Sydney's Room

Busy, busy day we have had today!! Sydney still does not want to sleep in her new bed yet in her "Pink" room so we decided early this morning to take her crib apart and set it back up in the "Pink" room next to her new bed!! We had to take the crib apart because it wouldn't fit through the doors (of course)! So now, we have two beds in one room!!

We're not stressed about it. I actually think it's pretty funny! She will figure it out in her own time. We will just wait to finish decorating it until then:)

Everyday, I am just amazed at how quickly my house gets turned upside down. I am constantly cleaning, picking up, dusting, washing walls, cleaning carpets, etc. Of course, I know everyone has to do this - I'm not expecting any sympathy... I just decided to take this picture and post it so years from now Sydney can see it:) It just amazing me how quickly she can create such a mess!! And everything is left in such random places on the floor and on the furniture. I wonder what goes through that brain of hers. It's like I can trace her foot steps throughout the room, what she was doing with each item, how long she played with it and what made her move on to the next activity. See below...

Sydney is really into imaginary play and role playing right now. It's so cute to listen to her change her voice as she plays Mommy and Grandma to her babies!! She is constantly taking care of them all, creating meals for them in her kitchen, and then putting them to bed in their pack n play (can't see it in this picture). She is so caring and affectionate with them - so sweet.

2010 Minnesota Trip!!

OK, so I am a month late at posting these pictures - at least it wasn't 2 months!! Here's the thing, we got a new camera right before Sydney's birthday and as most of you know, electronics and me take awhile to warm up to each other!! Also, it takes a long time to upload hi resolution pictures to the blog!! I usually don't have large chunks of uninterrupted time to do it. Today however, I brought my computer to work - and since I didn't have any big projects to complete at work - I could work on this!!

Our annual Minnesota trip was awesome!! Unfortunately, we couldn't stay long so there were people whom we couldn't see, which really bummed me out. But, we were grateful for the time we had and we have some wonderful memories to last a lifetime!!

Enjoy the pictures!!


Getting ready to board the airplane. Sydney was very excited!!


On our way to Minnesota!!

Family Fun!!

Sydney's mode of transportation through the Minneapolis airport!!

Ahhh, Minnesota sweet corn!! Our first night in Minnesota!!

Sydney, Lily & Ella playing with Polly Pockets. Sydney loved playing with her cousins!! It's been a month since we have seen them and she still talks about them almost everyday. She keeps asking me if her cousins can come over and play!! I so wished we lived closer to them.

Water slide fun at Nana & Paps!! Aunt Susan brought over a huge water slide for the kids to play on. Sydney loved it!! Each of the kids had some pretty nasty wipe outs on the bottom of the slide but didn't hesitate to get right back on and do it over and over and over...

Eating dinner with all of the cousins on Nana's deck.

So precious!!! Whenever I see Grandma and Sydney together, I can't help but to think of my Mom...

She loves her Grandma!!

Having her birthday cake with Grandpa Nick.

Abby, Karen, Grandpa Nick and Sydney:)

Enjoying her birthday cake.

It's almost gone...

I think she liked the ice cream cake!!

Our awesome family!!

Mommy's side of the family!!

Nana cleaning up the kitchen, laughing at us silly parents!!

The "Mommies" having a little adult fun at Nana & Paps!! Lots of laughs and silliness:)

Sweetie sitting with "grandma & grandpa" by the fireplace at Grandma Doris's house.

Sydney, Alex and Kai eating cake. Kai makes funny faces at the camera like Sydney used to, he he!!

Nikki with 2 of her beautiful daughters!! I have known Niki since I was in 5th grade.

Playing in Grandma's back yard by the garden. What a beautiful day. Brings back so many memories of when I used to play in Grandma's back yard as a child! I am 39 and they have lived in that house for 39 years!!

Picking berries for the birdies.

Sydney and Kai picking berries off of Grandma's tree.

This picture was taken at Grandma Doris's house. We all had our chairs in a circle in the backyard as the kids played. Sydney had her shoes in the middle of the circle. This dragonfly landed on her shoe and just hung out with us for awhile...I could feel my Mother's presence all around me. A very emotional moment for me.

Sydney and Kai playing in the garden dirt at Grandma Doris's house. They had dirt everywhere!! So, what better way to wash it off than to run through the sprinkler...

We did not have a swim suit with for Sydney to wear but I don't think she minded too much!!

Aww, to be a kid again!! Oh wait, I ran through it too, but I had to keep my clothes on!!

Soooo cute!! I wish we lived closer to Cory because I think Kai and Sydney would be best buddies.

We went to the Mall of America and spent the day at Nickelodeon Universe!! It was so much fun!! Its all in doors and the theme is based on all of her favorite shows!! She went on several rides by herself! It was a weekday so there were no lines...beautiful!!! Being here with Sydney brought a little bit of my inner child out also - it was a blast!!

Sydney and Daddy riding the little roller coaster - it was actually very fast!! Daddy was done with fast rides after this!! Ashely and myself went on the BIG roller coaster after this and had a blast!! I love roller coasters:) I think Sydney will also!!

Oh my gosh, this was by far her favorite ride!! I don't think Nana was so excited about it - it looked a little scary for the kiddos but they loved it and were not afraid at all. They get into this seat and they are secured down by the big green bar and then it shoots them way up and then drops them way down. I can't tell you how excited Sydney was - she was laughing so hard.

