Storybook Land & Lucy the Elephant

Fisher Family Fun Day!! A couple of Saturdays ago we visited Storybook Land, a nursery rhyme themed park just outside of Atlantic City. It was recommended to us by Jarrett's coworkers, that it was perfect for young kids, with rides for their size and not too scary ;) We had a blast!

Family Selfie!

It was a beautiful day, and the park was almost empty.. I guess everyone was waiting for summer to get out, lucky for us! We rode every single ride in the park with the kids, minus a ferris wheel that Lindsay thought was a little too scary ;) Madison, our resident daredevil, wanted to ride ALL the rides, especially the ones that she was too little for. LOL.

She was a little nervous, but had the courage to do it!

I was SO proud of Lindsay, who is more cautious when she overcame her fear and rode this dragon roller coaster with Daddy. The dragon blew bubbles out of its nose, which was the only part she liked. When she got off, she had a huge smile and was so proud of herself... High Five Lulu!

Weee!

Teacher Mama at the Little Red School House with my favorite students...

Construction Ride with Daddy

There were several of the teacup spinning rides, and the girls liked almost all of them, minus a really fast Turtle Spin Ride. J and I were cracking up watching the girls faces as we spun. We were all laughing, and by the end of the ride they were yelling, "Spin faster Daddy!"

Udderly Cute... Farmer Lindsay and Madison milking a pretend cow.

The girls took driving in this car ride pretty seriously...

Checking out the peacocks and animals.

Giant slide? Yes please! Weee!

Madison told me afterwards this was her favorite ride with Daddy!

Peeking in the Three Bears Cottage...

Since we were so close to the ocean and it was still winter season (meaning we don't have to pay to get on the beach... grr NJ) we visited the beach and saw Lucy the Elephant.  It's a six story structure build in 1881 and is famous throughout NJ. The girls first learned about the Lucy the Elephant from a storybook called, "Good Night New Jersey" they got for their birthday. They were so excited when we told them we were going to see Lucy! Daddy got them two tiny stuffed elephants to commemorate their experience, which the girls both slept with that night :)

Lucy has an unobstructed view of the Atlantic Ocean, and so we walked over to the ocean after snapping a few photos of the girls...

Our beach babies couldn't wait to get their toes in the sand and water. They ran and ran up and down the beach looking for shells, Lindsay wrote her name in the sand with a stick and Madison wanted to chase the waves. After the beach we ate a lovely dinner... Lindsay and Madison wanted shrimp, Jarrett had shrimp scampi and I had scallops..yum! 

We headed home at sunset, and J and I commented on how this was a taste of the future with our girls. No more diapers and strict nap schedules; no more stopping to breastfeed, and taking turns eating while holding kids. It was bittersweet, because that baby phase in our lives is ending; but the glimpse of the future and all the FUN memories we will make as a family is oh-so-sweet. Life is good ;) 

Lindsay's 1st Trip to the Dentist

A little nervous smile...

The Monday after Mother's Day was Lindsay's first trip to the dentist! Our dentist has a requirement that a patient has to be at least 4 yrs old (a little old to me!) for their first check up. We made an appointment right after her birthday, but had things come up and well, it is now May! We looked at fashion magazines while we waited, and pointed to our favorite dresses on each page. When we walked into our dentist's office, another little girl was coming out with a big smile and a cool toy she got to pick out from the treasure chest. Wow! That got her excited!

This tool has a mirror on it, Mama!

Miss Jane, our hygienist, was so wonderful. She did a fantastic job making Lindsay feel comfortable, going slowly and letting her push buttons and hold all the instruments while explaining what she was doing. I was a little worried about the flossing part (it is my least favorite part of the exam), but she did wonderfully. I think Miss Jane was super gentle.

Open Wide!

