Christmas

Here are some pictures from our Christmas. The videos will have to wait as they are too large.

Getting ready for Christmas Eve service.

Christmas Morning

Rocking horse from Grandma & Grandpa Helman

Maddie is trying on Grandpa's new hat.

What A Difference A Year Makes

Christmas 2007

Christmas 2008

I WON'T Be Home For Christmas

Not this year at least. This is the first Christmas when I won't be traving home to Michigan for Christmas. And I have to admit that it feels a little strange and not quite like Christmas. But that's part of the deal when I said "I Do". Now I have the opportunity to begin new traditions in my new "home". I have carried a few traditions into my new home. One of which is our daily Advent devotions. It even came with the massive make-up sessions.

Holiday Express

Yesterday, we took Madison down to Union Station , along with Bryan's parents, to see Santa Clause and the Holiday Express train. She seemed to like the train as well as all the model trains. She did not, however, care too much for Santa Clause. When we were about to take a family picture, my father-in-law dropped my camera and the display screen broke. I was able to retrieve all the pictures I had taken earlier in the day. He felt so bad, that he aided in the purchase of a new one. My new camera, of course, has a microphone so I can take videos with sound. It also has a lot of manual settings so I can learn to take better pictures. I haven't learned all the features yet, but I can at least take pictures in "Dummy Mode". Here are a few pictures from the day (with my old camera).

Oh, The Weather Outside Is Frightful

And oh so crazy. Yesterday, we hit the highest high (61) and the lowest low (8) for the month of December, all in one day!

In other weekly news...

Thursday was MOPS. I baked 3 dozen cookies for a cookie exchange. I also discovered that I am allergic to cinnamon - but only when I rub a lot of it on my skin.

Friday was our office Christmas Party. It was a holiday themed Murder Mystery party. It was quite entertaining.

Saturday, we braved the madness to do some Christmas shopping. Next year, I'm purchasing everything online. A funny little story invovling Madison: She wanted me to read her Bible to her. We were reading the story of Noah. Everytime I said, "Noah," she touched her nose.

Sunday, we took our family Christmas photo at Bryan's parents' house. I'm not posting the picture because you'll see it in our card.

Away In The Manger

This is yet again one of those times when I wish my camera recorded sound. While Madison is doing something cute as usual, you miss the fact that she is dancing to "Away in the Manger" that is being played from her Nativity set.

Here are some more pictures. One of Madison stuffing as many people in the stable as possible. The other of Bryan putting up our Christmas lights.

Pictures

I know I haven't blogged in a while. And SOME people are anxious for more pictures of Maddie. So here are just a few random pics from the last few weeks: