Madi is 4!

I can't believe my baby is 4. I will probably say that every year of her life. . . .but it's valid anyway! Madeline is says that when she grows up she is going to be a teacher because she likes to tell people what to do. She also thinks Eleanor will be a chef since she likes to feed people. To this end, Madeline has been playing teacher at school. She says that she tells her friends to take naps on the playground and when to play different games.

Madeline is in love with her school friends. She always comes home telling us who she played with and how much fun they had. She loves to have playdates on weekends and I think Madi's favorite part of her birthday party was having her friends come over. Madi now says things like "Evelyn was my best friend today but Harriet wasn't my friend because she didn't wear sparkly shoes." The other parents and I have no idea where the girls picked these phrases up, but who is and isn't friends doesn't seem to interfere with how much the play together. Apparently cliques start early in school!

At 4, Madeline is stubborn, a good thinker, and full of questions. She wants to know how everything works, help me with any and all activities around the house, and spend as much time as possible with her sister. My favorite thing that Madeline does now is tell us that she loves us. In the middle of dinner, she will look over and say "Daddy, I love you this much." So cute! Then she asks how much you love her. Madeline is still getting up in the middle of the night, but usually she just comes across the hall and climbs into bed with Matt and I very quietly. She hates going to bed, Madi says she thinks I'm doing something fun without her. Madeline's favorite activity at home is watching outside to see what he neighbors are doing. She plays well with all of the kids in the neighborhood and when we hang out with friends. Madi is still dramatic, loves clothes (regularly asks me if her outfit is pretty), and has more energy than I know what to do with. The last four years have been amazing and I am so excited (and nervous) to watch as Madeline continues to grow.

Madeline wanted a ballerina party for her birthday. She has been all over Pinterest, letting me know what she wants to have at the party. We asked Miss Mariah (Madi's ballet teacher) to come dance with the kids for an hour, had pizza, lots of cute snacks (Madi helped me make the cupcakes, marshmallows, and popcorn), and invited Madi's "home friends" and school friends. The party ended up being more people than Matt really wanted but we all had tons of fun anyways!

For her actual birthday at school, Madeline wanted to bring "purple monster cupcakes." I frosted the cupcakes and Madi drew the pupils on the marshmallow eyes and placed them on the monsters. Lucky for me, Madi only had to bring a dozen cupcakes to school because my hand was killing me after frosting just five of the monsters. After school, Matt and I took the girls to Corvette Diner to finish celebrating. We had a great family dinner in the blacklight room. Ella could not figure out the hyper-color table and Madi got to blow out her candle on the end of a giant straw!

Ella is 15 months old!

At 15 months old Ella is still up in the 90th percentile of her scores. She is 24 pounds 15 ounces, 32 inches tall, and her head is 18 1/2 inches in circumference! Ella did so well at her most recent doctor's appointment and only cried for a couple of minutes after her shots.

We turned Eleanor's crib into a toddler bed recently. She was refusing to even sit down in the crib, so we figured we would try the toddler bed. She has slept in it a couple of times, but she still seems to prefer the mat or Madeline's bed. Ella does play in her little bed though and pretend that she is sleeping (or put her dolls to sleep in it), so at least it gets some use!

Helping Dad build the new kitchen stool.

"Now we can both help with everything"

Sorry Amelia and Auntie G - "I only let men hold me" - with Uncle Andy

Dinner with the Lams and Kellys. Ella is big enough for the kid table now!

Ella spent a day with Bella while Matt golfed. She was so happy!

:)

A meal with Rivers. These are two big one year olds!

At 15 months, Ella is growing intellectually in leaps and bounds. She loves to sing; currently Eleanor's favorite song is Ring Around the Rosie. She and Madi can spin and fall down forever. Ella loves to brush her teeth in the morning and is allllllllmost done getting her molars. She has not been sleeping amazingly well, but we think that's due to her teeth hurting. Matt and I both hate putting Eleanor to bed because it takes forever. She pinches your skin over and over trying to keep herself awake. I am amazed that my arms, neck and face aren't bleeding nightly. Ella loves to eat (Matt is a little nervous about her love of sweets, I just want to eat everything Ella is eating too) and drinks huge amounts of water. Any time Ella wakes up in the middle of the night, the first word out of her mouth is "agua!" Eleanor is extraordinarily loud. She shrieks and yells and basically conveys all of her feelings at the top of her lungs. I sometimes feel like Eleanor is either calm and so easy or completely dramatic, she has no in between. Her feelings are all very strong. Ella says daddy, agua, doggie, she is trying to say Jameson but it kind of sounds like doggy-an, ball, mama, and mas. Eleanor is such a good snuggler, makes you feel so good when she shrieks with happiness upon seeing you in the afternoon, and I am so looking forward to watching her personality (already stubborn and quick tempered - hmm, sounds like one of her parents) continue to grow.

Easter

Easter weekend was busy busy busy and so much fun. On Friday, Wendi was here from Wisconsin. She brought her new boyfriend Alan and Auntie Nee with her to stay the night at our house. Madeline was so excited that Aunt Wendi was coming to see her room and backyard :) (I got to see Wendi a second time during her visit when I drove up to SC for dinner. Thanks Matt for dealing with the girlies alone!)

Me, Wendi, Renee . . . getting older but still gorgeous!

