Trimming the tree

Every year we head to Baugher's to get out Christmas tree! They have the best selection and the trees last so long! It took about 10 minutes to find the perfect tree. We loaded on top of our car and headed home to decorate. I put the lights on while Madison and Caroline got cleaned up and in their pajamas. Once they were finshed we put the ornaments on while sipping on hot chocolate and listening to Christmas music. It was such a perfect evening!

Our newest family member

Caroline has a little boy in her preschool class that she has become quite fond of. His name is Nick. When I say she is quite fond of him, I mean she refers to him as her boyfriend! She is only 3!!! Well, I guess since she likes Nick so much, she created a "pretend" Nick at home. Yes, she has an imaginary friend named Nick. Nick comes everywhere with us, he eats meals with her, plays in the playroom with her, even bathes with her! In fact, as I am typing she is playing "Nick and Princess" in the playroom. I want to quote her on a few things that she has said when referring to Nick.

John was finishing up her bath one night and he shut the water off and got her out of the tub. She was acting mad at John as he put her pajamas on. John asked, "What's wrong Caroline?" She said, "I am mad at you Daddy, you shut the water off and Nick was still taking his bath!"

Caroline said, "Mommy, can I have a Hershey Kiss?" "Yes, you can" I said. "Can Nick have one too?" Caroline asked. "Sure Caroline" I said. A few seconds later after she ate her Hershey Kiss she said, "Nick told me he isn't hungry, can I have his Hershey Kiss?"

Caroline was playing dress up one day and asked me to take her picture. Of course I said I would. After I took her picture, she asked me to take Nick's picture. I said, "Ok, where is he?" She said, "Over by the steps." I then proceeded to take Nick's picture. Caroline said, " Can I see the picture?" I showed her the camera. "Oh, he looks so cute!" she said. Of course there was nothing in the picture except the banister and steps! :)

Here are the pictures from that day:

Our annual winter beach trip

Every December we head to Bethany Beach for the weekend. John and I have been doing this since we were dating and now we all head down as a family. We plan our weekend around the Ocean City Christmas parade. This year is was on December 6th. We got to Bethany Beach shortly after dinner on Friday, December 5th. the next morning we enjoyed a delicious breakfast at the Bayside Skillet in Ocean City. After breakfast we headed to Rose's for discount shopping. For some reason this has been added to our weekend tradition in the last few years. It is fun to see what kid of bargains you can find! After shopping we headed out to Coastal Highway for the parade! The kids just love it and there are so many cute floats! Of course, Madison and Caroline love chasing after the candy that is thrown from the floats. Once the parade is over we head back to the townhouse to rest a bit before heading to The Cottage Cafe and Winterfest of Lights. We had such a festive weekend and the girls enjoy going each year. It is become one of many family traditons around the holidays.

Thanksgiving 2008

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year! We started our day they way we always start Thanksgiving, watching the Macy's Thanksgiving parade while we eat caramel rolls. While the kids are watching the parade John and I go through all of the ads from the newspaper and we plan his annual Black Friday shopping trip. I have to admit I like the parade too! Watching reminds me of being a kid and I just love all of the Broadway performances!

I think the most important thing this Thanksgiving was being able to celebrate with John's grandmother. She is 96 years old and going strong! We were able to have Thanksgiving dinner at her house on Clover Leaf Farm. I know it meant a lot to her to be with everyone at her house, and that really made Thanksgiving special to all of us. We were able to capture a picture of the four generations: Melvine Brown, Rosemary Brown Beakes, John Beakes, Madison and Caroline Beakes. What a great picture to remember this special day!

Madison's Last Soccer Game

Madison had her last soccer game in mid November. She loves soccer and she loves that John is her coach. Although, sometimes she takes advantage of it! Their team didn't do so well this year. They won 1 game and tied 1 game. That did not matter to Madison, she had so much fun and that is all that matters! There was a trophy ceremony a week after the last game and she was so excited to get her first soccer trophy! GO MADISON!!!!

Time Flies!

I can't believe I haven't posted anything in so long! I am a bad mommy blogger! I guess that is what happens when the stomach virus and strep throat take over. I swear we were at the pediatrician's once a week for 5 weeks straight. Between Madison and her strep throat and Caroline with 2 bouts of the stomach virus.....YUCK!!! Well, I am on here now and I am ready to update.

Fall Fun!

Last weekend we headed to Baugher's Orchard to pick out our pumpkins and have some fun! We started out by having lunch there and letting the kids play on the playground. It was such a beautiful Fall day. After that we headed over to get in line for the tractor to take us out to the pumpkin patch. It was Caroline's first time on the hay ride so she was very excited!

