SpRiNg BrEaK!!!!

We headed to North Carolina with Nana for our Spring Break vacation. We were dying to see Tyler (and Kiera and David!). When we got there Kiera had a "Book of Fun" she created full of activities for us to do each day so that we wouldn't be bored. It was so thoughtful and so much fun!!
ScHeDuLe of EvEnTs:
We arrived late Saturday afternoon. After 12 hours of driving we were ready to get out of the van. David was remodeling the kitchen so there were lots of projects going on. We decided to just hang out at the house and order pizza. On Sunday, David put Austin on a "job" of drawing lines on the floor. Austin took it very seriously and although the lines were crooked he said, "they may be crooked, but that is one good line." He loves helping David. Nana got lots of snuggle time after baths with Tyler and Madi.

MoNdAy
We got up on Monday and took the kids to Olan Mills for pictures. They turned out cute, but Madi wouldn't smile for the group photos. She was cooperative, but apparently the photographer wasn't that funny to her! The reward for taking pictures was a fishing trip to the pond. We picked up Elliot (our NC friend!!) to go with us. The weather was beautiful and we just layed out by the pond while Elliot and Austin fished (although more laughing and rock throwing was going on than fishing). We had dinner that night at the Trinh's and the kids played a little more. Millie is in the picture with Madi...they're buds!













TuEsDaY
Tuesday plans were changed because it started to rain. We spent most of the day with Kiera. We went to Krispy Kreme in the morning and watched them make donuts (and of course we had to eat a few!). We then went to the book store and then to McDonalds for lunch and ice cream. It was a relaxing day!









WeDnEsDaY
Wednesday was the day the kids had the most fun! Nana and I loaded up the kids and headed to the Greensboro Children's Museum. There was room after room for the kids to play and explore in. They had a doctor/dentist room where the kids could dress up and play. Austin had a lot of fun playing with Nana and Tyler. Madi's favorite rooms were the grocery store and the house that was just her size. She played and played and filled her shopping cart with apples. Tyler had fun watching all the action taking place. After the museum we left (in the pouring rain) and headed back home. That night we went to church and came back to the Keen house to hang.

ThUrSdAy
We ran errands and had lunch at a yummy Mexican restaurant. That night we Skyped D who was missing the grandkids.

We got up early Friday and headed back to Florida. We had so much fun! Thank you Kiera and David for putting up with us and letting us invade your life for a week! And I must say that I have the CUTEST nephew in the entire world and Aunt Mimi misses him terribly already!!!

I NOT A BOY!!!

On one of our excursions with Tyler, Mom was talking to Tyler telling him what a good boy he was. Madi caught the end of the conversation...

Nana to Tyler: "You're such a good boy!!"
(Madi enter assuming as usual that she is the center of every conversation)
Madi: "Nana!"
Nana still cooing to Tyler doesn't hear Madi's plea for attention.
Madi: "NANA!!"
Nana: "Yes, Madi"
Madi: "Nana, I not a boy...I a PRINCESS!!"

Now this might be typical for a little girl who is obsessed with Disney princesses, but Madi isn't. It was just out of the clear blue sky! And I will have to agree...in my eyes she IS a princess!

They Just Disappeared!

Ok...first of all, I don't think I can do this story justice. It was one of those "you just had to be there" stories, but I'll give it a shot. It is too cute to pass up.

Let me preface the story by telling you that lately, Austin tells everyone who asks that he is seven-with a straight face when in fact he is only six. So, we have been working on telling the whole truth and not making stuff up.
I was having my nightly talk with Austin about how his day was and asked him how he did on his spelling test. He said that he made a "N." He has NEVER made a "N" and I was a little confused because we studied the words and he spelled them all correctly for me, so I asked him to get his papers for me. As he was walking to get his bag, he decided that he might want to clarify his story and he told me that he wrote the answers, but they just disappeared. All of the adults looked at each other and were trying to explain to Austin that the words don't just disappear. He was very adamant that he wrote the words and now they are not there. Below you will see the "N" paper with the "disappearing words."


I was so lost...I made Austin go get a sheet of paper and I called out the words to him. And he spelled them all correctly. Ok...this was making NO sense! I just figured maybe he wasn't paying attention while she was calling out the words, but once again...he said that he was listening and wrote the words...they just disappeared!
In my bewilderment, I glanced at his paper one more time and noticed the name on the paper.


Aaron??? If I remember correctly, my son's name is Austin. I busted out laughing and showed Austin. He said, "I knew I wrote the words, but when I got my paper back...they disappeared."
He wasn't telling a story after all!! It was so funny!!

Boo-Boo Bandaids!

Madilyn is growing up so fast!! She is a doll. She now sleeps in a toddler bed (we are still working on her staying there all night), is almost fully potty trained (YEAH!!! I didn't ever think it would happen), talks up a storm in full complete sentences (and we thought Austin was a talker! Madi has him beat!), and most importantly she is obsessed with bandaids. She is the complete opposite of Austin when it comes to bandaids. Austin would do anything to avoid me putting a bandaid on him. Madi, on the other hand, creates imaginary boo-boos that she feels call for the need of a bandaid. At the slightest ouchie she runs to find me, "Mommy, fiss (kiss) it. I need a bandaid!"

So we now have this brilliant idea that bandaids are going to be Madi's new reward system. She potties...she gets a bandaid, she stays in her bed all night...she gets a bandaid. Hey, whatever works, right?? Although it may need some explanation to strangers that see a 2 year old covered in bandaids!