Friday, December 31, 2010

Goodbye 2010!

These are just some cute pictures that had to be on the blog! Obviously, it is very hard for me to pick and choose which pictures to include, so they usually just all go on here! The week in between Christmas and New Years was so fun. Brian was off work, and we stayed home and played with the girls, rested, watched movies, went shopping...it was great to be together!
2010 was a great year! Hoping and praying that 2011 will be even better!
We were watching tv in the living room, and all of a sudden we heard the girls squealing and laughing really loud in Mackenzie's room. We went to see what was going on, and this is what we found! They both had their clothes off and they were just having so much fun playing together. Half of the time they fight over everything, and the other half they actually enjoy having a playmate! So funny that they both have on necklaces too. Madison adores her big sister and pretty much mimicks whatever she is doing.
Oh, she is growing up so fast! She wanted her hair fixed like Madison's with two little pigtails! When I tucked her in bed the other night, I told her that one day God would have a special boy for her to marry. She looked at me and her eyes got real big and she said, "But mommy, I don't have a married dress! We need to get me one!" Let's not rush things sweet girl! Then she said, "Well, I do have a white Tinkerbell dress." And I said, "That is perfect for now!" That far off day will come much sooner than we would like it to, I am sure. This outfit was from Pa & G-Ma for Christmas...ADORABLE!
We just thought this present was for Madison...Mack drives it all over the house! What is really cute is when Madison gets on behind her and rides. (Definitely exceeding the weight limit with both of them on there!) Madison is still a little afraid to ride it by herself, but she loves it when Mack drives her around.

We had a lot of fun together this week! Here is an example of what we did:

Madison is so good about taking naps and going to bed at night. I'm not sure how this happened, but I guess she decided to take her diaper off during her nap on this day! I think it must have happened before she fell asleep, because her sheets were wet, so I'm pretty sure she had an "accident" while she slept. Silly girl!
As soon as I walked in, she held it up to show me!
I have a feeling that potty training Madison is not going to be as easy as it was with Mackenzie. I think she may be a little more stubborn about it. She does like to do things her own way!
"Uh, am I in trouble?

Merry Christmas to All, and to All a Good Night

We finally made it home on Christmas Day at 10:45 pm. We came home to a freezing cold house after being gone for a week, so we cuddled up in front of the fireplace. It was the perfect way to end a wonderful Christmas!
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Baldwin Christmas

We got to Lake Eufaula a little before 4:00 on Christmas Day for round 2! Mackenzie was so excited to see her cousins, and sang songs almost all the way there! I love it that they have so much fun together. We opened presents, ate an Italian dinner, enjoyed each other's company, and just had a great time. Tom and Lyn get the award for the most special present this year...they put a bunch of videos from when the boys were little on DVD's for each of us. It was fun to watch a few of them while we ate dinner. Brian was definitely a little punk when he was little! It is easy to see where Madison gets her mischievious spirit!
We had a wonderful Baldwin Christmas!

These girls really love each other!
Poor Madi will have to be the tag-along! (Stephen and Tamara need to have a baby soon, so she'll have a little friend. Hint, hint!)
Sibling Pic's!
Kala, Jareck & Josiah
Cole, Collin & BaileyMadison really didn't want to cooperate at this moment!
I'll take the present in the very front, please!
Opening more presents!!!The girls got more toys, and lots of very cute clothes!Grandma Baldwin did good! Matching dolls for the girls, and she even made them some extra outfits! She always does special things like this for them.
This was the closest daddy came to getting a "boy toy"...pink TRIO building blocks! It was the first thing that he and Mackenzie played with once we got home.
Their Sing-a-ma-doodles were a big hit! Somehow they harmonize with each other. I have a feeling I am going to get very tired of listening to them before long!
Daddy was lookin' good in his new shirt!
More baby doll stuff for Madi!
She was very happy about her Belle doll!
Uncle Danny and Aunt Amy got Mackenzie a Fin-Fin Aquarium that she was really wanting. Little did we know that this fish swims around and burps and toots...ha,ha,ha! It is actually very funny and of course Mackenzie loves it and laughs every time! I think Madison got more excited about this outfit from Uncle Danny and Aunt Amy, than about any other present all day! She LOVED it because it was so soft! She just kept hugging it! After the kids opened their presents, they went and played while the adults opened gifts. Well, except for Madison. She didn't get too far from me the whole time! Here she was showing Uncle Jason one of her new toys.
Madi got a new pair of shoes from Grandma and Grandpa and wanted to put them on right away!
Who needs new toys when you've got an old box?!
"What makes you think I've been eating chocolate?"The classic "Cousins in the Kitchen" picture that I take at every family gathering. I can't help it...they look so cute sitting together like that! Madison is really cheesing for the camera.
And now Mackenzie is striking a pose!
And now Grandma Baldwin is so tired that she's got her eyes closed at the table. I think that's a sign that Christmas is over! It was sure fun while it lasted!

