Aquarium

We visited the Downtown Aquarium in Denver with Grandma & Papa and boy did Addie love it! She wasn't afraid at all, she ran up to all the tanks and would sign "fish" and "more." She also liked the ducks, turtles, tigers & sting rays, which she even got to touch! She was so worn out she fell asleep while eating on the way home.

Addie's 2nd Christmas

This year we enjoyed Christmas with Brian's parents. Addie loved the extra attention and new eyes to show off for. She really loves to ham it up & talked up a storm for Grandma & "Papa."

Addie woke up to find a new stroller for her "baby." She proceeded to push her around the house at mach 10 speed!

Addie loved all her gifts and would slowly tear off the wrapping paper & whisper, "wow!" Our house is now filled with Winnie the Pooh toys-Addie takes Tigger to bed with her.




Here's a taste of Addie opening a gift:



The swish-faced pug, is Hailey-a dog we pug-sat for a couple days.

Mommy's little helper

Addie the Photographer

Addie loves to look at pictures on digital cameras (and iphones, thanks John) and today while i was showing her some pictures on our camera she figured out how to take pictures. i tried to get the camera back but she took off, here are the photos to prove it:








and it ended by the front door after i got help from Kass, you can see us plotting in this picture:

first taste of snow!

Technically Addie was born in the midst of the blizzards of 2007 and we did have snow last winter, but at first she was too young to be outside in the cold & later she still couldn't walk & we did just want to plop her in the snow...kinda seemed like torture. So now that we got out first snowfall of the year, Addie finally got to experience it! (this occurred a couple weeks ago)
She loves snowballs & stomping on them. And she says "snow," but it sounds more like "nose" :)




Her first snow angel...

Puzzle queen

I think I mentioned earlier that back in October, while in MN, we discovered Addie's love of puzzles. Well, I think they have now surpassed books as her absolute favorite thing to do. When I go in her room in the morning, I catch her on the floor doing puzzles. It's so neat to see her learn them & get better at them. (quickly too!)

Winnie the who?

Pooh! Pooh! That's what Addie demands as she points at the TV and graciously brings us the remote. This occurs every day after she gets home from daycare & right before dinner. She loves the show "My Friends Tigger & Pooh." On this particular day, she decided she must wear her Pooh bib and is showing us the Pooh on her pillow.

Polly wanna kiss?

Wild wild west

Check out all the tumble weeds that blew up into our yard after the strong winds earlier this week. Addie helped us throw them back over our fence so they could blow elsewhere...what else could we do?!

my heart cries

This is a reminder to us what a true gift from God our wonderful & healthy daughter is.

http://littlemissmollyann.blogspot.com/

and

http://brittonadoptionjourney.blogspot.com/

As one family looses their beloved daughter, another one gains a son who desperately needs a loving family. With the first story, I sobbed as my heart broke for this family. It's truly unimaginable. I also cry tears of joy for our dear friends, the Brittons, as they are in Ethiopia this very moment, probably staring at & soaking in their new son, Malachi.

Both experiences, though vastly different, are filled with too many emotions for words.

Halloween

We took Addie trick-or-treating with our neighbors & their son, Camden (he's the cute cowboy riding a horse). Brian got dressed up for his soccer game & played in the goal as the hulk.

Addie decided to wear a hat. notice Polly as a "hot-dog"

She got the point pretty quickly

the hulk!

my hulk & chicken

lastly, you have to check out our favorite friends' costumes!
Enjoy!

the Chases as Mario & Luigi, a pirate & a monkey

McKenna as an air freshener

MN Trip, part 2

The rest of the week we had a big birthday party for my Grandpa (his 87th!), took a family pic-hopefully will have that back soon, went to the Maple Maze (rec center), did some outlet mall shopping and visited lots of MN friends & family!

in the Maze

climbing up to the slide

Henri!

Henri & Addie fast sleep after all the fun at the Maze

Grandma Barb discovered Addie's love of puzzles

cousins Stella & Henri

Stella (and Aunt Virginia)

Addie watching Tigger & Pooh on the ipod


Jordan & Addie reading books

reading again...in costume

Off to the park with Alivia



Taking the shuttle to our car. Ready to be home!