Paralyzed Diving

While watching the Olympics, Ellie said, "I really like watching paralyzed diving!"

This made us laugh thinking about the paraplegic version of synchronized diving. 1... 2... 3... push!

Mommy's Date with Addie

Addie adores her new musical skills and so I thought a perfect date idea would be to go piano hunting. When Ellie found out what the plan was for Addie's date, she was confused and asked for more details. She tried to understand how one hunts pianos and simply couldn't. Addie, on the other hand, didn't have a problem at all. "Ellie, we're going to hunt wild pianos in their natural habitat!"

Ft Collins has a program called "Pianos About Town" in which artists have fixed up and painted beautiful pianos. Normally they don't tell people where the pianos are, but instead they're scattered around town for people to stumble upon in unexpected places. However, I was lucky to have convinced them to tell me where to look (I'm not familiar with Ft Collins and I wanted the day to be really special). It was magic! It seemed that every piano was better than the previous. She liked the ones with old keys the best, but also really liked the piano with the sunset.

And watching the skills that this girl is developing? Mommy could not be more proud. We successfully hunted and tamed 6 wild pianos and the day could not have been any better.

Wordless Wednesday

Daddy's Date with Ellie

He took her to an ice safety workshop where they learned how to dig out a shelter to remain warm in the cold winter. He's always so good at coming up with unique ideas!

Practicing French

In French I asked the girls for pieces of clothing. They dressed me with the results. I think they're having fun learning a new language.

Daddy's Date with Addie

Daddy took Addie to an origami workshop where they learned to fold butterflies. Then they took their butterflies home and tied them to some rods. Finally, when we went to dinner, she handed out all her new butterflies to children who were eating with their families throughout the restaurant. She had a BLAST and loved the reactions she got from people when she gave them her gift.

Skiing

A few weeks ago we went skiing with Nana, Grandpa and Uncle David. I hadn't ever been and neither had the girls. I was surprised by how enjoyable it was! Ellie did amazingly well and was always ahead of the group. After a couple hours, she seems to have the technique down! Addie enjoyed herself too, though she definitely ran out of energy half way through the trip. I suppose that didn't surprise anyone since she's the smallest and was likely doing the most work. She didn't complain about it though. She was tired but distracted herself with stories about snow fairies and magical snow crystals. Eventually we hooked her up to a couple of scarfs around Michael's waste and he pulled her behind him until we returned to the lodge. I'm loving that the girls are old enough for these types of activities!

Wordless Wednesday

Mommy's Date with Ellie

For our date this month, Ellie and I went to see a play called "Pirates of Penzance." Unexpectedly, this was an Opera. I can't say I've been to many operas and I'm thinking I'm not a big fan. Even Ellie asked for a break from the music after only a few scenes. That being said, though, it was probably the strangest funniest opera I may ever see. It was a pirate story that included an apprentice who left the pirates after having served his 21 years. He told the pirates that he didn't approve of their ways and now that he's no longer a member, he's going to make it his mission to take them down. They started complaining about all their problems and how they're not rich like pirates should be. He told them that's because their rule to not steal from orphans and the rumor has gotten around such that everyone claims to be an orphan if attacked by these pirates. The ex-pirate falls in love with a woman who is the daughter of a general. The general tricks all the pirates into letting him and his daughters go, and later feels guilty about bringing shame to the family name because he lied to the pirates about being an orphan, only to have someone point out that the graves he's crying on aren't his ancestors. Afterwards, the pirates tell the ex-pirate that he owes them more time because his contract says he would serve 21 birthdays, of which he's only served 5 because he was born on leap day. Out of a sense of duty, he returns to the pirates and asks his fiancee to wait for him to return. Though waiting another 60 years seems like a long time, she agrees. In the end a group of police officers attack the pirates for crimes against the queen. The pirates said "wait, but we love the queen!" And of course since everyone loves the queen, they decide they're all on the same side. And everyone lives happily ever after.

I'm guessing not every opera has quite the... entertaining, perhaps... story line and I'm not sure I'll be going to too many operas in the future. However it was more entertaining than I would have expected had I known it was going to be an opera ahead of time.

