Daylight Savings Time

In college, daylight savings ROCKED. Nothing made me happier than "falling back" and the extra hour of sleep I got.

Then I had kids.

And I realized that Daylight Savings was a dirty dirty concept. Anyone with kids knows that on "Fall Back" Sunday, when all of your kidless friends are sleeping, you might be up at 6AM. One time, Maddie had us up at 530 and we were having lunch at 10. This time, both of our kids miraculously slept until 7 so that was FANTASTIC. They were a little crabby that night (it felt an hour later to them) but overall, we survived. Probably our best time change since Maddie was born.

Sunday, we took daddy to the museum. I knew he would love spending time with Madeline there. I followed Sydney around while Maddie and daddy played.

They built a tall track.

They tested an earthquake on their buildings.

Daddy hooked her on to a rope and she navigated the ropes maze.


Trying to put herself in a bubble.


Sydney spent time at the magnet station again…she loves the loud noises!

And then I chased her around for another hour while Maddie and daddy explored!

Sunday afternoon Maddie and I had lunch with cousin Gracie. The girls played so nicely at the restaurant together!

We clean the playroom on Sundays so there's always a lot of open space (until Monday when it becomes a disaster zone again) to play in. Maddie pulled Sydney on her sleeping bag and the girls were laughing and laughing.

Laying back, belly laughing. 

Then daddy pulled both girls.

On Wednesday, we played at home in the morning. Sydney had a little runny nose so she took a morning nap. I went in to check on her and found her like this, hoarding her pacifiers.

One in her mouth, one in her hand, one under her tummy…sounds about right. She sleeps with about 8 every night. She loves her pacifier. It's going to be fun breaking that habit. I'm getting a rash just thinking about it. Madeline was a terror when we took hers away. I'm not seeing Sydney being any better.

Maddie made her own lunch!

(Peanut butter and fluff sandwich)

After lunch, we headed to All About Kids so the girls could burn some energy. They were both very brave!

Maddie's first time on the top of the rock wall.

Then she hopped up on the beam and cat-walked all the way across, by herself.

Sydney thought the pit was hilarious. She's always been afraid of it, but not Wednesday. She jumped right in!

We had some fun in the afternoon sun!

Maddie has pretty much weaned herself from her nap. Usually when Sydney is napping, I try to really focus on my big girl. We play Candy Land, bake, color, play playdoh…really whatever we can think of! This day she wanted to snuggle and watch Cinderella. A few minutes in I heard her deep breathing and, sure enough, she was OUT. So I took a little nap too. :)

Almost four…can you believe it!

TRICK OR TREAT!

Friday night was a chilly Halloween night, but the kids had a great time!

Tinkerbell and Wilson ready to go out and stock up!

And the chariot arrives!

Maddie loves grandpa's tractor/wagon. Especially this year because it was FREEZING. So the kids would run to the houses and then run back and hop on under the blankets.

So cozy with my tia!

The spookiest house couldn't scare Madeline.

Back at home, Madeline and Hudson each got to pick one piece of candy!

(Which turned into two and then three…but we cut them off at 3. They were getting loopy!)

On Saturday, Maddie got a much-needed hair cut. She loves her long hair so I had to assure her we were just cutting off a little.

We had some playroom time where Sydney immediately put on her princess crown. She finds this crown and then puts it on. (Usually upside down, but it stays on and she wears it.)

Laughing at herself. 

And, just so you know I'm not making it up, here she is on a different day, also wearing the crown. 

This one is going to be trouble, I tell you!

Maddie and I did a quick Target run and she had her first Icee. She was obsessed. Wouldn't even look up for the camera! Yum!

If Sydney is my wild one, Madeline is my sassy one. I mean do these feet and shoes not crack you up?

Happy Halloween! Can you believe it's November?

Setting a World Record

Last weekend, Humana, attempted to set a world record for having the most people line up in an awareness ribbon. My good friend, Sherri, coordinated the event and it was so fun! 

My mom and aunt also work with me for Humana so we all met down at Waterfront Park. 

We got our t-shirts, sweatbands and bracelets which gave us a our check-in number.

Dancing to the music!

Just the girls!

Our group! 

As it turns out, we did not have enough people to beat the record (held in India of 6,800 people). But, funnily enough, we did set a world record! There is a record for people wearing headbands (who knew, right?!) and we smashed it. So….I am a Guiness Book of World Record holder. Pretty wild, huh?

I have been with Humana for almost seven years and I truly love working for a health and wellness company! This event was more than just a record attempt, it was about promoting awareness of breast cancer and the importance of screenings. What a fun afternoon!

Gearing up for Halloween!

We've been gearing up around our house for Halloween and Winter! (One, we're excited about. The other…meh.)

Getting messy with the pumpkin seeds!

Note: the bowl spilled all over the floor immediately after this picture. Super yuck!

Maddie designed her pumpkin. She was very specific- she wanted one star eye, one moon eye and a 2 teeth smile.  

She has also loved playing with these teeth.

We start out most mornings in the playroom. This is pretty indicative of how it looks. Maddie will get everything that she wants to play with set up. Baby Godzilla Sydney will then knock it over, in her attempt to "play" with her sister. Think lots of tears and explanation from mommy that Sydney is "just a baby" and "she just wants to play with her big sister."  I didn't realize my Masters in Diplomacy would get so much use at home!

Sydney loves trampolines. When we go to AAK or KGA she spends most of her time on the trampolines. She loved jumping on our neighbor's trampoline last week.

She also loves baths with her sister!

I took the girls to story time this week and it's so funny to watch Sydney do everything the big kids do.

She got right in there and was throwing the parachute up.

Maddie stocked up on library books.

We went to the Parent Teacher store after and the girls could have played in their playhouse for days!

Yes, I'm aware Madeline's outfit doesn't match. Y'all, I was just surviving this day. (Plus I look at it this way. Any mom who sees this knows she is a 3 year old who dressed herself.)

We went to Panera for the first time in a long time. It went pretty good. As long as you continue to shovel food at Sydney (she EATS) she sits ok.

She has also taken to opening the ottoman and climbing in. (Note: Madeline couldn't open that - or didn't have any interest in opening it - until she was 3. Sydney's been doing it for 3 months. Sigh.)

Sydney moves up next week to her new class at school. I know she will do great. She's visited a few times and they told me she was already teaching the kids some new tricks. (No joke.) Oh boy. I pray for her teacher. Sydney's like the equivalent of 2 kids so I hope she knows what she's getting in to.

Trick or treating tomorrow. Daddy Maddie is so excited for her treats!