A visit to Aunt Wendi

Matt sent the girls and I to Wisconsin for a few days allowing himself to have a little stay-cation! We bribed Renee to travel with us so that I would make it through the airport without losing a kid :) Wendi was on spring break, so we were so excited to get the chance to spend time with her, see her beautiful new home, and generally just have time together that we sadly don't get as adults in the same way we did as kids. Renee and Wendi are both so wonderful with the girls that I felt like I was traveling with Matt (that is a huge compliment as he is a great traveling partner)! I love seeing my friends with my crazy kids and how easily Madi will turn to her Aunt Wendi or Aunt Nae for help going potty, getting on the swing, or anything else she decided she needs right now. We left super early on Wednesday morning, dealt with an incompetent Frontier check-in clerk and irritable security man, and just made it to our flight as they were boarding. Since I am a little OCD, we had the same row for all of our flights to Wisconsin and home.

Wendi's old milk delivery door

So jealous of her oven!

We dragged the stroller and carseat to the gates for check-in, hauled a large carry-on, diaper bag, Madeline's backpack, Renee's backpack, and a lunch bag around the airport and into the planes. I felt like we needed it all (or at least needed to have lots of backup clothes and snacks because you never know what might happen with kids on a plane), but I am so looking forward to one day flying with just a purse and a book! Madeline was very easy on the plane. She played with her toys, ate snacks, used the ipad, and generally just relaxed. Using pull-ups was vital as the airplane bathrooms are still a little too scary for her. Eleanor was very well behaved for a first time traveler. She ate, sat in my lap, napped, chewed on fingers, "played" with her bug toy and people watched. We only had one or two small cry-fests between all of the flights and they were not bad at all. Renee played etch-a-sketch with Madeline and did the Hello-Kitty viewfinder. She let Madi nap in her lap and held Ella during a nap. It was so great to have the extra (and useful) hands with me! Gone are the days of reading on a plane. But I did get to watch I Am Legend on the way home with no sound since Madi's pay-tv never turned off!

Wendi picked us up from the airport and we managed to stuff all of us into her car. She had a carseat for Madeline (thank you!!) and at the house Wendi had a playmat, a crib, blankies, bath toys, and the kitchen set for the girls. I could not have asked for a better welcome! The girls felt right at home and had plenty to keep themselves occupied. We stopped by Culver's for lunch on the way home from the airport (yum butter-burgers) but ended up having to drive through since both girls fell asleep in the car. Traveling is exhausting, haha! Wendi's home is so darn cute. I wish I could pick it up and bring it to San Diego. Great layout, perfect size. I love the sunroom, the tons of natural light, the original tile in bathroom, the original toothbrush holder in the bathroom (I want one so badly), the PINK double oven, the closet space, the milk door, everything. On top of just great bones, Wendi did a fabulous job decorating and her home is cute, comfortable, and spotless . . . all my favorite things! Wendi lives across the street from a huge park with a lake and plenty of play equipment so we headed over there after lunch to allow Madeline to burn off some energy. I think I was the only one of us who was cold in the 45 degree weather! We rounded off the night with Grandma Kathy coming over, making pizza at home, and Madeline got to celebrate her birthday (again)! Wendi had balloons, a cake, and presents. My kid is so spoiled and she enjoyed every second of her celebration.

After making homemade waffles (a very new idea to Madeline who thought waffles only happened in the toaster), we went to the Jelly Belly factory and shopping on Thursday. The Jelly Belly factory was a bit of a disappointment. I loved the store, but the tour was pretty bad. We did get to sit in a pretend train though it only drove us around the perimeter of the warehouse while showing videos at random stops. Madeline tried out some Jelly Belly flavors, I tried beer which tasted like a Miller Light, we bought some sweets and went on our way. After a little lunch and outlet shopping, we headed back to Wendi's. Madi was cranky since she refused to nap, but we powered through and she was better by dinner time. We went out to Mexican and I managed to eat my whole dinner with Ella asleep!

On Friday we started the day with pancake muffins. These were so good. Madi loved helping Wendi mix and put stuff in the muffin tins. I am definitely planning to make these at home! We went to the zoo and I was pleasantly surprised by how nice it was. Matt and I have memories of a sad concrete jungle from our visit 10 years ago, but the animal facilities were really nice! Madeline was stoked to ride the carousel, see the elephants and giraffes. I loved the cat house. All of the cats were in their indoor parts and we got to get right up close and see them in the glass. So cool! We saw brown bears mating in their pool (hot tub)! I saw a moose for the first time and we generally just had an easy, fun visit. Wendi made two plastic molded animals for Madi, who was very excited to play with her elephant and shark the rest of the day. Grandma Kathy made chinese food for dinner, so we walked over from Wendi's. Madeline got to use the teeter-totter from Kathy's childhood, ride the grandkid's trike, and help plant flowers. She was having way too much fun, and ended up having enough accidents to run out of clean pants. We wrapped her up in a blankie and stuffed Madi in the stroller for the walk back home!

