Christmas Day

Maddy ready for the long road trip in her
new outfit from Gramma Nancy

After the morning's festivities, we packed up the car and headed up north for the week. We spent most of Christmas day in the car, which most likely will become an annual event. Next year we will know better than to not pack a lunch though. It didn't even occur to us that nothing would be open but gas stations. We did luck out though in Gaylord, where we found a Quiznos open from 12 - 4. We got there just in time at 3:45. So for our Christmas lunch we ate sub sandwiches at Quiznos.

Maddy really enjoyed her ham and cheese

We finally made it up north at about 9 pm. The trip was pretty easy, with dry roads all the way except for the last 30 minutes, in which we ran into snow. My brother John's in-laws (Dodas) were kind enough to invite us over for leftovers from their Christmas dinner. So we got to enjoy tenderloins and potatoes...a great way to end the day. My mom and dad called and were stuck in Miami, Florida for the night on their way back home from Colombia, South America. They had to stay the night in the airport. It was sure an interesting Christmas day.

Santa Visits

Once Maddy finally woke up at 9:30 am on Christmas morning, she noticed that Santa had visited. Santa had left lots of presents under the tree for daddy, mommy, and Maddy. Our stockings were full too! We had a wonderful morning of opening stocking stuffers and presents. I think all 3 of us must have been good this year because Santa was sure good to us. Something tells me that this might be the last Christmas morning that we get to sleep in though.

Bath Tub Crayons...Yeah

DoDo (Dora) toothbrush!!!

Opening Presents

Maddy playing with her new fridge phonics

Maddy putting coins in her new piggy bank

Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa Kreider

Saturday evening we started the Christmas celebrations with family at Jason's parents house in DeWitt. It started out with a delicious dinner of swedish meatballs. Yummy! After dinner, we opened some gifts with our nephew Shaemus, who we haven't seen in over a year. It was really great visiting with him and Melanie. Sunday after a great breakfast and church service, we headed to the Meridian Mall to see Santa. Maddy was so excited to see Santa and while we waited in line she keep a good eye on him. Whenever we would pull her away, she would wine to see him again. I was really surprised by how much she seemed to like him. When it was finally Maddy's turn to sit on Maddy's lap she was ready...she started walking up to him and got about half way and then...oh no...she wasn't going by that guy in the big red suit. Oh well, maybe next year.

Maddy likes Santa from this distance better

Maddy in her Christmas outfit

Family Picture

Sunday night we went out to one of our friends' house. We had a great time visiting with all of Jason's childhood friends. We stayed out until almost 1 am and Maddy was up partying the entire time. She was such a trooper! We tried putting her to bed a few different times but she didn't want to miss a thing. She finally fell asleep in the car on the way home.

Christmas Eve morning we all slept until almost 9 am. We woke up to stocking full of presents. So we started the morning by exchanging and opening presents. We all loved our gifts and enjoyed playing with them together.

Maddy loves ripping open presents

Helping Grandma

Helping Dad

Maddy playing with her Laugh n' Learn Plus

After a fun-filled morning of enjoying our new gifts, we had a nice prime rib dinner. Nancy sure spoils us with such delicious meals when we are there. After Christmas Eve service we packed up and headed home so that Santa could visit Maddy at our house. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Kreider for everything we had a great time!

Fun With Friends

Before the holiday celebrations with family started, we were lucky to spend some time with a few friends. Last night the Spindlers came over to spend the night to brake up their long trip up to Marquette. They got in before dinner so we had a nice evening together. Maddy and Rylee played together on the floor, although Maddy is still a bit rough with little Rylee so we didn't leave them on the floor together for too long.

Rylee - Isn't she adorable?

Maddy and Rylee
(Not sure what Maddy is trying to do???)

This morning we visited with them for a little bit before they had to get on the road. Maddy and Rylee got in some fun together in their pajamas.

Watch out Rylee....

