When blueberries attack!

Well, the snow foiled our plans. Aunt Judi's flight got cancelled because of all of the bad weather Baltimore (her connecting point) got. She comes in tomorrow and we're ready for her visit!!

In the meantime, we had one wild night. On Thursday, Chris, Madeline and I ate together and everything was normal.  Maddie had a peanut butter sandwich, strawberries and blueberries.  She ate great and went to bed like normal. A little bit later, she woke up SCREAMING. I ran up the steps (this is very unlike her) and into her room. I put my hand in her crib to get her...and it went right into vomit. EEEE. After we turned on the light, I realized it was straight up purple vomit.  We got her cleaned off, changed, stripped her bed sheets and I let her lay with me in the guest room. Then she did it again. And, again. And...well, you get the point. She was sick all night long. At 4, she rolled over and fell asleep and at 6, she popped up and started singing. Yes, singing. "If all the raindrops were lemon drops and gum drops..." And then she was happy and normal the rest of the day. I have NO idea what happened; not sure if something she ate upset her stomach or if it was just a quick bug. It was bizarre, and I'm so glad it's over.

Here she is, just a few hours into the morning coloring. With her backpack on. Totally normal.

This morning, I did the 5K with my friends from work.  It's always fun to do the races. Chris and I are pushing Maddie in a 5K at the end of the month; maybe one day she'll be running them with us!

Thousands of others joined us.

Our next big house project! And, shaving cream fun!

Next up for my handy-man husband: finishing our basement. Right now, our basement looks like this.

This weekend Chris installed the doors (five) which was a large project in itself. You can see the base boards on the floor and the stone for the bar as well. At this stage of the (very early!) game, Chris says he is going to do all of the trim work, all of the painting, building the bar and the built-ins, laying the floor, etc by himself (well, with some help from our dads!). And, he says he's going to do in 4 months. Ambitious man that I have!  In the meantime, I have a long list of contractors in my phone if he gets worn out!

I have no idea why but I had a memory of me playing with shaving cream as a child and loving it. I bought some the other day for Madeline who looked at it and shouted "SHAVING CREAM!" Evidently, she plays with it at school and loves it!

When I was growing up, I was such a bookworm. Instead of toys, I would spend my birthday money on books. I know what you're thinking: "kind of geeky." But I'm ok with it. Anyways, I've REALLY been hoping Maddie would be a reader. We read to her every night and she seems to enjoy it. Depending on the time, we can read up to 6 books.

We have a special guest coming in town tomorrow--Aunt Judi from Cape Cod. We are very excited to see her and Madeline keeps saying, "I want to see my Judi." Can't wait!

One Year Tornado Anniversary

It's been one year since the Henryville tornado swept through the town my aunt and uncle live in. They lost their house and have spent the last year recovering and rebuilding. Today, on the one year anniversary, they celebrated a housewarming party at their new house. They built the same house, on the same lot, but it is still so different. All of the trees that gave them privacy are gone and so much of the town is still in need of work. It was great to visit with family, but bittersweet as well.

My sister and I on the brand new front porch.

A new Dunkin' Donuts opened close to us and we were so excited! DD's is all over the Cape and one of the first things we eat when we go to Massachusetts on vacation. We made Maddie eat a bagel before she got half of a munkin. YUM!!

 The first bite: so good!!

 Messy messy.

Madeline spends a lot of hours at daycare, and because of this, she is pretty cuddly when I pick her up. I've learned to cook dinner while holding and talking to her. Now that is she older, I can give her some tasks to help me.

 Helping me make some fat free pudding pops (a Pinterest recipe that I'm REALLY hoping taste like the ones they used to make years ago.)

I have a confession. I eat raw cookie dough. Like, I seriously eat it by the spoonful. I have since I was 3. I don't let Maddie do it though, because of all risks with raw egg. Since she's seen me take many a swipe though, she always like to do that as well with egg-less mixes.

The other night, I asked her to stir the milk into the muffin mix while I prepared the fish.

 I turned around and caught her red-handed!

Like mother, like daughter, I guess!

Finally, a funny picture from school this week. I picked Madeline up and her and her BFF, Stella, looked like little bandits. They were coloring each other with black marker while Ms. Kelsy was helping someone go potty. Fortunately, it washed off SUPER easy. Never a dull moment with this one!

Working on the cheese face!!

On Saturday morning, Madeline asked me, out of the blue, if she could vacuum. We have a small vacuum that is pretty Maddie-sized. I gave it to her, turned it on and she vacuumed our rug. She loved it! The pictures are blurry b/c she wouldn't stop moving!  

On Sunday, she spent the afternoon at Nana and Grandpa's and enjoyed the outdoors!

On Monday, Madeline had pajama day at school. She was so excited and picked out her Dora pajamas to wear. Let me tell you, it was tough to get a good picture!

Picture 1

 Me: Maddie, that is really intense. Can you tone it down?

Picture 2

 Me: Now, you look like you are in pain. 

 Picture 3

 Me: You're getting there. Can you try a soft smile like this? (And I tilted my head, b/c I always tilt my head in photos. You'll notice it know that I tell you.)

Picture 4

 ME: (Laughing b/c she mocked my head tilt) MUCH better smile, keep your head straight.

Picture 5

Me: FINALLY!!

Silly, silly little girl! 

Our big helper & mudroom reno

I've mentioned before that Madeline is VERY independent. She also really really likes helping!

Helping daddy do the dishes.

Helping daddy paint his project. (More on this in a bit!)

I've learned I can actually get Madeline to do things if I ask her to be a big helper and help me. For example, today she didn't want to go inside (we were outside playing) so I asked her to help me carry all of the special mail inside. Voila! We made it inside. The tricks you learn along the way. 

 Stella begging her sister for a snack.

 

The other night, Madeline pooped on the potty!! I told her she could pick out one m&m from the bag. Within seconds, and I mean SECONDS, she put her hand in there, grabbed as many as she could and shoved them in her mouth!

So, of course, we immediately brushed our teeth!

Chris is still busy busy around the house. One project to the next. In just two weeks, he transformed our empty mudroom to a great organized space with cubbies!

BEFORE

During...

AFTER!! 4 cubbies with a bench in the middle.

We are really pleased with how they turned out. No rest for Chris though, he's already sketching out his next job. He never stops!

Weekend at the Science Center!

As usual, Maddie had an action packed weekend.

Loving her Valentine's presents from nana and grandpa Hughes!

Chris and I had an AMAZING dinner at Corbett's for our anniversary. CANNOT wait to go back!

Maddie took not one, but two, trips to the Science Center this weekend. 

She found this stethoscope and wore it around. At one point, she was walking up to little boys trying to listen to their heart. I had to stop her from lifting up their shirts! :)

Enjoying some raisins on the way home.

Trip 2 with Hudson, Danielle and Kyle!

Maddie and daddy at the water tables.

 Building a skyscraper.

After the museum, we took the kiddos to Tumbleweed on the river. 

 Definitely my daughter, Madeline just ate up the salsa.

 

We've been trying to get Maddie interested in Hudson, but she only has eyes for an older man. She just loves her some Kyle!!

5 YEARS!!

Five years ago today, Chris and I were in St. Lucia with our family and best friends getting married! We had an amazing wedding on the beach and loved spending several days with family before our honeymoon.

Chris and I looked at our wedding pictures this morning- what a day we will always cherish!

  

Looking forward to many many more! I love you, Chris!