St. Patty Day Parade 2014

Our family went to the Hamilton St. Patrick's day parade again this year. It is so much fun to see all the bag pipers, mummer bands and kilts! Lindsay of course, remembered the important stuff: that they throw out candy from the floats...lol. Happy St. Patty's!

Sassy Girl: Posing for the camera. I can't get over how grown up she looks. I had a vision of her in 10 years...oh my!

Madison smiling her cute little grin, mouth full of goldfish.

It was above 50 degrees, so the girls were thrilled to not to have to wear their winter coats over their St. Patrick's shirts. Thanks Nonna for the parade chairs!

Our Lucky Charms :)

On Tuesday we had our friends over for a St. Patrick's Day play date...

Eating a "fruit rainbow". The blackberries were the first to get eaten.

Played a dice game called, "Roll Your Luck". Colors, counting and sight words...the teacher in me did a happy dance ;)

 And of course, we had Green Smoothies with crazy straws! Shhh... don't tell the kids what made it green was kale ;)

We had someone comment before the parade, "St. Patty's is totally different when you have kids." I would agree... in my opinion, all the holidays are more fun to celebrate when you can experience it with your children. Here's a quick little blast from some St. Patty's days past:

2006 ? 

Baby Lindsay 2010

Baby Maddie 2013

Spring Teaser

We had a few teaser days of spring last week, and the temps were in the 50's!! The snow that covered the backyard finally, FINALLY melted, and our girl got to run around.. watch out for mud Lulu!

My daffodils and tulips are beginning to pop out of the ground... I am hoping to have enough blooms for a vase on our Easter table this year ;)  In the fall Lindsay and Madison had a blast helping me plant them, and it is their favorite thing to do before we get into the car; they run around to the side of the house and yell... "We're checking on our flowers, Mama!"

Here is the pile of leftover snow that melted a couple days after I took this picture. I think all my plants I planted last spring survived the snow...whew! Jarrett and the girls were picking up the twigs and branches the many storms knocked off into our yard. We only lost one large branch on the side yard, and thankfully it didn't do any damage.

We even busted out our GRILL and cooked some hot dogs one night, and chicken another! The girls love playing in the yard while Jarrett grills, and Lindsay told us "Take my picture in our tree!!" She is still quite a few years from being able to climb it by herself. We knew it was a special house because of that big old tree, and we envisioned our girls playing in and under it when we moved in. On another note, we are ready for all the leaves to come back. Our backyard was feeling rather exposed...LOL. Come'on spring, bring on the green and warm temps!!

What we've been up to lately...

Madison got her "big girl" bedding on her crib. Before she just slept with a blanket, so getting a pillow and covers like Big Sister was kind of a big deal in her little world ;) We haven't converted her crib to a toddler bed yet... maybe this summer after she is potty trained? She still sleeps on her tummy..lol.

Pretending to be sleeping...

Hooray for Covers! How did she get the bruise on her forehead? Madison decided to head-butt Daddy.  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!! 

I won't say how old J is now, but he is officially mid-thirties!! We celebrated the Best Daddy/Husband/Son/Friend in the world's birthday by eating some BBQ! Instead of cake this year he wanted me to make a Chocolate Tiramisu, and it was simply decadent. We opened gifts and cards at home and feasted on first and second dessert ;)

Getting some birthday love from his little ladies.

Some BUNNY is excited about Easter...

Other news... RITA'S IS OPEN AGAIN!! Let the warm weather commence!!

Fisher's Visit the Capitol & NYC

The Capitol at night... so pretty!

Jarrett and I had lovely night out in Washington DC for an alumni event for California State University, Bakersfield. It was held in Congressman Kevin McCarthy's office inside the Capitol, who was also a CSUB alumni and Bakersfield native. Anyone who knows Jarrett knows he loves anything about the Presidency, or government, so we were excited to see the Majority House Whip (McCarthy) office, which was featured in the show House of Cards and the position of Majority Whip played Kevin Spacey. Although the TV show has all kinds of crazy things happen, the Congressman assured us no such things went on in real life out of his office ;) 

I fretted about this bold jacket from White House Black Market for weeks. Too bold? I felt comfortable and it was just right for the occasion.  lol.

Check out that handsome guy!! I can't believe I'm the lucky girl married to him ;) 

We enjoyed a nice visit with other alumni living in the DC area, and met the Chancellor of the Cal State University System. Later in the same week we had another alumni event in NYC at the University Club. It was on 5th avenue, and I had no problem killing time shopping while Jarrett had a meeting!!

