Thanksgiving: Sun, Basketball and Mickey Mouse

We had a very special Thanksgiving this year, we spent the holiday week in sunny Orlando! Hands down, a memorable trip I'll cherish forever. Everything from the weather, the company, the games, Disney experiences and the most beautiful hotel (Gaylord Palms), it was all perfect. 

I have to admit, I was pretty nervous to fly alone with Maggie and Emma. I thought it would be smart to fly at night, thinking the girls would sleep. No sleep, unless you count the last 15 minutes of the flight. The girls are active and curious who like to touch everything, chase each other and ask questions. I remember texting some friends during the hour layover in St. Louis that I would never fly alone with the girls again. It was constant re-directing. But, I took a deep breath and knew we would be in Florida soon and it would all be worth it. I truly believe that we as parents worry so much about our kids behaving, that in all reality, they are being perfectly normal acting kids. In fact many people complimented me of how great of travelers the girls were and well behaved. HA!!!! Really though, thank goodness for snacks and the iPad/LeapPad. 

We were greeted at the airport by my dad at nearly midnight for then a 20 minute drive to their condo, where we would stay for two nights until Matt and the team got to town. After a full night of rest, some breakfast and coffee (thank you Jesus), we hit the road with Nana, Papa and aunt Alaina to visit my grandparents. We haven’t seen my grandparents since Maggie was a few months old and it was nice to be able to see them again.

Tuesday, us girls were off to Animal Kingdom! Animal Kingdom was the perfect park to visit as our first park, it is much smaller and not as overwhelming. I knew we were going to Disney during the busiest time of year, so made sure to do FastPasses for both meet and greets, as well as rides. While there, the girls met Mickey and Minnie, Chip-n-Dale, Goofy and Pluto. We saw some great, cute shows: A Bug’s Life in 3D as well as the Lion King in a shortened musical. The top must experience at Animal Kingdom is the Kilimanjaro safari ride. It was AWESOME! You felt like you were so far removed from Orlando, Florida and on a true safari. Giraffes literally walking right up to you, elephants bathing near the watering hole and a beautiful lioness on top of a rock overlooking it all.

We laid low on Wednesday: pool time during the day and then Matt and I went with the team for a special dinner at one of the Disney resorts to kickoff the tournament.

Followed with games on Thursday (Thanksgiving) and Friday.

Saturday was the big day at Magic Kingdom! Matt had an off day that he was able to join us. We arrive by 8:30 a.m. and didn't leave until 7:30 p.m. Even with all that time, we didn't make it to the Tomorrowland portion of the park. Even with it being the busiest week in the park, we got to do so much: ride tons of rides, meet Cinderella, Elena of Avalor, Ariel, Pooh and Tigger, saw a couple stage shows, the afternoon AND night parades, then a special lighting of the castle from Elsa, Anna and Olaf. It was all decked out for the holidays and even more beautiful than it is without. Magic Kingdom has the best parades with the best performers! If you ask Emma, the parades, meeting the princesses and the Dumbo ride were her favorites. It really is a kingdom full of magic, music and dancing, lights, rides and dreams come true. No matter how old you are, Magic Kingdom truly is one of the happiest places on earth. I think Matt and I enjoyed it just as much, if not more, than the girls. Plus, to see the sheer delight and joy in the girls was a memory I will cherish a lifetime.

After an eventful and fun week in Orlando, it was up and at it bright and early Sunday for the girls and I as we flew back home to Iowa. Seriously, I am still blown away with how well these girls traveled and adapted to a long week on the road. I am also incredibly grateful to have had my parents and sister there with us to share in the memories and to have help with the girls.

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Santa

This visit to Santa has become one of my favorites of the holiday season. If you are ever in Ames on a Tuesday evening around the holidays, you must go visit Santa on Cullen Drive. The set up gets better every year with more detail and lights. Plus, local photographers are scheduled to take your pictures for FREE, all you have to do is donate non-perishable items for the local food pantry.

My mom and I took the girls after Emma's gymnastics class on a cold (like 10 degrees and windy) evening and waited in line with all the other excited little kids until it was our turn. Let me tell you, I was totally prepared for a meltdown from Maggie. Guess what? She proved me wrong and did awesome! Emma did too and when asked what she wants, she answered "Everything princess". Thanks a lot, Disney.

Fall Wrap Up

Wow, what an incredibly fast/busy, but incredible fall we had. I had full intentions on writing this post prior to our Florida vacation, but......life. Life happened and this blog got put on the back burner. So for now, enjoy pictures of how we spent our fall months.

We made it to the first two home football games. Or at least tailgating and a little bit of the actual game.

Emma was Nana's road trip buddy as they headed to Nebraska for a special weekend that included spending the day with uncle Blake at Vala's.

We did our annual pumpkin patch trip to Berry Patch Farms.

Another yearly tradition, hand painted pumpkins from Nana. This year's theme: Paw Patrol!

