Christmas Day #2

After naps and a bit more playing with all of our new toys, we loaded up and headed down the road to Nanny and Papa's for The Madsen Christmas.  It's sort of like a marathon.  It used to be that everyone took turns, one at a time opening presents...Ooo-ing and Ahh-ing and then the next person went.  As you can imagine, this takes a very long time especially now that all three original Madsen children are now married and there are now 7 grand kids.  This year, all the kids took turns opening their presents and then we took a break, ate, drank, ate some more and then the adults opened their presents.  It was fun having all of the grand kids under one roof this year and they all got along so well together.  We feasted on the traditional Christmas dinner-turkey, ham and all the fixin's.  I was getting nervous as the night progressed because the snow WOULD NOT STOP FALLING.  We had plans to visit Gramma, Pawpa, and Jordan first thing Sunday morning, and with the snow not letting up, my fears were starting to come true. 

 Nolan, you were so happy!

 Oh Mackenzie, you couldn't believe your eyes when you found "Chawklit" in your stocking!

 Move over slot machines, it's Mexican Domino time Dora style!

 Checking out your new accessory kit from Aunt Missy and Uncle Joe.

 I just love this picture.  Best friends for well over 10 years, turned brothers in law, having a heart to heart over Dora blocks.

 The official Madsen kid's table.  Bless their hearts, it was almost 10 p.m. and they were starving!

As we were driving home well after 11 p.m. with both of you snoozing in your seats, Daddy surprised me by telling me that we were just going to drive up to Flowery Branch right then.  I was so happy.  We swung by the house to drop off a truck load of presents, feed the dogs, grab some clothes and off we went.  Daddy thought because the roads weren't bad yet, that they would only get worse as the night went on and he didn't want us to be stuck at home on Sunday.  I think he also knew how important it was for all of us to be together this Christmas...without Uncle Matt.  Oh, and Uncle Matt called on Christmas Eve!  I LOVE getting his phone calls!  He was in very high spirits and had just completed a mission.  Ok, back on track now.  When we got to Gramma and Pawpa's at almost 2 a.m. now, Christmas was in the air!  Pawpa was still wrapping presents (he really doesn't like to wrap), and Gramma was waiting for us with open arms.  After giving Pawpa a wrapping tutorial, we were off to bed for Santa's second visit. 

Just waking up for your second day of Christmas.

 When we were waiting for Jordan to come home and while Nolan was napping, you, Daddy and me when out in the snow.

 Snow kisses are the best.

 We made a snow soldier for Uncle Matt!

 You loved that snow man so much, you were kissing it!

 You and your Daddy, you two were made for this type of weather.

 I just love how your checking yourself out in the reflection.

 Let the festivities begin!

 Nolan, you were so chill!

 Hannah came over and got a cookie press!  That's it, she's official!

 Now the real fun begins...

 Having Hannah around to spend Christmas with us, really helped not having Matt around.  We're way too much alike and my goodness, we are goo-fy.

 Puffer vests were not planned...that's how cool we are.

 Mackenzie and Nolan aren't you two so proud to call us, "Mommy" and "Daddy"?!

December 26, 2010

Christmas 2010

The one morning I beg for you two to get up early, you both sleep until your normal wake up times of 8 and 8:30!  Mackenzie, I think you were still a little worried that Santa was going to be hanging out in the living room and you were a little skeptical of walking out to see what all Santa did bring you.  We finally convinced you that we were the only ones in the house and that it was safe to come out into the living room.  You were so surprised to see presents!  Santa left an Aqua Doodle pad hanging from the fire place and you wanted to play with it right away.  Nolan, you were amazed with all of the...paper and boxes and bows!  You wanted to eat everything in sight.  Mackenzie you're at such a fun age for all of this.  You would open a present with such delight, wait patiently as Daddy got whatever it was out of the insane packaging and then you wanted to play with the toy.  We had to keep reminding you that you had other presents to open.  Nolan, you sat so entertained by all of the madness.  You got a choo choo that makes crazy loud noises and were content with that for some time. 

 Poor baby, Nolan, there was nothing in that sippy cup!  But you knew exactly what it was for.

