Twirls and Tantrums or Things to Do When It's Raining and You're Bored

Note the alternate blog titles above. Pick your favorite. This will cover both.

We were hopeful that the final two days of our long five-day weekend would be as cheerful and fun as the first three. But it was not to be.

Saturday began with me sleeping in (I think Frank felt sorry for me because I wasn't feeling so great on Friday). Maddie and Frank had already had breakfast and serious playtime when I came downstairs. The TV was already on -- a sure sign of a grumpy little girl and a tired Daddy.

We formulated a plan to head to the mall and snag a few items early in the day. It was raining Saturday -- all day Saturday. The tantrums began in the car. Promises of carousel rides were greeted with "OK." On a good day, this means she understands and will cooperate. Not today.

The local Macy's stinks. They have nothing advertised. Maddie cried during the entire 15-minute visit with the grumpy sales lady (Merry Christmas!) 'Nuf said. We moved on to the promised carousel ride. Success! She was one happy little girl. She loves horsies.

The rest of the mall excursion is a blur to me. She fought us the entire time. We then headed to the next shopping center -- in the rain -- to get a few things. If you were in DSW on Saturday between 11 a.m. and Noon, thanks for dodging the running toddler. She was shrieking and running up and down the aisles, having a blast, so we gave up and headed home for lunch and a nap.

After lunch, she was happy again but just for a while. It was a long rainy afternoon. Here are some things to do at home when it's cold, rainy and you're losing your marbles with a testy toddler:
Play dress up, puzzles, dance to Wiggles, watch Sesame Street 35th Anniversary Edition (it rocks!) at least four times, eat, watch Crunch Salsa Workout (don't ask), call friends to see if their squirmy toddlers need a playmate (no luck!), eat again. Is it bath time yet??

Dress up with the duck!

I think she's practicing the princess wave they taught her at daycare...

Sunday held the promise of a playdate with Noah and Stella Dot. Hooray for other Mommies and toddlers!! Another pouring rainy day, so inside activities for Maddie were so welcome!

Maddie had an awesome time playing with Noah's cool toys and boogying to tunes on the stereo. Although she is clingier than the other kids, I'm telling myself it's her age. She needs constant attention these days, but the plus side is she has been so loving and snuggly (smile).

We played and ate lunch together and went home for nap time. Frank surprised us with the Christmas tree assembled and lights already on!!

Maddie was smitten with the tree and lights and was in an awesome mood after the nap, so we went ahead and decorated. She loved hanging the "cranberries" and did really well with the ornaments for about 30 minutes. Then she'd had enough, threw a tantrum and tore apart one of our favorite ornaments. I guess for her first real Christmas, one ornament sacrifice is not so bad.

So adorable!

Does this look OK to you??

Hanging her first ornament...check out the cheeks! She is really concentrating!









All done! Notice the toussled-haired toddler running away from the tree...

Hooray for Turkey Day!

We took Wednesday off work and headed out of town after lunch so Maddie would nap along the way. What is that saying about the best laid plans?? She woke up halfway there and screamed and fought with her safety harness for the last thirty minutes. Big fun!

But all was well once she saw Grandmama and Grandaddy and the "doggie" and "kitty cat." How easily they forget...

Once the visiting hunters (boo!) left the woods behind my parents' house, we all went for a walk down to the pond. Maddie is obsessed with the remnants of the harvested corn. There are stripped corn cobs by the thousands in the fields and she has to stop every time she sees one that strikes her fancy. Read: It was a long walk!Is that a corncob I see??

We really enjoyed our time with family. My Grandma spent Thursday with us and it was good to see her feeling so well and really enjoying herself. Of course, Maddie was the entertainment as usual.

Maddie in her Thanksgiving frock.
Although she rarely wears them, we think she likes dresses.

Whee! Granddaddy gives the best swings!

Everyone brought something and the food was delicious. That night, we just hung out and my sister-in-law, who is in school to get her nail technician certificate, gave us all manicures (smile!). We were even treated to a paraffin wax dip and my Dad even got one! Maddie got a special manicure also. Pink with dots on her fingers and toes. She was still as a statue -- why can't she do that for us, we ask??

Maddie's first manicure. Aunt Melissa has a way of making Maddie sit completely still. Notice the bright Hello Kitty socks over her striped tights. When Aunt Melissa gave these to her, she wanted them on -- now!


On Friday, Frank went fishing for a while at the pond behind my parents' house while I got a very late start on the after-Thanksgiving shopping. I met my sister-in-law, who had left much earlier that morning. The crowds were gone by the time I arrived. Yay for me! We didn't buy too many presents, but made up for it with yummy Mexican food for lunch -- Syncronizado rocks. It's an "old favorite" Mexican tortilla sandwich with avo slices.

After Maddie napped, we packed up the "wiggle" as we so lovingly refer to her, and headed back home. It was awesome to have some help with her this weekend and some time for ourselves. She has fully entered the terrible twos. Actually, I think she entered that stage between 13 and 16 months.

'Bout time for a blog...

Since Maddie is closing in on two years old, we have family near and far away, and also because this may be my only published work, we are now blogging.

We are looking forward to sharing with family and friends the extraordinary and extraordinarily mundane events of our lives.

To explain a bit about the name of our blog: There is no shortage of sass around here. And Maddie thinks she wears the pants in the family -- and yes, sometimes we let her think that.

This one's for you, Sassy Pants!