O Christmas Tree

I love to watch Gabrielle.   She's so curious.    Normally, we keep the doors to our downstairs office closed because we're not quite sure how Gabrielle would be with the Christmas Tree.    So, rather than take a chance, we just keep the door closed.    

Well.

A certain someone snuck in.

And surprisingly didn't do any damage.   

She knocked off one (non-breakable) ornament off the tree and one candy cane and spent about 30 minutes playing and talking with them both.

Love those eyelashes

Loves opening and shutting doors too!

She is such a ham

I Don't Think We're In Kansas Anymore...

When we moved this past Spring, we noticed a huge change in the weather patterns.  We moved from living in a valley to living in some low laying mountainous terrain.  It's more windy here, the thunderstorms are more intense.

This afternoon, we faced our first true tornado watch.  I kept an eye out on the cloud formations and things were looking pretty scary for awhile, so I very calmly told the girls to get some things together just in case we had to go to the basement.  They happily listened to me and kept busy for about fifteen minutes.  To make a long story short, the storm blew over and when I went downstairs the following morning to run a load of laundry, I found this:

Jewelry boxes and a bunch of stuffed animals

Daddy's Homecoming

Since we have moved to our new house, the Madoreables love to color and create art projects inside their toy room.  Lately, Sarah has been making "Welcome Home" posters for Daddy.   

Doesn't everyone deserve a big welcome home?

Oh The Funny Things Kids Will Say

While at my parents house recently, Sarah decided to pick a flower for Nanny.

While giving it to my Mom, Sarah announced:

"Here Nanny! Have a chimpanzee!"

(Sarah meant a Pansy).

Mother's Day 2013

This year for Mother's Day, we went to church in the morning and had a brunch at our home with my Mom afterwards.  The girls presented me with sweet little gifts that they made while at school.

Here's an example of what Samantha made for me:

"All About My Mom"

My Mom's name is:  Jennifer
She is:  33 years old
My Mom is happy when:  I give her a card
It makes my Mom very unhappy when:  my sister throws a fit
My Mom's favorite place to go is:  Out on deliveries while she is at work
My mom REALLY likes to:  bring us to the playground
My Mom loves to eat:  popcorn
My Mom loves to drink:  wine
I think my Mom is the VERY best because she loves me and Sarah


Such a great day.  I was happy to celebrate it with the people who made it possible for me to be a mother.

Oh The Cute Things Kids Will Say

An actual conversation between Samantha and Sarah:

Sarah:  "What are those things on the bottom of a jelly fish called?"

Samantha:  [thinking of a response to Sarah's question]

Sarah:  "You know.  Those hanging things?  Oh wait!  I know!  They're called cuticles!"

Samantha:  "Cuticles!  No, they're not cuticles Sarah!  They're chemicals!"

Jeremy:  "I think they're actually called tentacles"

Sarah:  "Yeah!  That's it!  They're called tentacles"

Samantha:  "Yeah!  They make you sleepy"

Jeremy & I:  "Sleepy?  How so?"

Samantha:  "Well, they made Dory [on Finding Nemo] very sleepy!"

Oh The Sweet Things Kids Will Say

Yesterday was a BEAUTIFUL day and very much welcomed sunny day, so we took the Madore-ables to the playground to burn off some energy they've been saving up from the Winter.  


On our way over to the playground, Sarah was talking about how excited she was to go play.  Then Sarah announced,

"Daddy?  Mommy?  I'm going to play with kids my own T"

Jeremy:  "Your own "T"?  What are you talking about?"

Sarah:  "Yeah!  My own T.  You know, I'm 5T, so I need to play with kids who wear 5T clothes."

Oh The Sweet Things Kids Will Say

So, as most of you may or may not know, in the last month the Vatican has been "abuzz" with the announcement of Pope Benedict stepping down from his papalcy.  We have been trying to educate Samantha and Sarah on this whole papal enclave and what it exactly means.  Samantha has been intrigued with the whole process.   We've explained to her that finding a new pope is a long and tedious process and a decision that can't be made overnight.  The cardinals attend Mass in the morning like we do on Sundays, and then they go into a special room so they can discuss on who the next Pope should be.  Then they use ballots to vote on the Pope, and of course the black and white smoke.

The smoke, in particular has had Samantha both nervous and excited.  Yesterday, we discussed at dinner that there would likely be black smoke for a few days.  Samantha immediately looked out the window and started looking for this black smoke, and was worried she couldn't see enough to get to school.  

