HAPPY NEW YEAR

I am a little bummed because I didn't get to take any pictures this year. I started getting a bit of a cold on New Years Eve. When I get a cold, my mind goes out the window. Even though there are no pictures to prove it, we had a lot of fun.

In our town there are a lot of members of the church. Just on our street there are 7 families. One family lives right across the street from us, and they invited us to their house for New Years Eve. It was fun to play games and just socialize. Chase loves being around other kids and was running around until midnight and even cried when we had to go home.

We had the regular German new year with A LOT of fireworks. Fireworks are really cheap over here. Between the four families that were there, we had about an hours worth of fire works. We actually started setting them off around 11:45. Ethan was so excited and had a lot of fun setting them all off. You wouldn't think that Chase would like fireworks because he is such a chicken-heart, but he LOVES them. He would talk about the big fireworks and how "cool" it was. All in all it was a fun way to celebrate the new year.

CHRISTMAS

We had a fun Christmas this year. Chase was so excited. He could not stop talking about Santa and Rudolf. He learned a lot of Christmas songs this year. He wanted to sing them over and over again. It was so much fun to have him so involved.

I don't think that you can read the sign. It says "for Santa."

Every year Santa leaves a book and an ornament on the table. Chase really loves story time, so he really appreciated the book. This year Santa also brought "Don't Break the Ice." Chase played the game at Grandma and Grandpa Stash's house last year and loved it.

The presents from the family to the family.


The stockings.

Madison was really not into it at all. She didn't want anything to do with the wrapping paper. She liked the toys once they were unwrapped, but we might as well not have put anything wrapped under the tree. We wrapped stuff for her because most babies like wrapping paper. I guess my girl is different, or maybe just tired since Chase was banging on her door at 6am. ;)

Chase loves his spiderman car that Grandma and Grandpa Saunders sent. He is really starting to get into the whole super hero thing.

This was the only time Madison even touched wrapping paper. I had to really hurry to snap this picture.

Chase is really into playing with his "men." He has a few construction worker guys that he puts in EVERYTHING. We got him some GI Joes and a helicopter. He was super excited because as he says "I put my man in my hellotractor."

MY WONDERFUL KIDS

We went to the Dr. the other day for Madison's checkup. She is growing, growing, growing. She weighs 27.5lbs. The Dr. said that she is doing great. We are so happy that we made it through the first year with no major medical issues. She is a wonderful blessing in our lives.

Chase and Madison get along great. We are so glad that Madison is adjusting to how rough Chase can play. Sometimes she will even tackle him. Chase loves to help with Madison. He watched me feed her for so long that I think he thought she still needed a little help. I love catching them doing things like this.