Madi's Moves

Ash Busts a Move

Go Ash! And no she did not get her moves from me or Daniel - she got them from her sister!

Tapping

Here is how the "tapping" board works!

Little Tappers

So randomly, Madi brought this piece of scrap board in from the woodshop one day and decided it would be her "tapping board." She keeps it under her bed and brings it out whenevershe feels like dancing and tapping. She puts on her favorite pair of red or brown sparkle "tap" shoes so she can make some good noise on the board. Her good friend Brennan spent the night with us last week while his little brother was having heart surgery (everything is going great so far they are just in recovery waiting and seeing a little progress each day)and Madi thought it would be fun to bring out the board. She let Brennan even wear her red "tap" shoes - which he eventually did proudly - sorry Marty!!

Little Woodchucks

Recently - well most of the time - our den turns into a "finishing" room for all of Daniel's wood projects. One day soon I am going to take a picture of ALL the things Daniel has made for our house (kitchen table, coffee table, storage window bench, trundle bed, bunk beds, all of our bedroom furniture, bathroom vanity - just to name a few things)so you can see how talented he is. Currently, he is building a vanity for some friends, fixing a kitchen chair that had just been bought and painted but flew out of the back of a friend's truck, and beginning to put together plans to build a dollhouse for the girls for their birthdays. He is already dreaming of laying tile flooring and real roof shingles for the dollhouse - it will be quite spectacular I am sure!

White Christmas

I cannot believe we have had 2 big snows already - well big for us!

Stair Sledding

So maybe this was not the brightest idea ever but we stopped right after I took the video before somebody killed themselves. The next night Aleyna and Madi and Josiah were playing this game where they run and slide on the hall floor with pillows and right after Uncle Dave said somebody was going to get hurt, Aleyna fell and knocked her front tooth out - fortunately it was a baby tooth and it was already loose. I sure am thankful we have not had any major injuries so far with the girls but I know they will some. Last night I dreamed that Madi was in the woodshop by herself cutting things on the tablesaw - good thing the door is deadbolted to the shop!

Aunt Susan's Craft

DAniel's sweet Aunt Susan came over one day just to do a craft with all the kids. They took gingerbread cookies and decorated them with lots of icing. They also ate lots of icing - the highlight of any edible craft!!

2 Clowns

Dress Up

The girls and their cousins played a LOT of dress up. I bet it took Grandma Bass 2 hours to hang everything back up in the dress up closet when we all left - sorry!!

Thank You

Just now got these pics on our computer so they are a little late. Daniel's youngest brother Jon recently came home from his second deployment to Afghanistan with the Marine Corps. We are thankful for all he and his men have done/do to serve our country.We are also thankful that he and Margot are moving back to the east coast soon and will be stationed in Quantico to do some kind of weapons training for marines(I think - sorry Jon if that is wrong).

Bunk Beds

So I still have tons of Christmas pictures to post but for now I wanted to highlight the most recent addition to our house - new bunk beds for the girls. Daniel finished them 2 nights ago and they look awesome. The girls got new bedding for Christmas and it fits great! Madi is loving the top bunk but we have yet to move Ash - you can see why from the pics. I think we will give her a little more time in her crib where she cannot get in and out!!

Post Family Pictures

So one day while we were all home together, Daniel's parents had scheduled a photographer to come and take family photos of everyone. It was actually pretty quick and painless and we were done in under an hour. But when we got home Daniel thought it would be a great idea to line up all the kids in the back of his truck - meanwhile the sun had set and it was freezing but he was insistent. Here's what we got. Check out the difference between the top row of older kids and the bottom row of kids 3 and under! We told the older ones to cry too in one of the pics becuase it was just too funny!

Cousins

We got to spend a full week with all of the girl's cousins. It was so fun becuase it was really the first time they have all gotten to play together. They played lots of dress up, ate lots of dessert, had sleepovers at night and managed to only break about one item a day at the Bass' house! Every day since we have left Ash asks where "Mike" and "Si" are - her way of saying Mikah and Josiah. We are so grateful the Lord allowed us such great time together!

Christmas from the Caseys'

My Uncle Pat and Aunt DeEtte always send the best gifts for the girls - mostly cause they are all from Pottery Barn kids. This year they were right on the money with a ballerina puzzle, ballerina music box and travel doll house. They are enjoying all of them! Thanks so much for thinking of us!!!

Big Christmas Doggy

The girls both continue to love dogs especially Ash. I am so glad every one in our family has a real one for them to play with when we are home.

Christmas at Gigi's House

We traveled over in our pajamas to make it feel like it was early on Christmas morning - actually we were just running late and had to hustle over from Daniel's house - but it makes for cute pictures I think! Madi opened up what was probably her favorite present - her princess umbrella - although I like to think she really liked the Tinkerbell roller skates Daniel and I got her.