Christmas!

This year, Christmas was even more fun and special than usual. Maddie (as well as mommy and daddy) had a blast! On Christmas Eve, we loaded up the car and headed to Muncie to spend Christmas with the Smiths. Allison and Alex were really excited, and they got Maddie excited too. Maddie is very energetic, and all she wants to do is run around. The family room at Grandma and Grandpa Smiths was packed with presents, and Maddie was constantly trying to get away to run. However, there was nowhere to run. At one point, she tried crawling OVER the presents to get away! Anyway, Maddie had a good time and got lots of great presents. Her favorite gifts of the night were probably the Bearville play set and the Corolle doll (with red hair just like mommy!). She really loved everything she got though. Maddie was very polite and told Grandma and Great Grandma "Thank You" (lately, that is her favorite thing to say). We went home that night and got Maddie ready for bed. She was exhausted!

Once Maddie was fully awake on Christmas morning, we took her downstairs and into the living room. She went straight for the kitchen that Santa brought her. She LOVES her kitchen. She plays with it all of the time! Another big hit was an instrument set from mommy and daddy. She loves to carry the drumsticks around and beat on things. She also got an Elmo Live and TMX Cookie Monster - she turns them both on at the same time (which is very loud). Maddie got several new baby dolls too (two from mommy and daddy). She carries her dolls around by the neck and says "baby". Finally, Maddie got a neat carnival Little People set, some felt play food, play dishes, a doll bed, some books, some bath toys, and lots of other fun things. Santa was VERY good to her (mommy and daddy were good to her too)!

The dogs had a good Christmas as well. They got some squeaky toys, stuffed animal toys, bones, and treats. They especially love Maddie's new giraffe teether (probably because it is the "forbidden toy"). Since Maddie always wants to play with the dogs' squeaky toys, we knew she would love this teether. It feels and squeaks just like a dog toy. Maddie loves to run around and squeak the giraffe while the dogs chase her.

On Christmas day, Grandma Smith, Grandpa Smith, and Great Grandma Bell came over for a visit. They played with Maddie and her new toys. Everyone had a great time! Grandpa Smith called Maddie "pinball" because she runs into things, falls down, gets back up, and takes off again. Doug thinks this is a fitting nickname for Maddie, so he has now adopted it. Great Grandma Bell helped Kris with the Christmas dinner turkey.

Maddie took a nap before dinner. Once again, she was exhausted (too much playing)! Doug took a nap too. Kris prepared the Christmas dinner. The menu consisted of turkey, mashed sweet potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, and rolls. Needless to say, we were stuffed after such a big dinner!

We had A LOT of fun this Christmas, and we are already looking forward to next Christmas! We are hoping that Maddie will understand Santa Claus next year.

Christmas Eve - heading to Grandma and Grandpa's house for Christmas!

Laughing at her new doll.

Maddie delivering presents.

Maddie LOVES her Bearville play set!

Playing with ribbon.

Christmas day - playing with her new toys.

Dancing with Elmo Live.

Helping mommy unwrap a present.

She loves to throw the mega blocks out of her wagon.

Maddie going for a ride and a tumble in the wagon meant for blocks (not babies).

Maddie putting her Dressy Daisy doll to bed.

Later in the evening, Doug tries to clean up the living room. Maddie and Presley are not helping much though.

Maddie using her blender.

She loves her new kitchen.

The center of attention!

Maddie watching Presley with his new penguin.

Bailey chewing on HIS bone. Bailey growled at Presley when he came near.

Presley amongst HIS toys (he thinks everything is his).

Maddie practicing to be a supermodel.

Christmas Column

This is an article written by Jim Bishop. It first appeared in newspapers on Christmas Day many years ago. I love the article and thought I would share it with everyone. After all, this is what Christmas is all about.

"He was born in an obscure village, the Child of a peasant teen who knew not man. He grew up in another obscure village, where He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher. He never married or owned a home. He never held a job, yet paid taxes. He never set foot inside a metropolis. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place He was born. He never wrote a book, or held an office. He did none of the things that usually accompany greatness. He received no awards, no medals, no prizes from His peers. While He was still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against Him. His friends deserted Him. He was turned over to His enemies, and went through the mockery of a trial. He had no lawyers, no friendly juries, no fair hearing. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While He was dying, His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had - His cloak. After He died, He was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave. Those who stood watch could not explain His disappearance. And yet two thousand years have come and gone, and today He is still the central figure for much of the human race. All the armies that ever marched and all the navies that ever sailed and all the parliaments that ever sat and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as this "One Solitary Life." - Jim Bishop

Christmas Fun!

Last weekend, we all got into our Christmas pajamas, got some eggnog, turned on the Christmas tunes, and decorated the Christmas tree. This year, Maddie was able to help (a little). We ended up making a big circular playpen with our gates and letting her play while we decorated. Maddie loves to look at the tree (she seems fascinated by it). She likes the musical and shiny ornaments the best. She loves to carry around Doug's Elvis jukebox ornament. She knows how to turn the jukebox on and likes to listen to the music. We are using her singing Elmo stocking again this year, and she LOVES to turn it on also. We are looking forward to Christmas even more than usual this year because Maddie is old enough to enjoy it now.

Kris and Maddie hanging ornaments.

Maddie pointing out an ornament to her daddy.

On Sunday evening, we headed to the Festival of Trees and Lights at the Fort Wayne Embassy Theatre. Maddie liked some of the trees, but was more interested in running down the hallway. She did not miss much. The tree decorating was . . . interesting. There were a few trees that were decorated nicely, but most were not very attractive (very tacky looking). We both agreed that the trees we have seen in the past at the Muncie Festival of Trees were MUCH better. The visit was not a total waste of time and money, however, since the Embassy itself is beautiful.

The Fort Wayne Fesival of Trees and Lights

at the Fort Wayne Embassy Theatre.

Doug and Maddie by the Fort Wayne Tin Caps
(formerly the Wizards) baseball team tree.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Maddie's 1 year pictures

Here are some of Maddie's one year pictures - we think they turned out well!

Halloween Party!

On Sunday afternoon, we went to Joey and Lori's house for a Halloween party for the kids. Maddie dressed up like Princess Leia, Alex was a mechanic from the movie Cars, and Allison was a Barbie fairy. There were crafts for the kids to make, games for the kids to play, and Halloween presents too. The adults joined in on the pin-the-smile-on-the-pumpkin game, which Alex won. His smile was almost perfect. We all had a really good time.

Maddie in her Princess Leia costume

Dad and Maddie

Kris, Doug, and Maddie

Allison playing a game of tossing a ball in the pumpkin pail.

Alex excited after hitting a pail.

Maddie and Allison playing.

Maddie looking through plastic while Doug plays Wii.

Maddie playing with a wagon.

Allison's hand at photography.

Great-grandma, Grandma, & Grandpa with the grandkids.