Caroline loves ice cream so much that she licks the bowl to get every last bite. I couldn't even get a picture of her face because she would not put the bowl down. We were laughing so hard at her that Madeline had to get in on the silliness too! 
Our niece, Nicole, came and spent the weekend with us. The girls had lots of fun playing and playing. Caroline hung in there just like the big girls. This is a picture of movie night!
I had my second ultrasound and it went great! The baby is growing great, the heartrate was 161, and he/she even waved his/her little arms. There is no way to describe the feeling a mom gets when you see that little being growing inside you. I always get tears of joy! So now I'm off to my regular OB, which is always great news at our house. It has been so fun to talk about this baby coming. No matter how sick I am (and my family can't wait for their real wife/mommy to come back) it is a joy to plan for the baby. Madeline is 100% sure it is a brother. This is how she explains it. She asked God for a baby brother last time, but He decided that a sister would be better, and it has worked out for the best, because all girls need a sister, but now she knows God will answer her prayer for a brother for two reasons - He would not do that to her again and our family needs to be evened out. She is also quite sure she will be able to take care of everything for this baby except the nursing. According to her, that will make my life easier because I can just continue to take care of Caroline. She is such a great kid and often thinks she is a grownup! Whatever this baby is, we will love it!
Caroline has discovered the art of coloring markers and she loves it! She will come to me with these bright eyes and big smile and say, "Color markers?" She is so adorable when she asks that I could not possibly say no. She looks at her hands and says "messy" and then says "it's ok I wash." This age is just too, too fun! 
While we were in Miami, my grandparents, or as the girls call them, GG Connie and GG Lou came to stay. Grandma taught Madeline to sew with a real machine! Madeline made a great bag, beanbags, a hotpad, a quilt, etc. We could not believe how well she did. When we got home, she wanted to show us right away. She can officially sew better than I can! She is definitely a creator. We didn't get any pictures, but Caroline made buddies with Grandpa Lou who put her to bed each night. In fact, the first thing she said to me when I got her up was, "Where's GG Lou?" It was so nice to know that our girls were so taken care of and loved while we were gone. Thanks, GG!
It was a cold, cold game!
Denny and I went to the Orange Bowl in Miami. Even though I was not feeling the best, it was a nice relaxing time that ended with a Hawkeye victory. The only diappointment was how cold it was in Miami. Who know it would be 39 degrees during a football game in Miami. It felt like home! Everywhere we went we say Hawk fans and tailgating was just like being on Melrose. Hawk fans rock! Go Hawks!
New Year's Eve was a wonderful day for the Schrader family! We found out that we were having baby #3! This was an amazing miracle considering my health history and the medications I take. In fact, we have never even considered that I would ever get pregnant naturally! God is amazing and through him all things are possible! We now have proof of that in our family. We are so excited to add another one. Madeline was thrilled when we told her and she knows she is "much more prepared this time." Caroline just says, "No baby. Mommy sick" and then makes a gagging sound. I have not been feeling well at all, but it will be soon forgotten when our little one arrives. 
We celebrated my 36th birthday with my family. My parents took my sister, Kate (21 on New Year's Eve), out to my favorite restaurant, Emmett's. It was wonderful as usual! Thanks, Mom & Richard and everyone for making it a great day. This was the only picture I got, but at least it's with my two favorite girls!
Grandma Connie made all the girls aprons for Christmas this year. They were so cute and these were the best pictures I could get of the girls and our cousin Ellie. They looked so sweet as they played ring around the rosie. 
At our house, the most important thing to remember on Christmas is that it is the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus. We had a birthday party for Jesus complete with cake and party horns! We always begin with the Christmas story and this year Madeline wanted to sing some songs. She sang "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" and "Away in the Manger." Happy Birthday, Jesus! 
The girls woke up at Nana & Papa's Christmas morning to find that Santa had found them. Caroline was up first to find her Elmo and Madeline followed to find "just the right potty doll." Along with some fun art supplies, Santa was a realy hit this year!
Christmas Eve did not go as planned. Thanks to all the snow coming our plans for a relaxing Christmas Eve at home and waking up at home for Christmas morning were altered. Being a planner, this was obviously not the easiest thing for me. We ended up having to open all our presents before church, going to church, and then driving to Denny's parents that evening. We still opened our Christmas jammies before we left and for the first time we let Madeline watch a movie as we drove. We always watch The Polar Express on Christmas Eve night, so we watched as we drove. It wasn't our traditional Christmas Eve, but we made the best of it (at least after I got over my plans being changed!). 
Both girls were so excited to see Santa. Madeline continued to be excited and loved seeing him. Caroline quickly changed her mind when she saw him. Now she walks around saying, "Don't wanna see Anta!" and "Don't like it!"
Caroline got to snowman bowl
Five Little Monkeys
We were wearing more frosting than the house!
Madeline's Preschool Winter party was a family party. It was a lot of fun. We made an ornament, a gingerbread house and played games. The best part was watching the kids sing some of their songs. Madeline had fun with her friends.