We headed out to the pumpkin patch in search of the perfect pumpkins! Madison and Caroline got to pick their own and then John and I eached picked one. Madison found a little pumpkin and showed it to Caroline. Caroline thought that that was the best pumpkin that she had seen so far. She named it "baby pumpkin". We were heading back to get in line for our ride back to the market when Madison said to Caroline, "Caroline don't you love that little pumpkin Sissy picked out for you?" At that moment Caroline threw the pumpkin on the ground and said that she did not want that one. We kept asking her why and she just kept saying that she wanted a different one. She realized that Madison had picked it and that she did not, and she was not having that! I think that she didn't want to hurt Madison's feelings so she never came out and said that exactly, but we are assuming that was the problem. John took her back out to look for "her" pumpkin.

Once we were back at the market the girls enjoyed playing on the moon bounce, painting pottery, pony rides, and having a snack of apple cider, funnel cake, and kettle corn. Of course you can't leave without stocking up on goodies from the market! What a wonderful day!!

We closed out the day by getting the girls bathed, eating dinner and then all having popcorn and M&M's while watching The Spiderwick Chronincles. It was the perfect end to the perfect Fall day!

Another precious moment

The other night, I finished cleaning up the bathroom from bath time and I headed towards Caroline's room and I found Madison reading a story to Caroline. It was so precious! I had to snap the picture quick. They are just so cute! Even though they are 4 years apart they are so close with eachother. Madison is so motherly towards Caroline and is so protective of her. Caroline will do anything Madison says, which I am sure will not last too much longer. I hope that they become great friends as they get older just like me and my sister.

Dress up time!

Last weekend was a relaxing weekend for us, and believe me we do not get relaxing weekends often! Caroline wanted to dress up in her Halloween costume because she is so excited about it! She is going to be a pirate. Caroline loves anything with pirates! After Caroline was done dressing up in her pirate costume, I put her down for a nap and me, John and Madison played Pretty, Pretty Princess. John won the game and I love the picture I got of him in his dress up jewelry!i can't believe he let me take the picture! He is such a great daddy!!!!

Crazy Times!

Things have been so busy around here I can't seem to find the time to get on and blog. We have just been busy with ballet class, lyrical class, and soccer for Madison and ballet and yoga for Caroline. On top of that John has decided to start a consulting company here in Westminster with his father. I am so happy that he is finally getting this opportunity! He has been wanting to do this for a long time. He looks up to his dad so much and I think it is wonderful that they are starting this company together. I know it will be very successful!

Madison has been asked to be in a competitive dance company through her ballet studio. She is very excited and we are so proud of her for this achievement. She was personally selected from the dance company's director. She will start practice this Thursday.

Caroline starts her first yoga class tomorrow. She is so excited! Yoga for children is much different than for adults. She won't be doing poses. Just stretching and breathing techniques, and of course running around having FUN! Although, she does know how to do the tree pose.

Before I sign off, I wanted to quote Madison on something she said yesterday. Caroline is in a ballet class called Music and Movement, M&M for short. Madison said,"It is so cute how Caroline is an M&M. I used to be in M&M when I was three, I guess I am a Twizzler by now!" She thought that M&M was really M&M candy, and that each level of dance was categorized by candy. I just laughed and said how cute she was. "She said, well that is how they do it at Hershey Park. She is too cute!!!!

Madison and Mommy

It is that time of year where Madison and I start our tradition of Mommy and Maddy dates. Mommy and Maddy dates are when just Madison and I do something together, usually twice a month. Madison and I come up with different things the two of us can do together. Last year we had fun making crafts, going to the movies, going shopping, going to the park, getting pizza and going out to eat at the restaurant of Maddy's choice. We were in the car the other day thinking of things we could do together. Some of the ideas that we came up with are: going to the movies, making a craft, getting our nails done, baking together at home, and going to The Pottery Loft to paint pottery. I am sure that more ideas will come to us along the way. Madison was so cute though, she said, "You know what mom, it doesn't matter what we do as long as we are together" I am so glad that our Mommy and Maddy dates mean so much to her. I hope she has fond memories of them as she gets older, I know I will.

1st week of Ballet

Caroline and Madison started dance class last week. I was too sick to get on here and blog. This is Caroline's first year of ballet and she is so excited about it. We got to the studio early and she couldn't wait to go back to dance. She kept asking me, "Mommy is it time, is it time yet?"
Once she got back there she was so happy! At the studio the parents are able to watch on a television in the waiting room. I watched intently and there was never a dull moment. At one point the dance teacher asked the girls who thought they could jump ten feet in the air over a ribbon that was laying on the floor. Caroline exclaimed, "I can, I can!" She was so confident even though she had no idea that it was impossible. I am glad we are raising confident children.

