Family Camp-Out!

Last Friday, we went to Camp Crestwood for a camp-out with some families from our church. 

Now, the church had been talking about this for weeks and Maddie wanted to camp SO BAD. My original plan was to just send Chris and Madeline. Then Chris started to feel bad that he wasn't bringing Sydney so he decided to take her. I was all, "whatever, I'll just watch Netflix and eat Doritos." But, ultimately, it's not logistically easy with a dad and daughters, especially when it comes to the bathroom and the bunk rooms. It was supposed to rain so if we needed to take shelter we could go in the bunk rooms, but they were gender specific. The thought of sending Sydney into a bunk room with Maddie as her only chaperone was enough for me to put down the Doritos and go camp.

I say all of this to explain how I ended up camping. Because, I don't camp. But, you know what? We had a blast!

The girls were PUMPED when they saw the tent set up.

We had a painting class!

Sydney went abstract.

It started raining so we took refuge inside for a bit and played board games.

The rain cleared up and we ate s'mores, got in our jammies and fell right to sleep. 

Or not. These two were so crazy they didn't fall asleep until after 10. They slept all night. Chris and I tossed and turned. Between the trains running ALL night, the steady rain, and the unsteady air mattress, it wasn't the best sleep I ever had. But, the girls had so much fun I'm glad we did it. And I think we'll do it again. :)

Saturday we were up early and then I ran Madeline to her friend Carson's birthday party.

Her Kinder BFF LucyKate was there. 

Side story: Maddie and LucyKate share a locker and originally sat together. Except they got too chatty and Maddie got moved to a table with Murphy. Then she and Murphy talked too much so she got moved to a table with Raine. Do you see a pattern here? She already is not allowed to sit with Lizzy so I'm not sure there's anywhere else for her to go. I keep waiting on the day she tells me she sits with Mrs Priscilla (the aide.)

Maddie, Lucy and Lizzy.

Maddie and Carson. Happy birthday buddy!

Easter 2017!

We had a wonderful Easter weekend!

My beauties!

 Sisters!

Sisters again!

I have no idea why Tia took this picture 35 feet away? HA!

The girls doing the princess dress-hold is cracking me up!

We had a massive egg hunt at my parents. Like legit. So. Many. Eggs!

We went to Easter service at church.

We got some rest, and then went to Lexington for Easter with the Hughes side!

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Madeline had student-led conferences at school. I went and she reviewed her work with me. She read me a book and showed me her writing and math progress. 

I also ran up to school to shop at the Book Fair with Mads one day.

It's been so nice and warm lately, we've been doing a lot of popsicles on the patio with our neighbors! 

 Claire and Collin live behind us and we love playing with them. Maddie is doing summer camp with Claire this year and is so excited!

As for Sydney? Just keeping me on my toes. All day every day.

 She's a busy busy busy girl. She does technology class at school and ballet/gymnastics at All About Kids each week, but now she wants to do soccer as well. She's my little athlete! 

Next up: our first family camp-out!!

I've decided that moms don't make enough!

It's been a wild week in our house! 

Sunday we went to a big neighborhood party for Savannah's brother.

Maddie has had a loose tooth on the bottom for a few weeks. That night, I noticed a permanent tooth was coming in behind the baby teeth.

We actually had a dentist appointment for Tuesday so I was curious to hear what the doctor had to say.

It wasn't great news. Madeline has to get all four bottom teeth pulled to make way for her permanent teeth. She has a tiny tiny mouth (which certainly doesn't impede her talking) and her big teeth literally have no space to do anything. So, we made an appointment for a few weeks out. I'm not looking forward to that. :(

That same day she came home with her behavior goal for the week. I thought it was a great goal!

Then I noticed her teacher's behavior goal for Madeline.

 HAHAHAH! Maddie said, "My goal is to be a leader. But Mrs. Cantrell suggested I be quiet while I work." I laughed so hard. I have seriously never met anyone who talks like Maddie. She can go ALL day. 

On Wednesday, I didn't shut my garage door all the way. And two birds came in my house. And flew around, pooping everywhere while I screamed. It was actually funny, in hindsight. I called Chris and he came home to rescue me. (He thought it was a really ridiculous situation, didn't love that I cancelled his Ironman workout....but nonetheless, he came to save me. Love him!)

On dance/gymanstics day, the Easter bunny popped in for a short visit. 

Sydney's teacher continued doing so much with so little.

Speaking of Syd, she helped me some cleaning on Friday so she got an ice cream treat.

We came home and found Stella had some blood on her. Poor doggy has a tumor that occasionally ruptures. It's not the funnest thing to clean, but someone has to do it. I got her cleaned up and then we got Maddie off the bus. The neighbors came over to visit and all of a sudden, Maddie started screaming.  There was blood everywhere. Her loose tooth was hanging by a thread. She was screaming. The neighbor girls were screaming. I wanted to scream. There was blood on her hands, down her chin, it was everywhere. Then I realized I had to handle the situation (when did I become an adult?!) So, I sucked up it up, I pulled the tooth and got her cleaned up. 

 All better now!

She was in much better spirits after the tooth came out and she got cleaned up. I called Chris and asked for a raise. Between cleaning up Stella and Maddie, I decided moms don't make enough! :)

Friends missing one tooth!

Last minute, our friends invited us to Disney on Ice. They had 2 free tickets so Maddie and I hopped at the chance.

 I told her she could pick one souvenir (she wanted about 10) and she chose a $12 snow cone. Yes, you read that right. I paid $12 for a snow cone that came in this Ariel cup. 

It was a great show! I can't wait to go next year and bring Sydney. We loved it! 

Late night out for Maddie and Audrey!

  

Hoping for a less messy week next week!

Spring Break 2017 - that year we stayed home.

Well Madeline's first Spring Break is in the books! We ended up not going anywhere and staying home...and it was COLD COLD COLD! 

We were supposed to go to the outlet mall but ended up inside. Girls had to have their Auntie Anne's.

I had lots of good quality time with Mads. She helped me in the kitchen.

We painted a cardboard house.

She built a big princess Lego set.

She saw TWO movies (again, it was cold so our zoo and park plans were out. Meh.) with two different friends.

We went to Chuck E Cheese and got a million tickets.

And what I mean is, I spent a million dollars. She got about 300 tickets and a $4.00 plastic gum ball machine.

We had some fun with "April." Side note, is that giraffe actually pregnant?!

Friday night we went to Gustavo's (because, Friday night in Crestwood) and had a blast. We ran into Savannah from school. Stacy was single-mumming it with her three kiddos so our two girls joined them.

Chris and I sat behind them and had a mini date night. 

We also saw Sydney's little buddy from school Jackson. On the way to the bathroom he shouted, "THATS MY BEST FRIEND SYDNEY." We left at the same time and let the kids run around on the patio for a little bit. They were a riot. 

Then we had some ice cream as our Spring Break send-off.

Sydney had a busy week at school. She was weather watcher.

She found a caterpillar!

She played with Diya.

She talked Ms. Amber into going down the slide with her!

Chris also had a busy week. He went unsupervised to the tractor store and came home with a new lawn mower.

Then fell asleep so I couldn't ask how much it cost.

Stella had an equally busy week. She ate ELEVEN Kids Clif bars while we were at dance on Wednesday. 

 I was so worried, but it didn't even phase her.  She didn't eat the plastic, she has figured out to open and remove the plastic wrapper.

I came home one day and felt like I was being watched.

 Probably waiting until I leave so she can something else ridiculous to eat. 

And, with that, Kindergarten Staycation Spring Break is in the books!