For anyone who doesn't know, we recently moved (not far, but we're still unpacking). That means that I have a whole slew of reasons that I haven't blogged, but mostly, I just haven't. This however, is definitely blog worthy. Last week while Sydney was at preschool Mady and I were running errands. We stopped by Charming Charlie (go find one near you, and you're welcome) and Mady found a hat. She gave it to me and I put it on, which delighted her. She plunked one on her own head and I snapped a picture. This delighted her even more and we spent the next 30 minutes scouring that store for interesting hats to try on. Each time she would gleefully exclaim, "We're Cowboys!" Our errand day quickly turned into an impromptu Mommy/Daughter Date.
Another mom from Sydney's preschool and I decided that the kids needed more science in the curriculum, so we hold a science "lab" day each week. We have lab coats and little science journals and everything. It's so darn cute and the kids LOVE it. We do science experiments the whole time that day and have so much fun! On this day we were mixing and separating colors. (To separate, take regular crayola markers - not the washable kind - and mark them on a paper towel. Then put the bottom of the paper towel in a pan of salt water and watch the water separate the colors toward the top of the towel!)
Here was Mady's. She just LOVES being a "big" kid and doing it too!
We found a butterfly whose lower wings had been ripped off in our yard. The girls were pretty excited!
We headed over to the Wildlife Experience and checked out the Shark Exhibit. Here we are comparing teeth!
My girls LOVED this! There was a projected image of fish on the floor and they had so much fun "swimming" with Nemo and all the other fish! What was crazy was that when the girls would move suddenly or swim toward the fish, they would change course and swim away! I'm not sure if it was just coincidence or not, but it was pretty darn cool!
The girls have been big on dressing up lately. They took a break from princesses for awhile and dressed up as soldiers "in the Army of Helaman!" They look pretty terrifying right?
Our latest science experiment was done with ivory soap, toilet paper, and water! Break your soap into pieces and put them on a paper plate in the microwave. Microwave them each for 30 seconds or so and watch them grow into a cloud! It's amazing! Then add some shredded toilet paper and a little water (just a teeny bit at a time!) and mix it all together! It makes a "clean mud" that the girls had a blast with! If it starts to dry out a bit just spritz it with a spray bottle. The kids had fun for hours and everything that got on their clothes came right off because it was just soap!
Here is one of Sydney's more creative dress up combos. She deemed herself "Super Sydney," although I think she looks a bit more like Mary Poppins with the umbrella!
I stopped blogging. Sorry. I've been shocked at how little time I have now that Sydney is in preschool 3 days a week. My life is over. No more being able to go to the zoo ANY day we feel like it. It kind of stinks, I'm not gonna lie. Look how cute she was on her first day though. Awww.
And this kid needed her picture taken too. She went off to playgroup.
Seriously? When did she get so big? Makes me want to sing Fiddler...
The best together pic we got.
Sydney also started dance classes. We've been working to get here for a LOOOOOOONG time (she had to be potty trained to do it). Up until 2 days before I didn't think it was going to happen, but when she started preschool she didn't want to stop, so she pulled through. Look how cute they are in dance class (with one of her little buddies).
These girls are in preschool with Sydney, so it's fun to see them at dance too. Look how TALL that kid is, even without our genes! Sheesh!
Mady took her camera (an itty bitty one that flashes but does not take pictures) to class and shot pictures while I was shooting too. You can tell Syd is my oldest kid. I was taking pictures and videos THE ENTIRE TIME class was happening (45 minutes) and most of the other parents didn't even bring a camera.
She is SUCH a monkey. I swear I've heard the teacher tell her not to do this like a hundred times. Welcome to my life...
All ready with her little dance bag. I know I'm biased, but seriously?
Mady DESPERATELY wants to do dance class too, only not desperately enough to potty train for it. We've told her we'll sign her up as soon as she potty ttains, but she doesn't want to. So when the ballerinas got to invite a friend to come dance with them, she was over-the-moon about it.
Here's a little video of Sydney doing a dance they learned in September. I've got to keep this one forever. It's so precious!
And their "Monster Mash" one from Halloween!
I'm not gonna lie - they crack me up and I do think she's the cutest little dancer there!
I know you're all shocked. I've posted more in the past 2 weeks than I have in ages! Get ready for another good one because this little girl just turned 4 years old today! What???? I know you're flabbergasted just like me, but let's try to move on. We dragged out the celebrating as long as possible and went to dinner on Thursday night at Red Robin. Do you love her earrings? Sydney does all her own accessorizing (in case you ever wondered).
