12.30.11 - Maddie's 3rd birthday party

We celebrated Maddie's third birthday party tonight. We celebrated with a taco dinner, including black beans that Maddie has been saying for months she would eat on her birthday. Do you think she ate any? Of course not! After dinner we opened presents and ate a Strawberry Shortcake chocolate cake - that Angie made - with ice cream. The house was packed, we now own every conceivable Strawberry Shortcake toy that can possibly be made and Maddie went to bed a happy three-year-old.

12.24.11 - Maddie's 3rd birthday

Maddie turned 3 today!


We celebrated during breakfast - chocolate chip bagels from Panera.


So proud of herself for blowing out the candles.


The birthday bunny she got from Santa a few days ago joined us at the table.


Her birthday prizes included a couple of Strawberry Shortcake paper books.


Again, so proud!


Christmas Eve is Angie's mom's family's big Christmas celebration so we spent most of the afternoon and evening at Nan and Pop's house. We sang Happy Birthday to Maddie at the minute of her birth. She sang along, too, while cuddled close to Nan.

Happy Birthday, Maddie Girl!

01.02.11 - Woooo Hoooo! Maddie's 2!

Rubber Ducky you're the one, you make birthdays so much fun!


Someone thought they'd be funny and sneak some contraband into the party. I didn't think I had to worry about stuff like this until she was a teenager!


She liked 'em. Ugh.


Blue punch! (Because ducks swim on water, duh!) Maddie's got one clever Mommy!


Opening her first gift. Harley wants to know if there's anything to eat.


Nope, it's Maddie's first camera!


What's this one? "A BOX!" Well, yes. But look over there. There was actually something in the box, silly!


Get outta my way, tissue paper!


Grampy Keith and Nan and Pop watch as Nate tries to get in on the action.


Maddie lets Nate help open a gift.


Maddie sneaks a bite of icing before we can sing Happy Birthday to her. She ate the icing, ice cream and M&Ms but pretty much turned her nose up at the cake.


She had no problems blowing out her candle.


Her most special gift came from Nan and Pop. Nan's dad (that's Maddie Great Great Grandpa Scheer) made this baby bed for Nan when she was a little girl - nearly 75 years ago! And if you ask Maddie how many babies she has (between Christmas and her birthday) she just says, "more."

And in our house, ain't that the truth?!! Happy second birthday, Maddie Girl!

12.24.10 - Maddie's 2nd birthday

Maddie turned 2 on Christmas Eve. Despite the extra work involved, I kinda liked that there was a Christmas tree in the background of this photo. Given that Christmas is her Mommy's favorite holiday, I hope that Maddie grows up to like it as much, too, even if it coincides with her birthday. And if not? Well, sorry kid. It wasn't our fault! As for the bagels? That's been a family tradition for as long as Daddy can remember. We used to celebrate with doughnuts but they aren't as healthy and good eating habits form early, right? She was able to blow out both candles so we're excited for her birthday party next weekend.


We asked Maddie is she wanted rice or pizza for lunch. Both are her favorites. She emphatically said, "Pee-tuh!" so we went to Pizza Hut. She gets plenty of healthier items off the salad bar, too.


She was actin' all sorts of silly while Mommy was away in the restroom.


Hey, Maddie! Let me see that 'big smile' one more time!


That night, we gathered at Nan and Pop's for Christmas Eve. She shared a chair with her cousin Emerson ... for awhile. This is close to her birthday minute. I wish it were, though. You'll see why in a second.


One of her birthday gifts was this cool "I'm 2" t-shirt. Yes, she's definitely 2. You'll see why next.


This is the photo from the minute she turned exactly 2. What is she saying? "NO!" as we sing Happy Birthday. Yup, she's 2 alright.

12.21.10 - Cupcake Army

Maddie's birthday isn't until Friday but today was the day they celebrated at daycare and Angie, not to be outdone by any other mom anywhere, went all out and made cupcakes to send. Maddie will have a duck cake at her official birthday party so Angie played off that theme for the cupcakes creating what looked, to me, like a little army of rubber duckies swimming on a sea of blue icing and marshmallow bubbles.