SLEDDING!!

Kyle and Danielle came over this weekend and brought their sleds. I wasn't sure how Maddie would do, but she LOVED it.

I want a pink snow suit!

Come on Mads, get ready!!

Not sure WHAT is going on in this picture, but I'm hoping it's not a kiss!

Kyle and Hudson went first.

Then Maddie and I.

Stella went NUTS. She watches over the girls so she was a little wild trying to keep us all safe.

It was so much fun....until Maddie and I WIPED OUT!

She didn't cry or anything. She just jumped up, dusted herself off and was ready to go again with daddy.

We had left Sydney inside in her swing so I went in after two times down the hill. I told Chris to keep an eye on Madeline. I peeked out the window and she is on THIS CONTRAPTION BY HERSELF. I guess this is why a girl needs a daddy. Because I would have not let her on that by herself until she was at least 16.

After sledding, we ate some chili and the kids took a bath.

Maddie told us she was wearing a dinosaur diaper. So, of course, Hudson put on a bear diaper.

And they waddled, screaming through the house.

Worn out!!

Time for your check-up...

Last week, I took both girls to the doctor for their four month and three year check-ups. Everything was just dandy!

Sydney girl

Weight: 12 lbs, 10 ounces (20%)

Height: 24 inches (30%)

Maddie cakes

Weight: 27 lbs (11%)

Height: 35 inches (6%)

I have a sinking suspicion that one day Maddie will be looking up to her little sister!!

Playdoh mani's and the winter blues

Jeepers. It is cold. Cold Cold Cold! Unfortunately, Maddie is a lot like me. We both go STIR CRAZY after too long indoors. We have been snowed (or iced) in a few days and boy have we done it all!!

Given ourselves playdoh manicures...

Painted

Played doctor with Sydney

Fortunately, her blood pressure and heart beat checked out great.

Yes, in case you are wondering. Sydney is the most patient baby of all time. She literally sat there while Maddie gave her a full check-up. 

We made some puppets!

We did construction paper mosaics.

I literally pulled THAT out of nowhere. Remember doing those in school? Turns out, Maddie just wanted to play with a glue stick. So, I cut up a bunch of construction paper and she glued it on the page.  

We were fortunate one day for cousin Addie to come over. Madeline loved playing with her and has asked me about 5,483 times if she was coming back. 

Little Sydney is doing great--growing, growing, growing! She was sleeping about 8-10 hours a night and then we tried to stop swaddling and it got a little cray cray. Last night she slept from 9-4 (arms out of the swaddle, but legs in) so hopefully we can get her back up to great nights! She does like to take a little evening cat nap...no matter the spot!!

She's getting really adept at using her feet for things.

We had one nicer day and we took Maddie to the mall to burn off some steam at the play land. Except, they got these really cool chairs so she just proceeded to play on them. 

Whenever we do venture out, we bundle Sydney up!

We are really looking forward to summer in the Hughes house! 

Sisterly Love

So, my sister and I are almost 9 years apart. We are very close now. Growing up...we were still close, but we fought too. Right now, Maddie and Sydney are pretty much enamored with each other. But, the sequence of photos below really made me want to caption them how I imagine my life will sound in about 5 years.

Mom! Sydney's hogging all the chair!

STAY ON YOUR SIDE OF THE CHAIR!!

Mom! Sydney's touching me!!

Yep. I touched her. So what.

Well, you never know. Until then, I will embrace the way they love each other.

Sydney is always staring and smiling at Maddie. And Maddie always wants to hold her.

And, how Maddie piles Sydney up with her toys when she sleeps so that she's not alone. (Maddie likes to sleep with a lot of friends and thinks Sydney should too.) 

Love my girls!

BIRTHDAY PARTY!

The last two years, we've had small parties at our house for Maddie with just family and Kyle and Danielle. This year, Madeline asked me for a birthday party with all of her friends. So, we found a great place and invited her cousins, friends and classmates!

The place had six fully built swing sets and lots of other toys for the kids to run around and enjoy. It was perfect!

Cousin Dane on the move!

Maddie and one of her best buddies from school, Audrey.

Playing trains with school friend Grayson.

Even baby Sydney got into the action.

Ok, is anyone else just imagining all of the germs she's picking up right here? Or, is that just me? Ball.pits.are.so.gross.

But, for some reason, all of the kids wanted some ball pit germs action.

The train was a big hit too!

And, the roller coaster!

A "3" candle to blow out!

Mom, is there another chocolate cupcake with my name on it??

This girl was so hopped up on cheetos and apple juice that the icing put her over the edge. Thank goodness, birthdays only happen once a year!