Cookies and Snow

We have had a fun but interesting week leading up to Christmas vacation. Madelyn came down with a fever, cold and ear infection last Saturday. She bounced back well during the week other than a runny nose but started feeling bad again last night complaining of her ear hurting and running a fever. I also came down with a bad cold this week, but I am feeling much better today.

Despite all of our illnesses, we have managed to do some fun Christmas/Winter activities. Madelyn and I spent the night at Nana and Pop's house on Tuesday night because Bill was out of town all week. Madelyn made Christmas cookies and we had a very relaxing and fun visit. On Friday night and Saturday, we got a ton of snow. We got over a foot of snow which is very odd for Richmond, especially in December. The news said this is the first time we have had over 10 inches in December since 1917. We are so excited to have some snow on the ground for Christmas!

Yesterday, we played in the snow and walked over to our friend's house to do a little sledding. Now looking back, it probably wasn't the best idea because Madelyn came down with a fever and ear ache hours after our snow adventure. However, it was nice to play in the snow and Madelyn really enjoyed riding in the sled. She's still not a fan of the snow and would much rather ride along while Daddy pulled her along like a horse. I'm thinking one of the reasons she seemed uncomfortable yesterday is because her snow suit was very tight (I only had a 12 - 18 month suit because I didn't think it would snow this early). However, the mitten keepers that Grandpa sent down last week worked great. Thanks Grandpa! Her mittens are on in every picture!

We hope Madelyn's ear infection is better by Christmas Eve because we are very excited about Santa coming. Our shopping is done, presents are wrapped, and we are just waiting for the festivities to begin!

Nana showing Madelyn how to roll the dough in a ball!

Madelyn looking at the finished product!

Madelyn loved using the spatula to get the cookies off the pan!

Madelyn putting the Christmas tree break and bake cookies on the pan. A 2-year old enjoys the simplest of cookies!

Heading to the Moore's house!

Wow, this is better than walking in that nasty cold and wet stuff!

Going down the hill in her sled! We're not sure what she thought!



Jacob enjoying the snow! I think Bill and the other Daddies had more fun the some of the kids!



More sledding fun!

Heading down the street in the snow!

Santa Visit 2009

We went to the Children's Museum of Richmond to visit the legendary Santa this morning with Nana, Aunt Amy, and Cora. The kids really enjoyed it (other than Madelyn's actual picture) and it was the same Santa we used to see when we were kids. At least it looked like the same Santa. Madelyn and Cora got to watch Santa come down the chimney and had the opportunity to sit on Snow Queen and Santa's lap. They also saw the Christmas Mouse, Rudolph, and Frosty walking around. Madelyn hated the characters and Cora loved them. It was a lot of fun.

Madelyn would not sit on Santa's lap but was very fond of him after he asked her what she wants for Christmas and she gave him a high 5. While we were walking away, she was saying "Bye Bye Santa"!

I wore red mainly because I had a feeling I would be in the picture. When I was a little girl, my Santa pictures looked very similar!

Waiting in line to see Santa come down the chimney!

Madelyn trying to figure out if she's going to sit on his lap!

I think she could have sat their all day!

Madelyn loved the Snow Queen.

Telling Santa what she wants for Christmas. She said a doll!

Getting so big!

The closest Madelyn got to Frosty!

Christmas Fun

We have had a busy couple of days putting up our Christmas tree, getting together with friends for some holiday cheer, celebrating Cora's 1st birthday, and the Gardenfest of Lights at Louis Ginter. It's really starting to feel like winter and we have broken out the winter coats and actually wore gloves and hats this weekend.

We decorated the house last weekend and finally got our tree on Sunday. Madelyn had a good time picking out the tree and putting it up. By the time we got around to decorating the tree, she was taking a nap which was probably easier for me. On Sunday night, we celebrated Cora's 1st birthday. It was a fun time for everyone and Cora loved eating her cake! We can't believe it's already been a year!

Tonight, Madelyn and I went to Louis Ginter with Nana and Pop. Bill is away on business so we spent the evening looking at lights and roasting some marshmellows. Madelyn had so much fun running through the paths of lights and really liked holding the stick by the fire.

Here are some pictures from the last couple of days: Buying our Christmas Tree. Maybe next year we'll venture out to an actual tree farm!

Cora enjoying her birthday cake!

Cora and Madelyn are exactly a year apart!

Enjoying the lights with Nana and Pop!

Enjoying Louis Ginter with Mommy!

Madelyn sporting her new hat from Bizarr Bizarr!

Roasting marshmellows with Nana and Pop!

Madelyn's favorite part of the night was holding her stick and eating a graham cracker!

Thanksgiving and Grandpa's Visit

We had a very busy holiday weekend hosting Thanksgiving and Grandpa's visit. We picked Grandpa up from Williamsburg on Tuesday and he stayed at our house through Sunday. It was so nice spending time with him and Madelyn had a blast playing with her Grandpa. She usually shares him with Cousin Jack and this time she had him all to herself. During the week the boys played golf and went to the UR vs. Elon football game, did some shopping, decorated the outside of the house, and went out to eat a lot which was so nice after cooking Thanksgiving dinner. Today, we spent the morning/early afternoon in Williamsburg with Aunt Erin. We walked around and had lunch at a yummy tavern. It was a beautiful and warm day and there were a ton of beautiful Christmas decorations which I loved.

