The big 0-3!

Madison is finally my 3 year old however if you ask she will say she is 5. I love this little girl so much and it has been really fun to see her learn and develop her own personality. She is totally my social butterfly and isn't afraid of much. Recently at our ward christmas party (about 250 ppl) she stood up on the stage with the microphone and gave an impromptu performance of jingle bells, she loved all the attention and was upset when I wouldn't let her back up there to sing another song. She is very much into singing and dancing. She loves her primary songs with her favorites being I am a child of God and Jesus wants me for a sunbeam. I am surprised at how well she truly knows all the words to most of the songs she sings including Angels we have heard on high and Santa Baby...

She also has a very sweet side to her and is very aware of people around her and their feelings. At a family christmas party we gave a blessing to great grandma nona to help her feel better, at the conclusion Madison stood up, ran to her, jumped in her lap and gave her a big hug, she then said so clearly its ok grandma Jesus is going to make you better. I didn't realize that she understood what a blessing was until that moment. She also went to the "aunt marie" store with 8 dollars (all the grandkids get to visit the store during that family holiday parties where there are a lot of toys, books, etc. they can buy) her first 2 purchases were a dragon and hedgehog for her brother. She didn't even care that she had used half her money and that he had his own money she just knew that he would like them. I though at first that she really bought them for herself but to this day she hasn't asked for them back or really played with them unless he is playing with her. Grandpa Grandpa (my grandpa) came to visit and was distraught about a decision that he was making. We hadn't discussed anything of the decision or his feelings in front of madi the whole week. One night as we were leaving and it was coming to the end of his visit Madison went to him and said grandpa grandpa don't worry it will all be ok and she will say yes! then she was out the door as we all stood in disbelief as to what she had said. it was then that I knew (as im sure my mom and grandpa grandpa knew) that grandma Maryanne would be joining the family!

Madi is also really trying her best to be good and follow the rules! Whenever she has done something wrong or made a bad choice she is quick to tell me that I have turned into a mother and she will make good choices so her mama will come back! (This comes from the movie Tangled, she has associated mother gothem with a mad mother and the queen with a good mama)

We had a great birthday week for her with a circus party for all her friends and a fun family party with all her aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents. She felt so special with all her friends that came and by the fact that Aunt crystal, jenni, uncle scott, danny, and will all came to celebrate her birthday. (Really they came for christmas but don't tell her that!) She got a lot of great gifts but the dress up chest from grandma and papa haynie and the barbie house made by grandma angee and papa totally took the cake this year! She received a card that said "Happy birthday Madi, may all your wishes come true" After her party that night she said wow mom all my wishes did come true!

Happy Birthday Monkey We love you!



The Party Girls



All the party kiddos! We ended up with a lot of kids but it was fun and she felt so loved.



Madi was able to go to build-a-bear with some free coupons and get a fun birthday outfit for monkey. Clifford also stopped by with a new birthday book from mommy and daddy

The circus party decorations. Mommy and grandma angee made some lifesize circus paintings and hung balloons all around. All the kids got to play several carnival games and then visit the Madi store to get prizes with their tickets.



Madi and her friend Isabel. These 2 girls have so much fun together



My little singing diva

Clifford "hid" all of her presents on her birthday and she had to find them before he helped her open them

We all had the day off and the Texans were in town so I asked Madi what she would like to do. All she wanted was to go to the mall, and not to shop! She just wanted to play with the dinosaurs and get icecream and just walk around! (we used to go all the time when I was pregnant to escape the heat in the summer and for something to do in the winter and just walk the mall and play, I didn't realize how much she really enjoyed the mall!) She did get to spend some birthday money at build-a-bear so we got some shopping in to!

Aunt crystal was a good sport to put up with Daddy!

The birthday princess with her birthday monkey

Sneaking come cake before the party, Yummy she said!

Ok so this didn't turn out how I imagined but it was supposed to be a carousel but it didn't work, she liked it but I thought it was way to sweet, ohwell! better luck next year!

Party guests

She was very excited with her presents! This was a make your own color book from aunt crystal and uncle scott!

