So Madeleine is FOUR years old. She is loving school and gets smarter everyday it seems. She is learning to tolerate her little brother but still doesn’t like the idea of sharing most of the time. They do get along well most of the time. Madeleine had a costume birthday party, she of course was Rapenzel, Eli was rocking the Spider-man Aydan was Arielle from little Mermaid and Jake was little brother…very cute ! She loved her cupcake cake and Jake and Ryann had fun chasing each other around the house. One her actual “birthday” I picked her up from school, picked up Jake and went to have some fun at Friend’s Park just up the road from us. We grabbed some snacks from Wendy’s and had a little picnic before we played. Jake conquered the slide and the swings with noooo problem, or should I say no fear !

(few more pics on the Christmas 2011 page) So I do realize that I am a little behind keeping the posts current but I’m doing my best to keep up. Christmas was more fun for Jake this year and of course Madeleine loved it. They had fun, as you can see decorating the tree and in what is becoming the tradition the families come to our house for breakfast and the kids make out like bandits ! Madeleine got a keyboard from Grams & Gramps and enjoys making music, Jake got two sets of Tonka toys, a loader and dump truck, they are still one of the favorites.

For this year’s annual Christmas time outing with the family we went to the Strausburg RailRoad to take a magical ride on the Santa Express. Luckily we had great weather, a little chilly but that was no big deal.  It really was a fun time rumbling along on the rails.  The kids enjoyed it. Though when Santa came around they of course got a little shy and Jake didn’t really take to him at first but after a little coaxing Jake and the crew were giving the short list of their wishes for the big day. After our ride we wandered around the area for a bit watching the trains come and go and went to a huge train garden just down the street. We ended the day meeting up back in Bel Air for dinner, it was a great family day all around. Check out the riding the rails page for a few more photos.

So this year Jake was able to really enjoy the annual search for the Button family Christmas Tree. We trekked to our favorite spot, Enviromental Evergreens and the search was on. Jake wandered around with Madeleine for a little bit before deciding her would venture out on his own a bit. He didn’t have much luck but did find a few his size and figured out somewhat quickly that the needles on the trees hurt his little fingers. After a little while wandering through the fields, marking a couple that we all liked the decision was made. A slightly larger than normal Norway Spruce. Madeleine helped me tie the SOLD tag on and we were all set. When we got it home a few days later, Madeleine and I hauled it into the house and got it ready to decorate. She had a blast holding the front door open and guiding me through the house with the hand cart. I think next year Jake will be a little more involved.

A few weeks ago Madeleine had been talking about one of her classmates having her ears pierced. So on a Saturday afternoon Kathleen talked to her about it and asked if Madeleine would like to go get her ears pierced. Of course she said yes, not really knowing exactly what she was in for and we were off to the mall. We walked up to the stand and got the process underway. Madeleine picked out her purple stones and got into the chair. In what I thought was a brilliant idea the two young ladies got situated with the guns, counted down and…Madeleine barely flinched. Personally I was expecting some screaming but she handled it like a champ. She was very proud of herself and we were proud of her, even Jake. So on the way out of the mall Kathleen popped into Sport Clips to see about losing Jake’s poofy hair-do. They swept us off to the chair and before you knew it Jakezilla had gotten his first real haircut. He handled it very well too, no wiggling or squirming just sitting back enjoying the scenery.

Just thought this was a cute moment between brother and sister enjoying their playroom.

Halloween was fun this year, Madeleine was one of her favorite princesses, Cinderella and even went to a party at school. Jake was the gingerbread man, Madeleine’s costume from last year. He will not be Cinderella next year ! He had a blast wandering through the neighborhood looking at all the decorations and figured out the trick or treating thing right away. Madeleine had a good time at her school party. One of her classmates, ironically enough named Madeleine, was Cinderella too. She got over it pretty quick and had a good time trick or treating around the fire station where the party was held and hanging out with her friend Jake.

Madeleine had her first school field trip in October too. We went to a farm just around the corner from the school. The farmer picked us up at school with a tractor and we had a nice hayride to the farm for our tour and pumpkin picking. Madeleine saw some farm animals,she liked the goats, picked her pumpkin from the patch then enjoyed some homemade ice cream. To burn a few calories we  took a stroll through the corn maze then Madeleine and her friend Luca climbed on one of the big tractors and had a great time pretending they were driving through the fields. Everyone had a enjoyed the trip, even the parents.

I am a little behind on updating the site I do realize. My apologies to the few people who actually check it once in a awhile, a lot going on. We went to a fall festival in October, lots of games, horse rides, face painting, the usual stuff. Madeleine rode a horse again, by her self this time too and loved it. A man I had talked to in the line was nice enough to snap a few shots for me and send them along. Both kids enjoyed the games, Madeleine really like the chicken toss. As you can see she was a pretty good shot hitting me square in the lens. We all got a good laugh out of that. Jake really liked watching the horses as they took their laps but wasn’t to interested in getting to close. it was a good family day for everyone.

Look out Annie Liebovitz, Madeleine Button is well underway on her photography career. I had to shoot a field hockey last week and invited Madd to come along if she would like. Figured since I would like to introduce her to the sport anyway this would be good chance. Shortly after we arrived Madeleine asked if she could take some pictures. I agreed and got her set up with the camera, she had a hard time holding it up with the longer lens but she managed for a little bit and did pretty well. She knows how to zoom the lens and  how to look at the photos on the screen after she shoots them. I know adults who are scared to even touch my cameras…I love it.