My Heart Is Full - Thanksgiving 2009

This year we spent Thanksgiving at my parents with family and friends. We had a great day. Matt and I made homemade stuffed shells, homemade sauce with pork, pepperoni and meatballs, cranberry salsa, and chocolate pies. It all turned out great! Here are a few pictures from the day. Working in the kitchen on finishing touches.

By the time we got around to family pictures, Maddie wasn't having it. She was exhausted and should have been in bed long before this shot. It may look like she was being cute and having fun but do not be fooled!

Maddie and Eli playing on the table.

Matt and I.

Kami - Shanna

Kami - Jordan

My little monster and my nephew. This was about the point we all were reminded that she hadn't taken a nap all day.

My heart is full. I am so thankful to have Matt and Madalynne in my life, forever.

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving.

Miss Madalynne.

Almost 18 months old. Yikes.

Nature Park - November 22, 2009

Today Maddie and I decided that we'd go to the Nature Center while Matt was riding his bike. Its a cute little nature walk not to far from our house. We walked and saw the ducks, played in the leaves and went to see the horses. Maddie loves it there. As you'll notice, most of the pictures are of the back of her... She was walking away from me in almost everyone. I can't believe how big and independent my little girl is.

Showing me her tongue.

Playing in the leaves.

Walking towards the pond.

Walking on the trails.

Looking for the ducks.

Relaxing and watching the ducks - while quacking at them the whole time.

And a few random pictures....

The view from our balcony.

Maddie drinking eggnog and helping Daddy put up our Christmas tree. She loves eggnog!

Our little girl is getting so big. She copies almost every word that you say. She can repeat the whole alphabet and tonight learned the one letter she couldn't say before.. W. It's adorable when you hear her say it.. "DoubleYuuu" She absolutely LOVES all of the Christmas stuff that is out and about. She screams at every lit up house she sees and gets so excited when Matt turns on our tree and house lights. Tonight we set up her own tree in her room so that she could have her ornaments and cute little girly things on it. It's pretty cute. She loves seeing visiting my parents house and seeing all her aunts and uncles. She also loves talking to her Nonni and Zizi on the web cam. She'll wake up in the morning and walk right to the laptop and start calling out, "Nonni!!" She's getting too big, too fast. If I could pause her at the age she's at right now, I would!

Halloween 2009

.. Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy ..

Maddie had such a fun time this year for Halloween. She was Raggedy Ann and her cousin Eli was Raggedy Andy. They were adorable! We went to Trunk-Or-Treat with my parents and youngest siblings and then went around the neighborhood to trick-or-treat. A few nights before Halloween we went to my parents house to carve pumpkins. Madalynne decided that it would be a great idea to dig into the pumpkins and actually eat the guts. Yes, gross. She also had an amazing time throwing the seeds all over the place. It was too cute to stop her though. Maddie in front of our house with the pumpkins after a long night of trick-or-treating.

Maddie and Eli getting tired.

Eli, Grandma and Maddie.

Brendon and Starlee

Maddie grabbing candy from Grandpa.

Mario and Luigi

Playing at the park on Halloween day.

Maddie playing with her pumpkin. Her FAVORITE toy through October.