baby, it's cold outside!

A few pics of the weekend snowstorm. It's beautiful, but I'd rather be in the tropics soaking in the sun.

 

For me, snow is overrated.

{Not So Scary} Monster Mash

 

On Friday night, the Please Touch Museum (formerly known as Memorial Hall) in Fairmont Park Philadelphia had a MONSTER MASH for members of the museum. Sophia, my 2 yr old, went as Disney's Princess Aurora (in pink) and Sydney , my 3 yr old, went as Disney's Princess Belle (in golden yellow)... although she preferred to be called QUEEN Belle! It was a fun night of dinner, dancing, exhibits and a "trick-or-treat" treasure hunt. Sydney had more fun checking out all the cool costumes the kids were wearing. Sophia liked the music and dancing. The girls were mellow because they missed their naps (wish I could have a do-over because my girls don't have much energy after 6pm without a nap!).

The girls made the the 10 o'clock Philadelphia Fox News later that night [the news clip is at the very end of the video clip below... it's a 3 minute video so you may want to FF to the end of the video :) ]

Video of Sophia {Princess Aurora} Dancing to Ghostbusters:

Sydney was Princess Belle and Sophia was Princess Aurora (Sleeping Beauty):

Philadelphia SEPTA Bus Exhibit:
CHECK OUT THE SHOES!! (they light up too)

Metrorail train exhibit (nicer then the Philly trains!!):

Pretty Backhoe Operator:

Beautiful Mechanic:

What girl doesn't like to Shop... the only time "no nap" wasn't noticeable :)

My "Victorian" Queen costume which looked more like a Maid of Milking! Ha!! Only half of the parents dressed up... I couldn't wait to get my costume off. I'm not much of a costume person.

Carousel ride:

Leaving the Museum:

We were the last ones to leave the museum that night. We were also the last one's to eat before the cafeteria doors closed. What a fun night!

I ♥ Faces: “Excited!” Photo Challenge

This week’s photo challenge theme at I ♥ Faces is "Excited!"

A couple weeks ago, My TWO year old DAUGHTER, Sophia, was SO EXCITED about WALKING Grandmom's DOG, PEANUT, at the local park. This was her 1st time walking Peanut on a leash. Soon after the HAPPY PHOTO BELOW was taken, she fell down while trying to keep hold of the leash handle.... this led to her 1st ER visit. [It's too bad we don't have a photo of the excited  panicked Mom trying to stop the blood and make her way to the hospital. HA!]. After Five stitches above her right eye and leaving the hospital, she asked me if we could go back to the park so she could walk Peanut again.

"A child's world is fresh and new and beautiful, full of wonder and excitement." Rachel Carson

Click here to return to  I ♥ Faces "Excited" Photo Challenge

Thanks for stopping by for a peek of excitement.
Susan

You Are My Sunshine!

Stitched, Bothered And Bewildered

... and not necessarily in that order! This post is a real "Whoopsie Daisy" (and I'm sure there will be many more).
Remember that great park that I mentioned in the previous post? On Monday, we began another beautiful, relaxing day there. Grandmom (my Mom) met us at the park. Much to Sydney and Sophia's delight, she brought her dog, Peanut. Peanut is an harmless old dog, who is deaf. My girls love him. For almost an hour, they were taking turns walking the dog.

During Sophia's turn to walk the dog, she had a spill... instead of letting go of the leash to catch her balance or break the fall with her hands, she kept hold of the leash and fell hard! Normally, I wouldn't worry too much when she falls, but she was crying LOUD and did not get up. I ran to pick her up and saw the gash by her eye (I am thankful to God that it was not her eye)... that's when I started to panic. [she hit a metal clamp that was mounted on a post in the playground, right where it's bolted together. OUCH!]

I packed up the car so fast (practically threw Peanut in my Mom's car... POOR SWEET DOG) and we were off to the hospital.

