A Magilicious Day

If last Saturday was Jack Day this one was, without a doubt, Maggie Day.  I took my 'sweet as sugar' Magpie out for a full day made just for her.  Daddy was on Jack duty and littlest Lu spent a day with Grandma {where she was spoiled to the rim}.

A full Saturday for only Mommy and Maggie per her most sweetest request.

We started our Saturday, as do all Saturdays here lately, at ice skating lessons.  I cannot sing enough praises for this rink and it's staff.  Sometimes I'm looking over my shoulder waiting for someone to hand me a bill for private lessons.  Maggie is literally getting one on one instruction in a group lesson setting.  It's quite marvelous.  This week she tackled a few new skills which included hopping on the ice and shimmying backwards.

Post ice skating, I gave Maggie the honor of choosing our lunch destination.  It was Maggie Day after all.  And I could have guessed, without even asking, what her choice would be...and that would be Moe's.  So that's exactly where I took my quesadilla loving kiddo.

Somehow that "ice skating only" outfit made it to the our next stop of the day.  I had to allow Maggie to bend the rules because, for one, it was her day, and two, it was a Frozen party.  How could I say no?

We spent the next few hours sticking tokens in any game that gave tickets at Chuck E Cheese's.  {because you know those tickets can buy some quality items} Maggie had a grand time bouncing all over the place with her classmates.  The best part was the Frozen goody bag that she brought home.  She could hardly wait to tear into it.  Yes, we are still Elsa and Anna fans over here.

But, might I note, Annie has come into the running.  I can't even begin to tell you my elation when the Annie soundtrack took precedence over Let It Go in the car.  I was dying for a change and there is nothing better {to me anyway} than Annie tunes.  I was a serious Annie fanatic as a kid.  Loving that Mags and I can belt it out together.

Our final destination on Maggie Day was quite possibly one of the sweetest dates I've ever had.  Maggie and I attended a Valentine Tea Party.  When I saw this advertised at a local cutie play stop, I just knew we had to sign up.

We made a quick change into Valentine attire and arrived for our 3:00 Tea.  The absolute preciousness could not be captured in pictures.  But trust me, this place was oozing with girly love and decorated to the nines.  I am such a sucker for a well decorated kid's party.

We started in the art room where the girls decorated these darling Valentine frames.  They followed that with creating Valentine wands and festive beaded necklaces.

In between art and tea, we had a few moments to play and take our turn in the Valentine photo booth.  We were loving that one of Maggie's besties made a reservation to enjoy the afternoon with us!

Are these girls to die for or what?  Adorable.

I can't wait to get a copy of this sweetness to pop in the frame she created.

Before we knew it, it was Tea Time.  As if this day couldn't get anymore pink and perfect, it did.  The table was set with real tea cups, silver spoons, roses and Valentine cuteness everywhere we turned.

The menu was absolutely delectable too.  Tea sandwiches, pink goldfish {who knew?}, butterfly crackers, cheeses, fruit, and of course, pink sweet treats.

These girly girls were having such a sweet time that it almost made it impossible to correct their tea time etiquette.  Which, admittedly, was lacking.

We ended our Valentine Tea with a quick face paint.  Maggie's original request was a pony {clearly she has high artistic expectations}.  Luckily, the rainbow suited her just fine and she felt totally bedazzled.

All good things have to come to an end and that it did.  We left our fabulous day and went and gathered up all the siblings, the Daddy, and the Grandma and had a nice dinner together.  Mags and I were both full of lovely details of our day {and down right exhausted too}.

Here's to one very sweet Magilicious day!  Mmmmm...love this doll!

Cars And Kratts

We had another wild weekend around here.  And by wild, I mean the usual running from event to event all day long.  I don't think there was an hour in the day that didn't have us scheduled to be somewhere.

And speaking of somewhere, I was somewhere between wiped out and dead come bed time.  But to hear Jack say it was one of his "greatest days" made it all that much sweeter.

The day started with ice skating lessons for Maggie.  I'm impressed to say, she is still enjoying it.  And all is still going well.  I have my fingers crossed that she may have found an extracurricular activity suited for her.

Post skating, we raced {no pun intended} over to the Boy Scouts Pinewood Derby.  I have to say, without exaggeration, at least 10 man hours went into the building and designing of this car.  Jack had a plan and with the help of Daddy, it was executed just as intended.  

Lucky 13 {because of Jack's April 13th birthdate} was a series of red, white and blue paint alternating from front to end.  A few all American stickers and a coat of shellac and it was finally ready to race this Saturday.

Lucky 13 came in a close 2nd place in this race.  But, the best part {for me anyway} is that little Lu over there in the background cheering on brother's race car.  Pure sweetness.

In the end, we didn't go home with a trophy, but this boy could have hardly cared.  He was so proud of his car {most especially the design} and he had a blast running around with his fellow Scout friends.

We had a quick lunch break at home, laid two little sisters down for naps, and then Jack and I made a quick get away to the Wild Kratts Live show.

It was a super cute show with the actual Kratt Brothers!  Jack and I were both pleasantly surprised.

