Madison's Family Tree

This evening we had fun tracing back our lineage, making some major breakthroughs and discoveries. No, we we haven't found ourselves related to anyone famous yet. But starting with Madison as our anchor point, we've traced things back to the 1600's and over the past few days have put hundreds of names on our family tree.

I think the most fun would be the ones who lived in Sleepy Hollow, including a relative named Catherina Van Tassel, who no doubt was the same one that so charmed Brom Bones and the school master Ichabod Crane. If you're not familiar with the story, these two guys were competing for Ms. Van Tassel's hand, and things appeared likely that Ichabod would be the victor. But something strange happened one night that is talked about to this very day, especially around October.

It was the return of the Headless Horseman! On a dark and scary night, Ichabod was riding home alone - and no one in the area ever saw him after that again. At least that's what Bing Crosby told us.

In any event, it's been fun going back and seeing all the names and dates of our lineage. No, we're not related in any way to the Headless Horseman. At least, his name hasn't popped up in any of our family lines yet. But we have had a Van De Graaff or two, which is sort of exciting. Just think: we could be related to that guy who made the big ball that makes your hair stand on edge. Exciting stuff!

ANYWAY, it was a good day today - we visited with Ye-Ye and Nana, and the cousins and Aunt Shain. It was nice to get out of the house and visit, and they even served us dinner and delicious chocolate cake. Yummy!

Madison had a good time playing with Hannah, and then with an animatronic parrot that would make Disney proud. At the moment, I completely forget where they got it from. But Madison immediately had to have the thing and bring it to our house. It's in our kitchen right now, squawking. I think I need to go and get it a cuttle bone or something...