Princesses On Ice

No, that is not the name of my newest drink of choice...although there are moments I could sure use one these days.  Actually that was the  "Mommy & Maggie" activity of the week.  Fun, huh?

Mommy, Maggie, Belle, Ariel, and Rapunzel....now I call that quality time with my first born Princess.  Love my girl!

We went to the Disney Princesses on Ice show.  And can I just say?...it was fabulous. The costumes were amazing, the flow of the show was just right, and Maggie's favorite princess, Belle, was one of the stars.  Also in attendance {and following in a very close second} was Rapunzel.  Maggie couldn't have asked for more....except for the $12 snow cone....and the $22 spinning Rapunzel light...and the $8 program.   

But, believe it or not, I can actually rationalize those purchases.  You see, I've learned in my 5 plus years of motherhood that you buy the cheap seats.  The really cheap seats.  Amazingly enough they are the best seats in the house for a 'three foot nothing' little one.  You get an aisle and it's pretty much perfection.  Especially at an ice show with the stage being so huge...absolutely no issues with the view and easy access in and out.  {I'm pretty sure Phillips and Disney wouldn't be so keen on me sharing my cheap seats tip}.

We arrived at Phillips just in time for the show.  It was a beautiful day with lots of sunshine {hence the hot pink wayfarers}.  Thankfully Maggie requested the stroller from the parking lot to the show {it saved us a good 12 minutes of toddler walking time}.  Once you get inside, Guests Services takes your stroller for you until the end of the show.  You just drop it off on your way to your seats--super easy and so worth it.  {apparently, I'm all about tips this post}

The lobby is, of course, filled with booth after booth of overpriced princess loot.  And geez, they train those sales people well.  Seriously, do they work on commission or are they just that passionate about their souvenirs? 

I got roped into a buying a Rapunzel spinning light.  And it actually wasn't the sales person who got me.  It was my adorable Magpie and her big blue eyes.  It is such a pleasure to make her happy and I truly mean that...sweetest girl...mmmm.

Obviously, Maggie had no issue with the cheap seats.  This is how she sat the ENTIRE show.  In a princess induced trance.

Her trance was broken for a short intermission where she enjoyed a snow cone.  Three bites of a snow cone that is.  Yes, you read right, three...whole...bites...and $12 dollars later.  Her response, "I all done".  So we dumped the ice and brought her Ariel cup home where she has enjoyed a few tea parties with it.  At least we are getting some use out of it.

But, I think it would be fair to say that this was her favorite souvenir.  Maggie has read and reread her program everyday and several times a day, since the show.  Not to mention she has told every family member, friend, and stranger about the "pincess show".   

We will definitely hit this show again next time it comes to town...maybe my second born princess will be ready to join us by then!

Fall Festival

It's that time of year.  Pumpkins, cooler air, lots of orange, and the Fall Festival at Maggie's school.  I can't believe it's not "Jack and Maggie's school" anymore.  Serious *sigh*.

In the true nature of what life is quickly becoming around here...we had a very busy Saturday morning.  I never knew busy like I do now.  Three kids have given that word a whole new meaning.  From the moment we woke we were going.  Feed Lucy, dress and feed two kids, try to dress and feed myself somewhere in there, give baby instructions to Ms Abby, play a soccer game, and then race to the Fall Festival before nap time slips up on us.  No wonder my sweet Magpie was wiped out only an hour into the the festival.

But...she had great time up until that 61st minute.  And Jack? Well, he never really slowed down.

Gone are the days of matching Saturday outfits.  The past couple big events Jack has been in uniform  and Maggie in her seasonal suits.  Good thing we have Lucy to fill the outfit void for us.  And speaking of seasonal suits, poor Mags was losing her britches the whole day.  I had to roll them up at least three times.  Can you say festive hobo look?  Thank goodness Grandma can sew-those were fixed by Sunday.

The number one booth, for both of my kids, was the Pumpkin decorating.  I seriously think my kiddos wiped out the pumpkin supply.  They decorated at least 8 of them. Ahhh...can you imagine what my porch looks like right now?

When Maggie wasn't decorating a pumpkin, she did a little Treasure Hunting....

...and wound up with about 5 too many lollipops.  Lucky me...and her dentist.

And if Jack wasn't at the pumpkin booth, he was in a bounce house or flying down a slide.  This was about the only time I saw him.  He finally came over to join the family for a popcorn break.

