Sheriff Maddie's 3rd Birthday Party

There's a new Sheriff in town... Madison Grace! We celebrated Maddie's 3rd birthday with a few friends for a morning play date and a Sheriff Callie themed cowgirl party. She invited three friends, Lilly, Teagan, Lila as well as Sissy and our neighbor's son, Michael. 

Hee Haw!! Madison had fun playing ponies with her friends.

We enjoyed a yummy brunch with "Cowgirl Haystack Bake", "Lassos n' Cream Cheese" and "Root-a-Berry Fruit Salad (It's from the show, Sheriff Callie)."

Mama made a home made chocolate and vanilla Sheriff Callie cake.

I found some cute printables online and just printed and cut out a banner and some decorations. At the dollar store I found some sheriff badges, and the kids had fun wearing them around the house, especially taking turns on the rocking horse!

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!! 

We opted for more of just fun free play rather than games...

After playing for awhile, we ate our brunch and the Mamas enjoyed catching up. Two of my girlfriends are expecting, Kristy (a Girl!) and Allison (a Boy!) and they discovered their due dates are just 5 days apart ;)

After brunch we watched an episode of Maddie's favorite show, Sheriff Callie for those of the girls who hadn't seen it ;)

 Madison couldn't wait to blow out her candles, and she had lots of help from her friends!

Maddie's sweet friends brought her some adorable gifts, and they were so cute while she opened them. Madison is the slowest, and I mean slowest gift opener ever! It took us like 6 hours to get through Christmas. Her friends were so patient waiting for her to open her 4 gifts.,. 20 minutes later. LOL,

Thank you friends for coming to Maddie's 3rd Birthday Party! We had a blast, and can't wait to celebrate Maddie's real birthday with a family party tomorrow!

Ballet & Tap

For Christmas this year Papa got the girls Ballet/Tap dancing lessons! They started the first week of January, going Tuesday evenings from 5-6pm at a local dance studio. Every week they look forward to their class, and can't wait to put on their leotards and tap shoes. They each take a 1 hour class, with Lindsay's being split between 15 mins or ballet then 45 mins of tap and Maddie's 1/2 ballet and 1/2 tap.

Ballet & Tap Dancers!

This is Madison's first experience with dance lessons, although she has been begging me for over a year to go to dance like big sis. She couldn't wait to turn 3 to go herself! She is the tiniest little dancer, and her tap shoes were literally the smallest size they make. Those little white tap shoes are just too cute, and I plan on saving them and maybe framing them...LOL. Although I haven't been able to watch her dance, I could see for a moment she was a little timid and shy around the other girls and teacher. With a big sister her friends become Maddie's and she really hasn't had much of an opportunity to be by herself. It is so good for her to be on her own and practice those friendship-making skills ;)  Madison's teacher said she did great, and was able to keep up with the bigger girls and warmed up to her halfway through the class. Maddie came home and said, "Oh Mama, I just love my dance teacher Miss Amanda!"

Tap was new for Lindsay this year, and she LOVES to wear her tap shoes on our hard wood floors and show us her moves. Her song for the end of the year performance is Taylor Swifts, "Shake It". After her first class Lindsay's teacher told me she got a little frustrated at the barre when she saw the other girls doing some moves she hadn't quite mastered (technically the girls are starting mid-year). But, Lindsay kept trying and after the next class told me, "Mama! I practiced and practiced and I finally did my plie just right!" She was so proud of her hard work!

Can't wait to see your performance in June our talented dancing daughters!

Christmas 2014 & Grammie's Visit

We celebrated Christmas and New Years with Grammie this year! She arrived on December 17th and we've shared a fun-filled and busy holiday season ;) 

Grammie was feeling crafty and got the girls in on making Chocolate Christmas Trees. They had Lindsay's most favorite candy, York Peppermint Patty as the base and stacked Reese's Peanut butter cups to make a tree. Then they decorated it with frosting and sprinkles...and whoa baby, just a bite would cure any sweet tooth!