The next morning Sydney came running in and said, "There's a bunch of balloons in the hall!" I had spent the night before blowing up about 50 balloons (yes, my cheeks hurt) for her. We were going to put them in her room to surprise her, but she sometimes wakes up in the middle of the night and I knew if that happened and she saw balloons in her room at 3 AM, all would be lost. So we left them in the hall overnight, but she woke up before we did and found them before we got them in there! It turned out perfect because we shut all the doors upstairs and they treated it like a ball pit! They were diving in the balloons, throwing and kicking and sitting on them. They had SOOO much fun with these that they're still there! I have to wade through balloons any time I want to get to my room. Less fun, but still totally worth it!
Next were the family presents.
Then a trip to the zoo. On your birthday you get a button that says, "Happy Birthday Sydney!" (or whomever) plus a free ice cream cone and carousel ride. During her carousel ride the zoo personnel even sang Happy Birthday to Sydney. She was soooo happy. Mady cried because no one was singing to her and she was convinced it was her birthday too. Sigh. When that girl's birthday finally gets here she is going to be overwhelmingly happy. Sydney did share her birthday ice cream most willingly, so Mady made out just fine.
Sydney L-O-V-E-D hanging out with Daddy (happy day!)
Today we had her birthday party and it was so entertaining. I love having that many toddlers in one place. It's always hilarious. We were going to have a pool/water balloon/slip n' slide party (per Syd's request) but it was a teensy bit chilly, so we scrambled and threw together some party games at the last minute.
Of, course, we had to have the pinata. And our smallest munchkin learned the hard way why you have to stay away from people swinging at a pinata. Ouch.
Sydney got crazy spoiled and got more presents than she's ever seen. She had such wonderful and fun friends. They were all perfect.
And we ate mass quantities of "Sause" (sausage) pizza. Her shirt can prove it. I think it might be permanently stained orange. At least she was happy!
We had so much fun with Sydney and all her friends! Thanks to everyone who wished her Happy Birthday and who came! She loved every minute of it! We are so glad to have her in our family!
As an added bonus, here is a video of the girls with the balloons. Four of them (because Sydney is 4 years old) had $1 bills in them and after Mady accidentally popped a balloon, Sydney was bound and determined to get the money out of those things! It was hilarious and seriously entertained her for AT LEAST 20 minutes. This is definitely a new tradition of ours. Enjoy.
We've had loads of fun with our silly girls this summer! They sure love being sisters and always have fun togethere! They've been up "napping" for 3 hours now and haven't stopped chatting the whole time!
We're so proud of Sydney! Here she is getting an award at the Ward BBQ for memorizing 6 Articles of Faith. Great job Sydney! She's not even 4 yet!
We got a slip n' slide for the first time ever last week. So hilarious. Sydney caught on pretty quick.
While my parents were here we wnt all over the place! We took the girls back up to the Butterfly Pavillion and had lots of fun.
Some of us were very brave and held Rosie the Tarantula (Jess, I added these pics for you!)
Mady said No freaking way. Sydney held about 10 butterflies. She was so good at holding sooooo still!
We finally got Mady to hold 1. She is NOT a fan of creepy crawlies, even the pretty ones. She just kept begging for lunch.
After the bugs we found a play area. Mady was thrilled! But her real love...
Was the zip line! We finally got Sydney to go on it twice. She had a blast and then decided to be terrified of it. This girl does not like heights.
Mady must have gone on this thing AT LEAST 6 times. She LOVED it.
Two days later we went to the zoo. We got to feed the birds (Not tuppence a bag though!)
A
After that we watched the baby tigers forever. They were chasing each other, one had a boogie board he tried to balance on, and they had a firehose they were playing tug-of-war with! It was so fun to see them playing and jumping and enjoying life. It was incredibly fun. Thanks Mom & Dad for coming to visit!
A few weeks ago my parents came to visit. We took a nice little day trip to Rocky Mountain National Park. It made for a long day and a long drive, but it was worth it! First we went hiking up to Nymph lake.
Here's my handsome folks.
And my cutsey family
Then we continued up to Dream Lake. Here's my Dad and Aaron. Does that view look familiar? Go check out the Colorado state quarter. It's this view right here!
Yay we made it! Did you know we've also been married 10 years now people? 10 years! That's a whole decade! Happy Anniversary to us (not on that exact day, but I was just thinking of it).
We drove up Trail Ridge Road and went to check out the Alpine Tundra hike. As you can see, it was windy. It was also cold, and a lot freaking longer than it said it was.
Aaron and Sydney did this one last year (a part of it) while I watched Mady sleep in the car.
Here we all are at a mere 12,000 feet above sea level. I knew the landscape up there was fragile, but there were signs up there telling us that at their upper limits, trees only grow an inch in diameter ever 100 years and that if you damage the landscape it could take hundreds of years to grow back! Let's definitely stay on the path!
We had lots of fun! I'd been dying to get up there, so I was so glad we did! Hopefully we can make it again this year!
The hubs and I are raising the most beautiful little preschoolers you've ever seen! I love reading, Disney movies, crafting, and generally acting like a 5 year old.
