Wedding Preparations : The Weekend Is Here!

Well, the weekend we have been waiting for has finally arrived! My sister in law and my future brother in law are getting married tomorrow.

Samantha is going to play the part of the flower girl, and I am honored to be the Matron of Honor :) Jeremy (and our friend Jeremiah too) will be photographing the big event, so I am sure at some point, I'll be posting photos of the Madore-ables.

Samantha has been practicing so very hard this past week on being the flower girl. She's so excited about wearing her dress (she's asked me 4 times total in the last 24 hours when can she wear it).

Here are some photos of her practicing this past week. (Mind the spaghetti sauce stain on her shirt).

HOORAY!

(I should point out that Samantha was nervous at first. She was upset at because she didn't want to make a mess at the church. She soon recovered when we told her that this was "a fun mess". Samantha decided she needed more practicing).

Congratulations to Paul & Jessica!!

Five Things Friday

Five Things That Made Me Smile This Week:

1. This week we've been preparing for my sister in law's wedding up in Maine. Samantha has been practicing very hard for her role as flower girl. This also marks the beginning of a busy wedding photography season for our photography business as well. Looks like cloudy skies are forecasted, and rain later on in the afternoon. Overcast skies are perfect for photographs and rain is good luck for a wedding.





2. Samantha has really been practicing writing her letters and her name and she's doing a fantastic job. She's also sounding out words and putting phonetics together. For example, Samantha saw that I use Yahoo for my email and she wanted to know how to spell "that" word. So she took a few minutes and discovered that the word was "Yahoo".





3. 8 more days to go before my Avon Walk. I'm SO close to hitting my personal goal. I've been looking at photos from my walk last year and watching videos on youtube of other people who have walked and let's just say the butterflies and the excitement is there! There is still time to if you haven't already. www.avonwalk.org/goto/jennifer.madore No amount is too small! My team, Charlie's Angels to date has raised almost $62,000 and as of right now, we are part of the Top 10 teams for rasing the most amount of money!!!





4. The girls and I spent a lot of time outside this past week. We were given a pair of rain boots from a friend of a friend and we bought a pair of boots for Samantha for Easter. I'm so glad that even a few rain puddles don't scare the girls away. They LOVE to jump and splash around!




5. I wore a pair of shorts earlier in the week and they were actually too big! HOORAY for weightloss!!

Dear Samantha (46 Month Update)

Dear Samantha,


Yesterday you turned 46 months old. Mommy feels awful for not posting this update yesterday, so I apologize a hundred times. We have a lot going on this month though, don't we?



You're going to be 4 in a few months, and with being 4 means big responsibilities for such a big girl! You love to help Mommy out in the kitchen, and love to just help in general. Your heart is as big as your smile. Let's try to work on being just as excited to clean up the 'toy-nado' that's in the living room every day.



In just a few days, you're going to be in your Aunt Jessica's wedding as a flower girl. You should be very proud of yourself as you've been practicing really really hard this past week here at home. It's really cute to see that you're so excited to wear your dress and your shoes that you wear to church.



You're also getting excited about starting school. While Daddy and I haven't decided on where you'll be attending school, we've begun the process. You've been doing a great job at writing your letters and you're even spelling your name with crayons and sidewalk chalk too. Daddy and I are so excited that you're excited for this new chapter in your life. Just remember we're so proud of you.



Daddy and I bought an iPad a few weeks ago and we don't know who loves it more, you or Daddy. You do a great job with helping Daddy run the farms and planting crops on Farmville Daddy downloaded an application onto the iPad where you can play the piano. You're learning to play "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star". It makes Mommy and Daddy think about the things that you will do when you're older. Will you take piano lessons and be a famous pianist? Will you take soccer lessons and be the next Mia Hamm? Already you're talking about what you want to be when you grow up. Just do us a favor, don't get there too quickly.

Thank you for all of your help here at home. You take after your Daddy and putting so much effort into something. Remember to take time to play and have fun too.

We love you so much Sam.

Love always,

Mommy & Daddy

This is what you looked like one year ago in May 2010

This is what you look like today in May 2011

Five Things Friday

Five Things That Made Me Smile This Past Week:

1. Jeremy and I recently bought an iPad for our photography business. He also discovered the free iPad games that come along with it. One of them being the very addicting game of "Farmville". For all you Facebook users, you have probably seen this, but for those who have no idea what I'm even talking about, Farmville is a game where you literally set up your own "farm" and grow crops and sell them to make "money". Jeremy introduced Samantha to the game, and she is in love with it. Jere "plants" crops at night before he goes to bed, and when he comes home from work, he and Sam sit down and "harvest" them. It's really cute to see Samantha get excited about these things. This past week, she helped Daddy "harvest" soy beans, cranberries and lilacs.
   



