New Year's Eve

We celebrated New Years Eve with my family eating appetizers and playing games. I made a cheese fondue with bread, veggies and apple slices for dipping, Hariz made bruschetta with sun dried tomatoes and brie on toasted baguette slices, my sister made punch and my brother made a jello-dessert with a pretzel crumb crust. Everything was sooooo yummy!! We put Maddie to bed on time and let Sydney stay up as long as she could. While we made appetizers Sydney watched "Despicable Me" with Andrew. She was getting hungry so I gave her cookies and apples slices and then we all sat at the table and ate appetizers together. She was loving this extra time up...watching TV and eating yummy treats beats bedtime any day!! But by then it was 10:30 and she was fading fast so we did a pretend New Year's Countdown and wished each other a Happy New Year. She loved it and was excited to welcome in 2011. We then put her to bed and she was asleep almost instantly. This was the first year she stayed up with us and I loved sharing it with her.
We also celebrated my Mom's 60th birthday since we didn't get a chance to celebrate together with her in September. We all pitched in for a GPS and placed it, wrapped with a card, on her chair. When we gathered to eat, she came over and saw it and had a confused look on her face. We sang Happy Birthday and I chimed in "belated and 60th" and she understood. She was thrilled to have a GPS! We had wanted to plan a family trip over the summer to celebrate but everyone's schedules conflicted and nothing was planned. I was glad to make up for it tonight (not as cool as a trip) but still something special for her. We love you Mom!!

After Sydney went to bed we played Balderdash, a super fun game of bluffs and trivia. I was crying I was laughing so hard. It's definitely one of my favorite games to play. When it was time to countdown for the New Year for real we gathered around the TV and counted with Dick Clark's countdown on TV. Then we finished our game and headed to bed an hour later. I knew I would be so tired the day but it was so worth it!!

Visiting Bob and Sally

My cousin Bob and his wife Sally just moved to Burke, VA over the summer. Bob is a Naval officer so they have lived all over the country and overseas over the last 10 + years. I was at their wedding reception but never actually had the chance to meet Sally because I had to leave early to get to my job (I worked at Express at the mall). It was great to see them tonight and meet their daughters, Katie age 10 and Beth age 8. We had Sally's homemade Chili for dinner and we brought cheesecake with a strawberry topping for dessert. After dinner the grownups played "Apples to Apples" while the girls played together. Katie and Beth bought Christmas gifts for Sydney and Maddie with their own allowance. That was amazingly sweet of them to do.We are looking forward to seeing them again next time we are in MD!

Beth and Sydney decorating cookies with icing.

Yum!

Katie decorating Maddie's cookie.

Katie and Maddie.

Say Cheese!!

Christmas Dinner

For Christmas dinner we went to my cousin Deepa's house. The children performed a play of the birth of Jesus. Sydney was an angel and was to sing "Away In A Manger" for everyone. We had been practicing that song together so Deepa added it into the play. At her house the kids did a practice run. I helped Sydney and the three other angels, her cousins Raina, Alyssa and Hannah practice their part. Then we all went downstairs where the grownups were waiting and put on the play. My cousin Sabitha, Deepa's sister, narrated and the children followed along. When it was the angels' turn, they stepped out and said their line "Glory to God in the Highest" and then Sydney sang "Away In A Manger." She did so great!! I was so proud of her. She was proud of herself too!

Sydney and her cousin Gianna.

 My sister Bianca took this picture of us.

After the play, we had dinner. There was so much good food and it was so wonderful to see everyone!!

Christmas Morning

 Maddie going through her Elmo stocking.

Sydney opening presents.

Andrew and Hariz playing the Kinect. It is sooo much fun to play, way better than what we grew up with. Thanks Bob and Peggy!!

Sydney wearing her Cinderella gown from Santa. She loved playing the Kinect with everyone, no matter the sport she loved to join in.

Christmas in MD

This year we spent Christmas in Maryland with my family. I haven't been to MD for Christmas since before Andrew and I were married, so I was very excited to see everyone this time of year. We brought all of our presents with us which made for a very cramped minivan. We left at 4:30 am, stopped at McDonald's for breakfast and then we were on our way. I wrapped small trinkets/toys for Sydney to open after each movie she watched during the drive (my friend Natalie gave me that idea). She got a Pez dispenser, coloring book, M&M mini's and a couple other small toys. She loved unwrapping each item and it kept her busy. Thankfully the drive was very easy, we were in MD before noon, which has never happened before, and we were at my Mom's place by 3:00, also a first. The girls did great. My Mom moved from Gaithersburg to Germantown and we were anxious to see Mimi's new place!! Here are pictures from the next day, Christmas Eve.