Maddy attacking Rylee

After the Spindlers left we went to Novi to Chuck E' Cheese to meet up with the Dewars. Tricia, Pete, and Jack drove through the night and had just got in town that morning, but they still found some time to hang out with us. The kids weren't too interested in the games, but the dads were sure having fun. Tricia and I always enjoy each others company by just visiting. Its amazing to me how much her and I are so much alike. We were inseparable growing up, but haven't lived in the same town for almost 10 years now, but when we talk its like we are the same person. It sure shows how much your childhood molds you into the person you are as adults.

Jason & Maddy vs. Pete & Jack
(Playing Mario Kart)

Anyway, after we ran out of tokens we went over to Garnish for some lunch. Maddy and Jack were so interactive with each other once we put them in high chairs next to each other. It was hilarious. The would put their chins on the table and stare at each other and then laugh. Then once the food came, it became even more comical. Jack is a picky eater and Maddy usually isn't, so we got them a grill cheese to share. Maddy finished her half first and Jack really hadn't even taken a bit yet, so Maddy decided to take a piece, then 2, then 3, of his. Jack wasn't interested in eating it, but every time that Maddy took a piece he would tattle on her to Tricia. You couldn't understand a thing he was saying, but he had a lot to say. It was so funny. The next time we see the Dewars they will probably have their newest addition...can't wait!

Shopping for Daddy

Maddy and I finished our shopping for daddy yesterday. Here is Maddy waiting for Marnie to pick us up to finish up our shopping.

Neighborhood Gift Exchange

Wednesday night we had a holiday party at our house with a bunch of our neighbors. We had a great time enjoying each other's company, eating lots of cookies, drinking peppermint hot chocolate with giant vanilla marshmallows, opening presents, and then ending the night with peppermint ice cream cake. Yum, yum! I can feel the weight gain already.

The gift exchange was pretty boring for me this year as I drew the last number, therefore most of the gifts were already stolen and untouchable by the time it was my turn. I really wanted the Apples to Apples boardgame, but I ended up with Cranium instead. I already have that one so I am going to exchange it for Apples to Apples. Jason lucked out and ended up with what he wanted...beer and mugs. The clapper made its appearance again this year, although Mike and Marnie claim its the "Clapper Plus", but Marnie was nice enough to steal it from Sarah so the Abbotts didn't end up with it again this year. We made the rule that the Clapper is not allowed next year.

The kids did great playing and running around while the adults visited. The key to keeping the kids in line is to play The Wiggles Monkey Dance on your computer.


Lil' Ben was on a major sugar high, lasting longer than both Kendal and Maddy. He was actually pretty funny. We tried to get pictures of the kids, but it was not as easy as last year.

THIS YEAR

Take 1

Take 2

Take 3

LAST YEAR
Take 1 (oops...missing Brendon)

Take 2 (at least we got them all on the couch together last year)

So it was another successful gift exchange and party. Next year, there will be 2 more little girls to add to the bunch (both Shelly and Marnie are pregnant) so it should be interesting. We are so lucky to have such great friends in our neighborhood!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

What a great find! This year we went all out and spent $20 on our Christmas tree. We found it down the road a few miles at the local Knights of Columbus. They were selling all of their trees for only $20. Most of the trees were little Charlie Brown Christmas trees, but not ours. I think we were one of the first people there so we got the pick of the litter. We picked the biggest one on the lot and brought it home. It stood about 8" tall and looked just perfect in our front window. We were pretty excited.

Maddy likes it too!

She only broke 2 glass balls this year!

More Christmas Cookies

This past weekend Jason, Maddy, and I spent the entire day on Saturday baking Christmas cookies. We made peanut butter balls, chocolate covered oreo balls, cap'n crunch/marshmallow cookies, chocolate covered corn flakes (my favorite), peanut butter reindeer cookies, oreo bark, almond bark trail mix, and sugar cookies. We had a bunch of parties to go to so we wanted to make a nice variety to share.


Following the cookie baking marathon, we attended our first holiday party. We went to the Kissman's new house in South Lyon. They just had a little girl in November so it was our first time meeting Ella and actually it was their first time meeting Maddy. Wow, how fast a year and a half goes by! A bunch of Jason's old teammates were there so it was really nice visiting with them. We of course left before midnight to get Miss Maddy home to bed. Thank goodness we left when we did as our first big snow storm was underway. We missed our second holiday party on Sunday due to the weather, but we still sent cookies.

