Sledding

It was a first time for Madison – sledding on Thursday!!!  I’ll admit, I was excited for her to go, but hesitant to bundle up and get outside.  I don’t really know why; once outside, I usually thoroughly enjoy myself.  Grandpa and Jason bought some sleds; Jeremy and I bought her some snow boots – I think a size too big, but then they will fit next year, too!  We bundled up and headed out before lunch.  Lil sis had to stay home with Grandma… just not quite big enough. 

I was worried that Madison wouldn’t like it.  Yesterday when she got snow on her face, she started crying.  So, I had good reason to think it would be short lived and unenjoyable.  HOWEVER, it was neither short lived nor unenjoyable.  The first time, I took her down; the next time, Jeremy took her down.

BUT… that was all it took.  The next time at the top of the hill, she said, “I want to go by myself.”  So, we laid her down on the sled, and sent her on her way

 

Then, Jeremy went

And I went

And we all remembered how fun sledding really was.  What a shame we stay inside on snowy days!  Even some of those not dressed to sled joined in on the fun.  Here is Madison hiking back up alongside Jason.

My favorite Madison sledding pic of the day:

In addition to sledding, we attempted a snowman.  It wasn’t too shabby…

All in all it was a great time!

Christmas #3 and #4

We go to one extended family gathering every year on Jeremy’s side.  The extended family on my side is pretty far away and a little scattered.  It is a good time to be with those that you were with growing up, and I miss the opportunity.  It was a little different this year, since his Grandpa had just passed away, but overall it was still a celebratory time. 

Ellie enjoyed the food.  She also enjoyed a game of handing the plate to you and then taking it back.  I think she was working on saying “thank you” when she got it back.  Oh, and I don’t know if I ever mentioned that she folds her hands for prayer now – it is the cutest thing!

Madison enjoyed being “Santa’s Helper” and delivering all the gifts.  She even got to open a few herself.  She dressed like it was 72F outside, which is typical.  I made her wear the leggings!

    

The next morning we headed to Jeremy’s parents for our last Christmas with just his family.  It is a growing number over there.  We added Ellie for this year’s Christmas, and Jason brought his fiancé, Nikki, too.  We had a tasty spread for breakfast/brunch before breaking out the stockings and the presents.  Madison and Jason worked together to get the gifts distributed.

   

Ellie, once again, enjoyed the tissue paper. 

Jeremy donned a beard with his Duck Dynasty gift… very hairy indeed!

That day the snow started falling and falling and falling and falling. 

    

We ended up just staying overnight to enjoy family and not have to brave the roads.

Christmas #2

I’ll start with Christmas Eve.  We went to a wonderful Christmas Eve service at church.  Madison really enjoyed the little musical the kids choirs did.  We took another Christmas picture with the girls in their Christmas dresses (Ellie is just a little drool-y!)

Jeremy and I were “those” parents who put off wrapping gifts until the night before.  It made for a later night than I would like…  The girls woke up – Madison first and then Ellie.  Madison saw her first gift – Fluffly – under the tree. (No, it’s not real, but she was fooled til she touched it.)

   

Madison spent some of her extra time pulling all of the presents out from under the tree and stacking them in a big tower.  It made it easier to give gifts and she really enjoyed doing it.

    

Her big gift was a Dora dollhouse and van.  She was excited – just as I had hoped. 

Ellie seemed to enjoy this gift just as much as Madison.  (We’ll see how many “fights” I’ll break up over who is playing with what!)

Ellie was very excited to open gifts too.  After all the practice at the first Christmas, she knew what this was all about.

    

They opened some gifts together

And some gifts alone

   

Ellie really got into the tissue paper…

    

Madison enjoyed her new clothes (sparkle leggings and sweatshirt) and Dora

We had to wrap up this small Christmas for the next set of festivities after nap… Christmas #3

Christmas #1

I am finally blogging about the past three weeks or so of happenings.  It has been a whirlwind of fun and exhaustion.  It all started with my family’s gathering which happened at my brother’s house this year.  This year we did an overnighter starting Saturday morning and ending Sunday before noon.  Jeremy and I decided not to participate in the Friday night festivities as well.  With the youngest kid in the family, it gets to be a little much to juggle – naps, pack n plays, bottles, etc.  We’ll wait til they are both a little older. 

I read Madison – and pretty much all the others – A Cobweb Christmas story which is a tradition my aunt does at Christmas and my mom started this year. 

There was a little song of thanks organized by Grandma for Nate and Jen…

There was a small program – Ben reading the Christmas story, others singing songs they had learned.  And then, the gift opening began.  Each grandkid had their chance – youngest to oldest…

This was Ellie’s first Christmas and gift opening opportunity; she did a great job!

    

Madison – a seasoned professional in comparison – had her chance shortly after.  She got a Barbie, which was high on her Christmas list.

   

Then grandkids exchanged gifts with each other.  They each had a little help from the person that had their name.

   

Then, stockings…

We captured a family picture there; this was the best one

My parents – still in love …

    

Then, we had lunch, kids took naps, adults did their gift exchange/opening and stockings, ate supper, had dance parties, played a ping pong tournament (Nate won…but it was in his house…), played Spousology (a game my mom brought along), talked, and found our beds between 11-12. 

Woke up the next morning to a feast of a breakfast, took the traditional pajama pictures, packed up suitcases, stripped down beds, remade beds, said our good byes, and headed home.

  

Whew!  And that was the first Christmas…