On Thursday, we hosted Thanksgiving dinner at our house with both sides of the family. We had a great time despite the fact that Aunt Kristen and family and Uncle Sam could not come and Meme was sick. Bill did a great job with the turkey and it was a great day spending time with family! We are so thankful for everything we have right now in our lives.

Here are some pictures from our holiday weekend:

Madelyn thought she was such a big girl sitting at the table!

Getting ready to say the blessing. Madelyn's favorite part of dinner!

Chef Bill carving the yummy turkey!

Bill with Cora and Madelyn!

Madelyn thinks she is a Mommy. She's obsessed with feeding her dolls. This is why she's getting a baby high chair for Christmas!

Walking around with Aunt Erin in Williamsburg.

Loves sitting on the steps!

She's growing up so fast!

Hanging out with Grandpa!

Happy 2nd Birthday Madelyn!

We celebrated Madelyn's 2nd birthday the last couple of days. It seems like yesterday when she came into our lives. She is a true toddler now with such a sweet demeanor and makes us laugh every day! She loves to sing and is speaking in sentences now which is really fun and hilarious. She's very girly and loves pretend play with her dolls, new kitchen set, and Little People. On Tuesday, Madelyn had her 2 year appointment with Dr. Goradia and it went really well. She weighs 25 lbs (28th percentile) and is 33 inches long (29th percentile). This is the first visit we've had in a very long time where Madelyn did not cry. She even let them prick her finger and watched the entire thing. I couldn't believe it!

On Saturday, we had a family party to celebrate the big day. The theme was Abby Cadabby from Sesame Street and decorated the house in pink and purple. I even attempted to make a cake in order to save some money. It turned out o.k. as long as you don't look too close. On Monday and Wednesday, we had parties for our two playgroups and enjoyed some yummy cupcakes. Madelyn loved celebrating her birthday this year and especially enjoyed eating cake/cupcakes while wearing her Abby Cadabby party hat. She's also had a ton of fun playing with all her new toys. Her big gifts were a kitchen set from Grandpa and a Cozy Coupe car from Nana and Pop. Our house is getting pretty full of toys. I don't know what we're going to do when we add the baby gear to the mix! Here are some pictures from the last couple of days:

Madelyn in complete awe when she woke up from her nap and saw the kitchen sent from Grandpa! Getting ready for the family party!

Cora loved wearing the Abby Cadabby party hat!

Madelyn is obsessed with her new car from Nana and Pop!

Playing with the Little People plane given to her from Aunt Erin!

Eating her yummy hot dog birthday dinner!

Blowing out the candles!

Happy Birthday Madelyn!

Madelyn loves the slippers given to her by Jacob and Judah. Only Madelyn would be obsessed with slippers at the age of 2... she wears them constantly!

Bunko Playgroup party. Madelyn sitting at the table with all the boys in their pink hats. Adeline and Delia are hiding somewhere!

The DeHaven boys sporting their pink hats!

Cute little Adeline eating her cupcake!

Playing with all her toys!

Stroller Strides playgroup eating their pizza! Mostly the girls sat and ate their pizza. Liam was the only boy...So cute!

The rest of the boys playing kitchen while everyone else ate their lunch!

Singing happy birthday before our camera's memory card became full! Oh well!

It's Another Girl!

We found out yesterday at our 20 week ultrasound that we are having another girl! We are very excited and can now start preparing for the new baby girl to arrive and Madelyn has really started saying and kind of understanding that she's going to have a little sister. I'm so excited to buy the girls coordinating outfits and I hope this new baby has enough hair for bows!

We visited a firehouse with one of our playgroups last week. Madelyn made me hold her the entire time, but I think she liked looking at everything. I guess she could have freaked out and cried, but my arms were about ready to fall off after the tour. Last Thursday, Madelyn and I went up to Ashburn, VA with some friends to visit the Baskettes who are getting ready to have a baby boy in a couple of weeks. All the kids really enjoyed playing together and we had a great time during our visit! Here are some pictures from the last week. Again, for some reason blogger won't let me re-arrange pictures so everything is out of order.

Madelyn and the boys watching TV in their PJ's before bed! Picture of me 20 weeks pregnant. It's a horrible picture, but I felt guilty because I haven't taken any pregnancy pictures with this baby.

During our ultrasound yesterday, Nana took Madelyn to Build a Bear for her birthday. She loves her new bear and named her bear Katie. She loves taking the clothes and shoes on and off which has been a little annoying for me:) Madelyn really enjoyed her birthday outing with Nana!

Wearing the belly dancing outfit that Nana and Pop brought back from Turkey. They just got home from a month of traveling to Arizona to see the Grand Canyon and went on a Mediterranean cruise. She loves her new costume!

Watching TV with her one of her many boyfriends, Jacob!

I thought this was a funny picture!

The kids eating dinner. Madelyn thought she was such a big girl with no highchair or booster!

Firehouse #10. I think the Mom's were more entertained than the toddlers!