 Eating breakfast.

Craft time.

Nap Time. Maddie took most of her naps this week on our laps. We loved it.

Christmas cookies. We made Christmas Trees and Snowmen.

Family pic.

Cookies and milk for Santa, carrots for the reindeer.

 Andrew reading bedtime stories to the girls.

Winter Celebration

The Wednesday before winter break Sydney's preschool held a "Winter Celebration" for families. Each of the four preschool class sang a song the class had practiced and then they all sang Jingle Bells together. In the first video, Sydney is on the left.

Gymnastics

This morning the girls had their make up class at gymnastics since we are leaving for MD on Thursday, when they normally have class. Andrew came too so we were able to take pictures. The theme was Christmas/Winter with sleds for the kids to ride on, a giant blow up snowman and other holiday decorations. Maddie was climbing on a mat when her teacher, Jamie, put her on a small sled and gently pulled her down the inclined mat and around on the floor. She was trying so hard not to grin but you could see she secretly enjoyed the ride :) Both girls had a turn jumping with Andrew in the foam pit. They really enjoy gymnastics and Sydney loves her teachers, Mary and Francis. Maddie is a little wary of Jamie. She doesn't enjoy being picked up into forward and backward rolls and flips. So when he comes over she'll start walking/crawling in a different direction. It's funny because she's actually really good at doing those moves. Jamie will pick her up into a forward roll and she automatically tucks her chin down and puts out both arms to the mat. Sydney too worked really hard today. She had to run up one inclined mat and jump into a forward roll down the other mat. At the end of class the teachers brought out white balloons (like snowflakes) and the kids played with them to music. Such a fun morning!!

Maddie enjoying a sled ride. There is a smile, albeit a small one!

Andrew and Maddie jumping in the foam pit.

The teachers were really nice and let the girls ride together, even though Sydney is in a different class.

Sydney sitting with her class. Her teacher was standing next to me showing the girls what to do.

Practicing "Pike" and "Straddle" with our legs!

Let It Snow!!

Maddie hiding out in her little cave. It was her favorite place.

Backward roll.

Our Girls' Day Out

I took Sydney to see the Nutcracker Ballet at the Boston Opera house yesterday. I had never seen it as a child and was so excited to bring Sydney me. We went to the 1:00 showing so there were lots of other children there too. The dancers were just amazing. I loved it. Sydney enjoyed it too laughing with the audience and clapping along after each piece. We stayed for about three quarters of the show before Sydney started to get too antsy and wanted to dance and sing along herself. She became too distracting for everyone around us so I decided it was best to go. I was a little disappointed to leave but in the end it didn't matter because Sydney danced and danced the rest of the day. While we were at the performance, Andrew took Maddie to the Children's Museum. She had a blast and Andrew said she was upset whenever he would try to take her to a new exhibit. Her favorite thing to do was make bubbles at the science playground. She also liked Arthur's exhibit and enjoyed the camping tent.

Sydney looking at her Nutcracker program before the show begins.

Maddie making bubbles.

Pics from our weekend

This weekend was pretty quiet...it rained both days so we stayed home (except Saturday Sydney had dance class and a b-day party). Andrew took the weekend off from studying (he has one final on Tuesday that he will study tomorrow and Tuesday for). Sydney and Maddie were sick...Maddie's fever came on Thursday so I took her to the doctor on Friday and found out she had hand, foot and mouth disease :( Sydney caught it Saturday evening, but both girls were back to themselves by Sunday. Thankfully we can start the week out on a positive note! Here are some pics Andrew and I took of the girls over the last few days.

 

Sydney and Maddie giggling at each other during breakfast.

Andrew and I played a game of Scrabble today. I brought out playdoh, pipe cleaners, googly eyes, etc. for Sydney to work on while we played. Andrew crushed my score by 70 pts.

Sydney's "snowman"

 I tried to have her pose with her second creation. For being so photogenic she's a horrible picture taker!! :)

 My Aunt Edna bought this outfit for Sydney when she was in India. Sydney loves that it's a real outfit...not just a costume.

 

Thank you Aunty!!

Say what??