Sipping Sweethearts

Just a few days after Grammie arrived, Lindsay got a terrible cold that lasted for 5 days. Then it passed to Grammie after we visited NYC. Then just when Lindsay was improving, Madison got sick. Then Jarrett felt bad for just 1 day, took some airborne and dodged the cold..whew. We took Madison to the Dr. and discovered she had strep..yuck. Grammie and Lindsay both were tested for strep, and they somehow avoided it. I am so thankful God kept me healthy to take care of my sick family for almost all of Christmas vacation!! The girls were feeling better just in time to see the Lawrenceville Fire Department do its annual Santa Parade through our neighborhood and gave them candy canes!

Christmas Eve we spent making treats: Nonna's Chocolate Pie and sugar cookies for Santa!

Made my first Nonna Chocolate Pie. It was yummy, but never as good as hers!! 

Maddie helping Mama decorating Sugar Cookies for Santa

Our Christmas Tree overflowing with gifts!!

Christmas Eve dinner we ate Honeybaked Ham (its a Fisher thing), Party Potatoes (amazing recipe Nonna, Thank You!) and Lemon Butter Green Beans. So happy to spend the holidays together!!

MMM Chocolate Pie!! Tastes like Christmas!

Reading our favorites, The Night Before Christmas and A Christmas Story

On Christmas morning the girls ran down the stairs to gifts Santa brought....

Santa got Madison a Rocking Horse and Lindsay a Doodle Bear

Thank you Uncle Matt for my Puppy and carrier! 

There was a theme to the girls gifts this year: Ponies and Frozen. Madison had lots of horse stuff, and both girls received a ton of Frozen stuff.

Thank you Nonna and Grandpa for the beautiful new outfits... we sure do love our skirts!! 

This sparkling and singing dress was one of the favorite gifts for Madison

We took a breakfast break for Strata and Fruit Salad and moved onto round #2 of gifts...

Thank you Papa for the Ballet Outfits, Lessons and our ABC mouse subscription!! 

After opening gifts we used our new LalaLoopsy Easy Bake Oven and made some cakes to have at our real tea party with our new tea set from the Morris Clan! Later that evening we had a family game night and played "Don't Wake Daddy" (Thank you Aunt Katie & Kat) and "Hungry Hippos"!

Thank you Nate & Mia for our tea set! 

When everyone was feeling almost better, we made a trip to Philly to see Frozen on Ice!

The girls were mesmerized watching the show and sang along to all the performances

We sat pretty high up, and enjoyed a full view of the stage!

Both girls enjoyed their own excursions over Christmas Vacation....Madison talked Grammie into taking her to Chuck-E-Cheese to ride her most favorite pony there she has also named,"Sugar". Next, Lindsay told her she wanted to go to Build-A-Bear, and enjoyed making a new teddy for her growing collection :)

Madison: Riding a pony is serious business.

With all the visitors we've had in the past months, we have made a few trips to visit Chuck-E. Luckily, this time around I had to babysit, so Daddy went with Grammie and had fun playing ski-ball. LOL.

Daddy and his girls with his good old pal, Chuck. 

We spent a traditional New Year's Eve at the Fisher house eating Mexican food, this year was Chile Verde...YUM! Jarrett did a pre-countdown at the girls bedtime and after popping a bottle of apple cider and tooting their party horns, Madison announced, "Hey, where's the toast?" Funny Girl ...She thought we would be eating toast at midnight. LOL. I can't think of a better way of starting the new year....laughing with the ones you love! Happy 2015!

Grammie Visits NYC

Grammie flew into NJ this year to spend Christmas with her two favorite Grand-Girls! During her visit she surprised me and told me she wanted to take me into the city to see the Radio City Rocketts for my birthday. I have always loved the Rocketts, and might have considered it a career choice until I discovered I didn't meet the height requirement ;(  We enjoyed a fun afternoon sight seeing in NYC, which was all decked out for Christmas and oh-so-magical. I drove into the city (yikes!) and parked all day for just $18, which is was a steal!! I made it without getting lost or running over pedestrians doing last minute shopping which was a bonus ;) 

We ate at Bobby Van's for lunch... can we say Lobster Mac n' Cheese!?!?

