Chuck E Cheese

Maddie's newest obsession is Chuck E Cheese. She absolutely LOVES that place. She really likes running around and picking what game to play next. At this age, she is relatively easy to please so even getting one ticket from a game is a thrill for her. Although Daddy usually plays some to try and get more tickets for her to exchange for a toy or candy.
After the first time we went there, she would ask daily for about a week "I want to go to Chuck E Cheese and play some games". She found a token in her pants pocket after we had went there and she carried it around all day like it was the biggest find of her life!

New year, new blog

Well, to kick off 2009 I decided to change up our blog of Maddie and the Saul family. I am going to attempt to write a little bit more about what Maddie, Steve, and I are up to. I know that a lot of our family is spread far away from us, and pictures only give so much of the story as to what is going on with us.
We are still living in the wonderful metropolis that is Sparta, Missouri. Although we dearly miss Columbus (and hope to move back one day) and our family that live in Ohio, we live in a wonderful neighborhood. We have become great friends with our neighbors who all have kids Maddie's age. They all love to play together outside when the weather gets warmer. We live on a small street with a cul-de-sac, so we never have to worry about them playing in the road. Our neighborhood has definitely made the transition to Missouri a lot easier.

Steve is still working with Ashland Distribution as a Territory Manager for Missouri and Arkansas. The work is challenging, but he likes not being in an office all day long. I am working part-time teaching college biology at Missouri State University. I really love teaching, a lot more than I thought I would. The best part about it is that I can use my PhD but still spend the majority of my time raising Maddie..which is the most important thing to me right now. I love being there to witness all the new things she does and says on practically a daily basis.

Maddie is truly a joy to be around. She is so smart and funny and talkative. I am proud to be her mom! She is has mastered her colors and shapes and is moving on to numbers and letters. However she has zero interest in potty training..which I hope will change in the next few months.
She loves to be read to and her memory of what is on certain pages in certain books amazes me!
She loves to play pretend with her dress up box, kitchen set, and baby dolls. She is very much a girly-girl, but she also loves to play outside with her bikes and balls.

2009 will definitely be a big year for her with lots of new changes such as potty training, a big girl bed, and preschool in the fall.

I will do my best to keep you all updated on what is going on with our family throughout the year. Here's to a great 2009!