Birthday surprise

Thank you Auntie Amy and Uncle Bob for the awesome birthday gift!! The package just arrived in the mail and just in time for bedtime. Thank you, thank you! We love you!

First time on ski's

We just spent a three day weekend in Lake Arrowhead. The definite highlight of the getaway was taking Maddie up the mountain to a ski resort and getting her on ski's for the first time ever. She did awesome! It was so much fun watching her ski with Mike down the hill. I was so excited. She surprised us both and really loved it and kept wanting to go another run. I think she and Mikos ended up doing 10 runs! Very impressive for a 6 year old's first time on the slopes. I was so excited. I haven't been skiing since we had kids and I would LOVE for us to all get into the sport and take family ski trips in the winter. It is such fun so we'll see!

Maddie's 6th Birthday Party

When I asked Maddie what she wanted to do for her birthday, she said she wanted to have an ice skating party! She took me a bit by surprise (really not sure where the ice skating idea came from) but after a little prodding and realizing that is what she really wanted to do, I did some research and set up a party at a local rink just minutes from our house. It turned out to be a great party. She loved it and despite a little pre-skating anxiety I had (didn't want anyone to get hurt!) and a few falls on the ice, everyone seemed to have a ton of fun! I got so many great pictures of Maddie and her friends I had to post a good portion of them.
Lots of great memories for our little Maddie who is growing up so fast! She is such a beautiful girl both inside and out, so smart and SUCH a joy! Your Mommy and Daddy love you more than you know Miss Maddie!

January 13th

Maddie turned 6 on Wednesday January 13th. On her "actual" birthday, she brought cookies to share with her class, opened a package from Grandma Jeanne and Papa Mick (ice skating outfit for her American Girl doll), got her birthday balloon and a big happy birthday from all the kids at gymnastics and enjoyed a cheeseburger with the family at Ruby's Diner. It was a good day.

Playtime

We've been spending a lot of time around here enjoying our new Christmas toys...William's best buddy from next door... Gavin.
Maddie and Kami playing "Just Dance 2" on the Wii. Thanks Grandma Jeanne!
I can't get enough of these photos. Maddie had a playdate with her friend Alyssa from school over the Christmas break. They were so sweet and let William play with them too.

Something missing...

Maddie lost her first tooth just before the New Year on December 29th! She was so excited! She was playing the Wii and she stopped shouting, "My tooth fell out! It was on my lip!" Exciting stuff.

Christmas Morning Joy

Ahhh...there is nothing like Christmas morning mayhem...I mean JOY! It was so cool to wake up to Maddie and William tapping us at 7:00 all excited and anxious to go downstairs to see what Santa brought them. They had so much fun opening their stockings, gifts from Santa and gifts from us under the tree. Exciting gifts this year were the Barbie camper, new Razor scooters, pillow pets, lego sets, and a real makeup kit for Maddie. Fun, fun!Can you spot Lou amidst this mess?
Maddie was very excited with her Barbie Camper even though she really wanted Santa to bring her the Barbie Airplane. She is discovering how fun and cool the Camper is!
Dad got Wil the coolest UFC boxing gloves. They make a grunting noise when you hit with them. Definitely one of William's favorite gifts.
Maddie's new makeup kit from Grandma Jeanne.
Already polishing her toenails bright RED!
Christmas morning moved over to Grandmacita and Papa's house. Stinky...the dumptruck who "passes gas". Pretty funny.
The Polly Pocket camper. Lots of campers this year I guess!
Doing Grandmacita's nails.
Wil and Dad playing with another one of William's favorite gifts- a boxing ring for his Yaw-Yaws! It was a great and fun Christmas. Lots of new toys to play with... and find a home for!