Long Island & Ceci's wedding

Yesterday we found ourselves with Arturo on a ferry from Bridgeport, Connecticut to Long Island.

Madeline was both excited and a little nervous to be on such a big boat.

The occasion for our ferry ride was Ceci and Carlos's wedding!  Madeline was too excited about the upcoming dancing, and she never did take a proper nap.  Instead she read mini Maurice Sendak books.  She loves the whole set: Alligators All Around, Chicken Soup with Rice, One Was Johnny, and Pierre.

She also loves getting dressed up!

Madeline and Summer made quite a pair in their finery.

While we waited in the hotel lobby for Arturo, Madeline admired the ornaments on the Christmas tree there.

At the wedding venue (Flowerfield), the parents of the couple provided Madeline with a tiara, a book, and -- appropriately -- flowers.

But Madeline just wanted to walk around, to run around, and to dance.

The ceremony was very touching, and the reception was great fun with endless amazing food (we actually asked halfway through the appetizers -- which included a carving station and several pasta dishes, inter alia -- whether they were not, in fact, dinner) and dancing.  But Madeline's energy did sometimes make the quieter moments a little difficult.  Happily, there was a fish pond decorated with globe lights in the venue.  "Fishies and moon!" kept us going.

As did dancing!

Most of Madeline's moves were too frenetic for the camera, flash or not.  Circles formed around her on the dance floor as she swayed, bobbed, and clapped.  But we did capture one of her favorite moves -- grabbing Summer's leg and mine as she shimmied and shook!

At some point in the evening, someone fed the Flowerfield swans, much to Madeline's delight (and the other children's too).

Today we drove east through North Fork wine country to Orient Point and, after a stint on standby, we caught the three o'clock ferry to New London.  This time, Madeline spent most of the time visiting the various doggies on board.  A black lab named Bruce was a particular favorite.  New London to Providence to Cranston, and now we're home again for a long haul.

Bye bye everyone!

Yesterday, after a quiet morning ...

... we went to the Oregon Zoo!

Madeline's favorite animals were the sea lions.

But she liked the tigers, too.

Our camera battery died then, so we couldn't capture Madeline's interactions with the leopards, polar bear, penguins, giraffes, elephants, lions, and -- another favorite -- the ocelot.  (All day today, Madeline kept saying, "Come on, ocelot!  Come, kitty!")  As we'd move from one animal to another, Madeline would let the animals know: "Bye bye, polar bear!  Goin' to see penguins!"

After the zoo and a delicious dinner, we took the opportunity for a family photo shoot.  Here's a nice shot of the whole Allen clan.

We had to leave for the airport extraordinarily early this morning.  Most of us were zombies (as, perhaps, you'd be before 4 am).  But Madeline was wide awake and ready for fun!  She told Summer, "I'm goin' to work!"  Summer asked what kind of work Madeline does, and Madeline replied, "Food!"  "Are you a chef?"  "Yes!"  "What kind of food do you make?"  "Pies!"  "What kind of pies?"  "BLUE!"

Despite the early hour, everyone got up to see us off.  Madeline, who's been giving everyone individual goodnights and then heading up the stairs with a "Night night everyone!  Goin' to bed!" saw us off with a "Bye bye everyone!"

Madeline was a bit of a handful from Portland to Chicago, but she slept through the entire Chicago-to-Providence leg.  On the drive home, she engaged in one of her favorite word games.  "What are you doing back there, Madeline?" we asked.  "Dinosaur's talkin' to Daddy!" she replied.  "Oh?  What's dinosaur saying?"  "Dinosaur's singing 'Baa baa black sheep.'"  Then she launched into a rendition: "Baa baa black sheep, have you any DINOSAUR?!?!?!"  Raucous laughter ensued.

Christmas

On Christmas Eve, Madeline tucked Jack in with some mini-blankets Grandma Mandy's friend Chris brought over.

And she helped make Christmas cookies by pushing the cookie cutters into Summer's gingerbread dough.  Impressively, she held onto the puffball cookie in her other hand through several such cookie cuttings.

And, after dinner, she savored some pumpkin pie.

On Christmas morning, Madeline didn't feel too well.

But she rebounded for the festivities.

After all, Christmas is exciting!

She warmed up for her stockings by combing Matt's hair ...

... and Marc's beard ...

... and her own hair too.

Then she noticed the stockings.

Matt helped her find the goodies inside.

Then Sarah helped her make good use of her new bubbles.

Madeline was especially excited that some of the bubbles burst on her feet.  "Feet wet!" she giggled.

Some of the day she was low-energy and mostly wanted cuddles ...

... but other times, she played crazy games like this one ...

... where she rushed from uncle to uncle, tackling each as she reached him.

After her nap -- and a visit from the Christmas candy-cane walrus ...

... it was time to open presents.

Madeline took to the task with gusto.

And she enjoyed her presents.

She even made a fine stew from her new toy people, using her new toy cookware.

Christmas dinner followed, and after that Madeline hoarded her new toys under the dining room table.

Yesterday we started off our day with a visit to a clinic to have Madeline checked out.

She was excited to see the doctor ...

... and it was a good thing we went, because it turns out Madeline has an ear infection.  Between the clinic and the pharmacy visit afterward, we didn't make it home until almost naptime.

Summer and I took advantage of the opportunity to sneak out and see Lincoln, and when we returned Madeline was having a dance party.

Today, so far, Madeline seems to be doing much better.

Oregon

On Thursday, we got ready to fly to Oregon.

Then we did so.

On Friday, we played at the Allen family residence.

On Saturday, we played at an elementary school playground ...

... and visited the venerable Burgerville ...

... and played at the Allen residence some more.

Late last night, Uncle Marc arrived.  This morning, he and Madeline played.

And there was more playing.

And there was Christmas tree decorating too.