Big Snow = Big Fun

Maren:
Many months ago Miss Heather and Mommy planned a weekend getaway for us all to go back up to the mountains for some sledding time.  Mommy was a bit worried because it started to warm up quite a bit and we were getting lots of rain.  She was afraid that we wouldn't have any fresh snow for sledding or worse yet, that it would all be melted. But God came through for us big time!  The week before our big trip to the mountains it turned really cold and we had a huge storm!  It dumped snow all over the place and a ton up at Hyatt Lake where we were staying.  Unfortunately we didn't get the cabin we had last year (Miss Heather accidentally booked it for 2018 instead!) but instead got two smaller cabins at Hyatt Lake resort.  No one was complaining because that meant we had hot tubs to play in after we got home from the cold snow! 
Mommy, daddy, Maddox and I headed up first thing Friday morning after daddy got home from work.  We made it up there by 11:30, had a nice warm lunch, and a good nap to start us off.  Then we all jumped in the hot tub to wait for the Trautz family to show up.  Once they got there, the real party started!  We had a great weekend of slumber parties and sledding.  The first day on the hill was a lot of work because there was at least a foot of fresh powder so we had to do all of the trail breaking.  After that it was smooth sailing and a total blast!  The last night there we had Nacho-Movie night!  I love Nachos and I love a good movie.  It was a great way to finish off a really fun weekend. 
Unfortunately, the day after we got home mommy had to go back to the hospital for another surgery but hopefully this time everything will be all fixed.  I was sad and worried but my Nonna made sure I got extra lovin.  We did lots of fun stuff and Nonna even took us to Kid Time!!

Maddox:
The snow trip was a bit more fun for me this year and hopefully it will just keep getting better.  I'm at that rough age where I don't want to keep my mittens on, just like sissy went through, and then my fingers get really cold.   Once my fingers are cold... I'm pretty much ruined!  Our first day in the snow went down hill (no pun intended) for me pretty fast.  I really don't like wearing gloves and kept pulling them off.  Well, my fingers got cold, and I was done!  Mommy and daddy took turns taking me into the shelter by the fire and mommy warmed my cold fingers by putting them on her warm skin.  The second day on the hill was better because mommy made extra certain that my gloves (and two sets for that matter) stayed on!  I even took my fair turn on the hill.  I think my favorite thing about the weekend was playing in the hot tub because I definitely was plenty warm.  Nacho-Movie night was a pretty good thing too!!
Once we got home we basically packed back up again and headed over to Nonna and Nonno's house.  Being away from home is always fun for a bit but it doesn't take me long before I start asking to go home.  "Wanna see Mama!  Wanna see Daddy!  Wanna drive veh-veh!"  But mommy's surgery was a bit more this time and I really have to be careful of her tummy.  I'm pretty curious about her boo-boos and want to see them a lot.  I'm a lot more gentle than I was last time.  It's hard not to want to be in her lap all of the time. 

A Princess and her Prince. A Prince and his Mommy.

Maren:
This last weekend was super special for me.  My Prince (aka Daddy) and I got to go to another Ball like we did last year.  Then entire day was super special for me.... it started out with a trip to the salon with my mommy.  I got a gel manicure and pedicure, then Miss Gina spent almost an hour doing my hair!  She gave me a little braid down the side, because I told her that I liked Elsa, and then curled my hair in the most beautiful bunch of ringlets ever.  Then, she topped it all off with some pretty glitter hair spray!!  I got tired and a bit bored during the whole thing because we were there for quite a while, but I was pretty darn happy with how it all looked in the finish.  I was starving after we left so mommy took me to lunch before we went home to meet my Prince for the dance. 
When we got home, mommy got me dressed up like a beautiful Princess.  This year, she decided that she would make my dress for me and it really turned out beautiful!  I was the most beautiful Princess at the dance. 
My Prince loaded me into our carriage and we headed to the ball.  We had a wonderful evening full of good food, dancing, and games.  We even won second place in the "Twist" contest and brought home over $250 in prizes!!  We got gift certificates to restaurants, the family fun center, the movie theatre, I got a huge teddy bear and a dozen roses!  I have the best Daddy ever!


Maddox:
This last weekend was a special weekend for sissy and she got spoiled quite a bit.  I didn't mind that she got to go out with daddy because that meant I got to stay home and have a night alone with my mommy.  We didn't do much but play, and play, and play.... and giggle, and giggle, and giggle, and snuggle, and snuggle, and snuggle.  It was a great night for both of us.  I even said "Love you Mama" for the very first time.  Think I melted her heart just a bit with that one...
Some other fun things I am saying:
tookie me = tickle me
bi-you = belly
Oh-ma-no = oatmeal
Mah-no, Mah-no = milk
Suh moy = some more

Chugga-Chugga Choo Choo! Maddox Turns Two!

Maren:
The last week or so has been all about my baby brother!  And because I love him to bits, I have had lots of fun helping getting ready for his birthday.
One of the fun thing that we got to do that wasn't about Maddox's birthday was to make the valentines for the upcoming holiday.  Nonna, mommy, and I got together and made popcorn ball/hearts.  Both Maddox and I loved to play with the air popper!  We laughed and laughed when the popcorn would fly all over the kitchen. 

Maddox:
Happy Birthday to me!!  Mommy and daddy decided not to have a big birthday party for me, instead we just spent the whole week playing and doing fun things that they know I would love to do which was absolutely fantastic.  It started off with a big family dinner at Nonna and Nonno's house.  They blew up lots and lots of balloons which made me super happy... I just sat on the floor and played with them for hours!  Then my mommy made me a super special tractor cake which made me super happy!  I wasn't sure exactly how to approach the whole thing, so I just grabbed everything edible off of it and stuffed it in my mouth as fast as possible.  After I couldn't find anything else to pull off of the cake, I just stuck my finger in the frosting and licked and licked and licked.  I even shared a few licks with everyone sitting around me! 
For my birthday my Nonna and Nonno got me my very own strider bike to have at their house.  Its a bit big for me right now but I loved having everyone push me around on it.  Sissy was really good at it and mommy even jumped on board to help take me for a ride! 
In place of a birthday party mommy invited Miss Heather, Jace, and Bella to invite us down at Kid Time for an afternoon of fun.  We had an absolute blast playing together!  My favorite room had a lawn mower in it and I absolutely didn't want to leave that room.  THEN... I found the room with all of the tractors, diggers, and dump trucks and I was in heaven!  I also really liked the room that is set up like a Veterinary Clinic.  While sissy treated all of the animals, I answered the phone and typed on the computer!  Over all, it was a fantastic day and a super fun birthday celebration with my best buddies. 
My final birthday surprise was my big gift from mommy and daddy.  They got me a huge table and lots of tracks to go with the Thomas the Train set that Auntie C's sent to me.  I was so excited to see it all and we spent hours on the floor constructing different train routes.  A perfect gift that will provide years of fun for both sissy and I!