The first Zoo day of 2014!

On Friday, the weather was PERFECT for a ZOO day!

I grabbed my sister and we headed to the zoo! 

And, our favorite docent was working!

At this point I realized sweet, fair Sydney needed a hat!

So I got one out!

At THIS point, I realized she needed a bigger hat! Woops--no more newborn size hats in our house!

Taking a snack break...

 I tried and I tried to get my double stroller in the trunk (I forgot the trick Chris showed me). My neighbor came over and poked and prodded until he finally declared I just needed a new car. Hmm. I like how he thinks! Anyways, I wound up bringing two strollers. Thank goodness I had a lot of hands!

Except, this wasn't EXACTLY who I planned on riding in the smaller stroller.

Oh, you don't pop a knee up and prop back while you look at tortoises? That's just Madeline? 

It was a great zoo day! 

On Saturday, Madeline had a chaperoned date to Indiana with Hudson! They played, and then we had a quick lunch at Pizza King! YUM!!

Being a helper!

Every day that Maddie goes to school she gets to sign up to be a helper. Her favorite is "Flag Helper-" this helper holds the flag while they say the Pledge. There's also "Lunch Helper," "Snack Helper," "Chair Helper," "Line Leader," "Caboose," etc, etc. One of the funniest helpers is "Weather Watcher." The Weather Watcher randomly gets a song sung to them asking them to look out the window and report on the weather. 

I've been using this "helper" thing to my advantage.

Take, for example, the "dishwasher helper"

Or, the "room-cleaner helper."

(This was after I asked her to pick up her stuffed animals).

Little Sydney is growing, growing! 

I am so cute! Want to see my new trick?

I can take my pacifier...

And put it in my mouth!

Note: I only like to do this during the day. At night, I like to cry so that my mommy visits me and does it for me!!

We had a fun play date with Tia!

And, a trip to All About Kids. Soley was having dance class, but the girls got to play for a few minutes.

The other night, Madeline told me she was setting up a tea party for us. Imagine my surprise when I walked in and she was naked! Not sure why.

And, we had breakfast at Panera. Look at chubby cheeks here.

We are hoping for a warm weekend and maybe a trip to the zoo!!! Fingers crossed!

Free Play at the Science Center!!

On Saturday, the Science Center had free play for kiddos four and under. So, of course, we hooked up with K and D and Hudson for some morning play time.

They had a great time! There was so much for them to do.

There was the ball track...

Mazes to traverse...

Water tables to splash in...

Air Ducts to push scarves through...

Rocks to examine...

Things to ponder...

Buses to ride...

and towers to build!

Even K and D found things to keep them busy!

In fact, there was so much to do, our smallest party member passed out after about only 30 minutes! She slept in her stroller while we explored the museum.

But she was all smiles when we got home!

Rolfe's Party and Dinner with Dane!

I looked at Maddie the other day and just couldn't believe how big she was. She is getting to be such a little lady. She LOVES helping me and is very sweet to her sister and friends. (most of the time.)

 She likes to feed her.

She likes to dress her up.

Define thunder-thighs.

Me and my girls.

On Friday, the girls and I headed to Ten Pin for Rolfe's 5th birthday party. It was a Super Hero party, but my girls broke the rules a little and went as Princesses.

 Snow White Sydney

Princess Belle (who was VERY timid at first), Snow White and mommy

Maddie had never bowled before so I had to teach her how to roll her ball down the lane.

I asked her to smile and she gave me this face. 

She gave the ball a BIG push. TEN minutes later, it made it to the pins. :)

She was super concerned about her pink ball until I told her where the ball return was.

Blowing on the the slow balls to get them down the lane!

Since Maddie couldn't get up enough speed on her own, they brought 

out this little neat contraption for her.

Then we had some pizza!

Then cake!

Sydney and I observed. 

We came home, took a little rest, then got ready for dinner with nana, grandpa, Dane and Quinn. Maddie looked so sweet I just had to take a few photos.

See what I mean? She's SO old!

Loving on her cousin!