Christmas

Since I was so close to my due date (38 weeks) we celebrated Christmas at our house this year.  My family came up on Christmas Eve.  We went to Lord of Life for one of the afternoon services.  We really enjoyed the service and the kids did great!  We came back to our house, had dinner, opened presents and loved being together.

My parents stayed overnight so we hung out the morning of Christmas Day.  It was nice to be home and be able to relax.  I didn't feel very good the weekend before so I was happy 1) to be home 2) that our little sweetheart didn't decide to arrive on Christmas.

Our happy family of three.....soon to be four

The Beautiful Froehle Family

Madelyn & Auntie reading

Christmas Morning - playing with the cash register with Papa

Ryan's parents came on Thursday and stayed until Saturday so we were able to celebrate with them.  Madelyn stayed home from daycare on Friday and had the best time with Grandpa Kenny & Grandma Emily!

Getting ready to go biking

I love my new bike!
Helmet from Gpa & Gma, Rain Boots from Uncle Marc & Aunt Jody & Bike from Santa
They all go together, right?  Madelyn thinks so!

I just love this picture!  Pure happiness!

Always smiles and a great picture with Gpa Kenny & Gma Emily!

12 Bars of Christmas

One of my good high school friends coordinates a 12 Bars of Christmas every year.  It has never worked for me to attend but this year the event was on her birthday so I was glad we were able to make it.  Funny how the first year I attend I'm 9 months pregnant :)

Madelyn went to my parents for the weekend.  Ryan and I spent the weekend getting our little guy's room ready and just relaxing......and of course Madelyn had a blast at Nana & Papa's!  

On Saturday night we went out to eat at Zelo's.  It was fabulous!  It was the first time since I've been pregnant that I wish I could have had wine......but the food was delicious.  Then we met up with the crew for the 12 Bars of Christmas.  So fun to see Andrea and her brother Richard.  Richard flew in from Florida.  We are good family friends but we don't see them as much anymore with all our different schedules.  I also got to see & catch up with some other high school friends.  We only went to one bar and then headed home but it was still a really fun night!

A couple pictures from Madelyn's fun weekend in Owatonna.....

Talking on the phone is always so fun

So tall on the step stool
This is Madelyn's favorite fleece/jacket - she insists on wearing it everywhere!

Hospital Tour = Fun Night for Madelyn

Ryan & I toured the Maple Grove Hospital on Tuesday night.  I delivered at Methodist with Madelyn but now we have the option of the Maple Grove Hospital which is awesome.  It's much more convenient for us and will be nice so Madelyn can come visit for a little bit but not have to stay for a long time.

Madelyn hung out with Auntie Shari & Max.  Shari is one of my very good friends.  She & Max adore Madelyn and Madelyn adores them!  They had a great time together! 

Giggling......

Smiling......

Trying to put a pony tail in Max's hair (he's such a great sport!) 

Peanut butter cookie cups for a bedtime snack!

Christmas Lights

On Sunday night we went with some of Madelyn's friends from daycare to look at Christmas lights.  They have a friend who goes all out on the lights and makes it kid friendly as well.  It was unbelievable!  It was such a fun night - watching the girls play together, looking at the lights, seeing Santa for the first time (Madelyn might disagree that was "fun") and then we finished off the night going out to eat.  These are Madelyn's best friends from daycare and we love that we have gotten to be good friends with their parents as well.

Madelyn with her friends - they are referred to as "the triplets" at daycare

Poor Madelyn

All lit up!  This picture doesn't really capture all the lights and decorations.

Giving hugs good-bye

Go Bears!

Ryan has been teaching Madelyn the Bears fight song and yesterday whenever Ryan would say "Go Bears", Madelyn would say it too!  Here's a video of it (still trying to figure out how to post the video).  Of course we missed the best ones but it's still cute to listen to.

Thanksgiving 2012

We were on the road again for Thanksgiving this year.  We headed down to Iowa around 1:00 on Wednesday hoping Madelyn would nap since that is her typical nap time but she had other plans.  She only napped for about 45 minutes.  Considering she had a busy morning at daycare and didn't nap much she did well.

We had a great time at the Bormann's!  We got to meet Heather, Eric's girlfriend, for the first time.  She is such a sweetheart!  We have communicated via FaceBook and feel like we have known each other but this was the first time we have actually met.  She brought presents for Madelyn, which she loved!  So thoughtful - thank you Heather!  

Emily always hosts Thanksgiving with her family so it was fun to see everyone.  Madelyn was the youngest but that doesn't phase her as she always tries to keep up with the big kids.  Thursday night we celebrated birthdays with just the Bormann Family.  Kenny's birthday is 12/2, Heather's is 11/25 and mine is 11/4.