University Club NYC

Inside the building was absolutely stunning, and I loved warming up by the roaring fireplace and looking at the original works of art. It was such a nice evening, and we wished we could have stayed in the city longer, but the girlie's were waiting for us at home with a babysitter.  It was so much fun to get dressed up and meet so many interesting people!

CSUB alumni, University President and VP of Advancement

It is great to meet fellow Californian's on the east coast, and I am grateful that the Cal State University system puts on events to help alumni connect so far from our home state!!

Lindsay Diane is FOUR!

Stats:
height...39.5 inches
weight...29.6 lbs
hair...blonde
eyes...green

Four. FOUR!? Our first born has been in our lives for four sweet years... and our Lindsay Loo continues to amaze and delight us everyday with the beautiful little person she is becoming.

Favorites:
Toy- Any stuffed animal. Lately it's been her stuffed animals from Build A Bear. This kid loves Pillow Pets... she has 3 of them..lol.
TV show- Bubble Guppies, Paw Patrol and Angelina Ballerina
Game- Princess Dominoes
Color- Pink
Book- "Fancy Nancy" or "Llama Llama...", "Pete the Cat..."
Food- Pizza, Salsa (she likes spicy?!), scrambled eggs, pancakes, asparagus, broccoli, steak, mashed potatoes and gravy, malt-o-meal, most fruit, yogurt, butter. Dislikes: Mac n' cheese, any cheese really, and pasta.
Best Friend- Maddie, Lila and Teagan
Song- "Safe and Sound" Capitol Cities, and just about anything with a catchy beat.
Place to go- Park (only when it's not crowded..lol), Library and Bible Study and the Mall (mainly because it has a playground, although she doesn't mind shopping).

Lindsay's actual birthday happened to fall on a Saturday, and we asked our girl what she wanted to do to celebrate. She told us she wanted to go to breakfast at IHOP. LOL. I think she had seen the TV commercial recently, and boy, do they make those pancakes look delicious!

Birthday Girl with her pancake breakfast with Daddy

After breakfast we went to Giggleberry Fair (isn't that just the cutest name!?!) in New Hope, PA, about 30 minutes from our house. It is an indoor play area with carousel, arcade and playground. Since there had been such bad weather lately, it was the perfect place to let them burn some energy!

Lulu on the Merry-Go-Round

 I had a little birthday pin that Lindsay got to wear to tell everyone, "It's my Birthday!!"

Lindsay was so proud of the tower her and Daddy built

The "Maddie Size" Merry-Go-Round

The girls had fun "fishing" in the water table

Somebody was SOAKED after the water table... I don't think she minded too much ;)

Madison: WEEEEE.. I do it myself!

 Lindsay had fun drawing on the chalkboard a family portrait:

From Left to Right: Daddy (holding Maddie), Mommy & Lindsay.. Love the ears on Daddy ;)

It had just begun to snow as we were leaving Giggleberry, so we hightailed it home for lunch and naps. Lindsay opened presents, and got a LeapFrog Reader Pen and books!

We had a yummy dinner Lindsay chose: Fried Chicken with Mashed Potatoes and Gravy and Broccoli! Lulu was very specific what kind of dessert she wanted: No cupcakes, cake or ice cream. She had to have Frozen Yogurt!! 

My beautiful birthday girl

I brought a candle to blow out to stick in her frozen yogurt... Pink Raspberry flavored, of course!  

Here's a little more about our big girl:

Learning- Lindsay loves to learn, and our preschool practice time flies by. She can write/spell her name, and knows my phone number. She knows all her letters and sounds, and has been sounding out word. She knows many sight-words, and is on the verge of reading simple sentences. She knows her numbers and can count to 25. It is a joy to teach her... I love teaching her just about as much as she loves learning.

Personality- Our sweet girl loves to dance around the house rotating between graceful jetes and hip hop moves. She is quick to find a solution to a problem (usually involving sharing with Madison). Lulu is my helper in the kitchen and loves to cook. However, her favorite time is when Daddy gets home, and she can play "preschool" with him and all her stuffed animals. Lulu can be very bossy, especially with her little sister ;) She loves Madison, and will be the first to kiss a boo-boo, help her get a toy un-stuck or tell her how to play pretend with her. Lindsay is friendly, and loves to talk...she makes friends wherever she goes, but does best with small groups or one-on-one. Lindsay is thoughtful, and remembers to pray for someone at bedtime if she overheard me talking about if they were sick.

Lindsay, I am so blessed to be your Mama! I am so proud of the beautiful, smart and lovely little lady you are! xo Mama

Happy Valentine's Day 2014!

