Friday, December 13, 2013

Getting Ready For Christmas

We have been making a few crafts these past few weeks.  

Stockings--I wanted matching stockings.  Tyler didn't want store bought stockings, so I ended up making some after tracing a stocking from Hobby Lobby.  I like how they match, yet are all different.  Tyler's was the practice piece and I had to unstitch the whole thing in order to get it right at one point.  While Madison's is the most different, she still has some matching fabric in hers.  It cost us about $5/stocking.  
(left Tyer, middle Lauren, right Madison)  


Once the stockings were done we moved on to a tree skirt.  There are lots of tree skirts on google, but not many that we really liked.  We ended up finding a brown skirt with ruffles that we wanted to mimic.  The biggest problem we encountered was how much fabric to buy.  We ended up guessing at 2 1/2 yards, which was the perfect guess.  (Originally we were thinking 4 1/2 yards)  Ours turned out a little more oval/rectangular because I accidentally cut the wrong part into 3 inch strips.  I'm glad for the mishap as I like it more oval than the original circular idea.



We have been working on these picture frames for a long time.  I love how we finally have them on our wall.


I tried taking Madison outside to play in the snow, but she wouldn't have it and we ended up coming back inside to eat.  Madison loves olives.  You can't leave the can around for her to see or else she starts to go crazy trying to reach them. 



She loves looking at the Christmas lights.



I can't keep my dishwasher open if I don't want Madison removing all the silverware.


I bought her a new Christmas book about snowmen.  She found the scarf and put it around her neck.





A recent discovery.


Time to meet Santa.  I had been waiting all day to take her picture with Santa.  I knew it would be the best baby/Santa picture as Madison is extremely social.  Before Santa arrived, she was walking around the cultural center chatting with ward members.
  

She must not like the beard.....I had to quickly remove her as she was making a scene with her cry.


In the rush to remove her Madison didn't her gift from Santa.  As Tyler would put it, here you see me stealing from Santa's bag while he is occupied with another child.  




Sunday, November 17, 2013

Random photos from Tyler's phone

Here are some random photos from Tyler's phone

This was one gusty morning


On Conference weekend we took a break between sessions to go for a walk.  Madison decided she wanted to push the stroller.  Nowadays, in the store, Madison likes to get out and push the carts in the store while we hold her.  She's not very good at steering yet but complains vehemently as soon as anyone else touches the shopping cart handle. 







Don't worry, this one is from the summer, when it was warm.


Madison's Birthday and 1st Snow Day

A little surprise was left for us in the bathtub.  Compliments from Madison.


This is the view outside of Madison's window.


Excited for a walk.



The jacket and hat were birthday gifts.  Thanks mom and Jeni.


This was a hay castle at a corn maze that Tyler and I went to.


We had a great time at the corn maze.


We decided to spring for the haunted hay ride.  This farmer would pause every minute or two to get out and tell us spooky stories by props that would jump out.  It was more fun than scary.  The ride was a little late and the farmer felt bad that we were going to have to wait and so in trying to help us find something to do to pass the time while we waited, he suggested that we go find a dark tunnel in the hay castle and make out.


This was a birthday shirt from Grammy.  Fits great! (18 mo. shirt)


I found this recipe online and it has been fantastic.  We both love it, it makes good sandwiches, and it uses 100% whole wheat.


Another cute outfit from grammy.  Getting ready to go to church.  Notice the purse in her hand.  She'll carry them around all day long if we leave them where she can get them.





It stayed unseasonably warm for a while.  Here we are taking advantage of the warmth.


First taste of a cupcake.  You can see the fireworks going off in her mouth by looking at the expression on her face.




Our gift to her for her first birthday.  From the dollar store and she loves them!



It was really fun when Richard and Camille and their children dropped by for a few hours to visit.


Birthday cake.





In the end, she never finished the cake.  She stopped eating it in favor of some pineapple that was nearby.


This was our first big snow day and Madison was enamored with the snow.