I wrote down all of the words Maddie is saying now and she is passed 30 words! She is a taking machine!! She's even telling me when she's pooped in her diaper. She walks over to me and puts her hand on her diaper, saying "poo poo." I hope this means she will be easy to potty train. But besides that she really enjoys talking to people. She makes eye contact and waits for a response, it's really sweet. I love knowing her in this new way. Here are the words she's saying...

hi
bye
no
Mama
Dada
Madeline
TJ (Sydney's friend)
uh-oh (will drop her sippy cup at the table and say this)
gentle (I say this when I want her to be careful. She will repeat it and even pats other kids, looks at me and repeats "gentle)
more
Elmo
alright (apparently I say that a lot :)
night-night
baby
all done
what's that?
ball
shoes
nose
tissue (like to get a tissue and wipe my nose, saying "tissue")
up
down
diaper
poo poo
row, row (your boat)
thank you (says it when someone gives her something, sounds more like "tink youuu" :)
apple
banana (I can't this word or she goes straight to the fruit basket asking for "bizaza")
happy (birthday)
"buh" for toothbrush
Cheese! (for the camera)
yum
Amen

She repeats everything she hears and understands so much. Last night I asked Sydney to wash her hands and Maddie came to me with her hands up. Earlier that day Maddie took Sydney's sippy cup and started drinking it. Sydney asked "Can I have my sippy cup?" Maddie replied, "no." Sydney asked several times, giggling that she was actually talking to her sister, and each time Maddie said "no." I gave Maddie her own cup and let Sydney have hers back. Their dynamic is constantly changing, but Maddie is letting everyone know that she may be little, but she's one tough girl.

Visiting the Dentist

Today the girls had their dental checkups with Dr. Shaibani. This was Maddie's first time and she sat on my lap while the dentist looked at her teeth. The dentist first showed Maddie an exam glove to break the ice. Maddie looked at it and tried to fit her hand in it, but when Dr. Shaibani used her dental mirror, Maddie tightened her lips and shook her head. She shook her head every time the little mirror got close to her mouth. Dr. Shaibani gave Maddie a toothbrush to see how she brushes her teeth in hopes to get a look. That changed everything because Maddie LOVES to brush her teeth. She just went to town brushing every pearly white and even giggled enough to let Dr. Shaibani take a good look. Her teeth are clean and healthy!
Next she checked my retainer to see how it is still fitting. Sydney and Maddie were both so curious about the dentist looking in my mouth that they both watched in silence, Maddie on my lap and Sydney in her chair.
Next was Sydney. She loves Dr. Shaibani and has talked about her ever since her last visit in June. The first thing she said when she saw her today was "Do you remember me?!" She had her teeth polished, flossed and had fluoride. She has no plaque or sugar bugs...go Sydney!!

Maddie and her toothbrush. I put my cell phone on camera mode and Sydney took this and other pics.

My turn...and Maddie and her toothbrush. It really is one of her favorite things to do.

Ready for her checkup!

So brave!!

She held on to it until we got home and we rinsed it and put it away in her bathroom.

Sydney got two barrettes and a ring!!

'Tis the Season!

This weekend was all things Christmas and we started it off with Breakfast with Santa on Saturday. It's hosted by the Hanscom Spouses' Club and a lot of fun. When we checked in, the girls got a goodie bag filled with stickers and scratch off holiday ornaments. For breakfast they served scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon and danishes with either coffee or juice. We shared a table with the Scott Family who live directly behind our house. It is always nice to be able to catch up with families you only see in passing driving to preschool or checking out at the commissary. Magic Dave, a magician, came to entertain the kids. He came last year and was just as great this year. Sydney wasn't into the magic tricks last year but she loved it this year. She cracked up when he put three cotton balls under three cups and they turned into three lemons!!! She sat next to her friend Keira and they giggled the whole time. Afterward Santa Claus made his appearance and we got in line for pictures. Maddie was overtired by then so we left as soon as we got our picture. Sydney got a present from Santa, the book "If You Take A Mouse To The Movies."

Posing in front of the Christmas tree in the lobby.

Sydney and her friend Keira.

Watching Magic Dave

I tried putting Maddie in Santa's lap but she wasn't having any of it, so I came in the picture. She stared at him the whole time...but at least no tears!!

In the evening we went to a Christmas party at our friends' Erin and Travis' home. We did a book gift exchange for the kids and a white elephant gift exchange for the grownups. The kids exchange was very cute. Sydney came home with "Dr. Seuss' Oh The Thinks You Can Think" and Maddie got "Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See?" We brought an insulated lunch box and came home with a ceramic cookie box shaped like a gingerbread house. It was a great party!

My Reindeer cupcakes...I got the idea from this month's Family Fun magazine.

Video of the kids' book exchange.

We rounded out the weekend with a trip to Target for a few more holiday decorations and some winter necessities. Then tonight we made cinnamon ornaments which made the house smell sooo good. I'm counting down the days and enjoying every minute!