Making a shark!

YUMMY!!!

A little bitty butt crack

We rounded out our yummy breakfast experiences Saturday with regular pancakes. We packed, had some park time and went to Build-a-Bear. Madi refused to choose an animal during or last trip, but she was enthusiastic this trip. Madi picked a sheep she has begun calling "Sheep" (we tried lamby, but that didn't last). Wendi helped her to press the stuffing pedal and pick a heart. Madi gave the sheep a very short bath, picked an adorable rainbow butterfly outfit complete with lollipop, and ended the trip very happy about her new cuddle-toy! As usual, we were sad to leave, but this time was a little better knowing Wendi and Mom Kathy will be out in June to visit. 8 weeks will fly by! Madeline slept on Renee the entire first flight home and then Ella slept on Renee the entire second flight! Matt picked us up late and Renee was more than a little excited to hop in her car and go home to a bed with no kids in the morning!

Overall it was an easy, fun trip. The exact kind I like to do with the kids! Thank you Wendi (and Kathy) for everything you did to make our visit kid-friendly!!!

Easter 2014

So stoked on her eggs!

Madeline was actually interested in coloring eggs this year. She got some easter egg coloring and glitter and stamps kits from my mom a few weeks before the holiday and spent every weekend asking me to let her "do the eggs!" Madi got her wish on Master's Sunday (which wasn't on Easter for once) when we all trooped over to the Johnson house so the boys could watch the golf together. I am sure Matt was hoping for some family-free time, but I wasn't willing to give him a Sunday away from us. We brought Madeline's egg kits and a dozen hard-boiled eggs with us. Madi had a fabulous time dying the eggs, and loved the glitter. The stamps were kind of a mess, but I might try them with regular stamp pads next year. I am loving that Madeline is so into doing these activities now, I am looking forward to the tradition of egg dying for years to come!

Madeline got to participate in multiple Easter egg hunts this year! She had a practice run at school on Friday (with a visit from the Easter bunny), a great time snatching up eggs from the field at the San Clemente Easter Egg-stravaganza, and finally hit up the Johnson's for an egg hunt with the whole Johnson and Lam crew.She has gotten very good at finding eggs and putting them in her basket. Next year she may be ready for some hidden eggs instead of the fairly easy to see eggs. Madi was especially excited to get an egg with her name on it and a special present inside from Aunt Alyson. Brilliant idea! Stamps are a kid's best friend. Ella's egg had a new pacifier with a pacifier clip. I didn't have one since Madeline did not really use a pacifier as a baby, but it has been a fabulous thing to have with Ella. Thanks Alyson!

Patiently Waiting

The Egg Hunt Field!

Waiting . . . less patiently

The hunt is on!

Look how many I have!

Post hunt Howe girls

Egg hunt at the Johnson's

Taking a little break

Madi-Ham

Disneyland!

For this blog dad is making a guest appearance to talk about Madi's first trip to Disneyland. I decided for her 3rd birthday that I would take her to Disneyland for the first time, the day before she turned 3 and was still free. I hadn't been to Disneyland since Crystal and I went about 12 years ago when we first started dating, quite a bit has changed since then. For one there is a new amusement park sitting where the parking lot was last time we went :)

I took Madi on Monday expecting that it would be fairly less crowded, turned out I was wrong about that. Despite fighting thru the crowds we had a great time. The first thing she wanted to do when we got there was go on the tea cups, a classic favorite of Dad's.

On the teacups

Then the next on her list was she wanted to meet Minnie Mouse, this was actually the thing she wanted to do most. She was so excited when we got to Minnie's house and she was able to go in and see her, the smile on her face was priceless.

Waiting for Minnie

Minnie's House

Minnie!!

After that she got to meet some of the other Disney characters, we rode the Autopia ride (which she loved), Winnie the Pooh ride, Carousel, etc. It was really fun bringing her there and I can't wait to do it again. Now I know about all these things modern technology has provided us, like phone apps that tell you the length of all the lines and calendars which forecast the crowd levels by day I'll be much more prepared for our next trip.

