Disneyland Trip on December 26

The day after Christmas the Pfeifer clan went to Disneyland. It was very cold. It had been raining all week, but it did not rain that day. It was sunny and crisp and probably in th 50's during the day. I have to say I feel we have spoiled Madeleine a bit because she is a year old and has probably been to the park about 10 times. However, this was the first time she got to go with her grandparents and Uncle Jared and her extended family from Colorado.



Because it was so cold, Maddie had to wear her parka most of the day. Jason found her a great red beanie with Mickey ears. I really didn't think she would keep it on her head, but she did. I'm so glad because it kept her warm and she sure looked cute.




Needless to say the park was very crowded that day. I believe it is one of the busiest days of the year. We rented a wheelchair for my mom because of her knee (she needs knee replacement surgery so can't walk for long periods). The first half of the day was a bit slow because of the crowds. I took Maddie along with my mom and dad on the Winnie the Pooh ride while the others went on Splash Mountain (way too cold for that ride in my opinion). Then we waited for Space Mountain while we had FastPasses for Indiana Jones. Mom stayed with the babies while we waited 90 minutes for Space Mountain. If my cousins weren't here, I definitely wouldn't have waited that long. Madeleine actually slept better at Disneyland than on Christmas and often at home - two 90 minute naps, one right after Space Mountain and during Indiana Jones. By the time we were done with that, it was 6:00 and my relatives decided they wanted to leave! I felt like we were just getting started.

Jared and Brian on Splash Mountain

Jared, Me, Aunt Jan, Brian, Dad, and Brittny in line for Space Mountain

Me and my cousin Brittny



After dinner, we felt the day really got started. We took advantage of the wheelchair and was able to expedite our waiting time in line. We were able to take Madeleine on several rides in Fantasyland, including Snow White, Pinocchio, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. Then we went on Pirates and the Haunted Mansion, Madeleine loving every minute of it.
Four times throughout the day, we tried to get on It's a Small World and failed. The ride had been closed all year for renovations so we have never been able to take Maddie on it. This ride was the only one Jason cared about for that day - he wanted to take Maddie on it. But because of the crowds, we had to eat on the other side of the park, then got stuck on the wrong side of the parade, then it closed for the fireworks. On the fourth try, we were waiting in the handicapped line and the ride attendant was not the brightest bulb. We waited over a half an hour while she let others in line behind us go on first. Meanwhile it was in the 40's and 10:45pm. Madeleine was falling asleep. At last we got on the ride and it was really great. Madeleine woke up and just loved it. Then she was done. She soon fell asleep. At 12 months old, she closed down Disneyland.

Maddie's Second Christmas

This year we celebrated a wonderful Christmas. It was Madeleine's second Christmas. Last year, however, she was only 2 weeks old and didn't do a whole lot but sleep and lay in her swing. So this year in a way was her first Christmas.

Christmas 2007




Christmas 2008



My cousin Brittny and her husband Brian came from Akron, CO with their 8 month old daughter Lexi as well as my Aunt Jan. We got to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with them. It was really fun having two babies around at Christmas.



Maddie loved opening presents. I have to say that her favorite gift was the Fisher Price Grand Piano that Mommy and Daddy got her. I couldn't resist and had to have her open it up on Christmas Eve. She loved to play it with her Uncle Jared. In fact, she loved doing everything with her Uncle Jared. The two of them were quite a pair.



Maddie "feeling the music"


Madeleine and Uncle Jared



Santa Claus definitely came down our chimney of our new house this year. Madeleine must have been a very good girl. She got lots of new toys, "toddler toys". She sure is growing up so fast.
She also got a Radio Flyer red wagon from Grandma and Grandpa Pfeifer, lots of cute clothes from Uncle Jared, a rocking horse from Auntie Sarah, toys and books from Granny Michelle and Auntie Katharina, and puzzles and books from Mommy and Daddy.





Jason and I were very blessed this year as well. Yes, we did get some nice gifts, but we feel blessed that we have a happy marriage, a beautiful, healthy daughter, a new house, Jason's good job, our family near to us, and all of our many friends. Life is good. Merry Christmas.

Maddie Meets Santa Claus

On December 13th, I got hired with the Christmas Belles Carolers to sing at the Woodbury Christmas event in Irvine. Since we miss living in Irvine so much, we decided to bring Madeleine to my gig with me to meet Santa. She had a lot of fun watching Mommy sing with Tara and Marti and then meeting the big guy himself...Santa.





Madeleine was not scared of Santa at all. In fact, she was studying him quite intently. You can see she is thinking on her face.






After meeting Santa, Maddie got to sit in the driver's seat of a fire truck. She loved it. You can see she already wants to drive. She also got to meet the fire rescue dog, a black lab named Jerry. Maddie and Jerry became instant friends.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

It's been two weeks since Maddie's birthday, but since we've had a little something called Christmas, I give myself some slack for getting these pictures up a little late.


Madeleine had a great birthday party. It was just her mom and dad, Grandma and Grandpa Pfeifer, Granny Schnepel, Grandpa Green and Grandma Chris. We had appetizers, presents, and then the big moment...the cake.

I made her a vanilla birthday cake that I was very proud of. It was my first attempt at birthday cake. Even though I frosted it 24 hours after baking, the frosting started melting down the cake. By the time the party started it was completely melted off. We were all perplexed. It must have been melty frosting. Luckily, Jason ran out and got her a new cake. It was still delicious. Next year, Mommy is going to make her own frosting.

First cake


Second cake


Let's just say, Madeleine loves cake. You could see the wheels turning in her head. She started oh so dainty, dipping her finger in the frosting and licking it like a lady. Within moments, she had the cake in both hands. It took her 2 days to recover, but it was worth it.