Although, we are about a year late on the whole Wild Kratt obsession, Jack thoroughly enjoyed the show.  He made a beeline to his seat when the bells chimed at intermission.  There was no way he was missing a second of it.  Not to mention, one of his besties was right by his side to enjoy the production.

The day was hardly over even after all of this.  All three kiddos had a date with Grandma...sleep over!  According to Jack, the day just kept getting better and better.  I told him we have officially named January 31, 2015...Jack Day.

Next weekend is for sure Maggie's turn and I've got a sweet day planned for her. {and lest you think I've left the littlest out, her turn is 3 out of 5 weekdays when her bigs are at school...trust me, she is plenty loved on}

100 Days Older

It always amazes me how fast a school year can fly by.  First grade is coming and going by in a swoosh.  Which inevitably means we are all that much closer to Kindergarten for Maggie.

But, before I start sobbing, let's celebrate this kiddo, who is not only 100 days smarter, but also a 100 days older!

I just loved that Jack's class dressed up at as 100 year olds to celebrate the day.  Jack knew exactly what he wanted for his costume, right down to the mustache.  As hard as I tried, I couldn't talk him into letting me but baby powder in his hair to give it a white gleam.  Even without that, I think he looks pretty amazing.  I was practically rolling at his look.  I couldn't get enough of it.

Add the old man pose in there and he was right on.  And I was enjoying every minute of the show.

Jack came home with a backpack full of 100 day loot.  Everything from a 100 day snack to an incredible hat, art work and even an edible necklace.  He said it was a great celebration and even so humbly commented, that his "costume was the best".  Followed with, "see Mommy, I didn't need white hair".

Happy 100th day kiddo.  100 fabulous days of making us proud!

A Day In D.C.

We woke to a torrential down pour on our D.C. day.  The kids were hoping for snow, I was just hoping it would taper off in time to do our sight seeing.  Luckily it did mid-day.  And our day in D.C. was most definitely a memorable one.

The drive was a mere 35 miles from our hotel.  We ran by and grabbed cousin Halle and GG to join us.    We left the new parents and baby Paul at home to enjoy some restful bonding time.  Because I can assure you there would be no resting ahead for us.  

Because of the weather we started our day with a trip to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.  Jack was beside himself.  Apparently this museum has been featured on a few Wild Kratts episodes and he's read up on it in a couple of his non-fiction reads.  

The museum did not disappoint {not to mention it was free, as is everything in that city}.  However, the parking situation did.  Woah!  Sweet Daddy dropped GG, me, and the 4 kids off at the front in the midst of a down pour and went on a parking hunt.  It was over an hour before we saw him again.  For real.

We wasted no time grabbing maps and touring the whole ginormaus thing.  The Mammals exhibit was by far the biggest hit with all four kids.  Even though Lucy would have nothing to do with this elephant.  "Me scared".

The butterfly garden ran a close second.  However, it was sweltering hot in there.  I was peeling off layers minute by minute.

{And I can't let the opportunity pass to point out my beautiful Grandma.  Just look at her, 77 years old and not missing a beat of this very busy and exhausting day.  Mmmm...I adore her.}

We grabbed lunch at the museum {because there was no way we were venturing out for parking again}.  And that is where the "free" museum gets ya.  Ouch!

I allowed the kids to choose one souvenir from one of the many gift shops.  And wouldn't you know, all the girls chose lollipops.  What?!  Jack was the only one wise enough to grab something that would last...a rock and minerals science experiment.

When we exited the museum with sticky faces and fingers the rain had dissipated.  We were so thrilled that we just had to grab a picture outside in front of the sign...proof of our visit.

Per Jack's insistent request {and mine too} we made a visit to the White House.  By some miracle, we found a parking spot about a block away and made the lovely walk there.  The city is so clean and for the most part, everyone was very friendly.  Most especially the police officers and the secret service agents.

Again, Jack was beside himself with excitement.  He must of taken over a 100 pictures with his mini.  However, Lucy found herself disappointed.  She wanted to see a "purple house, not a white house".  Why does Jack get to have all the fun?  She snapped out of it in no time and entertained herself with some very old snow scattered about.  She even let me take a picture of her in front that white thing.

By this point the girls were fading.  But there was no way we were getting out of there without a visit to the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument.  Again per Jack's request.  I can't lie, I was right there with him.  Believe it or not, this was my first visit to D.C. too.  I was just loving that I got to experience it with him.

We left the girls down low with GG, and hiked up the massive number of stairs.  Jack counted, but for the life of me I can't remember how many there were.  It was nearing night fall, so our pictures are pretty lack luster.

However, I can assure you that the dusk did nothing to smother Jack's excitement.

I printed off a few pics and snuck them in Jack's lunch box when he returned to school.  You would have thought that he had just won the lottery.  He's asked me to put them in everyday since.  Love my little scientist, and now, we can rightfully add, historian.

What was a very looooong jaunt, turned out to be well worth it.  A new baby, family time, and sight seeing...can't beat that.

But...if I had to guess, I think we will be catching a flight next time...just maybe.