I planted more plumerias while getting ready for Wendi's visit

This is how Matt got the girls to sleep while I was gone

The Saturday of Easter weekend started with a drive up to San Clemente for the Egg-stravaganza. Madeline totally understands the point of the hunt now (though she isn't quite as competitive in the egg hunt as Grandma T would like). She reminded me multiple times in the morning not to forget her basket. The egg hunt was divided up this year, so the girls ended up going at separate times on the same field. Matt took Ella and I took Madi. The girls were so cute in their new pink dresses and loved the time with Grandma T, GrandKarl, and Abu.

Cute easter dresses!

Madi hunting eggs (with some direction from Grandma T)

Madi at the hunt

Ella rocking her baby while relaxing at Grandma T's

Easter Sunday the girls had two egg hunts. We went next door and hunted with Wren and Juniper in the morning (so cute). The eggs were filled with goldfish and animal cookies! Just before lunchtime, we drove up to the Johnson house (Ella actually napped in the car, woohoo!). The kids had so much fun finding their eggs and running around. It was chaotic, and loud, and very entertaining! During my shift of pulling kids in the wagon, Madi, Brennan and I took a break to pick lemons. We left all of the low hanging branches bare, but you could see exactly where the tree became too tall for me to reach anymore. :) I love that we have these opportunities to spend time with our friends and their adorable children. The kids play so well together and while it was crazy, the day was also a nice break from the normal routine.

Ella at the Johnson hunt

Madi helped Ella find her special egg (Thanks Aunt Alyson!)

Hunting sisters. This is the dress Madi wore two years ago.

Madi contemplating some soccer

Hunting like a big kid

Lemons and booty, a perfect afternoon

Ella trying to pull her sister and Brennan

Our lemon horde, I made lemonade the following week, so good

A crazy mass of playing children

Madi modeling the ears

Ella was not happy about being a bunny

Spring has sprung!

I love spring break! It may be my favorite week out of the entire year. The girls have school, I can work just part of the week and this is my chance to cross tons of to-dos off of my list! The last couple of weeks before break were filled with work. Matt had extra work due to renewing a big contract (yay) and I had extra work due to the opportunity to lead science teacher professional development in my district. It's so awesome to know we are good at our jobs and people are recognizing our contributions! At home we have been doing some gardening. We've put some plumerias in the ground, Matt got to use his fancy new chainsaw to cut out some bushes and we've planted watermelons and strawberries in a garden box. Matt and I have big plans for the front yard. A raised deck in the entire gated section in the front and a plan to rip out all of our front grass and go native in the front (we are doing out part for the California drought along with making a nice place to drink wine with the neighbors). This will take us some time, but I am looking forward to it.

Trip to Home Depot to buy outdoor cushions

Celebrating cushion buying

Pool at Grandma T's

Madi made a box train at Grandma T's to play in with Ella and Bella

 We met up with Auntie Nee for shopping and lunch. Matt took the girls to the zoo with Jason allowing me a chance to go to church alone (so peaceful!) before we headed to the Sullivan house for a pool and barbeque. The girls love a chance to play with their "home friends" (Madi's term) and Matt and I enjoy the chance to be with adults! The weather has been absolutely gorgeous recently, making us all feel relaxed and summer-y.

Madi and Daddy in the pool (Mama and Ella did not go in, as it was only 80 degrees in the water)

Uncle Greg with Julia

Ella enjoyed William's horse

 I have gotten to go out for breakfast or lunch three times this week with friends. Getting the chance to be an adult without kids is probably the best thing about spring break. I've gotten caught up on a bunch of work, cleaned out the girls' clothes, prepared for Madeline's birthday party this month, walked the dogs, read a book and planned a million more activities that I don't have time for, but maybe I can do in the summer. The best day this week was a trip to Legoland with Madeline! We had so much fun and rode every ride that Madi was interested in. Taking just Madeline was so much easier than lugging Ella around with us also. We didn't even bring a stroller!

Racing her lego car

Jungle Trek ride

Storybook ride

Madi loved pointing at the princesses!

Playing while mom waited in the longest short line ever!

Madi inherited my line waiting skills that include plopping down anywhere and snacking

Madi hit many walls since she never looked in front of her while driving. This child will never drive a real car.

Loving the pirate play area

Checking out the lego piggies

Big Slide! Madi would not even let me wait in line with her for this one.

Airplane ride

While we were at Legoland, Matt was home with a handyman having a kitchen cabinet cut out and a dishwasher installed. Woohoo! We love the extra time we've gained at night and my kitchen looks so clean since there are never dishes just hanging out in the sink waiting to be washed. While our house has been growing up, the girls have been growing more too. Eleanor is wearing Madeline's 2T clothes, she was 26 pounds when I weighed her last week at the gym. She is really trying hard to communicate. She will carry things to her dad or her room or the trash. She tells me what she wants for breakfast using pointing and head nods. Ella throws things that you give her she doesn't want (Matt says he is aggressive in her emotions), she says nana (banana), agua, doggie, adi (Madi), dada, points at me when you ask where mama is (finally), ball, bird, and tries to repeat any other word you tell her. Madeline is in 4T clothes, tells knock knock jokes that don't really make sense (banana that you like to eat), and is always asking if her clothes look beautiful. Madi is starting to allow Ella to choose her own clothes, but she is only loosening the noose a very small amount. Madeline is also writing her own name. She spells her Madi, Ella, mom, and dad with no problem at all. It's like she came home one day and just knew how to write! What the heck?!? Madi is also struggling to deal with her cranky side. The recent weeks have been a struggle in Madi testing boundaries. Some mornings I wish I could just walk around with earplugs in, but instead we listen to the whining and try to give back love.

Sister bath

Bedtime stories with Daddy

We actually had both kids in bed early enough to enjoy a fire and a beer!

Big Ella!