Before and After Alice's Birth

 Uncle Dave and Aunt Missy come and spend Christmas with us.  Uncle Dave reading a book to the girls.  I think they actually read many books!

 Christmas morning and what does Santa bring?  A horse and doll!!!  Go Santa.

 These are the presents the girls bought for each other.  They were so excited for the other person to open their present.

 A few weeks before the due date...Alice is in there:-)

 Look at the size of these pizza's!  We went to the NY Pizza Depot downtown Ann Arbor.  The girls loved it and the pizza was really good.

 Ice Skating at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube.  They both loved it!!!

 January 14th and I'm in labor...my water broke at 8 pm that night and Alice arrived the following day around noon.

 Proud daddy!

 The same day she was born.  Big sisters come to say hello.

 Brian is really out numbered now.

 Alice's first bath and both girls wanted to help.

 Henry Greenwood was born the same day three doors down from me.  They came to visit us right before we left.

 Alice all packed up and ready to head home.  Isn't she so small and adorable?  A bit jaundiced, but doing well.

Madison's first day of 1st Grade!!!

 Madison is just growing up and I am soooo going to miss her this year.  I almost cried when I dropped her off this year.  I was fine last year!  I have come to not only love and enjoy Madison being around, but I have come to rely on my little sweet angel helper.  She always does what I ask and is always wanting to help, serve, give hugs, cheer up Abby, share, and give where needed.  She is an avid learner and is always asking questions and wanting to create something, make something, or invent something new.  She is the one that keeps me on my toes.  Oh, how I will miss her!!!  She is in a class with two of her best friends from last year and that brings me comfort since they are great girls!!!  See you later Madison!

She is loosing teeth like crazy as of late.  She has lost seven now and 2 of those came out in the past few days.  I know this because the tooth fairy has forgotten to leave money under her pillow for four days now.  We sent her and e-mail today!  I think she may come while Madison is at school:-)  My girl is growing up!

Random Post Catch-up

My neighbor brings me food all the time and has amazing presentation.  It was sooooo good too.  I love her hummus!!!

This is the girls playing dress up one day...I just had to get a picture.  I love the scarves and how it enhances the use of their imagination.  They can be just about anything.

Sam, Madison's best friend who moved away, came to visit and they had so much fun playing together again.

We celebrated Madison's birthday as a family.  Abby gave her a baby with a stroller and Grandma gave her the elephant.

Abby got her four year old shots today...all four of them in her arms.  She couldn't move her arms very well that night, hence the tears even with ice cream:-(

Madison and Daddy eating her birthday ice cream with an oreo.

I made these mint brownies for teacher appreciation and they turned out pretty nice.  I love having mint grow everywhere here...

Madison got her snowflake put up in the school in a picture frame.  There was one other kid from her class that had his up.  There are only 6 displayed at a time, so it was an honor for Madison to have hers up there.  She loves to do art and takes her time with anything that is crafty.  She was really into origami for a while there and now draws roses and flowers everywhere.  She is also doing poetry.  I'll try and post one of her poems:-)

The combined birthday party.  Sorry for so little pictures...we were a bit preoccupied with the and 20 kids:-) pinata

 Here is a picture of the barbie cake the girls demanded having.  It's made with marshmallow fondant and has the barbie in the center.

 So sad, some of these friends will be moving all the way to Florida next month.  We do weekly play dates with them and will miss K., A., and E. so much when they are gone and I will miss J. terribly.

 Today at school was wacky hair day...well, this is what it looked like...then Abby had to have hers done the same way, so we did hers too.