A set of pictures that bridges the gap between Halloween and Christmas.  Mostly it involves other people's birthday parties.

A small birthday celebration for one of Madeleine's playgroup pals, Haley. (Little girl in the foreground looking at the camera.)  Everybody sat nicely at the tables for about two minutes.

Sitting Happily at cousin Jack's 2nd birthday.

A precious moment of big smiles!

Enjoying some of the Thomas the Tank Engine cake that Ann, Jack's mother, made herself.

Out on the driveway at the party.  There was a piñata (nothing like 2-6 year olds swinging a club blind folded) but Madeleine was pretty happy with her red balloon.  Jack's sister Lauren is still scooping up some of the candy.

The Las Madres play group picture for the December birthdays.  From the left, Katherine and her mother Angela, Ciaran and his mother Jane, Madeleine and Nancy, Haley and her mother Marcy, Ryan and his Oma Hilda, and Benjamin and his mother Kelley.

Another birthday party. This was for Katherine Winch, who turned two and who is also a playgroup regular.

Daddy giving Madeleine a different perspective on the Winch's family room.

Madeleine saying hello to Katherine's new little sister, Sarah.

Madeleine at another birthday party.  This one was at Gymboree and was for her other friend Haley. 

When not attending birthday parties, Madeleine tried to take up washing the dishes at our house.  In a few years this will be a regular feature.

Madeleine insisted one evening that, along with washing her hands, she needed to wash her feet.  Far be it from us to discourage cleanliness, but still....