A morning on the farm

This morning we got up and headed north to Snohomish county to a wonderful little farm called Swan Trail.  It was beautiful property with a large pumpkin patch, a petting zoo, hay maze, corn maze, hay rides, and play area.  We started by checking out the animals.  Emma loved the kittens.  Madi finally warmed up to them after a little while.  To be honest, Madi had to warm up to everything and it didn’t always happen.  Her farm experience was a little different then Emma’s.  After checking out the animals, we played in the play area and went through the hay maze, then headed out on our pumpkin hunt. 

Emma petting the kitties.  Thankfully I am allergic so there will be no kitties coming home. 

Kitty’s nose.  One moment in which Goo was smiling.

Emma had fun driving the tractor.

This is the other moment of happiness for Madi, driving the car. 

Jumping off the hay stack.

Emma flying down the slide at the end of the hay maze.  Madi wasn’t too excited about going next, even on my lap. 

Just one of many tantrums. 

Enjoying the ride with her pumpkins.

Stage Diving

About a week ago, Madi insisted it was time to dance. Daddy was sitting with the girls quietly on the couch reading a story when Madi started yelling "dance, dance!" So daddy turned on their favorite-Pearl Jam. The girls climbed up on the ottoman and started jumping so we decided to move it closer to the couch so there was a little more space for them to jump. This then turned into them jumping from the ottoman to the couch in what looks like their first attempt at stage diving.

I’m a Big Girl Now!

Emma has really been showing us how grown up she is lately.  With Daddy standing near by she somehow managed to grab a new carton of milk behind his back.  She took the milk over to the cup drawer, pulled out a milk cup, opened the milk and attempted to pour it.  Well, it doesn’t look like any made it into the cup but instead all over the floor in which case she grabbed a towel out of the towel drawer and began cleaning it up.  When daddy realized what had occurred, this is what we saw.  Too funny.

Last night she had a cup of water that she had set on the floor.  Papi came running by and knocked it over so she went to the towel drawer and got a towel to clean it up.  Such a good little helper. 

Madi has also been showing her independence lately.  One day after naps, I stayed upstairs to change Emma.  When I came down, this is what I found Madi doing… Helping herself to a snack.

From upstairs to down she managed to strip off her clothes, go to the pantry, retrieve the bag of Cheerios, take it to the table and filled up her cup.  This really only took seconds, or the amount of time it took me to change Emma’s diaper.  They are fast.

Needless to say, the pantry has a new lock and the milk is no longer in reach. 

Other happenings… We have taken a couple trips to the zoo and found that there was a wing we had never seen before.  I am not sure how I managed to completely look past the Northern Trail. It was like I knew it was there but wasn’t sure where it really was, so we just skipped it.  So we finally checked it out and saw the brown bears, the otters, some elk, a wolf, a mountain goat and a couple bald eagles.  It is a really cool little corner of the zoo. We also finally saw the kangaroos, emus and snow leopards.  The girls love the otters. 

The baby gorilla was showing off for us too.  He came up to the glass and was dancing around.  I couldn’t get the girls to get close enough to get them in a picture though. 

We also took a trip to the Puyallup Fair.  The girls enjoyed looking at the animals and walking around.  Emma took part in riding the carousel, playing the drums in the African Safari, and trying cotton candy.  Madi was pretty content just hanging in the stroller.  Peeking in on the baby pigs.

Not completely sure of what is going on, but riding anyway. 

Playing the drums.

Happily hanging in the stroller with her pencil and book.

Mmmm, cotton candy.

School has also been going great!  They have now been in school for two weeks and are loving it.  I am too; as Friday I officially dropped them off and left.  On Tuesdays, I stay and help out in the classrooms, then on Fridays they are dropped off and our buddy mom stays and helps out.  Last Friday I was really nervous about leaving them. I wasn’t sure how Madi would handle it.  I wasn’t too worried about Emma as she seems to adapt pretty well and doesn’t mind other moms helping her or holding her.  I decided to leave them at free play time and then returned for circle time and snack.  When I returned, they didn’t see me so I decided to stay out of sight and observe.  I sat and watched them do circle time, wash hands and have snack all with their buddy and his mom.  They were doing great and didn’t need me at all.  So this Friday, I took them to school, got them settled with toys and said goodbye.  They did awesome and were so cute when they finally saw me at pick up.  I now have 2 hours to myself on Friday mornings.  It is the strangest feeling. 