Once we were in the car and heading to the hospital, Sophia seemed fine. Turning on the CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST DVD was like magic.... it seemed to take all of her pain away (and Mommy's panic).  The ER took her right away. They were awesome... the best BOO BOO doctor (so I was told) was on call that day (YEAH!). They had to use a Papoose Board to restrain her which made a lot of sense because of the laceration location (I voluntarily left the room during numbing and stitching so not to cause any extra trouble). It only took them 10 minutes to clean, numb & stitch and SOPHIA WAS A HAPPY GIRL AGAIN.

She loved all of the ATTENTION, but did not like the Doctor or the Papoose. She asked if she could go back to the park and walk Peanut. THAT'S MY GIRL :)

 Sydney running up to greet and hug Grandmom in the parking lot:

 Sophia walking Peanut:

Sydney with Peanut in photo below: 

You are the best big sister EVER!!!

Sophia's before photo below... all smiles with Peanut:

Exhibit A below:

photo below was taken LAST WEEK at the park... the "clamp culprit" (click on photo to enlarge... still little blurry... but you get the idea.)

Photos taken with the iPhone at Hospital:

She definitely played it up for the camera because in the hospital waiting room she was all smiles:

The nurse holding Sophia... she is all done and ready to be un-papoosed:

All stitched up!... Watching Casper (again) on the ride home. She did not want to go home... 
She kept on saying "I'm all better can I go to Grandmom's? I want Sydney." 
I did what all Mom's do when their child goes through a similar situation.. you spoil them! So I took her to Grandmom's to pick up Sydney.

Today (the morning after) Sophia was ready to go to dance class!!

 One Tough Cookie!! Boy do I love her! xo

Swing, Slide, Run and Hide...

On Thursday, we spent most of our day at the park. It is an extremely relaxing way for us to spend time together. Plus, it gets us out of the house for some fresh air!! Fall is the best time to go to a community playground. The big kids are back in school and the parks are peaceful and quiet.

Other great things about parks...
They're free!
The girls get great exercise and improve their gross motor skills... they are good at jumping, climbing and balancing! At times, Sydney still has a fear of falling, but will keep on practicing until she masters each skill.

They have so much fun together (sometimes with friends or cousins or they make new friends).

I like soaking in the suns rays because everyone needs some Vitamin D to keep them healthy!

.... AND THE BONUS!? The HOUSE is still CLEAN when we get home and they go to BED EARLY because we missed nap-time!

There are some great parks where we live. The closest park to where we live won Best of Philly for our county a few years ago. [probably the only year that Philly Mag had this category?]. The problem with this popular playground, it's crowded! The other park that we frequent is next to the library that we visit weekly near my Mom's house. It a nice little playground with a pavilion for picnic lunch and it's in a convenient location.  We recently tried another park near my Mom's house. It may be our favorite park yet! It has lots of walking/bike-riding paths, sports fields and picnic pavilions as well as a nice size playground. The girls had a blast climbing, sliding, balancing, running and riding their bikes. We pretty much had the place to ourselves so I took a few pictures.

Sophia climbing with no fear:

Sydney (white shorts):                        Sophia (flowered shorts):

balancing act:

Sophia:

The girls took some time to collect a few Fall leaves... they did not find many, but will have a bunch to choose from in a couple weeks:

IT IS SO CUTE HOW SOPHIA LIKES TO COPY EVERYTHING HER BIG SISTER DOES:

Sydney (pictured below) carrying her Fall leaves. Our tender, sweet little girl. Who loves nature.... bug, birds, leaves, trees. She loves everything about it.

It was a warm September day... and with all that climbing Sophia's shirt made her TOO HOT! 

(or so she said)... YOU ARE OUR FEARLESS little climber :)

I am having a SWINGING good time SLIDING into SAHM-hood (it's now 4 months and counting). I'm ENJOYING EACH and EVERY moment with my girls!
xo
Susan