And since we couldn't join him on the inflatables, we took the Pumpkin decorating opportunity to spend some time with him.  Grandma especially enjoyed it.

Here is that 61st minute...with the starts of a Maggie yawn.  Then she followed it with, "I not even tired, I not even yawning". {yes, she has a few pronoun issues here and there}

And that was our cue...home we went for a nice Fall nap.

Halloween Trio

Halloween will officially be my first holiday with three kids.  A real trio! 

It's also the first time I've purchased three of anything {to match that is}.  Three Halloween shirts.  And it's the first time I've put three kids on the front porch and tried to take pictures.  

Believe it or not we had fun with this.

Maybe it was the novelty of Lucy joining us....or...the reward of one piece of Halloween candy when we were finished...or...Daddy's silly faces over my head...or...making their own silly faces...or...maybe just the fact that Halloween is so fun and those three shirts I ordered put my trio in the mood.

Oh and those shirts...there is a little story behind those.  {murphy's law around here lately--seriously!!}  So, I ordered them in August {yes, I'm a planner}.  And they arrived on October 3rd {good thing I'm a planner, huh?} And that was only after 2 phone calls to the company.  Anyway, when they arrived Wednesday, I opened the package to find Jacks's was way too small and Maggie's was on a black tee when I ordered it on a white one.  And, as if that was not enough, Maggie's Halloween bow wasn't even in the package.

I made one very hormonal and over tired call to the company {after I stretched Jack's tee out for a good 45 minutes} and the company so kindly overnighted me a bigger size for Jack, a white cat tee for Maggie, and her bow.  Amazing what a little post-partum aggression can accomplish.  So we now have two cat Maggie tees.  Anyone know a Maggie out there who needs a Halloween tee?

And now on to my Halloween trio...

That's one pretty cute trio, huh?  

Lucy even decided to cooperate and turn in the right direction.  And my Maggie, just look at her, such a spunky little gal!

But, this is where the real fun began.  And guess who started it?  As always, my silly Jack...life  certainly wouldn't be the same without him!

Monkey see, monkey do.  Anything Jack does, Maggie does  tries.

Then Jack comes behind her and corrects her.  "No Maggie like this, with your tongue out".  {hence the extra extended tongue this time}

"Like this Jack?", as she so preciously peers his way.

Little Lucy has so much to look forward to.  And thus far, she seems to thrive in the crazy happy chaos.

And one "out take" for the road...looking forward to a "trio"riffic Halloween season! {with the proper tees..and a halloween bow to match}

Mommy & Maggie Mondays

I have officially deemed Mondays as "Mommy and Maggie Mondays" for two very important reasons.  ONE. because she desperately needs it right now and TWO. because I love that girl.

This whole having a sibling adjusting to a new baby thing is all new to me.  If it were up to Jack we would have five more babies around here and he wouldn't skip a beat {not saying that his beats don't come with their own challenges, but none baby related}.

And Maggie's new period of adjustment seems to be indirectly related to baby.  As I've mentioned...she absolutely LOVES Lucy.  She just doesn't like that it has brought a few changes her way.

This is where I remind myself that...,'this too shall pass', 'we will survive' and 'three will be a charm' {even if it takes everything I've got}.   And then I load Maggie in the car and through totally sleep deprived eyes, I take her somewhere for some quality Mommy and Maggie time.

Last Monday was the Zoo.   This Monday was the Children's Museum.

Something about playing with my little Magpie brings such a joyful and contented feeling to my world.  She truly is an amazing child.

We started off with a little grocery shopping.  Her favorite thing to do {and my least favorite...in real life that is}.  I'm pretty sure we spent about two-thirds of our visit loading and unloading a grocery cart.

Then we took some groceries over to feed the cow {per her idea}, but not before we stopped and took a tractor ride.

I finally was able to convince little Miss Homemaker that there was more to life than the grocery store {and farm}.  That's when she tried her hand at art.

Then a little gardening.  {but only with pink and purple flowers}  And don't you just love this pose?  Maggie, Maggie quite contrary, how does your garden grow?

And finally fishing.  And as you may have guessed...yes, only pink and purple fish.

So, as I was uploading the pictures off of my camera I noticed a common thread among our day.  Here are few to show you what I'm talking about.  Do you see it?...

My Maggie just might be a little Type A after all.  Everywhere we played she found something to line up...in a perfect neat little line.

I knew I loved that girl...wink,wink.