Happy 3rd Birthday, Madelynn!
We are so excited to wish you a very happy 3rdbirthday! We are so glad that you are part of our family. You have brought so much fun and love and happiness into our lives! It has been so exciting to watch you grow from a toddler to a little girl. Each week as we skype with your family, we have enjoyed listening to your sweet songs and see your imagination at work.
This past summer (June 2015) we were especially glad that you and your whole family were able to come visit us. Grandpa and I could hardly wait. We were busy buying special surprises and preparing for you to come spend several weeks with us. When you all safely arrived, the fun really began. Like every little girl in America, you loved the movie Frozen with Elsa and Anna. So you loved the Frozentreasure chest we gave you filled with Frozen dolls and toys. You also loved the Frozen sleeping bag we got you to sleep in and the Frozen dishes you ate on.
You got to go to Disneyland with Elijah, Mom, Dad, and Julie while Grandpa, Bryant, and I watched baby Nolan. You loved your first trip to Disneyland and we were so happy for you. You were one very cute little Minnie Mouse in the dress that your Mommy made for you!
After your family returned to Hughson, we
enjoyed playing outside and swimming in the pool or playing with the water table. You liked to dig in the dirt and help grandpa get wood for our campfires. Many nights while you were visiting, we had a little campfire and roasted marshmallows. You loved the marshmallows!
enjoyed playing outside and swimming in the pool or playing with the water table. You liked to dig in the dirt and help grandpa get wood for our campfires. Many nights while you were visiting, we had a little campfire and roasted marshmallows. You loved the marshmallows!
We had a very fun family home evening where we fished in the living room. On the back of each fish was a number and we either had to sing a song, or read a scripture, or you and Elijah passed out hugs and kisses. It was so much fun! During our second family home evening, we played a match game with pictures of all of our family members. At our last FHE we played games and fished again and then decorated Twinkies to look like minions. Such fun!
It wouldn’t be summer without trips to the beach and to Calaveras Big Trees.
After we spent a fun day at Manresa Beach, we stopped by Casa de Fruta for dinner. We got to ride a train and a Merry Go Round as well as play near a pond. You wanted to chase the peacocks a bit because they were so pretty.
On the way to the Big Trees we sang “Follow the Grandpa, he knows the way…” Aunt Becky was with us and after our picnic, we hiked through the Big Trees. You especially loved running in the mountains.
During your summer visit we celebrated 4th of July, Mimi’s birthday, and your Mommy’s birthday. And then it was time to say goodbye. We hate those goodbyes and wished that you lived closer to us!
But this year we had a BIG SURPRISE when your Mommy and Daddy said that they were bringing all of you back to California for Christmas! That was the best present ever. We loved celebrating Christmas Eve and Christmas Day as a family. We loved acting out the Christmas story with you playing the part of Mary, the mother of Jesus.Elijah played Joseph and you two were so cute.
Christmas morning Santa had left you a lot of hee-haws and it was so fun to see you name all of them. You had fun getting to know your second cousins, Hana, Fiore, and Blume Boatman who also came for Christmas this year.
One of the most favorite things we did with you while you were here visiting for Christmas was to take you out to the Stout Farm and let you meet their horses.
You and Elijah both got to ride Roscoe the horse for several trips. You were so excited to get to do that.
While you were visiting, Uncle Bryant gave you a lesson on how to shoot a BB gun. You even hit the target. Aunt Julie helped you and Elijah make a gingerbread house. You enjoyed all the attention from your family. We sure do love you so much, Maddie! You make our hearts so happy.
Another fun memory of your Christmas visit was to celebrate New Year’s Eve. We played games including Pie Face which you totally loved. You have such an adventurous spirit. That’s a good thing as long as you also use your good brain! Ha ha! Anyway, at the end of the evening we had sparkling apple cider and we were all toasting each other and saying, Happy New Year!
You didn’t quite get what we were saying, so you went around to everybody and wished them, “Happy No Hair!” We all had a great laugh because if you looked around at all the men in the family, you could see that they all had a bit of a problem with no hair!
Bright and early New Year’s Day you all flew home to TN. We miss you as always!
I hope you can tell just how loved you are, Miss Maddie! You have a very special place in our hearts!
Love, Mimi, Grandpa, and Uncle Bryant ~~ Feb. 2016
No comments:
Post a Comment