More fun photos

A few days ago, Maddie got a care package from Grandpa and Roberta. She had fun going through the clothes. Thanks guys!

With the weather finally warming up, we decided to get Maddie some bubbles. We had no idea she would enjoy them this much! Check out this video and these photos.....

Maddie found these things when we were cleaning out what will be Amelia's room. I got this coat for her before she was born...it is a 3-6 months from Children's Place and if the sleeves weren't so short, she would have worn it this winter. Someone mismarked this coat for sure!

Too much fun.....She isn't actually sleeping in the hallway. She was pretending because baby was tired.

Maddie posing for senior pictures.

Maddie decided to help Mommy grade some papers. She almost enjoyed trying to color on people's papers a bit too much.

Bathtime fun with Maddie

Since Maddie's hair isn't quite long enough to put up in a pony tail yet, Chuck had some fun styling her hair in the tub.

After her bath, she likes to wrap up in her towel and make the trek to her room. Thank goodness the bathroom is near by because sometimes she doesn't quite hold onto the towel!!

Our Big Kid

Ok, so it's the case right now that we don't post very often on here, but you have to understand that we're really busy now. Baby 2 is on the way in only 9 weeks, Madelyn is getting bigger (and faster), Jill is chasing the 5th and 6th graders, and I'm taking classes at IU (sorry, Boiler nation). That said - here's a post - mostly pictures of our beautiful girl.

Here's Maddie in her rainbow shirt, playing with Jill in the living room. Love that smile.

Maddie Lou in her favorite Dora PJ's. Love that Dora.

Playing outside in the nice weather last Sunday. Love that weather.

Check the video below - Jay Banning will like the music, it's his favorite song.

She's a Dancer!

Just some fun photos!

I figured I would put a few of the fun pictures we have gotten lately. As you can see, Maddie is a firecracker! We are looking forward to adding to the clan in May......by the way, we are thinking Amelia for her name!

Maddie eating breakfast with Daddy before we head to daycare.

Maddie thinks that anytime the fridge door is open, she needs to have a seat. Silly kid. This time she was having her apple there to keep it cold.

Cooking with Maddie.

This coat always akes us think of the famous phrase from A Christmas Story...."I can't put my arms down!"

And introducing the latest super hero, Captain Jimmy! Look for her comic books soon!

Boiler Up!

We decided to start Maddie off early and take her to her first Purdue weekend on campus January 19th. It is certainly time that she tries to match her daddy shirt for shirt that says Purdue on it. I don't know if Joe Tiller himself could beat that collection, however!

We spent Saturday afternoon at the Purdue vs. Illinois basketball game. Maddie started out great and really enjoyed all of the excitement, but around half time she had more interest in running around than staying in her seat. But, we tried it, she had fun and the Boilers won 74-67.
We headed back to the Union hotel on campus to check in and give Lou a nap. Actually, I think we all ended up napping for a bit. However, nothing could keep us from one of our favorite pizza haunts in West Lafayette: Bruno's! Maddie LOVES pizza, so we knew she would like this place.
After dinner we walked around the union. It is crazy how things can change in just 5 years. Wow, that makes us sound old, I suppose. For those that remember the Union, the food court area was completely redone and now includes several chain like restaurants including a cereal bar called Loops. Pappy's Sweet Shop was also redone and is a tremendous improvement our old days at Purdue!

On Sunday we had breakfast at Papa Shin's favorite restaurant: Christo's. We would go there when he would come down for a football game. Unfortunately we didn't get a snapshot before we left, but trust me dad, other than the decor, nothing has changed about that place!



It was a fun weekend. Below is a video of Maddie's favorite pastime on the trip. She found a "friend" to play with and got quite a kick out of it!

Christmas Day and after

Christmas morning we got up to find that Santa had come to see Maddie.




She really got into opening gifts at this point, which this video shows!




We spent Christmas day at Mammaw and Pappaw's.

This is way bigger than any of Maddie's sippy cups! It is actually for Chuck, but Maddie seems to like it.

Maddie really enjoyed the new bag Uncle Joe and Aunt Randi got her.