Sydney driving the Rugrats bumper cars all by herself!! She had so much fun!!

What kid doesn't love Dora & Boots!!

This ride made me a little nervous!! It was slow until it went around a corner - then it would whip her to the outside really fast!! Of course, she LOVED it!!

Driving a semi just like Grandpa Nick!!

Sydney was so excited to see the statues of the Backyardigans - one of her favorite shows to watch around dinner time every night while I am cooking!!

Meeting Sponge Bob Square Pants and Patrick!! Sydney was soooo excited!! Patrick was getting a little fresh with Mommy:)

She was so excited to hold Sponge Bob's hand!! How magical it must be as a child, watching a cartoon character on TV and then meeting them in person!! So awesome to share this experience with her.

Mommy, Daddy & Sweetie being silly!!

Cousins: Ashley, Will & Ben

Daddy being silly!! His head hit the top everytime it moved up!! This ride was more his speed, lol!!

Sydney loving it that her Daddy is being silly:)

Our little "Super Hero" playing out front at Nana's & Pap's house.

Watch out, she's on a serious mission!!

Off on another Super Hero mission...

At the airport in Minneapolis, getting ready to retun home.

Wish we would have had more time to see more people!! Living so far away from everyone is sometimes hard - feels like we need to make up for a year of not seeing each other in only a few days time! Thank you everyone for the great memories and know that we love you all!!!

xoxoxo

Wow, Life Passes Quickly

Unbelievable!!! I cannot believe how long it has been since I have posted on the blog!! Things have just been crazy for us, in many ways, and with so much going on, I had to put a few things on hold!! But, I am back and feeling like I can breath again:)

So much has happened in the last month: We went to Minnesota for our annual summer trip; We've had several outings with our MOM's group; My birthday; two kid birthday parties; Emptying, painting, and remodeling Sydney's new Pink Room; And, Sydney started some classes!! Wew, makes me a little tired just thinking of it all again!!

I will do a separate post of our Minnesota trip due to all of the pictures. For now, I will give you all a quick update as to the events above:

We are still very involved in our MOM's group. We do something with them about 3 times a month. Last week we took the kiddos to a place called Jump Street. In a nutshell, it's an indoor facility with built in trampolines!! Sydney LOVED it!! I tried jumping with her but she fell and landed on her face and got mad at me - oopsie!! She got over it and I thoroughly enjoyed watching her play!!

Because we decided to hold off on preschool for a bit longer, I decided to get Sydney involved in more classes with Phoenix Parks and Recreation. She is now in a Sports class on Tuesdays - which her Daddy takes her to - and she is also in an Art class which I take her to on Wed.'s. Both classes are set up where we drop her off and she's with with the teachers. I LOVE this!! It's a great stepping stone for the next step - preschool (next year). I also love it because Sydney has an opportunity to learn from someone else and to interact with children her own age in a classroom setting (art class). And, I'll admit, I also love it because I get almost an hour where I can sit quietly and read while she is learning!!!

Sydney and I have been very consistent with our new church. I really, really like it - all of the sermons have really touched me personally and I leave feeling renewed and empowered. Sydney LOVES going to "Church School" (that is what she calls Sunday school) and learning about "Cheeses" (that is what she calls Jesus)!!! They review a lesson plan, do a craft and then play. I feel really good about my choice to bring Christianity into our lives. I often think of my Mom and how proud she would be of me for this choice and for introducing Christianity into Sydney's life. Unfortunately, Greg works a lot of Sundays and cannot go with us much - but that will change one day and this will then become a family ritual.

Along with going to church, I decided to join "Kate's Cup" at the church. It is a Women's Ministry for Mom's only. We meet every Thursday for 2 hours in the morning. The kids are in child care during the 2 hours (the same place she goes for "Church School"). Each Thursday there is a buffet, a motivational speaker, small groups, and prayer. It's very inspiring and empowering and I look forward to it each week.

Many of you know that we have been planning and working on Sydney's room for a few months now. We finally got the painting done (was hard to get done due to work schedule) and we now have a very pink room. We emptied out what used to be Jordan's room and painted it pink and put in a twin bed, her dresser, and some other things that I have purchased. Sydney has been so excited to sleep in her big girl bed. She talked about it everyday!! We finally let her sleep in it on Sunday night. She went to sleep right away. Unfortunately, she woke up three times throughout the night and finally ended up coming in our room about 4am. The next day (yesterday) she announced that she did not like her new bedroom. When it was time for a nap, we walked upstairs and into her pink room. She got very animated and said she was not going to sleep in the big girl bed. She then went into her green room and crawled right into her crib!!! Poor thing is so confused. She fell right to sleep in her crib!! Later that night, at bedtime, she announced that she would not be sleeping her her big girl bed. I suggested that we move the crib into the pink room. She flipped out and said no. She said she "LOVED" her green room and that she never wanted to go into the pink room again!! She got into her crib, I covered her with her green blankie and she let out a big sigh with a big smile and said, "I love my crib!" She went right to sleep and slept all night!! When I got her from her crib this morning she said, "I told you I sleep in my crib!!" So, the pink room will sit empty for bit longer...

Minnesota trip pictures coming soon...