Friends!

We met up with Angie, Hannah and Mia at " The Tree House" this week. Angie is a fellow March Mama and we met through the cafemom.com group. It's always fun to hang out with her and the girls because we have a lot in common, although I am envious of her " SuperMOM" skills and her ability to sew ( to name a few). Our trip to the Tree House was so much fun and after a little prodding, Mack finally decided that she would try a little climbing. After her first trip down, she could only be stopped for a quick bite of lunch.

Angie treated the girls to a slushie!
Buddies:

P.S. The Tree House is such a great place! Clean and wide open, mom's don't have to worry as much about germs or losing their kids in the nooks and crannies. An added bonus- it's a nut free facility which is a big relief for Angie because Hannah has nut allergy! Thanks for introducing us, Angie.

What does Duncan think ?

Cats are hard creatures to read but every now and again they send a very clear message. Here's how Duncan truly feels about life in general:

Stretch those muscles!

Mack thinks it's so cool that Mike and I exercise. When she sees us in our work out gear, she immediately heads to my bedroom, returning with my 4 lb dumbbells. As she lifts them, she grunts and strains just like a real body builder. After a few reps, she declares herself " stretched" and resumes regular activity.
( I myself had just worked out so pardon the....ick)

Couch fort

Once a week or so I'll pull the couch cushions off and, using them, the kitchen chairs and a big blanket, will make Mack a couch fort. She loves to read her books , play with her Zhu Zhu pets and have her snack in the fort. Once the fort is erected, it usually stays put through the day ( or until the popcorn Mack had for snack finds it's way to the floor ).

This day the fort sparked a new game: Mack was a Pirate Princess looking for lost treasure. The lost treasures were sealed behind doors but, coincidentally, Mack had the key to all the doors in her crown! What exactly is this lost treasure you ask? Chocolate and jewelry, of course! And, in case you're ever in need of lost treasure, the dryer is the best place to find it!

A photo op of the Pirate Princess herself:

And now she's the Pirate Queen:

The Rat Pack

Ok, so technically, they are hamsters. But " The Hamster Pack" isn't as catchy.

As reported in the Christmas post, Mack got a Zhu Zhu pet ( with a few accessories) for Christmas. She loves " Sweet Pea" so much, he became a regular ( and slightly creepy) member of our little family. Seeing how Mackenzie's love for her pet, Grammy couldn't resist when she saw a few of the pets at an after Christmas sale. That day , two more pets ( and a carrying case and blanket) entered the house, thus creating " The Rat Pack"

From Left to right: Sweet Pea, Kashier ( CAW-sure) and Ginger:
I have no idea how these names came to mind, but they have stuck. Now I'm finding Zhu Zhu pets in the most interesting places. Hey, it keeps life interesting!

"Bowling class"

What you need:
3-6 two liter bottles ( empty)
A ball of any kind

What you get:
" Bowling class" ( as referred to by Mackenzie)

Rules:
-For those three and under, the game is to be played topless.
-Set up the "pins" in any fashion. Roll the ball towards the pins ( NOTE: Do not throw the ball. This results in a TIME OUT)
-Shout and clap. Repeat. If you knock down all the pins, don't forget to shout " STRIKE IT OUT!"
-Repeat. Over and over. And over.

Nice form, Mack!

Setting up her own pins and sporting a bit of a plumbers crack:

Super Daddy!

Daddy is a super star! Not only has he mastered the art of the matching outfit, he's now learned to braid hair! Mackenzie is such a lucky little girl to have such a great daddy.

The process: Though everyone looks a little bewildered, things went fairly smoothly:
The result:
And it stayed in all day! Bonus!