This afternoon, we found out that white smoke was shown from the Sistine Chapel, and a new Pope has been elected.  So Samantha looked out the window again to mention that the white smoke was in the sky, only to realize that those were only clouds.  Then she also realized that we were a long way from Rome and the smoke would never reach here.

To What My Wondering Eyes Shall Appear

Sarah has been fascinated with this miniature snow globe Christmas ornament.  I decided to photograph her while she was just staring at it.  She didn't speak much, just watched the snow float to the bottom each time and then she would smirk as she gave it a little shake.

I would love to know what was going through her mind...

Oh the Funny Things Kids Will Say

Sarah is going to be 4 in just a few months, and I'm amazed at the things that her brain is capable of.  She loves to sing songs, and is very good at memorizing things.  Sarah is also going through a rhyming phase as well.  We attend church every Sunday morning, and Sarah really responds well to the music responses, the hymns, and the prayers that we say during the Mass. 

So during the week, when Sarah starts singing, "Alleluiah Alleluiaaaah!  Alleluiah Alleluiaaaaah!" around the house and in the car, it's nothing out of the ordinary.  It's so sweet to hear that little voice sing something so happy and positive.

While in the car this morning driving to school, Sarah started to sing "Hosannah" which is a response that we sing just before communion.

Sarah:  "Hosann-ya, Hosann-ya in the hiiiiighest!   MOMMY!  Guess what?"

Me:  "What's that Sarah?"

Sarah: "Hosann-ya sounds a lot like lasagna!  They could rhyme!  Hosann-ya and lasagna".



She does have a point : )

When I Grow Up

I asked the Madore-ables recently what they wanted to be when they grow up.  It looks like things haven't changed all that much since the last time I asked them back in May.


Samantha:

• "A nurse.  I want to work days so I don't have to be tired.  Then when I get home, I can work at Panera Bread with you Mommy."
• "I want to be an airplane pilot so I can fly to work and not have to worry about finding a parking spot."

Sarah:

• "A blue jay because they have such pretty blue feathers!"
• "A bunny rabbit so I can hop everywhere."
• "A teacher."
• "A donkey so I can play pin the tail on the donkey all the time."
• "A nurse so I can work in the same hospital as Sammy!" 

Oh The Sweet Things Kids Will Say

While dropping Sarah off at pre-school recently, Sarah and I were talking about Samantha being on the soccer team and how she had practice coming up this past weekend.  So Sarah informed me:

"Mommy? When I'm all grown up, I will be on Sammy's soccer team too!"


(The sweet thing Sarah doesn't realize is, the girls are almost 18 months apart and by the time Sarah gets to Samantha's age group for soccer, Sam will have already moved on to another group).

Oh the Sweet Things Kids Will Say

The Madore-ables have been saying some sweet things the last week or so.  I feel the need to write them down otherwise someday I may not remember.  I also wanted to share them so the girls can look back on this blog one day and remember just how thoughtful they truly are and just how proud Mommy and Daddy are of them.


Sam:

(1)  On Samantha's first day of school, I woke up early to find Samantha already dressed and ready to go and she was also sitting very quietly at the table eating her breakfast.  She then told me,

"Mommy?  I was too excited to sleep anything later than 7:00 (during the Summer, I told Sam that she needed to stay in bed until at least 7:00 or when she heard Jeremy leaving to go to work).  I wanted to let you sleep in a little bit, so I got my own breakfast together by myself, but the only thing I couldn't do was get my juice because the gallon in the fridge is just too heavy.  Would you get it for me?".

(2)  Samantha's new thing is writing letters, and notes.  This includes pieces of paper left on Jeremy's or my pillow, and also written in chalk just at the bottom of the stairs.  Sam loves to write "I love you" because (according to Sam) "It's important to say it and I want you to be reminded just how much I love you.  So that's why I write those notes all the time!".

Oh the Sweet Things Kids Will Draw

Over the weekend Jeremy and I photographed a wedding.  Samantha loves to hear all about our experiences and see the photographs once they are processed.  After the wedding was over, the girls and I found ourselves outside in the driveway with our bucket of sidewalk chalk.  Here are some of my favorite creations that the Madore-ables made:

"Daddy and Mommy On Their Wedding Day" - By Samantha

"Daddy and Mommy" - By Sarah

Love Notes

Back in the day, before my girls knew how to write letters, I would write letters to them.  I would tell them I loved them.  I would give them hugs.  And days later, I would find the notes right next to their bed.

