American Girl Doll Store

My mom knows how to make a girl feel special!  As soon as she found out that an American Girl Doll store was opening up down the road from her, she made big plans with Madeline.  Madeline has been looking forward to this visit to the American Girl Doll store for over a year.  On Madeline's Birthday, my mom told her that next time Madeline visited, she would take her out to lunch at the American Girl Doll store and let her pick something out from the store.  What a treat.  And if you know my momma, she goes all out.  Instead of just taking her to the cafe, she ordered the special birthday package that comes with a beautifully decorated cake AND let Madeline pick out a new American Girl Doll, a pet, and glasses for her doll.  Mom, you spoil us.  What a blessing you are.  Thank you for making Madeline feel like a princess for the day!

My beautiful girl in her birthday tiara.

For the occasion, Madeline brought Kanani and Kirsten, who also got matching tiaras.  Not only that, the waitress brought them special seats and beverages!!!

Amanda, Mom, and Madeline.

Me and my girl.

Here is the whole restaurant singing "Happy Birthday" to my precious princess.  She was so delighted by the entire experience. 

I actually started crying at this point.  I knew she felt so special and this was such a special experience.  It was just precious.

GG and Madeline.

Madeline with her girls. . .do you see their tea cups?

Auntie Julia and Madeline.  Kirsten was actually Auntie Julia's American Girl Doll when she was a child, and Auntie Julia gave the doll to Madeline (until she pops out a 6 year old girl :)).

Madeline was just in awe at the store.  It was overwhelming and fascinating, all at the same time.

Our pretty girl, ready for her American Girl Adventure.

Could not resist snapping this photo from the back.  Thanks for the idea, Mom!

Christmas Card Picture 2011

Love my beautiful and precious babies!

The Girls

Okay, maybe I'm biased, but do we not have the MOST BEAUTIFUL girls?????  The are beautiful inside and outside, and absolutely precious.

Love the faces that our sweet Lilly Grace makes!

Piano Recital

A couple hours after the Birthday Party ended, we were off to the Piano Recital.  Madeline gave a fabulous performance.  She had done such a great job practicing that her pieces were beautifully played.  Matt and I were so proud of her.  We were also proud of Ryan, who sat through the entire recital. . .not an easy feat for a 6 year old boy!

Gotta love the glitter shoes!

Madeline Turns 8!

It is hard to believe that our precious daughter turned 8 years old in November!  It happened too fast!!!  She is precious in every way.  As she gets older, she grows in grace and joy and love for others and the Lord.  It is amazing to watch.  This year has been remarkable.  She has learned to play the piano, took her first standardized test, became a big sister again, tried new sports, run a 3 mile race, made new friends, memorized countless Bible verses, opened her own email account, and on and on.  One of my greatest joys is watching her with her baby sister.  She is so tender and nurturing.  She is also an outstanding student.  Her reading is phenomenal and it takes little effort to explain new concepts to her.  She also has a stellar memory.  And this year she has become a bit sassy. . .in a good way.  Though she is still sensitive and kind and tender, she also has no problem expressing her thoughts and opinions.  And the little girl loves the stage, whether it's for a piano recital or SEEK family night.  She is growing into a remarkable young woman. 

In the beginning of December we got to celebrate Madeline's birthday with her friends.  It was such a special time.  The girls started out at the dining room table, decorating cakes.  Each girl got a chocolate cake, a vanilla cake, fondant, icing, and an assortment of decorations.  They had an AWESOME time and decorated the most beautiful cakes.

Since the girls decorated cakes to take home, we thought it would be fun to have S'mores for the birthday cake.  After decorating cakes, the girls headed to the patio to roast marshmallows and make S'mores.  Since a graham cracker is a little difficult to put a candle in, we put a candle in a jumbo marshmallow and sang our sweet girl, "Happy Birthday".

Having fun roasting marshmallows around the fire pit!

Madeline with her sweet girlfriends--Madeline, Callie, Jessica and Audrey.

Opening presents.

After presents were opened, the girls headed to the kitchen to paint ceramic figures.  I love watching girls do crafts.  They are so creative and encouraging to one another.  And they have so much fun.  

This is a picture from the sweet girls' actual birthday, which was Thanksgiving Day this year!  Poor girl!!!  We told her that we would celebrate her birthday on Thanksgiving Day and THE WHOLE NEXT DAY!

Opening presents on Mommy's and Daddy's bed.

Mini-doll Julie joined our house on Madeline's birthday.

SEEK Family Night 2011

Last Thursday, was our last day of SEEK until February.  The above picture is family night at SEEK.  Madeline and Ryan took a Spanish class, and went up on stage to sing a couple cute songs in Spanish.  They both did awesome.  Madeline was very confident, and Ryan seemed to hardly notice he was on stage.  Matt and I enjoyed watching him heartily pronunciating the words from stage. . .it was precious.

Madeline and Ryan also took a PE class this semester.  As an end cap, they performed the Farmer and the Dell for Family Night.  Madeline was a nurse, and Ryan a mouse.  Madeline was so confident on stage, really getting into her role.  You could sense that she was filled with joy and very nurturing as she went around patting the mouses' heads.

These pictures cannot begin to capture Ryan's amazing role play of a mouse.  He was PRECIOUS, and so funny.  Matt and I laughed so hard!!

The Kids

The girls, hanging on the coach together.  If Madeline gets close enough, Lilly Grace loves to pull off her glasses!

Our little chickadees.

Love capturing Lilly Grace's laugh!

Lilly Grace loves to suck on Ry Ry's nose. . .sort of gross, but definitely cute.