2. Training continues to go very well. The weather hasn't been the best this past week, but thankful I have the gym. I completed 18 miles last weekend. This weekend doesn't sound too promising weather wise either, so it looks like I'll be affixed to a treadmill this weekend. I'm seriously hoping and praying that with all of this typical Spring New England weather that by the time the weekend of my walk comes, it will be beautiful and sunny just like it was last year. One can only hope!
   



3. We have noticed that Samantha has been trying very very VERY hard to listen to Jeremy and I. We think she's FINALLY realizing that when she doesn't listen then there's a punishment. I recently spoke to a family member and they suggested instead of taking things away for punishment, why not concentrate on rewarding them when they do good things? Well, we tried that suggestion, and what do you know? It may be working :) So we noticed that both the girls love their little piggy banks and putting pennies inside of them. So, when the girls finish their meal, they receive 5 pennies. When Samantha wakes up with a dry diaper in the morning she gets 10 pennies. (Samantha is fully potty trained, but she still wears a diaper at nighttime). Rewarding with pennies and Farmville has been working, so that has really encouraged Jeremy and I and made us feel like we're actually getting somewhere. It also teaches the Madore-ables to get excited about the little things and also reminds Jeremy and I to be excited about the little things too. The smiles on the Madore-ables faces says it all.
   



4. Time is winding down for my sister in law's wedding...two weeks from now we'll be on our way up to Maine to get ready for the rehearsal. Samantha and I are part of the wedding party, and I don't know who's more excited, me or Sam. Samantha will be the flower girl for the wedding, and she said something recently that I couldn't help but laugh at. I've been explaining to Samantha during the day about what she's going to be doing for Aunt Jessica and Uncle Paul's wedding. She's going to be holding a pretty white basket full of rose petals and she's going to toss them on the floor as she's walking. Samantha has one concern, who's going to clean up her "mess" that she leaves in the aisle? :)




5. We received a phone call earlier in the week from Sarah's old playgroup when she was in Early Intervention. When we left the playgroup last November, we were told that we would be placed on a waiting list but it may take awhile for us to be called. Well, it appears that a spot for Sarah is opening up in the next month for another playgroup. While the playgroup was being held, the parents of the children in the playgroup would gather in another room and we'd just sit and talk about what was going on. Sometimes we'd pick a topic and just sit and relax for a few hours. As much as I loved sitting down and talking with all of the parents, I felt that Sarah has just blossomed since last Fall with her speech. I decided to pass on the chance for Sarah and I and give Sarah's spot to another child who needs it more than Sarah does. Besides, we're so involved with the free FCC activities lately, it's not like Sarah isn't getting any interaction with other children. Not too mention, with my training and going to the gym it's not like I don't have any free time to myself either.

More Wedding Preparations: The Shower!

This past weekend, was my sister in law's wedding shower. I couldn't have done it without the help from my mother-in-law, another one of my sister-in-laws, and the wedding party. A lot of work was put in to making the day extra special for Jessica. Everything seemed to fall into place. The Madore-ables had a wonderful time, and were extra excited to play with their cousins and see their Mamere and Papere.

The day started out great. We left our house at the time I wanted to. It was early enough so there was no traffic. The girls are fantastic travelers, so we had a good time singing crazy songs, and talking about what color the car in front of us was. Two hours later, we were in Lewiston, Maine.

First stop was to Shaw's super market to pick up the balloons and then we'll head to the party to help my mother-in-law. Wish it sounded that easy. Picture this: the Madore-ables in one of those shopping carts that has the Little Tykes style car at the end, plus balancing 10 balloons in one hand, and pushing a very awkward shopping cart with the other. Then we get outside to my car. Trying to put two children inside the car and in their car seats, and balancing 10 balloons all in high heels mind you, was quite the sight. I managed to squeeze all 10 balloons into my car, but really laughed out loud when I got the girls all bundled up and sat in the drivers seat and saw: balloons in the rear-view-mirror. Somewhere among the balloons, I heard my Madore-ables yelling out, "Mommy! I can't see!!!" Sorry girls, Mommy can't really see either. Luckily, we didn't have far to drive, so I just threw my hazard lights on and said many prayers that we would arrive safely. All the while laughing and thinking, "Oh my goodness, what have I gotten myself into?"

Jessica said she was surprised until the morning of the shower, and everyone seemed like they had a great time. We decided to have the wedding shower theme as an "English Tea Party" that way everyone could be involved...including the children. The food was amazing (especially all those little Petit 4 cookies and tarts that my sister in law Cathy made). Now I really need to head back to the gym to work off all those calories, but that's another blog entry.

