Vancouver

On August 17th, Ethan got home from work and was like "Hey. Want to go to Vancouver tomorrow?"So we went!!! It was pretty unplanned and pretty quick but it was so cool and totally worth it.
We ate dinner at Portage Bay (best place in Seattle) on our way to the boarder, spend the night in the Whistler hotel which included like 2 hours of swimming for the girls, and then went to the Capillino Suspension bridge on our way back home on Saturday. I'm sure we missed out on some fun things in Vancouver, but considering we were only there a matter of hours, we really saw a lot. We drove around the city, ate at Subway (shocker), looked at their water front, and took in all the beauty. We live in a beautiful place, but we were still blown away by how beautiful Canada was.
The boarder took a long time both there and back, but other than that, we really had no hiccups. In fact Kelsey still asks if we can move to Canada and its been like 4 months.

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While in Whistler, we just spent most of our time touring the Olympic Park from the 2011 winter Olympics and swimming in the pool which shocking was outdoors. While we were there there was a BMX competition and we tried like 4 times to go watch it but kept missing the shows/competition.

The Olympic village was super cool. They had all sorts of shops and restaurants and even a grocery store. There was a play ground that the girls spent a lot of time at and then little spots where you could tell the athletes would warm up or just play around when they were done. The spot we are at with the rings is where they handed out a lot of the medals. It was basically the Park City of Canada. There is so much more to do in Whistler but again, since this was a last minute trip for us we decided to just do sight seeing. I've heard there is some amazing stuff up there. We had a great time just doing what we did. I can only imagine some of the sights you can see up there.

 

 We stopped at this amazing ice cream place after dinner and I completely regret not getting more. It started to rain a little bit while we were eating but that was the only time it was cold and or rainy. For the most part we got to experience Vancouver in the sunshine which is not really normal.

This picture made me laugh to tears because I felt like it is the best representation of what our kids really have to see all the time. It was so funny to me and Ethan

Pretty much our only stop after Whistler was the Capilano Suspension bridge but we spent so many hours there. It was totally worth the time and money

We asked Kelsey to snap a few pictures of us. I don't know what we expected

Okay, seriously one of the coolest things I have ever done. You get in this line and the line just files across the bridge, but since its a suspension bridge that thing gets ROCKIN!! Both girls fell down in the middle because the bridge was moving so much. I normally don't get sea sick but it was making me super sick. It was so much fun.

Once you get across, they have built more tiny suspension bridges up in the tree tops and walk ways that all wind around and under each other. It was actually super cool

This is a shot from a bridge that sticks out from the rocks like a solid 15 feet. That bridge was freaky but super fun. Luckily the girls didn't get too scared because we weren't allowed to hold them.

These are shots from driving around Vancouver on Saturday. The girls had fallen asleep and so we just did a lot of drive bys which was probably best in the end so that we could get home at a reasonable time. With the boarder crossing I think the drive home was about 4 hours

Downtown was super clean and nice. I would recommend going to anyone. And Ethan was a champion at driving. We couldn't use our GPS because we left too soon to get an international thing so we just had to Wing a lot of stuff or write stuff down or WAIT FOR IT.... USE A MAP!!!! We rocked it old school most of this trip. I don't know if I want to do that every trip but it kind of added to the fun of it all.

Kelsey Marie

Again, there is so much to say that I keep putting it off. I don't want to miss a single thing and so instead I do nothing. A pretty approach.
In so many ways I feel like Kelsey is easier to write about because she is able to talk and so I don't have to analyze as much in her life. She just says what she is thinking so lets just dive right in.

Kelsey is the most compassionate person I know. She is always so concerned about what others are feeling. She asked me the other day if I would like her to bake some cookies to help me feel better because she knew I wasn't having the best pregnancy day. Just so thoughtful. I get notes all the time from her teacher talking about the nice things she has said to her teacher and to other kids in the class. She is very aware of others and their feelings. I love that about her so much

Kelsey is the queen of one liners. I wish I could just put them all into context but so many times Ethan and I are just dying because of the things she is saying. And the best part is, is that she is not trying to always make us laugh. She is just that witty and quick.

Kelsey works really hard and really hates to make mistakes. I get a little nervous about this one because I don't want her to ever think that perfection is the only option, but she really hates making mistakes. Its not bad to want to improve, I just hope she knows the difference you know. Kelsey works so hard at all she does though. We were so proud of her because this summer she mastered her bike, playing on the monkey bars, and swimming all by her self without her floaties. She just keeps trying until she gets it. she is so awesome to watch.

Kelsey is all about routine and structure. This girl was made for school. She loves having rules, loves having routines, and loves following directions. Order is just her thing. I mean don't get me wrong, she is super creative and loves to play and come up with things to do, but give her a rule and she will follow it until she dies. School is so perfect for her personality. I am so happy that she has such a great teacher and bus driver that really make school a special experience for Kelsey. And she loves school. Sometimes getting her out the door to the bus is a struggle because she gets so distracted, but she loves school.

