Christmas Eve

 We finally put our angel up on Christmas Eve!  Matt took the kids out shopping so I had about 15 min, to get them ready for Christmas Eve Service.  Yikes!!

 After church, the kids came home to a special surprise! This horse was given to the kids by our neighbor, who received it from their neighbor.  We are going to keep the tradition alive, but enjoy it for a couple of years first!

 Allie and Emmie are buddies!  These cousins love each other so much!

 Grammie's girlies!

 Charlie, looking dapper on his first Christmas!

 Claire entertained Emmie by crawling all around the house.

Emmie can't get enough of Charlie.  She LOVES him!  We had another wonderful Christmas Eve!

December Days

A fun, busy month!

 We had a great Chicago Weekend and loved Maggie Daley Park.

 Making cookies.  Dane just looks so thrilled!

 Santa Pics!  Poor Emmie!

Christmas Show at Redeemer.  They were adorable!

Maddie is 6!

Our dear little moo, peanut, moodles, Maddie, coconut (mom's nicknames) Madeline Grace Cesta Newton Mueller Petunia Sock Welke the 3rd (dad's name for you),

You have grown in SO many ways this past year.  You've transitioned from Preschool to Kindergarten beautifully and made so many friends along the way.  You love all of your teachers and your favorite days are when you have art and music. You weren't a large fan of gym at first, but now you like it.  You love learning and fill us in on your day, which we love.  Our greatest compliment we've received from your teachers and parents of other children is that you are so kind to everyone.  You are also super responsible.  We can count on you to relay messages, hand things in to the right person and keep track of books checked out on your library card without a hitch.  You've become such a good listener and helper and we are just so proud of you!  You are rather hyper and love to be super silly.  

Here are some of your favorite things:

Movie: Frozen and Big Hero 6

Food: Mac and cheese

Sport: B-ball and gymastics

Activity: Arts and Crafts

Song: In Summer (Frozen)

Color: Turquoise

Holiday: Valentine's Day - "Because you can tell people you love them so much!"

Subject: Reading with Mrs. Loring

Vacation: Mexico

Animal: Monkey

What you don't like:

"When Shiaso (our elf on the shelf) leaves."

We kept your birthday simple this year and it worked out well.  Since you love art and Frozen, you combined the two for your party.  It was just Dane, Allie and the girls in Maddie's class since the art studio had a small limit.  All of the girls were darling and got along so well.  Maddie had a wonderful time!

We had a family brunch on Maddie's big birthday day!  Then her and Claire were off to school all hyper from the cake and fun! :)

She is doing an impression of the video that I thought I taped.  She's a bit of a nut!

Maddie got her little monkey, M&M from Grammie and Papo.  She just LOVES her monkeys!

Stats:
Weight 42 lbs (34%)
Length 46 1/4" (70%)
BMI 13.8 (11%)

The first time Maddie had a robe- my big girl!!

Family Photo Session...a sneak peek!

I don't want to ruin the surprise of our Christmas card, but here are some faves!

November

My little sweetie!

 Build A Bear for Allie and Maddie's birthday.

 We hit up one last Purdue game,  The kids love tailgating and have fun on the hill!  The band does a post game show that the kids just love.

 The girls rocking out in the back of the van!

Emmie and Grandpa crawling up the hill!

 Thanksgiving in Kokomo as usual.  We had our 1st Annual Turkey Trot with turkeys along the path and all.  And Grandpa says he isn't creative...

 Thanksgiving supper is always delicious!  The kids had their own special table.

 Emmie had a good old time crawling all around!
We headed to the Indy Children's Museum with everyone.  There was so much to see and do.

 The cousins love spending time together,  Such sweeties!

We celebrated an early birthday with the family.  This girl is so lucky and loved!  She loved all of her gifts for ages 8 and up.  She loves to feel like a big girl!