Addie Bear

I adore the fact that 99% of the time, Addie goes to sleep holding Bussi Bear and wearing the same bear hat she has had since being 18 months old.

Happy Valentine's Day

A puppy named Valentine for Ellie. Sunflowers and a baby teddy bear for Addie. They couldn't have been happier.

Super Bowl Winners!

Whoop! Whoop!

Keeping up with the Joneses

It I think we all have conversations about keeping up with the Joneses. Sometimes it presents itself with a colleague getting a new fancy house or even one in fantastic location.  Maybe it's a neighbor who just got a really nice car. Or maybe it's a friend who recently got back from a fantastic exotic trip.

We have all had to deal with situations in which you find yourself a bit jealous of what someone else, where you stay to wonder if you, too, should get a nice house.  Maybe it's time for a new car.  Maybe we should put more of our money towards (enter whatever item here)?

But when it comes to my rock star husband, I think he deserves some kudos.  Whenever the topic of "keeping up with the Joneses" makes a tempting assistance, without fail,  he starts with giving the topic at hand some consideration. He will even dive in with some quick research on options.  But he ALWAYS ends up on websites reading articles on how to SAVE more money instead of how to SPEND more money.

I somehow managed to catch myself a keeper and I am still so thankful for him.

Surgery

We were all concerned.  Addie said Coconut needed surgery and wanted to put a nice patch on him.  She said it would help her remember Patchy (who sadly has still not been found).  Whether the patch be in memory of an old friend, or to help heal the new one, Gramma helped me come up with a great solution and after a few hours of post-surgery rest, Coconut was himself again, filled with all smiles and snuggles.

Then, as luck would have it, Mittains fell down the stairs and needed some tender loving care too.  Ellie requested a special monogrammed patch of love.  Her recovery went just as smoothly.

There may be no better way of knowing for certain that a stuffie is well loved than when they have been marked by their child, and no doubt both Mittains and Coconut now have been the mark of love.

The truth comes out

Apparently I took too many photos while on our trip to Paris.  In Addie's words, "My mom kept taking pictures.  I think she took too much.  I'll give you a clue - She took some on the bridge of the castle next to our hotel.  We called it Blue Door."

In my defense, some photos are simply worth the extra effort.

Addie-isms

"Does this picture look scientistc? I think it does."

"Gramma, I got a new bear in Paris. His name is Coconut. Do you want to see him in human?  I will go get him now."

"In one mile, turn right... in 100 feet, turn left... your destiny will be on your right."

Christmas concert

The girls are impressing me more and more with their music. Addie can play with both hands and sing at the same time. Ellie has learned so many new sing to the notes and reading the music is actually helping them with their singing voices too.  I can't help but smile at the results of their hard work.

Turning the tables

ADDIE: Mommy, you look like you need a hug.
MOMMY: Awww thank you.
ADDIE: I think you might even need another one.
MOMMY: You're right. I had a really bad day.
ADDIE: I know.  Now what you're going to do is this - You're going to try really hard to be extra patient with us for the rest of the day. OK?

Daddy's Date with Ellie

The Broncos are going to the Superbowl!

Mommy's Date with Addie

For our January date, Addie and I had afternoon tea with Gramma at the Dashanbe Tea House. We LOVE this place and Addie was definitely excited to share it with Gramma. "It's the most beautiful place you'll ever see, Gramma! Don't forget to gasp!"

As always, we sat in one of the fun bed-like tables in the corner, which adds to the fun. Addie proceeded to tell use about the painted ceilings and how this place used to be a magical dragon cave. The ceilings were painted one by one, each flower painted for a different dragon. When asked who painted the ceilings, Addie told us "My Daddy dragon painted that square, and my Mommy dragon painted that flower. Those over there were painted by the fairies, and the rest of it was painted by just a couple 13-year-olds.

Uh... OK.

After that, we got straight to work on playing with the trolls and gnomes. The trolls, in particular, were a favorite of Addie's on this particular day. Apparently their names are Snot, E-Wak and Stinky. Snot makes boogers that coat the silverware with slime to make them slippery. E-Wak uses the earwax from his ears to set sticky traps because he's quite mischievous. And Stinky? Well let's not go there, but I hear that there is fog and steam involved.