What a joy to have Maddie home for the holiday season!

December was a very busy month for our family! We started off by celebrating Christmas with about 500 other adoptive families at AAC's annual holiday party. Grandpa Robbie came with us and we all had a great time. This was the first time that we saw two of the other families we had traveled to China with. When Maddie and Katie saw each other, they both got so excited and gave each other big hugs and kisses. It was the cutest thing ever and it brought us all to tears. After all, this was the first time these two girls had seen each other since China, where they had spent the first 10 months of their  lives in adjacent cribs. Again, we are so thankful that Katie and her family live close by so that the girls can grow up knowing each other and having that "YangXi Sisterhood" connection. Also at the Christmas party, Maddie got her first ever picture taken with Santa!

Next came Maddie's first birthday on the 11th. Grandpa Robbie and Aunt Eileen both came out from California to meet Madison and help her celebrate turning one! Aunt Kelly road-tripped it out from New York with Neela and showed up the day after her birthday to meet Miss Maddie and enjoy a mini family reunion!

The following weekend we flew out to Sacramento to celebrate an early Christmas at Aunt Deb and Uncle John's house. We had a great time with everyone. Maddie fell in love with her cousins Brad and Bryan and John Christopher and Tiffany. She also had alot of fun with her Auntie Joan and Uncle Steve and Auntie Deb and Uncle John. Madison also met her great aunties, Suzie and Phyllis and  Grandpa Robbie's special friend, Margaret.

Christmas Eve was spent in Denver at Grandma Jeanne and Grandpa Mike's house. Aunt Marnie and Uncle Bob were there along with cousins Cory, Haley and Marcus. Great Uncle Pete and Great Aunt Denny and Great Uncle Bill were there too. Also Grandpa Mike's brother, Edward and his wife, Andra and their kids, Seth and Mia.

Christmas Day was spent at home with just the three of us and Lil' Joe. We had fun taking turns opening our presents and then playing with all of our new toys! Daddy made us a yummy dinner and we relaxed and enjoyed the holiday!