Lulu's Salon

We were getting ready one morning and I saw Lindsay playing "Beauty Salon" with her sister...

She had pulled out all the bows and headbands from her drawer

Madison had total trust she was going to look fabulous... after all, it's big sis doing the primping! Madison adores all things Lulu, she has rock star status, right up there with Elmo...LOL. 

Madison was so still and patient waiting for Lulu to complete her hair style.

Lindsay was so proud of her creation... Madison felt oh so fancy! They ran to show Daddy, who snapped this picture...

Ooo La La!!  

I love capturing these sweet sister moments... they really love each other and have fun together. I have to document these memories for when they are teenagers! Can they stay this age forever?

Family New Year's Visit 2013

We had a fantastic start to 2014 by ringing in the New Year with our family! The crew arrived late on December 28th, making the 12+ hour drive from North Carolina to New Jersey. Nonna, Aunt Katie and Cousin Katarina had an extra long journey flying into NC the day before from California. Lindsay and Madison were so excited they could hardly go to sleep! We had an awesome visit, and enjoyed watching kids open Christmas gifts, a trip to the children's museum, a New Year's party and a quick trip to Washington DC! Here are some fun pictures of our time together:

From Left to Right: Nate, Mia, Nonna, Katie D., Sarah, Jarrett, Lindsay and Kat. 

Don't you love the mess of Christmas? It's the best kind of mess to clean up ;) 

This was the first year Auntie Katie and Katarina made the trip to NJ!!

"Hey Cuz, check out my gift!"

Our little book worm, Maddie Grace!

Cousin Kat showing us her best ballet moves in her new tutu and leotard.

The big gift of the night was a new play kitchen. We put it together before Christmas and stored it in our garage with a big table cloth over it... it took forever to put together! However, the look on Lulu's face was priceless when she saw it...

You would think an almost Ed.D and a Masters could put toy together in under 4 hours.. think again! 

The kids had so much fun testing out all the knobs (which click!) and opening the doors. There were many pretend dinners and tea parties during the week!

Nonna also got us a real sled! We took it for a test drive a few days after all the company left.. more post to come!

Sledding buddies!

We visited the Children's Museum in Lamberville, PA. It was small, which was perfect for such a big group..no one got lost!

Digging for dinosaur bones

Checking out the bugs.. 

Happy New Year's!! We partied it up Reed style with our tradition, TACOS!!

This year we put the kids table in the dining room for all the littles... the loved it! Although, I learned I should have put the table cloth on the floor under the table instead of on top...LOL.

Mmm Tacos.. then Nonna Chocolate Pie for dessert!!

Happy New Year!! (around 8pm...LOL)

Our sweet girls: Mia (2 yrs.) Lindsay (3.5 yrs) Kat (4 yrs) Madison (1.5 yrs)

Jarrett was happy to have some boy in this house of women:  Nate (4 yrs)

Loved this photo of oldest and youngest cousins, Nate and Madison. So precious with his arm around her ;)

We journeyed to Washington DC for a guided tour by Jarrett, who has been the most times (5+) and loves anything having to do with the Presidency. This was Carol, Sarah, Katie D. and the kids first trip into the nation's capitol, and with the freezing weather and a snowstorm looming, we checked out the sites pretty quickly. We pushed the kids in the strollers around the National Mall and saw Lincoln's Memorial, and the White House, then hopped in a taxi to check out the Smithsonian. Lindsay, who has been to DC a whopping 3 times in her little life, enjoyed staying in the hotel for a night and sleeping on the sofa bed with Nonna the most!! Sarah and Katie D. found a vegan bakery in DC that was so yummy, they visited it twice!

Loved this pic of the White House and Washington's Monument in the background.

We had a fantastic time with our family, filled with good visits and lots of fun! Thank you for making the trek to come to NJ! It makes me so happy to see all the cousins playing together and having fun, and it is sweet to see their relationships growing. I hope they will be life-long friends :) We love you guys, and can't wait to do it again soon!! xo

Christmas 2013

We hope you had a very Merry Christmas!! I had great plans to post this before the first of the year, but alas, it didn't happen ;) We enjoyed a quiet Christmas with just J and the girls, but a few days after had lots of company for New Year's (more posts coming!). Here is Christmas 2013 in photos... Enjoy! 

