Toddler Vacay: Massanutten

Last year we went on a mini-vacation just the four of us, and it was amazing.  We made a pact right then and there to always make sure we spend vacation time with just our little family.  We had so much fun last year that we planned the same trip again this year, just this time for the full week.... and it didn't disappoint!  It was pretty low-key, we didn't have much planned except do fun little toddler things.  We went to playgrounds, went for walks, and spent lots of time getting pruny-fingers at the pools, water park, and massive bath tub.  We borrowed toys from Grandma Georgia's house, so they really loved having new things to play with and weren't bored.  We did lots of cooking in, experienced a pretty legit buffet, and visited a fun pumpkin patch.  Daniel and I got to spend lots of time together during nap time and bed time, and it was all so wonderful.

yay! we have a playground right next to our digs :)

pretending to nap and tuck each other in

what is appealing to them? wrestle on a random chair

more toddler wrastlin'

And here we are in our happy place, the BIIIIG bath tub!

these two, right here, and their happy faces are the best thing

Ella loved strolling her baby all around... guess what she is going to get for Christmas??? :)

After nap time, we headed to the pool!

goggles on toddlers

Sydney's adorable hair style, and the most perfect pony tail curls

watching Daddy jump off the diving board

They got cold (as usual), and we dried off, got dressed, and headed on a walk for a playground + picnic.

E&S climbing up the big rock wall and a gorgeous backdrop

the #doublesinks are on a double slide

love these happy little faces

and you can see how that ended...

a Lunchables picnic

after breakfast on our balcony - some light Mickey Mouse reading and taking care of Baby Sister

"Hmm, I think this seat looks comfy" -Syd

After a good nap, we headed to the same pumpkin patch we discovered last year with lots of cool activities for kids.  The girls had a blast.  They loved the big slides, riding on the tractor, and picking out their own pumpkins. 

just two hamsters on a wheel trying to keep up... ha!

taking a little break

Momma's getting ready to slide!

picking our own pumpkins right off the vine

"I yike dis one" -S

Ella took about 8 years to find the right pumpkin, but I love that she found one that wasn't like all the others

tractor ride

me and my girls

<3

They looooved the big underground slide

I mean...

After we had the most fun afternoon at the pumpkin patch, we took the recommendation of about 4 different people and went to a buffet... not only was it surprisingly very good, but the girls enjoyed themselves SO much!  How random is that?  But seriously, it was so cute and fun.. they decided they loved salad (???!) and all the dessert choices :)

We were stinky and dirty and tired, but first... the biiiig bath tub.

 

helping Daddy make pancakes

dreary morning coffee on the balcony with my main squeeze while the girls played

I came prepared for the big bath tub, and found awesome soap finger paint.  They had a great time painting the side of the tub, and added bonus - really enjoyed cleaning it up!

parenting at its finest... making them clean up their own messes, and liking it!

so many bubbles, so many giggles

We got dried off, put on comfy clothes, and made pizza for lunch

After nap, we headed to the pool again!

Momma & Ella

Sydney & Daddy

What else makes vacation special?  Movie night complete with popcorn and the pull out sofa

Our next fun adventure on our toddler vacation - going on a walk to find allllll the leaves

making a yummy little apple pie dessert

bath tub markers

more painting, more cleaning

pulled out the big guns for more toddler fun - a cool tent, and yes, there they are on top of each other in the tunnel

We put on some pretty dresses and ventured out for dinner

EGS + SAS

we found the MOST DELICIOUS burger place - the girls were happy that I forgot their sippy cups and they got to use big cups with straws

Ella stealing cups...