Kelsey is a little mother. She just came that way. Every night she kisses my belly and tells me how excited she is to have the baby come join our family. She actually was devastated to learn that she wouldn't be able to drop out of school to help tend the baby full time. She was really concerned when I told her that I was going to take care of the baby during the day and that when she got home she could help. This was unacceptable to her. She just loves babies and holding them and taking care of them. Sometimes I have to remind her that she is not the mom but in fact the older sister, but I am so grateful for all the help that Kelsey provides especially for how often she will just play with Madison because she is being nice.

Kelsey loves to dance and sing and draw and play outside. She asked to go to the park in the rain or shine and a day doesn't go by where she draws a picture (typically for someone else). When she hears music she can't help but dance and is always singing.

Kelsey loves pizza with no pepperonis, spaghetti, artichokes, pomegranate, and all things sugar. She loves screen time and her favorites right now include Octonaughts, Sofia the First, and Super Monsters.
She loves to play with Gideon and Emily and Hadlee and makes friends wherever she is. I can't tell you how many times Ethan and I have introduced ourselves and people's first question is "Oh!! You are Kelsey's parents?!" She has friends all over the place.

Right now we are really working with Kelsey to not be so possessive about what she has. Madison makes it hard, but instead of communicating frustrating, she just breaks down into tears. She knows that Madison will always give it back, but she acts like it is the end of the world. We are trying to help her control the drama a little bit. I just hope that we can get to the point where she will come talk to me instead of crying for my attention. She isn't crying my name, she is just literally crying in hopes that I will intervene. It just gets  a little old.

5 has been really fun because she is so independant and learning so much, but it has been hard too because she is learning some many emotions and how to deal. Its hard for everyone. She is easy to reason with, but she just won't quit sometimes when she thinks we are wrong and that gets really hard.

Kelsey loves Descendants and loves My little Pony much to my chagrin.
In a nut shell Kelsey is all Ethan personality wise. Its been fun to see how similar they really are. 

Kelsey is so compassionate and caring and so obedient. So many times we go to new places and she asks what the rules are before she starts playing. She loves to pay with kids and loves to play tag and has gotten over her fear of sweating :) She loves the monkey bars and loves climbing and just loves to play. She is the best kid!! I miss her so much at school, but our relationship has gotten so much stronger having her gone. For us, absence really has made the heart fonder. I love my Kelsey and I just don't know what I would do without her.

Madison Ruth

Like every post about my girls, I have put this one off for about 6 months now. I get so overwhelmed with all that I want to say that I just don't do it at all because I know it will take so long. I was going to do a 2 year old post (maybe I did) and then I was going to do a 2.5 post (definitely didnt) and now I just have to get all this down before I keep forgetting about the cuteness that Madison is right now.
For the sake of time this is going to be a rambled mess because I just have to get these thoughts down.

Not laughing, just happy to be watching a show

Madison is all in. I don't know how else to describe her. She is all happy and looking for ways to make others happy or she is all ticked off at life. She just is. There is nothing really consistent about her emotions except that what she feels, she feels 100%. She is not passive and you will definitely know how and what she is feeling. It makes the good times amazing and the hard times really hard, but you know what, we are learning and it is what it is. I hate to say it but a lot of the times, when it is bad, we all just sit and look at each other: a complete loss of what to do. Madison loves to say no. Sometimes she is trying to make us laugh and other times it is because she is just saying no. Example "Madison do you want ice cream?" She will stomp her feet, say no and then cry because she wants some. It is so hit and miss with this girl. She loves to tease and thinks its hilarious to rial people up. She lives for the reaction of others. For the most part I can keep it cool because when I do, we can make the most progress together. When I lose it, she losses it more, and then I lose it even more, and we get in this head butting battle. Hmm... I wonder who Madison is most like? Me or Ethan? (Sorry girlfriend. I promise I have good traits too)

So thats the thing about Madison that might be the hardest, but want to hear about the flip side of that personality? She is all laughs and giggles and loves. She will just randomly come up and kiss my legs or give me a hug or ask to snuggle or say I love you. She always tells Kelsey that she loves her and always gives Ethan a kiss when she can. She is so loving and so affectionate that it makes it all worth it. I think my favorite part of the affection is that she always wants to hold my hand when we walk. Always!! Without fail. Even if it makes her hands cold, she finds a way to stick her little adorable hand in my coat so that we can be holding hands. I love it so much.
And man can so get a good laugh out of people. She lives to make people laugh mostly because she wants to laugh. she has the same raspy laugh that she did as a baby and I just love it. Its kind of like Ethan's laugh if you have ever heard him really laugh hard. She is so good at laughing.
Madison loves pretty much anything that Kelsey loves. I was so nervous to have Kelsey go to school because I was afraid that she wouldn't know what to do without her buddy, but she has done fantastic.
For the sake of time here is a list that I can think of, of the things that remind me of Madison or that she really loves
Loves bags: she will fill anybag of anysaize and carry them all around. She takes inventory too so if she is missing a bag she will come after it. I'm talking purses to free brown paper bags that you get at the store. She loves bags and loves to fill them.
She loves baby Belle, her doll and takes her everywhere
Loves the songs "Lets get Ridiculous" "Decendants 2" and" Hand Clap"

