Friday, January 28, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
ATL Picts
Our lovely friends in Atlanta sent us some pictures from our trip! We had the best time...
I wish we lived closer, or that airline tickets were not so expensive - but I'm glad we get the chance to visit now and again.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Gallery Post - Hipstamatic Elephants
We have an app on the iPhone called Hipstamatic, it alters your photos to replicate the style of old camera lenses from 60s / 70s / 80s depending on what you pick. Morgan is quite in like with the hipstamatic. Below is her recent work, Elephants!
No we did not go on safari - we have an elephant video and she paused frames to take pictures.
No we did not go on safari - we have an elephant video and she paused frames to take pictures.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Cookie Time!!!
That's right... It's officially cookie pre-order time. I know most of you are far away, but if you would like to order cookies to donate we have that option. We may also come down in March at some point, if we do I'll let you all know and we are more than happy to bring some cookies along! :-)
Weekend # 340
In church this weekend they showed a short clip that gave the number of weekends you have with your child until they turn 18, approx. 936. Kind of a big number but still not huge by any means, and for me that actually equals only 468!!!
We do a lot. We go a lot. Partly because I have this gnawing feeling that time is going so fast - and there is so much to do and see and experience and in only 1/2 the time. I knew this before I saw it in numbers, but the numbers provided the back up to my urgency. (don't worry it's not neurotic we need to GO GO GO urgency, just a subtle - hey you, go and do now - because now is what you have and soon she will be grown).
And, perhaps sometimes we are over-scheduled, but all in the name of our 468 weekends being all they should. I shall not start a count down clock, and I will erase the number from my head shortly - but all the same, I value my 468.
This last weekend we used our time well. Morgan had her first on-hill ski lesson. They are 2-hour lessons and also require us to be up the mountain by 8:30 a.m. so it is an early start on a weekend morning. I checked in on her from afar and saw that she kept trying her hardest.
This week was about using her poles - mainly to walk yourself up an incline and while this specific task will take another lesson or so she hung in and did great. She also lost her gloves - we are hoping they are at lost and found next time we go up - I guess we were bound to lose an item at some point. Her reaction to the lost gloves left me unable to really even be irritated. She made me walk all the way back (and we were parked far) to look for them. And she looked and looked and then pretty much cried, because they are her "favorite". She is VERY optimistic that they will be at lost and found waiting for her.
We went back home for lunch and then headed out for her troop tour at PF Chang's. One of the parents knows the manager and she offered a tour to us. I could have never expected the tour they gave. They showed the girls the whole kitchen, let them set up a work station in back and prep lettuce for lettuce wraps, took them up with the chef to make the filling and then let them carry the food on waiter trays to the dining room. They got to eat their food, as did the moms, and then they gave them gift boxes with chopsticks, and a t-shirt and some other fun stuff. It was seriously the most generous tour and they were all so great to us! (the picture - all of them held their noses in the fridge - lots of seafood!!!)
Next back home for a leader meeting and play date for Morgan and two of her friends that she is no longer at the same school with. She was SO excited for her play date. Just as everyone left I realized we needed to go pick up Lily (she had been at my parents all day) so out the door we went again - and were quite lucky to arrive just as dinner was being ordered! Yay for some awesome timing and not having to worry about dinner.
I had thought about going back up Sunday morning for another ski lesson, but Morgan was tired and Saturday was a long one and we would miss church if we went. So instead we got some stuff done in the morning, went to church, went to Starbucks (which seems to be our new after church tradition) and then to the park to be outside!!!!
It was a busy and good weekend.
We do a lot. We go a lot. Partly because I have this gnawing feeling that time is going so fast - and there is so much to do and see and experience and in only 1/2 the time. I knew this before I saw it in numbers, but the numbers provided the back up to my urgency. (don't worry it's not neurotic we need to GO GO GO urgency, just a subtle - hey you, go and do now - because now is what you have and soon she will be grown).
And, perhaps sometimes we are over-scheduled, but all in the name of our 468 weekends being all they should. I shall not start a count down clock, and I will erase the number from my head shortly - but all the same, I value my 468.
This last weekend we used our time well. Morgan had her first on-hill ski lesson. They are 2-hour lessons and also require us to be up the mountain by 8:30 a.m. so it is an early start on a weekend morning. I checked in on her from afar and saw that she kept trying her hardest.
This week was about using her poles - mainly to walk yourself up an incline and while this specific task will take another lesson or so she hung in and did great. She also lost her gloves - we are hoping they are at lost and found next time we go up - I guess we were bound to lose an item at some point. Her reaction to the lost gloves left me unable to really even be irritated. She made me walk all the way back (and we were parked far) to look for them. And she looked and looked and then pretty much cried, because they are her "favorite". She is VERY optimistic that they will be at lost and found waiting for her.
We went back home for lunch and then headed out for her troop tour at PF Chang's. One of the parents knows the manager and she offered a tour to us. I could have never expected the tour they gave. They showed the girls the whole kitchen, let them set up a work station in back and prep lettuce for lettuce wraps, took them up with the chef to make the filling and then let them carry the food on waiter trays to the dining room. They got to eat their food, as did the moms, and then they gave them gift boxes with chopsticks, and a t-shirt and some other fun stuff. It was seriously the most generous tour and they were all so great to us! (the picture - all of them held their noses in the fridge - lots of seafood!!!)
Next back home for a leader meeting and play date for Morgan and two of her friends that she is no longer at the same school with. She was SO excited for her play date. Just as everyone left I realized we needed to go pick up Lily (she had been at my parents all day) so out the door we went again - and were quite lucky to arrive just as dinner was being ordered! Yay for some awesome timing and not having to worry about dinner.
