Birthday Girl

Maddie showing her silly self...

 Maddie wanted a cheerleader party this year.  She was a very fortunate girl to have so many great family and friends to celebrate with her.

 On her actual birthday, we headed to Water Tower Place and checked out American Girl Place.  Maddie was able to pick something out (we did set a price limit, so much was off the table).  She thought long and hard about what she wanted.  She ended up deciding on, Licorice, a little black and white cat.

 The kids hanging on Woody outside AGP and by the Lego store.

 Dane got Maddie a gingerbread house and she LOVED it.  I think this just may be Dane's annual birthday gift to his sister!  She was eating the candy like crazy and since it was her Birthday, I let her go with it!

Maddie was such a big girl at her appointment.

Weight - 34.4 lbs.(50%)  Not that it really matters, but I thought she was 33 lbs.so I was surprised when I saw 34.4 on the chart.

Length - 40" (3' 5") (50%).

Our doctor was shocked that Maddie was 50% for height - she thought she looked much taller!  Sometimes I think those % charts don't seem right!   She is perfect whatever she is! :)

Madeline is 4!

Oh....where do I start with this little one?!?!  She is a mini Matt.  She is persistent and she knows what she wants.  Maddie notices all of the little details (so Matt and so NOT me) and is a very inquisitive little girl.  She also can't keep her hands off of things and breaks and spills things often.  She is our little spunky monkey, as we like to call her. She loves helping in any way that she can, whether it be with Christmas decorations, cooking, cleaning (well not that so much - ha!), or anything that involves Dane.  She is such a good big sister and she always looks out for Dane.  She is always calling him "sweet heart" or "sweetie pie" and when he cries, she is always right there to cheer him up.  She loves to dance, loves music, loves to read and go to the library, loves playing dolls and Barbies, loves getting her nails painted, loves her friends and cousins, loves dresses and dressing up, loves making crafts and is always asking for us to tell her a story.  She is going to school 3 days a week and is loving it.  She is so friendly with all of the other kids and makes sure to say bye to all of them.  Once in the car, she often asks to roll down her window so she can yell "bye" to her friends once again.  She no longer has a shy side and is quick to strike up a conversation with anyone who will listen to her.  She wakes up around 6:30 (no matter what time she goes to bed) and jumps into our bed.  Most mornings it is cuddle time with daddy and that is his special time with the kids.  (Dane is sometimes the first one up and Maddie joins him or vice versa.)  She is getting more mature and more in control of her emotions and we are enjoying this age so much.  She is our little buddy and so much fun.  Matt and I couldn't feel more blessed to have her as our daughter.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY MADDIE GIRL!

Baseball

Dane LOVES sports!  He can find a ball in any pile of toys!  He grabbed this baseball bat and beach ball and couldn't get enough! It seems like we will have a lefty...but some say it is still too early to tell for sure.

Princess Night

We had a fun little get together for a princess party.  We put up lights and did a little bit of decorating, as Maddie was very into it!  We watched disney princess songs and the kids danced.  It was very sweet!

Halloween Videos

We had some fun after all of the trick or treating.  We even had someone make a special appearance!

Halloween Hoopla!

 Maddie loved carving pumpkins this year.  She helped clean them out and thought the guts were funny.  Dane was into it for about a min. and then ran off and played with his toys.

 We had pumpkin pancakes Halloween morning.

 The kiddos going out to trick or treat.  We had fun this year on our new block!

 The cousins LOVED trick or treating this year!  It was a little chilly, but a beautiful day!

 Maddie with her jack.  She wanted a bow on it - 100% her idea.  She is such a girl. :)

The kiddos posing in their Halloween costumes.  Dane did wear jeans (not camo's) on Halloween, but truth be told, we took these pictures the day after!

 Could this Woody be any cuter?!?  He didn't want to wear it to the trick or treat festival at my school, but he was into it on Halloween and the next few days after.

Thanks to Claire for letting Maddie borrow your Ariel costume!

Halloween Songs

Maddie sang these songs at preschool and taught them to her brother.  He copies everything his big sister does!

10 Years!!!

These past 10 years have been the best 10 years of my life.  We had a very nice anniversary and I feel so blessed each and every day.  My mom and dad ordered us the same cake we had on our wedding day.  Matt really wanted to make up for not smashing it on my face at our wedding.  While all of that was going on, Maddie "sampled" some of the cake while nobody was watching her.

B-day Boy!

A message from Maddie...

We had so much fun celebrating Dane's 2nd B-day.  Maddie was very excited for Dane as well.  Matt took the day off of work to spend the day with the kiddos.  They went to the library (which they love) in the morning and then out to lunch.  We then headed to LEGO Land in the afternoon and then had a quick and easy dinner at Corner Bakery.  We headed to Purdue the next day to continue the celebration.  He had a joint b-day party with Allie and his auntie did a great job planning it.

Dane is 2!

Oh my sweet little boy is 2.  It seems like it has flown by, yet I feel like he has been in our family for much longer than 2 years!  He is such a good boy and he melts our heart every single day.  He adores his sister and does everything she does.  He is a very easy going little guy who loves to laugh, snuggle, run, play/watch sports - especially basketball, sing, be read to, play, ride his scooter and climb.  He is  a very loyal little Purdue fan who sings "Hail Purdue" all of the time.  He is very into sports.  He has been able to identify all the different types of balls for a few months now.  He can count to 20 (not always perfectly!), knows his colors and wants to do everything on his own.  In the words of Dane, "I do it!"  His favorite show is Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  He is still a pretty good eater, but has a bit of a sweet tooth!  He is on the small side and he fits best in 18 month old clothes.  He has very clear speech and can communicate all of his wants and needs quite easily.  He has been sleeping in a big boy bed for about two weeks now and is doing quite well.  He does need to be returned to bed quite often lately, but after a couple of times, he gives up and goes to sleep.  He still likes to study people and try to figure things out.  He has been a joy these past two years and we love him so very much.  Dane Brian Welke is such a blessing and a special little boy!!!

Maddie is very into doing hair these days.  She does my hair in a very similar way that she did Claire's hair.  She is such a little girlie girl!

Princess Maddie

Maddie was signed up to be in the Homecoming assembly again this year.  Last year she was nervous, but she did it.  I feel like she isn't as shy as she used to be and is quite familiar with my school, so I thought she would do it with no problem.  Well, it is Maddie afterall.  Looking at her in the pictures, you can see just how nervous and uncomfortable she was.  She had a lot of people there to watch her.  Oh well...better luck next year!

AFTER... a much more relaxed girl.

Maddie and Matthew

We Love Mimi

We were lucky to have a special guest come and visit!  The kids adore her and we do too.  She read them books before bed.

ARLINGTON PARK

We had a blast at the race track with our visitors from Denmark.  The kids loved making bets.  They would cheer on the horses and got super into it.  Maddie still talks about all the horses she bet on.  According to her, their names are: Pink Lemonade, Muppet Man, Michelina, Buttercup's Baby, Richie's Girl.  Then she adds, "Dane's horse is Scissor Tail." 

Dane on the train. 

Maddie's First Day at Grace Preschool

Maddie was very excited for school to start.  She picked out her outfit and had her bag packed for weeks.  She has been doing great and she loves school.  She is also asking when she can go back to Little Vikes.