Bad Bobo

Bad, bad, bad Bobo.  For a few minutes on Saturday, I would have given him away or kicked him to the curb.  Our almost perfect dog, who has never, ever jumped on a counter or table for food, did the unthinkable on Saturday morning.  He ate a large chunk out of Madeline's birthday cake.  Once I noticed, I screamed at him--I had spent at least 5 hours making the cake.  Matt took him over to the cake and yelled at him, pointing to the cake, and he, Bobo, appropriately hung his head and slinked into his crate.  We left him there, and did not think about the fact that he had gone into his crate alone and that no one had locked it.  I worked to fix the cake. . .essentially, I just turned it around.  A few moments before Madeline's birthday party began, I went into the dining room to make sure everything was in place.  Wouldn't you know. . .Bobo had eaten another large chunk out of the other side of Madeline's cake.  At this point, I acknowledged my defeat and stupidity at not locking him in his crate, and laughed--though he still got a good talking to.  So, here it is. . .the cake we will never forget.

Keeping Busy

Madeline and Ryan worked very hard on this gingerbread town.  I was so proud of them.  We finally found a good use for all of the extra halloween candy.  Do you think Biltmore could be in their futures?

We dropped the gingerbread town off at a nursing home in Raleigh.  Here is our toothless, pretty princess posing with her creation (she did a lot more work on it than her sweet brother).

Ryan draws a picture of Madeline.  A face, hair, a body, and arms.  I guess he thought Madeline did not need to walk. :)

I love these special, artistic creations.  So sweet and cute.

Happy Birthday, Madeline

A huge week in the Wells' home--our sweet, baby girl turned 7.  Where, oh where has the time gone.  Just yesterday, I was marveling at how sweet she was as I nursed her at 2:30 in the morning.  With each year, Madeline grows and matures, and with each year, Matt and I love her more and more, though it does not seem possible.  She continues to have a great love and sensitivity for the Lord, reading her Bible, praying, and memorizing Scripture.  And she is full of questions about the Lord and the Bible.  Recently, she told us that she prayed to accept Christ, as her Lord and Savior with BibleMan at the end of one of his videos.  Of course, Matt and I could not believe that we had missed the boat, but we were thankful for her experience with BibleMan!

Madeline also continues to have a unique tenderness and care for people, especially those younger than her and those in need.  And with each year she gets bolder and bolder in character and personality.  Our wonderful little Madely.

Her birthday, the day before Thanksgiving, was a wonderful day.  It started out with breakfast in bed (waffles with m&m's) and presents.  We then got ready for the day and headed out to the mall to our neighbor, who has the same birthday as Madeline, so that they could get their ears pierced together.  Of course we got there at 10, when the mall opens, and low and behold, Claire was the only store that was still closed!  An hour and a half later Madeline had her ears pierced and we were heading to Goodberry's for lunch.  Madeline has always wanted to try a banana split, so that's what she ordered, though she tells us that next time she will stick to a concrete!  After lunch, we headed home to watch her new Ramona and Beezus movie, took Bobo for a walk, and went out to dinner.  Madeline had decided on Chinese for dinner, so we were heading to the mall's food court, as that is where we usually eat Chinese.  At the last minute, we decided to splurge and take Madeline to PF Chang's.  She LOVED it!  It was a wonderful day and wonderful celebration of her.

Opening presents in bed.

Yeah. . .it's Ramona and Beezus!

Madeline just realizes that she got her very own ladybug watch!

Here she waits for our one last surprise present to her. . .you can see the curiosity in her eyes.

YOU ARE GETTING YOUR EARS PIERCED!

SEEK Family Night 2010

Since the first week of SEEK, Madeline has been so excited about her performance for Family Night with her Flip and Shout class.  What they were doing was a big secret, but through the semester I was told that there would be pom-poms, matching shirts, and black shorts.  And sure enough on Family Night, her class performed cheers and gymnastic moves for the full auditorium.  She was SO excited and I was SO proud of her!

Madeline and her good friend, Lydia

Madeline and Annika, another little girl in her class.

Waiting to go "on".  Madeline told me that she got more and more nervous as it got closer for them to perform.  So cute!!!

Ryan's Birthday Party

For Ryan's 5th Birthday Party, he invited some of his friends to the movie theater to see TOY STORY 3.  It was a wonderful time.  My favorite part was watching all 7 of them chuckle in delight at the funny parts of the movie.  They were adorable.  Of course, Ryan, Ty and Jackson ate their weight in popcorn, though they managed to save room for cake and ice cream.

After the movie, we drove everyone back to our house and had cake, and let the boys play.  It was a wonderful way to celebrate Ryan's 5th year!

Ry and Lance play with the football guys on the cake.

Elijah and Jackson

Can you tell that Ryan LOVES cake?

Paige and Ben get Daddy.

Everyone joins in.

It's official. . .the wrestling has begun.

Ryan's UNC Cake

This year Ry wanted a UNC football cake with Johnny White. 

International Fair

Madeline and Daddy worked hard this month, putting together a project on Brazil for Dayspring's International Fair.  Aside from making a display, Madeline got up in front of at least 50 people and gave an oral report on Brazil.  She was one of the youngest presenters.  I was SO proud of her.  She was very nervous and a bit scared, but she persevered and did a fabulous job.

Madeline with one of her best friends, Lydia