Matching Siblings

April 2008
Not just matching Jammies but their smiles almost match, too! ;-)
How often do you get your kids to sit still together long enough and actually smile for the camera?!?! This one's priceless!!!

Winter in WI...isn't it wonderful????

Our front yard and the HUGE snow pile

Christmas time

Pretty in Pink!

Well things have gotten back to "normal", if you can call it that! I feel like we're slowly getting caught up from everything life threw at us over the last 6 months. I applied for and received Maddie's social security number. It came in less than 2 weeks. I was impressed! I also applied for and received a court date to re-finalize her adoption, which completely irritates me that we have to do, since she's a US citizen in the eyes of the US government, but not in the eyes of Wisconsin...and if we want a WI birth certificate (and ultimately a US passport), we have this last big hoop (rubber stamping) to jump through. Why the US and state governments can't share information is beyond me!

Since Christmas, Maddie's been seriously ill 3 times. Pneumonia twice (once during Christmas, which wasn't pleasant!) and a virus that she's just getting over now. Other than that and the 2 feet of snow on the ground, life is pretty good.

Our First Christmas With Maddie!

December 15th at Grandma and Papa's.

I love my big brother!

Too tired to be away from Mom!

The first half of 2007 was pretty stressful, not knowing when we were going to be able to go to China. But Alex kept us busy and preoccupied! Once we got home with Madison, time has flown! We can't believe that it's been almost 4 months! She's walking everywhere, getting into everything, and babbling up a storm! Sometimes she even says things we can understand! Three big words she says are "Alex" (quite clearly, actually), "hi", and "no".

Alex is an awesome big brother! He loves Maddie soooo much! He had a great year in Kindergarten but 1st grade is hard on him. He misses being home, now that Madison's here, and they don't get to play as much in 1st grade. He's reading at at least a 3rd grade level. He read a chapter book to himself last week in the car on the way to Grandma and Papa's house! His math skills are really good, too!

Jeff and I are trying to keep up with things around the house. I have forgotten how little time one has when one has a baby! Plus, I went back to work at the YMCA in October. It's only 9 hours a week, but I'm having a hard time keeping up with all the things I need to get done at home. I seriously don't know how people who work full time and have kids in extra-curriculars do it!

Jeff still works a lot selling commercial real estate. He and a friend re-modeled the master bathroom this summer before we left on our trip.

We are, as ever, grateful for our friends, family, and our health! We hope everyone who see this has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Baptism

She was a super star at the church!

Halloween

Darth Alex and Maddie the Pooh
Practicing her Frankinstein walk

Fall In Wisconsin

I like the trampoline!
Are we supposed to be raking leaves?
Mashed Potato Hair

Maddie's almost walking now. She's been taking a few steps here and there but today she walked all the way down the hallway without stopping. It's a cute little Frankenstein walk!

Madison's 1st Birthday!

Today was Maddie's birthday! She is getting a cold and maybe some new teeth because she was very crabby all day. We went to our favorite Chinese restaurant and had some of her (and our) favorites, but she didn't enjoy herself much. Just wanted to be held. Poor thing!

Birthday Dinner

Cupcake's Gone!