all the flavors :) I am now a hater of baby food and think this independent feeding things is definitely the way to go. A world of food opportunities awaits!


Oh, by the way, Daisy LOVES me (like I was worried). She still loves to give me kisses but is extra excited that I share food now. She also tolerates me for a while before she walks away, or gets on the couch (out of reach). I can't wait to take her for a walk with Mommy and Daddy!


Video: clapping and waving before I find something more interesting :)

In Loving Memory of...

Great-Grandpa Carmen 'Ace' Olstad

I want to dedicate this post to my Great-Grandpa. Unfortunately, we had to say goodbye to him yesterday. I know that God is taking good care of him and that he is happy to be pain free and out of the hospital at last. I am SO lucky to have been able to come home and spend time with him.
He let me climb all over his room, him and his bed, and entertained me with his "ET finger" :-) We really enjoyed our visits, though usually short but often, because Grandpa said I wore him out just watchin me!

I am a very lucky little girl with all of the grandparents I have around and have been fortunate enough to meet. I want to share some pictures with you.

Great-Grandma Olstad

Great-Great-Grandpa Gillis (he's 102!)

Papa Olstad

Grandma/ Nana Olstad

Great-Grandma Mc
Great-Grandma Audrey
4 Generations5 Generations

(Unfortunately, my auntie took most of these pictures and was not with us in Gillette. That means that I do not seem to have pictures of me and Grandma and Grandpa Eichenberger :( What were Mommy and Daddy doing that weekend? Well, maybe Grandma Eichenberger can send us some from her camera.)

Cute skirt Auntie, but not functional.

Photo op. only... there was no crawling in this thing!

We spent the last weekend with Shaye in Gillette, WY with Grandma and Grandpa Eichenberger. Grandma Regina hosted a BBQ and I to to spend time with lots of family! My Great-Grandma Audrey came over too! It was so much fun meeting new relatives and playing with them all day long.

We also were lucky enough to see our friends the Finkle's this past weekend. Sarah Su went to college with my Mommy (I posted a pic of her before). Unfortunately, we didn't get to spend as much time as we would have liked with them. We are sooo very lucky they drove all the way from Sheridan to hang out. We love you Sarah, Isaac, Grace, and new baby Will!! (See Mommy didn't even take pictures of them- Gosh!)

My pool at Grandma's. Huck really wants to join me.

Overall, we have immensely enjoyed our vacation. Daddy went back to England Wednesday, to get stuck in Denver and then fly out of there Thursday and finally arrive on Friday. He is safe at home with a happy but skinny Daisy. She always seems to thin up when we are away for too long. He is also warning her that I am very different and that life will never be the same for her :)

Besides accomplishing my first 'blood-shed' on Grandma's end-table, I have been working on new teeth. Already having 4, Mommy was hoping for a break. This time though, I am VERY miserable. I had a fever for 3 days, lots of chewing and refusal to eat solids, and still no signs of them breaking through - oh bother!

My first bloody "boo-boo"

Great-Great-G'pa's hat.

We hope you are all well. I intend to enjoy my last few days with all of my family and then join Daddy in the UK this weekend. Our love to you all,

Madelyn (Shaye, Jody, and Daisy)

P.S. We got our choices for next possible places to live:

Missouri, North Carolina, Utah, Texas, or New Mexico

Unfortunately, we are not overly excited with any of the 5, but we will make it home no matter where we are sent. Let's see what happens...

AHHHH...

Dead camera = no pictures
Just home = late/ long day

Conclusion: Update will be posted tomorrow :)

Have a great week!

xoxo

Happy 4th and 8 MONTHS!

Drivin' Papa's truck.

Oops, where did Monday go? Luckily, the majority of my fans are right here with me :)

First taste of frozen watermelon...yum!

Another busy week and I believe that I am learning even more things while here at Grandmas. Aside from working Mommy over and becoming very much a Mommy girl (can you blame me with all the new faces they are throwing at me?), I am quickly learning to walk - yes WALK! Mommy keeps telling me to sit back down but WHY? I have been pulling myself up for some, am desperately trying to organize my feet, and started walking along the furniture this morning. Although I never stay standing when I decide to let go of everyone/ everything, that doesn't stop me and I continually try. Mommy says she will be amazed if I am not walking when we get back to the UK...Look out Daisy!

Sleepy me in my pretty 4th dress.

We had a busy week meeting friends and family and shopping. I'm sharing pictures of some of them although I didn't seem to capture everyone. Saturday was exhausting. I was so tired for the parade I fell asleep on the walk home. We had lots of people over to play though and that was fun. We were also lucky enough to have some friends from Rapid spend the day with us and the Daddys took Alex and I swimming. I also got to watch the fireworks and they were GREAT!

Alex and I sharing kisses... my first 'real' boy kiss ;-)

Yay for swimming!

Sunday was another big day. Daddy and I had a baptism together which was really special. Then everyone came over for food and cake. I even got to eat some frosting... yummy. My cousing Scott is going to be sending me pictures of this event. After all that, I got to go to the lake for the 1st time ever! I am right at home on the water with my Daddy. We could be beach babes together.

Mmmm, frosting from my yummy cake (below)

Sunscreened up for the lake...

Daddy and I on Papa's boat.

Auntie helping me to the boat.
My Aunt Darcy teaching me Patty-cake.

Monday I didn't get to post because I was up in Rapid City with my Great-Grandma. They wouldn't let me visit Great- Grandpa (Ace) Olstad since he is still in the ICU. Oh, about that. Friday, Grandpa got rushed back up to Regional and had to go on a ventilator. He pulled through (he's a fighter) and got the tube out yesterday. The plan is to move him to a regular room today and maybe I can get back up there to visit a while. Keep him in your prayers so we can get him home with Grandma again. AND he is celebrating his birthday tomorrow!

Uncle Dan and Papa.

Grandma and Aunt Darcy

Cousins: Rachil, Justin, and Shannon (they are expecting a boy in Sept)

Cousins Neil and Scott

Cousin Caroline and Aunt Jessie

Okay, I think that is the jist of what went on this week. I'll try to make sure I post on Monday. This week we get to go back to Gillette to visit my Grandma and Grandpa Eichenberger and my Aunt Macie and cousin Koevin. We'll post more about that later.

G'pa and G'ma Eichenberger

Off to my kiddie pool G'ma O. bought :),

Madelyn et. al.