...forget stealing, Sydney is giving Ella some sips

two toddlers, two baby dolls, two strollers

and off they went!  they had so much fun with their "new" toys we borrowed

snuggling with my girl E

And finally... the adventure we were all waiting for, the water park!  We prepared with wet suits, so they wouldn't get quite so cold so quick (but they still did eventually).  At first, they were pretty timid and unsure, but they quickly got over it.  Surprisingly, Ella was a CHAMP and loved the really big slides.  I love that she surprises us with some more willingness and enthusiasm to be a dare-devil :)

Ella was giggling while she pushed Sydney on the swing

And Sydney loved it, too

so much happy in the warm "hot tub"

little fish splashing

happy girl going down the big slide (and they went about 600 times)

I didn't get many pictures of the big slides because... two toddlers, but we made it back over to the little people section and finished off our adventure listening to our girls squeal

We grabbed more burgers for dinner (because they were THAT good), and rinsed off the chlorine in the big tub with a glow stick party.

And finally, it was time to pack up all of our things and head back home.  We had SUCH a fantastic time.  As much as we love our extended family, sometimes we just need to get back to our roots and spend time together as a family (and as a couple during nap/bed time!)

Riddle: Why is Ella's covered in towels, a bib, and a new outfit with an empty cup in her lap??
Answer: She can't keep her breakfast down while on winding mountain roads
:( :(
Touché kid, back to reality... vacation is over.

Getting Ready and Out the Door

Sigh.

Each weekday morning, I have to get two tiny tots up and ready and out the door. Most mornings, my patience is tested with their toddler bipolar and irrational ways, but we make it alright. Mercury must be in retrograde because the other morning was extra special. They cried 96% of the time. Exhibit A shows them both crying. Go ahead and zoom in and see that there's shit all over the mirror. That's because Ella sprayed hair-detangler all over the bathroom while I was getting Sydney dressed. Finally I said we are going to put getting ready on hold. Naturally, calming two down is hard on a mama's heart and her arms, so we climbed into bed for some hugs, exhibit B. I promise them a movie in the van, which is a rarity on school mornings, but I really needed them to wear pants and socks and shoes. A riot ensued when said movie couldn't be immediately watched because I couldn't open up the doors and START MY CAR. Exhibit C shows the innocent worker, who just so happened to pull up to put on siding at the Courington's house, and got roped into saving three damsels in distress.

We are all safe and sound and warm and fed in our respective places (daycare for them, work for me), but DAMN this is hard sometimes. I also wish I had an extra set of arms to wrap them all up when they're having simultaneous melt downs.

I need to give a big ole thanks to my friend Michael Buble and his holiday station on Pandora and with the promise of Stranger Things and a big glass of Moscato after bedtime, we'll make it.

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

Exhibit C

Taking a #doublesinks photo

This morning, the girls decided they wanted their picture taken.

Instead of snapping photos, I just video-ed.

They are hilarious.  So, so, so funny.  And you now know why it's so hard to get a picture of 2 two-year-olds.

P.S. time for a riddle.  Why, on this particular morning, were Ella & Sydney crying?
You guessed it - they were very upset they only had ONE pocket on their dress.  They wanted TWO!  Ella first noticed it, got upset, which prompted Sydney to notice she also only had one pocket, and she disliked it, too.  Toddlers = irrational little humans.

Beginning of Fall update

Our two are so, so fun - always keeping us on our toes and always laughing with their little toddler antics and voices and brains.  There's also the bipolar and irrational side to toddlers, which daily tests our patience.. but hey, it's not always unicorns and rainbows :)

Just a little summary of their current antics and phrases:

When we're doing anything and someone lags behind, the slow one will yell "Guys, wait for me!"

They love to use the term guys.  When we're on the way to school, they'll say "Yook, a train, guys!  Yook!  A school bus, guys!"

A very, very annoying question they ask about 100x per hour is "Hey, whatcha doin'??"

Sydney is fiercely independent.  If she has in her little mind that she wants to do something, she will very loudly let you know she's unhappy about it and will cry and say "No, I DO IT!"  If you carry her down the stairs, and she wanted to do it herself "No, I DO IT!"  And she will walk right up those stairs you carried her down and walk down them herself.  Did you shut the door when she wanted to shut it herself?  "No, I DO IT!" and she will walk over, open the door, and then shut it herself.  Girlfriend, as frustrating as it is now as your momma, I hope you harness your independence and passion and do good with it when you're older.