Here are some of my favorite photos from the day:

My sun flower cupcakes...what tea party isn't complete without flowers?

The Madore-ables playing with their cousins

Samantha coloring Auntie Jessica a picture

SURPRISE!!!!!!

Sarah learned what "Silly Bands" are

The favors

The beautiful bride to be

Jessica hugging Mia

Five Things Friday

Five Things That Made Me Smile This Past Week

1. Last week and this past Thursday, I got a reminder of what it is like to work full time outside of the home. One of Jeremy's co-workers had surgery last week, and I was given the opportunity to fill in. It was a nice break from the normal schedule I usually hold, but it also made me realize how much I missed my Madore-ables :)
2. This past week, I also made another decision: I signed up for a gym membership. Last night I went to the gym for the first time and worked out for 1 1/2 hours after the girls went to bed. It felt good to get a real good workout in. I'm looking forward to going again tonight. My hope is to lose some more weight and feel good in my dress for my sister in law's wedding in May. My brother in law had his own "The Biggest Loser" competition at his work place, and he won by losing the most amount of weight. To date, he's lost 30 lbs My mother's cousin recently loss 50 lbs. So, let's just say I have lot of inspiration around me :) (Congratulations to Seth & Laurie!)
3. Spring officially arrives this coming Sunday, and we could not be happier. We had our first trip to the playground earlier in the week and are excited to see that the snow banks are slowly melting. We've taken out the big bucket of sidewalk chalk and have graffiti'd Nanny's driveway quite the number of times.
4. My training continues to go well. I squeeze in any walking I can where I can. It's still too close to the time change that the sun isn't rising in time for me to head out for my morning walk for me to be back in time for Jeremy to head to work. So, instead I walk 2 or 3 miles when I'm at my Mom's, or at night at the gym. You can track my progress here.
5. For Lent, I decided to give up snacks after dinner. One of my weaknesses is a big bowl of popcorn at 9 or 10 pm at night. Not only is it incredibly yummy and unhealthy, but it's also not helping with my weight loss. It's really been a challenge, but I'm willing to take it on.

Wedding Preparations

Yesterday was a fun day for the Madore-ables. Sarah spent the day at Nanny's house for a play date. Samantha and I got to spend some girly, 1-on-1 Mommy time together.

While Sarah was with Nanny, Samantha and I took a road trip to Portland, Maine to meet my mother in law, my sister in law, Jessica (the bride to be) and her friends Jocelyn and Elizabeth (two of the bridesmaids) at David's Bridal to finalize on our dresses for Jessica's wedding. We were very productive and had such a great time. Here are the dresses we chose:

Here is Samantha's dress. Sam will be dressed in the color "Mermaid"

Here is my dress. I will be dressed in the color "Jade"

(Satin and Organza gown with beaded inset on the side)

Here is Elizabeth's Dress. She'll be dressed in the color "Jade" too.

(Satin gown with side drape and brooch)

Here's Jocelyn's dress and she will be in the color "Jade" as well.

(Satin ruched ball gown style)

Does anybody want to see Jessica's wedding dress?

Silly rabbits!! Everybody knows that you can't see the bride's dress before the wedding!

Stay tuned!

Five Things Friday

5 Things That Have Made Me Smile In the Last Week

This week has been an excellent week...I don't know if "5" is enough to share my joy!

1. This past Tuesday morning, I found out that my sister in law Jessica is now ENGAGED to her (now) fiancee, Paul. We could not be more excited and more happy for them. No definite date has been set yet, but more than likely Summer 2011. Welcome to the family Paul!


2. Tuesday all around was just a great day. Sarah's last official EI session was Tuesday. On one hand we are just so excited that Sarah is progressing so well. On the other hand, Sue from Pentucket Early Intervention has been part of our lives, our schedule since April 2009. It's going to be strange to not have her come each week. Thank you so much for all that you've done Sue...we are so blessed for all the help you've given us.


3. This week has been too cold for me to walk, so instead, I've still been walking up early and doing my workouts and jogging. Now that Jessica is engaged, I have a new goal for myself: to be -35-40 lbs by next Summer.


4. I still need to set myself up in the system, but I have 2 part time jobs. The first, as you know, I work 4 hours on Thursdays at Jeremy's company. Hopefully starting next week I'll start my new job as a transcriber. I'm looking forward to making some extra money all in the comforts of my home : )


5. Less than 3 weeks until Thanksgiving!! LOVE this time of year. I'm thankful for everything I have in my life and I'm most thankful that I don't need one day to remind me of what I have in my life, because I am reminded every minute of everyday of what I have to be thankful about.