Grandma and Grandpa made a visit and got to go with the girls and Matt to Boo with Zew over at Vet Med.

Carved a pumpkin for the first time since having kids, just in time for Halloween the next day. Emma loved it!

Followed by trick-or-treating with dear friends, the Rutherfords and Lickteigs. Also known as Parent's Club. Thanks to my mom and dad for hosting us for dinner!

Enjoyed an unusually warm November with a bonfire that included roasting marshmallows and ghost stories.

We know fall is truly over when basketball season is officially upon us.

Now bring on the holidays and winter months!
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Maggie: 18 Months

Likes/Dislikes: Maggie is really good at letting us know what she doesn't like. Puckers her lips out in distaste, says no while holding her hand out to "stop", ha! She is not a fan of Emma or my parent's dogs invading her personal space, when people eat her food and telling her no or disciplining her. Maggie hasn't really been disciplined too much (2nd child problems) and she gets absolutely devastated when we are stern with her and tell her no, or put her in timeout. Meanwhile, she is loving anything Frozen and Paw Patrol. She also likes playing with baby dolls, kitchen set, playing doctor and bouncing her booty/spinning.

Development: Her imagination has really grown as she plays kitchen and baby dolls with Emma. It is so cute to watch them play together and make believe. Maggie has always been a big talker, but boy has her vocabulary expanded leaps and bounds. She repeats everything and for the most part, is pretty clear in what she says. We can ask her things and she responds with preference. She also can hum and/or sing songs like Twinkle Twinkle, Let It Go and Itsy Bitsy Spider. In fact, at her 18 month well check, Dr. Patten said her vocabulary is "advanced". At this same appointment, she weighed in at 30.6 pounds and 34 inches in height. 98% in height, weight and head circumference! We have a well proportioned girl!

Sleeping: Still going to bed around 6:45 p.m. and waking about 6:30.....or earlier if big sister is being loud. She's still taking two naps a day and while we cut Emma of her two naps a day at 19 months, I am not sure when we will do that for Maggie. There are days she seems like she really needs two and others where one may be enough.

Eating: After cutting her canines and then a bout of tonsillitis, Mags is back to eating normally again, including fruit. There's not much she doesn't like or won't try.

These are the Days

These are the days. We are living them. Right. Now. Some day, we are going to want this back. Because I already want this specific night back. Even though this is the busiest time of our lives, I am trying to stop and take in what is happening around us, not speeding through life or wishing any phases away. Instead, enjoying the moment....as crazy as it may be. 

Emma's 1st Day of Pre-3

Last week, Emma started her first year of pre-school and she is absolutely loving it so far.

While we don't think three year pre-school is/was necessary, we decided to give it a try. It gives Emma a chance to go with Milo and Jared from Miss Amanda's, my mom a bit of a break and 1:1 time with Maggie and some structure/discipline for Emma from someone other than us and my mom :)

From what we can gather, her favorite time of the day is playing with baby dolls and snack time.

Maggie: Sixteen Months

Likes/Dislikes: Maggie is still such a cuddle bug, loving to everyone and so good at making people smile with her big grins and baby blues. She's really getting into baby dolls, trying to do somersaults like big sister, playing doctor and kitchen. She's not a fan of being told no, people (or dogs) getting in her way (yells at us to GO!) cutting teeth, ear drops and getting randomly pinched by Emma.

Development: These last couple months have been huge for Mags and it has been so much fun to see her grow and learn new things. The biggest development since our last update is that she started walking shortly after turning 14 months. Always the cautious one, she is finally really starting to feel easy about it all and walking with more confidence and getting quicker. She is such a big talker....big time. She repeats everything and is really clear in her words. She can say: pease (please), mo (more), mommy, daddy, mma (Emma), Nana, Papa, I-yee (Rylee), ank ew (thank you), et it go (let it go), bubble, no, go, uh-oh, puppy....the list goes on and on. It's fun to see Emma recognize and get excited over Maggie's vocabulary too. She holds up one finger when we ask how old she is and raises her hands when asked how big she is. A painful development she is going through is cutting three of her four canines in 12 days with one more that is close behind. Emma has always cut her teeth all at once in such short spans and while it is BRUTAL for all, I just keep reminding myself that at least the process isn't getting dragged on. She's also developed her second ear infection since getting tubes in June.

Sleeping: Nothing has changed on the sleeping front. Still going to bed around 6:45 p.m. and waking about 6:30 or 7:00 a.m. She is oh so cuddly when getting tired and we adore that time. We know she is ready for bed when she starts rubbing her eyes and playing with her pony tail. She has done this since she was about six months and plays with it as she is falling asleep in her crib too. Also still taking two naps a day.

Eating: Cutting her molars and now her canines have thrown Maggie's eating off a bit. She now randomly won't eat fruit or foods she normally eats. Kind of picks around, but if we have a cartoon on to distract her, she will eat more.