She loves music in general and always is playing DJ from the back seat "Mom, I like that song, go back"  or "mom, turn it up"
She loves playdoh and loves to ride her scooter
Dede is still her go to for bed time and for comfort (Her blanket) and she still finds comfort in a sippy of milk although we are trying really hard to kick that habit.
She wakes up too early, but is getting better at staying in her room. We bought her a clock that turns green when she can come out and she is doing such a great job following the rules " Come out when it turns geen mom"
Madison is super picky and meal times are actually the worst. She literally just runs around the table while we are all eating. This clearly is not okay and the progress has been slow, but there is progress all the same.
She love sto be with Kelsey and loves screen time especially Sofia the First, Super Monsters, and Mitey Mouse Cub House hoho or goofty gas
Most everywhere we go, she asks if we can go back home and gives herself the 2 miminute warning all the time. She loves being at home which is odd to me because she doesn't really love to play by herself. She will and does, but I wouldn't say she is great at it.
Madison loves to do puzzles and is actually super good at them. Sometimes she pretends that she can't do a puzzle so that others will play with her, but she is a rocks star at like the 30 piece puzzles.
She loves watching me exercise which gets weird for me, but I think she thinks its funny and likes the music. Most times she follows along which is really cute.
She is getting so much better at talking and communicating and that has helped a ton. Physically, she will try anything, but is also very cautious about being dirty. She loves to wear dresses and her favorite outfit right now is her purple skirt with her mermaid shirt.
 She plays with Emery and Jamison a lot and actually knows the names of her friends which is super cute.
Madison loves to paint her nails
I love listening to her sing to songs or sometimes she copies what shows say.
She loves to read the Sofia, Tinkerbell, and my little pony books. And also loves the Mickey book we have that is more of an Encyclopedia. She looks for things that she notices and then asks me "what do you see."
She'd rather run than walk and rather sit by me at the park than play
Madiosn loves to play tag and loves to hide.
I most just love how she speaks right now. Her 2 year old talking is just the cutest.
She really loves helping. She always wants to help clean the bathroom, do the dishes, help make dinner, etc. She loves to help and she actaully is super good at cleaning up when she isn't mad about cleaning up :)
She gets so excited to see family memebers and runs to greet them, but she gets nervous to give Kelsey a hug at the bus stop.
She has moved from hating animals to being indifferent. (like she won't scream at the zoo anymore)
She loves berries and yellow cheese and peanut butter sandwhiches.
Madison is a crazy sleeper and for a few weeks insited on sleeping on the floor or curled up in her rug. It was a super crazy few weeks, but she was sleeping great so whateves.

She rocks at quiet time. She doesn't always nap anymore, but she will stay in her room for a solid hour just playing by herself.
Before she goes to bed she wants a hud and a tiss from all family memebers.
Madison LOVES to have tea parties. Most quiet time she sets up tea parties and then we eat them with baby belle. Its adorable. 

I'm sure I'll think fo more things and when I do, I'll be bakc, but hopefully that gives me a good reminder of what Madison was like as a 2.5 year old. She is such a joy in my life. I'm so glad we have had a few months of just one on one time because it has just been the best! I have really gotten to know her and I am so grateful. I just love Madison so much and am grateful to have a child with a similar personality. It has really taught me a lot about myself and hopefully I have learned how to be a better mom as we "deal" with some of OUR personality quirks

Madison loves to say "what the heck" and slap her forehead
She loves to call me by made up names like Booty
Madison loves pomegranate and anything Mexican. I have seen her drink salsa before. She won't eat much but put a taco in front of her in any form and its gone
She calls umbrellas rain drops and says the cutest prayers praying for the whole family including Jesus
She will got to nursery but its not really her favorite
We call her the little bag lady
If you call her anything but Madison, she will either give you the stink eye or go "what! I'm Madison!" Ethan tried to call her Madi once and she got pretty upset
She loves telling you that she is two and loves to jump in the puddles with her boots on
Madison knows that my phone is not a toy but she just longs to touch it. Anytime she can even just hand it to me is like the best day for her. She doesn't play with it, but she will bring it to me and say "here you go mom." Its like that small dose is just enough to get to the next day