Items in Summary....

Because these items are worth being noted..cause they are fun times and one day will be looked back on with smiles!  They are really in no particular order...but were fun events of the fall season 2011. 

 - In our conversations as a family we have been building up church on Sunday...so our little Madeline can get through the service and sort of absorb as much as she can.  Well in the conversation we brought up praying and folding our hands...to which she loves doing...in fact we have a nightly routine that is starting...she knows the whole prayer..."Now I lay me down to sleep" and says it every night before running into her room for a "FAMILY HUG!!!" which she screams with a smile.  She is also learning the prayer before eating, "Come Lord Jesus..." sometimes she mixes and matches and pieces the prayers together at different times..but we can handle that:)
 - Fall is always exciting because it is the beginning of Packer season!  And we had the opportunity to get together with the Coopers at their hours and ours for a few games.  Ella and Maddie get along great and play off of each other.  It is really fun to see how their personalities interact.  It is always a joy to see them having so much fun...and a joy to see the Packers win!
 - I would be amiss without mentioning Madeline's first "participatory" Halloween.  Melissa and I were both home and were building the event up with Maddie for a few weeks prior.  She even had her own Elmo costume that she wore excitedly.  It was interesting to watch as the trick or treat commenced, at first she was confused and nervous about all the people coming to the door, but surprisingly was not too scared of some of the costumes.  In fact she did a fair share of handing out the candy!  Then Jon couldn't resist and took her on her maiden trek around the neighborhood to about five houses.  She walked like a champ up to the homes...said thank you and waltzed down the driveway.  After about the fifth house..it was time to be carried...I think next year we will take the wagon:) And then the kicker...after she got home...of course we had to try the candy..and Maddie had her FIRST PEANUT BUTTER CUP!  Followed by a second...the joy and "more" comments coming from her mouth were priceless:)  It was a trick or treat to remember.  Melissa and I are truly thankful for our little Elmo!
 - Other events for the fall included a new found love...and I mean LOVE of the swing and slide at the park.  Both Melissa and I make multiple trips over to each park, the school across the street as well as the "crocodile park" down the road.  Both are like our second homes. 
 - Maddie was able to visit Grandpa at Anderson Labs for the first time in the fall.  She got the grand tour and met everyone with a smile.  She especially liked the harvest decorations in the entryway, the one that sang continuously...thank goodness it stayed at Anderson...:)
 - Other fall activities included multiple trips to the Children's Museum in Madison, and story time at the Library which is becoming a new favorite.  Madeline has changed from a passive participant to a semi-active participant...even after surveying the crowd for a little while she can't stop herself from getting up, stamping her feet and twirling with the rest of the group with a big smile!
 - Our family was fortunate as we always welcome visitors from near and far to visit.  In addition to the visits by Oma, Opa, Grandpa and Grandma, we were very blessed to see Melissa's Tanta Maria who was in town visiting from Germany.  She is a wonderful lady full of spark, emotion and happiness.  We had a great visit, she met Maddie for the first time, they hit it off and played together and it was a great time.  We all felt right at home even though half the time Jon had no idea what the conversation was about...but the family filled him in:)  Great visits also included burgers with Emily and a visit with Great Grandpa Boche and aunt Denise in Milwaukee.  Maddie had a blast playing with the model house on the floor!

Well, that about sums it up..for the time being...but stay tuned for more to come!!!!