Fairy Magic Camp

Maggie and I attended Fairy Magic Camp with her Girl Scout troop this weekend. I loved having some special time with my favorite girl.

We carpooled with Mary Marshall and Annie, and it was the perfect addition to have our best friends on Maggie's first big sleep away experience. 

Saturday was jam packed with creative fairy activities. The girls decorated fairy wings and wands, went on a fairy hike, assembled fairy gardens, and even rode horses and decorated them with magical fairy accessories. Maggie was happiest on the horse. 

The girls had the opportunity to perform in a talent show, and Maggie could not wait to show off her gymnastics skills with her friend, Bryce. Maggie's previous shyness has been striped away ever since she started school. 

After eating many s'mores, all the girls quickly fell asleep before 10pm. I was expecting a much later night, so I was relieved when I could crash early, too!

Maggie left Camp Merriwether wanting to return this summer for a mini camp with Annie. Gram is thrilled to send her and continue to send Tuttle to Camp Glisson. Summer camp was such a special memory for me, and I am so lucky that Gram wants to continue the tradition with my kids. 

We are hunkered down and crossing our fingers for snow tomorrow. Schools have already been cancelled in anticipation. If it is going to be this cold, we might as well add some snow!

Cold But Happy

The Thorne family is not meant for cold weather. Jay and I are literally counting down the days until we can be outside again without turning into snowmen. We would have never survived if we had actually moved to Albany, NY for Jay's job when I was pregnant with Tuttle. Our southern blood needs hot temperatures and humidity to feel normal.

Despite the winter freeze, we have completed another week of school and work. The kids were out of school on Monday, so we visited the Atlanta History Center with our best friends. In total there were 13 children in our group, so we were ready to explore the outdoor exhibits fairly quickly, so everyone could run around. We had never been to this spot before, and we loved it so much that we may get a membership! I love finding new treasures in the city.

I have been trying to be creative with activities for Jacob during the low temperatures. I found that I could take him to Build-a-Bear during his birthday month and make a bear for the cost of his age. I can justify $3. None of the kids had ever been to Build-a-Bear (mostly because it is SUCH a money pit), but we went yesterday and enjoyed it. Jacob took his job very seriously when he helped stuff his bear.

Tuttle and Daddy have found a new hobby together, and Zelda is starting to take over our lives. On one hand, it is motivation for Tuttle to get homework and piano practice finished quickly each afternoon, but I cannot follow all the talk about the Master Sword, shrines, different lands, and strategy. Now not only am I lost when Tuttle speaks German, but I am clueless when he discusses his main interest. :) Luckily Jay loves living in this imaginary world with our boy.

Maggie was thrilled to successfully stick her Mill Circle on the bar after working so hard. Maggie is a perfectionist, and I know this quality will serve her well in the gym. Looking forward to the Olympics. :)

Happy Friday!

The Good And The Bad

There have been definite highs and lows this week. I am hosting another trunk season for Mary & Grace, and it has been a huge success. I love helping my friends design sweet clothes for their babies. I am savoring custom clothing for Jacob and Maggie because I see the end in sight.

The low of the week is the fact that Jacob has napped ONCE since we took away his bottles. He is going from a 2-3 hour nap to absolutely nothing. He needs it, but I may actually need it more.

I have two more home shows this weekend. Shopping for summer clothing makes this awful cold weather more bearable. 

The End Of An Era

We made the long overdue decision to give up bottles on Jacob's birthday. He has used them as a comfort object during naps and bedtime, but despite still being the baby, he needed to move on from baby bottles. 

I have been preparing him for weeks that we would drop off all his bottles to our favorite baby, Grace. I just hope he does not resent her since we play with her family almost every week!

I read an article a while ago that families always celebrate the firsts (first steps, first words, first time riding a bike), but that you do not realize the lasts until they are long gone. I wonder when the last time I read a story to Tuttle at bedtime because he prefers to snuggle up with a chapter book now. I cannot recall the last time I helped Maggie tie her shoes. The moment of fixing my last baby his last bottle was bitter sweet. I was happy to have the memories of his last time, but I am not ready to accept that baby bottles are out of our house forever. (Jacob guaranteed that I would not be hitting Jay up for another baby to start over!)

After Jacob enjoyed his LAST bottle, we drove over to Baby Grace's house for the pass off. Surprising Jacob was thrilled to hand over all the supplies and even show Grace how to assemble the bottle. He soon was fixated on the new toys in the house, and I bribed him with candy to finally leave.

I was nervous about bedtime, but after only a small fit to drive over to Baby Grace's house to get his bottles back, Jacob drifted off to sleep. I am crossing my fingers that naptime goes smoothly today. 

Goodbye, Baby Bottles. 

Jacob's Three-Esta Celebration

Our little boy turned THREE on Friday. 

He celebrated in class with his birthday twin, Sloane, and counted down the minutes until his "Three-Esta" party at our house on Saturday evening. 

We invited family and a few close friends to play, hit a pinata, munch on tacos and nachos, and enjoy cupcakes. It was the perfect way to acknowledge Jacob turning three. I love a simple party especially when Moe's caters the food!

I did not take as many photos as I wished that I had, but two hours passes by quickly, and chaos ensues with a house full of people! We loved entertaining everyone in our renovated home, and Jacob savored being the center of attention.

Jacob still wants to be referred to as a baby, and I am perfectly fine with his request.

Last Day Being Two

Everyone is right when they say do not blink because babies grow up so fast. I cannot believe we are preparing to celebrate Jacob's THIRD birthday on Saturday! His Three-esta themed party will be at our house with close friends and family, and we are ready to celebrate our little boy!

Everyone was ready to return to a normal schedule this week, and the early mornings are not so bad. Jacob is also tired enough for a good nap since he is waking up hours before he did during the winter break. I am not giving up naps yet, so this is a welcome surprise. 

Maggie hit the pavement this week with her first experience selling Girl Scout cookies. Luckily she owns our street, so her first time out sold almost 50 boxes! Tuttle bought his own cookies with his own money, so he did not have to share. Smart boy.

Tuttle already designed a one-of-a-kind card for his brother's birthday. Although it is hilarious, there is so much truth behind his creation. :)

I am trying to make the minutes creep for the rest of the day, so I can savor my last baby as a two year old. He may be naughty, but he is MY naughty baby, and our world would be boring without him.

New Hair

The remainder of the winter break has been filled with rain, rain, and more rain. On Saturday when the sun came out, we were blinded by the light and ready to spend all the time outdoors.

After much convincing and a substantial bribe, Maggie agreed to return to her former bob hairstyle. Jay and I had missed it so much, and luckily one of her best friends, Annie, has a bob, so Maggie was excited to be "twins" with her again.

Our zoo is in bed early. Some did not even make it through dinner without falling asleep, and EVERYONE is ready to return to a routine tomorrow. I won't say that the early mornings are going to be easy, though....

Vacation Coma

Today we finally found the end to our vacation coma. Since Christmas we have slept in until almost 10am every morning, lounged in pajamas, watched way too much television, played many hours of video games, ordered take-out, and let the decorations linger on the dining room table. Honestly I was tired of being tired and sleeping, so Jay and I rallied the troops and ventured outside in between rain showers today.

Tuttle had not showered in more days than we could count, and we insisted that he let go of the record and clean himself.

Although the kids do not go back to school until January 7, we are going to attempt to start living life again. Daddy is looking forward to work, and the kids and I are heading to the zoo tomorrow. Happy New Year!