Caroline you are too funny!

Caroline,

I want to quote you on some things that you have said recently.

"Mommy, I eat my food in my mouth, it goes in my belly, and then into my bum and that is how I poop"

"Sissy, are you Mary Poppins?" (As Madison was measuring Caroline's height)

"Mimi, try one of these green grapes!" says Caroline. Mimi tries the grapes. "Isn't that good Mimi?" Caroline says. "Yes it is" says Mimi. "That's what I'm talking about!" says Caroline. (John is always saying, "That's what I'm talking about").

"This chocolate bar is num." (Caroline's version of yummy)

"Sissy, you are so cute, I could just eat you up with ketchup"

Madison is in second grade!

Madison's first day of second grade was Tuesday, August 26th. I still can't believe that my Baby Madison is 7 and in second grade! It just goes too fast! It seemed like just yesterday she was starting the 2 year old pre-school class. I don't even want to think about how the first day of high school will be!

Madison,
We could not be more proud of you! You are a wonderful daughter and such a great big sister! Believe in all your dreams! We love you!

Love,
Mommy and Daddy

Orioles!

On August 26th we took Madison and Caroline to an Orioles game. It was Caroline's first game so we were not sure how long she would last but she loved it! We watched the batting practice and she did not want to leave! We enjoyed the typical ball game food for our dinner-hot dogs, fries, popcorn, lemonade, and of course cotton candy! The girls also received a free Webkinz as a door prize which they were super excited about.

Once the game started they were both so excited! Caroline was cheering and clapping for the Orioles and singing "CHARGE!" She loved the Oriole bird although she kept calling it a duck which was so cute! We headed home after the 5th inning because of school the next day, but I can say I think Caroline might have made it through the entire game. As we were leaving our seats and heading towards the ramp she said, "Daddy, I had so much fun!" John was so happy to hear that and it was a perfect ending to a perfect day!

Summer days driftin' away

Well, this past weekend was our last weekend before school starts. We had a wonderful weekend of relaxing and hanging out as a family! We spent a lot of time at the pool. Madison and Caroline love the pool! I love it too because I can relax in the sun and then they are so tired by the end of the day which makes bedtime a breeze!

I can honestly say that this weekend was bittersweet for me. I was excited for them to go back to school because I will have more time to get things done, and actually have a little free time on the days that Caroline is in school, but I was sad to see the summer drawing to a close. We had such a great time this summer going to the pool, going to the movies, playing in the playroom, going to the beach, playing outside in the neighborhood, and who could forget the ICE CREAM TRUCK!!! Summer goes by too fast! I can't wait until next year!

The little things that count

Ok, so we went to Chick-fil-A with my mom yesterday on our way to visit their dog in the hospital. Now usually we drive through Chick-fil-A, so I was unaware that they had a kids corner complete with baby wipes, diapers, Cheerios in a little cup with a lid, and Purell hand sanitizing wipes! How cool! I was so excited I think that Madison thought it was a little weird! :) Oh well! I wish all fast food chains were this thoughtful!

After lunch we went to visit my parents dog Winnie who is in a pet hospital. The girls really enjoyed seeing her and taking her for a walk and trying to feed her treats. Seeing the girls really brightened up Winnie's day and it made me feel better knowing that the 30 minute visit made such a difference.

To conclude our day, I enjoyed a night out with my friend Amy at a Tastefully Simple party where I sampled yummy food and drank yummy cocktails! I enjoyed the party very much as I was in need of a night out. On top of that I came home to a quiet house! John bathed and put the kids to bed and the kitchen was spotless from dinner! What a wonderful day!

Nap Time and Binkies

OK, so we have finally made progress! Caroline now only needs the binky at nap time and bedtime! WOO HOO!
She is so funny though, just yesterday morning after only being awake for a couple of hours she said, "Mommy I think I tired, I need a nap, can I have binky now?" She has obviously picked up on the idea that she will get it if she is napping.....too smart! Now if I could only get her to stop asking to take naps! Who would of thought I would actually wish she wasn't taking a nap, but now she is staying up until 10 o'clock at night! I need my "me" time!

Day 1 of Blogging

Ok, so I am finally doing this (Thanks Michelle). With the girls starting school next week I thought that this would be the perfect time. I think this is a wonderful way to keep track of all of the things that I know I will eventually forget, especially the little things that I always say I am going to write down so I can look back and laugh but never do.