We left South Bend on the 26th (after a nice Barnaby's lunch with the family - a South Bend staple). We came home to get some painting and room moving. For those that hadn't heard, we are having another girl (with a due date of May 19th). We decided to move Maddie's room down the hall to a bigger bedroom and what was Maddie's room is now the office. The new baby will go in the middle bedroom, but we don't have any pics of that because we haven't quite decided on a color.

The office (directly across the hall from our room).

Maddie's room (the last room in the hall). It is a mauve color and looks so much more grown up. She did a great job of filling it with toys after Christmas and it is great for her to have enough space for everything!

Christmas - Part 1

We have been busy travelling this holiday season. We began in Grand Rapids the weekend before Christmas. Randi and her clan met up with us at Dad's for our celebration. The girls had fun being together and playing.

We then traveled to South Bend late in the afternoon on the 22nd. We spent Christmas eve with the Carnes family. The kids had a blast playing with all their new toys.

Maddie got a new shopping cart from Uncle Chris and Aunt Brandi. She likes to go "shopping" for things around the house. Her favorite blue light special to get are remote controls.

Maddie and Caitlyn "sharing".

While together, we celebrated Chuck's birthday. Maddie helped Daddy blow out his candles.

Thanksgiving Kids

We went up to South Bend for Thanksgiving with our families, and unfortunately we only have kid pictures to show for it. They're cute pictures, but please don't be upset if you were planning to see Jill and I's smiling faces. I know you're disappointed. Get over it.

Here's Madelyn and her cousin RJ at my Mom and Dad's house in Elkhart. They were getting ready to go outside and play.
Here's Maddie saying goodbye to cousin Caitlyn, Uncle Randy, and Aunt Meredithe.
Maddie and cousin Rachel, hamming it up at Mammaw's house.

Downtown Indy on Friday Night

Every year the city puts Christmas lights on the Indiana Soldiers and Sailors Memorial in the circle, creating the "World's Largest Christmas Tree". Every year we have to go check it out. The best part about that is that there is the happiest place in Indianapolis, on Market Street just outside the circle - Giorgio's Pizza.

Madelyn normally is a big fan of the sausage pizza, but tonight she was more interested in the cheese pizza. She enjoyed this piece. I love this place, but every time we go I have to laugh that our favorite New York style pizza is in Indianapolis, but in the Big Apple we went to a Sbarro. Go figure, right?

After the pizza we went over to the circle to check out the decorations. Maddie was excited to see all the horses with the carriages. I think my girls would like a carriage ride...
Jill and Madelyn playing at the monument.
At the South Bend Chocolate Company. South Bend Chocolate in Indianapolis. We toured their factory last winter up north. Yum. Maddie likes the whipped cream.

Halloween, Weddings, and Other Stuff

Back in September we were up in Granger visiting our peeps, and Maddie had the chance to ride in a real Cadillac with her cousin Kayla. It was hoodie weather. I like the look on their faces in this picture. Maddie is thinking "Help!", and Kayla is thinking "Did anyone see me back into Mom's truck?"

Alright, take it easy. She got in there on her own. This is no way reflects our parenting skills (or lack thereof). Chase is a social butterfly, he just was having company at his house. Now when we say "Get in your crate" we have to make sure the kid doesn't beat him to the punch.
Jill and Madelyn on Halloween, with our friend Lisa and her nephew Brayden (and Toby the Dog). It's a bit hard to tell, but Maddie was a ladybug. One lady actually thought she was Brayden's "little brother". Is there really a poor boy somewhere whose parents put him in a ladybug costume? I guess there are boy ladybugs, but c'mon... Two Saturdays ago we went up to South Bend for Brian and Sara's wedding. This picture is not from that one, because our camera died after 10 minutes, so it will have to live on in our memories :). Last weekend we went over to St. Louis (Troy, MO actually) for Jay and Kendra's wedding. I was a groomsman, so we took Friday off and stayed over there for the weekend. We had a good time, but I think Maddie had the most fun dancing it up on the floor. Don't ask about the pink vest and tie.