I had thought about going back up Sunday morning for another ski lesson, but Morgan was tired and Saturday was a long one and we would miss church if we went. So instead we got some stuff done in the morning, went to church, went to Starbucks (which seems to be our new after church tradition) and then to the park to be outside!!!!
It was a busy and good weekend.
Weekly Blessing - Week 20
The blessing this week... SUNSHINE!!!! Oh sunshine, how we have missed you. And, you so kindly brought with you 50 - 60 degree weather. I saw an episode of wife swap recently that had a "crazy woman" commenting on the energy the sun can provide - but wife swap woman I now realize you are not crazy - because a heaping helping of Vitamin D does indeed bring energy!
It was SO nice to be outside this weekend, outside without giant jackets on, outside in the fresh air, can you tell we have missed outside??? :-)
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
2011.. So Far
I am not sure what is with me lately - I keep staring at the screen and have no words coming to my brain of what to write... I think perhaps, it is my annual sub-conscience hibernation kicking in. I know I owe posts about Christmas and such - I will put up pictures soon.
Christmas overall was good. Santa brought Morgan her American Girl doll and she loves her! She was perusing the American Girl doll catalog last night to see what items "Daisy" may need next. She also puts her in her backpack to take to school whenever possible.
We actually had Christmas breakfast at our place. So far I have not had it there only because I thought it was too small. I will say it was a tight fit but it worked out and thankfully I have a table with extending sides.
We attended Christmas Eve Eve service this year, and when we all sang Oh Holy Night at the end I discovered that this song makes my mom and me cry (well, almost I held mine in). I was not sure if it would feel weird to go to an Eve Eve service, but it did not at all. The thing I like about it most is that it is a service that will fit into the holiday schedule with Morgan each year and allow for attendance, rather than one year with church, one year without.
Some of you know, some of you don't. We split the holiday. Every year we switch who has Christmas Day who has Christmas Eve. This year was Christmas Eve for me - which is always my favorite/preferred day. I will say that every year I think it will get easier - her being away one of the days. Now, when I say easier I by no means mean easy - just more bearable I guess. We are going on year four and it is not yet easier nor bearable. It is doable because it has to be - but it is not something I get through yet without feeling sad or even a little grumpy. So note to all - if you catch me on a non-Morgan day on any big holiday - just know - I'm kind of less than pleasant / great company (I am working on it though). :-) She enjoys her multiple Christmases so I guess that is what matters most.
As far as our "new" for New Years. This year it is skiing... Morgan had her first ski class on New Years weekend. They hold a "dry land" training so they can get comfortable in their skis and walking around / falling down, etc. before they go on the mountain. She loves her skis and was so excited that day that I took her to a neighborhood park with hills afterward so she could keep skiing. I will send the videos separately but she did so well. She spent a couple of hours going up and down (she'd get out of her skis at the bottom and walk herself back up to do it again). It seems that she will really enjoy skiing. In preparation I have made sure to have all new windshield wipers and tires on the car for the drive up and down the mountain each weekend. :-)
We are taking a break from horses for the ski season (about two months). Something had to go on hold to accommodate and swimming is a non-option, plus horses were on the weekends, the same as skiing and with the freezing temperatures the barn never gets very warm. She is okay with it - still LOVES horses with all her heart and is saving up for one. I am pretty sure she has no real concept of how many dollars = a horse of her own.
So that's a semi-quick update of us. I will post pictures soon and try me hardest to fight the hibernation... :-)
Christmas overall was good. Santa brought Morgan her American Girl doll and she loves her! She was perusing the American Girl doll catalog last night to see what items "Daisy" may need next. She also puts her in her backpack to take to school whenever possible.
We actually had Christmas breakfast at our place. So far I have not had it there only because I thought it was too small. I will say it was a tight fit but it worked out and thankfully I have a table with extending sides.
We attended Christmas Eve Eve service this year, and when we all sang Oh Holy Night at the end I discovered that this song makes my mom and me cry (well, almost I held mine in). I was not sure if it would feel weird to go to an Eve Eve service, but it did not at all. The thing I like about it most is that it is a service that will fit into the holiday schedule with Morgan each year and allow for attendance, rather than one year with church, one year without.
Some of you know, some of you don't. We split the holiday. Every year we switch who has Christmas Day who has Christmas Eve. This year was Christmas Eve for me - which is always my favorite/preferred day. I will say that every year I think it will get easier - her being away one of the days. Now, when I say easier I by no means mean easy - just more bearable I guess. We are going on year four and it is not yet easier nor bearable. It is doable because it has to be - but it is not something I get through yet without feeling sad or even a little grumpy. So note to all - if you catch me on a non-Morgan day on any big holiday - just know - I'm kind of less than pleasant / great company (I am working on it though). :-) She enjoys her multiple Christmases so I guess that is what matters most.
As far as our "new" for New Years. This year it is skiing... Morgan had her first ski class on New Years weekend. They hold a "dry land" training so they can get comfortable in their skis and walking around / falling down, etc. before they go on the mountain. She loves her skis and was so excited that day that I took her to a neighborhood park with hills afterward so she could keep skiing. I will send the videos separately but she did so well. She spent a couple of hours going up and down (she'd get out of her skis at the bottom and walk herself back up to do it again). It seems that she will really enjoy skiing. In preparation I have made sure to have all new windshield wipers and tires on the car for the drive up and down the mountain each weekend. :-)
We are taking a break from horses for the ski season (about two months). Something had to go on hold to accommodate and swimming is a non-option, plus horses were on the weekends, the same as skiing and with the freezing temperatures the barn never gets very warm. She is okay with it - still LOVES horses with all her heart and is saving up for one. I am pretty sure she has no real concept of how many dollars = a horse of her own.
So that's a semi-quick update of us. I will post pictures soon and try me hardest to fight the hibernation... :-)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
