Road Trip

The girls and I took a little road trip. My grandma has been living in an assisted living for the last while. She has been having a hard time. She needed some cheering up. She doesn't always keep everything straight but she remembers everything about my kids. Their relationship with Grandma is special. There is no other word for it. The girls decorated her assisted living with Valentines. It was a good project for them and they took great pride in it.

My grandfather "Bockum" recently caught incureable pneumonia and he has been in the rehabilitation unit next door to Grandma. Grandma stayed there for a long time last year. This is rough. Seeing my grandparents health fail them is difficult. I was Asia's age when I lost three of my great grandparents and I remember exactly how it felt. My girls have a really special, close relationship with their great grandparents and they know nothing of loss. They know things are different now and I've been so impressed with the way they have behaved this weekend. It is not easy for two young kids to spend all day sitting in nursing homes and waiting.  They also decorated Bockum's room with hearts and Valentines decor.

Mimi's Birthday

We threw Mimi a surprise birthday party after skiing today. We did it at her house because she is having a hard time leaving the house.  Mimi has been dealing with some serious health problems so these milestones and moments together are extra tender right now.

The Rest Of January

The girls' current past time- making beaded keychains in the shape of animals. Aunt M.E. gave them the beads for Christmas.

She still loves our dog Lautrec.

One random night we went to the mall for Family Home Evening and rode the crazy motorized animals they have there. They didn't go quite as fast as the girls had hoped but they were still ridiculously fun. Sometimes you have to be spontaneous and enjoy the crazy. Scott was purely a spectator on this one.

New cheetah print glasses.

Dancing Queen

This kid loves to dance. So much sass.

The Sound At Our House

We are attempting to get these piano skills off the ground. New Fish and I have been doing some practicing together because I'm not ready to pay for piano lessons quite yet. I'm trying to teach her basics of reading music.

Red Fish has been taking violin for a little over a week and she is hooked. It is so fun to watch her take lessons from my Mom. I don't know if either of my kids has an incredible natural talent or what kind of musicians they will turn out to be and I don't really care right now. I love that they are getting a musical education and that they are developing themselves. Music was such a key part of my life growing up and it is a huge part of my life now. Hopefully they will really take advantage of these opportunities. Practicing three instruments between the two kids might kill me though. It time and energy consuming. The dream is to have them to the point of practicing on their own and motivating themselves. A mom can dream right? Between choir, piano and violin Red Fish is spending a lot of time with music.

Snow Babies

Thelma And Louise up to no good.

Skiing is officially my favorite.

Tonight

Tonight at bedtime, New Fish hit her chin on the granite counter top and was crying pretty hard. I held her all during reading time and she ended up falling asleep. I sat on the couch for a good fourty-five minutes before transferring her to her bed, just enjoying what will undoubtedly be one of the last time one of my children falls asleep in my arms. The feeling of a heavy, sleepy child has been one of my favorite things about motherhood. I still getting plenty of snuggle time with both of the girls. We read together and watch movies and there is plenty of affection and I will continue to enjoy all of those moments of little heads on my shoulder. There is still something special about a sleepy baby or small child falling asleep comfortable in their mom's arms. So I sat there tonight, just enjoying the feeling and ignoring the big drool stain down the front of my t-shirt. Some of these things I wish I could keep with me forever. I mourn all of these tiny last times even though each new age continues to be so much fun. My kids are so much fun right now. They make me laugh as they continue to grow into these intense little people with so many little desires in their hearts and opinions of their own. The first time they draw a person is replaced by the first sweet legible note they write and first steps are replaced by first piano performances and I love it all.

Dinosaur Museum WIth Cousins

Gotta love the crazy chaos. Impossible to get a photo of all six looking at the camera but we keep trying.

Winter Fun

 Painting a tea set she got for Christmas

 snap circuits

 Game night with Grandma

Dancing Queen

 New Fish took a little dance class from the girls on the highschool dance team and got to perform during one of the basketball halftime shows. She thought she was HOT STUFF.

The Good And The Random

 Most ski days are wonderful. Sometimes there are meltdowns. Some days are just hard no matter where you are.

 These little buddies have so much fun together. New Fish only goes to half day kindergarten so she has been able to spend some extra time with Nixie lately. There is nothing better than playing in the snow.

 Red Fish has decided to learn to play the violin. She is taking lessons from my mom. She will be a third generation violinist.

 Pearler beads are all the rage at our house right now.

 A little visit with Lovely L and company. New Fish was in her element reading to her little buddies and entertaining them. She loves little kids!

 Blue Fish loves to listen to Red Fish practice. It doesn't matter if it is squeaky violin or the piano he sits right next to her and listens the whole time.

 Little bit of an update to our front room.

Every single day I find this kid tucked away some place reading. She is a book worm through and through.

New Years, Grandma's Birthday and Art

 Skiing a black diamond with Pop Pops (easy resort meant that this was not equivalent to the black diamonds at the resort they normally ski at but it was a huge confidence boost. )

 New Years at the Lake House. Movies, board games, puzzles, sledding and sparkling cider at midnight (also known at 9:00pm.) My kids favorite part is running around outside with pots and pans.

Always with the babies.

 We had a birthday party for Grandma (Scott's mom) with the O family. I am so lucky to have such a wonderful mother in law and for my kids to live close to her.

 I always love to capture some of the drawings that my kids have been doing. These were favorites.