Mackenzie's Thanksgiving Feast

We absolutely adore everything about your school, Mackenzie.  Last year, you started in January, so you sort of missed out on all the fun holiday activities and you were in a 2 year old class.  This year, your teachers went big on Thanksgiving.  Because you can't keep a secret to save your life, you told me everyday when I picked you up what your class was up to for the Thanksgiving Feast.  For weeks, you would sing songs, tap your feet, and recite sayings over and over again.  Finally, on the Friday before Thanksgiving, we were all invited to a feast presented by your class!  Since Daddy's been working so far away these days, Granma dove on the opportunity to visit you at school.  You were a little shocked to see all the parents there, and several of you clammed up, but it was still so fun to watch you interact with your friends.

Nolan, you sat so quietly watching your big sister perform.

 Refusing to sing your songs.  Your indian name that you chose was, "White Deer".  Funny, funny girl you.

 Finally deciding to sing just a little bit.

 Getting ready to say the blessing.

 So excited to show us your pinecone turkey.

 Your "thinking" face.

 Yay for Granma visiting!

 Your turkey hand with the blessing that you've recited for over a year now.

 Nolan, there's no surprise that you were in hog heaven about all the food that was there.

 Thieving Mack's juice box....

 and wearing her hat.

November 18, 2011

Nolan-17 Months

BAHWHAT?!  How is this even possible?  Nolan, you are the sweetest, most handsome, (and I'm not just saying that, everywhere we go, at least one person will approach me about your beauty) kindest boy I have ever met.  You adore to snuggle and to be snuggled.  Several times a day, you will walk over to Mack or me, reach out your arms and say, "ugg?" and rest your little head on our chests.  You have 100% completely taken over my heart.

For fun go here to read all about what Mack was up to at 17 months old.  It's very strange to see just how much these two are alike at the same age.

Some fun facts:

*you LOVE scrambled eggs.  You tried them for the first time this month and can't get enough of them.

*you start your mornings off eating oatmeal or grits (true southern boy, right there) with some sort of fruit

*you're a lover for sweets-pancakes, waffles, french toast-you love it all

*we are knee deep in the "MINE!" stage, and that's fun.

*when you can't reach for something, you say, "Uh oh!  Stuuuuuuuck."  1st real sentence

*when you need help, you shout over and over, "helllllllllllllp!"

*most things these days are, "uh oh".

*you've got manners, my sweet boy.  You say, "peeeeeeese?", and "come!" for thank you.  It's the darn sweetest thing ever.

*Every morning when you wake up, you sweetly shout, "Mommmmmma?" or "Dadddddda?" until we come and get you.

*You sleep from 7:30/8ish p.m. to 7:30 a.m. and you STILL take 2 naps.  You just can't make it to that afternoon nap with Mack.

*You know all of your body parts and we absolutely crack up when you go over them.  For your eyes-you squint, your nose-you sniff, your mouth-you chomp down, your hands-you clap, your head-you pull your hair....simply pointing to these parts aren't good enough for you.

*teeth-you have 1 molar working it's way down and the other THREE are not far behind.

*You're all boy!  You throw everything in sight.  You've broken several things including a bowl and a salt shaker.

*At 6 p.m. you stand at your high chair in protest to eat.  You repeat over and over again while shaking the chair, "I sit, I eat, I sit, I eat" and you get louder and louder.

What you're saying these days:

Map=Mack

icy=paci

detsy=Stetson

Nnnnnicky=Nicky

Papa, PawPa, and UnMa=Granma

PoPo=poo poo

Baybee=baby, and then you'll go find your glowworm and kiss it

rung=run

alk=walk

You adore Memo=Nemo, ORA!=Dora, and bap pap=backpack

November 4, 2011

Halloween 2011-WOZ Style!

I think it's safe to say that The Wizard of Oz has become a family favorite around our house.  There was absolutely no question as to what you were going to be for Halloween this year.  Soon after your birthday, your brain was spinning with just how much use you could get out of your "Doro-fee" dress and shoes.  Sure enough, you decided that you wanted to be Dorothy for Halloween and better yet, you wanted Nolan to be the Lion, Mommy to be the Scarecrow, and Daddy to be the Tinman.  Oh how I just giggled at the thought of your Daddy dressing up!  Well, the joke was on me, because I'm quickly learning that when it comes to his kids, that Daddy of yours will do anything, including creating and wearing his very own Tinman costume!  We've kind of had a loose tradition with older Madsen kids and going Trick or Treating with them.  We picked back up with them this year and it was fun all around.  

Mack, you were so done taking pictures, you wanted to go, go, go!

 Love this for so many reasons!

 On a quest to find Oz candy.

 Dorothy and a very friendly clown.

 Mack, I hope you realize just how much your cousins love you guys.  Jamie is now 13 and instead of going to hang out with her friends, she went house to house with you.  

 There's that tail again.  You even had a little medal around your neck and as you were walking, you would say over and over again, "awk, awk, awk" as if you were hyping yourself up to keep up with the big kids.  

 My little learner.  You're always thinking about something and you couldn't get over how you bit this pretzel to look like an "e".

Our Pumpkin Creations

This year we dropped the ball on going to pick out a pumpkin, so in a last ditch effort, Mommy ran to Wal-Mart and got 2 for the price we would have paid for one if we went somewhere to pick it.  Nolan, you beat, pounded, drummed, rolled, and kicked those poor little pumpkins.  And Mack, in true Mommy fashion, you tried your hardest to protect them from the master demolisher!  :)

Getting ready to carve our pumpkins!

 How neat is this?!  Target now sells pumpkin kits that come in different characters!

 Mack, you commenced the night by finding the perfect placement for Woody's leg.

 Serious concentration going on...

 Nolan, we know you're working hard when your tongue is sticking out.  You had the job of putting Woody's arms in the right spot.

 So excited!  Yay!

 Nolan, you insisted on pulling Woody's head in and out of that poor pumpkin.

 Mack, you wanted no part in touching the guts of the pumpkin.  Nolan, on the other hand, you of course tried to eat the pumpkin guts.

 Our little pumpkins with their pumpkins!

 Nolan, we couldn't find some of your "icies", low and behold, they were INSIDE the pumpkin!

For documenting purposes, this was also the night that we all found out that you, Mackenzie, DO NOT like mashed potatoes and that you are extremely strong willed when it comes to 1. not trying new foods, and 2. refusing to swallow said foods.  The night ended with Mommy being showered with 'taters and a very upset little girl.

October 29, 2011