All her teeth looked great, and they put a bubble gum flavored fluoride on her teeth after their cleaning to protect against cavities. She got to dig in the treasure chest while I got my teeth cleaned too! Our girl chose a pair of binoculars and a plastic camera. Lindsay said, "Now I can be an explorer Mama!!"  My thoughtful girl also chose a prize for Madison, a little necklace and hair clip set.  Lindsay did fantastic, and will be excited to go back in 6 months for another cleaning ;)

Miss Jane and Lindsay the Explorer

Mother's Day 2014

I had a fantastic Mother's Day this year spent with my loves. It was a fun-filled day: Running, Eating and Rita's! 

"Hi kids!!"

I ran my first 10k at Washington's Crossing in PA. I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day, and it was a gorgeous run through the forest and along the river. 

 Of course, the best part was having my sweet loves cheering me on and waiting at the finish line!

Off to a good start...

Jarrett and the girls explored the park, and although there weren't any toys (big disappointment) Lindsay had fun collecting wildflowers and chasing butterflies. My daughter (memory like a steel trap) remembered the last race I ran (Mother's Day 2013) and that they had play toys at the park. LOL.

I could hear Lindsay and Maddie yelling, "Run faster Mama!!" 

Bookin' it to the finish line.. made it in 59 minutes and 32 seconds. Just barely under an hour.. pace was 9 min 27 sec. :) I had the song, "Our God" by Chris Tomlin rocking in my ears as I crossed the finish line. Praise God for sustaining me through the run and getting me through injury free!

Whew.

Although I was pretty hot and sweaty, my biggest fan and supporter gave me a big hug and kiss! Love you J!

The two beautiful reasons why I get to celebrate Mother's Day!

Lindsay and Madison yelled, "Did you win Mama?" after I finished. I said, "Nope! Wasn't the first, wasn't the last, but tried my best and finished! And I won the biggest prize of all: the two BEST daughters in the world!!" They giggled ;) 

 Afterwards, we went to eat at Cracker Barrel for a brunch. All the calories I burned were replaced. LOL. And oh boy.. that sweet tea tasted so good.
 

 We got to skype with Grammie and Nonna and I had the sweetest text messages and phone calls.. Thank you, I felt so special :) Later in the day we had a fruit basket delivered with chocolate covered strawberries... yum!! Thank you Grammie! Thank you Nonna for the sweet card, made me tear up :) We ended the day at Rita's, and I ate my latest obsession: Vanilla Gelati with Wild Black Cherry. So good.

 Lindsay & Madison's Mama: Best. Job. Ever. Love u!

Big Girl Madison

No more diapers in the Fisher house!! Madison Grace decided it was time for her to use the potty like a big girl! Our sweet, tiny little Ms. Big Stuff told me about a month ago, "I want to go potty!" I pretty much told her, "Let's wait until after our trip to California, then we will try!". Well, she persisted, and I gave in a couple days before our trip and busted out the potty seat to let her get used to it... and I still cannot believe it, she ran around the corner from the bathroom into the kitchen and yelled proudly, "MAMA!! I go pee pee in the potty!" I was skeptical, but when I checked, sure enough, she went!! I was shocked and a little sad. My baby isn't going to wear a diaper anymore? No more crunch-crunch when I pat her little tush? Tear up.

Big Sis came in to cheer her on ;)

 Potty training is a good reason not wear pants... that's our Girl!

 Proud girl!! So independent! She told everyone she saw... "I go pee pee in the potty!" LOL

Nakie with her "Tap Shoes"... keeping this one to tease her in high school. 

We practiced in California, and since we have been home she has been wearing panties during the day and I put her in a diaper at night (although she wakes up dry most nights.) Madison is fiercely independent and opinionated, and chose Bubble Guppy themed big girl panties. She prefers the training potty at home, mainly because it is small and she can sit on it without help from me. I am shocked that a such a young age she knows the sensation and when to make it to the bathroom. She is pretty good at pulling up her pants (when she is actually wearing them) and we are working on wiping. We have been going places and she has been staying dry :) She will go both #1 and #2 in the potty, and I just can't get over how EASY potty training her has been. I actually didn't have any part in it- Maddie Grace just make up her mind she was going to do it, and she did! Love you Baby Girl... so proud of you!!