Today, I still tell them I love them.  I still give them hugs.

But the tables have turned just a little bit this time...

There's nothing like receiving a little note like this as a reminder after coming home from work and getting ready for bed for the night.

Oh the Cute Things Kids Will Say

Recently, Sarah put on her white doctor's gown and decided to give Mommy a check up.

(Here is the conversation that ensued)

 

Dr. Sarah - "Mommy! (pulling out the toy Fisher Price thermometer) the thermometer is not smiling! You are sick. You have to go to bed for (pause while counting on her fingers) 3 days!"

Me - "3 days? (sounding dramatic) but I have to take care of you and Samantha! I have to do laundry! I have to go to work! Who is going to take care of you while I'm in bed for 3 days?"

Dr. Sarah - "No Mommy. Who's going to take care of you? I'll pick up the muffies from work, that will make you feel all better and I'll hold your hand.   Oh wait! Look! (changes the toy thermometer) It's smiling! You're all better now Mommy!"
 
 

Rats...and I was looking forward to resting for those 3 days ; )

Oh The Cute Things Kids Will Say!

This past week, the Madore-ables and I were on the road driving.  There was a short period where it was quiet, and I thought that maybe both girls fell asleep in the back seat.  Just when I went to check, Sarah randomly yelled in excitement (and I mean yelled.)
"Mommy!  BMW!"

I laughed out loud just because of the randomness of what was yelled out and the fact I thought the girls were asleep.  It's not that often that they are that quiet for that long without actually sleeping.

Without missing a beat Samantha says,

"Mommy?  Did you know that BMW's made airplanes a very long time ago?"

Again, random thoughts from a 5 year old's mind and mouth.  I was so shocked, but Samantha wasn't done there yet.

"And Mommy!  Did you know that the BMW symbol is actually the propellers to the airplanes.  Isn't that great?!?"

Oh The Sweet Things Kids Will Say

Sarah has been potty trained for about a year now, and hasn't worn diapers to bed since at least the Fall/Winter of 2011.  Sometimes Sarah will come down and wake me up around 2 or 3 am and ask to go potty.  Then she knows right afterwards we can have a drink of water then back to bed.

Recently, on one of our early morning adventures, I placed Sarah on the counter top in our kitchen and while I was filling up her little cup with water, Sarah very quietly said, "Mommy!  Look!  The moon is out tonight!"



Sarah then took a few sips all the while still looking out the window and asked me very seriously,

"But Mommy.  Why is the moon broken?"

Oh The Sweet Things Kids Will Say

Every Sunday, we park our car and cross the street to get to our church.  As we were getting ready to cross, I noticed that our town installed these "chirp" detectors for the visually impaired, so that they know when it is safe to cross the street.  

The girls noticed right away too.  So, Sarah asked us, "What is that noise?  What is it doing that?"  We explained to the girls that not everybody can tell when it is safe to cross, so for those who are blind they can listen to that sound and make their way safely across the street.

The girls didn't say anything after that, so I assumed our answer was sufficient.  So, Samantha pipes up very sweetly,

"Well, why do they need those chirpy things?  Why can't the husband or the wife walk [the blind person] across the street?  That way they both get to the other side safely."

All About Daddy

Earlier this past week, Samantha and Jeremy had a date night at Sam's school for "Dad's Night".  For the last few weeks or so, I've heard Samantha say how excited she was to bring Daddy to Dad's Night, and the surprise that she had for him.  Jeremy had a self-portrait drawn by Sam along with an "All About Dad" questionnaire filled out by Samantha herself!


How old is your Dad?
My Daddy is 31

How tall is your Dad?
I don't know.  He's not as tall as my Mom.

What does your Dad do for work?
He works for [a food service corporation].  He makes copies of papers and he works for my Grandfather.   *Note:  Samantha was completely write about the company name.  I just didn't include it due to privacy reasons.  Jeremy doesn't make copies or work for my father.  I think she was thinking of what I used to do when I worked there part time.  And, Jeremy's company runs a cafeteria that just happens to be at my father's office park.

What is your Dad's favorite food?
He likes to eat green beans and red peppers.

What does your Dad like to do for fun?
He likes to spend time with me and my sister.  We play games like Uno and Uno Moo.

What is your favorite thing to do with Dad?
I like to go on a date with my Dad.  I like to go to Maine with him.

How much do you love him?
I love him sooooooooooooooooooo much!