Happy Valentine's Day!

February 14th, 2014

I usually pride myself on sending cards on the "less significant" holidays, but this year {excuses, excuses} time got a little ahead of me.  Weeks of sick children didn't help matters.  This picture was take "pre-sickness" with the intention of sending it out as a card:

Happy Valentine's Day!

Christian and Lindalee were excited to open their Valentine gifts.  Superhero clothes and preschool workbooks for Christian.  Bows, headbands, and workbooks {stickers and a notepad} for Lindalee.

My sweet little valentines.

My little heart breaker!

Really, does it get any cuter than this?

Lindalee consumed by her book on the ride to New Hampshire.

A big part of the reason for this Valentine's Day being so special for me was that we had the chance to stop and visit some of the people we love the most.  

Great Nana wasn't feeling well, but I couldn't tell.  A surprise visit from Lindalee and Christian perked her up.

Next stop was the Northwood Garage:

Lindalee devoured her Valentine's Day cupcake in record speed.  Christian thought it was pretty hilarious.

Sugar!

Christian showing off the Valentine Lindalee made for Papa.

Lindalee was very excited to give Meme her flowers.  The day before when we picked them up at the store, I asked Lindalee what Meme would say when she got her flowers.  Lindalee replied, "Meme, happy!".  She was right, they did make Meme happy {thought I think the cute visitors had more to do with it than the flowers}.

Another stop at Great Grammie and Grampie's.  The kids, and Zoe, didn't want to leave.

And finally!  We made it to Meme and Papa's house!

Lindalee loved her Valentine gift.  She was very serious about it.

Christian also seemed to enjoy parts of Lindalee's Valentine's gift.

Lindalee playing the piano and singing to her "baby".

Valentine's Day "poop party".  Yes, our children are weird, very weird.

So thankful for a Valentine's Day filled lots of love and the two sweetest gifts I could ever ask for!

Snow-much fun!

February 13th, 2014

Another snow day!  Lindalee and Mommy enjoyed some slushy errands while Christian spent the day at school.  He had a great day and really seems to enjoy the times he gets to go to school and play with his friends.  I'm trying to send him a day or two a week now that the holidays are over.  I think he benefits from the consistency.  The only part he doesn't like about school is nap time.  In the past, I would pick him up at half day because he begged me not to have to take a nap there.  What can I say, I'm a sucker for snuggles. It took awhile, but I finally decided to keep him at school and pick him up after nap.  It gives Lindalee and me more time together and I think Christian could benefit from a more rigid nap time approach {he knows how to take advantage of mommy}.

Here's the nap time story from today. {To preface it, I always tell Christian that if he doesn't feel well or really needs me to tell the teacher to call me and I will pick him right up.} At pickup, I was greeted with a big hug and smile.  He immediately began bragging to me that he took a nap {I never thought it would actually happen}.  When I asked his teacher about it, she confirmed he did take a short nap.  She then told me that before he fell asleep he was having a difficult time resting.  He told her that she needed to call his mommy and that he needed to go home.  After talking it through, he layed back down.  After a couple minutes of more {dreaded} rest time, he got back up.  He told her he was "so very sick" and she needed to call his mommy "right away" because he needed to go home.  Long story short.  He eventually went to sleep for 30 minutes {better that what I get at home} and he woke up magically cured from his "sicknees".  When we got home, we had a nice little chat about "The Boy Who Cried Wolf".  

No better way to get home from preschool than on a sled!

King and Queen of the mountain!

Smiles in the tub.

Thankful for a morning with my little girl and an afternoon in the snow with she and her brother!

Back to "normal"

February 12th, 2014

It's so nice to be back to "normal" {whatever that means}.  Two healthy kids keeping me on my toes is the way I prefer it.

Singing lullabies at music class.  The only time they stay this still.

Christian has been really into taking "selfies" on my phone.  This is one of my favorites.

Silly faces!

Lindalee working hard on a special Valentine.

Thankful for fun and chaos with two HEALTHY kiddos!

Lego 3D

February 11th, 2014

Christian took a nap.  Big deal.  As his reward, he and Daddy went on a "Dude Date" to see the new Lego movie {in 3-D} Christian has been DYING to see.  He asked Daddy to take pictures of him in front of all his favorite characters.

Standing next to Lego Batman is some serious stuff.  After every picture Chris took, Christian asked to see it.

Cool dude!

Both Christian and Daddy thought the movie was pretty awesome.  Another successful "Dude Date".

Ski School: Week 2

February 10th, 2014

Christian has been asking everyday if he can go to ski school.  We were all very happy when Monday rolled around and it was time to head back to Ski Bradford for a morning on the {bunny} slopes.

Christian took to the slopes with even more confidence than before.  Before his lesson started, this was him showing me how he "races" the other kids.  I think he won this run.

Cool dude!

Lindalee has been saying "Me! Ski" every time Christian mentions his ski school.  I brought the small pair of skis for her to try out this week.  She was very excited, until I buckled her boot into the ski.  She began to flail and scream, "No ski! No ski! Cocoa! Cocoa!".

This is where Lindalee the {now official} ski bunny and I hung out while Christian was at his lesson.  She was very happy sipping on her "cocoa" and watching the "bubbles" {sparks} in the fire.

Fireside lunch after a tough morning shredding the powder!

Thankful for my ski racer and my ski bunny.  They are so different, but equally as perfect!

Cousin loving

February 9th, 2014

We are thankful everyone is feeling better for many reasons.  One big reason, is a much needed play-date with the Biddlecom cousins.  

Silly cousins!

"Slumber party"

Lucy even gave Lindalee a piano lesson!

Thankful for some much needed cousin loving!

Skiing Gunstock

February 8th, 2014

How convenient it is that Meme and Papa's house just happens to be on our way to the mountains.  We took advantage of them {again} and dropped the kiddos off and headed skiing for the day.

We ended up at Gunstock, not far from Meme and Papa's house.  It's the mountain where I learned to ski as a little girl.  It's changed a lot since then, but was still the family friendly little resort I remember.  I look forward to taking the kids at the end of the month.  

Despite it being a "little" chilly, it was a beautiful day on the slopes.

Showing off my new ski boots, and the view.  When we were in the lodge a 12 year old boy came up to me with his friends and said, "Wow, dude, your boots are SICK!".  He totally made my day, maybe even month.  Glad to know being a mom hasn't stolen all my "coolness".

While Mommy and Daddy skied, the kids had some fun of their own!

If you can't tell, Christian is feeling ALL better!

Even Zoe had a great time.

I'm so thankful that everyone seems to be feeling better, for a great day skiing, & for Meme and Papa's babysitting service.