Lindsay Diane (be 4 yrs tomorrow)

Madison Grace, 2 years

Happy Valentine's Day!! Love, Lindsay & Madsion xoxo

Madison Grace is TWO!

Stats:
height 31 inches
weight 20.4 lbs
clothes size 18 months
shoe size 4

Oh boy my baby is TWO?! Words cannot express the joy she brings into our lives. She is a tiny girl with a BIG personality. Madison Grace is affectionate, opinionated, mile-a-minute talker, daring, loving, singing, simply precious little lady. Here are a few things about little miss big stuff:

*Favorite Foods: Mac n' Cheese, chocolate milk, blueberries (she calls them boo-bies..lol), most fruits, scrambled eggs, ice cream, pancakes, bbq chicken, roast beef, french fries, gold fish, applesauce. Won't eat: veggies, unless masked in a smoothie ;)

Whacha cooking good lookin'? 

Loves her Daddy

Wanted to be like Sissy.. I couldn't get her off! Potty training in a few months ;)

It's 22 degrees outside, and my beach baby is in her bathing suit. With mary janes on backwards. Love that Girl!

*Favorite Toys: Dolly and Molly. These are her little snuggle buddies, and they have a special place in her crib, and must be in the right place before she will go to sleep..lol. She loves to play baby dolls, and is very nurturing with her babies. I will hear her tell them, "Oh baby are you hungry? Here a bottle!" or "She need a diaper change!"

Molly the puppy and Dolly

Maddie had to put Molly on her right and Dolly on her left, same as in her crib..lol. 

*Favorite Place: Park! She likes the swing, and feels like a big girl when she can go down the slide by herself. Loves to take a bath, will put her entire face in the water, look up and say "Look at me Mama!! I swimming!!"
*Favorite Color: Pink, sometimes purple
*Favorite Book: Any book... This kid LOVES to read. She is into the "Llama Llama ..." books lately.
*Favorite Song: "Twinkle Twinkle", "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes", "If You are Happy and You Know it."
*Favorite TV show: Paw Patrol, can name all the characters. Still likes Sesame Street and Elmo and Bubble Guppies.
*Best Friend: Lindsay and Teagan
*Dislikes: Loud noises, including my blender and sirens, big kids who charge her at play dates, dirty diapers, bugs, vegetables, wearing pants and snow.
*Smartie: Madison is a voracious reader. She is happiest on your lap with you reading a giant stack of books to her. She knows her colors about 75% of the time, basic shapes and recognizes some letters (A, E, O). Likes to count to 5. Loves to put on her own shoes, and take them off.
*Strong-Willed: Since day one, MGF has let us know what she likes and dislikes. This has only grown stronger as she has learned to communicate. She  knows what she wants, and will go after it. She is fiercely independent, quick-tempered and impatient. Madison is stoic and shy around strangers, but after she warms up is talkative and expressive. She wears her heart on her sleeve, and will cry if you give her a stern look. Maddie is also a little mischievous. She loves to push open the bathroom door while Lindsay is going #2... I can hear Lindsay yelling, "Mama!! Maddie opened the door! I need privacy!!" and then Madison runs around the corner with a big ornery grin. She is in time-out often for hitting. Maddie loves to stomp her little foot and yell "NO!".

Madison woke up on her birthday to balloons and a visit from Papa ;)

Sprinkle Pancakes and a candle..yum!

*Big Talker: The one thing that strangers comment on the most is Madison's ability to speak. She has always been a big talker, but has taken off with full sentences that you can understand. She will often comment on things she sees, "Puppy lick my hand!" or "Puppy's a cutie" or "I no like monsters. Monsters spooky." I think because she is petite, people mistake her for being young and think I have a child prodigy on my hands..LOL.
*Tattler: This goes along with her ability to verbalize.. she will tattle on everyone! After I get out of Bible Study, I hear her stories of "Courtney push me" or "Michael poke my eye" or "Miss Dickie (Vicki) read me books". I confer with Lindsay and she tells me that indeed, most of it is true...lol.  
*Sleep: Takes a 1.5-2 hr nap per day, goes to bed at 7:30-8pm and wakes up around 6:45am.
*Hair: Light brown and feathery, grows fast in the back, slow in the front. Eyes: Brown, with hints of green in sunlight. Teeth: Has all on top, still waiting for 1 eye tooth on bottom.

Singing "Happy Birthday" to blow out her second candle of the day!

Happy Birthday to my beautiful girl, I love you and the special girl you are growing into!! Love, Mama