Grandma Angee made a beautiful scarf and hat and Grandma and papa haynie got this cool princess dress-up chest!

"Happy Brithday" Yes there are more than 3 candles, she really likes birthday candles what can I say!

Showing uncle chris her toys

Playing with the barbie house. She requested that it be put in her room because it was a very special toy and it needed a special place.

Sleeping beauty and Cinderella

(these pictures are a little out of order, I'm still trying to figure out blogger)

The Madison birthday express! Each kid got their picture taken and the pictures are her thank you cards (don't worry friends they are still coming I had some printing issues!)

The circus refreshments

family party fun



Grandma Angee made great clown faces for the kids

While we were singing Happy Brithday, Madison's friend Brandon came and blew out her candle, This was the potty face that we got and we then had to sing Happy birthday again!

Caleb at 10 months!

I am having such a hard time believing that this little guy is 10 months already! And really what more can I say other than he is the happiest, smiliest boy around! He is so much fun just to be around and can cheer you up even when he is crying. He is still not really crawling, but he is getting more interested in standing. I think we will just skip real crawling and go straight to walking. He loves to talk and sing and eat! We are currently OBESSED with banana nut cherrios and anything that he can feed himself. We have also learned to spit and give kisses... His love for music is apparent and it is so much fun to see his little personality develop.

Playin the "pinano" with sister

Happy birthday sister!

Smile

His favorite part of jumpstreet

all nice and warm at zoo lights

Playin with cousin Will

Hangin with the big kids

One of his many silly faces... I think he gets it from daddy

and our first encounter with balloons, he went crazy!

serious face...

teachin will to be a big brother

have you been naughty or nice?

Madison was very into santa and christmas this year! We first saw santa at chick fil a with Mrs. clause. She sat on his lap, told him what she wanted, and took a picture. She then later told me that he was just a "helper not the real santa" really this from an almost 3 year old you have to be kidding me! I then had to explain that yes he was a helper and that she still needed to be good because santa had "helpers everywhere watching" I then decided that we wouldn't take her to see santa again until first before christmas.

Then a house in our neighborhood had a great little video of santa in his workshop that took up their entire front window. Every time we past that house we had to stop and wave to santa (who at one time very conviently waved back at her) She was then convienced that santa's workshop was in our neighborhood.

Then one night right before christmas there was a knock at the door.
 "Madi can you see who's at the door."
"yes mom its 3 shepards and...and...santa?!?!?"
"santa?, well you better open the door"
she opens the door without letting him in
"mom you said you won't call santa I promised that I would try better to be good! in a high pitch whiney whisper" (not even an hour before this she had hit her brother with her new barbie car and laughed, I told her that if she wasn't nice I would have to call santa. I forgot that we were having a visitor that night...oops)
"well you better invite santa in don't you think?"

"ok santa you can come in"



They then both sat on santa's lap and she told santa that she promised to be good and asked for a lot of barbies. Santa gave them magic candy canes and left with a hearty 'hohoho'

Madi was in complete and total disbelief. She was so excited that santa came to her house! I was excited that we finally got her to believe that she had met the real santa. And true to my daughters form as they were leaving she asks..."mom where are santa's reindeer and sleigh?" you see santa drives a mini-van until christmas eve I had to explain...

**as a side note the shepards were the bishop and his counslors from our ward. His dad has always had santa visit the chilrden in their past wards and he wanted to start the tradition here. I think it was great and so much fun for our family!**

Gingerbread houses

We had Madi's friend Isabele over to make gingerbread houses. I think they ate more candy then ended up on the houses but it was still a lot of fun!

Even the little guys Mason and Caleb had a good time

The final product

picture a christmas...

Yes I know the holidays are over and these catch up posts are late but we are still worth documenting! We had a few great holiday weeks and I took time off blogging so that I could enjoy the family fun times and get some sleep! :)

The kids both got super cute christmas outfits from Grandma Haynie this year so I thought I would try my hand at getting some good pictures. Not to bad if I do say so myself.

 Madison is obsessed with the nativity this year. She has the entire story down and will tell ANY one who will listen. I love that she is able to get the true meaning of christmas along with the fun santa part.

playing the "pinano"