The other day in the kitchen, Ella started crying, but it was really petty and sounded fake.  Sydney walks over and says "No, Eyya, I'm crying" and proceeds to also fake cry.  So then Ella comes back with "No, Syd-ee, I'm crying" - and they proceeded to argue over who had the right to cry.

The other night, I was driving the girls home from my mom's, and we were stopped at a long stoplight leaving the neighborhood.  Up in the sky right there to the right, the moon was big and full and bright.  The sweetest conversation happened.  I seriously want to bottle it up and listen to it forever.
S: You see da moon, Eyya?
E: I see da moon, Syd-ee
S: What shape it is?
E: A cir-tle, Syd
S: Dats right, Eyya.  It's not movin'.
E: It's not movin'.  It's fy-in' (flying).
S: Bye moon!  See you ya-ta.  It's nap time.

I love how they use each other's name when talking to each other in just general conversation.  They really do sound like little old ladies.
S: "Daddy took off my boo boo band-aid, Eyya"
E: "Okay, Syd-ee"
--And the other morning I heard over the monitor
S: "Hey, Eyya, I got my puppy!!  Do you see, Eyya?  My puppy!!" and hugged it really tight (she grits her teeth when she hugs with so much intensity)
E: "Yes, Syd-ee, okay okay, I see it"

So time to kick-off our beginning-of-fall update before it's winter-time...

I sold in our SAMOM yard sale for the first time, which is a pretty big time commitment, so Daniel was on his own for a bit.  The great dad that he is, he kept my messages filled up with cute pics of our ladies and all the fun things they do.

Ella and Kim getting it on with some chips and dip

Daddy & Sydney selfie at their mexican date

I woke up way before the sun came up to head to the sale.  Daniel got the ladies up and ready and went to cheer on cousin Abby at her soccer game.

A few night's prior, Kim came over and said "hey, how do you want to go to the Clemson game??"  Ya'll, Clemson is ranked #1, and it's a night game in Blacksburg.  At first I was speechless, then it was a big old "hell yeah!".  So after the sale, we headed out West (yep, we were there the week before), while Daniel stayed at home with the ladies.  I snagged a nap in the car, and we were going to cheer on the Hokies!

 While we were tailgating (in lot #1, might I add), look who drove by...

That's right.  Frank Beamer.

The coolest thing happened before the game - 4 sky divers came right into the field.  Each had a flag, the most awesome being this HUGE American flag.

Kim squared

night game in Blacksburg, nothing like it

meanwhile back at home....

look who showed up to the game!

that's right.

and of course, don't forget about my boy Frank

So anyways, it was awesome, and so much fun, and we're always so thankful we have such fantastic neighbors who are always thinking of us and looking after us.

Sunday night craft for school the next day

Bored?  Need a guaranteed fun time, and a place where toddlers are contained?  The big bath tub it is...

someone was getting ready to poop in the tub... so Daddy dove in, wrapped her up, and got her on the potty

I know these are blurry, but these two are really starting to love on each other

"Choo choo!"
"You hear da train??"

We went to the doctor for flu shots.
Sydney is crushing it at 22 lbs (seriously, I thought she was only 20), and Ella is 25.5.  Yay for healthy and growing girls!

In preparation for Halloween, and refusing to pay more than $10 for yellow tights...

Momma had to die some herself.
You'll see our Halloween costumes later (probably January at the rate I'm going with updating), but I kicked ass for only $2.77

And before we head off to school and work for the day...

Daniel and I celebrated Adam and Kayla (rehearsal dinner first then wedding), so the girls got to hang out with Nana and Papa for a bit.

princesses

best friends

wagon rides at Nana's

cousins came over to watch football.. look at this table full of sweet friends who are family

handsome groomsmen and a photo-bombing-groom

Kayla & Adam

forever wedding date

I'm a lucky third wheel with these two

That's it for now!  I've gotta update you guys on our Massanutten trip and Halloween - before you know it we'll be into the holiday season.