and a Happy New Year!

Maddie LOVES her "jingle bells" decoration. Maybe by next year it will actually be "jingle bells" instead of 'gl bElls' as she currently says it.

As 2006 comes to a close, I am a tad sad, sentimental, whatever...We went from a family of two, to a family of three and we couldn't possibly be happier. Maddie is such a joy we are so honored to be raising her. I do know that each year as a parent will have its challenges, but it is all worth it when she comes running to you with arms up and a big smile on her face! I know in my heart that it will only get even better each year...So...2007, bring it on!

Merry Christmas! Part 3

With all of the present unwrapping, and with all of the "help" offered by Maddie, we got done about half an hour before my family started to arrive! I am not a cook, I do not pretend to be a cook, so serving a traditional Christmas meal for 15 people was a bit daunting. We did have a turkey and ham, and in the end, after hours of preparation, including the night before, it was all eaten within a half an hour...next time, it's going to be peanut butter and jelly sandwiches! *grin* Maddie, the poor thing, fell asleep chewing her turkey at the table! It took Aunt Kristy and Mommy to get her awake enough to get it out of her mouth so she could go lie down and take a nap! Shall we say, all of the excitement was a bit overwhelming for her.

Everyone seemed to have a good time playing, chatting, opening presents -

Maddie LOVED her new play kitchen. Actually, all the kids did! Well, maybe not Cole, he was busy with his robosapien!

Since everyone was there - a great opportunity to get a picture of the "cousins" together.

Ok, so it's difficult to get 5 kids organized...

In the end though, it was worth it *smile* Back row: Molly, Cole Front row: Maddie, Guliano, Gavin

Merry Christmas! Part 2

Yup, it's taken me a while to get back to the Christmas post, forgive me! I know you will as there will be photos posted which is what I know you all want!

This is Christmas fairy Maddie sitting on all of the presents, one by one....thankfully they were all in good strong boxes!

On Christmas day, after we ate breakfast, (Daddy made pancakes and bacon), and found out why it was so cold in the house (our lovely gas company let us run dry again, so we had to get a fill up on Christmas morning - at their dime, we're forecast customers!) we went and got dressed and then began the opening of the presents. For the first couple of presents Maddie was tearing off little pieces of wrapping paper and taking each one to the garbage one by one as she tore it off. After the third present she got more into the tearing of paper just to see what was inside, and gladly helped Mommy, Daddy and Nana open all of their presents too!

Under Daddy's close supervision, with Rusty sleeping near by...Maddie begins tearing into her first Christmas present!

Maddie "helping" Nana open her present. (I don't think Nana minded one bit!)

Merry Christmas! Part 1

This is Maddie's first Christmas with us, and we have had alot going on. Earlier in the month we went over to Aunt Kristy and Uncle Chip's house to do some cookie baking. That was fun, as Maddie and cousin Molly and Cole also helped out in the mixing and measuring department. Of course Pop pop was the offical taste tester....and even called to the house multiple times to make sure the cookies were baking ok!

Here is Cole, Maddie and Molly taking a break from their hard cookie baking duties...

We also went to the Cluff Family Christmas Gathering (Ron's side of the family) at Nana's house. It was the first time Maddie got to meet some of her relatives, including Uncle Clifton, who showered her, literally with a bunch of stuffed animals! Maddie was a tad shy at first, but by the end of the day she was running around charming everyone, cousin Will, April and Michelle obliged with the reading of books, which we all know Maddie LOVES!

Here is Cousin April and Cousin Michelle helping to dig Maddie out of her pile of stuffed animals from Uncle Clifton!

We decorated the house, inside and out. Maddie loved the tree, with all of the lights, and especially the little angel ornament. Coming home each day after work and "school" it would be dark, so the outside lights would be on.....each day as we drove up to the house she would say "Ooooooohhhhh, lights!"

Christmas morning....Maddie with her milk, checks out the tree and presents from afar!

Maddie wasn't very interested in the presents prior to Christmas day. We actually had put a good number of presents under the tree about a week before Christmas, just because we were too lazy to try and find space to put them anywhere else! The most Maddie wanted to do with them, is to sit on them.....which she did!

Continued in next post....

Happy Holidays!!!

Maddie loves this singing Christmas Decoration. There is a Santa, Snowman and two Reindeer that sing Jingle Bells. She sings and sings along with it bopping along with a big smile on her face. I caught her here in mid-singing!!!

We're getting ready for our first Christmas with Maddie. We're quite excited, although with weather in the mid 60's it sure doesn't feel like the holidays! We put up two christmas trees, have done some decorating...she loves the tree in the family room. There is a little angel ornament on there that she keeps going up to and trying to kiss.

Maddie is thriving in "school" aka "daycare". She enjoyes her teacher and talks about (read saying the names of) some of the other kids in her class. She LOVES to color and read books. She's mastered the rolling of her tongue and is very happy to show you...all the time. She has the cutest little giggle when she makes herself laugh, like when she "teases" Mommy and Daddy by playing keep away with a napkin at dinner time. She puts it on the table, looking for us to try to take it, then when we try to, she pulls it away and giggles her little head off! Or she'll "hide" it behind her back and then shrug and say "where did it go?" although it sounds more like "whered it go?"

She is just wonderful, and I can't believe how fast she is growing, this is a great age, very fun, can't wait until Christmas day to see what she thinks of that! We're having everyone over to our house...15 people! No stress though, they all know I can't cook so no one will be disappointed with the meal...they're all there for Maddie anyway *laugh*

We did take Maddie for a Christmas picture....will have to scan that in and post it soon....