Madeline is TEN!!

Happy birthday Madeline!  Madeline has a great birthday (as in the date itself is great!).  Since it's a holiday, Kevin always has the day off.  Since it's also during Christmas break, we have a lovely, relaxed schedule, and are able to spend the day playing together without interruptions. 

I asked Madeline what kind of cake she wanted for her birthday--her response was "I don't care as long as I can decorate it!"  Her friend, Paige, came and helped her create her work of art!

 New mattress should bring sweet dreams for the new year!  (She's been sleeping on my old one from the Collegiate Inn--yuck!)

 Heavy, heavy hang over, life over head . . .  she guessed it right!

 A new easel from Mom and Dad, plus paper and art supplies from Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Reese!

 We had frigid temperatures, but lovely trees on her birthday!  They stayed all frosty and pretty all day.

 She requested alfredo for her dinner--a girl after my own heart.  We toasted her good health (and a happy new year) with sparkling cider.  One bottle of sparkling cider doesn't go far when divided 7 times, so none of us became intoxicated.

 The sub-zero to below ten degree temperature range was perfect for trying out her new coat.  She said it was nice and toasty!

 I really, really love this girl.  She is becoming a great friend to me.  She's so responsible and grown up.  I just can't believe it.

She had this hat for her eighth birthday party--two years ago.  She still has it.  Obviously.  Have you ever kept a paper party hat so long?

We are so, so thankful to have this little dear in our family.  She's a wonderful help to me and such a great example to her younger sisters.  I don't even like to think about how fast the last ten years have gone and how much is going to change in her life in the next ten.  We'll just keep her at 10 for as long as possible.  (Which happens to be just one year, so we better enjoy it.)