We took off for Owatonna on Friday morning.  We all got there early afternoon and it was fun to hang out.  The kids ran all over the place......Madelyn was laughing the whole time!  She loves her cousins!

Saturday we went to see my grandparents, Arnie & Marlys.  They gave the kids their Christmas presents which was fun.  Christmas gets overwhelming for the kids so it was nice to space it out a little bit.  Then in the afternoon we celebrated with my dad's twin brother's family and my other grandparents, Ray & Darlene.  It was a great afternoon!

We weren't sure what we were going to do about Madelyn's sleeping arrangements.  She has never been great at sleeping in the pack & play and now she is getting to be too big for it.  We ended up bringing her crib mattress along and put it in the corner and then used her toddler rail.  I think she really liked it!  She did great except for in Owatonna when she tried to climb over the toddler rail and fell to the floor.  It was only a few inches but I think it scared her more than anything.  I wasn't sure how it was going to go when we go back home but she adjusted great to being back in her crib!  We're not ready to have a toddler on the loose at nap/bedtime!

Our happy traveler on the way to Iowa

Grandpa & Madelyn looking at the cows

Grandpa, Grandma & Madelyn

So fun playing in the kitchen

Laughing with Uncle Marc

The cousins

Nana & Papa with the grandkids - hard to get a good picture these days!

Bishop & Madelyn love playing together!

Visiting Great Gpa Arnie & Great Gma Marlys

Meatloaf

Madelyn had meatloaf for the first time last night.......and she LOVED it!  She couldn't eat it fast enough and Ryan had to give up some of his!  I'm not a meatloaf fan but I'm glad she likes it :)  I think Ryan is going to get what he wanted.......another Bormann in this house that likes meat!  I like some meat but it's not my favorite.  Madelyn tends to eat only the meat and not the bread/carbs.  Wish I was more like that!

Birthday Celebration

I had a great birthday this year!  We went to Famous Daves on Saturday night - Ryan, Madelyn & me - and it was awesome!  Madelyn did great.  Going out to eat is a little trickier these days as Madelyn isn't interested in sitting very long in a high chair, esp after she is done eating.  We ended up having to wait for her to finish eating before we could go.

On Sunday, my actual birthday, we celebrated with my family at my sister's house.  It was a great day!  So fun to be together!  Nora started walking behind a walker and Bishop & Madelyn had a blast, as always!  My sister is always so generous - she hosts so many of our family get togethers and does such an awesome job.  I know she enjoys it but I also know how much work it is to get ready and then to clean up afterwards.  Thanks Carla!!!!  You made my birthday extra special :)

I love my daddy!

Out to eat at Famous Daves

Bishop & Madelyn had so much fun making noise on the oven door.
It's the simple things in life!

Nana & Papa with the grandkids

Our family

Sisters!!  Love you Carla!

My sweet niece, Nora!  She's growing up so fast!

Halloween

Madelyn was a ladybug for Halloween this year.  She wasn't a fan (at all!) of the costume.  Thankfully when she got to daycare she saw other kids with costumes on so she liked it a little better.

Madelyn's daycare had a Halloween party on Wednesday.  Parents were invited - it was so much fun!  Both Ryan & I were able to go which made it even more special for all of us.  They had different stations, including decorating your own Halloween cookie!  Most of the kids just ate the frosting - yummy!  Being at the daycare gives you a whole new appreciation for the teachers and staff!  They truly have a passion for kids!!!  We love this daycare and are so excited that Madelyn likes it too.

Madelyn excited to share her bracelets with her friends

Madelyn playing pin the nose on the pumpkin

Madelyn with her best friend Teagan
Every day when we pull into daycare she starts saying "Teagee"

All the girls - Erin, Evie, me, Teagan and Madelyn

Looking in the mirror after they got their face painted
These girls could be triplets!
There is a lot of resemblance (esp when they don't have their costumes on)

After work, Shari stopped over to give Madelyn her Halloween treat.  Madelyn was exhausted from the day so she wasn't really up for playing.  She sat on daddy's lap and almost fell asleep.  I guess that's what a fun, busy, sugar filled day will do to an 18 month old!

She did wake up enough to go trick-or-treating at the neighbor's houses.  We went to 3 houses.  Madelyn did well.  She walked, carrying her pumpkin, to the 1st neighbors house and then Ryan carried her to the rest of the houses.  I wasn't sure how bedtime would go but she was so tired that she zonked out right away.  A fun day but this mommy is glad that everyday isn't Halloween! :)

And we're off!

Our big girl walking up to her first house - she has no idea what is going on!

The neighbor kids minus Katie as she was sick

We're home and Madelyn's enjoying a rice krispie bar

Madelyn and Daddy - this is the only picture we got all day with Daddy in it!