Thumb Sucking to Pacifier

I'm annoyed to even mention this but I thought I should since its a phase that Maddy is going through. Hopefully, just a short one. Anyway, Maddy decided to start sucking her thumb a few weeks ago. We were yanking her thumb out of her mouth every two seconds. Annoying!! So after talking to a few different people we decided we would give her a pacifier, instead. She never had a passy as a baby so why she all of a sudden needs one doesn't make sense to me. Its pretty much driving me crazy, but Jason keeps reminding me it could be worse.

The only good thing about it is you can bribe her to talk. I know...we're evil. You take it out of her mouth and ask her to say something before you give it back. She says all sorts of words now! FINALLY! They are definitely not articulated very well, but I'm sure that will come.

A Girl and Her Dogs

Maddy and Molokai are best buds. Poor Moe puts up with so much from Maddy. Makinac, of course, keeps as far from Maddy as he can except when she is eating so Maddy mostly just plays with Molokai. He takes quite a beating from her sometimes, but its okay because she also feeds him and Makinac and gives them treats. The other day Maddy was try to put her sandals on Moe. I think she thought he needed shoes now that there is snow outside.

Pretend Play

Maddy just loves to pretend and interact with her baby dolls. She is always dressing and undressing her cabbage patch kids, putting powder on their bottoms before tapping mom to help her put the diapers on them. She has been pretending to cook with the Dora kitchen lately too. So now she combines the two and pretends to cook up something yummy for her babies and then feeds them.

Yum....

Christmas cookies! Maddy and I decorated some sugar and gingerbread cookies one night a few weeks ago to get a taste of what's ahead. Stay tuned...

Our Goddaughter Rylee Dawn

Our Goddaughter, Rylee Dawn

Jason and I are the privileged and honored godparents of Rylee Dawn Spindler, our friends Brooke and Brad's daughter. Brooke and Brad are great friends of ours, whose friendship we cherish and hold dear to our hearts. So when Rylee was born this past August we felt like our family had expanded too. From the first time that we meet Rylee, we've had a special place for her in our hearts so we are honored to have her as our goddaughter. Jason and I are very excited to help Brooke and Brad guide Rylee in her spiritual life and be the best role models in her faith that we can be. Brooke and Brad are Maddy's godparents so Maddy and Rylee are godsisters, if there is such a thing.

Brooke, Brad, and Rylee

The proud godparents

Rylee with her parents and godparents

The godsisters

Rylee celebrated the sacrament of baptism on Sunday December 9th, so we went down to Indiana the day before to spend some time with them. We had a great time visiting with them and Brooke's family, who came to share Rylee's special day with her also. Brooke's little sister, Bailey and Maddy hit it off. They had a great time playing together and we even let them sleep together on an air mattress. Bailey was great with both Rylee and Maddy. We thought Bailey would be our life saver to entertain Maddy during the baptism, but luckily it was nap time.

Maddy with Rylee's uncle Bryan during the baptism

Bailey and Maddy (good buds)

Bailey, Rylee, and Maddy

Bailey gave Maddy a few presents
(Thanks Bailey, you're a sweetheart!)

Maddy once again just loved Rylee. She actually can say 'Whywee' now too. Rylee is really growing up fast and starting to interact more. Maddy got her to belly laugh, it was hilarious. She apparently has never laughed so hard before. These two are going to be so much fun together in about a year when they can run around together.

Mutual affection
(I'm not sure who is imitating who here)

Maddy going in for the kiss
(Rylee kinda looks scared)

Sunday, Brooke and Brad had a gathering at their place after Rylee's baptism...yummy food and great company. We were having such a good time we didn't get on the road until after 4 pm and we had a drive through Indiana in the remnants of the morning's freezing rain. We were exhausted as we didn't get much sleep, so not too long into the trip we had to make a Starbucks stop. We had a great time and everything was well worth it! Another great weekend with the Spindlers!