Christmas Eve Dinner: Roast Beef in Madeira Wine Sauce, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, Green Beans and Croissants.

Reading our favorite Christmas books on Christmas Eve...

Lindsay ran down the stairs and jumping up and down when she saw that Santa came...

Whoa! A Minnie Mouse plate for me!! 

Maddie thought she would sample the half-eaten carrot left by a reindeer... she was not a fan. 

Hooray! Doc McStuffins water bottle!! 

Opening stockings

Thanks Mom and Dad for the boots and sweater dresses!!

A special gift from Grammie... Sleeping Bag!! 

Loving her sleeping bag! Madison got a purple one too! Sleepover time ;)

Madison's presents were all about baby dolls... her favorite thing to play.

Little tater tot took FOREVER to open a gift. She would have to read/play with it for 15 minutes before she was ready for the next one. Don't rush me Mama & Daddy!!

Sweet Girl with her baby bed. Hasn't tried to climb in it yet (as of now).

Helping Daddy open his gifts.. he got a cozy robe and fleece pants to wear around the house. He put them to good use with the below freezing weather we've had lately!!

I had two little helpers to open my gifts, a cute monogrammed purse filled with gift cards!

Madison testing out some chapstick...lol.

After opening presents we ate  Gluten Free Strata  (FANTASTIC!) for breakfast and snuggled. Then we Skyped with Papa, Grammie, Gigi, Auntie, Uncle Matt and Nonna to open even more presents!  

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Love, The Fishers xo

Christmas Vacation & Living Nativity

Jarrett's Christmas vacation started on December 23rd (but to us it began on Friday night the 20th...LOL) and we had a few things on our bucket list to do this year...

SANTA!! Every year  the Lawrence Fire Department drives the firetrucks and a trailer with Santa in our neighborhood!  We wait to hear the sirens and run outside to wave!

Santa threw lollipops for the kids, and the girls enjoyed the lights on the engines, but didn't like the sirens. 

 

Mama and a cold Maddie. She told me, "Too loud. Too scary. Eat candy?" LOL. 

Next on our list was to go to Palmer Square in Princeton to see the giant Christmas tree and drink some hot cocoa from Bent Spoon...

Daddy and Lindsay

 We strolled around and looked at the lights and took some photos until we heard singing... there were real carolers singing!! It was just like a movie ;) The girls love, love, loved watching the high schools sing, and I caught Lindsay singing right along to "Fa La La La".

Maddie (Snowman) Lulu (Elf) 

Daddy and Lindsay had an afternoon Daddy-Daughter date to see movie "Frozen". Lindsay loved the movie, and Jarrett said he had fun afterwards doing the Dance Revolution game in the lobby with her!

Cheese!!

One of the things I was dying to do this Christmas Season was visit the Living Nativity in Mount Laurel. This was the first time I have visited a living nativity, and it was awesome!! The church was so organized, and put a lot of time and detail in the sets, performances and message. Jarrett and I kept thinking about the actors in the cold every weekend in December telling the Christmas story...What an incredibly special gift and ministry for the community! 

So cool!! Fantastic "market" with Roman soldiers. They looked pretty intimidating!

There was 13+ scenes, and they told the story of Jesus's birth, but continued through to Jesus life, death and Resurrection. I wondered if the girls would make the connection between the story we read every year and seeing it told live. Lindsay was so excited, and watched intently. She told me "Hey Mama, that is a story I've heard before!" She asked me lots of questions later, and they were wonderful teachable moments.

Rolling the stone away to an empty tomb..

Jesus calming the storm. The boat really moved!

Madison was cracking me (and everyone around us) up at the scenes by pointing and saying, "Mama Jesus! Jesus!" at every man wearing a robe.

Madison loved the animals, and kept telling me, "Mama, pet horse? Pet sheep?"
The people were suspended in air singing Hallelujah Chorus.

I was a little curious how they were going to portray the Crucifixion, especially with such a young audience. They showed the three crosses, (after Jesus had died) and a man narrated the events and salvation Jesus made possible by his death.

Jesus ascending into heaven. 

The living nativity was such a precious way to prepare our hearts for Christmas. I loved seeing the girls make the connection between the stories they hear in the Bible, and realizing these truths and promises are real.  For the word of God is alive and active. Hebrews 4:12