 In aw.  Mack, you got your dolly house!!!

 Nolan, you received a glow worm, your train, a crinkle bear (you love noise), and a ball popper.

 Mackenzie, you were pure disbelief that Santa brought you Play-Do!

 Chopping on that cup again.

 Daddy doing what he does best, putting a house together. 

 Either excited about the train, or the paper, you guess.

And as we were getting ready to leave for Nanny and Papa's we discovered it was snowing!  The first white Christmas since 1831!

Christmas Eve Part 2

As we were driving home from church, we decided to look for Christmas lights.  There's a house in Brookstone that has all of these cardboard cut outs of Disney characters, the Peanuts Gang, and much more.  The house is decked out in some serious lights.  Mack, you are obsessed with lights!  As Daddy would drive away from one house, you would say, "More lights pleeeeaaaase, Daddy?"  As we were driving around the neighborhood, I spotted a giant white star sort of floating in the sky.  We thought it was coming from a church not too far away.  We decided that we were going to find it one way or another.  Daddy was driving all around the neighborhood like we were in some sort of rat race.  I, being as crazy as I am, would say, "Nope, we're going the wrong way." or, "You're getting closer, just make a few more turns!"  We finally found this star and we were stunned.  It WAS floating in the air!  It was tethered to a very thick rope that was anchored to the ground with weights.  The house that had it in their driveway didn't have anything spectacular going on, just this giant star hanging in the sky.  It really hit home, that it's not about the shopping, presents, Santa's, but the birth of Jesus.  Daddy and I sat quietly, I reflected on the year's past events as you two, M and N gazed at the giant white star.

By the time we got home from all of our Christmas light searching, it was time for bed!  Mackenzie, I think you were a bit afraid to walk into the house.  After all of this talk of Santa, I'm pretty sure you thought he was actually going to be at our house when we got home.  Mommy wrote a quick note to Santa including that you M, wanted that dolly house, and Nolan, you wanted a Chugga, Chugga, Choo, Choo.  Mackenzie, you picked out the cookies, and Daddy poured the milk and off to bed you went. 

Christmas Eve 2010 Part 1

We had a nice, quiet Christmas Eve this year.  Daddy and you, Mack, did go out with all of the crazies for some last minute shopping while Mommy and you, Nolan stayed home and had some one on one time.  We spent the afternoon relaxing and taking in the last few hours of the holiday season.  Mackenzie, you've made us so proud this year.  Gramma bought a little manager for you and "Brugger" and you love playing with it.  Daddy and I tried our very best to explain to you what the manager was, who was born there, and the purpose of the holiday season.  We often found you playing quietly in your room with said manager.  You know know that baby Jesus is in the bed, His Mommy is "Mawry", His Daddy is "Josuf", and the angel is Gabriel.  Once we all awoke from our afternoon naps, we got all dressed up and had a short visit with Nanny and Papa before heading off to church. 

Never in a million years, thought this blue eyed babe would be spending Christmas 2010 with us!  Nolan, you have lit up our world!

 Such a handsome, happy boy you are.

 And yes, you are sitting on your own.  You've been doing that for about a month now.

 Beauty, looking at her prized ornament she made at church.

 Mack, you are so proud of that little Christmas tree.

 You celebrated your 3rd Christmas this year, and look at you growing.  You are one beautiful little girl.

 Mack, you are ALWAYS trying to kiss that "Brugger" of yours.  I never imagined you loving him this much. 

 I love you.

 Such a lady, crossing your legs at your ankles when wearing a dress.  ;)  You're a doll.

 And the Cingular family!  Seriously, we look like we belong on one of their commercials!

Mack, I have to share a funny story with you.  Mommy's really big on having you and now Nolan, with us in church on the major holidays.  We had prepared you that you must be quiet and that you can't act up.  And when Mr. Jim says that we must pray, you must close your eyes and put your hands in our lap.  Well, my dear, you went above that.  There's a character on the show Super Why named Princess Pea.  As the family was lighting the Advent candles, they were reading about the Prince Of Peace.  Well, you shouted as loud as you could, "Oh, Mommy Princess Pea?"  I couldn't help but laugh.  Then, as instructed, you closed your eyes for prayer, however, you were NOT instructed to start snoring!  You started full on Honk Shoo-ing, eyes closed, with a big goofy grin on your face.  You're a funny, funny girl.  At one point during the service, we watched a short video about the birth of Jesus.  You knew exactly who He was and then started naming everyone as they appeared on the screen.  Needless to say, we had a funny and memorable Christmas Eve at church.

