vdayparty

I've been missing so much work due to all the nasty weather lately, I was only able to make it to the last 15 minutes of Sophie's school Valentine's Day party after work today (it was scheduled for later in the afternoon than Julia's party--which I missed completely).
I tried to make her feel better by telling her that I don't think my mom came to all my school parties to which she replied "yah, but your mom had six kids and you only have three. She was a lot busier than you."
Touche.
I did manage to get there for the most important part of the whole party though--reading all the valentines she got!! Woohoo!

pilates

I got this pilates machine with my Christmas money so that I wouldn't have to find a gym and go exercise in front of an audience. Somehow I still have to exercise with an audience...and none of them ever take their eyes off me! Awkward!

Banana Straw

Every invention began somewhere...

...this one needs a little work

dance

Tonight is Emma's first middle school dance. A Valentine's Day Dance, no less.
All week there has been a swirl of excitement and texts and plans. It's been who is riding with whom, can we all meet early and get ready together, what am I wearing and remember no means no (ok that was my own contribution).

Well, Emma just received THE most earth-changing text ever from Megan. Apparently, not only did Josh K. invite Taylor to the dance but OMG, he is even going to ask her to go out with him!!!!!!!

Now, according to every bit of 'tween parenting advice I've read, I know I was supposed respond in some supportive way to keep the lines of 'tween communication open, but all I could manage to muster was "ew."

Update:
Emma just got home from the dance and it was a giant success. Her group of girls had a great time dancing & playing games & eating cotton candy. Josh did indeed ask Taylor out at the very end of the night to which she replied "I'm not allowed to date."
That's probably for the best.
Note to self-encourage Emma to stay friends with Taylor-her parents sound like good folk.

Julia Cheers!

Julia had a cheerleading clinic at a local high school on Saturday. She was so excited to go and had a wonderful time learning cheers & meeting actual, real life cheerleaders! As part of the clinic, the kids also got to cheer at the high school girls' basketball half-time show tonight. Julia did a super job & was over the moon to have done it!! Rah Rah Go Julia!

Waiting for the big moment--

Whew!

Julia's Cheer!

Julia (pink skirt) is in the back row on the right end next to the last cheerleader...sorry it's so small. You can see it a little bigger on Youtube directly if you're so inclined (just click on the "P2080120" in the upper left of the video to go to Youtube)

Birthday Week

We don't have just a birthday at our house. We have a birthday WEEK!
This works a lot better for me than it does for say, Bob, because I know how to milk it a lot better than he does! heehee.

On my actual birthday day, it was about 17 below and snowy so Bob and I had the day off from work and the girls didn't have school but mostly we just got to hang around together and try to stay warm...which was lovely & I enjoyed it thoroughly but it wasn't a wild party or anything.

Bob decided that wasn't a very fun celebration so he played hookie today (temps got up into the 40's) and took us to lunch at our favorite mountain restaurant...The Happy Cooker in Georgetown...with a quick stop at the candy shop for some saltwater taffy and of course, a short graveyard hike. My favorite things!!
(Seriously...yes, I like a good graveyard but I'm not a morbid person, I just happen to enjoy the history in (mountain) graveyards and we like to imagine the lives of the folks therein. That they are slightly on the creepy side is an added bonus for me) : )



This is the gang on our way out after spotting some very large wildcat footprints in the snow...notice Julia's anti-mountain lion stick...poised and ready, just in case. Ghosts, I can handle...cougars, not so much.

Kendal Leeann

We have another new cutie pie in the family--our grand-niece (!) Kendal came into the world on Thursday. She will be well loved! Welcome Baby Kendal!!
--Note to Kendal--Aquarians rock!! : )

Newborn Kendal with her 4 month old cousin, Olivia--our other grand-niece!

(photos from James & Yvonne's Facebook pages--we love Facebook!)