Friday, November 27, 2015

Thanksgiving 2015

This year Thanksgiving was extra special because it was also our 5-year wedding anniversary!! We got to go out to dinner (sans children) the night before and spend some quality time together. Then I got really sick so that quality time turned into Chance taking care of me and sending me to bed early. Not my ideal anniversary but I was so thankful that he was home and the children were spending the night at my mother-in-law's house.

Thanksgiving morning I felt better so I was able to get some cheesy rice made for our family feast. We had a great time with our Alabama family and the food was delicious as usual.

Cousins!




Collecting leaves and flowers...

...and sticks!

Running non-stop!

I stole her for a quick picture.

The sun is terrible but it was the best family picture we could get.

I am so thankful to have such a wonderful family. We got to FaceTime with my parents in the afternoon which was great since we weren't able to spend this holiday with them. We are surround by such loving people and it means the world to me to be raising my children in a loving environment. It was a wonderful Thanksgiving to say the least!

Saturday, October 24, 2015

Pumpkin Patch Day!

Brayden's school has done quite a few fun activities already this school year and celebrating Halloween was no different. They had a whole morning of fun activities planned and we all got to participate.

Playing a game to earn a cookie!

Story time.


Ready to go pick out his pumpkin.

Never mind. He would rather play.

Class picture.

Crazy.

Hay ride. 

Madison got to play as well.

It was so fun and it was perfectly short. We were thinking about doing a big pumpkin patch but honestly, I don't think it is worth the money at this point. The kids had a great time and the best part was that it was free! (I am so cheap. Blame it on my father!!)

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Madison's 2 Year Stats

She's officially two and this is HARD!!! I didn't think I would struggle as much emotionally since Brayden is four. I don't know what I was thinking! I definitely shed a few tears.





Anyways, she is two and totally showing signs of the "terrible twos." She is very independent and wants to do everything on her own. Oh, and she will let you know when she wants to do it herself quite vocally. This little girl is not shy about using her voice! And when I don't let her do what she wants? Meltdown! Just look below.

Because she had to eat green beans and chicken along with her macaroni and cheese.

Because I closed the door to the basement so she wouldn't fall down.

Because I wouldn't let her draw on the dining room table with a pen.

Because she had to share a toy with Brayden.

 Madison is still a picky eater but she is doing so much better! Last night she even ate all her broccoli without me having to assist her or play a game when she takes a bite. That doesn't happen all that often but when it does, I can hardly contain my joy! She gives me a run for my money when it comes to my sanity so the days that are easy, I bask in it like a dog on the porch. Those days are glorious!


I mentioned "little" in this post and I mean that literally! This girl is only 23 pounds!! Most of the pants and shorts she wears are still size 12 months (to fit her tiny waist) but she is wearing 18 months shirts and dresses. Some are even 24 months but she is still so tiny! The doctor says she is healthy though and her weight-height ratio is just fine.

Let's move on to her likes and dislikes!

Likes:
-shoes
-purses
-sunglasses
-books
-her blankies
-animals
-noodles
-squeezies (STILL!!)
-bath time
-stickers
-chalk
-water (hose, water table)
-her brother
-telling me "no"
-running (just like her brother!)
-fruit
-going to the park
-walking her brother into, and out of, school





Dislikes:
-getting out of the bath
-being told "no"
-sharing
-leaving Mommy (or Mommy leaving her)
-most veggies
-juice
-getting a "boo boo" (EPIC meltdowns!!)

We are still working on her colors but she does know a few of them!

So silly!! She puts on the Mr. Potato Head glasses every opportunity she gets!


So there you have it. My tiny little human is now two. I will now go cry again.

Monday, September 14, 2015

Maddie's 2nd Birthday!

Maddie's 2nd birthday totally snuck up on me! I guess that is what happens when there are a ton of summer birthdays. Anyways, it was a spur of the moment decision to have a costume party! I had been thinking, and thinking, but could not come up with a theme I wanted for her party. Then one night, we were watching Despicable Me 2 and the little girl has a costume party. DECIDED! What I didn't think about was how I was going to decorate. Oh well. 

It was pretty low key but it was great! I just did simple balloons and we got a princess bounce house. It ended up being perfect because the kids were able to nap after the party and we still had all evening to relax and clean up. The best part about the whole weekend was that my mom was in town!!! It was so fun to have her here while we celebrated and she was such a big help. The kids absolutely LOVED having her stay at our house and we can't wait for her to come back!

Our birthday shenanigans started early. Her birthday was actually on Friday, the 4th, so we celebrated with our tradition! Birthday donuts first thing in the morning!

She was a happy camper!

Then we surprised her with a bike! She's still trying to get the hang of it.

Then it was party time on Saturday morning!
The kids loved their costumes although Maddie's didn't last long.

Princess castle bounce house!


It was hot and humid. We all wanted to get in there with her!

Princess pinata!

Happy girl loved her cake and cupcake!

It was so hot that we hooked the water hose up to the bounce house. Brayden LOVED it!!

Best part of the whole weekend. My mom was in town!!

Presents!!!


Post-party nap!

Just this past Friday, Madison had her 2-year wellness check. Everything looked great and although my little peanut weighed in at just 23 pounds, the doctor says she is totally healthy. The doc was also really impressed with Madison's speech so that was nice.

Tiny little thing in only the 10th percentile!

It was so fun celebrating Madison's birthday and it was so special that my mom was here! It was supposed to be a surprise, but I totally ruined that. Oh well, it was amazing!

Monday, August 24, 2015

California Vacation

We always have so much fun in California. We get to see so much of my family (and I get to see my friends!) and we always pack our time full of fun adventures!

We were up before the sun but the kids still had smiles on their faces!


So ladylike!

Sleeping babe and a sleepy mama!

Stretching those legs after our long plane ride. And sporting her brother's shoes!

After some fun in the backyard, our first adventure was to the park! It's been so hot in Alabama that we haven't been to the park in quite a while. The kids were pretty excited!





Does anyone else's 86-year old grandpa still get on a swing?! He's pretty awesome!






 More backyard fun!





This trip included another visit to Legoland! We went for the first time on our last visit to CA so this was our second time there. Brayden started out a little grouchy but once we went on a ride, he was all smiles!



Ice cream break!




Sleepy little girl!

Brayden loved the water park too!


Splash pad at Legoland!



Little sassy pants!


Pretend City was also on the agenda! 






Our next adventure was a combined birthday party! Brayden chose superheroes and we did Tinker Bell for Madison. It was so nice to be surrounded by family to celebrate my crazy kids!



Madison, you're drunk, go home! HAHA!!



Little diva! Unicorn backpack and sunglasses. So stylish!

Cupcakes! Of course Brayden didn't want anything to do with his after blowing out the candle. "Cupcakes aren't healthy!"

Madison, on the other hand, was all about the frosting!





And this mama got some pampering time! Finally got my hair done after 8 months!


More backyard fun.

Movie night!

Silly girl.




Sister, sister!

It was truly an amazing trip!!

And this happened on the plane ride home. Two napping kiddos! Miracle!

We love our trips to CA and we are so beyond blessed that we get to go so often! However, I am so freaking excited for my mom to be coming out here to stay with us for almost a week. She will be here for Madison's birthday! It's going to be so fun!!