December 24, 2010

San-ta Claus Is Comin' To Town

 I think everyone in Cobb and Paulding County is quickly catching on that The Avenue has a FREE Santa every Wednesday night in December, but we love him.  After last year's attempt, there's no way I'm going to paying for a crying baby picture with Santa, especially at the prices those pictures go for.  Ridiculous.  We tried December 15th to go for our annual visit, but we had to turn around due to icing on the roads.  Mack, you were so cute and pitiful in the car.  All week, I was preparing you to see Santa.  Every time we asked you if you wanted to see him, you would say, "No Santa!"  As we were getting dressed and in the car, you kept saying, "I see Santa?" "I wike Santa."  When Daddy had to turn the car around, and because you knew were were heading home, you started sobbing, "I wike Santa, I weally, weally do!"  It was sad and funny.  We promised that we would try again the following Wednesday, our last time we could see him for the season, and thankfully it was a success!  There's never a very long line at Barnes and Noble, maybe a 10 minute wait.  As we rounded the corner and you saw Santa, you got so excited!  Your face just lit right up.  Daddy decided he would take one for the team and put you and Nolan on Santa's lap while I stood back and snapped a few pictures.  This is what we came up with.

No smiles, but no tears!  You really didn't want to look at Santa, and Nolan, you just wanted to grab the poor man's beard!

 Trying to hold those tears back, and you did!  So sweet.  And look at the book you're holding.  It's a book about a Gingerbread Man, but you for some crazy reason call it your "Cookie Jam" book.  I love it. 

 Last year, holding the same exact book.  And this wasn't planned. 

As we were leaving Santa, he gave you Mack, a candy cane, and that's all it took, Santa was your new best friend.  You decided you wanted to stay for a little while and cheer on all of the other children.  The kids behind us in line, started to get a tad upset, and right away you said, "Aw, don't cry, it's Santa!"  The rest of the night, you walked around telling everyone at The Avenue that you saw Santa, and didn't cry. 

December 15, 2010

Momma's a Graduate! Whoot Whoot!

After graduating high school over ten years ago, I knew I wanted to go to college, but had no idea where.  I took a year off, and tried to gather my thoughts and ideas...What did I really want to be when I grow up?, Would going to college really pay off?, How was I going to afford it? (Thank you, HOPE Scholarship!)  Well, 10 long years later, I did it and I'm pretty darn proud of myself.  I'm the first female on my mom's side to obtain a college degree and that speaks volumes.  My mom is the youngest of 6 children, all girls, so you do the math.  On December 14, 2010, on my nieces 13th birthday, I tearfully accepted my diploma.  Scott was getting over a nasty bout with the stomach bug, my step dad was flying in from out of the country, it was my nieces birthday, the ceremony started when M and N are supposed to be going to bed, and it was down right cold that night, however, I had a huge fan club, very well behaved children (the people sitting next to them kept complimenting my family), and a diploma to show for it. "Thank you" will simply never be enough for the gratitude I have for my family that cheered me on all of those long, crazy years.  So, here's to you.  Thank you from the very bottom of my heart.  I'm forever grateful for all of your support.

The very best parents any girl could ask for.  Thank you.

 Mike and Kari graduated from Kennesaw College.  My, how things have changed.

With the babysitters.  Thank you to Nanny and Papa for watching M and N all of those months.

 My heart, my soul, my every being.  It's because of these three right below that I kept chugging along. 

 Momma with her baby owls.  KSU's mascot is the Owl.  I found N's outfit on a whim at Wal-Mart during the summer, and M's was from Target.  Scott put his foot down in protest and was NOT going to where anything Owl related.

 And from my amazing husband, The Cricut.  It's a self cutting dye cut machine.  It's fabulous.  Watch out Martha! 

 So happy!

December 14, 2010