Memorial Day - a day with grandparents!

What a gorgeous Monday we had here!

We started our Memorial Day at the zoo with grandma and grandpa.

As always, we started with a carousel ride.

The girls have been asking to ride the camel so we finally let them.

Pretty much the entire car trip Sydney talked about the "garolas." (Gorillas) I had told her there was a new baby and she desperate wanted to see  the baby garola. When we got to the gorilla exhibit there  was a sign saying the baby was only out Fri-Sun. The girls were pretty sad as we walked out. Until, we got a special surprise!

The baby was right outside the pavilion sitting with a zookeeper! (The mom gorilla died shortly after an emergency c-section which is so sad.) I guess the zoo workers have to sit here wearing gorilla fur for the new baby gal, Kindi.

She was so sweet! I wish my job was to sit and snuggle a gorilla baby. I mean seriously! The girls were MESMERIZED. They didn't want to leave.  Sydney is still telling complete strangers that she got to see the garola baby.

But, we finally trekked on and had a little playground fun.

And we wrapped up the morning with some dippin' dots. Because it was H-O-T.

We left the zoo and headed to nana and grandpa's for some pool action and a cook-out.

We had an awesome long weekend, capped off by a day with both sets of grandparents!

Huber's Strawberry Picking!

On Sunday, we went to Huber's with nana and grandpa. The girls wore their new holiday outfits from nana.

We started off by feeding the fish.

Then, Maddie modeled in every sign she could find.

And little sis hopped in one.

We rode the tractor out to the strawberry patch and taught the girls what kind of strawberries to pick.

Chris showing the girls the right picking methodology.

Sydney put about five in our box.

Then she tried one.

And then, she ate about twenty more.

YUMMY.

Maddie stayed the course and kept steadily filling her box.

What a fun morning!

Remember that time Chris lost 33 pounds...

It was time. My lands, it was time. Chris has lost almost 35 pounds over the last 18 months! 

So, now, all of his clothes are loose. Like hammer pant - loose. And his belt has four man made notches on it.  I am so proud of him!

We went to the outlet mall this weekend because my thin hubby needed some new staples. The girls and I did a little shopping and played in the play land. Then we waited for daddy. (Who shops at the speed of a slow turtle).

We rode some rides...

We sat in the dressing room next door. Syd was OVER it.

So, she reviewed some flash cards.

 We had some ice cream.

This was a double ice cream weekend for the girls. They also had some at Chik Fil A on Friday. CFA was totally insane with no tables so we tailgated.

Keepin' it classy!

I was fine with the girls having ice cream since Sydney had just eaten EIGHT chicken nuggets. I guess I'm going to have to start ordering girlfriend a number five from the adult menu. Like a boss.

We also enjoyed a little pool action.

On Sunday we went to Huber's so those pictures are up next. Spoiler alert: Sydney ate her weight in strawberries. YUM.

Weekend Recap: I ran a 5K!

After a rainy rainy week we needed to get out of the house and get some ice cream!

The girls slept at my parents Friday night and Chris ran the Humana 5K with me.

We met up with my girlfriends before the race.

4,000 of my co-workers and their families about to hit the pavement!

I ran the whole way! I did it relatively slow (11:15 pace) but I was pretty proud that I did all 3 miles without stopping. Chris stayed with me so that was fun! 

After the race we picked up the littles and went to the Quest grand opening. It was BANANAS. I was afraid I would lose Madeline and Sydney (mainly Sydney, let's be real) so I found a quiet place for them to play while Chris looked around.

They sat in this tent forever. 

We had lunch at Chuy's - we are a Mexican eating family!

The girls were great. They colored...

They loved on each other...

They ate copious amounts of queso and jalapeño ranch dip.

Then had dessert at Costco - chocolate samples for the win!

Maddie spent Saturday night in Lexington and enjoyed some cousin time!

Before you see this picture and think I'm totally NUTS, I broke out again with the family. I got an email from Groupon that I had a Groupon expiring. I don't even remember buying it?! So weird, but alas, we had to use it. So, we went. And we dominated. We were VERY close to setting a record on the room so that was a bummer. Ha. I think my Breakout days are over - I have done all the puzzle rooms!

We wrapped up the weekend out in the sun. 

Looking forward to Memorial Day Weekend!

A delightfully chunky Throwback Thursday!

Y'all.

What do you even do with this?! We found an old iPhone and were looking at pictures on it. I always forget what a chubbette Maddie was! She's so tiny now but man, girl did rock some arm rolls!! And cheeks...for days! So sweet!

Now she's our helper. Maddie loves to help. We were playing on the swing set the other day and she saw Chris working in the yard. So she ran to the garage, got her tools and set to work next to him.

So, then of course little sis had to be in on the action.

Speaking of Sydney, she is FINALLY showing some interest in potty training. My children do a lot of things early. They walk early, the climb early, etc.  They both completely dress themselves and buckle into their carseats on their own. There are a few things, however, my kids do not do early: grow hair, talk and potty train. Sydney has shown no interest AT ALL in going to the potty. A few weeks ago she started going at the YMCA - evidently she loves their small toilets. Yesterday she went at preschool for the first time. Except, the second time she attempted to go she peed all over herself.

So, I picked her up and she was in daycare clothes and had no shoes on. (Evidently it was close to pick-up time so they just let her run around barefoot. EW.) 

 In typical Sydney fashion, she was happy as could be.

Little miss is usually smiling and laughing!

Here's hoping we get potty trained soon!