Let's Just Call This Entry ... December

So ... I have been bad in the past, but this is terrible! December was a busy month for us (and when it was not busy we were getting some much needed rest). December was a month filled with fun, friends and family. I am going to put it all in one big post. I will try and be better in 2010 ...

Pancakes at Winslow House
We found a WONDERFUL place for pancakes just down the street. It reminded both Nick and me of the kind of place you would find in Austin. I think I will visit whenever I need a little fix. Maddie enjoyed their hot chocolate ... so did we!



Special Visitors
Maddie's Great Grandma and Grandpa B stopped by for a surprise visit! It was so much fun getting to see them!!! They were very good and did as they were told. They read lots of books, did puzzles and loved all over Maddie. What fun!



We even got them to take our Xmas card picture. Maddie just wanted to play, but we liked the photo anyway ... it shows how silly our little Madeleine is. This was our final photo ...
... but this is how we got there!




Maddie Loves to Read
Maddie just loves reading books. Any book ... all books ... books, books, books! We have so many books and it is wonderful!!! Here are some cute photos of Maddie enjoying a book in her favorite bed (it has a bunch of pillows!).

What a beauty ...

Maddie Learns to Slurp
Madeleine loves peaches. She also loves the juice ... she has learned how to slurp up all the juice.


Maddie Learns the Camera Smile
So, Nick and Aunt Summer both have a camera smile. They use it as the standard when taking any posed picture. Madeleine has developed her own. It is quite possibly the funniest thing we have ever seen.
Taking her sippie cups and the baby for a walk.

"Smile Maddie," ... please enjoy.



Tea Parties
Maddie got a Buzy Bee dish set from New Zealand for Xmas. She opened it up, sat down and had a tea party right away. She was so cute, drinking her tea and eating her dinner.

Christmas #1: Christmas Eve in Warrenton
We went over to Great Grandpa Mitchell, Donna and Megan's house for a delicious Christmas Eve dinner. Maddie got a gift that was made just for her ... a puzzle book!! She LOVED it! She played with Megan and Rachel almost all night!
Maddie found a cute rocking chair and settled right in.

That night, Maddie did not need (want) us to read to her. She wanted to do it herself. She is getting very independent!

Christmas #2: Christmas Day in St. Louis
The next morning, we woke up to a Christmas Day snow. It was beautiful. The last time we took Maddie out into the snow, this is what happened ... I was not sure how she would react, but it turns out she loves the snow!

We got dressed in our Christmas gear and headed over to Aunt Debbie and Uncle Tim's house. Sam helped Maddie open some of her MANY gifts!
Yeah! SHOOOOOOOS!
My very own luggage!

Maddie drank from her new princess goblet from Aunt Debbie (that is right ... goblet!)
She opened more gifts ...
... had another sip from her goblet....
... posed with Aunt Summer and Uncle Andrew ...

... she inspected the Christmas tree and found some cute pictures of Sam and TJ from when they were young.

Then she and Aunt Summer had a little snuggle. The next morning, Maddie woke up to a bunch more gifts from Grandma Ankle. She sent them up with Summer and Andrew because she was snowed in in Wichita Falls. :(

Maddie opened up a bunch of gifts. Her favorite part were the bath toys that go with her new bath baby.



She also opened a new book from Santa filled with animals. She loves animal books.

That afternoon, we hopped on a flight to Houston for another Christmas!

Christmas #3: December 26th in Houston
We got to Houston and went right to it! Presents for everyone! Maddie got a bunch of great toys. She got a bunch of fun toys. She loved her popcorn vacuum.
Maddie played with her baby nativity set.


She also read lots and lots of books with everyone.
Christmas #4: December 28th in Dallas
We just had to see Grandma Ankle for Christmas, so we met half way. We all drove up to Aunt Summer and Uncle Andrew's house in Dallas. On our way, we passed the 67 foot high statue of Sam Houston in Huntsville.
We got to Summer's house and Maddie met Bea, one of the sweetest dogs we have ever met! She is just wonderful!
Maddie helped pass out gifts and helped Grandma open hers.


Maddie had to show Grandma her new smile.

When Andrew got home from work, Maddie helped him open his gifts.

This little video shows Maddie helping open gifts with Grandma and then shows some fun they had the next morning. Very silly girls!

That morning, Maddie found something very interesting to play with. Just watch:

This is the result of the make up. It looks like she has a bit of a 5 o'clock shadow. She is still beautiful ... even with a make up beard. Does she look even more like her daddy now?

Back to Houston (December 29th)
The next day, we drove back to Houston for New Year's Eve. We got outside (even though it was a little cold ... Houston cold) and played some tennis. Maddie is very good!

I have no idea what to write for this photo. FYI: That is bamboo.
Very proud of her bamboo trick.

That night, Maddie and Katie ate chips and hummus. Maddie loves chips and dip. In Dallas, she at a bunch of salsa and in Houston she ate guacamole and hummus. She like to use the chips as a spoon, mostly, but hey ... the dip is the best part!


New Year's Eve
On New Year's Eve, Maddie helped Nanny make some cookies. She helped roll out the dough.

Katie volunteered to stay home with Maddie on New Year's Eve while Nick and I went out for dinner. We all made it back home at the strike of midnight for a champagne toast. Maddie, of course, slept through it.

We had a wonderful holiday with everyone. Maddie loved all the attention and misses everyone! She has lots of new books and toys to play with, though. Thanks to everyone for all the wonderful gifts!