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!!

Happy Easter 2014

We hope you and yours had a wonderful Easter celebrating our Risen King! It was a gorgeous, sunny spring day, perfect for hunting eggs and blowing bubbles in the backyard. Here are some highlights...

 Easter morning and the girls ran down the stairs with Daddy to find their Easter baskets...

This year they got backyard themed baskets: Watering cans, badminton game, Frisbee, sandals and the Frozen movie (well almost all of it was themed :) not to mention a chocolate bunny!

Madison enjoyed going through her basket, although she really wanted to dip into the candy before breakfast. LOL

We let our Easter Bunnies take a nibble before church...

This was the first Easter service at our church, Stone Hill Church of Princeton in the new building. This was our second year attending service here, and we absolutely love our church home. They had a sweet egg hunt in the nursery's playground for the little's. 

Ready to hunt some eggs!

 Madison couldn't have cared less about the eggs, she wanted to play and go down the slide!

After church our dear friends the Vickermans' came over for Easter lunch with their daughter, Lila (middle).

I opted to get a Honey Baked Ham for the ease of it, and made scalloped potatoes, green beans and rolls to go with it. I also made a decadent Carrot Cake with buttermilk glaze and cream cheese frosting. One word: YUM!

 After lunch we blew bubbles in the backyard...

 Precious big girl...

 Taking a ride in the jeep.. look out folks, these drivers need some practice!

 Later in the day Jarrett watered some areas on our grass where he sprinkled some seed. Madison, who cannot stay out of the water had to run through it...

 "Mommy, I all wet and COLD!"

 Lindsay helping Daddy water the grass...

Here's my Carrot Cake... I had to send the remainder of this baby with Jarrett to work on Monday. I would've eaten the entire thing myself. No joke.

Wishing you a Happy and Blessed Easter. May Christ's love and hope fill you heart the whole year through! 

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead... 1 Peter 1:3

Cali Trip 2014

The girls and I had a fun-filled spring break vacation to California to visit our family! It was Gigi's 74th birthday, and we were so happy to get to spend it with her and see Grammie, Nonna and Grandpa to boot! Here are a few highlights of our visit:

"Higher Higher!"

Auntie Annie hung out with us during our visit and the girls just couldn't get enough of her attention ;) We had lovely chats and caught up on some sister time!

 Picked an orange off the tree in Grammie's backyard. Girls ate it and said, "Kinda sweet, but really sour!"

We ate dinner one night at Bill Lee's in Bakersfield, a Chinese restaurant that is practically a family tradition. Both sides of our family (J's and ours) would go to either Rice Bowl or Bill Lee's, which are strangely on the same street and climb into a big, cozy, dark booth and eat the best Chow Mein or Pork Fried Rice ever. As a little girl, one of the fondest memories I had was eating out with my grandparents and drinking the tea they served in little tea cups. Tea party... how cool! We cooled it down with ice cubes and of course, it was drowned with sugar. We got to share the memory this trip with my little girls...

 They loved it ;)

We had a lovely dinner at Black Angus for Gigi's birthday, and feasted on Champagne Cake (her favorite) and strawberry ice cream at her house afterwards. Madison and Lindsay got to meet Gigi's newest baby, a tiny white poodle named "Baby". Madison adored her!

Happy Birthday Gigi!! 

Madison decided Grandpa Joe was her best buddy, and she stuck to him like glue ;)

Lindsay colored a card for Gigi, and gave her a full explanation of her artwork...

Present time! We got Gigi a garden themed gift this year, and it had lots of fun things for puttering in the garden like a hat, knee pad and garden flags!

We love you Gigi!! So happy we got to spend your birthday with you!

The girls swam in the little pool in Grammie's backyard, which was a big change from the 40 degree weather we left back in NJ.

Someone thought bathing suits were optional... Skinny Dipping!

Movie Star! Lulu picked out these sun glasses and said, "These glasses have sparkles like Nonna's!!"

My little fairy princess... Aren't those roses fabulous?!

The second half of the trip we spent with Carol aka Nonna and Grandpa Jerry! The girls remembered from last year that Grandpa liked Frosted Flakes. One a couple of months ago in the grocery store, they saw them and had to get them. When we found out we were going to Bakersfield , Lindsay said, "When we see Grandpa, let's eat Frosted Flakes together!!"

Madison's cracking herself up. 

The girls got to spend some quality time with cousin Katarina playing in the backyard at Nonna's. The girls ate Popsicles and had a bath! 

Playing outside... hooray for no mosquitoes!

Having a snack outside on the porch at Nonna's...

Nonna took the girls to CALM (California Animal Living Museum) a small zoo with animals indigenous to Kern County. They had a choo choo train the girl rode, a park (see Lulu below) and tons of animals like snakes, bears and mountain lions.

We had dinner at Benji's with Nonna and Grandpa, and it was super delicious! The girls loved Basque food, especially the french bread and soup with beans. The girls were sad to leave California, and told me as soon as we were back in NJ that they wanted to go back, except they wanted Daddy to come with them. They sure did missed their Daddy, and I missed him too! It was a wonderful trip with the most beautiful weather, and we are so, so grateful to spend time with our family :) Love you!!