Mad Gracie Photo Blog

 Madeleine has been looking at photos of her newest cousin Elle on-line with my mom for a little while now. A few Sundays ago Madeleine finally got to come face to face with Elle at her baptism party at my uncle Joe’s house. As you can see Maddie snuggled right up to her and the pair got along great.

(Check out Lil Shutterbug page for more)  For Christmas Grams & Gramps got Madeleine a Fisher Price little kid digital camera, it looks like one of the old  ViewMaster things. Madeleine still wants to use my camera when she sees it sitting out in the house but she will pick up her camera and snap a few shots around the house. The image quality isn’t the best but that really isn’t the idea. There’s even a little viewing screen on the back to view the pics. After Maddie was playing with it a few nights ago I downloaded the pics and picked a few of the better one’s to post.

 Madeleine loves to go for a ride on the four wheeler. She knows how to start it, rev it up and helps steer as we cruise around the yard. We decided to take a spin the other day after fitting Maddie’s new bike helmet. My mom came out and snapped a few shots of the munchkin and I and rolled through the mud puddle.

Madeleine loves driving stuff, so a few weeks ago we took her John Deere tractor outside to help move a little snow. We put a few shovels of snow in her wagon and she hauled it away. After a load or two she drove around the yard for bit, with a little help. She’s still working on the foot control to make the tractor go but she getting it.

(Check Christmas 2009 for a few more pics) Christmas 2009  is now just a memory. This year was fun, Maddie sort of got it. She didn’t want anything to do with Santa on this year’s mall visit but she did enjoy opening presents. We actually decorated our tree on Christmas Eve this year. We hope to wrap that up a little earlier next year but it was still fun getting Madeleine to help string the lights and hang ornaments.  I think for a few days after and maybe even a bit now she will still point to or pick something up and ask the adorable question ” Madeleine Grace’s ? ”  Maddie got some nice stuff this year, her John Deere tractor , complete with wagon, was a big hit. She loved her toy laptop too. She occasionally will sit with me and do her ” work ” while use my laptop.  It really does help make Christmas much more fun with Maddie around. I wouldn’t say I’m a grinch but my holiday spirit may not have been at peak capacity in the past few years.

 (take a peek at Tree Search 2009 for a few more pics) I know this one is a bit out of order but a downloading mishap had them hidden for a bit. In keeping with tradition this year we made the trek to see Santa Bob and his Reindogs at the tree farm for the Button family Christmas tree. After a little head start in the search by Kathleen and Madeleine, I arrived and with some debate we found the perfect tree. Which I can proudly say is now planted next to our previous years trees in the yard.

(check out Big Snow 2009 page for more pics) A few weekends ago we got hit with a lot of snow, about 20 inches or so. It was actually nice to just hang out with the munchkin and see her watch the snow fall. After I went out to clear, or should I say try to keep up with the snow piling up in the driveway. We bundled Maddie up and headed out. She had a blast just walking around and letting the snow pelt her in the face. Kathleen showed Madeleine how to make a snow angle which was funny. She didn’t want to lay in the snow at first but after she did it was hard to get her to stop. After a half hour or so we headed back in to warm up and continue to watch the snow fall.

For several years now Robert and I along with various others through the years have made the annual Turkey Day trek to Jacksonville Fla. to visit my close friend Mike and his family. This year was Maddie’s first official Turkey trek. Maddie, myself, Kathleen and of course uncle Robert set out very early Wednesday morning and made the 14 hour journey. Madeleine did great on the way down and back with no major incidents to report. While we were in Fla. Maddie had a blast running around with Andrew and Nicholas. They went to the zoo and even did some Christmas shopping. As usual we all had a great time and the trip was to short but I’m certainly looking forward to many more Turkey Treks to come. Maybe even an extended trip to see the mouse a few miles south of Jax one year, who knows !!