We had lunch at Bobby Van's.. I had Mushroom Risotto with sliced filet, and Mom had Steak Gorgonzola. We split the Lobster Mac n' Cheese... so delicious and fancy!!

Say cheese Mama!

Next we took a taxi to Central Park. Mom has always wanted to see Central Park, but it was FREEZING, literally there were snowflakes falling! We opted for a carriage ride with a cozy blanket to see the sights. We saw the skating rink, boat house and had a pretty entertaining driver. LOL.

We grabbed a hot coffee at Starbucks and walked down 5th Avenue to see Rockefeller Center and back to Radio City to see our show...

Mom in Rockefeller Plaza

The tree in Rockefeller Plaza

Waiting in line to see the Rocketts!!

Happy Birthday to me!! Thanks, Mom!

Look at that pretty lady!! 

Inside Radio City there was a giant chandelier... gorgeous!! I know my girls would have flipped out if they could have seen the bling :)

Loved the theater and how festive it was decorated!! 

The show was fantastic, I love the costumes and it was amazing to see the synchronized movements. I left the theater itching to do some high-kicks and sing some Christmas carols ;) We saw Times Square in a pedicab, and the lights were so bright from the screens it was like daytime at 7pm!

Thank you so much Mom for such a special day and some sweet memories! It was a blast getting to hang out and have a Mother-Daughter Day like we did when I was a little girl. I'll never be too old to want a day out with  my Mama ;) Thank you Jarrett for making it possible by watching the girls all day for us to have an adventure in NYC. Love you!! xo

Done Writing...Hooray!

A chalk message for our soon-to-be Dr. Daddy

 Hip Hip Hooray... Jarrett has officially finished writing his dissertation! Last week he sent me a text message me in all caps, "IT IS FINISHED!!" That night we had to take a moment to celebrate what a huge, amazing accomplishment it is. I can't believe he has written 200+ pages of new material that will soon be published while raising a young family and moving across country. I am in awe. Words cannot express how very proud of you and all the sacrifices you've made along this roller coaster of a journey.

 We surprised Jarrett with dinner at one of our favorite restaurants in Princeton, YaYa Noodles. I got there a few minutes early and brought balloons and sparkling cider for toasts! The waitress was a little skeptical about the girls drinking what appeared to be champagne, but when I showed her the bottle, she realized it was non-alcoholic ;)

Cheers to Finishing!! 

On to the final defense... hopefully he can schedule it in early 2015!!! WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU AND ALL YOUR HARD WORK!! Love you!!

Santa!

In front of the school they had blow up Christmas decorations... they saw Mickey and had to snap a pic!

Santa made a surprise appearance at St. Ann's Preschool on Saturday! The girls were eating a brunch and Madison was SO EXCITED when he walked in. 

 She stood up in her chair and squealed and pointed, "SANTA!!"

 We waited in line to see Santa and take our turn to sit on his lap.

 I wondered whether Maddie would be scared of Santa, but she couldn't wait to climb on his lap and talk his ear off. When he asked her what she wanted for Christmas, she replied "I want a Rocking Horse and put it in my room!". Girl knows what she wants ...LOL.

 When it was Lindsay's turn, she was a little shy and wasn't so chatty. After all, all her friends from preschool were watching and she whispered, "I would like a Doodle Bear that glows in the dark."

Merry Christmas Santa! 

 Lindsay and Madison visited the Christmas coloring picture station and Maddie melted Santa's heart when she colored her picture and took it over and gave it to him. Maybe she was trying to score some points and make sure Santa remembered her request, but I think she was just being her sweet thoughtful self ;) The girls are SO excited for Christmas this year!!

Handsome Daddy and his Maddie Girl