Easter 2013

Oh, the joy of Easter! While I tried to explain the idea of Christ's resurrection, it's a tough concept for a toddler. (Because adults handle it easily, right?) What she did take away was the happy music in church, hunting for eggs, and candy.

Oh, the candy. 

A big thanks to Nonnie & Nana for the multiple bags of candy.  Because that's what every toddler needs.  The upside of having a child high of sugar? You learn that her fine motor skills are just fine. In fact, cat-like if she wants the wrapper off a Cadbury egg or needs to quickly devour a Snickers before Mom or Dad can get to her.

We hope our family and friends had a blessed Easter!

Evolution of a Cadbury:

hmm... what is this?

I'll just check it out. 

Big bite!

Wow! That was good!

...and it's gone!

Wearing Mommy's dress from when she was 2!

Heading to church. 

Despite the snow, there was about a 2 hour window when it was warmish. 

"...and the smallest one was Madeline." Erh, Madelyn. 

The first egg bit the dust.  Silly bunny, who puts an egg on the sidewalk?

Getting the hang of things!

I've got it!

More! More! 

Opening baskets from her grandparents. 

No time to smile when your mouth is full of candy. 

Welcome to Year of the Snake!

Lunar New Year was February 10th. We celebrated with another Chinese adoptive family a few nights beforehand (multiple call schedules had to be considered in this planning).  The house was decorated and I tried my hand at dumplings and fried rice. Maddy agreed to wear her traditional Chinese silk. Unfortunately, we forgot to take pictures of our little CNY party and our beautiful girl in her silks.  Thank goodness I bought a silk dress in every size so she will have one for next year. Yes, this is my shopping justification.

On actual Chinese New Year, Maddy did not agree to wear her silk dress. In fact, she refused pants that day. I hope it's the only new year she celebrates sans pants otherwise her dad and I have a lot to worry about.

But in the spirit of our Chinese girl- may your Year of the Snake be joyful in a pant-free kind of way.

Eating dumplings- one of the few Chinese foods she likes. And like it she does- whole dumplings in the mouth. 

Painting our ferocious dragons!

Little crafter loves to paint. Especially when she squish the paint between her fingers. 

Rawr!!!

Happy Valentines Day!

Happy Heart Day! 

Holidays by iPhone

Christmas Eve morning. 

Modeling her Christmas outfit in the dog bed. Obviously. 

Christmas lights outside of church. 

Trying to get out of Mom's arms to run to Baby Jesus again. 

Antonetti lasagne for Christmas Eve dinner. YUM!

4 little stockings. 

Hmmm... which one is correct?

Relaxing in her princess chair with her feet up on present, eating a pastry.
Ah! This is the life!  

Riding our new horse, Leroy. 

Don't mess with me. 

Anything cuter than a tiny girl in a tiny robe? Nope.

Holidays are good stuff! Happy New Year!

Joy to the World!

We certainly had a joyous Christmas. While we missed our families, we reveled in spending Maddy's 1st Christmas together as our little family.  One day she will not want to just hang out with her mom and dad but instead meet up with her cousins, friends, etc. So we soaked it up. This meant the three of us danced to Christmas carols, watched Christmas movies, made a delicious dinner and were full of joy to celebrate this Holy Day together.

Maddy didn't understand Santa this year (although she can say 'hohoho' really well!). She did, however, like Baby Jesus. And in the end, isn't this what it's all about? She also didn't really want to tear open gifts but play with the first ones she received. We realized that we can't tell her to push those toys aside just to keep opening as that's a little too commercial and not the spirit of Christmas. So, thanks to our wonderful families, we still have gifts to open. That's right- we're going to have some New Years Presents!

Playin' some tunes and ridin' my bike. Awesome.

What do you have there, Dad?

New wheels!

Baby bed that was Mommy's

Santa had time to make a play area in the basement! 

Stuck while trying to demonstrate the tunnel system. Apparently, these aren't made for adults. 

Facetime with our Christmas Buddies!

Christmas dinner! Yum!