Christmas 2010

Before, during, and after pictures of the Christmas gift frenzy. Maddie had a great time visiting her Grammy, Poppa, and Uncle Adam in Ohio this year.

Sledding in Ohio

Since we went to Ohio for Christmas this year Maddie was able to play in the snow (we have had none in Missouri). My dad, my brother, and Steve took Maddie sledding at the same park that I used to go to when I was little. She loved sledding all by herself. She had a great time until she got knocked down by a bigger kid.

Maddie and Liam

Maddie's uncle Chris and her cousin Liam came to visit us at my parents' house in Ohio when we were there for Christmas. They had a lot of fun playing together.

Playing Rapunzel

Maddie was being silly in Target and used a scarf to pretend she was Rapunzel. She was throwing the "hair" over the side of the cart and wanted me to pretend to climb up on it. Silly girl!

Christmas Card Picture

Sparta Christmas Parade

First "snow"

Maddie celebrated our first "snow" by making a snow angel on our back deck.

Silver Dollar City--An Old Time Christmas

We went back to Old Time Christmas at Silver Dollar City this year again. We had a lot of fun looking at the lights and watching the Christmas tree light up. Maddie wrote a "letter" to Santa and even signed her name at the bottom!

Trick or Treating

MAddie had so much fun going trick or treating with her friends Garrett and Brady this year. After much deliberation she decided to dress up as Minnie Mouse. She was so much braver about going up to the houses on her own this year.

Uncle Adam comes to visit!

Uncle Adam recently came to visit us on his way to Ohio. Maddie loved hanging out with him and can't wait to see him again at Christmas.

Pumpkin carving

Pictures of Maddie getting the seeds out of her pumpkin so Steve can carve it. She picked out a witch pattern and it looked pretty cool after he was done although I stupidly forgot to take a picture of the finished product. It didn't make it until Halloween however. Next year I will remember that carved pumpkins only last about a week!

Pumpkin Patch

We went to a new pumpkin patch in Ozark this year so Maddie could pick out her pumpkin (more expensive but so much more fun than getting it at Wal-Mart). She had a lot of fun going on a hayride, getting her pumpkin, and feeding some animals.

Raking Leaves

Maddie wanted to jump in a big pile of leaves so badly that she started raking our sparse covering of leaves in our yard. Maybe in 10 years our tree will giver her enough leaves to jump in!

Silver Dollar City

We went to Silver Dollar City during their Harvest Festival that they had every year. It was a beautiful day and it was fun to walk around and look at all the fall decorations and craftsman. Maddie had fun riding all the rides as usual and here she is posing with her two monkeys that she won by popping balloons with darts. She was so proud of herself!

Maddie--the future entomologist

Maddie, unlike her mother, has a soft spot for certain insects. I think she would actually like spiders too if I hadn't shown her my fear of them. :P She loves grasshoppers, praying mantises, ladybugs, caterpillars, etc. Pretty much anything that doesn't buzz or sting. Here she is holding a grasshopper. Surprisingly the grasshopper sat pretty contentedly on her hand for quite awhile.

First Day of School

First day of school at OTC Early Childhood Development Center at the community college where I teach. So glad she is able to go there. It not only is a great school but very convenient for me too! She loves her teacher, Miss Emma. She is proud that she has her very own cubby this year.