First Ballet lesson!

(more pictures when I can watch at the last lesson!)

Snow + Shoe = Factory (or) God

We got to go try out snowshoeing with your Aunt Laura. How awesome! I’m continually impressed with the Three Rivers park district and all the offerings for families. Granted, I’m pretty lucky to have a day off in the middle of the week to get out and enjoy this with them. If I was in the office 5 days a week this would be a lot more difficult to do. And more crowded, if it was available at all. I AM SO LUCKY. Be thankful for what you have. (as much a reminder to myself as anyone). No, it’s not all roses and sometimes I fall asleep and get things piled on top of me, but it is a fortunate life.

After a bit of a rough start figuring where we were supposed to go, we got an intro and an encounter that had me giggling [And here's my Reader's Digest submission that I didn't submit]

My four year old twins and I were lucky enough to take part in an introduction to snowshoeing class aimed at preschoolers. The classroom teacher brought out an old style snowshoe and started pointing out components and explained that wearing them would allow them to walk on top of the snow rather than sinking in the snow. Trying to tie it back to the animals that might have the same capability due to the nature of their foot print she asked, “so where do you think someone got an idea to make a snowshoe like this?” Without missing a beat my son Roman answered “a factory” and my daughter Zoe chirped “God!”

When we got outside the snow was coming down nicely. Picturesque. Wintery.

I was a little concerned about Zo, because she’s the type to get tired. “My legs hurt! Carry me!”

But she was enjoying it.

And the boy child?

Took to it like a fish to water.

Or an icefisherman to beer. One of those.

“This is our aquarium”

No, this is going to give your dad a heart attack if he sees it (don’t spill!)

P.S. I'm happy to say that after a non-start with swim lessons in the fall, Zo has joined her brother in LOVING swim lessons this winter. It helped to go backward into the 3 and 4 year old program.  For not be a joiner, I'm certainly a joiner (when it comes to the kids).

Living Room Concerts

This, and the Okee Dokee Brothers recent Grammy win, reminds me we got to get back to some good kids music. Funny how I was all over that when you guys were under the age of one and since then have lost track. There’s some good stuff out there. I loved the Medeski, Martin and Wood one. And some of the other jazz compilations. Gotta get back on that train, folks. And check out some local live family music this summer.

Can you tell me how to get...

 ...to Sesame Street?

Elmo the Musical, live and onstage. (Beats the alternatives). So apparently opening night tickets to these multi-night stagings are discounted, because I was able to get us some tickets at a reasonable price ($10 each) although they were augmented by the evil super ticket vendor’s multiple service fees. No matter, you can’t bring down the magical experience that is live theater. Tee hee hee. What sold me on going really was the photo ops. Imagine that. Before the show there were some sets from the show and some  visits by costumed characters. Zoe wasn’t too interested in the oversize real life characters, so we headed over to the famous steps for a picture. I tried to go back and get one of the two of you together, but alas, no luck.

But your Dad was available. Kind of nice to have him along with the crew.

The mom ‘cheese’ face makes an appearance.

A closer look means a closer hug to dad.

The other Zoe.

Come here! 

No? Then I guess it’s mommy and the count.

SUPER grover.

Zoe’s Dance Studio

“Mom, I want to wear THAT dress” And why not? Save it for ‘good’? Pshaw.

Prerequisite blurry Christmas lot shot

Making monkey bread with the monkeys.

 Had me thinking why I thought this was a good idea. Don’t cry over spilled sugar, mama.

Christmas morning

Girly girl saw this in a catalog and wanted it. Hair AND makeup? Wow.

Pink hair and a microphone? Double wow. Yes, because we needed to amplify your voice a little more in our huge house ;)

Butterfly wings. We’re all for dress up.

Hungry Hungry Hippo requires Batman’s touch.

Hula girl. She already wants to get out of Minnesota in the winter.

Does this really even need a caption?

(except "look at that mess!")

I see this picture and I realize how much I’m going to miss my Wednesday’s off with them. We went to the indoor playground a few months back. You too are too big for the little kid area but still unsure about this massive indoor structure. Zoe got herself stuck way up top last year and I had to rescue her, so she’s not so sure about navigating up the tubes and steps and ropes, even with her brother. Which is another thing. You guys have your sibling fighting moments, but you’re actually really close. Which is nice. I hope you maintain a lifelong friendship.

We know who likes to rule the roost.

But you do play nice and take turns.

Sharing is good.

This is what happens when I get tired and fall asleep.

I had no recollection of this.

I remember this.

Blinking noses.

Marble!

(no blinking nose)

Oh Marble, I remember when you were (almost) the size of a marble.

Waaaaah (cry, cry).

He’s like a dog, as soon as he sees you are there he starts begging for food.

Kind of like this, only with arms flayling. That might merit an animated gif (so retro right now!)

Food? Maybe that’s what we should have named the feeder fish. The kids have given names to some of them. We’ve moved on from naming everything Roman and Zoe, but names still take on characteristics of things in the area. Tablet = the variety made of paper. Pearl. Not sure if that’s a necklace or an homage to a character in Finding Nemo…And some others. So far Marble eats a portion of what is given him and keeps others as friends. Or that’s the story I’m spinning today.