Just before we left, they started singing and dancing...a priceless video, for sure!

Christmas Day


I love my family so much! God has been so good to us. I have a wonderful husband who loves the Lord and treats me like a queen. I have two beautiful, healthy, "almost" perfect daughters. And we have the best family in the world to spend Christmas with!
After the girls opened their presents from us, we cleaned up and packed & loaded our stuff (yes, it took both of our vehicles to get everything home!) Uncle Jimmy & Aunt Sara, Tara and Levi, Chris, Carol, Dean & Alexis, Poppa Jim & Grandma Shaw, and Clint were all there for lunch. Instead of a traditional Christmas dinner, we do chili, stew, and baked potato soup. (And a lot of other yummy treats!) Everyone loves it and it is easy. In the past we have played Dirty Santa, but this year we decided to just enjoy being together. On a sad note, this was our first Christmas without G.G. It was strange for her not to be at the kitchen table visiting with Dean, or watching as the girls opened presents. She would have had sticks and cheese for them for sure!
We had a very Merry Christmas this year! As Clint used to say every year when we were growing up, "This was the best Christmas EVER!"
Peek-A-Boo! What a special photo of the girls on Christmas with their Great Grandma Shaw and their Great-Grandpa (Poppa Jim). I sure wish there were 4 grandparents sitting there instead of just 2.
Pop Shaw and Grandma Jean will always be remembered and missed.Mackenzie wore the Christmas dress that Pa & G-Ma bought for her.We had a lot of fun with Pa & G-Ma's singing Christmas toys. Especially Crazy-Eyed Santa! This outfit that Madison is wearing was one of Mackenzie's that Grandma Baldwin bought, I think. It was the perfect outfit for her!This is hilarious...Madison got a new stroller for Christmas, and already Mackenzie is making her push HER around in it! That's a big sister for you, I guess! Madison doesn't seem to mind!
Mack adores her G-Ma!Momma's Girls Christmas kisses! There is no present that would be better than this.
Daddy was trying to get Madison in trouble...he put something up in the tree and told her to get it. I am reminded where she gets her orneriness!
Whatever it was, she really wanted it bad! I don't think there will ever be a Christmas that I don't miss Grandma Jean. She would have DELIGHTED in Mackenzie at Madison!A special thanks to Chris Perry for picking out THE hardest gift of the year to put together! But hey, once we got the Zhu Zhu Pet Hair Salon put together, we loved it! (It might not have been so hard to put together if G-Ma had a little LESS help!)
Madison was buddies with Aunt Sara for the day! Jake wasn't with us on Christmas Day this year because he was in China on a Mission Trip. We missed him!
Mackenzie loves playing with Alexis! Alexis is so sweet to play with her, even though she is a lot older than Mack.
Three pretty girls! We were so glad that Chris, Carol, Alexis and Dean could be with us for Christmas this year. We are continuing to pray for Dean as she is battling lung cancer. We know and trust that God can work miracles!
I love my dad very much. I am so thankful for him! I think this is a sign that the girls were tired of taking pictures! I enjoy spending time with my mom so much. I hope someday my girls are my best friends, just like I am with my mom.
So, so funny! This is Madison's new funny face!

Right after this, we loaded up and headed to Lake Eufaula for Christmas with the Baldwin's. It was a wonderful, busy, fun, LONG day!