First Day of School ‘09

Today we started University Ravenna Co-op preschool.  The girls had a great time checking out their classroom and seeing a few old friends from last year.  We were running a bit late so the first day pics are not what I was hoping for, oh well.  They will have many more first days of school in their lives.

All Good Things Must Come To An End

The beginning of the end came last Friday when daddy made it back to the East Coast.  As stated before he wasn’t here for long as he and I took off for New York on Saturday.  We did hit the beach and had fun splashing around.

Saturday morning Chad and I took off before the girls woke up.  They thought we were sleeping all weekend.  Our bedroom door stayed closed and the girls would walk by and say “Shhh, mommy sleeping” and “Shhh, dadda sleeping”.  To be honest, I wish we had been sleeping all weekend, New York was a blast but I just can’t do it like I used too. 

I am not sure who had more fun while we were away, the grandmas or the girls.  From the sounds of it, I would almost say the grandmas.  The girls are very lucky to have these two amazing women in their lives.   Thank you Nana for making the trip East.     Hanging out in the sand with BB.         Rock, rock on BB’s back.      Nana’s turn.

        Doing the lobster.

After a LONG 4 hour drive back from New York we met up with the Fraziers and Tilsons for one last evening on the beach.  It was cold, but beautiful.  The girls have had a great time playing with Lucy the past few weeks.  We will miss her and her family.    Watching daddy throw rocks. Chillin’ with Lucy. Emma and BB checking out the seagulls. Madi and Nana making butterflies in the sand. The gang checking out the sun setting over Duxbury. Family photo-op Lucy and Emma playing in the dunes. Lucy and Madi playing with the big shells they found.

Tuesday morning we went to brunch with Daddy then I took him to catch a train up to Boston.  We have spent our last days just hanging out.  It has been an incredible 43 days. 

Dear BB,

Thank you so very much for being such a wonderful Mother-in-Love and more importantly, a wonderful grandmother to the girls.  We are so very lucky to have you in our lives.  The last six weeks have been amazing, fun, relaxing and everything a summer should be.  It has been so much fun for me to watch the girls get to know you and you to get to know the girls.  They have grown up so much while they were with you and learned so many new things from you.  Who would have thought Emma would be talking as well as she is back on day one.  You took the time to point things out and help her pronounce all the new words in her vocabulary.  And Madi came out of her little shell with your dance parties.  I think Fleetwood Mac will forever remind me of you and Madi dancing in the living room.  Thank you for your kindness and patience as we took over your beautiful home.  It is so nice to be able to come here and feel so comfortable and “at home”.  We love you!

Daddy’s Here!

This morning I drove up to Boston to pick up Daddy.  He left us on the 11th of August and is back for a few days before he has to go to a work meeting in Boston on Tuesday.  He and I are here today but gone tomorrow-off to NYC for two nights.  Then back again for a day and off to Boston he goes.  We will meet up with him again at the airport on Thursday. 

It has been a long 3.5 weeks without him.  Emma greeted him with her usual enthusiasm (she LOVES her daddy), Madi greeted him with her usual skepticism and took her time warming up.  The hugs and laughs did come though.  Pictures to be posted later.  We will be hitting the beach after naps. The weather is beautiful and warm.  

Nana’s Here!

Wednesday night I drove up to Boston to pick up Nana.  She flew in to spend our last week in Duxbury with us.  She is also going to double team the girls with BB this weekend while Chad and I go to NYC.  Yesterday we took her to the park and drove all around this beautiful little town.  After naps, we went for a quick trip to the beach.  It was sunny and beautiful but a little chilly.