Carousel

Dad, Madi, and Mickey

Pluto's House

Madi & Goofy

Winnie the Pooh ride

Rolling over!

It's official . . . Ella can roll!!! She is a star at front to back, still working on back to front but easily gets onto her side when on her back. Needless to say much video has been taken and none shows actual rolling. I will endeavor to get some actual footage of the event . . . But no guarantees. Yay for baby progress! I am so proud of Eleanor and hopeful that with rolling will come happy playing time.

Ella is three months!

Eleanor just keeps growing and growing. I can't believe how giant she is, much bigger than Madeline was at this age! She is starting to grab toys (or try really hard to grab toys), she has rolled over (many times off a pillow that she is propped on from belly to back and once in extreme anger from back to belly), she "talks" all of the time and is definitely the loudest baby I have ever heard under age one! I worried when I was pregnant that I wouldn't love a second baby as much as I love Madi (especially since, if I am being honest, I don't have quite as much love for Jameson as I do for Lani . . .my first baby), but I really do love them both equally. Not always the same amount at the same time (haha) but I am amazed at the pure joy I feel with each girl at least once a day. I am so proud of their accomplishments and wish that time would slow down just a little so that I can relish the good moments a little more. At three months old, Eleanor no longer wants to be in the wrap but is willing to be in the Bjorn if she faces forward. Ella loves to be swaddled, enjoys her pacifier, has a great daily routine which includes naps in the crib but not for longer than 45 minutes, and she had her very first day of school.  Dropping her off is insanely hard for me (I am thankful again that Matt took Madi to school for the first few months) and picking her up is wonderful. Apparntly on her first day of school, Ella shared the strength of her lungs with her new friends and her teachers easily got her to stop by taking her outside to look at the tree. Poor Matt has another arborist on his hands! Madeline was so excited to have her sister at school that she went to the infant fence and requested that her sister be brought out so Madi could see her, haha! I feel so bad for how often Ella's teachers will likely be given directions by my little dictator. I spent Eleanor's first day of school going to the gym (ouch), going to work where I found out that my brain has turned off somewhere in the last two weeks, and running some errands. It was relaxing and nice and a little sad too.

More tummy time

Sleeping with Jameson

I will hit that rattle!

Morning cuddles

Ella sleeping on Grandma Sue

What Daddy and Ella do while Mama and Madi go to gymnastics

Hanging out while Mama showers with Lani guarding the rear

"I hit the bird!"

Madeline has decided that she wants a cat. She talks about kitties all of the time, she asks about kitties of our friends, and she loves her hello kitty doll (thanks Shea family)! Matt keeps telling her she never gets to have a cat, but I am going with the "let's talk about it after the dogs die" plan. I want a kitty too, so I figure we have five years or so for me to change Matt's mind and get him ready to live with allergies for a while! Madeline's also starting to learn that she has a full name. She used to tell us that her name is "Madi" but now she tells us her name is "Madi Twinkle-Howe." I am guessing that this has to do with the fact that her middle name is Starr, but she doesn't quite understand the idea of middle names. She tells us that "I am a Twinkle-Howe and Ella is a Twinkle-Howe and Mama is a Twinkle-Howe but Daddy isn't." It's so cute! Though I am not allowed to tell Madeline that she is cute to her face anymore. She told me that she wasn't cute, she was pretty. So cute (haha)! The girls and I have had so much fun the last few weeks. Ella and I spend our days together relaxing at home, trying to nap in the crib, hanging with the dogs, going on walks, meeting friends for lunch and running errands. On Wednesdays, all three of us go somewhere to play. The Zoo, Sea World, the Children's Museum. We have a surprising amount of fun, I get a workout carrying and pushing the kids, and if I get lucky there is a nap in the car afterwards and some mommy quiet time.

Playing at the zoo

Napping post-zoo

Napping post-zoo

Rainy day cupcake making (Madi wanted to do Pinkalicious after her favorite book)

Arts and crafts - I hate this damn bucket of fun but Madi loves it so much that we play with it every Wednesday. Thanks Cat . . . I'll be sending you one!

We had a cupcake daily after making them

Golfing practice with Daddy

Building at the museum

Sister time

 Matt and I got a new stove this month. It is so amazing! After a year of having only have my burners working, I am so happy to have a stove where everything works. The flat top is gorgeous and the giant glass front oven is perfect for the kids to see what is cooking. New appliances make me so happy!

Yay!