Boo-Boo Bandaids!

Madilyn is growing up so fast!! She is a doll. She now sleeps in a toddler bed (we are still working on her staying there all night), is almost fully potty trained (YEAH!!! I didn't ever think it would happen), talks up a storm in full complete sentences (and we thought Austin was a talker! Madi has him beat!), and most importantly she is obsessed with bandaids. She is the complete opposite of Austin when it comes to bandaids. Austin would do anything to avoid me putting a bandaid on him. Madi, on the other hand, creates imaginary boo-boos that she feels call for the need of a bandaid. At the slightest ouchie she runs to find me, "Mommy, fiss (kiss) it. I need a bandaid!"

So we now have this brilliant idea that bandaids are going to be Madi's new reward system. She potties...she gets a bandaid, she stays in her bed all night...she gets a bandaid. Hey, whatever works, right?? Although it may need some explanation to strangers that see a 2 year old covered in bandaids!

New Hairdo!

I just got a new haircut! So I thought I would put a few pictures. It is stacked in the back and I am really starting to like it. It is shorter than I asked for...so I'm still getting use to it!

Christmas Morning

Santa has been good to us this year!! Brittany was home for Christmas break and we had SO much fun (and she and Brad got engaged!!). Let's see...the big presents for this year. Santa redid Austin's bedroom (with bunk beds) and Madi got a vanity set. Nana and D got Austin a Wii and Madilyn a kitchen set. It was such a fun Christmas!! We are very blessed!!!

Peanut Butter Balls

Another Christmas tradition is making peanut butter balls. This year Austin and Madilyn were old enough to join in the fun! And the BEST part of making peanut butter balls is mixing them with your hands and getting to lick them afterward!! Yummy....what fun memories!!!

Oh, Christmas Tree

We started up the Christmas Tree farm tradition again this year. I have so many memories of going there when I was younger and picking out our Christmas tree. It was so fun!! We'd ride on the back of the truck and look for that perfect tree! This is the first year that I have been able to do this with my kids and I plan in continuing it for years to come. D and Austin cut the tree down for us. It was so fun to watch the kids run up and down the aisles of trees.

North Carolina Thanksgiving

We were fortunate enough to get to spend Thanksgiving Holidays in North Carolina with the Keens. We had so much fun!! On the way there, we saw snow and played in the McDonald's parking lot in the snow. Madilyn wasn't very impressed...it was too cold for her. Austin loved it! We spent the days hanging out, enjoying each other's company and loving on Tyler. Madi loves Tyler to pieces and calls her baby dolls "Tyla." The girls and Tyler watched the Macy's Parade (the picture is of Madi dancing along with the parade) and cooked the Thanksgiving dinner. I wish I would have gotten a video...it was precious. The boys (David and Austin) chopped firewood and played with the Christmas present from them...a BB gun. Austin was attached to David's hip. Thank you David for being so patient with him!!
We had so much fun and took our Christmas card pictures in Target in front of the Christmas tree section in the crowds. It was fun!

Doesn't Your Grandma Kiss You?

Austin is fortunate enough to have Nana at his school most days. The other day she ran into him in the lunchroom and gave him a big hug while he waited in line. She went on about her business and before leaving stopped by to tell him to have a good day. He was already seated at the table, so she went up behind him and playfully rubbed his head and kissed his cheek. The little girl sitting across the table witnessing this gesture of love questioned, "Why did you just kiss him?". Nana replied, "Doesn't your grandma kiss you?" She replied pointing down the table, "Yes, but Austin is down there!"
Needless to say, Nana's face turned 5 shades of red!